《New World Nexus》


 New World New Doors

    (The Old Knights Pub Incident)

    "Alright fellas see ya next week!" A overweight business man let out a deep laugh while stumbling out the back of his favourite pub with booze staining his white shirt.

    As he slowly made his way out of the alleyway he suddenly knocked his forehead against something hard and glared up at a floating bronze door blocking off the alleyway.

    "Damn homeless bastards messing up this fine city!" He snarled as this wasn''t the first time he was inconvenienced with makeshift housing.

    As he dashed forward to dismantle the bedding, the abrupt transition from hard pavement to soft snow caused him to stumble and fall onto his hands and knees. The random shift in location seemed to instantly clear his head as he looked back at the door leading to the city.

    In a frantic rush toward the door, the snow beneath his feet collapsed, sending him sliding down from the mountain peak to land on an outcropping of the cliffside a few feet below.

    "Ah, my back! Where on earth am I?" he groaned, struggling to his feet and retrieving his phone, only to discover the screen was shattered and it was snapping pictures at random intervals.

    Before he could curse his bad luck or toss his phone in anger, an arrow struck his right knee with such force that it twisted and broke the leg.

    His screams echoed as he writhed on the ground while the arrow itself let off a sinister dark blue glow before rapidly freezing the limb solid in a matter of seconds.

    Laughter drew his gaze to the dark cave. Through his blurred vision, he saw a rusty chain inscribed with faint blue runes shoot out and coil tightly around his plump neck.

    "This is merely a nightmare, nothing more."

    Tears fell silently as he was forcefully pulled into the cave by a sharp tug on the chain.

    As his eyes grew accustomed to the dim light, he found himself gazing up at a group of slender beings with curved ears, icy blue skin, and long white hair, all clad in fur garments.

    They looked down upon him, their purple eyes gleaming with hunger as they licked their lips with lengthy, slimy purple tongues.

    One began to utter unintelligible sounds that sounded like gibberish to the man. Meanwhile, another creature drew a dagger and carved a chunk from his plump cheek, swiftly consuming the bloody morsel.

    The others watched as their brethren formed a large grin while chewing.

    With a sharp whistle, the chain tightened, and his body rapidly chilled to the point where his left pinkie finger snapped off before he was pulled deeper into the cave.

    His screams of terror echoed out, only to be swallowed by the raging blizzard and the endless mountain peaks. A smaller icy blue creature observed the hunters dash down the tunnel with their catch, while faint whispers infiltrated his mind.

    He climbed the mountain effortlessly and approached the bronze door. It swung open, allowing the creature to peer through at the strange sounds and flickering lights that seemed to beckon him.

    Instinctively, he extended a clawed finger, only to be halted by a shimmering barrier.

    "Fourteen days before the hunt begins," a calm and clear voice echoed in the young creature''s mind, prompting a wide, sinister grin to spread across his face.

    <hr>

    "From that event, we understood that it''s possible to capture and retrieve audio and images from within the doors. We also became aware of the existence of hostile entities, now known as frost elves, who, after a two week delay, launched an invasion on England, bringing with them an unrelenting ice storm and a voracious hunting expedition," explained Miss Summers, the senior teacher positioned behind a vast white desk, while her class observed the holographic displays, each student reflecting a spectrum of emotions.

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    Emotions like fear, disgust, and sadness were palpable as the holograms displayed a sanitized glimpse of the devastation in various regions, before transitioning to a global view showcasing a multitude of dire situations unfolding across the planet.

    "The incident was just one of many; a month later, hordes of the undead overran Scotland, and the following year, dragons of all sizes and might made Wales their battlefield and home.

    "These occurrences have sadly become commonplace in our existence," she said, her eyes reflecting sorrow. "Now, who can recount the three miracles that altered everything, for better or for worse?"

    All the children shot their hands up and called for her attention, which brought a smile to her face.

    "Scott, please start with the first event," she directed, pointing at a sixteen-year-old boy with curly brown hair, pale skin, red eyes, and a four-clawed scar running across his right cheek.

    "The year was 2000 when a wave of monsters emerged from mystical doors all over the planet," he growled, anger evident on his face. "The survivors call it Devastation Day, as thousands lost their lives in the ensuing chaos."

    "Very good, now Nina," Miss Summers said, pointing to a fifteen-year-old girl with scaly bright green skin, snakes for hair, and orange eyes behind pitch-black glasses.

    "Fifty years later, the surviving members of humanity witnessed a massive white door appear in the sky. It engulfed the entire planet in multicolored glowing energy, forcing the monsters to retreat back through the door," she explained with a broad smile, clasping her hands together. "After this glorious moment, many people transformed into mystical creatures akin to those in folktales, an event known as the Sanctification Spark."

    "Very well spoken, Cyrus, continue," Miss Summers directed her attention to a fourteen-year-old boy with dark brown skin, a small black afro, golden eyes behind thick-rimmed glasses, and a necklace with a silver ring.

    "After the Spark Event, humanity realized that all doors remained closed for another fifty years. During that time, they prepared and organized themselves," Cyrus said, his face taking on a determined expression. "That event is known as Humanity''s Counterattack, where those monsters learned that we will fight back and win!"

    "Someone has been doing their homework, I see," Miss Summers said with a proud smile.

    "After the counterattack, non-transformed humans were rewarded with the gift of mystical powers to help keep themselves safe!" a thirteen-year-old girl with olive skin, light green eyes, and black pigtails exclaimed as she raised her hand, creating a small ball of white fire.

    "Love your enthusiasm, Jasmine," she chuckled softly as the other children demonstrated their innate magical abilities.

    "The world leaders and governments harnessed the knowledge from the miracles to establish the three powerhouses essential for maintaining the security and safety of the new world," she explained. As she spoke, three holograms materialized, displaying the logos of the influential corporations to the students.

    The Everlasting Path Assembly

    The infinity symbol is inside a eye.

    The EPA handles the economic side of the world and deal with the endless plans for construction, agriculture and everything else needed in order to keep the new mystical world and way of living moving forward and thriving.

    The Global Slayer League

    A tower shield with the earth in the middle.

    The GSL keeps and updates the records of all the people both awakened and transformed while giving them licenses that allow them to use their powers for ordinary jobs. And for those who are willing to battle the monsters from beyond the doors will receive special treatment for making the ultimate sacrifice in protecting humanity as a whole.

    The Founding Forge House

    A great anvil with a ouroboros.

    The FFH secures the otherworldly artifacts/creatures that are recovered from the mystical doors, dissects the corpses of the slain monsters, studies the strange material gained from both the doors and our own magical environment while using all of it to help humanity become stronger.

    "Now, children, it''s time to write an essay on which of the great three you will join when you grow up," Miss Summers announced as she conjured a rock golem to distribute papers to the eager students. The students buzzed with excitement, discussing their favorite companies and their future aspirations.

    <hr>

    (The Endless Void)

    Cyrus is currently lying battered and broken in a pool of his own blood while staring up and a tall creature cloaked in shadows.

    The cold look in its red eyes forced him not to move a single muscle. The creature walked forward and pressed a large foot down on his face and slowly pressed down.

    As the pain got more and more intense the creature''s mouth turned into the shape of disappontment while Cyrus''s right eye popped from his skull making him want to cry out but his mangled throat only allowed him to spew out blood.

    "Weak so weak" The creature spoke with utter annoyance as shattered Cyrus''s skull to a bloody mess before walking away into the endless darkness.

    Damn it, I''ll beat that creature!

    That single thought echoed in his mind as everything turned dark, a recurring nightmare that had become a frustrating experience for the young slayer in training.

 Same Day New Experience

    (Five years later)

    Now nineteen, Cyrus groaned in annoyance, lying in his bed drenched in sweat from the recurring nightmare that had plagued him for years.

    "He really got the better of me then," he muttered, recalling how the shadowy figure had countered his roundhouse kick with a swift uppercut, breaking his jaw.

    He glanced around his blurry room before donning his thick-rimmed glasses, bringing everything into focus.

