Level Up!

Swish—

Power constantly flowed throughout his body. At the same time, Hans appeared above the Jackal's head in an instant. He pulled his elbows back and struck its head with a solid punch. 

Bam—

The attack slightly flattened its head to the ground and made its ears buzz. Hans immediately leaped back to the ground avoiding the claws aimed towards his chest. 

Swish —

Bam—

Geru's claws shattered the wall. Seeing Hans evading its attack, Geru quickly turned around. 

'Huh?' 

Hans smiled at its gaze, his figure turned blurry until it was washed away by the moving wind. 

'Afterimage!?' 

The jackal boss lost track of Hans' position. It tried circling its gaze around but to its surprise, it couldn't find anyone. 

'Where is he!?' 

At that moment, the Jackal boss' face suddenly crumbled. 

Bam—

'What?!!' 

Its huge body lifted into the air and flew towards the ceiling wall. 

'What's going on!!!?' 

Geru didn't know what caused him to fly, so he lowered his gaze and found him soon after. 

'He's there the whole time!!?' 

Hans wasn't positioned left or right, or was he above, but instead just right under. Shortly due to gravity, the Jackal fell into the air, head first, unhindered. 

Its misfortune didn't end there. 

Wooosh—

Hans's eyes squinted and leaped from his position. 

'You can't dodge in mid-air.'

Hans' reddened form burst through to the air like a cannonball, squeezed his fist, and smashed it towards its head once again.

Boom—

"Kuuaahhh!!" 

This time, the Jackal flew to the altar and shattered the debris on its way. Hans followed it down and immediately threw a barrage of attacks. Of course, the Jackal also dodge it by twisting his body side to side. 

Smash—

When suddenly, Hans senses the breath of danger from behind. 

Slam—

If he didn't instinctively move his body, his head would have been pierced by the Jackal's claws. The jackal retreated backward seeing its sneak attack failed and got into a defensive stance again. Saliva oozed from its mouth while blood strips covered its red fur. 

Hans narrowed his eyes in confusion. Earlier, after the Jackal dodged his attack, it vanished. 

'Fast agility… Does it have any more skills?' 

Well, he'll never know unless he forced it to show those. 

'Very well, it seems I need to go all out this time.'

Hans instantly flashed just under the Jackal's chin. By twisting his body upside down, Hans leaped for a frontal kick. 

Woosh—

Bam—

Geru counterattacks by throwing claw strikes and charging skills. Hans predicted this and lowered his head, evading a claw. 

'Right.'

Bam—

Tumbling his body around, he dodged the Jackal's left claw aimed towards his chest. 

'Left' 

Bamm—

Another strike came to him, this time, at his solar plexus. Hans managed to elude those by going underneath the huge Jackal. He readied his fists again but as if Geru already learned, it immediately jumped backward, exposing Hans' prepared stance. 

Shu—

The cold breeze swishes under the dark hall as the dust slowly filled their vision. 

Pant—, pant—

On the other side, Geru glared in anger and frustration. It didn't think that he'd be forced to use it by a mere human race. 

That is why… 

"Human, you have angered me!!!" 

"..." 

Shu—

Suddenly, its body began to transform. Horns protruded from its forehead while its muscles started to buff up. Vein lines started appearing from its body before howling a roar. 

To take a closer look, Hans stepped forward. But in a flash, a swift thing shot through his face. 

Swish—

'Fast!!!' 

The thing that reached his neck instantly was not something, but the Jackal's claws. 

Hans' eyes widened. He subconsciously crossed his hand to his chest, blocking that dangerous attack. 

"Haaah!!" 

Baaaaam—

'What!?' 

Boom—

Hans's figure was knocked backward.

Drip—

Hans hurriedly glanced to his arms. Although he successfully parried the claws, it was still enough to make him bleed. 

Drip—, drip—

Staring at his bleeding hand, Hans gulped in shock. Not because the strike hurt him but… 

'So I really have this insane regeneration.'

He noticed his body slightly red as well. So even though bewildered by these phenomenons, he didn't have the leisure time to worry about that yet. 

