Sinclair sat in contemplation with Chewy and Leia, pondering their strategy for the impending confrontation. Confidence stirred within him; he believed they had all the essentials for victory. The key, he mused, was caution.
Just as he was about to set things in motion, a ding reverberated in his mind, accompanied by a flash on his notifications screen. Swiftly tabbing over, he saw his Core screen blinking urgently. Opening it, he was reminded of something he had completely overlooked—his progress on leveling up the Stone Core for his feet.
Constant battles had forced him to divert mana away from this task, prolonging the original 24-hour estimation. But perhaps this delay was fortuitous. He hadn't realized initially that unlocking the Stone level required opening both Meridians in his feet, a process that demanded a hefty 120,000 mana points for completion. His enhanced regenerative abilities had made this feasible, causing him to wonder how anyone without his unique advantages could ever achieve the same progress.
A new sense of gratitude for his capabilities washed over him, as he pondered the increased resilience this upgrade would offer in the battle to come.
He tapped on the awaiting notification.
Foot Cores - Stone Level Unlocked:
Congratulations! Your foot cores have advanced to the Stone Level. Enjoy the following enhancements:
- Speed: Your base speed has increased, allowing for faster movements and quicker reflexes.
- Ground Vibration Sensitivity: You can now detect subtle vibrations in the ground, enhancing your awareness of your surroundings and potentially allowing you to sense approaching enemies or hidden obstacles.
- Strength: Gain a +30 bonus to your base Strength stat.
- Agility: Gain a +30 bonus to your base Agility stat.
Note: These stat bonuses and enhancements are automatically applied upon unlocking this level.
Sinclair felt a surge of energy flowing into his feet, grounding him in a new, profound way. He took a few steps, marveling at the increased agility and sensitivity. Even the slightest tremor in the ground now registered in his heightened senses.
A melodious chime reverberated in Sinclair's head as another notification emerged in his interface, vying for his attention alongside the previous one.
New Title Unlocked: Cosmic Behemoth
Congratulations! You are the first entity to achieve a combined stat total of over 2,000. You have unlocked the title 'Cosmic Behemoth.'
Title Benefits:
Unlocks the 'Realm of the Behemoth' ability, boosting all stats by 10% for a limited duration.
Enables the addition of a second skill to the 'Eye of Colossus,' enhancing its growth by 20%.
All existing skills receive an immediate +10 levels.
Sinclair navigated to the "Eye of Colossus" skill section within his interface, surprised to see the slots empty—likely a reset prompted by his newly-acquired title.
"Perfect timing for some customization," he thought.
Selecting 'Telekinesis' for the first slot was a no-brainer. With the newfound perk of controlling multiple objects at reduced mana consumption, the skill had just become an incredibly versatile weapon. He envisioned guiding his small rounds of ammunition with pinpoint precision, turning each shot into a guided missile.
For the second slot, he chose 'Rapid Regeneration.' The battle against the Behemoths below was likely to be grueling, and the ability to heal quickly could be the thin line between life and death. And with the extra ten levels granted by his new title, he suspected the skill would be even more potent than before.
Both skills shimmered as they locked into place, and Sinclair felt their abilities weave into his already potent array of capabilities. 'Telekinesis' now allowed him to manipulate more objects simultaneously, making it even more lethal, while 'Rapid Regeneration' pulsed with a rejuvenating energy that made him feel almost invincible.
With these enhancements, Sinclair felt an emboldened sense of confidence. Not only was he more powerful, but he had also become a more versatile fighter, equipped for both offense and defense.
"Now, let's see how these monsters like dealing with a Cosmic Behemoth," he mused, his eyes glinting with anticipation.
Taking a defensive position that offered a clear line of sight while protecting his flanks, Sinclair gave the signal to Chewy and Leia, who took up their own positions nearby.
He selected five dense stones from his collection and, using his enhanced Telekinesis, made them orbit rapidly around his head, building momentum. The uncertainty of the situation filled him with a mix of anxiety and excitement—he had no idea how effective this newly-amped skill would be against the Behemoths.
Targeting the closest Behemoth, Sinclair focused intently on the vulnerable area just behind its ear. Timing his attack for the moment the creature turned its head away from him, he mentally triggered the release of three of the orbiting stones. The air rippled with a sound like a sonic boom as the stones rocketed toward their target at nearly hypersonic speed.
