Chapter 17: Delinquent's Limit and Goals!

Ryuji shook off the damage, and thanks to the priestess Sheila's healing magic, he felt much better as their group slowly traversed the murky dungeon together.

He felt a strange excitement from the wet mud below their feet, how it sloshed and splashed, and the earthen scents that filled the air as they eventually came to a crossroads just past where he had killed the kobolds earlier.

"Wait, this path changes each time, so we can't just guess," Simon announced, his swords shimmering in the dark, peering into the darkness with narrow eyes.

"Last time, it was right, so how about we go left this time?" Sheila said with a curious tone, but Ryuji wanted to fight more and become stronger.

Now that he knew the gains from levelling would add to the body's basic abilities, training, fighting, and harsh practice were vital.

'I can smell the faint scent of beasts to the right.'

"Hmmm..."

The group stood momentarily, seeming to contemplate their next actions, while Ryuji felt the amazing effects of the goblin tattoo. His stamina recovered completely from the previous fight, almost like he had just taken a long nap.

"I think we should head where Ryuji wants. Since this dungeon is for him to get used to them, right?" Alicia's soft voice filled the cave with her graceful tone. Then, as if convinced by her words, everyone nodded at her logical words.

"You're right, and he needs to learn."

"True."

"Are you guys sure? I might make a mistake!?"

Everyone seemed confident in Ryuji's ability, and with their confidence, he felt less reserved; grasping the iron axe that started feeling comfortable in his hands, he stepped forward. "If I make a mistake, I must protect you, right?"

"Wait a minute," Sheila said, hastily bringing him a small belt with a few potions, "here, don't take too many risks! This attaches across your thigh like this."

She strapped it to him, her soft fingers and cute eyes reminding him of the lovely fox waiting at the castle, making his steps more solid and confident.

"And if you need my help, I'll try to heal you as fast as possible, okay!?"

"Thanks, Sheila. It's reassuring to have you behind me."

"Hehe."

After a quick moment of her luminescent magic, he felt his health return, and with a nod, he took the lead.

The smell of death lingered in the air, not that he denied the thought of people dying in there. Ryuji remembered when he suffered the attack earlier, and his death could quite possibly have happened.

The concept of death and defeat didn't scare him; instead, he felt a twisted excitement towards it.

'That's why I have to train, get stronger and stop repeating these mistakes!'

The tunnel opened to a large room with several goblin bodies strewn around.

Their bodies were half-decayed, and something cleanly devoured the meat of their bodies. Ryuji could also smell something foul, like a wet dog, and focused on the far right corner of the room, where two wolf-like creatures slept on the dirt floor.

"How do we deal with them?" Simon whispered in his ear.

"Can you attack them without waking them, Simon, Alicia?" Ryuji thought that dual swords and archery could quickly deal with them.

"We'll try."

Simon was the first to move, quickly darting with the swiftness of an assassin, using his swords like a bolt of lightning flashing across the sky. His strike was instant and pierced the beast's eyes. While the wolf couldn't howl in pain, its body jumped in agony and surprise, dying instantly from the strike.

Ryuji wanted to watch the performance, but a single arrow whistled through the air, piercing the other creature's throat; then, using a swift follow-up shot, the bow-wielding girl finished it with another arrow to its heart.

'No... the scent is thicker! It's a trap.'

"To the Left!"

Everyone jumped to the left as several kobolds shot from the walls. Their eyes glowed with a red hue, and the wind parted as Ryuji brought down his axe in a sharp vertical blow, splitting one of them in half and increasing his rage gauge.

"Stand behind me, and let me kill all these beasts!" Ryuji shouted, taking a deep breath to calm himself.

"Careful! You can't die!" Sheila shouted, casting a warm white glow upon his body and shielding him with a bright glow.

He could feel his body being healed and soothed by her magic; thus, he jumped forward and swiped across the air at the seven kobolds. His blade was heavy and devastating, wounding several of them, but no kills.

Stamina: 10->12

Grit: 15->16

Intellect: 6->8

The average Human combatant has 5 attribute points with 2 bonus points gained per level.

[Talent]

Yakuza Scion: Defeated monsters and friendly Demi humans can give the host a racial tattoo that He can equip for various benefits.

1/1 Equipped [Goblin Tattoo]

[Tattoos]

Shadow Fox Tattoo (Uncommon)

Increases Agility by 2

Stops a fatal blow that would kill the owner once a day.

-

Goblin Tattoo (Uncommon)

Increases Stamina by 2

Stamina, Libido, and lust slightly increased.

-

Grey Wolf Tattoo (Uncommon)

Increases Agility by 2

Increases Stamina by 2

-

Kobold Tattoo (Uncommon)

Increases Strength by 2

Dark Vision - Ability to see in the dark

[Skills]

Whirlwind - Costs 10 Rage. Perform a powerful spinning attack with a destructive area attack that causes bleeding and physical damage to the enemies struck.

Rage—Berserkers' primary resource, gained from attacking or taking damage, by setting a minimum threshold, they keep the benefits of their rages passive.

Passive—Every 20 rage decreases damage taken and increases health regeneration by 10%

[Armour]

[Uncommon Bronze Armour]

—Reduces all damage taken by 20% (Slashing, bludgeoning, piercing)

—Self Repairing

***

His total attributes clarified that Ryuji's abilities were at the same level as those of a level fifteen warrior or fighter, and his ability to take damage even higher.

'It seems working out, and balance is more important than dwelling on grade.'

"Shall we continue, then?" Ryuji asked, holding his axe that became lighter after that strange potion had added points to all his attributes when he saw the backlog on the status page.