In the heat of the battle, with his corrosive mana struggling against the overwhelming might of the Elemental Lord, James found himself at a crossroads. The air crackled with energy, the tension palpable. His teammates, watching anxiously from the sidelines, could sense the battle reaching its climax.
James knew that brute force alone wouldn't suffice. He needed something more, something unexpected. In the depths of his mind, James recalled his experiments in his room, the attempts to project his will outward. It was a technique he hadn't mastered, one that seemed insignificant compared to the practical experience he had accumulated with his other skills. Yet, now it felt like the only card left to play.
Taking a deep breath, James closed his eyes, centering himself amidst the chaos. He fell into the depths of his being, searching for that core of unyielding determination. This was not a matter of physical strength but of using his mental fortitude, the unbreakable will to protect those he cared for and to forge a path in a world teetering on the brink of chaos as a weapon against his enemies.
Images flashed through his mind - his family, his friends, the battles they had fought, and the challenges they had overcome. Each memory solidified his resolve, crystallizing his decision to win, grow stronger, and be a shield against the world's darkness.
With his will honed to a razor's edge, James opened his eyes, their depths alight with a fierce determination. He pushed that will outward, projecting it toward the Elemental Lord. It was like unleashing a torrent of mental energy, a wave of pure resolve and unyielding spirit.
The monster, for the first time, showed signs of genuine surprise. Its watery form wavered, its churning depths slowing. The majestic creature, so attuned to the physical and elemental, was unprepared for an assault of this nature, especially from a human it had deemed so much weaker.
Seizing the moment of distraction, James refocused his efforts on his corrosive mana. He felt it surge within him, responding to his will, and directed it towards the Elemental Lord with newfound intensity. The corrosive energy, backed by the full force of James' will, latched onto the creature like a relentless predator.
The Elemental Lord tried to fight back, to repel the invasive force, but it was still too off-kilter from the mental attack, and James' will was unyielding. The corrosive mana began to eat away at the creature's form, dismantling the very essence of its being. It was a slow, agonizing process, as James' power clashed against the natural might of the Elemental being.
James' teammates watched in awe, witnessing a display of power and determination they had never seen before. Lauren's eyes were wide with happiness and admiration, Ezekiel's lips moved in silent prayer, Daniel's fists were clenched in anticipation, and Maria's face was etched with worry and hope.
As the monster's form began to disintegrate, a sense of triumph washed over James. He had done it - he had defeated a foe far beyond his current level, not through sheer power, but through the strength of his will.
The very purpose for coming all the way there had been achieved. He had gained significant experience for his Talent in battle, and if that didn't produce interesting evolutions, he didn't know what possibly could.
The creature let out a final, watery roar before collapsing into the lake, its form dispersing into countless droplets. Once the water settled, the once-mighty Elemental Lord was no more.
Exhausted, James fell to his knees, his energy spent. He had pushed himself to his limits, both physically and mentally. But the victory was worth the cost. He had proven to himself that he could achieve the impossible, if he was determined enough.
Well, that, and having an insanely powerful old man to protect me. I doubt he'll stick around my whole life, unfortunately.
Speaking of the old man, he was looking at James with an inscrutable expression. To his senses, however, he felt somewhat surprised and intrigued. Considering the insane amount of energy he emitted, even when he had to be holding back the bulk of his power, it wasn't easy to read his moods, but James believed he might have surpassed his expectations.
He opened his mouth to ask if his intuition was correct when a ding stopped him.
CONGRATULATIONS You have contributed to the defeat of a [Water Elemental - Lord of the Lake]. You have earned 1450450 EXP!
Which was immediately followed by another.
ERROR Reached level 100! EXP in excess deferred until after the Rank Up is completed.
Would you like to proceed with the Rank Up?
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YES NO
James' mind froze for a moment. The weight behind this last notification was entirely different from anything else preceding it. It felt like an immense being's attention was on him until he pushed the window to the side and was suddenly released.
In all the excitement of the fight, he had momentarily forgotten that he was so close to level 100 and what it would mean.
A bright, blinding grin appeared on his face like the sun rising in the morning, and he almost accepted on the spot before he managed to regain control over himself.
I need to wait a little bit more. Just until the others are ready, too. Soon.
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After James' astounding victory over the Elemental Lord, the team pressed deeper into the heart of the B-rank dungeon, following the lake's banks until they turned left, where a rivulet flowed into the forest, which grew denser with every step.
Mr. Julian led the way, his presence a reassuring force against the lurking dangers. They passed several promising monsters, though the old man dismissed them with barely a glance, until they reached a large clearing.
There, Lauren encountered her designated foe - a majestic griffin. The creature, with the body of a lion and the head and wings of an eagle, exuded an aura of nobility and ferocity. Mr. Julian, true to his word, restrained the griffin with his powerful magic, its wings fluttering helplessly as it tried to break free, screeching in anger.
