Boundless Crystal : Unlimited Pain

Dante stood face to face with the colossal lava stone golem, its imposing figure emanating a grumbling and thunderous roar that sent shivers down his spine.

The air crackled with anticipation as the golem brandished a spiked stone club, poised to strike with devastating force.

Its fiery eyes glowed with intense heat, casting an ominous and menacing glare upon Dante, piercing through his flesh, bones, and blood.

As Dante locked eyes with the creature, his gaze ignited with a dangerous intensity, mirroring the flickering flames within the golem's fiery orbs.

His dual-colored eyes shimmered with a mix of anxiety and trepidation, his heart pounding in his chest. An emotion that caused him to tighten his grip on the hilt of his katana.

The gravity of the situation was palpable, as revealed by the floating marker hovering above the monster.

The marker displayed the creature's mana signature level, revealing it to be a formidable adversary.

[LEVEL 37 LAVA STONE GOLEM]

[A/N: Excuse the absence of a more creative name. I am not feeling cool today :)]

The realization struck Dante with a mix of awe and concern.

While the disparity of just two levels between the level 35 stone golems and the lava stone golem seemed small, the impact on their strength was significant.

The raw power and formidable nature of the lava stone golem surpassed its predecessor.

However, what truly astonished Dante was his newfound ability to perceive the detailed statistics of the towering monster before him.

In all his previous encounters, such an ability had eluded him, leaving him to rely solely on his instincts and observations.

Yet, now he stood, the mysterious veil lifted, granting him access to the inner workings of the creature's capabilities.

But what truly caught Dante off guard were the actual statistics displayed before his eyes.

It wasn't the mere ability to see them that surprised him, but rather the staggering numbers themselves.

The lava stone golem's stats were a testament to its overwhelming might, sending a chill down Dante's spine.

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Lava Stone Golem

Level: 37

HP(Hit Points): 890/890

ATK(Attack): 240

DEFENSE(DEF): 250

AGILITY(AGI): 225

STAMINA(STA): 250

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The revelation struck him with profound force, shattering his initial doubts as he compared the wolves he had encountered in the Twilight Crypt to those in the Abyss Dimension.

The undeniable evidence presented by the statistics left him in no doubt that the creatures in the Abyss Dimension were unquestionably superior compared to other creatures of the same level.

This truth became glaringly apparent as he contemplated the stark contrast between the golem's current stats and what his own would have been had he reached level 37.

The difference was an astonishing average of 35 units for the highest stat of the lava stone golem, assuming the standard increase of five units per stat level and fifteen units per mana and HP level every time he advanced.

Of course, this was without including the stats he had gained from his previous evolutions.

His mind wrestled with the implications, and amidst the chaos of his thoughts, a single idea stood out, punctuated by the weight of quotation marks:

'What does this mean for my journey? How can I hope to overcome such a vast discrepancy? Even with the additional stat boosts I have gained from my numerous evolutions, I am still lacking,' Dante thought as he paused to take a breath.

Yet, amidst the overwhelming gravity of his thoughts, a twisted smirk found its way onto Dante's face.

In his eyes, a glimmer of madness danced, intermingling with a disconcerting sense of satisfaction.

The gears of his mind began to turn, embracing the myriad powers he possessed. In their presence, he found solace and a flicker of hope in his current situation.

"Well, I suppose having all these various powers wasn't such a bad thing after all," he mused, his voice laced with a chilling blend of contentment and madness.

He had decided to use it from the start. Why bother being tossed around like a ragdoll when he could simply blitz his opponents?

As he stepped into a tier of the Basic Pulse - Rapid Rhythm, a surge of exhilaration coursed through Dante's being.

The air crackled with anticipation as his consciousness merged with the pulsating energy coursing through him.

Amid this heightened state, a sudden interruption shattered the tranquility.

Before him, materialized a system notification, its virtual presence illuminated the atmosphere with an ethereal glow.

The words etched on the interface commanded his attention, punctuating the air with their significance.

[Ding!! The user has gained an Acceleration Factor, giving the user +25 agility units.]

