Underground—inside a wide tunnel branching into countless corridors. Blue glowing ores lined the walls, bathing the stone in a sapphire glow.
"Miss—we're cornered," a male voice rang out, echoing through the tunnels.
"Damn it. Again?" a female voice snapped. "Can't they give us a moment to breathe? How many times has it been in the past few hours?"
"Eight," the male replied flatly.
"I wasn't talking to you, Dillard—"
"Miss," Dillard said. "This time's different. They're agitated I think. We may be nearing another beast territory.
Be ready—the big ones may appear again."
"The big ones?" Rui Yan scoffed. "Let them come. I've installed a little surprise for them this time. They'll regret ever attacking me."
Boom!
The tunnel wall beside Rui Yan abruptly exploded outward, stone shattering into razor-sharp fragments.
Dillard moved instantly.
Armor flared into existence as he lunged forward, slamming Rui Yan to the ground and covering her with his body. Rock shrapnel hammered against his back.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
The tunnel walls detonated one after another.
When the echoes finally died, both of them were buried beneath a crushing mass of stone.
"Just as I thought," Dillard muttered. With a thought his Class was activated
Immediately his height increased going from 5.6 feet to 7.1 feet. Muscles bulged, shoulders broadened to fit his now taller frame, his skin stretched tight as they hardened and transformed into obsidian blue scales. And lastly curved claws sprouted from his fingers both on his hands and feet.
Roar!
A roar sounded underneath the stones.
Boom!
The stones blasted in every direction, clearing the rubble that buried them.
After the dust settled Dillard appeared, his looks now different.
Dillard was now covered with a blue armour with his shape now that of a humanoid dragon.
The first thing he did was to observe his surroundings, that was when he discovered it. Due to the broken walls they were now in a four way tunnel
"Miss," Dillard's voice rumbled—deeper this time.
"Stay behind me."
Rui Yan slowly pushed herself upright, staring up at the monster shielding her… and grinned.
"About time," she said.
From deeper within the tunnels, answering roars echoed back.
Thurd! Thurd! Thurd! Thurd!
A heavy sound was heard, coming from all the tunnels surrounding him.
Dillard bared his fangs. Preparing for battle.
And then they appeared
Stepping through the corners of the tunnels and the broken walls. Was not one not two not even ten, there were more than forty, 7 feet tall Minotaur that appeared.
Huh?
This much?
They had this much and they didn't throw them at us earlier but instead chose to send them now, how! how can beast of this level have so much intelligence, such a concept of war. Unless there's a… No no we can't afford to stay here much longer Dillard thought
He called addressing the miss this time. "Miss," I don't think I can handle all of them while protecting you.
Huh?
Before Rui Yan could reply to Dillard the first giant Minotaur dashed, appearing in a flash.
It swung its axe at Dillard.
Clang!
Sparks flew as Dillard blocked the attack with his right hand, using his left hand he sent a punch aimed at the Minotaur's stomach.
The attack lifted the Minotaur off the ground, it twisted in the air its back now facing him, Immediately Dillard threw another punch this time with his right hand. The punch smashed at the back of the Minotaur sending it flying towards the other Minotaurs at the back.
"Dodge"
Dillard swooped down dodging an axe coming from another Minotaur at his left side. Cold sweat slid down his face.
Shit! They are so fast and strong too, if I want to keep fighting them I will have to use all my class skills to fight. But that way I will consume more energy.
Hruhg!
Hump!
What was I thinking?
The miss's safety is all that matters. Dillard thought.
A screen flashed on his face.
[Activating class skill]
Wyvern speed
Wyvern strength
Wyvern defense
[Skills Activated]
Immediately Dillard's scales underneath the armour thickened as his strength and speed increased.
In the pathway realms once someone maxes their first ascension point, they unlock a class skill thereby gaining an ascension permit. And even with the first ascension permit one can still ascend to the next realm.
And Dillard had just used three class skills, which means he had maxed out his feral primitive and aberrant points, which was no easy feat.
Clap!
Dillard swung his hand and slapped the Minotaur with his backhand, sending its face swinging to the side. Bringing his hand back he held the head of the Minotaur and smashed it on the ground.
Crack!
The Minotaur's head cracked and produced a crater as it smashed on the ground.
You dare put the life of the miss at risk?
Die!
You filthy brute Dillard shouted as he removed his hand from the Minotaur. Cocking his hand he brought it down at the Minotaur's head.
Boom!
[Aberrant Creature Minotaur Slain]
Dillard couldn't spare his focus to read the rest of the messages because the rest of the Minotaurs had finally surrounded them from all sides, eyes red ready to tear at their limbs.
"Miss," can you protect yourself while I kill off these pesky cows? Dillard shouted.
Hump!
What do you take me for! a weakling? Because I exhausted myself? Hump! Go do your thing and stop worrying about me she said, sitting down cross-legged on the ground ready to watch the show.
Sure Dillard answered.
Bang
He dashed making the ground cave in, appearing at the side of the next Minotaur he swung his fist, bang!
Bang! Bang! Bang!…
Dillard appeared everywhere almost at the same time, with each strike a Minotaur fell.
One hit one kill each.
Dillard moved through the ranks of the Minotaurs bringing them down finally able to let himself fight without the slightest of worry.
Wherever he went a Minotaur fell. Within minutes he had brought down more than fifty Minotaurs and more were still coming filling out the place of their brethren.
Deactivating his abilities Dillard stopped and caught his breath.
Huff, Huff, Puff.
How many will I kill this time before the big guys appear Dillard thought.
Huh? he gasped, in the time it took him to breathe a Minotaur had slipped past him and was now bringing its club down at her.
Shing!
Thurd!
The Minotaur fell four meters from her. Cleanly cut into four parts
Hump! Even with the miss exhausted I wouldn't think of sneaking up on her Dillard huffed while thinking.
Roar!
A roar tore down from one tunnel echoing through all the tunnels. And then.
Thurd!! Thurd!! Thurd!!
Heavy footsteps began approaching. Coming from all the tunnels
"Finally," the big ones are showing themselves. Dillard said. Time for the real business.