[Aiden's POV]
This monster was the biggest in size yet, with four legs and not only a tough crystal body but also sharp pointed crystals on its back, giving it a sharp and shiny look. The monster scraped his paws as I neared.
I took the initiative to attack to test out my capabilities. I rushed at it with clenched fists, but just as I got near, 4 crystal spikes came out of its back. I skidded my shoes and turned sideways to avoid them.
I stood in a defensive stance again; going on the offensive at first was not good. Thanks to my high agility, I was able to see the attack and react to it.
The next moment, the monster took charge and jumped towards me, its claws raised high, ready to attack. I rolled over to the side wall to prevent getting hit by claws.
I ran at the monster again, this time with full speed, but just as I was about to hit it, it activated the same ability. I barely saved myself from multiple spikes. However, one of the spikes left a shallow wound on my hand.
I noticed the cut near my elbow as golden color came out in small drops, Primarch Ichor. However, the next second, the wound sealed itself and disappeared like it was never there, perks of evolution, I guess.
I sighed, raising my hands while slowly moving sideways, keeping an eye on the Crawler.
I find the most glaring point in my fighting style is an obvious lack of defense technique. I can avoid and parry the attacks, but I can't completely tank an attack, especially magical ones.
I decided to change my strategy a little. I ran at the monster again; it pressed its paw on the ground, ready to pounce at me. I pulled my clenched fist, ready to attack, but the same crystal spike fired again.
However, just as spikes fired, I used the stones protruding from the wall as a step to jump higher. The back of the monster becomes exposed.
I pull all my force into a punch and hit its back. Contrary to my expectation of hearing a crunch sound. There was a small creaking sound, and that was it.
"Shit, it's much harder than others," I remarked. Even when I got a chance by creating a feint, I wasn't able to damage it. I looked at the fist, and then suddenly an idea bloomed in my mind.
The sigils on the back of my hands started glowing slightly. I felt a sudden increase in strength. The monster lunged at me once again, seeing the glow in my fists.
I also ran forward slightly and took a slide to get behind the monster. I turned around with my skill-strength punch supported by sigils and shot straight into the monster's stomach as it tried to turn around.
This time I heard the same crunching sound, and the mist-boss disinterested into dust. The system panel appeared.
[You have defeated the mid-boss, +2 OP]
[You have cleared the 1st Floor and earned a reward chest]
"Wow, nice. A reward chest and twice OP on killing the mid-boss. Okay, that was helpful." I exclaimed, finally clearing the first floor.
I opened the chest to check the rewards.
[You have obtained an S-rank Mana stone ×2]
[You have obtained a Crystal Knuckles (E-rank)]
I become happy and confused at the same time. I shared my confusion with the system: "Why the disparity system? One is an S-rank mana stone, and the other is an E-rank equipment?"
[S-rank reward is from Clearing the floor of an S-rank dungeon. However, the equipment is from killing an Initiate Rank monster. Hence the difference.]
I nodded my head in understanding and muttered, "What I need most now is a defensive skill or equipment, but I guess I will use it until I get something decent."
After taking a minute to gather my thoughts, I moved forward to the second floor. Now that I knew about my current weakness, i.e., defense, I chose the best option available to me: overwhelming force.
I kept my sigils ready; earlier I thought they would require mana, but according to the system, they are a part of me like my eyes and ears, so they didn't cause any strain. The system was checking all my sigils for their effects.
From the second floor onwards, whichever monster I came across. A sigil-powered punch was all it needed to end them. So the consecutive floors become easier.
I also got many things on every floor, and even my OP count was increasing steadily.
On the 2nd floor, I got movement skill and boots as equipment.
[22 OP + 28 OP]
On the 3rd floor, I got an unranked passive skill and some materials.
[50 OP + 34 OP]
I kept going down the floors; these monsters didn't pose any big challenge and were mostly defeated in one or two attacks.
I finally reached the 10th floor; it has only one boss monster room.
[Floor 10 – Obsidian Arena]
[Boss monster – Vorzak Obsidian]
[Rank – Master]
The arena was in semi-circular in shape along with presence of a humanoid monster in the midst. His body frame was broad and heavy with his armor made from complete jet black material.
This was my first Master rank opponent. I cautiously stepped forward with both my hands raised. The boss monster, Vorzak, moved at a fast speed.
I saw its punch coming in a straight line. I did a lateral slide, barely grazing my cheeks.
I answered with a left jab, hitting its armor, like metal hitting the mountain on its shoulder.
It turned, bringing a straight downward punch on me; I dipped and slid to the right. I created some distance between us.
This small exchange told me a great detail: firstly, my sigil-powered punch did almost no visible damage. Second, it was fast, so I had to be very careful with my weak defense.
I also couldn't fight an attrition battle with it. There was a chance I could get struck by its blow.
While I was thinking, it came at me again. Now I ducked or evaded. Suddenly a thought came to mind.
I immediately clenched my fist and tried to reach the same feeling I had when I was sensing my ability. The next second, an invisible layer formed around my fist, devoid of any mana.
Vorzak came at me again with two punch chains back to back. Instead of backing down, I angled and stepped diagonally in its attack.
I avoided the first punch by a hair's breadth, rotated my torso slightly, and let the second punch scrape by.
Sensing the opportunity, I followed with a quick left jab, then a right cross, followed by a punch straight at its chest coated with my ability.
I expected to have some damage or at least a few cracks; I was mentally prepared for 3-4 such encounters.
However, my punch broke its armor and passed right through its chest, ending the boss monster in the process.
I moved back as Vorzak disappeared. I looked at the fist that hit the boss, and I muttered, "This is on a whole other level. I better train myself with this ability and learn to control it."
The system chimed in with more panels.
[You have eliminated Boss monster, +10 OP]
[You have cleared the 10th floor of the dungeon]
[You have obtained the reward chest]