CHAPTER 11: FIRST VICTORY

The Minotaur launched forward, head first, moving like a speeding race car. Silva had less than a second to think and make his move.

He used Claw Strike again, but the Minotaur swung down, cutting through the claw arcs.

"Shit," Silva cursed as he jumped out of the way. The Claw Strike had bought him another fraction of a second, allowing him to dodge.

The axe dug into the ground as debris exploded, but this time Silva stayed low and was able to avoid it all.

He pushed off the ground and ran, going behind the Minotaur. He ran at full speed, putting distance between them.

But then the Minotaur threw its axe with full strength. Silva sensed the axe a fraction of a second early and dodged. The axe flew by his face so fast that the air around it sliced his cheek.

It struck with immense force and stuck into a wall, lodged deep inside. Silva looked at the axe. That thing had been thrown toward his head, there was no way he would have survived that.

But now this was a good thing, because the Minotaur was weaponless, which meant it was significantly weaker than before. Silva came to a halt, his feet skidding across the ground as he turned around and used Claw Strike.

The attack hit the Minotaur straight in the face and chest, leaving very deep gashes, and dark red blood sprayed.

"Roarrrrrrrrr!"

It let out a thunderous roar that shook the cave. Pain flooded its body, and that was the opportunity Silva needed. He rushed toward the axe in the wall.

He reached it and began pulling, but it wasn’t budging.

"No, no, no, come on, come on!" He pulled harder, struggling, only to feel a little shift.

The Minotaur behind was already over the pain and ready to attack with rage. It let out a hot breath and started kicking its leg back.

Silva looked back and saw the Minotaur. Sweat formed on his face as he started pulling harder and in a rush.

"Come on, come on!" he yelled, pulling with everything he had, but the axe refused to budge.

The Minotaur launched forward, moving faster than before. Silva was out of time, yet he kept pulling until it was too late. The Minotaur slammed into the wall, shattering it and sending debris flying.

From the dust and debris, Silva rolled out. He had managed to dodge at the last moment thanks to his senses. He grabbed the axe that was falling because it had been dislodged after the Minotaur ran into the wall.

And with everything he had, he swung upwards. "Arghhhhhhhhhhhhhhh!" Fighting against the weight of the axe, he roared, one move for victory, now or never.

The blade of the axe dug into the head of the Minotaur from below. It cut through the jawbone and all the way to the eye.

"Roaaaaarrrrrr!"

It roared in pain and stumbled backwards, but Silva wasn’t done. He couldn’t be, not until he completely defeated the enemy that stood before him.

"I’ll no longer be a stepping stone!!!" he yelled as he used Claw Strike. One slash, two slashes, cutting the chest of the Minotaur deeply. Then he ran forward, grabbed the axe handle, and pulled it out whole, twisting to aggravate the wound.

The Minotaur fell to the floor and he rushed above it. He stood on its chest, axe raised, and without hesitation, he swung down. The axe cut into the head, shattering the skull and destroying the brain, killing the Minotaur.

Huff, huff, huff.

He stood there, breathing hard. He let go of the axe and leaned back, sweat pouring from his face. All his muscles ached.

But never in his life had he felt the sense of joy and accomplishment he had now. Against the odds, against the impossibility, he killed a monster strong enough to kill him with a sneeze.

[You have killed a Minotaur, 1000 EXP]

[You have leveled up, 4 free stat points]

[You have leveled up, 4 free stat points]

[You have leveled up, 4 free stat points]

[You have leveled up, 4 free stat points]

[You have gained a unique skill: Minotaur’s Rage]

He stared at the messages as they flooded in, a sense of accomplishment filling him. But that wasn’t the end. He looked through the head of the Minotaur and found the purple crystal lodged inside.

This was the important thing, the item that sold most from all monsters, their core. He pulled it out and wiped the blood on the fur of the Minotaur. He stared at it, a smile on his face.

He was eager to rush in and kill more Minotaurs, but the system sent a message.

[User is advised to return and not fight in his current state.]

He heard her voice. He wanted to disobey, but he decided against it. He couldn’t allow himself to die, so he had to suppress his greed.

"Alright, then take me out," he said, and immediately a gate opened. He walked out of the gate back into his room and immediately dropped to the ground, his legs giving in.

All the adrenaline that had driven him to fight the way he did had finally vanished.

"I can’t believe I did it," he said, still looking at the crystal in his hands. He forced himself up and headed to the showers. He took a warm shower.

As soon as he came out, he noticed that his wounds were almost all healed up.

"I’m really loving these demon abilities," he muttered and walked to the bed. He put on his hospital gown and got on the bed.

"System, those stat points I gained, how do I use them? I believe they help me add stats, right?" he asked.

[Just think of what stats you want to add and to which stat group.]

"Alright, show me my stat screen," Silva said.

[System Stats]

[Name: Silva Tallon]

[Race: Demon]

[Class: Lesser Demon]

[Demonic Energy: 1000]

[Level 5]

[EXP 0/500]

[Strength: 15]

[Speed: 16]

[Defense: 15]

[Intelligence: 25]

[16 free stat points]

[Skills]

Sensory (Lv. 1)

Demonic Healing (Lv. 1)

Claw Strike (Lv. 1)

Minotaur’s Rage

[Inventory]

Key of the Minotaur’s Gate (5 uses available. First use expiring in 24 hours)

Demon Heart

Silva decided to add four each to every stat, giving them an equal addition each.

[Strength: 19]

[Speed: 20]

[Defense: 19]

[Intelligence: 29]

He didn’t feel anything different right then, but he was happy to see it add. He couldn’t have asked for a better day; today changed his entire life and was going to change his entire future.

[....]

The next day came faster than expected. Doctor Mia ran a few more checks on him and ensured he was fine.

"You seem completely healed, something I find hard to understand. Either way, you can move out of the hospital whenever you want today, I’m discharging you," she said.

"Really? I can go?" he asked, the enthusiasm showing on his face.

"Yes, you can, but don’t go around doing something stupid and stressing your body. It’s still in a healing stage and too much stress won’t be good, or I think so. I don’t really know what’s going on in your body," she said.

"Also, keep a low profile. The guild is a very observant organization, and if they notice something abnormal, they will for sure make your life hard," she added, then walked to the door.

"Oh, also I might be calling you soon. I am going to carry out an extended test on your samples, just in case," she said and walked out.

Silva watched her leave, and the moment she was gone, he immediately picked up the phone on the cabinet and called Peter.

"Hello, Peter."

(Yeah bro, what’s up?) Peter asked.

"I just got discharged. Can you get me some clothes and come to the hospital? I want to be out of this place as quick as possible," Silva said.

"Uhhh, alright, I’ll be there in an hour tops, wait for me," Peter said before hanging up. Silva placed the phone down and looked outside the window.

"I’m stepping out a different person," he muttered.