    Excited barking filled his ears as the bedroom door creaked open and a small German Shepherd puppy with coal-black fur, dark red eyes, and three heads bounded onto the bed, cuddling up to its owner.

    "Hey Reggie, you''re up early," he chuckled, as the puppy''s left head barked joyfully, the middle one continued snoring, and the right one playfully nibbled at his fingers. "Hungry, huh? Go wake the others, so we can all have breakfast, okay?"

    Reggie''s eyes widened as the two outer heads smacked the middle one awake before he darted from the room amid a crashing sound.

    Now fully awake, Cyrus made his way to the bathroom and splashed his face with ice-cold tap water.

    Peering into the mirror, he saw his own reflection staring back, along with a shadowy creature''s arm piercing through his chest, causing his eyes to bulge in shock. He stumbled backward, hitting his head against the wall.

    Wincing in pain and threading his fingers through his thick afro, he opened his eyes to find the shadowy arm had vanished and his body was uharmed.

    "Okay, that''s new?" he questioned, attempting to calm his racing heartbeat with a very long soothing shower.

    Once done he dressed in a simple grey hoodie with a stitched red frown, baggy black trousers, tanned steel-toed boots, and his necklace.

    As he walked toward the small kitchen, the aroma of breakfast greeted him.

    He saw his roommate Nina placing slices of buttered toast onto a large plate. He noticed her attire: a black jumpsuit with the top buttons undone, allowing it to drape over her blue jumper, paired with white trainers, sleek black goggles, and an apron marked with stains of dried food.

    "Take a seat, Cy. You need to eat something instead of always rushing off to work," she said with a playful sigh, beginning to make scrambled eggs with vegetables.

    "What took you so long? She almost burned down the house," a chuckling voice said, drawing his attention to Scott, who was sipping coffee, clad in a black three-piece suit and tan dark brown shoes.

    "I needed a longer shower. Besides, I was hoping for leftover chinese because battling monsters while fighting food poisoning isn''t the difficulty spike I was looking for," Cyrus sighed, recalling that dreadful experience as he sat at the table.

    "It only happened six times, and I passed my cooking lessons with flying colors. So when you do kick the bucket, you can''t list me as your cause of death," Nina retorted, as one of her snakes neatly placed well-cooked bacon on the table, eliciting snickers from the others.

    "Well, hopefully, it''s tasty enough that Jazzy decides to stay and actually joins us for the meal," Scott laughed, while Reggie dragged his large bowl over to the table legs.

    "That''s not the reason, trust me; that girl can eat anything," Nina said as she finished with the eggs and tossed her apron aside. "I caught her last week ranting about the Hammer Guild claiming the docks as their territory."

    "I don''t know why she''s complaining; she despises all aquatic life," Cyrus remarked with a smirk, filling Reggie''s dog bowls with spicy meat while imagining Jazzy battling a giant fish. "Besides, it''s a clever plan since water doors are difficult to access, let alone complete."

    "So that explains why the apartment reeked of fish for weeks," Scott laughed, his game pausing from a notification, his expression turning serious. "Doc sent a text; we can visit mom and dad."

    "Finally, I can give them the gifts I know they''ll adore," Nina said, smiling as her snakes hissed in delight.

    "Yeah, but only for a few hours, so let''s meet at the hospital after work," Scott suggested, closing his game and reviewing a detailed schedule. "I need to reschedule some meetings, see you guys later."

    He tossed his plate into the sink and lavished Reggie with pats.

    "Hope you find something intriguing, sis, and try not to die, bro," he said, delivering a hearty slap to their backs before departing.

    "Gamer boy left his suitcase; I''ll bring it to him during his break. See you later, Cy," she said, hugging him quickly before dashing off with their bags.

    Scott''s suitcase bore an EPA logo, while her duffle bag was adorned with the FFH emblem.

    "The castle is yours; don''t break anything," Cyrus chuckled, petting his puppy who barked joyfully and nodded to each other before scampering off as a series of loud crashes quickly rang out.

    Cyrus shook his head, checking the text from the league about his quota for today: two hundred bronze doors.

    "An easy amount; hopefully, something exciting happens," he muttered, grabbing his Buck 110 knife and GSL bronze dog tags. After locking up, he mounted his his dirt bike and made his way to the nearest door while hover cars zoomed above.

    <hr>

    (200th Bronze Door location-Muscle King Gym)

    Cyrus gently positioned a thin goblin within a grey body bag. The runes adorning the bag shone a vivid green, then constricted around the body, causing the bag to levitate.

    "So, I''m going to guess you''re upset because nothing interesting happened today, kid?" a gruff, deep voice inquired through the headset Cyrus was wearing.

    "And what gave it away?" He replied while wiping a thick coating of blood of his weapon.

    "The fact that a couple goblins tried to escape before you dragged them back in kicking and screaming" A deep chuckle came from the headset "I told you kid with this job not every door is gonna be amazing its gonna be nice and simple"

    "I know but it seems like every door is like that these days" Cyrus let out an annoyed sigh "All these doors was nothing but goblins, wolves and fucking slimes!"

    "Perhaps you''re too strong for your rank. Have you received a promotion letter yet?" That one question drained all the anger and irritation from Cyrus, leaving him disheartened.

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    "No... despite all my efforts," Cyrus replied, his voice tinged with disappointment as he surveyed the forest which is covered in blood and viscera.

    "Looks like it''s time for some wise words from old Jeb," the gruff voice said along with the sounds of stiff bones cracking.

    "Please don''t. I''d rather be dissolved by the slimes," Cyrus sighed, sitting on a flat rock while Jeb finished cracking his back and fingers.

    "I''ve been around long enough to know that it takes a special kind of slayer to make the league bend their rigid rules," Jeb chuckled, recalling the hefty rule book he''d seen a couple of bronze rank slayers lugging around years ago.

    "The fact that they let you set even one toe through a door, let alone clear hundreds of them solo without joining an established guild, is proof enough that they hold you in high regard," Jeb remarked as the image of a young, heavily injured but still smiling Cyrus emerging from a bronze door flashed through his mind. "Heck, kid, sometimes I forget to bring my first aid kit because you often come out with only minor injuries or none at all!"

    Cyrus couldn''t help but chuckle as he has been adding less and less scars on his body.

    "Listen, kid, you''ve got that spark of potential. Don''t extinguish it by feeling down about a few easy victories," Jeb said earnestly. "A slayer like you is a rare find nowadays."

    "That''s sound advice, Jeb, I appreciate it. But how do I demonstrate my potential to the GSL?" Cyrus inquired, unashamed of his envy towards those of higher ranks.

    "Well, that''s something that''ll require a good deal of brainstorming, some blackjack, and old whiskey," Jeb replied, eliciting a smile from Cyrus.

    "Got it, I''ll grab a bottle later," Cyrus chuckled, recalling a past brainstorming session that had earned him a killer headache and a couple extra spending money. "Hopefully, Richard can hold his liquor; that''s one mess I don''t want to clean up."

    Jeb''s laughter boomed as Cyrus placed a bone necklace into a black metal box adorned with yellow runes, alongside the remnants of shattered weapons and other items.

    "Alright, all weapons and corpses are loaded; now I just need to find the realm boss," he said. As he spoke, a rustle from above caught his attention. He looked up to see a large, muscular, and bearded goblin leaping from a tree branch, spear poised, descending toward him.

    Time seemed to crawl as the dark green beast hurled its spear towards Cyrus''s forehead. He narrowly dodged, leaping aside and swiftly advancing before swinging outward the second he got into striking distance.

    The boss goblin parried, snapping the spear in two before hastily flinging the fragments at Cyrus while retreating to create distance.

    Cyrus kept his gaze fixed, sidestepping the spearhead and batting away the shaft, then charged at the goblin. It cackled, scattering three small brown stones that burst into a cloud of thick dust.

    Cyrus positioned his knife defensively and held steady, detecting a subtle movement in the cloud. The boss goblin surged forward, brandishing a pair of stone knives.

    As Cyrus prepared to counter, a shadowy appendage burst forth from the goblin''s torso, seizing his face and leaving him wide-eyed with astonishment.