Suddenly, an understanding dawned upon Dante, like a veil lifting from his perception. His mutterings carried a mixture of realization and determination, tinged with a glimmer of hope.

"So that's why. It's like a passive skill. Well, the gap may still be wide, but perhaps... just perhaps, I have a chance."

A surge of energy pulsed through Dante's veins, igniting a fiery sensation that emanated from the depths of his being.

The tattoos that had remained concealed, dormant symbols of his Cursed Brand power etched upon his skin, began to stir. Like a living tapestry, they slowly unfurled, revealing themselves in their full glory.

The intricate patterns and symbols danced across his chest, radiating a dark aura that marked his complete immersion into the Rapid Rhythm form.

He could feel the currents of power coursing through his muscles, his bones, and his very soul, fueling him with an electrifying force.

In the pinnacle of his new state, Dante stood poised as the living conduit of the Rapid Rhythm.

The world around him blurred into a haze, mere fragments of reality as he became one with the pulsating energy that surged within him.

Violet energy, shimmering with a metallic sheen, coursed through his veins, suffusing his very being.

With a swift and decisive motion, Dante burst forward, propelled by the unstoppable force that resided within him.

His movements became a blur, leaving behind a trail of vibrant violet light, a testament to his phenomenal speed and power.

The air crackled with anticipation as his blade, an extension of his will, descended upon the unsuspecting level thirty-one stone golem.

Dark flames, infused with an otherworldly essence, danced upon the surface of his katana. They licked and coiled around the blade, hungry for destruction.

As the fiery weapon met the unyielding form of the golem, a resounding clash reverberated through the battlefield, sending shockwaves in every direction.

The onslaught was relentless, unyielding even. Dante's strike, infused with the dark flames, cleaved through the golem's stony exterior, severing its defenses.

The impact was fierce, reducing a substantial twenty-five percent of the golem's formidable hit points to mere fragments.

The air crackled with the residual energy of the collision, bearing witness to the power Dante exuded.

In a flurry of intense clashes, shockwaves rippled through the battlefield as Dante faced off against the slow, lumbering golems ranging from level 35 and lower.

Each collision reverberated with a thunderous impact, shaking the very ground beneath their feet. Amidst this chaotic symphony of violence, one particular figure caught Dante's attention—the level 37 lava golem.

To Dante's surprise, the colossal creature stood motionless, seemingly disdainful of engaging with a mere human preoccupied with dispatching the lower-ranked golems.

It loomed ominously, its molten form radiating a sinister aura as if taunting Dante with its presence.

Time wore on, and the clash continued relentlessly. For fifteen grueling minutes, Dante engaged in a fierce battle, his mana and stamina depleting with each passing moment.

The effects of the Rapid Rhythm began to wane, its once unstoppable tempo gradually nearing its end. Only a few precious minutes remained before he would revert to his base form.

With ragged breaths and gasps for air, Dante surveyed the aftermath of his arduous struggle.

Seven golems lay defeated, their stone bodies shattered and broken.

Fatigue weighed heavily upon him, his weary gaze fixing upon the formidable lava golem before him.

A complex mixture of emotions flickered across his face, a blend of both creepy excitement and disappointment.

A creepy smile played upon his lips, revealing the twisted joy he had found amid the chaotic battle.

The adrenaline coursing through his veins had been exhilarating, a testament to the pleasure he derived from such intense encounters. Something he wished he could control.

And hidden beneath that unsettling smile was a deeper significance. It reflected a profound relief that washed over Dante's being, dispelling his primary worry.

For so long, he had been plagued by the uncertainty of his numerous abilities and lacked a tangible metric to measure their strength and potential.

The absence of a clear scale left him grappling with doubt and unease, questioning the true extent of his abilities.

Yet, amid the chaotic battle, as he unleashed his diverse array of powers and witnessed their impact firsthand, a newfound understanding dawned upon him.

And also, underlying his eerie satisfaction was a sense of disappointment. Despite vanquishing the seven stone golems, not a single Boundless Crystal had come into his possession.