The effects of his new title were immediately apparent. The stones flew with astonishing precision and seemed to require significantly less mana than before to maintain their trajectory. Sinclair couldn't help but marvel at the impact of the Cosmic Behemoth title; it had indeed augmented his abilities in ways that could very well make a crucial difference in the battle to come.
Hidden in the dim recesses of the cavern, Sinclair and his animal companions, Chewy and Leia, blended seamlessly into the jagged, dark walls. Their eyes narrowed as the first targeted Behemoth staggered, its colossal form trembling. A deep, bloody gash marred the back of its skull, and a thick rivulet of crimson oozed from the wound, staining the ground beneath it.
Not missing a beat, Sinclair levitated two additional stones, spinning them in the air to gain momentum before letting them fly. They shot forward with a whoosh, guided by his honed telekinesis. Striking with surgical precision, the projectiles obliterated the already weakened spot, reducing it to a pulpy mass. The gargantuan creature plummeted forward, its face thudding into the rocky ground with an impact that shook the floor beneath them. One behemoth down, eleven to go, he mentally noted.
A slow ripple of movement spread among the closest monsters, their vast forms turning in almost synchronized confusion. Their thick, leathery hides shimmered ominously in the cavern's low light as they tried to identify the source of their fallen comrade's demise. Capitalizing on their sluggish response, Sinclair launched a rapid salvo of telekinetically-propelled stones. Each found its mark with unerring accuracy, felling two more towering Behemoths that collapsed in crumpled heaps.
Now alerted, the remaining Behemoths let out a collective, guttural roar that reverberated through the cavern like a dissonant symphony. Their massive, muscled bodies lumbered toward him, eyes ablaze with a primal fury. The narrow incline of the ramp forced them into a bottleneck, allowing only two to advance at a time. But even this limitation seemed a trifling matter, for their sheer bulk and frenzied aggression turned the confined space into a hazardous gauntlet that Sinclair would have to navigate skillfully to survive.
Stolen novel; please report.
Sinclair braced himself as the first pair of behemoths charged up the ramp, their immense size and vicious power immediately apparent. The confined space of the ramp did little to hamper their attacks; each swipe of their colossal limbs felt like a sledgehammer blow, each roar sent shuddering vibrations through the very core of his being. Despite his armor absorbing much of the impact, several blows found their mark—a gash appeared on his left arm, another on his thigh.
Yet he was not fighting alone. Chewy and Leia took their positions on his flanks, engaging the behemoths in coordinated attacks. Chewy, with his powerful jaws, tore a chunk of flesh from a behemoth's leg, while Leia utilized her War Collar to send bolts of searing energy into the creatures, leaving behind smoldering craters on their tough hides.
Seizing the moment, Sinclair activated his Hurricane Onslaught skill, his movements blurring as his speed increased exponentially. His axe, now swung with even greater precision and force, connected with the behemoths in sweeping arcs. Each strike culminated in a Savage Cleave, the blade discharging a concentrated wave of energy upon impact.
Despite their size and strength, the behemoths struggled to cope with Sinclair's boosted speed and ferocious onslaught. But they were far from defeated. His stamina was depleting, and his injuries were accumulating. A vicious claw raked across his back, another blow nearly dislodging his axe from his grip.
Just when he began to falter, he felt the familiar warmth of his Rapid Regeneration skill activate. His wounds started to close, and his flagging energy lifted. Chewy and Leia seemed to sense this change, their attacks becoming increasingly bold and ferocious.
Two more Savage Cleaves, and Sinclair managed to force one of the behemoths to the edge of the ramp. With a final, determined swing, he sent it tumbling into the abyss below. Chewy took advantage of the moment to hamstring another, which also lost its footing and plummeted over the edge, letting out a deafening roar as it fell.
Though victorious, the toll of the battle was evident. Sinclair was battered and bruised, but he stood tall, flanked by Chewy and Leia. They had faced a formidable enemy, yet emerged triumphant. Two more behemoths had been dealt with, but there were still more to face. Catching his breath, Sinclair readied himself, axe in hand, for the next wave of battle.