    "AND HERE I THOUGHT YOU WERE A WORTHY CHALLENGER!" A booming voice echoed in his mind as the shadowy hand tightened its grip, causing Cyrus''s entire body to shake and tremble under the increasing pressure.

    His left arm swung up quickly, and he felt a rough impact against it, snapping his focus back to the present, as the shadowy hand dissipated, stone knives were revealed, mere inches from his face.

    The goblin boss snarled in fury, attempting to drive the knives deeper. With his senses and strength returning, Cyrus heard a faint bang in the distance, followed by a sudden explosion in a section of the goblin boss''s forehead.

    Its eyes widen and rolled upwards as it collapsed to the ground with a thud.

    "And now you owe me a sparring match," a tough feminine voice joked, "since you almost let that low-level creature get a hit."

    "Thanks for the save, Jazzy. That goblin was super strong," Cyrus said, his voice dripping with enough sarcasm to fill a swimming pool, as he sheathed his weapon and greeted Jasmine with a fist bump.

    She is clad in black baggy pants, held up by an ammo pouch belt, a dark purple tank top, black steel-toed boots, and blue vine tattoos that twine up her arms and meet at her neck.

    "So, I''m guessing the reason for your near-hilarious demise is due to your body being ravaged by poisoning," she remarked, a curious expression on her face as she holstered her heavy pistol, silver dog tags dangling from it. "Is it the goblins or Nina to blame?"

    "Surprisingly, Nina isn''t the culprit this time," Cyrus replied with a slight chuckle, as Jasmine looked on in shock. "I''ve actually been sleeping rough for a few nights."

    "I refuse to believe that you''re tired just because of a couple of nightmares," Jasmine said as Cyrus stowed the corpse in storage. "So, you''re telling me you can go through door after door from sunrise to sunset, but a bad dream is what makes the door kicker falter?"

    "Firstly, it''s a truly bizarre nightmare, not just your typical falling dream, which, I might add, has been recurring for years. And secondly, I thought I asked you to stop calling me that," he sighed, making his way to the exit.

    "Firstly, I''m just teasing you, bro��your feelings are completely valid. Secondly, it''s a fitting summary of your career thus far," she said, offering a caring smile as she tossed him an energy drink.

    "Mr. Ashford amazed everyone by clearing fifty doors on his first outing as a slayer, and his tally has only grown since!" Jeb added with a laugh, prompting Cyrus to sigh as he caught the drink.

    "You know I only did that to avoid being late for the date," he explained, taking a long sip that instantly made him feel less sluggish.

    "Then a year later, she dumped you for being too busy with work," she said, shaking her head with a frown. "That''s why you should only date slayers; they understand the chaotic lifestyle better."

    "I doubt any slayer leads a more chaotic life than I do," Cyrus remarked as they passed through the silver door, departing the boundless forest realm to re-enter the real world. "But enough about me. Can you believe it''s been twenty years since a new diamond rank slayer emerged?"

    "I can believe it because being part of the three lower ranks lets you live comfortably with minimal health risks," Jasmine replied, her expression grave. "Striving for anything higher is practically inviting a closed casket funeral, if you''re fortunate."

    "She has a point, kid; you''re not as lucky as me," said Jeb, the burly wolfman clad in a FFH cap and orange jumpsuit, as he extended his muscular cybernetic arm to offer Cyrus a touchpad for signing.

    "See, Jeb understands��he was a gold slayer, so he knows a thing or two about the job," she remarked as the FFH collection team entered and began to remove the sealed items and corpses.

    "I understand, but what about exploring the unknown and discovering the secrets hidden beyond these cursed doors?" Cyrus retorted, recalling the tales from his history classes at school.

    "Some people lack the urge to explore, and there''s the obvious fact that high-ranking slayers essentially have the right to claim whatever they find for themselves," Jeb remarked, clapping the young slayer''s shoulder firmly before resuming his work.

    "Couldn''t have said it better myself," Jasmine nodded in agreement. "Which, in turn, makes other ventures both fun and annoying. The two books I wrote on slime and Kobold anatomy are selling well, but there''s only so many times I can reword them before I go insane."

    "So, you''re dealing with a lot of writer''s block?" Cyrus asked, causing her to frown.

    "Yeah, and friends are advising me to write autobiographies and slayer guides, even though it''s an oversaturated market," she grumbled, casting a glance at a hologram ad for another diamond rank slayer''s autobiography and secret tips book.

    "Perhaps that could change if we climb the ranks and you discover bizarre creatures to document and research," Cyrus proposed, a contemplative expression on his face.

    "Do I need to remind you again of the premature deaths and formidable slayers we just discussed?" Jasmine chuckled, teasingly tapping his forehead.

    "Well If you had the door kicker to absorb all the heat, would you go for it?" Cyrus inquired, a slight smirk playing on his lips.

    "I don''t want you risking your life for my career, so I suppose I''ll have to put my support skills to good use to keep you alive," she said with a playful sigh, her finger glowing bright yellow as it healed the light cut on his cheek.

    "Don''t forget about your gun; you might need it to take down a few diamond slayers," Cyrus chuckled, the yellow glow turned to grey, making him feel instantly weak and sleepy for a moment.

    "Noted, bro. Now I''ve got one more job, then I''m done for the day. Wanna join?" Jasmine asked with a smile as Cyrus recovered from his quick nap. "Since I don''t think the league gives you many silver doors to explore."

    "None at all, as they don''t want to risk their bronze prize egg getting crushed," Cyrus replied with a fierce grin, cracking his stiff neck. "So it''s a good opportunity to see if I can handle silver doors."

    "This is the legendary door kicker all fired up, I see," she laughed while sending him the location of the silver door. "After this we''ll visit mom and dad with the guys, then have a serious discussion about this crazy plan."

    "Great along with a large cheesy pepperoni pizza, I''m starving," Cyrus proposed as he climbed onto his bike.

    "Deal, but if you don''t beat me there, it''s pineapple and anchovies," she replied with a wide grin, leaping onto her dark orange hover bike and soaring over the buildings.

    Cyrus''s expression turned grave in an instant as he pedaled into the distance, becoming a mere blur, eliciting chuckles from Jeb and the FFH members as they continued working.

 Temple Takedown

    (Silver Door-Montgomery Park)

    "What are you doing here, Henry?" asked a portly orc man with a silver dog-tag around his war hammer, clad in thick metal armor, and sporting a sly grin.

    "It was a last-minute switch, and since I was in the area, someone has to ensure you all get back home safely," declared the towering, muscular minotaur, golden dog tags clinking around his neck, with a battle axe and a tower shield strapped to his broad back.

    "Hey, what''s the holdup? I''ve got a dentist''s appointment!" a teenage boy called out, annoyance evident in his tone.

    "Calm down, brat we go in as a group or not at all!" Rick growled, his patience wearing thin after the third complaint.

    The subtle scent of burning rubber captured his attention, and as he turned, he saw Cyrus drifting out of an alleyway, heading toward the group.

    "Made it!" Cyrus yelled as he skidded to a stop with his bike tilting into the air before slamming down.

    "Did you take the scenic route bro?" Jasmine laughed as she rested against her bike surrounded by other silver slayers.

    Cyrus simple collapsed against the handle bars of his bike in a tired heap while she gloated with a smug grin.

    "Alright, everyone has been accounted for, let''s go!" Henry called out. The group marched toward the massive floating silver door, which slammed against the ground with such force that it cracked, while silver energy seeped deep into the earth.

    "Bronze group don''t push yourself too hard and Silver team keep your heads on a swivel!"

    Cyrus was the last one to enter the door while chugging another enery drink. The door shut tight before glowing bright like a beacon.

    "Alright, everyone, let''s keep the area clear of civilians and get the devices ready," a middle-aged centaur donning a forge guild vest yelled to his large team lounging around.

    A young blond elf man stared at the shimmering door with his arms crossed.

    "What''s wrong Jack?" The centaur asked the young elf was usually the first one to start the operations.

