Chapter 6

Alaric began walking through the dungeon, the path lightened by the dim lights of the lit torches along the stone wall. The smell was musty and thick, causing Alaric's eyes to water slightly. 'Must be the result of those explores that were here originally.' He thought to himself as he continued to venture down the dungeon. As he walked, he passed by multiple corpses of Alien's, their blood creating a pool around their bodies. Alaric turned to look away from the bodies, and continued his venture forward. 

He soon reached a small hole in the ground, as he took a glance down, the hole was pitch black. The air was thick and the smell was strong. He decided to grab one of the torches along the wall and jumped down, his body shivered due to his nervousness.

He landed and quickly rose up, aiming the torch around the cave. "This must be that second floor..." He whispered, as he continued forward. 'The hole wasn't very small, so I suppose it was rather easy for them to escape this level.' As he continued down the cave, he heard the sound of chiming glass, he quickly made his staff appear from his window and was ready for whatever was about happen. He swallowed the lump in his throat, his eyes darting around.

But his vision was blinded by a surprise bright light. He covered his eyes, but then a sharp thing slammed against his face, pushing him to the ground.

His cheek stung as he fell to his butt. He rubbed his eyes, his vision returning as he quickly stood, holding the staff in his dominant hand, and the torch in his left. In front of him was a group of crystal like creatures, their blinding lights shining brightly, making the dark cave seeable.

Alaric frowned, 'Alright, my first challenge.' He thought, his eyes scanning the group of crystal Aliens.

"Would you look at this, looks like someone lost their little brat." The middle one spit as his faceted face gave a smirk. His voice echoed across the crystals that filled the cave. He pointed at the boy, "Look at him, he's scared shitless!"

The moment he spat that sentence, as his body suddenly rushed at Alaric. His eyes widened, as a punch landed to his gut, and then a kick shoved into his chest, knocking him to cold ground once again.

Alaric held his stomach, as he struggled to breath. The middle man stood in front of him as the other two gathered around him as well. 'Argh...Damn this child body...' He thought to himself as they stood over him. "Who did you think you are boy? You probably don't even know how to swing that little stick of yours!" He taunted, as Alaric had to think of something, he aimed the staff at the crystal Alien.

All he did was smirk, "Oh I'm so scared!" He said, but then the staff got longer and hit him square in the face, sending him flying backwards. The other two was stunned, but quickly prepared their attacks.

Alaric, still reeling from the earlier assault, quickly used his [Endurance] skill, enhancing his body's stamina. He grabbed the staff with both hands and swung it, making it's reach longer. The swing caught both Aliens and pushed them against the wall. 

Alaric stood and rushed towards the one that attacked him first, 'If I want to have more power, I know just what to use...' He thought as he swung his staff again, but not before activating his offense skill, [Power Strike], and due to his extra five points of strength, he had to do a lot of damage. Alaric's eyes glowed a faint red outline and he clenched his teeth.

The strike collided with the Alien, it's crystal body cracking and shattering due to the extreme power. As it's body fell over, Alaric let out a short breath, realizing it's not over yet.

He turned and used another skill, [Dash], and thanks to his endurance skill, it wasn't going to feel draining at all. At blinding speed, the ground cracked under the weight of his foot as he blitzed towards the remaining two crystal Aliens. He swung his staff again and was ready to land a power strike, enhanced with Power strike, but the Alien was able to dodge it, despite his speed increase.

His eyes widened, as the creature aimed it's palm at the boy, glowing a heavenly white. Then a burning hot beam of light engulfed Alaric as his body crashing into the crystal walls of the cave. He felt the burning on his body, it was causing him extreme pain.

He looked up, a scared expression on his face as they two rush at him, he wanted to run, to bolt out as fast as he could. His heart pounded against his chest. Every nerve screamed at him to run, get away from these crystal monsters and back to safety. But no, that's what he wants to avoid. A life of safety meant boredom. Right now, in the face of real danger he was truly alive. This was what he sought: the thrill, the uncertainty, the high of battling against impossible odds.

He had never been in a fight before, especially one like this. But, it was a natural part of this life he wanted to live, so he had to suck it up and finish the job here.

