18 Deflect

(Floor #83)

Katsuya had finally made it back to the stone bridge he was once knocked off of. Still there, was the rock spirit that had nearly put an end to him.

With a dark look in Katsuya's eyes, he spoke.

"It's time to repay you for almost killing me."

The creature turned to look at him then started charging forward with great speed.

['Monster' has activated]

The spirit swung its sharp fingers at him as he grinned.

"Deflect."

He effortlessly pushed the creature's hand to the side which then smashed into the ground.

With ease, Katsuya jumped into the air and slammed his knee against the spirit's face, followed by a loud boom. He had only put little to no effort into his attack but the entire upper half of the monster's body had ripped apart.

Thump!

The ground had shaken when its body fell to the floor.

[Leveled up x10]

[Quest complete: Kill 7 monsters]

[New skill learned: Combat Genius]

With a graceful movement, Katsuya landed back on his feet making almost a sound.

"Sora, show me the skills description."

"I'm on it." her voice replied.

{Combat Genius - You can quickly learn skills and movements just by watching someone perform them. You have a 100% chance at learning movements. The more you pay attention to a specific skill, the higher your chance will be for learning it.}

Katsuya had always read about skills that adventurers would get while fighting or going through a certain experience. This skill was one he had never even heard of; he felt that having it would be like a cheat code in a video game.

"This will give me an advantage over most opponents I face. But, I kinda feel like it's a way of cheating."

A blue flash of light came from the side, right before fading away.

Sora now stood there with a somewhat worried look on her face.

In confusion, Katsuya spoke.

"What's wrong?"

"Well, I sensed a little change in your personality when you fight. The change was caused by you overusing the Monster skill. It's not a big problem yet but if you continue to overuse it, your personality may become corrupted and you may become no better than a monster. Actually, that's an understatement. You may literally become a monster."

He was shocked to hear that but still remained confused as to how it was possible.

"What!? How?"

Sora was hesitant to tell him how it worked out of fear he wouldn't use it even if his life depended on it. She grabbed her arm while staring at the floor next to her.

"When you activate the skill, it temporarily removes your human limiters and blocks emotions. As a result, it puts a lot of stress on the way your brain works."

Which means it can lead to small mutations depending on the users mindset mindset.

When Katsuya fights, he seems to think about nothing more than slaughtering. Though it is true that he has to be violent when fighting monsters but, if he continues to over use the 'Monster' skill, it may make his mindset similar to a monster. If that happens, he would become a threat to not only monsters, but humans as well.

After hearing her explanation, Katsuya stood in surprise and the thought about using the skill made his body quiver.

"If I come across a strong enough monster, I'll have to use it. Other than that, I'll try not to."

"That's a relief. I'll show you the directions to the next floor." said Sora.

No less than 20 minutes later…

(Floor #82)

There was a monster that stood on all fours. It's skin was the color red and it was rough. Its eyes shined yellow and it had two white horns sticking out of its forehead. It was a monster called a "rampaging demon."

Katsuya started taking steps forward and the demon quickly turned towards him. It let out a viscous growl and drool fell from its mouth.

"Come at me." said Katsuya.

With fast movement, the demon ran forward as dust flew up behind it.

Swoosh.

Boom!

(Rampaging Demon: Hp: 0/200,876)

Its face suddenly caved in as it was launched across the floor.

When it had run at Katsuya, he smashed his fist into its face.

Though ,to the creature it looked as if he had just vanished.

Katsuya looked down at his fist as it had blood from the monster on it.

"I really have gotten stronger. I'm able to one-shot a silver-rank monster as long as I hit its face."

The wind shook as a pair of footsteps were racing towards him.

It was two other rampaging demons. Their eyes glowed realty in the shadow as they got closer.

[Warning: Opponent has activated 'Attack double']

I grin appeared onto Katsuya's face.

"Thank you for showing me that nice skill"

In no less than four seconds, the demons were met with utter destruction as their bodys were torn apart.

After killing them, Katsuya continued his walk to the upper floors, disappearing into the darkness up ahead.

55 minutes later…

(Floor #83)

After clearing the last floor, Katsuya had finally arrived at a pair of giant red doors.

"It's about time I made it here. I'm still feeling like I won't be able to solo a Silver rank boss."

