Level up

Shaking off my previous thought I approached the rat monsters bodies.' I don't know why my body can use wild mana but I need to put it to use.'

SLICE SLICE

After cutting out the heart of two of the rats I cooked them with my flame and ate them. Taking this brief period of respite I sat on the ground to rest.

Ten minutes later I could see four more rat monsters headed my way. ' Dammit they just had to be initial rank 2 monsters! Why can't some rank 1 monsters head over here.'

Standing up I readied my sword and began circulating the Supreme Dragon Seal Exercise and almost immediately got to the 10th circulation which was where I was in the previous fight.

'I don't know how I used that skill before but I can't do it now so I either have to level up, make a new seal, or hold on long enough for help to arrive. Reinforcements should be arriving within the next few hours.'

SWOOSH

A large aura burst from Ryou as I poured mana into it.

CLANG CLANG SWISH SHLK

' Dammit!! ' I parried the claws if the first two rats, dodged the third, but the fourth one managed to bite into my thigh and took a chunk out of my leg.'

The rats began to circle me and I stood in the middle of all them with sword at the ready.

SCREEEEEE SKREEEEE SKREEEEE

The rats let out a screech and jumped at me two went for my bloodied leg and the other two went for my chest.

"Aaaaahhhhhh!" Letting out a loud shout I swung Ryou in a weird downward arc.

BANG BANG BANG SHLK

With the downward force of the blade I knocked away one of the rats jumping at my chest and then spinning with my sword still facing downwards I knocked away the two rats attacking my legs. But I couldn't defend against all of them.

"GAHHHH!!!" The fourth rat took a chunk out of my shoulder. Spinning around I swung Ryou at the rat but it was already out of reach.

The fight continued on like that for almost ten minutes with me desperately defending my vitals but getting severely injured in the process.

Drip Drip Drip

As I stood there barely able to stand with blood dripping from my many wounds I could feel an empowering energy rising in me. All I could think was 'YES!! I'm leveling up to middle rank 1!'

Feeling the strength flow through me strengthening every part of my body much more than the energy from the seal I was very happy. 'With this new strength I'll be able to beat these rats easily.'

My wounds were also healing at a rapid pace. With my rising aura the rats just stood there not moving.

ROAR!!!!!

Once the level up finished I released a mighty roar and jumped toward the rats with Ryou set ablaze using my ability instead of the Dragon Blade Style.

SLICE SLICE SLICE SLICE

Quickly decapitating all the rats I stopped using my ability and thought. ' It's a shame that the ability doesn't get a big boost from a level up. The only thing that happens to its power increased slightly. O well my ability is still very strong.'

Looking toward the front where the rats were coming from I got ready to fight.