Chapter 9: The Beast with Three heads
The roar of Cerberus grew louder as Dinl approached the heart of the lower mall. The air felt heavier with every step, thick with the stench of decay and the faint pulse of glowing red light flickering through the shadows ahead. Dinl crouched low, his steps silent as he rounded a corner.
The Fake Cerberus Zombie stood in the center of a massive atrium, surrounded by broken tiles and mangled remains of furniture. The creature was enormous, its three heads snapping and snarling as their glowing eyes scanned the area.
Behind it, a handful of zombies shuffled aimlessly, their movements jerky but eerily synchronized. Dinl tightened his grip on his knife as he watched.
'This is it,' he thought, his eyes narrowing. 'No more distractions… no more waiting.'
Dinl stepped silently into the open, moving toward Cerberus with deliberate precision. The horde stirred slightly as he drew closer, their movements slow but reactive. Cerberus, however, froze in place. Its leftmost head snapped toward him, emitting a low, guttural growl.
Dinl didn't hesitate. He lunged forward, his knife flashing as he drove it into the neck of the nearest zombie. The creature collapsed in a heap, but Cerberus roared, its other heads swiveling to focus on him as the remaining zombies surged forward.
The horde was faster than expected, their jerking steps almost coordinated. Dinl ducked under the claws of one zombie, slashing across its chest before kicking it back into another. He sidestepped another lunge, driving his blade upward into the decayed skull of a third.
Cerberus moved suddenly, its massive claws tearing into the ground as it charged. Dinl darted to the side, barely avoiding a swipe from its rightmost head. The beast's claws smashed into the floor, sending shards of tile flying.
'It's faster than it looks,' Dinl thought, his heart pounding as he recalculated his approach.
Dinl ducked behind a toppled vending machine, catching his breath as Cerberus snarled in frustration. His chest heaved, but his mind remained focused. He reached into his bag, pulling out the glowing white orb he'd scavenged earlier.
The orb pulsed faintly in his palm, warmth spreading through his fingers as he turned it over. Dinl hesitated briefly.
'No time to overthink,' he told himself. With a sharp motion, he crushed the orb in his hand. Energy flooded his body instantly, sharp and invigorating, as his muscles tightened in response.
System Notification:
"Temporary Stat Boost Activated: Strength +10, Agility +5."
Dinl stepped out from his cover, his grip firm on his knife. Cerberus turned toward him again, its three heads growling in unison. Dinl smirked faintly, the confidence in his voice unwavering.
"Let's see how you handle this."
Dinl charged forward, his enhanced strength allowing him to carve through two zombies in an instant. Cerberus roared, lunging toward him with its three snapping heads. Dinl rolled to the side, slashing at the beast's flank as it passed.
The creature howled in pain, but it was relentless. Its claws raked the ground as it turned sharply, the right head snapping at him. Dinl ducked low, driving his knife into the joint of its front leg.
Cerberus retaliated with a wild swing, catching Dinl across the arm and sending him sprawling. He groaned as he hit the ground, blood dripping from the fresh wound, but he pushed himself up quickly.
'This thing isn't just strong… it's relentless,' he thought, wiping his blade clean on his sleeve.
Dinl's eyes narrowed as he studied Cerberus's movements. Each head served a clear purpose: the left scanned for threats, the middle directed the horde, and the right focused on attacking.
'If I take out the middle head… the horde will collapse,' he realized.
The zombies around Cerberus were still moving, but their coordination faltered whenever the middle head turned its focus elsewhere. Dinl sprinted forward, weaving between the remaining zombies. Cerberus lunged, but Dinl ducked under its claws and drove his knife into the middle head's neck.
The beast howled, its movements growing erratic as blood poured from the wound. The zombies around it staggered, their synchronization breaking entirely. Dinl used the opportunity to finish them off, striking with precision as the orb's power surged through him.
With the horde eliminated, Dinl turned his full attention to Cerberus. The creature was injured but far from defeated, its remaining heads snapping and growling as it staggered toward him.
Dinl adjusted his stance, his breathing steady despite the strain. The effects of the white orb were beginning to fade, but he still had enough strength left to finish the job.
Cerberus charged again, its claws raised. Dinl didn't dodge. He met its attack head-on, sliding under its swipe and driving his blade deep into its chest. The beast reared back, howling in agony as it collapsed to the floor.
Dinl climbed onto its back, his knife raised high. With one final strike, he drove the blade into the center of its skull. Cerberus let out a shuddering groan before falling still.
System Notification:
"Boss Defeated: Fake Cerberus Zombie."
"+30,000 XP."
"Impossible Achievement Unlocked: I Can Solo a Boss and Its Minions."
"New Skill Acquired: Bloodlust."
Dinl stepped back, his chest rising and falling heavily as he watched the creature's body dissolve into ash.
As the notification hovered in his vision, Dinl paused to read the description of his new achievement:
Impossible Achievement: I Can Solo a Boss and Its Minions -
"This achievement is awarded to the first—and only—individual to defeat a Tutorial boss and its summoned minions without assistance. Grants a permanent bonus of +5% to all stats. Only one individual may ever hold this title."
Dinl smirked faintly, the weight of the reward settling in. Impossible Achievements were whispered legends, unattainable by most, and now he'd claimed one. The stat bonus was permanent, a subtle but undeniable edge that would remain with him throughout the Tower's challenges.
Dinl opened the skill menu, his eyes scanning the details of the new ability.
Bloodlust -
"For ten seconds after each kill, gain a 10% increase to all stats. This effect stacks with consecutive kills."
Dinl's smirk deepened. Bloodlust wasn't just a reward—it was a game-changer. In the right hands, the stacking effect could turn a single well-planned battle into an overwhelming surge of power.
'It's aggressive… but it fits,' he thought, selecting the skill to equip it.
The system allowed multiple skills to be equipped simultaneously, but their effects varied depending on the combination. Dinl only had two active skills now: Bloodlust and the boost from his Impossible Achievement. Together, they formed a foundation he could build on with future rewards.
The atrium was silent now, save for the sound of Dinl's labored breathing. He wiped the blood from his blade, glancing briefly at the achievement and skill descriptions still glowing in his vision.
'A boss and its minions… all on my own,' he thought.
Sliding the knife back into its sheath, he adjusted the straps of his bag and stepped forward. There was no time to linger—the next challenge was waiting.