Sebastian advanced through the labyrinth of rusted pumping units where every step sent a metallic echo under the high vaults. The mana in this part of the sector felt heavier than anywhere before. Even his Strength of sixteen units did not provide that sense of absolute superiority he had felt on the upper levels of the collector. He understood that he had reached the limit where ordinary hunting methods cease to work. Level twelve monsters and above had such muscle density and mana protection that a simple knife strike often became no more than a scratch to them.
His [Mana Resonance] skill suddenly gave off a powerful surge of energy. Ahead, near the main distribution hatch, something massive was tearing through the remains of old armored plating with incredible force.
[Target: Armored Brute (Level 12)]
Level twelve was a critical challenge since a five-level difference usually meant instant death for a hunter. Such a monster could crush a Rank F representative with a single blow without even noticing serious resistance. Sebastian froze in the shadow of a giant pump and tightly gripped the handle of the "Black Star." A direct confrontation would have been suicide, yet instead of retreating, he relied on his highest attribute.
Luck of thirty units began to manifest even before he took the first step toward the attack. While Sebastian watched the monster, a sudden critical failure occurred in the old steam supply system. One of the valves that had been held together by rust for decades cracked at the exact moment the Brute was passing directly under it.
A jet of superheated steam hit the creature directly in its unprotected eyes, forcing it to emit a staggering roar of pain. The Brute began to swing its paws chaotically, completely losing its orientation in space. Sebastian did not waste a second. He activated [Shadow Step], instantly closing the distance in a short dash through the dense shadows of the hall.
He ended up behind the monster's back. Under normal circumstances, his knife would not have been able to pierce the thick plate armor on the enemy's neck, yet the blade seemed to find a microscopic crack in the shell on its own. Sebastian put all his Strength into this lunge, and the "Black Star" entered the flesh up to the hilt thanks to an incredible coincidence.
The Brute tried to shake him off, but at that moment, one of the support beams eaten away by corrosion and vibration collapsed from above and pinned one of the monster's paws to the floor. This gave Sebastian precious seconds to continue the attack. He began to systematically deliver strikes, and each of them in some strange way hit exactly the vulnerable nodes, severing the beast's tendons and mana channels.
When the massive carcass finally went still, Sebastian let go of the knife and sank down heavily on the concrete beside the enemy. His heart was pounding wildly, and his lungs burned from the exertion and ozone fumes.
[Target neutralized: Armored Brute (Lvl 12)]
[Experience gained: 1840 XP]
The experience gained almost completely closed the gap to the next level. Sebastian stood up and set about collecting the loot, cutting open the Brute's chest. Instead of a standard set of items, his fingers touched something cold and perfectly smooth.
[Received: Pure Brute Heart (Rank F+)]
[Received: Skill Crystal: [Critical Surge] (Rank F+)]
He looked at his hands and realized that only thanks to a chain of incredible accidents was he still alive right now. The steam, the beam, the timely crack in the armor—it all looked like ordinary luck, but Sebastian understood the true value of his choice. He had decided not to become stronger in a direct sense but became someone for whom circumstances always turn out in the best possible way.
A minute later, the golden light of the level up filled the tunnel.
[Level Up!]
[Your level is now: 8]
[You have received 3 Stat Points.]
Sebastian called up the status panel and without hesitation invested all three points into Luck. Now this attribute had become his main lever in the fight against the dangers of C-4. If he could defeat a level twelve creature at level seven thanks to a coincidence, his further prospects looked quite realistic.
He wiped the knife on the hide of the killed beast and looked into the darkness of the next sector. He felt much more confident now, not because his muscles had gotten bigger, but because he knew about his advantage in the game of probability.
[Sebastian Amaden]
Level: 8
Experience: 97 / 6200
Rank: F
[Strength: 16]
[Mana: 10]
[Luck: 33]
Stat Points: 0
[Skills]: Mana Resonance [Rank F] (Active), Stone Skin [Rank E] (Passive), Shadow Step [Rank F+] (Active), Critical Surge [Rank F+] (Passive) — provides a small chance to double the damage of a single strike by hitting a vital point.