If he was able to instantly kill Silver-rank monsters but that did not mean he would be able to do the same to a boss of that rank. Compared to the other monsters, bosses were 25 times stronger at the minimum.

With hesitation he placed his hand against the door.

"I'll have an advantage against any monster I come across. What do I have to fear? I've made a decision. When I'm in front of any monster, I will be afraid."

With a swift shove, the doors flew open, shaking the air.

The room on the other side was giant. The floor was hard and grey, a giant blue crystal hung from the top, lighting up the cave.

About 200 feet in front of him was another giant pair of red doors.

One step, two steps, three steps, four steps.....23 steps, 24 steps.

The more Katsuya kept walking, the more he saw no sign of the boss.

Appearing so suddenly was a large black cloud of fog.

His walking stopped and he stood still, waiting for something to come out.

Sure enough, something did. Its footsteps sounded like boots walking down a quiet hallway. Its skin was a shadow and its eyes were shined like a white light. It wore a wicked grin across its face which was also white.

(Ancient Shadow: Hp: 3,600,000/3,600,000)

Katsuya then thought to himself.

"An ancient shadow? I've read about these monsters in a magazine article once. It's said that they can teleport about once every twenty seconds."

Ancient shadows had lots of amazing abilities such as teleportation, magic knowledge, combat knowledge ect.

To his surprise, the creature began talking.

"You're a human. What are you doing coming from the lower floors?"

"If I'm being honest, It's really none of your business, monster."

The shadow let out a chuckle then replied.

"That's funny. You call me a monster but, you're the one coming from the lower floors. A place where deadlier monsters lurk in the shadows."

Katsuya felt a bit irritated due to the fact that he only wanted to leave this dungeon.

"Just get out of the way and let me pass."

The shadow shook his head and let out a sigh.

"I can't do that. Anything that shows up in front of me, I will tear to shreds. This is my room. I will defend it using the ancient dark martial arts I have practiced for hundreds of years. I will target your vital points, causing you to lose feeling in your limbs. You stand no chance against me."

The creature suddenly took a fighting stance. His legs stood some distance apart and its fists were up.

At a steady pace, it began chanting.

"Calm the mind, Imagine to be power stronger than my opponent, I will be as strong as steel."

A thought kept repeating in Katsuya's head.

"Slaughter...slaughter...slaughter...slaughter all monsters. They are the reason why my life is hard. They are the root cause of my problems.

He wore a sinister expression on his face and began speaking loud enough for the shadow to hear.

"I changed my mind. I just remembered a promise I made to myself. I will slaughter each and every monster I come across. Also, are you sure you should be showing me your little fighting style? I'm a quick learner."

A smile shot across the creature's face as it replied with confidence.

"I have no worries. You can't possibly learn a fighting style on this level. It took me hundreds of years just to master it. As a result, my attack will be amplified time two and I will take less damage."

Katsuya took a deep breath and let it out. He took a fighting stance, one that looked identical to the shadow's.

"I think I understand how this works now."

The creature's face quickly turned furious and he spoke with rage.

"Are you mocking me? You'll learn true fear!!"

The shadow rushed forward and rapidly swung his fists. A red stream of light followed each strike and shook the air. None of the strikes had hit Katsuya as he had dodged them with ease.

"I really expected more from you. I guess I was worried for nothing."

"Don't get cocky." The shadow replied.

[Warning: Enemy has activated 'Brawler']

[New skill learned: Brawler]

[Warning: Enemy had activated Speed Boost']

[New skill learned: Speed Boost]

The wind shook violently as the creatures first moved through the air.

Boom!

Katsuya's eyes widened as he was struck in the chest. His entire body launched through the air and he was shocked by the creature's speed.

Seconds passed as he continued moving through the air and Time seemed to get somewhat slower. He started to think to himself.

" That thing has crazy strength. And it's speed is faster than mine. I bet it thinks it has the upper hand. I won't lose…. to some monster. Every monster I come across...has to be slaughtered. Slaughtered, slaughtered , slaughtered, slaughtered."

As he fell through the air, he instantly flipped his body. His feet stomped down, cracking the floor as he landed.

An emotionless look was on his face as his eyes met with the creature's.

"Thanks for teaching me you skills. You just made me stronger."

['Speed Boost' has been activated]

['Brawler' has been activated]

['Monster' has activated]

['Attack Double' has been activated]

2,035,080

Katsuya took one step then vanished from sight. The shadows eyes widened in disbelief.

