CHAPTER 32: DEFEAT

[You have killed a Minotaur, 1000 EXP]

[You have leveled up, 4 free stat points]

[You have leveled up, 4 free stat points]

Silva looked at the message, he walked to the side and sat down, leaning against the wall. He didn’t even bother taking out the core yet.

He needed the rest. He sat there for a few minutes and then finally got on his feet, he looked at the body and stretched out his hands.

"Absorb," he muttered and felt the stream of energy flow into his body.

[You have gained 20 demonic energy]

"Twenty? That’s a lot," he muttered. The body was dried up, and he could take out the core easily. He stored it in his inventory.

He looked at the path that led into the gate deeper. He thought about killing more and finally making it to the next level before he left.

But he needed his Minotaur’s Rage for that, so he sat down and waited for the cooldown time to finish. When it did, he got up and started walking deeper inside.

[System Stats]

[Name: Silva Tallon]

[Race: Demon]

[Class: Lesser Demon]

[Demonic Energy: 1120]

[Level: 9]

[EXP: 200/900]

[Strength: 20]

[Speed: 21]

[Defense: 19]

[Intelligence: 25]

[Free stat points: 12]

[Skills]

Sensory (Lv. 1)

Demonic Healing (Lv. 1)

Claw Strike (Lv. 1)

Minotaur’s Rage

[Inventory]

Key of the Minotaur’s Gate (4 uses available)

He was one level away from level ten, he wanted to know what would happen when he finally got to level ten.

"System, add three stat points to all stats," Silva said.

[Strength: 23]

[Speed: 24]

[Defense: 22]

[Intelligence: 28]

He kept walking deeper inside and finally found a Minotaur. It was standing before some sort of door made of stone.

Silva didn’t know why, but this Minotaur gave off a stronger aura than the last one. It also dual-wielded two short axes that were at its hip.

’This won’t be easy at all, I can tell already,’ Silva thought. He walked out and the Minotaur laid eyes on him. Immediately, without even a moment of waste, it shot forward.

Running faster than any of the others he had faced before. Silva was stunned, but he was ready, and right off the bat he used Minotaur’s Rage.

It pulled out both axes, spun them around and slashed, one diagonal, followed with an overhead slash. Silva kicked back quick, he dodged both attacks fast, his eyes following the path of the blades.

’Shit, that was fast, I could barely sense it. This might be impossible,’ he thought. With both hands, he slashed forward, using two Claw Strikes.

The Minotaur stomped the ground and used both axes to cut through the Claw Strikes. It was pushed back a few steps, but that was all.

’What the hell? Even at that close range, with how unpredictable it was, it managed to block the attack.’

The Minotaur lunged, it slashed from above, Silva parried. Sparks flew off the gauntlet, a deep scratch was left on it, but he managed to deflect it. He punched, making use of the small opening, but the Minotaur used its second axe and blocked the punch.

CLANG!

His hand was bounced back, he watched in horror as the Minotaur recovered fast and slashed, the axe ripped through his chest, blood splattering in all directions.

Silva was thrown back, he slammed into the ground, rolling for a few meters, blood staining the floor as he moved.

The Minotaur stood there watching, its eyes held no emotion, just a superior being looking down on an ant. Silva coughed up blood, he struggled back on his feet, his entire clothes drenched in blood, his skin already pale.

He looked at the Minotaur, a smile formed on his face. "This would be the point where I am meant to run away, and save myself, but no, I’ve run enough in my life." As he spoke, a resolved look formed on his face. Ignoring the pain, he ran forward.

Gritting his teeth, he attacked with double Claw Strikes. The Minotaur blocked them the same way as before and lunged forward.

It attacked again, Silva tried to parry this time, but the Minotaur suddenly changed the direction of the attack, the axe dug into the side of Silva.

Silva’s eyes widened, blood spurted from his mouth, he collapsed to the ground. The Minotaur picked him by the head and headbutted him hard on the head, breaking his nose, then tossed Silva to the side.

It looked at him, the same look of someone superior. It turned away and walked back to its post. Silva watched from the ground, his anger rose, he felt his chest tightening.

’You mean I’m nothing to you, you couldn’t even be bothered to finish me off. Screw you, screw you, I’ll kill you, I’ll kill you, no matter what it takes,’ he thought in anger.

But he could barely move at all. His wounds were deep and severe, and even with the help of his healing factor, it would still take him hours. So he lay there until finally, he was able to move again.

He slowly got on his feet, ready to go again.

[User is advised to not engage again,]

The system spoke. Silva frowned, he tried to ignore it, but the system triggered the gate and Silva mistakenly walked through it.

He walked out into his room. He immediately turned around and tried to enter again, but the gate closed. His face twisted in anger, he wanted to shout, but he couldn’t, he was in his room.

He took off his blood-covered clothes, tossed his gauntlets to the ground and walked into the bathroom. He turned on the bathtub and allowed it to fill with warm water.

He soaked himself inside, and immediately the water turned red. He sat there, his face said it all, he hated the feeling of powerlessness. He wanted to get stronger, and the next time he faced that Minotaur, he would make sure that he killed it.

Minutes turned to hours as he soaked in the bath. He finally got out, took a shower and walked back into the room, his wounds had almost healed up.