Henry Gray stood, or rather swayed, his body a wreck of pain and exhaustion. Warning: HP Critically Low. Current HP: 7. The system's prompt burned in his mind, a stark alarm as blood dripped from his mouth, his ribs screaming from the unseen blow that had flung him across the chamber.
Boros loomed at the chamber's entrance, his battleaxe resting on his shoulder, its bloodstained blade glinting under the moss's light. His scarred face twisted into a cruel grin, his F9-ranked aura a suffocating weight. Behind him, ten hunters fanned out, their weapons—daggers, swords, a mace—drawn, their smirks radiating predatory confidence. "Well, well," Boros growled, his voice like gravel on steel. A wiry hunter with twin daggers spat, sneering, "You thought you could just run?"
Henry coughed, spitting crimson onto the cracked stone, and forced a breathless chuckle. "Well… shit." His fists clenched, but his body was a traitor, trembling, barely able to move. HP: 7/300. The system's rewards from the troll—EXP: 3,000, Skill Points: 100, Level 8, Stone Skin, Lv.1—had pushed his stats higher (Strength: 290, Agility: 125, Endurance: 93, Perception: 80), but the surprise attack had nearly killed him. Dash, Recovery, Precision Strike, Iron Will, Stone Skin were his lifelines, but with his HP critical, one hit could end him.
Boros stepped forward, his axe's weight shifting, his grin widening. "Nothing to say? That's fine. We'll enjoy breaking you." The hunters tightened their formation, a half-circle of steel and malice, their eyes glinting with greed for Henry's bag of beast crystals. Henry's mind raced, his vision swimming, but his Iron Will kept panic at bay, sharpening his focus despite the pain.
Henry laughed, a low, defiant sound that echoed in the chamber. The hunters froze, their smirks faltering. Boros's eyes narrowed, his grip tightening on his axe. Henry pushed himself up, his arms shaking, blood dripping from his lips. "You guys… really don't know when to quit, do you?" His voice was hoarse, but the smirk on his face was pure defiance, a spark of the cocky Hunter who'd punched a troll into submission.
The wiry dagger-wielder snarled, stepping forward. "Keep talking, rookie. It'll make this more fun." But before he could move, Henry's hand twitched, his mind flashing to the system. Skill Points Available: 130. He had no weapon, no HP, but he had power—and a plan. With a mental command, he dumped 100 points into Agility, pushing it to 225. A surge of energy flooded his limbs, his body tingling as if lightning coursed through his veins. His movements felt impossibly light, his reflexes razor-sharp.
The effect was immediate. Henry's trembling stopped, his stance steadying despite the pain. He activated Recovery, the cool warmth surging through him, sealing the worst of his wounds. HP: 50/300. It wasn't much, but it was enough to move. Stone Skin flickered, his skin hardening briefly, a faint gray sheen promising resistance. Iron Will dulled the agony, letting him stand tall.
Boros sensed the shift, his grin fading. "What's this?" he growled, hefting his axe. The hunters hesitated, their confidence wavering. Henry's chuckle grew, his eyes glinting with reckless determination. "You want my crystals? Come take 'em."
The wiry hunter lunged, daggers flashing. Henry activated Dash, his body blurring into a streak of motion. The daggers sliced air, the hunter stumbling as Henry reappeared behind him, slamming a fist into his back. EXP +20. The man collapsed, gasping, his spine bruised but not broken. Henry's Strength was monstrous, but he held back—killing hunters would bring consequences he couldn't afford.
The others roared, charging. A sword-wielder swung, but Henry Dashed again, weaving through the group, his Agility making him untouchable. He struck with Precision Strike, his fists targeting knees, elbows, non-lethal points. EXP +20, EXP +20. Two more hunters dropped, clutching shattered joints. The chamber echoed with their curses, but Henry was a phantom, his speed defying their numbers.
Boros roared, his axe swinging in a deadly arc. Henry Dashed, the blade missing by inches, cratering the floor. BOOM. Dust exploded, stinging Henry's eyes, but he slid beneath Boros's arm, punching his thigh. EXP +50. Boros grunted, his leg buckling, but his F9 durability held, his counterattack swift. The axe's handle caught Henry's shoulder, HP -15, sending him skidding. HP: 35/300.
Henry coughed, activating Recovery again. HP: 60/300. Stone Skin flared, absorbing a dagger's glancing blow from another hunter, HP -5. He Dashed, knocking the attacker down with a precise elbow, EXP +20. The hunters were faltering, their formation breaking, but Boros was the real threat. His axe swung relentlessly, each miss shaking the chamber, his fury a palpable force.
"You're fast, rat," Boros snarled, his eyes blazing. "But speed won't save you." He charged, axe raised, and Henry Dashed, sliding between his legs, punching his calf. EXP +50. Boros staggered, but his axe swept low, forcing Henry to roll away, HP -10 from the shockwave. HP: 50/300.
Henry's stamina was draining, his breaths ragged, but Iron Will kept him focused. He needed to end this—or escape. The chamber's rear passage, its moss glow faint, was his only out. The hunters were scattered, three down, but seven remained, Boros's strength unmatched. Henry's bag of crystals swung at his side, a prize he wouldn't surrender.
He feinted left, then Dashed right, knocking another hunter down with a fist to the chest. EXP +20. The man gasped, clutching his ribs, and Henry sprinted for the passage, Boros's roar shaking the chamber. "YOU'RE MINE!" The axe flew, a spinning blur of death. Henry Dashed, the blade grazing his arm, HP -20, blood spraying. HP: 30/300.
He stumbled into the passage, Recovery kicking in, HP: 50/300. The narrow tunnel twisted, its walls slick with moisture, the moss's light fading. Footsteps echoed behind—Boros and the hunters, their shouts relentless. Henry's Perception (80) caught vibrations ahead—beasts, traps, or worse—but he had no choice. Stone Skin flickered, dulling a scrape against the wall, HP -5.
The passage opened into a smaller chamber, its ceiling low, stalactites dripping. A pack of lizard-like beasts hissed, their scales glinting, but Henry Dashed through, punching one down, EXP +30, and dodging the rest. EXP +30, EXP +30. His total climbed, EXP: 6715/8000, but survival was his focus. The hunters' footsteps grew louder, Boros's axe scraping the stone.
Henry's mind raced. He couldn't outrun Boros forever, not with his stamina fading. The system's silence was unnerving, no new quest to guide him, but his skills were enough—for now. He activated Stone Skin, hardening his body, and Dashed deeper, the chamber narrowing into a tunnel. A faint red glow pulsed ahead—runes, like the boss chamber's, hinting at another gate.
Boros's voice boomed, "NO ESCAPE, RAT!" Henry's smirk flickered, his fists clenching. He'd beaten a troll barehanded; he could outlast Boros. The tunnel's end revealed a massive iron gate, its runes flaring as he approached. It groaned open, revealing a spiral staircase descending into colder, darker depths. Henry Dashed through, the gate slamming shut behind him, muffling Boros's roar.
The staircase was a void, its air icy, the hum of the dungeon alive. Henry's Perception caught faint growls below—more beasts, or another boss. HP: 45/300. He activated Recovery, HP: 70/300, and tested Stone Skin, his skin hardening. His bag of crystals was secure, his fists ready. The system's power had carried him this far, but Boros's pursuit was a storm he'd face again.