The absence of this reward, a symbol of his triumph and potential advancement, left a bitter taste in his weary mouth.

Yet, before he could fully succumb to the weight of this disheartening realization, a torrent of adrenaline surged within him, momentarily banishing any traces of dejection.

The once-spiked stone club now glistened ominously, cloaked in a seething layer of molten lava. The heat emanating from its surface ignited a spark of fear in his chest.

The lava stone golem, though seemingly sluggish in its movements, in comparison to Dante's agility, the 20-point difference in their respective attributes posed a significant challenge to Dante.

This made the golem appear as a relentless force hurtling toward him. Time seemed to warp, stretching thin like a taut wire.

Dante's heart raced, its rapid beats echoing in his ears, drowning out all other sounds. Every fiber of his being honed in on the imminent danger, his mind hyper-focused on the looming threat.

His eyes locked onto the incoming danger, tracing the fiery arc of the golem's weapon as it closed in on his vulnerable head. Panic threatened to rise within him, but he quelled it with a surge of focus.

Dante's lithe form darted and weaved with almost ethereal grace, his reflexes allowing him to evade, albeit barely.

He became a shadow in motion, an elusive phantom that defied the golem's attempts to strike him. With each evasion, his body contorted, fluidly evading the incoming blows with hair's breadth precision.

But the golem's movements, though sluggish in comparison, were fueled by its sheer mass and raw power. And any misstep would cost Dante.

The ground trembled with each thunderous step it took, the very earth quaking beneath its heavy, molten feet.

Every swing of its spiked stone club carried an air of impending destruction, leaving a fiery trail in its wake.

As Dante deftly evaded each impending blow, his movements became a graceful dance of survival.

With the fluidity of a swordsman, his katana cleaved through the air, leaving behind an ethereal trail of dark flames.

Each strike was a testament to his focus and honed skills, seeking out the golem's weaknesses amidst its formidable defenses.

Yet, despite his precision and skill, Dante's attacks seemed feeble in comparison to the golem's impenetrable defenses.

The damage inflicted was meager, barely registering against the creature's formidable health.

With each passing moment, his advantage in agility dwindled, the countdown to his Rapid Rhythm form ticking relentlessly. The frustration of his limited attack power gnawed at him.

However, amidst his struggle, signs of progress emerged. The flickering marker adorned the golem, indicating some measure of damage inflicted.

Dante's acute perception allowed him to glimpse the creature's status window, revealing a noticeable decrease in its health. Though small, these victories offered a glimmer of hope amidst the overwhelming odds.

Abruptly, the golem underwent a dramatic transformation, shrouding itself in a gleaming silver sheen.

Its left hand morphed into a menacing longsword, while its fiery eyes took on a haunting silver glow. The sight sent shivers down Dante's spine, a foreboding indication of an imminent escalation.

As the golem underwent its transformation, Theia's voice rang in Dante's head. "Haha, this is one of the special surprises I was waiting for you to get," she said excitedly.

"Ta-da! I humbly introduce to you the exclusive rage mode I have programmed into a select few beasts to pose you some challenges.

"Since you are outdated, you wouldn't know this feature which was used a millennium ago in various anime games that the few bright humans had created...."

Theia's voice resonated within Dante's mind, unleashing a passionate rant.

She proudly proclaimed her latest endeavor—a mischievous addition she had made to the creatures in the Abyss Dimension.

Her intention was clear: to further torment Dante and derive immense pleasure from it.

Dante sighed. "Well isn't it the other way round? You are the one who should be referred to as outdated, considering you're still holding onto something that was a millennium ago. But forget it," he added, his annoyance evident. "I don't have the luxury of arguing with you now."

As Dante uttered his words, beads of sweat materialized on his forehead, a clear sign of his growing unease.

Theia's intentions loomed ominously, and Dante understood that whatever she had in store, he wanted no part of it.

In the face of the golem's impending transformation, Dante made a pivotal decision, casting aside caution.

No longer content to play it safe, he resolved to pursue the path he had long harbored in his mind, fully aware of the dangers lurking within the so-called "rage mode" that awaited him.

