Chapter 9 - The real challenge

I observed out at the field of Rabbits and saw no clear path to cross through, the level 8 was on the opposite side of the field close to the ruins waiting for me.

Push on.

I raced ahead with my head low and my arms out to my side, with a swift strike I lanced forward and aimed at one of the Rabbits closest to me.

As I predicted the monster hopped out of danger with ease but didn't see my blade rushing towards it through the air.

{30 Exp gained}

I rolled towards the body and leapt to my blade, as I grabbed it I jumped away from the body as more Rabbits headed straight for me.

I held out my hand behind me and devoured the body as I ran, I could feel the surge of energy flowing into me whenever I did.

Three small ones waited for me, they blocked my path from the steps of the ruins and hopped high above me into the air. Two pairs of furry paws came crashing down again hoping to bury me under it but…

"I'm not that slow you fluff balls!"

I spun in towards them like a spinning top and cut their heads clean off from their necks.

{40 Exp gained}

{30 Exp gained}

{Level Up}

Just as I thought, once you get the patterns down these guys are second-rate monsters at best.

My head tilted to the side and avoided a devastating kick that pushed a gust of wind behind it.

The Rabbit responsible was still flying through the air with a single leg held out from the kick but instead of landing, it span through the air with its other leg.

Another kick-

I crossed my arms to form a guard and took the damage against my arms, which pushed me back. I managed to stay standing this time and even kept more health points than before.

"That hurt like hell…but it was weaker than before."

{Rush Rabbit Lv.8}

"I've gotten stronger than before. I can kill you!"

At least that's what I'd like to believe, he did take away a great size of my HP from that kick. I only managed to survive because of the health I regained from those levels before.

{Health Points will be regained after Levelling Up}

"Kyakikiki!" The Rabbit screeched out as it raced toward me.

I need health, I need…

My eyes locked onto the group of Rabbits huddled around the grass at the ruin's pillars and wreckage.

I gripped both the Chakrams in my hands and raced away from the level 8, dodging and hacking away at attacking Rabbits.

{10 Exp gained}

{30 Exp gained}

{30 Exp gained}

{40 Exp gained}

{Level up}

As Uriel announced the Level Up I turned around and cast out my hand to the slain monsters behind me.

Noticing my attention towards it the level 8 backed off to the side hoping not to get in the middle of any attacks.

"In the end, you are still a coward, that's why you'll lose. Devour!"

A shadowy substance the colour of ash burst out from my palm and enveloped the field behind me, consuming all the monsters that lay dead. Each of the bodies disappeared into the mist as it retracted back into my grasp and fuelled my body.

{Proficiency for Rabbits Foot has reached maxed level} – {Passive speed bonus has been upgraded to +25 percent}

{Skill 'Rush' has been unlocked}

Rush? I'll take anything right now, as long as it can kill this crazy bastard.

"Rush!"

Suddenly my legs were surrounded by a white aura and my body felt as light as a feather.

Noticing my attention occupied the Rabbit charged at me with a swift leap and drew into my blind spot.

Before it could get close I used all the strength in my legs and jumped into the air, breaking a section of the ground beneath my feet as I did.

"So this is the power of a skill huh?"

I cheered while admiring the clear skies from over twenty feet in the air. From a single kick off the ground, I managed to clear that height in an instant and soared through the air like an arrowhead.

The Rabbit beneath me cocked its head back and forth trying to make sense of where I had vanished to. At that moment I could feel my body begin to fall back to the ground.

One swift strike from above, and with that…I win!

I crashed down with both blades through its head and directly to the floor without any resistance. A clean cut.

{Rush Rabbit has been slain}

{150 Exp gained}

I got really lucky, if it was smart enough to look up I wouldn't have been able to land that finishing blow.

"On the plus side, I should get some pretty good points for eating this guy, thanks for the meal~"

{Devour has been used}

Suddenly the last icon in the Rush Rabbit skill tree unlocked and my face lit up with surprise.

"Finally, I was curious as to what I would get next after that awesome jump ability."

{Strike Kick Lv1} – {User delivers a powerful kick that deals large damage}

This is my first offensive skill, I'll probably be relying on this a lot whenever my blades aren't nearby.

Mmmm…If I cleared the Dungeon shouldn't I be getting some sort of progress about it from Uriel?

"Hey Uriel what am I waiting for, shouldn't there be a congratulations- ack!"

A powerful force drove itself deep into my stomach, which knocked all the wind out of my chest and sent me flying through the ruins.

I fell back and landed deep beneath the floor surrounded by a pit of some sort.

What was that…I can't… breathe!

I clenched my throat trying to breathe but my stomach hadn't finished coughing out what last chunks of breakfast I still had.

{Caution}

{Trial of Beginnings will now commence}

{Goal of the Trial…Survive}

Survive…The quest is only starting now, meaning that thing that attacked me is the real challenge.

I weakly managed to stand up and peered up at the arena-shaped pit I was stuck in, looking out at the damaged walls around me.

My senses were screaming at me as if a warning was shouting from every inch of my body that something dangerous was coming.

A thin black tail the colour of midnight waved through the air, swaying back and forth.

The eerie sound of a beast's growl filled the silent pit as a shadowy figure revealed itself from the top of the pit walls. A pair of red eyes looked down on me while the beast's drooling mouth dripped down to the grass inside the pit.

A large wolf with dagger-shaped fangs and thin features had appeared, black smoke fell from its body and sharp claws cracked the stone beneath it.

{Shadow Prowler Lv. 9}

It's an even higher level than the Rush Rabbit from before, no wonder that the blow from before knocked the wind out of me.

So this is my next enemy huh…what?!

My eyes caught sight of another shadowy figure creeping out from the shadows of the pit, on the opposite end of my bowl-shaped prison was another menacing wolf.

{Shadow Prowler Lv5}

There's more than one, just how many are there?

I stepped back and planted myself firmly against the wall so that every direction was well in my field of vision. Black smoke and four-legged figures began to appear at the top of the pit and amongst the empty seats that overlooked it.

"A whole pack of them, don't tell me I…fell into the Wolfs Den?"