Jason turned his head just in time to see something massive rise from the earth. The graveyard trembled as an enormous, gnarled tree-like monster erupts from the ground. Its roots twist like massive tentacles, tearing through tombstones and cracked earth. It's bark is dark, with veins of sickly green mana pulsing within it.
It's branches creak as it moves, shifting like jagged arms, the tips sharpened into piercing stakes. Jason grabbed the vial and instantly downed it, he'd given everything to kill the Skeleton King and had no stamina left to fight again. As soon as the green liquid made its way into his body, he felt a disgusting sensation flood his muscles, his body instantly full of energy, yet in the most hideous way possible.
Now somewhat recovered, but mentally tired from two tough battles, Jason gripped his greatsword tightly, anticipating an attack. Suddenly the tree moved, a massive root exploded out from the ground, swinging towards him like a battering ram. Jason barely dodged, rolling away as it smashed the ground where he stood, sending twigs and chunks of stone flying. This creature isn't just going to outlast him, it was going to kill him.
Jason took a good look at the window above the monster, revealing it's identity:
First Class Monster: Level 40 Corrupted Elderwood
This was on a whole other level, something Jason had never gone against, the level 30 Skeleton King had been his highest level victory, and now he had to fight something even more powerful, while having less energy. Jason held onto his sword tightly as more and more branches whipped towards him with razor sharp edges.
"Exoskeleton" he chanted, increasing his health and strength, as he parried and avoided as many of the branches as possible, without increasing his agility he couldn't dodge everything. His body continuously was being whipped as the Elderwood tree toyed with him effortlessly.
Jason grit his teeth as another jagged root tore through the air slamming into his side. His exoskeleton absorbing most of the impact, but the sheer force still sent him skidding across the broken graveyard. His greatsword dug into the dirt, carving a deep trench as he struggled to steady himself.
He didn't have time to breathe, the Corrupted Elderwood wasn't slowing down. More roots surged from the ground, wrapping around broken tombstones like serpents before lunging at him. Jason hunched low, dodging left, but another thorn branch lashed across his shoulder, leaving a deep gash. Pain flared in his muscles, but he forced himself forward.
Kaitlin, standing several meters away watched in horror. "Jason!" she yelled, but she knew she couldn't interfere. She clenched her fists, mana flickering around her. She could freeze the ground, she could blast it with electricity , but nothing she had would be enough to damage it, let alone kill it.
Jason exhaled, dodging another barrage. He had to think, this wasn't a normal enemy. It had insane regeneration and endurance, meaning small attacks wouldn't do anything. The only weakness it had was that it was slow, however the attacks were constant and overwhelming. The only way to win was to destroy it in one attack.
However, his only attack that could do it was still on cooldown for another two hours, he had to think of another way, he couldn't dodge forever. "Add all remaining stat points into strength" He yelled. The system responded, Jason felt fresh power course through his muscles as his strength directly increased. Strength: 128 (107 + 20%)
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With his previous experience, plus the increased strength it became easier to control his body even with the three times gravity seal. Jason instantly started slipping and weaving the corrupted strikes, parrying with his sword as he made his way closer to the main body.
As he arrived he swung his sword with all his might in a chopping motion, hoping to slash the tree in half. The tree didn't even bother trying to dodge, it had limited agility, however it's health stat was monstrous. Jason's strike cut a few inches deep, causing green ichor to spray out, yet in less than a second, the wound was healed.
Jason's mind raced, searching for a solution. His strongest ability was on cooldown, and his regular strikes weren't enough. The Corrupted Elderwood's regeneration outpaced his damage.
Jason clenched his fists. His Exoskeleton was still active. His stats were high, but not high enough. The system had forced this trial upon him. The Gravity Seal was holding him back. But what if he used it differently?
Jason's eyes flickered with an idea. He had been fighting against the systems weight. What if he stopped resisting... and used it instead? He focused inward, feeling the pressure crushing down on his body. Instead of trying to move normally under the weight, he embraced it. Letting it push him down harder, feeling the force build within him. Then he redirected that force. Jason took a deep breath. "If I can't move... then I'll make the weight move for me."
He instantly added his recovered endurance points into strength, reaching a whopping 190 points. The earth trembled as the force that had been restricting his movement fueled his next attack. Jason's muscles screamed in protest, but his grip on his sword only tightened.
As he ran the air around him warped. He'd never attempted this before, but now wasn't the time to hesitate. He pushed all the downward force into his next strike, instead of fighting against the weight trying to control it, he used it.
The Corrupted Elderwood sensed the change. Its massive branched reared back, preparing to defend itself. Jason stepped forward, his body was heavier than ever, but his strike would be unstoppable. A deafening crack rang out as the ground beneath him shattered. Tombstones split apart, the very graveyard sunk beneath him.
Kaitlin gasped, feeling the mana distort unnaturally. Jason wasn't just swinging his blade anymore, he was turning his own body into a falling meteor. This wasn't Starbreak. Starbreak used his own manipulation of gravity to increase the force by 2.5 times. Now he was using the system to deal 3 times the impact.
The system recognized his actions and displayed it in a window: One time use: Self created technique: Empowered Starbreak: Using the Gravity Seal as a force multiplier, deal up to 350% damage in the next strike.
Jason's vision blurred, but he didn't stop, he swung with all his might. BOOOOOOOOM. The force was apocalyptic, His sword carved through the trunk like a guillotine through flesh. The impact so severe that the ground caved in, sending shockwaves through the graveyard.
The tree's entire top half split away, violently collapsing onto itself. The green veins within it pulsed violently, it's regeneration trying to keep up. Jason only had one thought in his mind before exhaustion overtook him. "No, you're not healing from this."
The moment the tree fell, it's roots twitched violently. It wasn't trying to attack Jason, it was trying to burrow underground. Kaitlin's eyes widened, she realized it was trying to escape, she didn't hesitate, "Frost Chains!" Her ice surged outward, spreading across the battlefield, freezing the entire ground solid.
The roots shuddered, desperately trying to break through, but the ice held firm. The Corrupted Elderwood trembled one last time as it looked at Jason. Not in hatred, not in rage, but in fear, a predator before the apex.. then it withered away.
System Notification:
You have slain First-Class Monster: Level 40 Corrupted Elderwood
You cannot gain any additional experience until your trial has ended.
Jason exhaled sharply, his entire body screaming in protest, he staggered, gripping his sword for balance. His muscles felt torn apart. Kaitlin ran toward him, panting. "Jason! Are you okay?" Jason barely managed a nod before his world slipped away from him.