Sinclair's body crashed onto the cavern floor, which was only 15 feet below the ramp. The drop wasn't fatal, but it was enough to rattle him. However, he had no time to ponder his predicament. He quickly chugged down a mana and a health potion, feeling his energy and vitality start to return.
His gaze snapped to the ramp above, where Chewy and Leia were skillfully holding their own against three behemoths. Meanwhile, the remaining six behemoths seemed to recognize that the person they viewed as the primary threat was now isolated. Grunting, they lumbered down the ramp towards Sinclair, leaving only a trio to deal with his companions.
Sinclair readied himself. He activated "Furious Charge," his form becoming a blur as he darted in and out of the behemoths' lumbering attacks. His strategy was to divide and conquer; to use his speed and agility to strike and move, preventing them from cornering him or synchronizing their attacks.
Just as he lunged forward, slashing a deep gash into one behemoth's flank, a joyous howl echoed from the ramp above. Through their mental link, he knew that Chewy and Leia had succeeded in bringing down one of their adversaries.
Despite his rapid movements, the behemoths were not entirely inept. A swipe from one of their massive arms sent him veering off course, another left a series of painful gashes across his back. Each hit was a reminder that these creatures were formidable, and a lapse in concentration could prove fatal.
However, his tactics were working. After what felt like an eternity but was only minutes, two more of the behemoths on the cavern floor collapsed, their massive bodies unable to sustain the numerous wounds Sinclair had inflicted.
His heart soared as he realized only five behemoths remained—two on the ramp and three in the cavern with him. But he was far from unscathed. Each step was a test of will, each swing of his axe an act of defiance against his own fatigue and pain. Yet he fought on, knowing that retreat was not an option.
Sinclair gritted his teeth and prepared for the next wave of attacks. His mana was running dangerously low again, his Rapid Regeneration was struggling to keep up, and his armor was showing signs of significant wear. However, the behemoths were also faltering, their movements becoming sluggish and their roars less intimidating.
Summoning the last reserves of his willpower, Sinclair readied himself for what could be the final clash. There was no turning back now. The battlefield had been whittled down to only the strongest and most stubborn—and Sinclair was determined to be the last one standing.
Sinclair's eyes darted between the remaining behemoths as he readied himself for another lightning-fast assault. Just as he activated "Furious Charge," his boot caught on an unseen dip in the cavern floor. He stumbled, his concentration shattered for a crucial second. That was all the opening one of the behemoths needed. A massive hand swung out, striking Sinclair squarely on his left bicep and sending him hurtling against the cavern wall with bone-jarring force. He gasped in pain, clutching his arm instinctively. A quick assessment told him his arm was probably fractured—he could barely move it without wincing.
Grimacing, Sinclair shifted his axe to his uninjured right arm. His gaze caught sight of the staircase, and a plan formed in his mind. Wasting no time, he reactivated "Furious Charge," his form a blur as he darted up the ramp, directly toward the remaining behemoths there. Just as he neared them, he triggered "Savage Cleave," his axe leaving trails of luminous energy as it sliced through the air, severing both sets of hamstrings on the lumbering giants in front of him.
Fully aware of the potential attack from behind, Sinclair then activated "Primal Resonance," propelling himself into empty space, aiming to land on the cavern floor to create distance. This would give Chewy and Leia the opportunity to finish off the injured behemoths on the ramp. However, he hadn't accounted for the behemoths' own reactions to his move. Disoriented by his crowd-control skill, they lurched forward, falling off the ramp and sustaining further injuries from the drop.
Seizing the opportunity, Chewy and Leia pounced with ferocious precision. Teeth and claws met flesh, and soon the struggles of the fallen behemoths ceased.
Now it was a more even battlefield: three behemoths against Sinclair, Chewy, and Leia. The behemoths seemed to recognize the shift in odds, their eyes narrowing as they turned their focus entirely on Sinclair. But he grinned, despite the pain and exhaustion. Behind the behemoths, two deadly direwolves—his companions—were eyeing their massive backs, waiting for the right moment to make this fight as unfair as possible. And Sinclair couldn't have asked for better odds.
Summoning the last reserves of his energy and determination, Sinclair looked at his two direwolf companions. A brief moment of shared understanding passed between them, conveyed through their mental link. They were ready.
