As Jeremy landed after his strike, he felt a surge of triumph coursing through him. His plan had worked, giving both he and Owen an opening.He had managed to land a blow on the beast, cutting through its flesh and eliciting a howl of pain. But before he could savor the moment, the ape’s furious gaze locked onto him, its eyes burning with wrath. “Watch out!” Owen shouted, still reeling from the earlier blows, but pushing himself back into the fray. The vampire’s movements were becoming more frantic, desperate to protect Jeremy from the impending onslaught. Jeremy barely had time to react before the beast lunged at him, its massive fists swinging with a ferocity that could shatter mountains. He ducked just in time, feeling the rush of air as the ape’s fist missed him by inches, crashing into the ground and sending dirt and debris flying. “Come on, Jeremy! Focus!” Owen yelled, his voice strained but resolute. “We need to outsmart it! It’s stronger now!”Jeremy felt frustration bubbl
Jeremy felt the weight of the katana in his hand, its blade gleaming with a fierce light that seemed to respond to the energy of the user. He aimed for the beast’s left arm, where he had previously cut tendons. “Let’s see if I can finish what I started!” he thought, slashing his katana with all his might.The blade connected with a satisfying thud, carving through the ape's flesh and eliciting another deafening roar of pain. Blood sprayed from the wound, and for a moment, Jeremy felt a rush of exhilaration. He had landed a decisive hit, and the beast was staggered once more.“Jeremy, keep it distracted!” Owen called out, trying to regain his footing after the earlier assault. The vampire was still recovering from the brutal impact against the tree, but he was pushing himself to rise, determination etched on his face.“Got it!” Jeremy replied, working to keep the beast’s attention on him. He darted around the ape, weaving in and out of its massive limbs, striking whenever the opportu
“Just a little closer…” Jeremy grunted, finally managing to grasp the key. The moment he felt the cool metal in his hand, a wave of relief washed over him. He could still turn the tide if he could just find a way to use it.Jeremy focused on the key, feeling its power surge through him. “Owen, I’m coming!” he yelled, preparing to activate the dimensional key to give them a chance to regroup.But the beast had other plans. It had spotted Jeremy moving, its eyes narrowing as it honed in on the vulnerable target, charging toward him with terrifying speed.“Jeremy! Get out of the way!” Owen shouted, panic flooding his voice as he saw the impending doom.In a split second, Jeremy made a choice. He could either run or stand his ground. “I won’t run,” he declared, before the beast sent him crashing into another rock once again.Owen stood alone, the creature loomed over him, its massive form a tempest of fury and strength. Each strike against it had been met with relentless force, and Owen
**[B ranked beast has been defeated]****[Wave 2 has been completed]****[Wave 3/7 underway]****[User has ascended]****[User can now choose to quit wave in-game]**“Wait, so even if I had used the dimensional key, I wouldn’t have been able to escape earlier?” Jeremy pondered, the weight of the battle still hanging in the air. “I really would have died if not for the old man.”“You know, Blackthorn was a natural leader, even though he was quite crazy in the head,” Owen remarked, his heavy breathing disrupting the flow of his words as he leaned against a nearby tree for support, the remnants of their recent struggle evident in his demeanor.“What was his goal? What did he aim to achieve so badly that he went to such extremes?” Jeremy inquired, curiosity flaring within him.“That I cannot tell you, kid. The mention of it could destroy your life. I'd rather you remain oblivious to it,” Owen replied, his tone serious, a shadow crossing his face.“Still, you know nothing can beat curiosit
“Not much left,” Jeremy grunted, slashing through another giant fowl, feeling the resistance of its feathers give way beneath his blade. “We can do this, Owen!”But just as they thought victory was within reach, one of the fowls let out a furious caw, rallying the remaining beasts. They charged in a united front, their beaks snapping and wings flapping with renewed fury. “Chickens!” Owen shouted, instinctively moving closer to Jeremy. He threw needles with desperation, each one aimed with precision, but the sheer number of beasts began to overwhelm them. The air thickened with the scent of blood, and the cacophony of squawking filled their ears.*> <*“Here!” Jeremy shouted as he slashed through the last of the fowls, a wild swing that sent blood spraying across the ground, soaking Owen’s legs. The last chicken crumpled to the earth, its beady eyes rolling back, and for a moment, silence fell over the battlefield.**[Wave 3 has been completed]****[Wave 4/7 underway]****[User can n
**Reason for loan acquisition: Colwill Blackthorn**As Jeremy absorbed the chilling information from Burke Washington, he felt a shiver run down his spine. The mention of Blackthorn’s name sent a wave of unease through him. “So Blackthorn is indeed involved with all this,” he thought, his mind racing. The implications were staggering. If Blackthorn had ties to his family and their dealings, what did that mean for him now that Blackthorn was gone? “What should I do next?” he pondered, feeling the weight of the decision pressing down on him. Should he reach out to his uncle for more information? Confront Jessica about keeping it a secret? Or perhaps speak with his mom or Celicia to uncover the truth? The thought of pretending to be oblivious crossed his mind, but it felt disingenuous. His thoughts drifted to Owen. “I want to inform Owen of this,” he mused, but skepticism crept into his mind. “What if Owen is also manipulating me? What if he’s aiming for something else?” The uncert
As Jeremy stood before the imposing entrance of the Dark Horses Guild, he pulled his pullover hood down, shrouding his face in shadows before stepping inside. The atmosphere buzzed with anticipation, and a low murmur of voices greeted him as he crossed the threshold.“Welcome, Jeremy! We were almost about to send the participants,” Jessica said, her voice bright yet tinged with urgency. Despite her warm welcome, Jeremy remained silent, maintaining his poker face, a mask of indifference that concealed the myriad of thoughts swirling within him. In a bid to keep his defenses intact and to center himself, he decided to check his system. The familiar holographic interface materialized before his eyes:---**[User rank: B-]**- **Strength (STR)** - 30 (+15)- **Agility (AGI)** - 45 (+35)- **Vitality (VIT)** - 28 (+20)- **Intelligence (INT)** - 10 (+9)- **Charisma (CHA)** - Nil- **Luck (LUK)** - 30 (+22)- **Stamina (STA)** - 25 (+16)- **Experience Points (EXP)** - 580,000/1,000,000
Days earlier, after reporting the contract situation to the guild master, he had requested Jeremy’s details, including his school and mission history. After careful analysis, the guild master had deemed it necessary for Jeremy to take on another dangerous mission, but this time with more scrutiny. The issue surrounding Blackthorn loomed over them, and they could only wait and watch for the right moment to act.Jessica cleared her throat, drawing everyone’s attention back to her. "We are going to raid a B-rank dungeon; however, it’s filled with C-ranked beasts according to reports. I’m going to send the seven of you, which includes you, Jeremy," she announced, her gaze steady.His eyes met Jessica’s, and a brief tension enveloped the atmosphere between them. She seemed to be assessing him, and she couldn’t shake the feeling that he was hiding something."Wait! Jeremy? The last mission nearly killed him and even got Stella killed. Now you want him in a B-rank dungeon?" Warhuz interjec