The rhythmic, heavy breathing of the entity in the grotto continued to vibrate through the floor, but Sebastian had already made his choice. He wasn't a hero from corporate propaganda films; he was a survivor. Attacking a boss equivalent to Rank E or even D while being a level six rookie was a gamble his Luck could not cover twice.
"Not today," he whispered, feeling the thick taste of ozone on his tongue.
He began to retreat into the maintenance tunnels, trying to move as quietly as possible through the dense shadows. According to the mental map he had constructed using [Mana Resonance], a drainage bypass led toward the old industrial pumps nearby. The mana concentration there was significantly lower, but the presence of biological signatures indicated a large amount of smaller prey that was easier to handle.
The transition from the crystal-choked hall to the damp, rusted drainage pipes felt sharp. In this place, the Distortion manifested differently. Instead of elegant crystals, the metal had undergone mutations, turning into jagged protrusions resembling spikes. Water dripped from the ceiling, and each drop glowed with a faint violet light.
As he entered a wide vaulted chamber, his [Mana Resonance] flared with alarm.
[Target: Rust-Bound Shredder (Lvl 8)] x6
These monsters were a grotesque combination of organic matter and old machinery. Their bodies consisted of stringy dark flesh wrapped around rusted gears and hydraulic pistons. Instead of heads, they had rotating grinders that emitted a high-pitched metallic shriek.
Sebastian did not hesitate, as he needed seven hundred experience points to reach level seven. He rushed forward, using his Strength of fourteen units to cover the distance in two powerful strides.
The first Shredder swung a limb driven by a piston. Sebastian blocked the blow with his custom bracer. The impact was heavy, and it would have been enough to break an ordinary person's arm, but his increased Strength allowed him to stand his ground. The [Stone Skin] skill absorbed the vibration from the metallic strike, allowing him to counterattack instantly. The boy drove the "Black Star" into the exposed organic joint between the monster's "shoulder" and its mechanical arm.
The mana-conducting threads in the knife flared, causing a short circuit in the beast's internal energy flow. The Shredder released a spray of black oil and sparks before collapsing heavily onto the concrete.
[Target neutralized: Rust-Bound Shredder (Lvl 8)]
[Experience gained: 215 XP]
The remaining five monsters began to close the circle. They moved slower than the Stalkers but were significantly more durable. Sebastian focused [Mana Resonance] to find the internal mana batteries that powered their mechanical parts. He moved like a whirlwind, using the momentum of his strength to deflect their heavy limbs.
He kicked one Shredder in the chest, and the force of fourteen units threw the two-hundred-kilogram beast directly into a rusted pillar. Before the enemy could recover, Sebastian was already there, carving a path with his knife through the metallic chest plate to reach the core.
[Target neutralized: Rust-Bound Shredder (Lvl 8)]
[Experience gained: 228 XP]
He missed a glancing grinder blow to the ribs. The [Stone Skin] skill withstood the load, although he felt the oppressive weight of the collision. Ignoring the dull pain, he turned and decapitated the opponent with one clean and brutal movement of his matte-black blade.
[Target neutralized: Rust-Bound Shredder (Lvl 8)]
[Experience gained: 210 XP]
The final three monsters were systematically destroyed. Sebastian's movements were becoming more efficient as he learned to use Strength not only for brute force but also to control the rhythm of the fight. By the time the last Shredder fell, the boy was completely covered in black fluid and sweat.
[Target neutralized: Rust-Bound Shredder (Lvl 8)]
[Experience gained: 222 XP]
[Target neutralized: Rust-Bound Shredder (Lvl 8)]
[Experience gained: 218 XP]
[Target neutralized: Rust-Bound Shredder (Lvl 8)]
[Experience gained: 230 XP]
Suddenly, a familiar golden warmth spread through his veins. The exhaustion disappeared instantly, giving way to the euphoria of the System's reward.
[Level Up!]
[Your level is now: 7]
[You have received 3 Stat Points.]
Sebastian stood in the silence of the chamber, his eyes glowing with a faint light. He immediately felt the changes, as his bones became as if forged from steel and his mind acquired unusual sharpness. He opened the status window, realizing that he was now almost halfway to Rank E.
"Getting closer," he whispered.
He wasted no time, collecting trophies from the Shredders and pulling out their mana batteries along with occasional low-quality shards. These parts were heavy and industrial, but Bruno had to pay well for them, as they were necessary for repairing the gear used by lower-rank hunters.
With a full backpack and an increased level, Sebastian decided to return to the surface. He needed a better tactical plan before facing the entity in the crystal grotto. He moved back through the tunnels, and his steps became heavier and more confident. The smog of the Rotten Sector was waiting for him, but his path to the sun lay there as well.