    "That last guy..." Jack mused, eyeing Cyrus''s rusty bike, "I might be going crazy, but is that the door-kicker guy?"

    "Yeah, he''s absolutely mad. Can you believe he manages bronze doors single-handedly without any special powers?" The centaur spoke with a hint of admiration, recalling the sight of Cyrus exiting a bronze door with arrows lodged in his back, then crossing the street and entering another door without a moment''s pause.

    "You must be joking; no one at his level is that skilled!" Jack exclaimed, recalling the sight of a small army of bronze-ranked slayers who had entered a door a couple of months back, only to emerge significantly diminished in number. "Paul, who the hell is that guy?"

    "Well, he''s not your average slayer, that''s for sure," Paul said, grinning as he lit a cigar. "Now, you didn''t hear this from me, but when it comes to dispatching the creatures that skulk behind closed doors, that kid is a prodigy."

    Members of the forge guild drove vans and trucks into the area along with setting up glowing barriers and drones.

    "You ought to see the bodies from his missions; nothing is hacked to pieces or squashed like roadkill. He even stays to help gather them sometimes," Paul said with a smirk. "It makes the research and paperwork go smoothly and quickly, leaving us enough time to watch a movie."

    "Okay, but even if he''s a prodigy, not having a magical power is strange since everyone has one," Jake muttered, glancing at two team members who were using levitation and telekinesis to move heavy equipment.

    "Who knows, maybe the gods just randomly decided to mess with someone," Paul grumbled, then clapped his hands, capturing everyone''s attention. "Alright, enough chatting. Let''s get back to work and pray that the only corpses we take out are monsters."

    <hr>

    (Inside The Silver Door)

    "They''ve caught you again; you''re getting old, buddy!" Henry chuckled as he deftly cleaved through five beetles, each the size of a blue bear cub, with his axe.

    "How about trying to do this job while a horde of kids keeps you awake at night!" Rick yelled, swinging his formidable weapon into a large beetle, sending blood and guts splashing across the cavern walls.

    "Rick, I already told you I''d be happy to babysit," Jasmine shouted over the blasts of her gun leaving holes in two beetles before dashing back to reload.

    "No way! You charge an arm and a leg for every hour," Rick growled, his annoyance evident as he crushed four beetles.

    "That''s only because her services are top-notch; we have her on speed dial," declared an elderly man named Maxwell. He pressed his calloused hands against the ground, summoning large stone hands that crushed seven beetles, then adjusted his purple cloak fastened with a silver dog tag.

    "He''s got you there, Jasmine is a total lifesaver, even on last-minute calls," laughed Sarah, a tattooed goth lizard woman, as she deftly sliced through three beetles with her twin katanas, each adorned with a silver dog tag.

    Cyrus sidestepped the massive pincers and swiftly retaliated, plunging his blade into the creature''s skull and slicing downward, causing a spray of orange blood to splatter all around.

    "Silver doors are tougher than bronze but nothing I can''t handle" He thought with a small grin while wiping blood off his face as the creature hit the ground with a thud.

    "Let''s take a break everyone!" Henry called out as there was no more beetles around.

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    "Cyrus, you''re hurt," Jasmine said, her expression fraught with concern as she gazed at the deep cut on his right calf.

    "Huh, I didn''t notice," he replied nonchalantly, sheathing his blade, which prompted her to slap him roughly on the back of his head.

    "Don''t be so nonchalant; it might be venomous!" she exclaimed angrily, seizing his arm and pulling him to the ground. "Stay still so I can treat the wound."

    "Sorry for making you worry, sis," he replied as she took out a medical bag.

    "Don''t be sorry; it''s a good test to see if I can handle your reckless fighting," she chuckled while cleaning the wound.

    "I wouldn''t call it reckless more like intensely focused due to this being my first silver door" He said with a small eager smile."Why do you work yourself so hard?" she asked, threading a needle.

    "What do you mean?" Cyrus asked, his interest evident as he watched her work.

    "Now that I''m really looking at you, I see more scars than skin," she observed seriously while poking the faint scars on his leg.

    Jasmine cast a look at the other slayers, already weary and gasping for breath, then shifted her attention to Cyrus, who remained vigorous despite having completed his usual share of work.

    "Look, I''m not trying to make you feel bad or anything; I''m just concerned," she said hastily. "I''ve seen too many slayers lose their lives prematurely due to recklessness, and I don''t want you to be one of them."

    Cyrus stayed silent as he glanced around the cavern area not wanting to make eye contact at the moment.

    "Hey, boy, don''t let anyone or anything limit you!" a deep, soothing voice exclaimed, followed by a hearty laugh within his mind. "Someday, let''s meet again at the top and see what this new world has to offer to those who are brave enough!"

    "I may not have Scott''s business smarts, Nina''s skill in weapon-making, or a useful power like yours, but I needed to find a way to help with the rent and our parents'' medical bills," Cyrus said, chuckling softly. "As it turns out, fighting monsters is something I excel at."

    "Don''t sell yourself short, bro; you''ve got tactical smarts that can match Scott, insane physical abilities that make me look bad, and a knack for repurposing broken stuff that Nina would''ve tossed," Jasmine said, grinning as she remembered how Cyrus took down some bigger guys with a stun baton to retrieve her wallet and transformed her busted roller skates into jet boots when they were kids.

    "Thanks for the pep talk, sis; it was needed," Cyrus said with a grin, subtly attempting to brush away the tears from his eyes.

    "Got more in the chamber, now you better focus otherwise you''ll be fighting spirits instead" She said making him burst out in laughter as he pictured himself fighting cartoon ghosts before gasping in pain as his calf suddenly ached.

    "Stop laughing, or you''ll reopen your wound!" Jasmine exclaimed, pushing a small, red, glowing potion to his lips, which eased the pain and caused a gentle tingling in his leg.

    "Catch, you two!" Sarah exclaimed, throwing two triangular gems with color-changing orbs inside to Cyrus and Jasmine.

    "With a few more of these, I can finally purchase that enchantment for my gun," she said, grinning as she helped him to his feet.

    "I wonder how big the higher rank monster cores are?" Cyrus thought while glancing at Henry''s axe and shield to see the glowing glyphs on them before turning his gaze to Rick''s armor which doesn''t have any scratches on it despite getting hit by the monsters.

    "Everyone, Mandy has returned from scouting," Henry announced, shifting his focus to the fox girl dressed in punk rock attire, brandishing a long spear adorned with her gold dog-tag.

    "I couldn''t locate the artifact or the realm boss, so it seems we''re facing a double realm, folks," she reported, frowning, prompting a wave of surprised chatter and murmurs from the group.

    "What is a double realm?" inquired a bronze-ranked dwarf boy, brandishing a sub-machine gun, his curiosity piqued by the unfamiliar term.

    "It''s uncommon, but it simply indicates that another door exists, leading to the boss''s location or the protected artifact," Henry explained, recalling a similar golden door that led to an island inhabited by giant ants.

    "So what are we going to do leader?" A bronzed rank rat man with twin maces asked.

    "Well rules are we leave and call the league for orders aka send more slayers" Henry spoke as he glanced around "But you all know that means less payment."

    Rick clenched his jaw as he recalled the countless nights spent poring over eviction notices stemming from noise complaints, alongside the daunting costs of housing for a family of ten.

    Sarah''s eyes narrowed as she envisioned the smug headmaster of the prestigious school subtly hinting at the need for additional funds if she wished for her son to remain in his dream school.

    "Shall we take a vote on whether to proceed or hold back?" Henry proposed, his expression grave.

    "I''m going in with or without you," Rick declared, nodding firmly, with Sarah quickly falling in step behind him.

    "We should stay back; it could be dangerous," Jasmine stated, her face set in a stern expression.

    "I agree, it''s not worth the risk," Maxwell chimed in, as his grandchildren pleaded for him to teach them spells.

    "There will be other opportunities; there''s no need to risk everything for this one," Mandy sighed, her music career gaining momentum as she became a renowned slayer.