Woosh—

Hans quickly retreated to avoid the rampaging Jackal, who's now destroying things on its way towards him. 

'It's stronger than its previous form.'

It's like seeing a different monster. Even his punch didn't deal much damage compared to earlier. 

'High defense…'

Hans gulped and carefully observed the raging beast. Its muscles continued to bulge; long pointed horns protruded from its head all the way to its neck. The furs also thickened and glistened as they covered the Jackal from head to toe. 

He didn't know how strong Geru is right now but no doubt, it's stronger than before. And to inflict more powerful damage to it, Hans would have to use a lot of strength. 

'I can use it.'

Hans brought his fists up and assumed a martial arts stance he learned back at the training camp. 

'This should suffice.'

The martial arts stance isn't really that great. It's just a basic stance all awakened learned. But still, it's better than nothing. 

Grrrr—

The Jackal dashed once more and stopped before Hans. It raised its front claws and sliced it down in an X strike. 

Slam—

'It's here again!' 

Slam—

Bits of rubbles constantly burst from the ground and walls as the Jackal continued its onslaught. Hans concentrated on dodging rather than blocking its attack. This way, he can perfectly strike when the Jackal slowly gasses out.

Swish—

Bam—

Swish—

Bam—

The sound of Jackal's claws ripping the wind stung his ears. Dust and bits of rocks gradually began to fly out in every direction. Evading the barrage of attacks, Hans focused on finding openings with every step he took. 

...... 

Everyone couldn't believe their eyes. They have been watching from afar, dumbfounded by this mind-blowing fight. 

"W-who in the world is he?!!" 

"T-that's a D-class Awakened?!!" 

"H-how can he fight that monster and not lose an inch?!!" 

Even from their position, the pressure in the air can still be felt, making their skin crawl in fear. Now, this man is not just fighting that pressure with an aura of his own but also fighting that monster toe to toe. It's like watching a movie. 

Although sometimes they can't see what's happening, as the two would suddenly vanish and appear from nowhere, they know inwardly that this fight is not a realm they can interfere. 

"I-is this how a C-class fights?" 

No, there's no way. This is not a battle of two newly ascended C-classes anymore. Fredrick is positive about this.

'This feeling…' 

He had seen many C-class fights in D-rank dungeons. Be it power or speed, they are not as powerful as this. If he was in Hans' shoes, he's not even sure how he would dodge those attacks as he'd probably be dead before he could even think. 

And now, Hans was doing it effortlessly. Pulling something like this was impossible for a D-class unless… 

'He's here to have fun…' 

Well, that was what high-ranking awakeners do nowadays. They like pranking low-rank awakeners. It's a trend on the internet. 

That is why, Fredrick spread his perception around, trying to find hidden cameras everywhere.

...….. 

Meanwhile, Mike's dazed expression squinted in shock. He can't believe it. Years of experience started to crumble as he watched the scene unfold to his eyes.

It felt like his only pride shattered the moment Hans and the Jackal, Geru, fought. 

'Is he like those guys who like pranking awakeners?' 

Just like Fredrick, Mike also thought of those videos of awakeners on Earthtube. 

'Michael watch those clips.'

Mike has a teenage grandson who likes watching videos of them anytime. Once in a while, he saw him watching videos with the title of… 

[Pretending to be a noob E-class, then soloing a D-class boss. My teammates were shocked.]

Or, 

[I pretended to be a D-class Awakened in a C-class team. See how they would react when I showed them my B-class strength caliber.] 

Since Earthtube has been famous for many years now, they allowed this kind of content. Even the government didn't interfere. All they say is, 'Isn't it good to have a powerful awakened with you?' or 'Isn't it much safer to have them undercover?' — something like that. 

Although they were right, it's just unfair. They are honored, of course, but the envy is there, insecurities are there. If put into words, it's like having a rich friend flaunting his money to his poor friends.

'Sigh— what a bad day to start.'

Mike groaned in annoyance, raised his head, and spread his senses everywhere, also trying to find those hidden cameras.

Others began finding those hidden cameras as well, afraid that their faces would be shown to millions of people. 

But to no avail, they can't find it. 

'This C-class bastard!!' 