With a growl that seemed to reverberate through the very walls of the cavern, Sinclair activated "Realm of the Behemoth," his new title ability. A pulsing aura enveloped him, boosting all his stats by 10%. Chewy and Leia, sensing the increase in his power, lunged at the behemoths from behind. As their teeth sank into tendons and flesh, Sinclair used his boosted "Hurricane Onslaught," his form blurring as he moved from one behemoth to the next. His axe, guided by his uninjured arm, struck with terrifying efficiency, each impact echoing through the cavern like a war drum.
With his wounds constantly healing—albeit slowly, due to his potions and innate regeneration—he was a whirlwind of destruction. In a final simultaneous effort, Chewy and Leia lunged at the last two behemoths' throats as Sinclair unleashed "Savage Cleave." Energy rippled from his axe, tearing through the behemoth in front of him.
Within seconds, it was over. The last behemoth roared its final breath, collapsing onto the cavern floor.
Exhausted, Sinclair sheathed his axe and let himself fall back against the body of the last fallen behemoth, using it as a makeshift backrest. He unstoppered another healing potion with his good arm and downed it, hoping it would speed up the mending of his fractured bicep. Nature's regenerative powers seemed to fall short when it came to broken bones.
Chewy and Leia padded over to him, their fur matted with exertion and battle grime. They flopped down next to him, their sides heaving as they caught their breath. Through their mental link, Sinclair could sense their satisfaction and relief. They had done it, against what had seemed like insurmountable odds.
As he sat there, his back against the fallen behemoth, waiting for his regenerative abilities to patch him up, Sinclair couldn't help but feel a deep sense of camaraderie with his two direwolf companions. They were all breathing hard, shaky from the intense battle, but they were alive, and they were together.
"Good job, you two," Sinclair thought, sending the message through their mental link. "Rest up. We've got more adventures ahead."
And as he felt his wounds begin to close, his stamina slowly replenishing, Sinclair allowed himself a small, triumphant grin. They were one step closer to whatever awaited them in this perilous world, and for the first time in a long while, he felt ready to face it.
They remained in that position for several hours, the weight of their exhaustion grounding them to the spot. Sinclair's eyes fluttered closed more than once, and none among them felt inclined to move. Accessing his dimensional storage, Sinclair distributed food to his weary companions. All were grimy and battle-worn, longing for the comfort of home. Yet, the labyrinthine depths of this place remained unexplored.
Just as they were beginning to regain some semblance of vitality, a spine-chilling scream reverberated from the tunnel the behemoths had previously emerged from. Evidently, something—perhaps the master of these creatures—was displeased and on its way to investigate.
Rising unsteadily to their feet, they retreated from the ominous tunnel, pressing their backs against the wall from which they had descended earlier. The footsteps were closing in. Their keen ears detected the approach, but couldn't discern the number of beings rushing towards them. Tightening the straps on their gear and gripping their weapons, they braced themselves for another arduous battle.
Within a brief minute, the sound of charging feet filled the chamber, only to abruptly halt. A profound silence took over, amplifying Sinclair's mounting dread. He'd never fought an invisible enemy before, and the uncertainty gnawed at him.
Just as his apprehension was about to tip into full-blown fear, an unexplained serenity enveloped him. He was Sinclair, the first Wolf Lord of the new world, and he had nothing to fear. It was as though an ethereal hand reached across time to grace his shoulders, reaffirming his courage and whispering that he was not alone.
This tranquil moment was shattered as a cacophony of hisses and snarls erupted from the tunnel opposite them. A grotesque creature lunged into view, and Sinclair found himself almost wishing it had remained hidden. It was a monstrosity resembling a queen hornet but horribly mutated—too many appendages and a size that dwarfed any hornet he'd ever seen. It was as if someone had plucked a creature from the depths of a nightmare and granted it life. Now, that life form was glaring at them, clearly intending to make this fight one they'd never forget.
As Sinclair locked eyes with the abomination, his axe gripped firmly in his hand and Chewy and Leia bristling at his flanks, he couldn't shake the unsettling calm that had settled over him moments before. It was as if destiny itself had orchestrated this encounter, a deadly dance between the ancient and the new. Just as he took a steadying breath, preparing for the battle to come, the creature let out another ear-splitting shriek—only this time, it was echoed by a chorus of similar cries from the depths of the tunnel. Sinclair's eyes widened in grim realization: the monstrosity before them was not alone.