    The other people voted with their own reasons to go or stay."I say we continue" Henry said as he glanced at Cyrus "Looks like you''re the tie breaker"

    "Hey, boy, don''t let anyone or anything limit you!" The vision of a man enveloped in a golden aura burst into his mind, accompanied by the voice, prompting Cyrus to clench his fist tightly.

    "Let''s defeat this boss!" He exclaimed looking at everyone wtih sheer determination on his face.

    <hr>

    Henry surveyed his group and gave a decisive nod as they trailed behind Mandy. After a few minutes and dispatching additional beetles, they found themselves before an imposing silver door.

    "We may have put it to a vote, but that doesn''t mean we should be reckless. Let''s play it safe," Henry stated, tightening his grip on his weapon.

    He opened the door and walked in with everyone else following as they stared at a deep jungle with a large temple in the distance.

    "Looks like we''re heading there," Maxwell stated, stowing his handheld telescope and gesturing towards the temple adorned with glowing runes.

    "Though getting there will be tough," Sarah said, pointing at the oddly built furry creatures with glowing red eyes perched in the trees, brandishing rusted weapons.

    "Let''s crush these guys and enter that temple," Rick growled, charging towards the small army of monkeys, with everyone else rallying behind to support his solo assault.

    Jasmine let loose gunfire at the monsters in the trees while Maxwell used roots to keep them in place allowing Rick to effortlessly kill them.

    Cyrus played it safe and finished off the injured creatures or set up easy kills for the group with selective strikes to their joints.

    Henry chopped apart any creature that threw themselves at his shield while Mandy weaved around to stab any monster trying to attack him from his blind spot.

    "Damn, that''s a lot of steps," Maxwell groaned, massaging his legs as he finally reached the top, finding everyone else already taking a rest.

    "Well, if the enemies are as weak as those at the bottom, it will make the climb all the more worthwhile," Rick grumbled, wiping the blood and sweat from his face.

    "Hey brat I guess those rumors aren''t bullshit after all" He smirked while giving Cyrus a heavy pat on the back making the young slayer stumble forward slightly.

    "Glad I could change your mind," Cyrus chuckled, cracking his stiff shoulders��the only injury he had sustained since the mission began.

    "No traps, and plenty of dead monkeys," Mandy said with a grin, reporting back from her scouting mission alongside a band of silver slayers.

    "Good lets move" Henry ordered as he entered the temple with everyone following in.

    "This place gives me the creeps," Sarah remarked, eyeing the wall images that portrayed six warriors in battle with furry humanoid beasts.

    Everyone glanced around keeping watch for any sneak attacks before entering a wide-open area covered in blood and bones.

    "Hold up, spotted the boss bastard," Rick growled, pulling back an overweight bronze slayer, then pointing at a slender, grey, scar-covered ape lounging atop a heap of bones, feasting on entrails.

 Boss Battle

    "Jasmine, give them a buff" Henry commanded in a stern voice, gesturing towards Sarah, Rick, and Mandy with a thumb.

    "Yes sir," she replied, swiftly activating the physical enhancement spell. Her hands glowed yellow, casting a beam that enveloped the three silver-ranked slayers in an energizing aura.

    "Max, begin your chant; as we distract and weaken it, use the scroll to lock it down," Henry instructed calmly, maintaining a steady gaze on the creature.

    "Understood, it will remain as motionless as stone," replied Maxwell, before chanting incantations in an arcane tongue that made a scroll levitate between his hands.

    "Once it''s secure, everyone will come in and attack it. Remember to go for the weak points, like joints and eyes," Henry said, glancing back at Cyrus and the rest of the slayers.

    "Yes sir!" Everyone replied as the five slayers stepped over a thin line in the stone that glowed a dim red.

    The atmosphere is charged with tension as every slayer''s gaze is fixed on the high-ranking members, who methodically arrange themselves into a battle formation encircling the beast that remains in slumber.

    Cyrus''s eyes widened as a thick slab of the wall suddenly jutted out towards Jasmine, prompting him to dash forward and shove her out of the way.

    The impact was forceful enough to send him tumbling over the line, which now glowed a bright red. Before the slayers could react, a sudden red barrier materialized, dividing them.

    "Everyone!" bellowed a middle-aged, hulking troll as he, along with the others, hammered against the thick barrier.

    "Cyrus!" Jasmine cried out, pressing herself against the barrier, her face etched with concern.

    "Damn it, get ready everyone!" Rick yelled as Cyrus turned away from his sister and focused on the monster.

    "Stay on your toes, everyone! Face me, beast!" Henry bellowed, unleashing a thunderous roar that infuriated the creature, causing it to glare at him with blood-red eyes.

    It charged at Henry with a sudden burst of speed, launching a punch so swift it tore up the ground as it hurtled towards his chest. Henry growled, hoisting his shield just in time to meet the meaty fist that slammed into him, sending tremors through his entire body.

    Its stronger than its looks and its not giving me anytime to counter!

    He glanced at the dent in his shield while skidding back with every rapid blow hammering against him.

    Jasmine and the others held their breath as Rick and Sarah swiftly moved to the monster''s right flank. Simultaneously, Mandy and Cyrus approached from the left, cunningly placing Maxwell directly in the creature''s blind spot at the back.

    Sarah lunged and took a swipe at the creature, which dodged skillfully and retaliated with a swift leg sweep aimed at Cyrus and Mandy. They narrowly escaped the hefty limb and quickly retreated to regroup.

    Mandy growled as their sneak attack failed, and the creature immediately resumed its assault on Henry, who parried another blow, giving Sarah the chance to withdraw and regroup.

    Seizing the opportunity, Rick aimed a strike at the creature''s outstretched arm, which had just landed a hit on Henry''s severely battered shield.

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    His eyes widened as a fist suddenly surged upward in an unusual uppercut from beneath the extended arm. He barely managed to intercept the blow, which crashed into his weapon and propelled him backward.

    Several bronze slayers gasped in surprise as the robust silver slayer, once steadfast on the front line, was now soaring through the air.

    "Get ready! It fights weirdly!" Rick shouted, anchoring his feet and sliding back. After halting, he growled furiously and lunged forward as the boss kept on assaulting Henry.

    Cyrus swiftly recognized that the boss''s speed posed a problem and had to at least hinderence it as he made a beeline for the distracted boss.

    The creature cast a glance backward and unleashed a rapid backhand strike, which Cyrus narrowly evaded by sliding under and then rolling between its legs. Clenching his knife, Cyrus unleashed a barrage of swift slashes, marking the beast''s knees with a series of shallow cuts and gashes.

    Frustration gripped him as he realized the minimal damage inflicted; he gritted his teeth just as another punch was hurled in his direction.

    Before he could react, he was abruptly yanked backwards, causing the massive fist to swing through empty air. He caught a glimpse of the thick tail coiled around his wrist, then turned to see Sarah sprint by him, her blades slicing through the injured areas he left.

    The creature snarled and took a swipe at her, but its lunge was thrown off course as it lurched sideways, black blood spurting from its deep wounds.

    Without hestating Cyrus leapt towards the elbow and tossed the knife into the joint before stomping on the handle with his full weight driving it deep to the bone making blood spurt out around the knife.

    "So this is the prowess of the renowned door kicker," Sarah mused, using her tail to hurl Cyrus out of harm''s way. He snatched his weapon and rolled into a crouch, fixing a steady gaze on the adversary, blade poised for action.

    "Stay still, kid," Mandy ordered, tightening her grip on her spear. She sprinted towards Cyrus, using his back and shoulders as a springboard to launch herself at the monster, which was struggling to remain upright.

    Activating a mechanism on her spear, she caused purple slime to ooze over the tip. With a swift motion, she pierced its stomach leaving a trail of purple smoke, and then flipped away as it reached out to grab her.

    The monster groaned, clutching its smoking chest as it stumbled about. Sarah, smirking, dashed past Mandy and leapt up with an outward slash, leaving a fresh X-shaped wound on the monster''s stomach.

    The boss quickly overcame his sickness and pain, then fixed a stern glare on Mandy and Sarah.

    "Don''t look away!, you weakling!" Henry bellowed, banging his axe against his shield to recapture the monster''s attention.

