The statues closed in, red eyes glowing like burning coals. Each step they took shook the chamber, their weapons raised high.
Kael tightened his grip on the rusty sword. His arms still trembled, but not from fear — from the pressure of holding back the power now coursing through his body.
I can do this… I have to do this.
The nearest statue swung its greatsword down. Kael darted aside, stone splitting where he had stood. Dust clouded the air.
The system's voice echoed in his head:
> [Warning: Weapon durability low.]
[Tip: Exploit weak points — joints, cracks, glowing cores.]
Kael's eyes flicked over the statue. The faint red glow pulsed in its chest, just below the stone plating. His heart pounded. That had to be it.
He rushed forward.
The statue turned its massive blade sideways, slashing to cut him in half. Kael slid under it, sparks flying as the edge scraped the stone floor above his back. He rose in a spin, slashing his sword across the statue's knee.
CRACK!
The giant staggered, one leg giving way.
"Now!" Kael shouted to himself, his body moving faster than his mind. He leapt onto the statue's leg, running up its crumbling surface.
The other hunters gasped. "He's climbing it?!"
The statue raised its arm to swat him down, but Kael's instincts screamed. He ducked, the massive stone hand grazing past him, and with a roar, he drove his rusty sword straight into the glowing core.
BOOM!
Light exploded from the crack, and the statue let out a deep, rumbling groan before collapsing to the ground. Its body shattered into rubble, the glowing core fading into ash.
Silence filled the chamber.
Kael panted heavily, his sword chipped and nearly broken, but he stood tall on the rubble of the fallen guardian.
He had done it.
For the first time, Kael — the E-Rank weakling — had slain a monster no one else dared face.
The surviving hunters stared in awe, disbelief etched on their faces.
"That… that kid… he killed it."
The system's voice chimed again:
> [Enemy Defeated: Stone Guardian]
[EXP Gained: 150]
[Level Up!]
A surge of warmth spread through Kael's body. His wounds began closing, his fatigue fading.
Kael looked at his trembling hands.
This power… it's real. This is my chance.
But the ground shook again.
From the shadows, more statues began moving, red eyes flickering to life.
Kael's chest tightened. His victory was only the beginning.
⚡ End of Chapter 6 ⚡