Samuel stood over the Direbear's massive corpse, his breathing slow but steady. Blood pooled beneath its body, its fur dry from the fire that had burned through its skull. His own body was covered in wounds, deep gashes along his arms, bruises forming under his skin but he barely felt any of it.
Not because he was numb.
But because of his new ability.
[ Berserker's Endurance Acquired. ]
He clenched his fist, flexing his fingers. His skin was tougher now, his stamina almost limitless, and pain barely registered anymore. It was there, but distant, a dull ache rather than the sharp pain he was used to. His regeneration worked constantly, healing him almost as fast as he was injured.
But there was a downside.
Samuel frowned.
Pain was important.
It reminded him of his past, of the damage his body was taking. Now, with this ability, he could push himself further than ever before. But if he wasn't careful, he could break himself without realizing it.
"Gotta be smart about this," he muttered, rolling his shoulders. His bones popped, his body adjusting to the newfound resilience.
He asked the system to show him the new powers again,
Out of joy.
The system's notification flashed again.
[ New Ability: Spike Barrage Acquired. ]
[ New Ability: Enhanced Durability Acquired. ]
Then Samuel focused, channeling his magic. His skin hardened, taking on a darker shade, the texture rougher, like stone. Then, with a thought, sharp spikes burst from his arms, sharp and lethal.
He smirked.
These abilities would be useful.
But for now, he needed rest, a little.
Samuel scanned the dungeon, his eyes looking for a safe spot. The battle had torn the area apart, rocks were shattered, marks lined the walls, and the pools of the Direbear's blood still there.
Near the far end of the dungeon, he spotted a small alcove, between two large walls. It was hidden enough to give him some cover while he recovered.
He walked over, stepping carefully around the debris, and sat down with a heavy sigh. His muscles still ached, his body was sore, but his regeneration was already working. His mind, however, needed time.
He had been fighting nonstop.
First, the Banshee. Then, the Mermaid. Now, the Direbear.
Each battle had pushed him further, forced him to evolve, to adapt. He was stronger than ever before, but he wasn't done yet.
This dungeon was still far from over.
He leaned against the stone wall, closing his eyes for a moment. Just a few hours of rest.
Then, he would move forward.
When Samuel woke, his body was fully healed. His stamina had returned, and his mind was sharper than ever. He stood, stretching his limbs, and decided it was time to test his new powers.
First, he focused on Spike Barrage.
He spread his fingers, feeling the energy within his body. Slowly, he willed the spikes to emerge from his forearms, one, two, then three sharp spikes burst from his skin.
He shaked his wrist, and the spikes shot forward, entering into a nearby wall with a loud crack.
Samuel grinned. Deadly.
Then, he focused on Enhanced Durability.
He took a deep breath, activating the skill. His skin hardened instantly, becoming rough and tough like armor. To test it, he drew his dagger and slashed his own arm.
The blade barely cut through.
He smirked. This would be useful.
Next, he turned to his fire magic. His old dagger had broken during the last battle, so he needed something new, because his new stone one was already showing signs of breaking.
Samuel stretched out his hand, gathering flames at his fingertips. Slowly, he shaped the fire, molding it with his mind, until a blade of pure fire took form in his grasp.
He gave it a few test swings. The flame blade flickered but remained solid, responding to his will. He shifted the shape, making it shorter, then longer, experimenting with its form.
A weapon he could summon at any time.
Perfect.
Moving forward,
With his training complete, Samuel turned toward the next passageway. A passage with fire touch, leading even deeper into the dungeon.
The system's message appeared once more.
[ Next Boss: Minotaur, Guardian of the Abyss. ]
Samuel smirked.
Another challenge.
And he was ready for it.
With a final glance at the Direbear's corpse, he stepped into the passage, moving forward without hesitation.