In the real world, such audacity to go through with his plans would spell certain death, but here, within this dimension, he would "only" endure excruciating agony afterward.

"I must ensure perfect timing," Dante whispered, his focus unwavering. "In just a span of a second, I must unleash my full force with my three tiers, seizing the opportunity with all my might. Momentum is crucial..."

As he cautiously retreated, putting a safe distance between himself and the metamorphosing golem, Dante's realization struck him like lightning.

The newfound space allowed him to harness the momentum he needed.

Planting his feet firmly into the earth, he summoned an immense strength that propelled him forward with unmatched velocity.

This extraordinary swiftness was a testament to his Rapid Rhythm form, albeit waning, evident from the vanishing tattoos etched upon his chest.

Closing the gap in mere seconds, Dante found himself standing right in front of the formidable golem.

In that instant, the fading tattoos on his body appeared to regain their vibrancy, as if infused with renewed life.

The intensifying Rapid Rhythm propelled him further, causing his skin to radiate heat.

His right eye, adorned with the solar emblem, took on a vivid blue hue, a clear sign that he had tapped into the power of the Psycho Rhythm form, enhancing his perception and focus.

[Ding!! The user has permanently acquired the physical attribute: Perception. The user currently experiences a temporary Perception boost of +30 units.]

Disregarding the notification from the system, Dante refocused on the basic usage of his Oppressive Control ability before undergoing Theia's training.

Shifting into the formidable Apocalypse Rhythm form, his leg muscles bulged momentarily, his teeth clattering, and his bones creaking under the strain.

He delved into all three tiers of the Basic Pulse, the first pulse of NeroSurge at the very moment.

With a sudden burst of power, Dante leaped upward, soaring to a height of approximately five meters above the ground.

Midair, swiftly twisted his body, reversing his orientation so that his feet faced the sky and his head pointed downward, directly at the golem.

Propelling himself once more, he intensified his momentum, the sheer force of his movement pushing against the resistance of the air. It seemed as if he was perilously close to colliding with the towering golem.

Assuming the stance for the Fiery Eclipse sword form, Dante swung his weapon downward with all his might, infusing the remaining traces of mana into his next attack.

"Ignition: Flame Steel!" he bellowed, his voice resounding with determination. "Fiery Eclipse: Dark Flameburst!"

The blade of his sword connected with the golem's now fiery silver neck, unleashing a powerful strike. The way he exerted himself triggered a system notification.

[Ding! The host's Dimensional Avatar has exceeded its maximum damage limit. Shutting down in... 5... 4... 3....]

The countdown commenced, but Dante tapped into the last remnants of his strength, bursting forth with an unexpected surge of power.

The crumbling of the silver stony neck of the golem instilled him with confidence, yet before he could accomplish his intended goal, the longsword plunged into his heart.

Notwithstanding, Dante managed to utilize the "Burst" component of his attack skill.

His inability to control his mana, a characteristic common among novice mages like him, worked to his advantage as he triggered an explosion that obliterated the golem's head, causing it to dissipate into ethereal motes of light.

Amidst the shimmering motes of light, Dante caught sight of a vivid green crystal.

Regrettably, his disintegrating body could not grasp the crystal as his attempt to employ the Web Weaver skill proved ineffective.

However, in that moment, the unmistakable fur of Damien materialized, as his jaws seized hold of the crystal.

Once Dante had fully vanished from the dimension, the furry creature's body disintegrated, for it could no longer remain in its original home after bonding with Dante.

Back within the confines of the hovering train chamber, Dante's convulsing body lay on the bed, enduring unimaginable agony.

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[Author's Note: As you may have noticed, I am currently working on developing a metric to gauge Dante's power scaling and evaluate his strength relative to other characters.

I have already established the backstories of some significant characters, and I wanted to inform you that after approximately fifteen chapters or more, I will conclude the first volume.

Following the conclusion of the first volume, I am considering transitioning to a premium format. I deeply appreciate your ongoing support and hope it continues in the future.]