"What?!"

A red stream of light followed Katsuya's fist as it instantly smashed against its face. The entire room shook followed by a sonic boom.

Boom!

(Ancient Shadow: Hp: 1,564,920/3,600,000)

With unimaginable speed, the shadow was sent sliding back across the room before slamming into a wall.

Giant cracks ran up and down.

The shadow slowly took a step forward then stopped. Its posture was hunched forward and it was breathing heavily.

"You...are also a monster, aren't you?"

Katsuya stood in silence with no emotion.

The shadow continued.

"Fine, you don't need to answer. Either way, this fight ends here."

The creature began chanting as it held his palm out, aiming it at Katsuya.

"Killing Shadow: Life Ending Shadow Orb!"

[Warning: Enemy has activated 'Magic Amplifier']

A gigantic ball of darkness appeared then launched through the air with impossible force.

Closer, closer, closer, and closer. It was no more than seven feet away from Katsuya.

He murmured a phrase.

"Deflect."

A red stream of light followed the movement of his hands. The ball of darkness that was supposed to kill him, had changed directions.

It was now launching back towards the shadow.

The creature couldn't help but feel an emotion he thought was impossible for him to feel. As the dark ball got closer, the shadows' eyes widened.

What was it that the ancient shadow felt?

It was "Fear"

On impact, half of the room was caught in a dark explosion that instantly caused the room to shake like a violent earthquake.

[Leveled up x330]

The roof and walls began to crumble and fall apart.

Katsuya noticed a small glowing ball where the boss once stood.

"That's the boss orb. It'll be worth alot. I better grab int before the room falls apart."

In less than two seconds, he was already there and snatched the orb oss the ground.

"Got it."

He Shoved it into his pocket and quickly ran out of the room.

The entire room collapsed behind him.

"That was close."

A strange message appeared in his view.

[You have been cursed. 25% of every stats except for 'Intelligence' be removed]

"I'll lose some of my stats? Sora, show me my current stats."

{ Katsuya: Class: Unspecialized

Level: 179/179

Hp: 149,746

Intelligence: 160

Mp: 171,060

Atk: 179, 060

Speed: 498

Endurance: 3,852

Exp: 0/0}

"I just leveled up so I don't know how much I actually lost. I guess it doesn't matter that much. I'm still on the level of a Gold-ranker."

He looked further ahead and saw that there was a creature lurking in the shadows. It had orange fur and sharp white teeth; It's eyes shined red.

As Katsuya looked closer, he realized it wasn't just one monster.

There were a lot of them slowly walking out of the shadows.

It was hard to say how many there were but If he had to guess, there was maybe around 45.

One thought kept repeating inside his head.

"Slaughter...slaughter, slaughter, slaughter, slaughter."

['Monster' has activated]

He began walking forward as he spoke.

"Sora, appear."

There was a bright flash of blue light that disappeared just as fast as it came. Now standing next to him was a white haired girl who wore a black leather jacket and balck leather boots. She wielded a long blue-bladed katana.

"You ready? All these monsters are Silver-rank." said Katsuya

"Yes, I am. As soon as you give the command." Sora replied.

Katsuya began walking forward with an emotionless face.

'Sora, let's do this."

All the monsters were met with death.

___________________

(Floor #64 During Katsuya's fight with the Ancient Shadow)

Both Nari and Kenshin stopped walking and tried to keep their balance as the entire area violently shook.

"An earthquake?!" Kenshin asked.

"No, this is coming from a boss. I can feel it." Nari replied.

The shaking stopped.

"We're lucky the entire place didn't collapse."

"The chances of an entire dungeon collapsing is rare. They are stronger than any building we know of. I wish it would though. So that way all the monsters would meet their end."

Stomp!

Stomp!

Stomp!

A monster began walking forward on all fours. It had orange furr and a great peach-colored mane. It was a monster called a 'Blood lion'

Nari's yellow eyes greatly shined. As She gripped her spare, she shot forward.

"Meet your maker!"

A blue light followed the swing of her weapon and the monster's body exploded as if a missile had hit. It's blood splatters all across the floor and walls. Some had even gotten on Nari's cheek. She then turned her head and looked at Kenshin with an evil look in her eyes.

"Let's keep going. I want to carry out judgement on the next boss."

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