    With a snarl, it forced itself upright and unleashed a mighty roar, sending dust swirling and obscuring the surroundings. The slayers'' final glimpse before the boss vanished into the dusty haze was the ominous glow of its red eyes.

    "Stay alert!" Rick shouted, as he and the others scanned their surroundings, anticipating the boss''s emergence.

    A massive fist erupted from the dust cloud, striking Henry''s shield. He barely managed to deflect the forceful surprise attack, sliding backwards and halting just before the barrier wall.

    Henry winced as he felt a crack in his arm. He stole a quick look at his left arm, now badly bruised, and tried to push past the sharp sting of pain.

    As the dust settled, the sight of the monster charging with a bloodthirsty glare became clear. Henry braced himself, leaning into each blow in an attempt to mitigate the force.

    "Storm Chain lockdown!" Maxwell exclaimed, completing the spell chant. The scroll in his grasp disintegrated into blue sparks before glowing white chains materialized around his hands and arms.

    A thunderous clap echoed as he spread his arms, sending chains hurtling towards the boss, deftly missing everyone else.

    The chains were mere inches from their target when it executed a sudden backflip, displaying a frightening level of agility. This maneuver caused the bindings to swiftly ensnare Henry in their tight embrace.

    Henry let out a scream as the chains suddenly grew heavy, forcing him to his knees, while electricity surged through his body, causing him to drop his axe and shield.

    The boss executed a one-handed landing, grasped several bone shards with its free hand, and rolled across the ground seamlessly before hurling them towards Maxwell.

    His eyes widened as he quickly cast a simple earth defensive spell, causing a section of the ground to rise and block the incoming projectiles.

    He had just a moment to catch his breath when a crack sounded from the dirt and stone wall. A collective gasp filled the air as Maxwell was propelled through the barrier due to the force of the bone fragments piercing his body and head.

    "What the hell just happened!" Cyrus exclaimed, his gaze shifting between sadness and rage as he looked at the deceased mage who voted to leave the silver door.

 Hard Fought-Victory

    Maxwell''s body is laying in an expanding pool of blood while Jasmine and two other healers rush into action, attempting to save the life of the slayer.

    The healing energy gently enveloped his body, only to quickly and suddenly flicker and fade, leaving just a few scratches on his hand slightly healed and the many deep, open wounds in vital areas still gaping.

    The twin fox girls cried over their unsuccessful attempt as Jasmine extracted the shards and gently closed his eyes.

    "You bastard!" Rick bellowed, swinging his hammer to shatter the monster''s left ankle. The creature stumbled to one side, yet swiftly regained its balance and propelled itself off the ground. It countered with a rapid right kick, smashing the front of Rick''s armor upon impact.

    The force of the attack was so immense that it caused Rick''s body to wrap around the foot as if he was a piece of cloth.Within seconds he rebounded from the stone floor and tumbled pass the barrier before skidding to a stop as a bloodied heap.

    "Fuck!, my ribs are killing me; I can barely breathe!" As he coughed up blood his vision began to blur.

    Enraged, Sarah let out a scream, leapt onto the hand that was used for balance, and drove her weapon deep into its flesh. She then surged upwards, slicing two long, deep cuts all the way to the shoulder.

    As she leapt back, her eyes widened in shock when the monster flexed its injured arm, muscles bulging and blood spraying, then leaned back and launched a swift punch.

    She swiftly countered the oncoming punch, but it shattered her left blade and arm, causing her to cry out in agony and drop her other blade, which clattered to the ground.

    "What the hell, this was supposed to be a silver door!" That was her last thought as she burst through the barrier and collided with the wall, resulting in a resounding crack.

    "Die!" Mandy yelled, thrusting her poison coated spear swiftly towards the boss monster''s face, puncturing its right eye in a gush of blood.

    Her smirk swiftly transformed into an expression of sheer fear as the creature gazed at her with its left eye, apparently unfazed by the pain. Suddenly, its left hand lunged forward with the speed of a bullet and seized her entire head.

    The boss''s grip tightened, transforming her stifled screeches into cries of agony. Cyrus, already in mid-leap towards the boss, was ready to strike at its wrist to release Mandy when a sudden gust of wind diverted his attention.

    He swiftly rotated his body into a defensive stance, just in time to brace for the impact as a heavyweight crashed into him.

    "CYRUS!" Jasmine screamed as she watched the large hand connect and crack the ground on impact.

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    The boss cackled at the failed rescue attempt before turning its attention to the wriggling person in its left hand. A wide smlie grew on the monster''s face as it squeezed its left-hand tightly sending blood, brain matter and other fluids splattering onto the ground.

    "Come on, hurry up! You''re not a gold rank for nothing!" Henry roared, flexing against the zapping chains that began to crack as he forced himself onto one knee.

    The boss nonchalantly flung the headless body beyond the barrier as Jasmine wielded her magic to mend Rick and Sarah''s wounds.

    Cyrus could only groan in pain as his right arm and left leg took the brunt of the impact, undoubtedly breaking them. The boss brought its hand up to go and squash him again as he struggled to recover.

    "I''m still here, you bastard!" Henry yelled furiously as he slammed his battered shield into the hand and shoved it away making it crack the ground. With a snarl he swung his glowing axe downward and cleaved the monster''s hand in two.

    The scream was so intense that it not only made those beyond the barrier clutch their ears in shock but also burst Henry''s left eardrum, throwing off the balance of the gold slayer.

    Left defenseless, he was unable to prevent the boss from swiftly engulfing him halfway into its mouth and biting down with full force. The creature''s razor-sharp teeth effortlessly tore through his flesh, eliciting a guttural growl from Henry as he swung his axe at the beast''s tongue.

    This only caused the monster to clamp down harder. With each successive strike and bite, the intensity of their battle grew, and a mixture of black and red blood stained the ground beneath them.

    "Get up!" Cyrus commanded himself with the intensity of a drill sergeant. He forced himself to stand on his quivering, bloodied injured leg, while his other arm dangled limply at his side. "You only need one arm and one leg; it''s almost over!"

    The vision of a tall man enveloped in a golden aura flashed through his mind for a brief moment, causing him to clench his knife so tightly that blood began to seep from his grasp.

    "Put him down!" he yelled, leaping and crashing into the boss''s torso, then biting down to get a mouthful of fur to keep himself from falling.

    The creature went to grab him, but Henry continued to hack away, stopping its progress. At the same time, Cyrus let out a muffled growl while aggressively jabbing with his knife in a wild attack.

    His blade found its way into a wound previously inflicted by Sarah. With a forceful push, he managed to penetrate something solid, causing the boss''s eyes to widen in shock.

    The body spasms was so powerful that it knocked Cyrus to the ground. From there, he saw the boss expel Henry, amidst a torrent of blood, before it fell to its knees and toppled over with a resounding crash.

    Silence enveloped the area, only to be broken by the labored breaths of the two slayers within the barrier. Henry groaned as he laid in the bile while Cyrus limped over to him.

    "Come on, we''re getting out of this place," he grunted, hoisting Henry''s large arm over his shoulder. He moved toward the barrier, only to collide with it and stagger backward in shock.

    "But that bastard is dead!" Rick exclaimed, his voice a blend of anger and fear, as he and Sarah scrambled to their feet, desperately attempting to shatter the barrier.

    "L-Leave m, kid. I-I can''t feel my legs" Henry pleaded with blood spewing out of his mouth "Y-You...got so many years ahead of you"

    "That''s not going to happen," Cyrus declared, the pain clear in his voice as he searched for a way to break through the barrier.

    "You invade my domain and destroy my sole amusement!" thundered a voice, causing a ripple of shock among all present. "Confront me and demonstrate your right to existence, or run and be pursued as prey!"

    A wave of fear swept through all those present as booming thuds shook the entire temple. The slayers outside the barrier gazed in utter horror as three towering, muscular monsters with black fur suddenly materialized behind Henry and Cyrus, their glowing red eyes and broad, twisted grins exposing sharp, jagged teeth.

