Chapitre 80: Chapter 80
The days flew by in a blur as we poured our souls into our training within the depths of the dungeon. We were relentless in our pursuit of becoming stronger, hunting down monsters and pushing ourselves to the brink of exhaustion.
Despite my efforts, I had never ventured beyond the treacherous 24th floor, yet the monsters we encountered remained as ferocious as ever.
"Good morning, everyone!" I greeted both my familia and the Astraea familia with a cheerful enthusiasm. Today was the day I had decided to challenge myself further by attempting facing the Goliath, which was set to spawn soon.
There was a gnawing sense of excitement within me, an unyielding belief that this showdown was what I needed to elevate me to level 3.
With the Astraea familia by my side, I took comfort in the assurance that I would be saved in the event things went awry.
Concern etched across her face, Kaguya approached me hesitantly. "Are you really sure about this?" she asked, her voice laced with worry.
"Yes," I responded resolutely. To me, it seemed like the most viable option to progress further in the dungeon.
Diving deeper into the unknown depths was a daunting prospect, and so I chose to face this particular challenge head-on.
Hours passed, each one adding fuel to the growing anticipation within me. As I stood before the quivering crystal wall, my heart raced with determination.
I had meticulously prepared my side pouch of potions and devised a fighting plan. All that remained was to summon some mental strength to help me avoid being reduced to mere meat paste.
"It's starting!" Lyra's voice rang out from afar, snapping me out of my thoughts.
The Goliath—a monster reminiscent of a giant within the Attack on Titan series—was a fearsome beast, a throne atop the 17th floor.
Standing an imposing seven meters tall with its grey-skinned, muscular body, it possessed strength on par with a level 4 adventurer.
"I need to use my strongest skills," I whispered to myself, acutely aware of the stark difference in physical prowess between a level 4 adventurer and a level 4 monster. After all bigger things we're always somewhat intimidating.
Crack !!!
Suddenly, a resounding crack echoed through the air, followed by a powerful roar that signified the Goliath's shackles being broken.
The boss room, a colossal chamber, glistened with a translucent crystal that served as an ominous beacon of the impending monster's arrival.
Boom!!!
Then, with a thunderous boom, the Goliath emerged from the crystal, standing tall as a behemoth before me. Its appearance mirrored that of a creature straight out of Attack Titan, and a fleeting thought crossed my mind: maybe I should aim for the nape of its neck, just like in the series. It was a jovial thought that strangely alleviated my anxiety.
Enraged by the audacity of such a small challenger, the Goliath let out a furious roar, its immense frame trembling with anger.
I mentally recalled all of its abilities, drawing from my knowledge of the series: its hard skin, its strong and taunting muscles, and its limited regenerative capabilities compared to the black Goliath.
Roar!!!
With a defiant roar of my own, I stared down the mighty beast. Then, in a swift motion, I encased my body in scales, transforming my hands and legs into razor-sharp claws, and unfurled my wings. The air would become my ally in this battle.
Swoosh !!!
With a resounding whoosh, I took flight, ready to face the titan before me. Activating my wind and fire runes for enhanced mobility and increased damage, I soared through the air with agility.
Though the earth rune offered a defensive advantage, its energy-draining properties and inability to pierce the Goliath's impenetrable hide rendered it ineffective within the confines of the dungeon.
I wasn't sure even with it, that I could tank the Goliath's hits. I also couldn't afford to test that theory in battle, for all I know any direct hits— no a single blow might reduce me to nothing more than a mere paste.
Eyes blazing with fury, the Goliath lashed out, extending its hand in an attempt to grab me.
"Impetuous winds," I murmured, my words invoking a surge of heightened mobility. My first objective: blind the titan by targeting its eyes. And then, go for the joints.
After neutralizing the Goliath's mobility, my plan was clear. I knew exactly where the core was located; all I needed was an opening. With newfound agility, I soared through the air like an arrow, my sharpened claws poised to tear the beast eyes apart. Spotting my target, the Goliath instinctively shielded its face with its other hand.
"Tsk, it has some intelligence, but bravery is clearly lacking," I muttered, eyeing the defenseless creature.