They started cursing, knowing that they can't even find it. 

If only they knew that Hans is not even a verified E-class Awakened, they might just doubt their life on the spot. 

......…. 

Woosh—, Woosh —

The jackal king continued its barrage of attacks. As time went by, Hans became more and more confident in his chances of winning. What's more, the Jackal's movement is finally showing signs of exhaustion. 

'Looks like its new form takes away his IQ.' 

Strength boost for a shot of madness? It seems that this Jackal King is already dumb from the start. Well, considering that it's getting beaten by him earlier, it might have succumbed to its last straw. 

Wooosh—

Bam—

Hans blocked the attack instead of evading it, which made Geru flinch. Hans closed the gap almost instantly, and the Jackals head entered his range. 

'Now!!' 

Woosh—

Hans ducked, feinted with his left, and then swung a wild right hook to its chin.

Baaam—

The blow caught the Jackal off guard and was knocked back in dizziness. 

'Eyes!' 

Woosh—

Hans straightened his finger and aggressively poked its eye. Monsters have weaknesses. Attacking those weak points, not only greatly weakens the monster, but also immobilized it. 

Wooosh—

Splat—

"Graaaaahhh!!!" 

The jackal held its bleeding eye sockets, before kneeling after receiving a kick to its stomach. 

Swish— 

Taking advantage of this, Hans flashed behind and smashed his fist towards its spine. 

Bang—

Crack—

Geru's body flung to the ground, its body smash to the floor, forming a small crater. 

"Kkkuuaaahhh!!!" 

Hans jumped from his spot and dropped an ax kick followed by another strike to its head. 

Slam—, slam—

Baam—, baam—

The jackal growled in pain, as he was continuously mauled by his opponent. Seeing Hans leaped to the air again, Geru tried to get up but as if it was chained, its body didn't move. 

Baam—,Slam—

Smash—, Crack—

Geru howled and twisted its body. Hans did not miss this opportunity and quickly aim to its face again. The jackal couldn't even block it anymore. On top of its head, all it saw was punches after punches. 

Smash—, smash—

Kkuuaahh—

Graaaahh—

The Jackal lost its will to fight, but its life's tenacity was off the charts. Hans held his ground and continued smashing the jackal's head. Shortly, it began to deform. The damage is finally working. Thus, Hans's attacks became faster. 

Soon, the Jackal's head sprawled on the ground with a smashed face; its skull can be seen. 

Smash—

But Hans didn't stop and kept going until its life burned out. 

With a final roar, Hans lifted both his hands and smash them down the Jackal's skull. 

Bam—

Crack—

Shatter—

With its death, a sound echoed through his ear. 

[You've killed the 'Blood Jackal King, Geru'] 

[Level up!] 

"Hah—, hah—" 

Covered in bruises and Jackal's blood, Hans raised his hand to the air. 

[Congratulations, you're now Level 20.]

[To harness the overflowing power, your level will temporarily be locked.]

[... Command being generated… command confirmed.] 

[The path to power is arduous and lonely. Since you had chosen this path, you shall prove your worth. 

Clear the Dungeon of Trials. 

Reward: Level Unlocks.] 

He leveled up by only 1 due to the restrictions. And that was not it, another status message followed suit. 

[Do wish to plunder the skill, 'Berserk (C)'?] 

[Yes / No.] 

'So it's a berserk skill huh.'

Anyways, although the side effects are a little hard to deal with, aside from that, overall the skill is very useful. Hans tapped 'Yes' and closed the system panel. 

'I just need to take a drop of blood right?' 

Hans staggered as he got up due to his exhausting battle. He raised his hands and took a small lick of the Jackal's blood. 

'... taste like a rusty metal.' 

Shortly after, another message floated in front of him. 

[You have consumed the blood of a 'Blood Jackal King'.]

[All stats +10.] 

It was a piece of good news but unfortunately, there is no time to think about it for now. 

"Hans, a-are you alright?" 

Hans raised his head to the ceiling and saw his teammates peeking at him from above. He alternated his gaze towards the ground and above.  

'Why am I 20 feet under the ground?' 

Confused, Hans scratched the back of his neck.