Seeing that the monstrous dog was about to attack, Max whispered, "Charlotte, try to heal it if you get the chance because it'll have the opposite effect on it. Also, sprinkle some salt on it—it's effective."
Just then, the dog lunged at them.
Knowing that the monstrous dog was the strongest opponent he had faced so far, Max was extremely cautious. After dodging its first attack, he swiftly moved around to strike from behind.
At the front, Stelle was already on the offensive with her hammer. All of a sudden, the hammer's size grew, becoming as massive as the dog itself.
The monster tried to retreat, but Max was already in position to attack from behind. Unfortunately, his weapon was a dull blade that couldn't even penetrate its hide.
So, Max aimed at its bulging muscles, which were protruding grotesquely from its decaying flesh. He knew the attack wouldn't cause real harm since the creature was undead, but it would definitely serve as a distraction—enough for Stelle to land her hit.
However, the dog merely growled lightly and ignored Max's attack entirely. Instead, it swept a massive paw toward the hammer, deflecting it to the side as Stelle struggled to control its momentum.
The impact shattered the ground beneath them, creating an opportunity for the dog to strike while Stelle was still regaining her stance.
As the monstrous hound opened its vicious jaws, Charlotte swiftly threw a packet of salt into its mouth. She had heard rumors that salt was effective against the undead but had never tested it before.
The dog jumped back, tasting the salt on its tongue. Its eyesight was already weak, and coupled with Stelle and Max's distraction, it hadn't been able to dodge in time.
The effect was immediate. The monster began thrashing wildly, trying to shake off the burning sensation, but it was impossible.
Charlotte seized the advantage, stepping closer while raising her wand. She muttered the chant to activate her healing spell.
However, that turned out to be a grave mistake.
Sensing danger from her, the dog blindly swiped a massive paw in her direction. It was a random, desperate move, but deadly nonetheless.
Others might have been able to dodge, but Charlotte was a healer—her reaction speed was nowhere near fast enough. She stared in horror as the enormous paw descended upon her.
Yet, she didn't stop her chant.
"Not yet, you bitch!"
Max roared as he slammed his body against the dog's face, shifting the trajectory of its attack by just a slight margin. But that tiny shift was enough to save Charlotte.
At that moment, Stelle came in clutch from the other side, hammering the dog's protruding ribs. The impact caved them inward, sending bone shards splintering inside its body. It wasn't enough to kill the beast outright, but that wasn't her goal.
The dog let out a furious roar, enraged that it was being toyed with by a group of mere humans. Its blood-red eyes locked onto Max first, and it charged at him with full speed.
"You're not getting me that easily, big boy," Max smirked as he sprang to his feet.
The dog was absurdly fast, closing the distance almost instantly, leaving Max with no time to dodge. But he didn't need to.
A wide grin stretched across his face as he brought his dull blade forward, plunging it horizontally into the monster's open maw. His muscles bulged as the beast crashed into him.
He held on as the blade cracked under the dog's powerful bite. The monster was overwhelmingly strong, pushing him back with sheer force.
But that was exactly what he wanted.
"Now!" Max shouted.
The next moment, a brilliant flash of light erupted behind the dog, seeping into its body. Its crimson eyes darkened as its thick hide loosened.
'It's weakened,' Max thought, his lips curling into a grin.
A split second later, a powerful impact struck the monster's ribs, shattering them completely and severing its hindquarters from its front body. A disgusting mass of gore spilled onto the ground as the dog's body collapsed with a heavy thump.
"Thanks, little brat," Max whispered, his voice thick with excitement.
He abandoned the broken sword, clenched his fists, and gathered every ounce of strength in his body. Then, with all his might, he slammed a devastating punch directly into the monster's skull.
[You have slain a Level 9, First-Grade Monster. Gained 26 EXP.]
[You have leveled up.]
This time, he didn't suppress the power up. A wave of warmth flooded his body, washing over him like a rejuvenating hot spring.
Strength surged through his muscles. Every fiber of his being felt tougher, stronger. The change was significant—each level-up reinforced his body immensely.
Max was certain that he could now defeat his previous self in a single blow. However, he would still likely lose to Stelle, as she had more experience and was at a higher level.
He stood up, resisting the urge to burst into laughter, and whispered under his breath, "Status!"
---
[Status Screen]
Name: Maxwell Corelhelm
Rank: Level 6, Bronze
Overall Level: 6
EXP: 23/98
Health: 89%
Stamina: 98%
Energy Reserves: 99%
---
'Leveling up resets your stamina and mana, huh?' Max thought, feeling his heart still pounding wildly in his chest.
He had been so close to death just moments ago. If he had panicked even slightly, the dog would have ripped his head clean off.
"You leveled up again?" Stelle asked between heavy breaths. "You're ridiculous! You almost caught up to me."
"Haha! It's thanks to all of us. You think I would've leveled up so quickly on my own?" Max chuckled before glancing around for Charlotte.
She was sitting in a corner, observing everything with an strange calmness in her eyes.
Max waved at her and asked, "You okay?"
"I've fought many Silver-Rank monsters. This was nothing," Charlotte replied coolly. "Since you leveled up, I assume you don't need rest, right?"
"Nope. Let's go take down that Silver-Rank boss," Max grinned.
The trio cast a final glance at the remains of the monstrous guardian of Marcus before continuing forward.
Fortunately, they didn't encounter any more monsters along the way and arrived at the castle safely.
Max looked up at the ceiling, feeling a odd mix of excitement and fear. He needed the drop from the Silver-Rank boss as it was simply too broken.
That reward would be invaluable, even in the future when he became insanely overpowered.
But the thought of facing a Second-Grade monster sent chills down his spine. They were vastly superior to peak First-Grade monsters and possessed actual skills.
Still, there was no turning back.
'No point in living a cowardly life. Second place isn't enough. I need... no, I want to be at the top of everything!'