Xavier's face had no expression after reading the letter. He simply folded the paper in half and then tore it into pieces. He used the torn pieces to wipe the wounds on his leg.
He threw the pieces of paper away, taking a deep breath, resting his head on the wall, and sighing. Then he cursed.
"That fucking bitch!" He spat. "She said centuries before she had witnessed an F-rank Awakening. Fucking liar."
So it had been two years since the last F-rank. The goddess was in the Antrophia kingdom at the time. That meant most of the kingdom's citizens were to banish their F-ranks to Carragis, where they were sure they would be killed. And he was the latest victim.
The goddess must have suspected that his classmates were close to him, so she made that remark to sow discord among his friends so they would betray him.
"Well," He said in anger. "They can rot for now. Once I'm stronger, I'll ruin them. All of them."
His mind flashed to Brian's face. "Especially you, I will savor your despair."
[The system advises the host should get up and continue his quest to escape the dungeon.]
"I know." Xavier scoffed, getting up. He dusted his pants and began to walk, limping slightly because of his injuries.
"The letter I read." He thought. "The man said he stumbled in a torture chamber experimental something. I need to be ready for anything. "
He began to pick up the pace and he moved speedily through the darkness, his eyes checking his surroundings, looking for problems, anomalies, disturbances that might disturb his run.
Nothing he could see so far. He hadn't encountered anything yet. But his main priority was to escape from this dungeon. He didn't care about what that man wrote. He didn't care about saving the people that are being used for experiments. It was none of his problems.
He noticed a chamber up ahead and immediately picked up the pace. He stepped into the chamber, his breath catching in his throat.
The walls shimmered with light----hundreds, maybe thousands of crystals gutted from every surface, blowing in hues of azure, violet, and emerald. The air was cool and humming, vibrating with a strange energy that made the hairs on his arm stand up. The floors beneath his boot were glassy and smooth, reflecting the kaleidoscope of colours above like a dream.
"Wow." He spoke, gazing at his surroundings. It was beautiful. Truly beautiful. He wasn't sure how a place existed in this dungeon.
"I should step in." Xavier thought, dusting his trousers.
But there was something Xavier hadn't considered. Something he had forgotten. Was this place peaceful? Was there nothing inside? He was about to learn the hard way.
The moment his feet crossed the threshold, the crystals pulsed violently. A low rumble echoed through the chamber, deep and primal. The light dimmed. The hum turned into a growl.
Xavier froze. "What the....."
From the far end of the vault, the crystal wall cracked.
Xavier stared at it. He knew what was happening next.
"Shit."
The wall shattered. A massive figure stepped through the dust and shards.
It was a monster.
A hulking brute of stone and muscles, easily ten feet tall, its body covered in jagged plates of obsidian and blowing veins of molten red. Its arms were as thick as tree trunks, ending in fists the size of boulders, its head was low and wide, with a mouth full of blunt, crushing teeth, and eyes that burned like coal.
It roared------around that shook the chamber and sent shockwaves through the crystal canopy.
Xavier gazed at the creature with a blank look on his face.
"Why am I unlucky like this?" He muttered.
The beast gave a deafening roar and charged at him.
Xavier equipped the gauntlets and met it head-on.
The impact was seismic. Stone met steel, and the chamber erupted in light and stone. Xavier ducked beneath a swing that would have flattened a horse and drove his fist into the creature's gut. The gauntlet flared and the beast staggered, cracked spiderwebbing across its chest.
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets Mastery[53%]
It retaliated instantly, swinging an arm that clipped Xavier's shoulder and sent him skidding across the crystal floor. He rolled, came up fast, and charged again.
"I need to go for the legs." He thought.
He ducked low, slammed both fists into the creature's knees, and the Gauntlets exploded with energy. The beast howled, stumbling, one leg buckling beneath its weight.
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets Mastery[57%]
He leapt onto its back, drove his fist into the creature's spine and the monster roared in agony. It twisted, trying to shake him off, but Xavier held firm.
"Hold still, you bastard!" Xavier cursed, gripping the creature's back tightly. He punched and punched again, each low sending shards of obsidian flying.
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets gaining experience +1!]
[Zenrokushu Gauntlets Mastery[67%]
The beast slammed its back into the wall, trying to crush it.
Xavier dropped just in time, rolled beneath its legs, and created distance.
Xavier stared at the notifications on his system.
"I'm almost through with the mastery of this weapon." Xavier thought.
He stared at the creature, which was growling at him, eyes full of hatred.
"Time to end this," Xavier muttered and he charged.