 Double Door Disaster

    The three large, furry creatures fix their red eyes on Cyrus and Henry while growling menacingly.

    Despite their intese gaze Cyrus was completely focused on the very tall creature in the back. His eyes narrowed slightly as a strange sense of familiarity mixed in with the fear he was feeling.

    "That creature we just barely managed to defeat was at least my equal!" That thought raced through Henry''s mind, making him shake with fear. "Don''t tell me that one is the real realm boss!"

    The true boss of the door has a strong, muscular physique with toned muscles and faint scars.

    He possesses a humanoid appearance with deep olive skin and striking white fur along his arms and shoulders, reminiscent of a wild creature. A long, monkey-like tail sways behind him, and his hair cascades down to the center of his back. His attire consists of puffy black pants, and a silver mask that conceals his eyes and forehead, setting him even more apart from the other monsters.

    Cyrus takes measured breaths, his gaze moving over his wounded, lifeless, and terror-stricken companions. With his heart pounding in his chest, he squared his shoulders and locked eyes with the realm boss.

    "I''ll face you, but it has to be in one-on-one combat!" He shouted despite the overwhelming urge to flee, something deep inside kept him rooted to the spot. "Just let everyone else go first," he continued, his voice steady, "As they are in no condition to fight or flee."

    The air was heavy with an eerie silence as the imposing realm boss kept his piercing gaze upon Cyrus. Time seemed to stand still as the tension in the room reached its peak, creating a palpable sense of unease. Suddenly, a thunderous clap from the realm boss shattered the stillness, jolting everyone out of their anxious reverie.

    "Since no one has beaten my pet in a while, I''ll allow it," he said with a smirk and a wave of his hand before one of the towering creatures walked over to the barrier and held it open.

    "B-Bro, what are you doing? We have to leave," Jasmine''s voice trembled as two bronze slayers took Henry out of the barrier.

    "Believe me, I want to, but they would just hunt us down in seconds," Cyrus replied with a sigh as he handed his monster core over to her.

    "Why are you giving me this?" She asked as the barrier reformed and sealed him in.

    "To get Mom and Dad something nice," he replied with a small smile and laugh. "Make sure it''s something Scott won''t use to impress a casual hook-up."

    "This isn''t the time for jokes, Cyrus! I''m not leaving you alone here to die!" she shouted with tears flowing down while tightly clutching her gun.

    She aimed at the barrier and put a finger on the trigger, but before she could squeeze, Sarah struck the back of her neck, knocking her out.

    "We will ensure everyone gets out safely and return with reinforcements," Sarah declared with a serious look on her face, while Rick placed Jasmine over his shoulders. "Are you sure you want to do this?"

    "Honestly, no. The chances of me surviving this are slim to none," Cyrus stated with a wry smile. As Rick gazed into his eyes, he detected the shared sense of terror among everyone present. However, amidst the prevailing fear, there was a faint glimmer of hope.

    "Don''t die, brat!" Rick yelled as he rushed off with everyone else, while the three monsters grabbed the dead previous champion and leaped out of the barrier.

    "Now that the prey has fled, we can finally begin," exclaimed the realm boss with a wide grin as smaller monsters appeared around the temple, before starting a loud battle howl.

    "Eat this to heal your wounds, I want to fight you at your best!" With a flick of his fingers, two radiant red pears landed at Cyrus''s feet.

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    He brought one up to his mouth and paused for a moment before sinking his teeth into the succulent fruit. As he chewed, a wave of restorative energy flowed through his body, mending his battered form.

    "That boosted me to around ten percent at best. Time to play smart and counter whenever I can." Cyrus thought to himself as he licked the healing juices off his fingers.

    He got into a fighting stance and kept his gaze on his opponent. The boss caught a spear one of the monsters tossed at him and suddenly vanished the second Cyrus blinked.

    Just then the violent image of himself being stabbed through the chest flashed in his mind.

    The realm boss couldn''t help but smirk at the challenger''s lightning-fast reflexes. As the tip of his weapon sailed over the challenger''s shoulder, instead of finding its mark in his heart, Cyrus seized the opportunity to dart forward like a bullet.

    In an instant, he swiftly moved his weapon into position, delivering a barrage of rapid slashes at the boss''s exposed side. With precision and determination, he carefully observed the five deep cuts he had inflicted, strategizing his next move to add more to his advantage.

    Another death flashed in his mind, causing Cyrus to halt his attack and instantly crouch down as low as possible to narrowly avoid being slashed across the face.

    In that split second, he jammed his knife into the back of the boss''s right knee with all his strength and only got a couple of inches deep.

    As the boss observed Cyrus''s skill, he decided to increase the pressure and swiftly launched a rapid left knee towards Cyrus''s face.

    Reacting with all the agility he could muster, Cyrus narrowly evaded the strike by leaping backward. However, the sudden evasion came at the cost of releasing his weapon.

    The realm boss gave Cyrus no time to breathe or think as he sprinted after him with his spear already rushing towards his stomach.

    The monsters watching couldn''t help but bellow out a roar of approval at how skillfully he is evading the barrage of fatal strikes, only narrowly escaping with painful gashes instead.

    Despite being unarmed, he quickly spotted an opportunity after narrowly dodging a thrust. With precision, he delivered a powerful right hook that landed squarely on the wide open jaw.

    The realm boss twisted in response to the strike, a look of glee etched across his face. In a split second, he countered with a swift, powerful left kick aimed straight at Cyrus''s stomach. The force of the blow was so intense that it nearly folded Cyrus in half before launching him through the air, sending him sprawling backward.

    The monsters gleefully watched as the challenger rolled on the ground in pain while their leader removed the blade from his leg.

    A clanking noise caught Cyrus''s attention, drawing his gaze to the weapon in front of him. "I thought this was a fight to the death," he questioned, breathing deeply as he picked up his blade.

    "Why would I end such a fun time so soon?" The realm boss replied with a wide grin as he leaned against his weapon.

    Cyrus rose from the ground with deliberate slowness due to feeling many sharp twinges shoot through his organs and bones with every movement. As he positioned himself in a fighting stance, a meticulously calculated battle plan raced through his mind.

    First, he aimed to target either wrist to disarm them and gain the upper hand due to their long reach. Next, he planned to slow his opponent down by shattering their left knee and right ankle as he puts more weight on the right leg. Finally, with a cold look in his eyes, he prepared to go for the kill without hesitation the second that golden opportunity showed itself.

    "I refuse to let this silver door defeat me!" he snarled, fueling a surge of determination. His muscles bulged and tensed as he readied himself to evade and counterattack.

    The onlooking monsters let out joyful howls as the fight continued.

    <hr>

    (Outside the silver door)

    "Get me more gold members and a lot of healers now!" Rick ordered as people hurried off. He drank a large red potion before picking up a large spiked mace from a nearby crate.

    "Damn, my body is still aching, but hopefully it''s enough to rescue the brat at the cost of a limb and not another life." He chugged another potion to at least numb the pain while glancing at the body bags.

    "I''m going back in, Sarah. When they get here, lead them in," Rick said, as Sarah gave him a weak nod while two healers tended to her broken arm and large throbbing bruises.

    "Cyrus... let''s fight...together" Jasmine muttered weakly as she clutched the two monster cores tightly while the medics placed her inside the ambulance.

    "Don''t worry, kid. I''ll drag him out so you can scold him for being a damn hero," Rick said with a soft, warm smile before charging into the silver door.

    The lone slayer faced a small army of grotesque beetles and insects that have furry creatures riding them letting him know the double door is in full effect.

    Despite the increase danger he let out a blood-curdling war cry making a wave of fear wash over the creatures as they halted their charge.

    With intense fury in his eyes, he rushed at them and crushed the nearest monsters, driving them into the ground with such force that it cracked the ground. Blood sprayed all over him, which only added to his menacing solo attack.

 The Door of Strength

    Before Cyrus could complete a blink, the boss was already before him, weapon swinging. He just barely managed to duck, transforming what would have been a lethal strike to the eye into a deep slash across his forehead instead.

    Blood gushed from the wound into his left eye while hearing a heavy stomp approaching from his new blindspot.

