Bonus chapter for the responses in the previous question chapter.
I hope the chapter it's satisfactory ðŸ¤
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The goblins snarled as they rushed forward, their crude weapons gleaming in the dim, mana-lit chamber. Angela's voice rang out, commanding and sharp. Her massive sword flashed as she cut down the first goblin that dared get too close, her team tightening their formation around her.
I hung back, letting the hunters handle the initial wave. My hammer rested against my shoulder, my focus on the bag of bombs at my side. The real threat hadn't moved yet. The boss stood still, its glowing red eyes scanning the battlefield, chains coiling and uncoiling around it like living things.
'It's waiting, how smart... That makes it dangerous.'
[Host's observation is accurate.] Awà 's calm, steady voice echoed in my mind. [The boss is preparing for coordinated attacks. Recommend eliminating the minions to minimize interference.]
"On it." I murmured, pulling a bomb from my bag. The bone casing felt cold in my hand, the faint hum of mana vibrating against my skin. Scanning the battlefield, I saw a cluster of goblins converging on the hunters' left flank. Angela and her team were too preoccupied with the frontal assault to notice.
'Perfect target.'
I adjusted my stance. "Awà , confirm trajectory. I want maximum damage, no collateral."
[Trajectory confirmed. Release in three seconds.]
I counted down, steadying my breathing. When the moment came, I hurled the bomb in a perfect arc. It detonated among the goblins, the blue flash lighting the chamber as mana shards tore through them. Screeches filled the air, their bodies collapsing.
"Focus!" Angela's voice cut through the aftermath. "Let him do his job!"
She was sharp. I liked that. I pulled another bomb, this time relying on my instincts rather than waiting for Awà 's analysis. The explosion scattered another group of goblins, giving the hunters an opening to push forward. But then, the boss moved.
Its roar shook the chamber, and the chains lashed out, cracking against the stone floor with enough force to send fragments flying.
[Warning: the boss's mana output has increased by 20%. Host's reflexes must adjust accordingly.]
'Noted.' The chains whipped toward me, and I dodged, narrowly avoiding the strike. One came for my legs; I jumped and spun away, keeping my grip on the next bomb.
"Angela! Keep it busy!" I shouted.
....
The boss's roar rattled my bones, its malice palpable. I tightened my grip on my sword, signaling my team to stay focused. Its chains lashed unpredictably, a deadly blur of jagged metal and mana.
"Circle it! Don't give it a clear target!" I shouted, but my eyes kept drifting to Luca, or whoever he was. He stood calm, deliberate, infuriatingly confident, his hammer resting against his shoulder.
"Angela, keep it busy. I'll handle the rest." he said over his shoulder.
"What does that even mean?" I snapped, frustration bubbling over. But before I could press him, the boss lunged. A chain whipped toward me, and I barely managed to block it, the force jarring my arms.
"Angela, move!" a hunter yelled, stepping in with his shield to deflect another strike. It sent him skidding back, but it bought me time to recover.
Out of the corner of my eye, I saw Luca pull out a bomb. The explosion lit the chamber, severing one of the boss's chains. My team pressed forward, striking at the exposed sides. My blade bit into its flesh, but it didn't flinch. Its attention was locked on Luca.
"Angela, pull back!" he called. "It's coming for me now."
He moved like no human I'd ever seen, dodging each chain strike with inhuman precision.
"Is he even human?" one of my hunters murmured.
"Eyes on the fight!" I snapped, slashing at the boss again. But it wasn't enough. With a growl, the boss spun, its chain sweeping us off our feet.
"Damn it… we can't hold it much longer!" I shouted, struggling to stand.
"You won't have to." Luca's calm voice cut through the chaos. He hurled another bomb, the explosion ripping into the boss's chest. Black blood sprayed, and its remaining chain flailed wildly.
"Angela, hold it down for a few more seconds!" Luca called, pulling out three bombs.
"Everyone, distract it!" I yelled, charging forward. My team struck from all sides, forcing the boss to defend itself.
Luca darted through the chaos, moving faster than my eyes could track. Then I saw it, he threw all the remaining bombs directly into the boss's gaping maw.
For a moment, the world seemed to pause.