Unable to attack its eyes, I opted for its knee joints, confident that its self-imposed blindness would work in my favour.
Summoning every ounce of strength, I delivered a powerful strike to the Goliath's knees, shredding its tendons.
The beast roared in agony, collapsing to the ground and using its hands to support its weight.
Now that its eyes were exposed, I conjured a modified spell, a barrage of fire bullets instead of a single devastating blast. Although these projectiles were weaker, their speed made up for it.
Fwoosh!! Swish!!!
The fire bullets sliced through the air, finding their mark in the Goliath's eyes. A mixture of rage and some semblance of strategy seemed to take hold of the creature.
Tremors shook the cavern as it pounded the ground with its massive hands, dislodging rocks and raising a veil of dust.
I ascended to a safe vantage point above the thrashing Goliath, flapping my wings with my heightened senses intact.
Gaining control of my mind, I crafted a wind funnel and infused it with fire, reminiscent of something I had seen in an anime. Precise control was crucial, or else the entire area could erupt in flames.
As the Goliath began to recover, I seized the opportunity to aim for its spine, to expose its core.
My spell reached its critical point, signaling its imminent release. Pointing the concentrated blast at where the Goliath's back should be, I unleashed it with a resounding cry.
"Flame Conflagration!!!" I bellowed, watching as explosions engulfed the surroundings, the Goliath writhing in agonizing pain.
Amidst the dust and flames, I couldn't see the extent of the damage, but the creature's frenzied reaction confirmed that the attack had taken its toll.
Gulping down a mind potion to replenish my dwindling strength, I understood the urgency of ending the battle swiftly.
The Goliath's current rampage and its devastating impact on the dungeon floor could awaken an even greater threat. 'Juggernaut' The mere thought of it sent shivers down my spine.
"Ugh, I can't approach it," I muttered. The creature's violent thrashing made it impossible to get too close without risking a wayward blow.
However, I managed to catch a glimpse of its seared off area on its back showing a crystal like structure. I knew that this was my chance and it could regenerate, I couldn't afford to wait.
"Sigh, this is going to hurt," I sighed, swapping my fire rune for earth. Casting the enduring rock spell on myself, I ascended to the highest point within reach and prepared for a rapid descent, aided by the impetuous wind spell.
As I plummeted towards the Goliath, with resolve etched on my face, my voice fierce and determined, I initiated the final phase of my plan.
With a deafening scream, I hurled myself towards the towering Goliath, aiming for its vulnerable back with my lethal leg claws.
With lightning speed, I launched a series of actions, using my hands to unleash gusts of wind that propelled me forward, intensifying the impact.
A resounding crack echoed through the air, a satisfying sign that I had made contact with the creature's core.
Confident of my impending victory, I muttered "yes" triumphantly under my breath. The Goliath, however, roared back defiantly, unwilling to admit defeat.
But then, an ominous second crack shattered the momentary jubilation. Confusion washed over me as searing pain surged through my leg. My broken bones screamed in torment, stealing my ability to celebrate my apparent win.
"Aaaahhh!!" I couldn't help but unleash a primal scream as the agony engulfed me. But my suffering was far from over. The Goliath, clinging to its last shreds of strength, seized me by my tail — my very lifeline — and with a final act of spite, squeezed it.
"You... bastard," I managed to choke out, venom dripping from each word, before the brute mercilessly slammed me into the unforgiving ground. The impact robbed me of my breath, leaving me gasping and coughing, the pain radiating throughout my broken body.
As my vision blurred and darkness crept in, I desperately prayed that my spine had not suffered a similar fate. The distant voices of my friends from the Astraea familia barely reached my fading awareness.
'The goliath turned to dust but could this really count as a victory' this thought crossed my mind.
In those fleeting moments before consciousness abandoned me, I couldn't help but regret my fatal misstep at the end. The bitter realization settled in as I succumbed to the void: I had faltered, and ultimately, paid a price.
A/N: Thanks for reading. See ya all Monday. Feel free to read ahead on my pa3on and donate.
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HungryMushroom
HungryMushroom Gimme them stones. Feel free to read ahead on pat3on and donate.
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