Rise of the System Slayer

The next day, news about the five guilds spread across Graythorne Country, shocking the crowds with their report. The calamity of numerous dungeons appearing is starting to become uncontrollable. Before the Hunter Association left, Henry Stone gave encouragement to the citizens of Graythorne.

"I, the Head Hunter of the Association, along with the five guilds, will do my best to resolve this problem, so don't be afraid!"

Henry exclaimed as he stood up before the interviewer, clenching his fist.

"Even if they are the strongest, they cannot handle multiple dungeons at once."

Although he wasn't sure if they could truly manage the situation, he still gave hope to the citizens to prevent them from panicking.

On the other hand, after Ares woke up in his bed, he felt his calves were heavy. As time passed, they grew even heavier until—

"It hurts!" Ares shouted, clutching his calves. A sudden tightness gripped his muscles as if they were flexed, even though he was completely relaxed. The tightening didn't stop.

For the next hour, he waddled like a penguin around his room, searching for something to ease the pain. After some time, he finally found a warm compress. Without hesitation, he placed it on his calves, hoping for relief.

As he held the compress in place, the pain gradually faded, and he let out a sigh of relief. Once the discomfort was gone, he turned his attention to the system screen, but his mind was still stuck on the pain he had just endured.

"I trained to be stronger, not to be taken down by my own legs!" Ares murmured, gazing at the screen.

Name: Ares Langley

- Level: 15 [50%]

- Class: None

- HP: 100

- MP: 100/100

- Strength: 30

- Agility: 12

- Sense: 8

- Intelligence: 10

- Fatigue:

- Skill(s): None

A month had passed since Ares started his journey, and his hard work was finally paying off. He had reached level 15, his stats had increased, and his stamina had slightly improved.

While staring at his status screen absentmindedly, he thought about going into the dungeon to sell some equipment he obtained. Turning to the system, he asked:

"Can I get some equipment that I can sell?"

[Yes, but you must defeat the dungeon boss to obtain it.]

Ares sighed, cracking his knuckles. "Of course, nothing comes easy..."

Determined, he decided to check out the boss and see if he had a chance at defeating it.

After 30 minutes inside the dungeon, armed only with his steel dagger, he opened the system screen. Suddenly, a quest appeared.

[Kill The Midgard Serpent – Level 30]

[0/1]

As Ares read the quest, his eyes widened in shock.

"Thirtyyyy!?" he shouted, his heart racing.

This was no joke. The Midgard Serpent was poisonous, and each of its attacks could be fatal. He hesitated, weighing his options.

"Nah, I just need some money. If this is a high-risk exchange, then there's no way I'm going for it," he thought, turning to leave.

But just as he took a step back, a system notification appeared.

[You Must Defeat The Monster Before You Can Leave This Dungeon.]

"Leave? Why? I have a stone—I can go back now!" he argued, quickly reaching for the teleportation stone.

However, another notification flashed before him.

[You are not allowed to leave until you have defeated the boss. Teleportation is now restricted in this dungeon.]

The system had trapped him, forcing him to surpass his limits. This was his chance to test his strength after training for a month.

Ares had no choice but to face it. He swallowed hard and focused.

As he walked forward, the Midgard Serpent finally appeared—a massive monster looming before him. Its tongue flicked out, tasting the air.

TSSSS...

The monster's status appeared.

[Midgard Serpent – Level 30]

[Skills: Poisoning – Each attack can lead to death.]

Ares stared at it, his body tense.

"It's huge!" he thought, swallowing his saliva again.

Ares tightens his grip on the dagger as he gazes at the massive Midgard Serpent. Its scales glisten under the dim cave light, each one like a steel plate. The serpent's golden eyes lock onto him, unblinking.

His heart races nervously, doubting whether he can kill it.

He observed the serpent's movements, his eyes widening as he scanned every possible way to kill it.

He quickly dashes toward the serpent without a plan. The serpent lunges, and Ares rolls to the side just in time, slashing the serpent's body.

He slashed at it, but the serpent's body was tough, and one strike wasn't enough to bring it down.

"Shit, it's tough," Ares said while in the air. 

Before Ares could land on the ground, the serpent's tail swung toward him, sending him flying into a rock wall.

Pain shoots through his back, and his health bar drops by a quarter. Gritting his teeth, he pushes himself up and stands.

HP: 65%

'Th-this won't be easy,' he mutters, wiping the blood from the corner of his mouth.

As the next attack comes toward him, he barely dodges it, rolling to the edge of the rock. This continues for an hour, dodging the serpent's attacks, and Ares starts to run low on stamina.

After an hour, Ares got another idea. 'My dagger doesn't seem to be working on you, huh?' He sheathes his dagger and clenches his fist.

As the serpent lunges again, Ares punches its face, landing a blow that stuns the serpent for a few seconds and shakes its head.

*PUNCH

"It's working," Ares said, clenching his fist.

He delivered another punch to the serpent's face, and it worked. Ares got an idea and quickly looked through the system's equipment.

After a few minutes of searching, he finds what he's looking for: an artifact that explodes.

It's a flare bomb, a small metallic device that releases a blinding flash of light when detonated, followed by an explosive blast.

"This is it," Ares said, smirking at the serpent.

He planned to use it against the serpent, waiting for the right moment to throw it at its face. He held his steel dagger tightly in one hand while his other hand gripped the flare bomb.

As he waited for the right moment, the serpent suddenly dashed toward him, lowering its head. Ares didn't let the opportunity slip—he swiftly threw the flare bomb and immediately covered his eyes.

'Catch this, you monster!' Without hesitation, Ares drops the bomb in the serpent's path as it charges."

A low buzz fills the air, growing louder until—

*BOOM!

An explosion rips through the cave, illuminating the darkness as light spreads in all directions.

Only Ares can see his surroundings—the serpent is blinded for a moment.

'This is my last chance,' Ares mutters before quickly dashing toward the serpent.

He targets the serpent's eye, piercing it with his dagger. The serpent's body writhes, and Its tail rampages wildly.

But it was only a matter of time before the serpent fell. Ares delivered his final attack, his face full of determination, his mouth widening as he let out a battle cry.

"WAAAAAAH!"

He pierced his dagger deeply into the serpent's head, and then, with a powerful slash, he severed its head from its body.

The system rang, signaling that the serpent had been killed.

*PingPong*

[You Have Successfully Killed The Level 30 Serpent][You Have Received A Reward][You Have Gained Exp][You Have Obtained A Serpent's Dagger]

Serpent's Venom Fang

Grade: Rare

Effect: Coated with deadly serpent venom, each strike has a 20% chance to poison the target, dealing continuous damage over time.

Bonus Effect: Increases attack speed by 10%.

This weapon is ideal for swift, precise attacks, allowing Ares to weaken his enemies over time while striking faster in combat.

"Damn, it's good," Ares said leisurely, holding his dagger. He then checked the other rewards.

As Ares opens his reward, three options appear:

1. Skill - Random

2. Accessory - Random

3. Random - Random

After he saw the three options, he immediately chose a skill.

"Skill," he thought, and then a random skill appeared on the screen.

[Congratulations You Have Acquired A New Skill][Void Manipulation]

DESCRIPTION: creates a rift that generates a powerful gravitational pull, dragging enemies toward its center. The closer enemies get, the slower and more fatigued they become.

Ares was dumbfounded as he gazed at his new skill. However, despite defeating the serpent, he didn't obtain any equipment and couldn't earn any money after all. A wave of disappointment washed over him.

He glared at the system in frustration, anger bubbling inside him. He had been forced into this fight, risking his life, yet he gained nothing valuable in return. Clenching his fists, he gritted his teeth.