Then... BOOM!
The explosion tore through the chamber, a shockwave throwing me against the wall. Pain radiated through me as the air was knocked from my lungs. I barely registered my hunters' cries as we were scattered like leaves.
My vision blurred. I pushed myself up, but my body refused to cooperate. Through the haze, I saw the boss's crumpled form, its body mangled and lifeless.
And then, everything went black.
....
Boom!
The shockwave hit like a tidal wave, a wall of force that threatened to crush everything in its path. But I'd planned for this.
'Awà , recalculate trajectory!'
[Done. Adjusting trajectory by 3 degrees. Throw the hammer… now.]
I hurled the hammer with all the strength I could muster, timing the throw perfectly. It flew straight into the path of the blast, hitting the ground at the calculated angle. The impact diverted just enough of the explosion's force to stop it from tearing me apart.
Still, the shockwave sent me flying like a ragdoll.
Bam!
My back slammed into the stone wall, the air leaving my lungs in a painful rush. I gritted my teeth, twisting my body mid-air to land in a way that spread the impact across my arms and legs. The pain was sharp but bearable. It could've been worse.
I slid down the wall, coughing violently. My ribs protested with every breath as I pressed specific points on my chest and abdomen, forcing the blood and impurities out of my lungs. A thick spray of blackened saliva hit the ground, carrying with it the dust and debris I'd inhaled.
[Internal injuries are minimal. Nano machines are healing you now.]
I nodded, wiping my mouth. My body was already starting to feel better, the pain receding as Awà 's diagnostics reassured me. The faint hum of the nano machines at work was almost comforting.
"Good job, Awà ." I muttered, pushing myself to my feet.
[Always, Host.]
The air in the chamber was thick with smoke and the acrid stench of burnt flesh. As the dust began to settle, I moved forward, stepping over the shattered remains of stone and goblin alike. My eyes scanned the room, landing on the crumpled body of the goblin boss. Its chest was blown wide open, black blood pooling around it in a grotesque halo.
I glanced at the hunters scattered across the room. They were all unconscious, their bodies sprawled across the rubble. Bruised, battered, but alive.
For a moment, I felt a twinge of guilt. They had no idea they were pawns in this plan, distractions to keep the boss occupied while I dealt the final blow.
'They didn't deserve to get caught in the blast like that.' I thought, sighing.
I crouched beside Angela, checking her pulse. Strong. She'd live. The others were in similar condition, their breathing steady despite their injuries.
"Guess I owe them something for this." I murmured, turning back to the boss's corpse.
The dull gleam of an essence stone caught my eye. Nestled in the mangled remains of the goblin's chest was a large, pristine white stone, glowing faintly with mana.
[The D-Rank essence stone has been located.] Awà confirmed, her voice as steady as ever. [Analysis in progress.]
I reached into the gore, pulling the stone free. It was warm to the touch, the energy within pulsing gently against my skin. I held it up, watching as Awà 's scans illuminated the surface with faint blue lines.
[This essence stone contains sufficient mana for you to awaken successfully. If consumed, the host will achieve the optimal qualities for a peak E-Rank hunter.]
'Peak E-Rank?' I asked, frowning slightly. 'Why not D-Rank? This is a D-Rank stone, isn't it?'
[Correct.] Awà replied. [While it is possible to achieve a D-Rank awakening with this stone, I do not recommend it. The quality of this essence stone, while high, is not sufficient to ensure the most stable or efficient integration at a D-Rank level. Using this stone for an E-Rank awakening will result in the maximum potential for that rank, providing a more solid foundation for future growth.]
I tilted my head, considering her words. "And if I want to awaken at D-Rank?"
[You will need a better-quality stone. An essence stone from a higher-tier D-Rank or low-tier C-Rank magic beast would be ideal for that purpose.]
I hummed thoughtfully, turning the stone over in my hand. The pulsing light within it seemed to call out to me, tempting me to take the leap. But Awà 's logic was sound. Starting at peak E-Rank would give me a solid footing, and if I played my cards right, I could find a stronger stone soon enough.
"Alright." I said finally, slipping the stone into my bag. "Let's save this for later. No need to rush things."
[Wise choice, Host.]
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