Lauren approached cautiously, her rogue skills coming to the fore. She darted around the griffin, finding weak spots in its defenses. Her attacks were precise, each strike meant to end the fight as soon as possible. It seemed that even the usually uncaring girl felt the need to shorten the majestic creature's suffering as much as possible.
The battle was a dance of death, Lauren weaving through the griffin's attempts to resist, her blades flashing in the dim light. Exhaustion soon set in, but she persevered, her determination unwavering. She had to down two potions as she continued chipping away at the tough hide, trying her best to avoid its movements.
Though Mr. Julian had restrained the creature, it could still shake enough that the slightest touch would send the girl flying, preventing her from being able to focus on one spot.
Finally, after what seemed like hours, the griffin let out a final screech and collapsed in a pool of its own blood, defeated, and Lauren joined James in celebrating her hundredth level.
Next was Maria, who faced a Shade – a creature of shadow and malice. It was an ethereal being, its form shifting and twisting in the darkness. The shade was the polar opposite of Maria's fiery nature, a battle between light and dark. Maria unleashed the full might of her pyromancy, her flames illuminating the dark, damp dwelling it lived in as they sought to consume the monster.
The creature, however, was elusive, its form dissipating and reforming, avoiding her attacks with eerie grace despite being locked in one spot by Mr. Julian's magic. Maria's frustration grew, but she adapted, her spells becoming more intricate, weaving patterns of fire that weakened and eventually consumed the shade. As it vanished in a puff of smoke, Maria collapsed to her knees, drained but victorious.
Ezekiel's opponent was a wyrm - a massive, serpentine creature with scales that glinted like polished armor. It was as tall as some of the young trees next to it, a daunting display of primal power. Yet, under Mr. Julian's control, the wyrm was rendered motionless, a captive titan.
Being a White Mage, Ezekiel was not known for his offensive capabilities, but he rose to the challenge. He chanted buffs and debuffs, his hands glowing with energy as he directed a series of magical bolts at the monster.
The battle was a test of endurance and strategy that saw Ezekiel carefully breaking down the wyrm's defenses with his magic. The effort was immense, pushing him to his limits, but his resolve was steadfast. When it finally fell, Ezekiel stood, panting and blood-soaked, a look of triumphant exhaustion on his face. The horror of his task had long since fled him as he kept digging his knife between the wyrm's ribs, too tired to feel anything.
Lastly, Daniel faced another dryad, though a much older one. Though immobilized, it was still a formidable opponent. Its connection to the mother tree made it resilient, able to absorb energy through it and regenerate from Daniel's attacks.
He engaged the dryad in a prolonged battle of attrition, his physical strength pitted against the creature's natural resilience. His attacks were methodical, each blow calculated to gradually wear down the dryad. The battle was exhausting, a true test of Daniel's fortitude and resolve. When it finally succumbed, Daniel leaned heavily on his shield, his breaths heavy but his spirit unbroken.
A cheer rose as soon as he lifted his fist in victory, and they all reached the long-awaited threshold.
As each member of Team 0 emerged victorious from their respective battles, a sense of collective achievement filled the air. Their bodies were tired and pushed to their limits, but the euphoria of reaching level 100 overshadowed their fatigue. They had done it; they were ready to rank up.
Mr. Julian acknowledged their triumphs with a small smile and led them to a serene clearing at the edge of the dungeon. The area was bathed in a soft, ethereal light, a stark contrast to the dangerous, oppressive atmosphere of the rest of the dungeon.
Here, he instructed them to proceed with their rank-up process. "We've reached a pivotal moment." Mr. Julian said, his voice warm. "Your trials have prepared you for this. Proceed with your rank up, and I will ensure your safety as you come out. Nothing can interfere while you are in the System's care, but it will take some time before you are ready to do battle again."
This old man has put us through a lot, but he's alright. It's surprising enough that someone that strong has spent a whole week babysitting us. We'll have to do something nice for him. Bake him cookies or something.
"Often, however." The old man continued, not privy to the giddy thoughts going through James' mind, but from the look he shot him, probably aware that he didn't have his whole attention. "Carelessness and unpreparedness lead to the death of many promising Awakeners. Usually, I would counsel you to take the rank up one at a time and in a safe place to ensure that nothing can attack when you are done, but there is no safer place than where I am."
The sheer balls needed to say something like that made James and Lauren snort, but Mr. Julian kept going as if they had not. "So accept the prompt and be sure to take your time. Waiting much longer is useless, as all the experience you could reasonably gather has been gathered. And no one should influence your decision about which path to take. This is my last gift to you. Complete the rank up now, free from the speculations and unsolicited suggestions everyone at the Facility would no doubt give you."
That kinda makes sense. It's a big deal to rank up. The second one is known to shape an Awakener's path the most after the System gives us our Talent in the first place. It's the only option to change specialization entirely, after all.
James shared a look of encouragement with his friends and settled down on the soft grass. He breathed in deeply, enjoying the quiet for one moment.
With that done, he pulled up the last notification the System had given him and accepted.