Seventh Upgrade

A little while ago, Renir woke up to a faint light in front of him. His eyes were heavy at first but it didn't take a while before it became easy to open it as his sleepiness faded.

A jolting feeling of energy was spreading through his whole body as if he was getting shocked by slight electricity. Only after a few moments did it fade away and he felt awake as ever.

His eyes opened wide with his feet fidgeting out of excitement.

"Huu~~" Renir heavily exhaled. His heartbeat rose and his body felt tingly. he was overwhelmed by this feeling and somehow, he needed to release it. Unconsciously, his body modification was released on its own but when he noticed it, he deactivated that body feature.

".... it's back..." not only energy but also joy. All those sufferings are not for nothing!

However, as he gains awareness of his surroundings, he noticed he was on a metallic chair. A cold metal but not that it bothered him. Chains locked his four limbs and on top of the arms of the metallic chair was a thick, dense, and heavy slab of iron. But as he looked around, he noticed that there were rods of steel, interlocking each other that made an inescapable cage.

In front of him were metal bars that were placed vertically with few inches apart from each other. These metal bars refract the faint light behind it that seemed to be the ceiling of the corridor outside of this... obviously, cell.

He was clearly imprisoned in a cell. But once again, Renir was not bothered.

At first, he tried to force his way out but it only shook the metal that made vibrations echoing into the empty cells and passages outside.

'...What even is Imee's father?' he dumbfoundedly thought as it came back to him. The only one that could bring him into that unfamiliar place was the abnormal and superhuman father of Imee.

"That's right!" his eyes widened.

'Imee should be worried right now... and I still have the exam at school.' he remembered. Any sane person wouldn't think of such a thing as their priority while being in that situation, but for Renir, it was very important to him.

'The fact that Imee's father didn't kill me means that I still have a chance to apologize.' he continued to think while being oblivious to the fact that he was kept alive for reasons aside from what was in his mind.

Also, even with overwhelming energy that was filling his insides, there was a chill that covered his whole body due to thinking that he needed to confront that vicious superhuman again. Yet, Renir didn't care much about this feeling. It was normal that a father who dotes on their daughter to beat up a man that came 'slept' without her without him knowing. It's just that, that father is freakishly strong!

Now, after steeling himself and finally had the resolution to make a choice, Renir used more strength to get out of there.

Thithithhithtihti!~*

The metals vibrated. It got louder and louder as it echoed down the passages. The air shook as the metals grind each while some being bent.

"Hngh!" Renir forcefully bent all the overlapping metal rods while pushing the slap of iron and the chains around his arms.

Thihtithtihtihitthi!!~*

A bead of sweat came out of his forehead until many followed, dripping all over his body.

Tack!*

The chains began to shatter. Each shatter was explosive and made the fragment scatter reaching a speed almost that of a bullet.

Tack!* Tack!* Tack!*

Simultaneously, every chain was shattered when the metal rods began to bent and break. The grinding sound never stopped as Renir's face turned red and his jaws involuntarily metallic.

"Hngggh~!!" even the ground began to faintly shake due to the vibration of the metallic chair, until...

Bhug!* the interlocking metal rods collapsed as the iron slab fell onto the ground!

When he finally had the chance to relax, Renir took a deep breath as his head stung. He used too much force without having a chance to breathe. It will naturally give him a headache...

It took him several seconds before the stinging headache disappeared and his body cool down. His regeneration was better than normal. That was so even without the rejuvenating power of the chylefruit.

Renir then stood up and noticed he was still on his casual clothes. Looked like he was lucky enough to not be forced to change while unconscious. However, how will he go to school like that?

Renir then sighed, "... escaping here is more important right now." he then held two of the metal bars of the cell and bent them to make him a path out. After a short grinding vibration, he was able to squeeze out of the cell, stepping out on the corridor.

Left and right of sight were the same as they were both dead ends. He frowned since he didn't have the slightest idea where to go. But thinking, 'How big could this prison be?' Renir decided it was better to start walking and eventually, reached the exit.

He followed his instincts without knowing it would help him get out of the labyrinth...

A quarter an hour later of walking, Renir finally rested his body as he passed passages from passages after several dead ends and intersections. All dead ends have a door at the end of it but Renir didn't feel quite assured barging so he just turned around.

And although he fully rested then, the feeling of overwhelming energy had already dissipated. It seemed like when he was put to sleep, the energy flowed into him uncontrollably that is it became overflowing. When he escaped, he used that excess energy, and now, he was back to normal... or back to only being powerful and not overpowered.

The strength he was feeling was still greater than before. Renir pondered while he walked. He realized that after he defeated the Water Sentinel, he ate its entire body, his mind was filled with the idea of illogical revenge. His teeth sharper than ever and his jaw more powerful than before. So he should be stronger than when he defeated the Water Sentinel.

"..." Renir then stopped for a moment and remembered, then he whispered...

"...Upgrade" his hands became fists right then. Afterward, words came into his head:

[

Upgrade

Renir Ennure will be able to contain Ensense in his body. Furthermore, this upgrade drastically improves your two most-used rare skills.

The Seventh Upgrade Requires 0350 EXP

Renir Ennure must speak "Seventh Upgrade" to confirm the seventh upgrade

]

And without hesitation, he whispered again, "Experience..."

[

Experience

Unit of what the Rune User underwent, learned, overcame, and their literal experience in surviving in Gantlet that can be converted into skills using the Rune's upgrades.

The Rune User currently has experience points of:

0375 EXP

]

From his solitary figure, there could be heard increasing rates of heartbeats...

"Seventh upgrade..."

[

Seventh Upgrade

Renir Ennure will now become a Rune Master. Renir Ennure's body is now able to hold Ensense. Furthermore, this upgrade drastically improves your most used rare skills up to two.

Rune Master Renir Ennure has two most-used rare skills.

Renir Ennure now has greater rejuvenation and stamina, granted Lasting Breath

Renir Ennure now has greater flexibility and coordination, Nimble Entity

In addition, Strength Rune has doubled Renir's strength.

]

...

Renir had his eyes widened and trembling. He was baffled at what he just received at Rank 8. He was particularly shocked at what the Strength Rune had given him.

"Double the strength?" Renir looked at his arms, shaking.

"I-isn't this kind of a cheat...?" contrary to what he said, he had a wide smile. Although moments later, it turned into a troubled expression.

"I'm not in Gantlet any longer. I will be fighting humans, what if I can't control myself? And what even is an Ensense?"

Renir didn't know if he was being kind or arrogant because of ecstatic emotion. He was so happy that he forgot that he can look up in the rune what was the meaning of the word "Ensense"

"A Rune Master..." Renir gritted his teeth and clutched his hands, "... yes... yes... yes...yes..!" he whispered as he contained himself, "Double the strength? This is ridiculous...!"

...

After a glorious silent celebration, Renir got back to his senses and realized that he was walking for almost twenty minutes now but there was still no exit to be found. And he couldn't just forcefully exit there since it would be unnecessary and might turn trouble next time. Although he wanted to go back to school, which he felt for the very first time in his life since he wanted to see Imee and the take the test that he worked hard for, it is also fine to be late even by a day since he knew his school was too lax and will just agree to give him a chance at taking the exam. He can think of a lot of excuses for absences.

As he pondered and walked, seemingly aimless, he heard something from a distance.

Tack... Tack... Tack*

It was footsteps.

Finally, Renir found someone to talk to and maybe could let him see Imee's father again. Now, he was more confident than earlier since he was well-rested and stepped onto a new league.

So Renir went there with a happy smile that he couldn't contain. His path was foreseeable with his new strength.