The hum in the tunnel grew louder, vibrating at the very base of his skull. Sebastian froze, gripping his C-12 knife tightly. Mana Resonance showed that the air ahead was literally oversaturated with energy. The purple mana threads here weren't just thin lines — they wove into a thick, chaotic grid that distorted space.
A massive shadow stepped out of the darkness. It wasn't just a monster. It was something that resembled a Swamp Brute, but its body was covered not with bone growths, but with purple mana crystals growing directly out of its flesh.
[Target: Crystalline Brute (Distorted)]
[Level: 7]
Level seven. Sebastian felt a chill run down his spine. His skill hinted that this wasn't a typical Rank F monster. The distortion made it stronger than the numbers suggested.
The Brute roared, a sound like metal scraping against stone. It lunged forward with incredible speed for its mass. Sebastian barely managed to jump back, holding out his bracer. The blow landed tangentially, but even so, the boy was thrown several meters, slamming into the wall.
[Skill 'Stone Skin' absorbed 16% of physical damage]
His chest ached, but he stood up quickly. Luck 24 whispered to him: "Don't stand still. The crystals on its back aren't just armor; they're the power source."
Sebastian activated Resonance to its full power. He saw energy flowing from a large central crystal on the monster's hump to its limbs. That was its weak point.
The Brute swung its massive paw again. This time, Sebastian didn't run. He dove under the strike, sliding on the wet floor of the tunnel. The C-12 knife, powered by Strength 10, slammed into the base of the central crystal.
A loud crack followed. The crystal didn't shatter, but it cracked, and unstable mana began to leak out. The monster shrieked in pain, its movements becoming chaotic. Sebastian, seizing the moment, landed a series of quick stabs into the unprotected underbelly.
The fight lasted a long time. Every move required colossal effort. Sebastian took several heavy hits; his new arm armor was chipped by crystal shards. But finally, the Brute collapsed heavily onto its side, sending up a cloud of dirty splashes.
[Target neutralized: Crystalline Brute (Lvl 7)]
[Experience gained: 382 XP]
[Experience: 733 / 800]
Sebastian sank to his knees beside the carcass. Only sixty-seven experience points remained until level five. He felt his body literally burning from exhaustion, but he couldn't stop. He cut open the monster's chest and pulled out a core that glowed much brighter than any he had seen before.
[Sebastian Amaden]
Level: 4
Experience: 733 / 800
Rank: F
[Strength: 10]
[Mana: 10]
[Luck: 24]
Stat Points: 0
[Skills]: Mana Resonance [Rank F] (Active), Stone Skin [Rank E] (Passive).