The group moved carefully through the winding passages, their footsteps echoing in the quiet of the dungeon. Jeff kept his gaze forward, feeling the weight of his new skill and the realization of its power. He had a long way to go, but for the first time, he felt that he could actually make it.
As they entered another chamber, Marcus held up a hand, signaling for silence. At the far end of the room, another monster loomed in the shadows, larger and more fearsome than the ones they had encountered so far.
It was the Rockfang, a creature with scales as hard as stone, its teeth jagged and deadly. Its eyes gleamed with a cold intelligence, and a low growl rumbled from its throat as it sensed their presence.
"Stay back, F-rank," Marcus sneered, gripping his sword tightly. "This one's out of your league."
Jeff felt a surge of frustration, but he nodded, stepping back with the supplies. He knew better than to argue, especially now that he had a skill he needed to keep secret.
The Rockfang let out a roar, charging forward, and the fight began in earnest. Marcus and Theo took the lead, their weapons clashing against the creature's stone-like scales, while Kara chanted spells, boosting their abilities.
But the Rockfang was relentless, its movements fast and calculated. It lunged at Marcus, and though he managed to dodge, the force of the attack sent him stumbling back.
"Damn it, it's tougher than I thought," Marcus muttered, his face tense.
Jeff watched from the sidelines, his heart pounding as the fight raged on. His hands itched to join, to test his abilities, but he held back, waiting for an opening.
Then, as the Rockfang lashed out with its tail, aiming straight for Theo, Jeff felt a surge of instinct. Before he realized it, he had jumped forward, yanking Theo out of the Rockfang's path. The beast's tail missed by mere inches, smashing into the ground with enough force to crack the stone. Theo gasped, looking at Jeff with a mix of surprise and disbelief.
"What are you doing?" Theo snapped, but his voice was tinged with gratitude. "You could've gotten killed!"
"Just… couldn't stand there," Jeff muttered, stepping back quickly as Marcus shot him a glare.
"Stay out of the way, F-rank!" Marcus barked. "If you get killed, that's on you. We're here to take it down, not babysit."
Jeff bit his tongue, falling back once more, but his eyes stayed locked on the Rockfang. He knew better than to go against Marcus's orders openly, yet something inside him itched to join the fight. Ascendant Growth was active, and he could feel its energy tingling in his limbs, his reflexes just slightly sharper than they had been before.
As the fight wore on, Jeff observed, his heart hammering with every close call. The Rockfang was fast, and its stone-like scales deflected nearly every attack. Kara's spells increased the team's speed and resilience, but even with her support, they were struggling. Theo's blade barely scratched the creature, and Marcus was tiring from every swing of his sword against its hardened body.
Finally, the Rockfang landed a blow, sending Marcus skidding across the chamber floor. He groaned, clutching his side where a claw had gouged through his armor.
"Damn it!" Marcus cursed, his face pale as he struggled to his feet.
The Rockfang advanced, its eyes gleaming as it prepared for the final blow. Panic rippled through the group, and for a moment, Jeff saw something he had never expected to see: fear in Marcus's eyes.
Jeff knew it was now or never.
Ignoring the warning Marcus had given him, Jeff grabbed a loose rock from the ground and hurled it with all his strength. The stone struck the Rockfang's head, not enough to hurt it but enough to catch its attention. The creature turned, its eyes narrowing on Jeff, its next target.
"Are you out of your mind?" Kara shouted as Jeff stepped forward, his gaze steady.
The Rockfang lunged, and time seemed to slow. Jeff's heart pounded in his chest, but he felt his body moving with a newfound sense of control. Ascendant Growth surged through him, and his muscles responded as though they were designed for this moment. He dodged the Rockfang's swipe by a hair's breadth, ducking under its massive claws.
He took a deep breath, his mind racing. He couldn't beat the Rockfang head-on, but maybe he could outmaneuver it.
"Kara!" Jeff yelled, his voice filled with a confidence he barely recognized. "Boost my agility!"
She looked at him in disbelief but nodded, quickly muttering a spell under her breath. A warm energy washed over him, making his movements lighter and sharper.
The Rockfang roared and charged again, but this time, Jeff was ready. He sidestepped, his body moving fluidly as he avoided each of the creature's attacks. The Rockfang grew more aggressive, its strikes becoming wild and desperate, but Jeff stayed calm, keeping just out of reach.
"Over here, you oversized lizard!" Jeff taunted, drawing the creature's attention while positioning himself carefully. Step by step, he lured it back toward the center of the chamber, directly below a jagged rock formation hanging from the ceiling.
He took another breath, calling to Theo and Marcus, who were now watching in stunned silence. "Get ready! Hit it from the sides when I give the signal!"
Marcus scowled, but he nodded, understanding that this might be their only chance. Jeff continued to dodge, leading the Rockfang into position. Finally, when it was directly below the rock formation, he shouted, "Now!"
Marcus and Theo charged, slashing at the Rockfang's legs with all their strength. The creature staggered, momentarily losing its balance.
Jeff seized the opportunity, grabbing a nearby stone and hurling it at the ceiling. The impact caused a crack to run through the rock formation above, and with a shuddering rumble, a massive chunk broke free, falling straight onto the Rockfang.
The creature let out a deafening roar as the stone crushed its back, pinning it to the ground. Jeff didn't waste a second, lunging forward with a dagger he'd grabbed from Marcus's pack, driving it into the Rockfang's exposed neck.
The creature's struggles weakened, its roars fading into a low whine. Finally, with a shudder, it collapsed, defeated.
For a moment, the chamber was silent, the only sound their heavy breathing as the group stared at the fallen creature.
Marcus was the first to break the silence, pushing himself to his feet and glaring at Jeff. "What the hell was that, F-rank?" he snapped, his voice filled with anger — and something that sounded almost like grudging respect.
Jeff met his gaze, his heart still racing. "Just… doing what I could to help."
Marcus scowled, but he didn't argue. "Well, you're lucky you didn't get us all killed. Next time, stick to carrying bags."
But as he turned away, Jeff saw the flicker of doubt in Marcus's eyes, as though he was starting to question the limits of Jeff's abilities.
Kara stepped forward, her expression one of cautious curiosity. "That was… impressive," she said, studying him with a look that felt almost penetrating. "For someone who's supposed to be an F-rank."
Jeff shrugged, trying to play it off, but he could feel the adrenaline still coursing through his veins, his mind reeling from what he had just accomplished. He had fought a Rockfang, a monster far above his rank, and survived. And his Ascendant Growth had been there with him every step of the way.
Maybe, he thought, just maybe, he wasn't as weak as everyone believed.