They extended their fists, and Alaric had one way to defend himself, [Barrier]. A large translucent shield appeared and was able to protect Alaric from the strikes, but it shattered on impact.

'But this is enough!!' He grabbed his staff and swung it as hard as he could, the strength increased with Power Strike once again.

'If I wasn't here, I'd be stuck doing something boring, doing homework, living averagely. That's not how I plan to spend this life I've been blessed with. This is where I belong!'

As the staff closed in, the two Aliens watched as it slammed into their bodies, and due to the added strength of his buffs and Power Strike, their bodies were shattered on impact.

As the remaining crystals fell to the ground, Alaric was left shocked, he wasn't tired, thanks to his Endurance skill. He looked towards where the first Alien was, and he smiled to himself. 

'That was...fun...' He said, despite his shaking body. He was scared a moment ago, but now he was smiling, clearly having fun. 'This was the most fun I've ever had...' He looked ahead, and he began to think,

'People live their entire lives in comfort, not knowing what rush you get when you're on the edge, fighting for your life. The way they life, it's surviving, not living. I want more. This dungeon, the fights that await me, it's living proof that I'm not wasting this new life on boring routines. I'm chasing something bigger, something impossible for the me of the past.'

He began walking, his expression determined, he was going to make it out of this, no matter what his fear told him. So for now, he had to focus on the task ahead.

Since these dungeons sorta worked like video games, he assumed there would be a boss at the end. But of course, if he defeats it, the dungeon isn't gonna collapse and he gets teleported out, it didn't work JUST like a video game. 'Though that would be convenient...'

As he walked, he looked at his hand, 'I didn't even noticed how strong I was. Or maybe those Aliens were just weak...' He thought to himself, after all, as far as he knew, this was supposed to be a low level dungeon. He continued his journey forward, but the boss would be the one that truly showcases his power. But of course, a beam of light from ahead flew at him. Due to the speed, he was unable to dodge and was pushed back, the burning sensation all over his skin, his clothes and parts of his body were burned and charred, he wondered how he would explain this to his parents, suppose he didn't account for this part. 

About five crystal Alien came into view as he smiled, "Let's see if you can keep up with me!" He said as he spun his staff around and rushed forward, as the five rushed at him as well.

Alaric smirked, 'Time to see what the staff can really do...' Alaric jumped and brought his staff down, increasing the size as he crashed down on three of the crystal Aliens, crushed under the weight of the staff. Alaric decreased it's size back to normal and rushed forward, spinning and wacked one of them, as it crashed into the one behind it.

They quickly recovered and rushed at Alaric, 'It's best I try and not use anymore of my skills, I need to conserve mana for this income boss...' He said relying solely on his [Weapon Mastery] skill, which doesn't take mana.

Alaric spun his staff just in time deflecting the Aliens strike. He stepped back and swung upward catching his chin with a sharp blow. Before it could recover, he jabbed the staff forward, extending it's length to slam into it's gut, a sharp crack sounding though the crystal cave. As it was pushed back and crashed into the next one. It was clear it was defeated, but the last one wasn't.

Alaric returned the staff to normal and rushed in, 'It would be much easier to use Power Strike for an easy powerful attack, but it's better not to risk it...' He spun around again and brought the staff down on the crystal Alien, shattering it's body to tiny crystals.

He let out a breath, as his shoulders slumped, heaving out heavy breaths. His face had the biggest smile, "One day, I'll hundreds of stories like this," he said as he began walking rubbing his hair, "They'll talk about that crazy guy who took on impossible dungeons and crazy strong opponents just for the thrill of it." He said, smiling as he imagined it, "It would be the best life ever..." He looked down as he continued walking forward.

"I have to be close, at this rate, I won't have enough energy to fight." He said and continued.

Alaric had to admit, being in such high energy battles, were super fun. He wondered if this is how the more powerful fighters feel when going against strong opponents. He smiled softly, and rose his head, as his eyes landed on a large makeshift crystal door.

His eyes widened, and he felt his nervousness shoot through the roof. 'This has to be the boss room,' he thought as he hand gripped the handle of the door. This would be Alaric's actually challenge, if he loses, he dies. But, despite the lingering sense of fear, the danger made him excited.

His face twisted into a smile and threw the door open.