    The realm boss''s smile was evident as he observed the challenger skillfully evade the assault and then advance with determination etched on his battered face.

    Cyrus set his plan in action, targeting the left wrist and stabbing deeply until a sharp crack echoed. He then swiftly circled behind the boss, aiming for the back of his left knee and right ankle, all within seconds.

    "Marvelous! He has potential," The realm boss thought, grinning widely as blood sprayed from the deep wounds on his wrist, knee, and ankle.

    "Keep attacking! Don''t let it retaliate!" Cyrus commanded himself, persistently stabbing and slashing at the wounded boss with all his physical might.

    His strikes flowed seamlessly, each one transitioning into the next. Although the boss parried several blows, one evaded his defense, cutting through the right elbow joint. This caused the boss to lose grip of his spear and sustained further injuries across his torso.

    The boss staggered backward, presenting Cyrus with the golden opportunity. Seizing the moment, he aimed a strike at the exposed neck.

    His blade sliced through the air, causing Cyrus''s eyes to widen in shock as he missed the final attack. The realm boss completed his backward lean and swiftly transitioned into a counter-attack, executing a leg sweep aimed at Cyrus''s legs.

    He managed to hop over the attack and went for his counter-attack aiming to rip open the realm boss''s wide open chest. Yet, just as the knife was about to deliver a fatal blow, it suddenly broke into fragments.

    "They weren''t just simple blocks; they were hidden strikes designed to break my blade!!" That realization made him falter upon landing, leaving him vulnerable to a swift claw strike that tore through the right side of his stomach.

    "Don''t tell me this is all you''ve got?" he asked while yawning as Cyrus stumbled backward, struggling to suppress a scream of sheer agony.

    "I can''t defeat this creature; I''m going to die!" he thought, as despair took over and blood seeped from between his clenched teeth, his hard thought plan failing apart.

    Cyrus winced from the pain, and the boss seized that moment to surge forward, delivering a powerful uppercut that nearly knocked him out as he was sent flying into the air.

    "And here I was, thinking you would present a challenge," the monstrous king said, frowning, before delivering a punch straight to Cyrus''s face, the sickening crunch echoing throughout the temple.

    The punch''s force propelled him through the air, causing him to tumble and skid across the ground, leaving a trail of blood. A sense of serenity enveloped Cyrus as he lay there bleeding, his breaths growing fainter and his heartbeat fading into silence.

    <hr>

    (Outside the temple)

    A small monster let out an angry roar before its head was smashed into the ground by Rick''s charge.

    "Hold on, kid, I''m coming!!!" he bellowed, batting monsters aside and flinging others from his back. "I won''t let you sacrifice yourself!"

    <hr>

    (Back inside the temple)

    "How are you feeling?" A deep soothing voice asked as Cyrus weakly glanced up to see a man crouching in front of him. His physical features were shrouded by the golden glow emitting from his body.

    "Like shit, I-I can''t do this" Cyrus spat with a frustrated tone in his weak voice. He glanced around to see himself in a white void.

    "It''s good that you feel that way," The golden man said with a light chuckle "Now you know your limit and can finally start to surpass it"

    "M-my limit?" Cyrus repeated as he saw a large pile of weak monsters with the realm boss standing on top.

    "Yeah it''s that point in time where fate itself is trying to test you," He said with a serious tone. "I know you are a smart boy so how are you gonna do it"

    "Drawing on the experience I gained from battling monsters, and with this strange ring you left me with," he murmured, removing the ring from the necklace and sliding it onto his right ring finger.

    As the purple runes on the ring shone brightly, a warm sensation began to spread throughout his body, erasing any pain and filling him with an invigorating rush of energy instead.

    "Glad to see you didn''t pawn it off for easy money," The golden man said with a warm smile as he walked towards a massive door while fading away. "Now finish this and let''s meet at the top"

    The boss bent over to grab the beaten slayer by the hair, who was still muttering and wriggling. However, his expression quickly turned to one of utter shock when he couldn''t feel his right hand.

    "Huh?" He gazed in shock at his wrist that is spurting blood.

    If you spot this narrative on Amazon, know that it has been stolen. Report the violation.

    The monsters looked on in disbelief at what happened to their leader, then shifted their attention to Cyrus. He was poised and ready for battle, his body covered with bright, glowing purple runes, a ring enveloped in a purple aura, and one of Sarah''s katanas in hand.

    "I guess I was wrong, you certainly have more to give" The realm boss spoke with a smirk as the mana in the air was engulfing the challenger like a raging inferno.

    The three beastly monsters watching from above held their breaths as their leader used his mana to regrow his missing hand and other wounds.

    Then in a split second, both of them disappeared before just as quickly reappearing in the center with both their weapons clashing with a loud boom that shook the dome.

    Cyrus snarled, spinning to the boss''s left side and leaping for a slash at his neck, but missed as the boss leaped away, countering with a swift downward strike of his long weapon.

    Still airborne, Cyrus didn''t lose momentum; he twisted around, raising his katana to block the blow. The force was powerful enough to drive his feet into the ground, causing it to crack around him.

    Cyrus crouched lower and, despite the confined space, dashed forward. He let loose a swift jab that was strong enough to snap the realm boss''s knee out of place.

    The boss grunted in pain and dropped to one knee while his mana slowly moved the bone and muscles back into place.

    Now on level ground, Cyrus tore away the mask and landed a powerful headbutt to the sharp nose, causing a crack followed by a spurt of blood. The boss, hissing through the pain and fury, threw a fast left hook. Cyrus, however, responded by twirling the katana around and jamming the handle into his hand, fracturing multiple fingers.

    The three creatures attempted to keep their eyes open as two of them engaged in a rapid blitz, bouncing off the dome''s walls and clashing weapons, creating sparks that lit up various areas in quick succession.

    "He''s different from before, now he''s attacking like a wild beast that has given up on defense!" The boss thought while looking into Cyrus''s eyes he saw a burning look of rage staring back.

    The runes on his legs and feet glowed with increasing intensity, causing his muscles to swell and his movements to accelerate until he became a blur.

    The realm boss, recognizing his disadvantage against the newfound speed, anchored his feet into the ground. With a concentrated effort, he spun his spear in a defensive whirl, attempting to parry what seemed to be simultaneous attacks from Cyrus coming from multiple directions.

    The moment he directed a slash away from himself he quickly countered with his stab toward Cyrus''s face which was seconds away from piercing his skull if he didn''t tilt his head to the side making the tip of the blade leave a bloody line across his nose and slice off his right ear.

    "Did his mind snap making him forget who he is?"

    The question lingered in his mind, a stark contrast to Cyrus''s earlier tactics in the fight, which involved calculated counterattacks aimed at minimizing unnecessary pain. Now, unfazed by the fresh wounds, Cyrus closed in without hesitation and delivered a downward slash, leaving a deep gash across the stomach and chest.

    As Cyrus was about to press on with his attack, the runes on his legs faded slightly, diminishing his speed. This allowed the realm boss to swiftly deliver a powerful front kick directly to his gut. The force of the attack sent him shooting back with blood and vomit spewing from his mouth.

    He hit the ground so hard he left a dirt cloud as the realm boss sprinted after him while pulling his weapon arm back. Once ready he shot it forward with enough speed to part a section of the dust cloud revealing that Cyrus managed to catch it with both hands while the tip of the weapon was inches from his throat.

    In their fierce struggle, the runes on his arms glowed with increasing intensity, causing his muscles to swell and tense up. Then with a forceful toss, he flung the weapon aside which stuck into the ground.

    With a swift motion, he executed a kip-up, leaped from the weapon''s shaft for extra height, and withdrew the katana from his mouth in one seamless action. As the boss lifted his free arm, Cyrus executed a swift downward strike.

    The blade sliced through the arm with ease, yet the motion was hindered just enough to allow the boss to dodge his head to safety. The monsters watching didn''t even see the attack before their leader''s right arm at the elbow suddenly detached in a spray of blood.

    "No, he chose to discard all constraints and concentrate solely on our battle!" The realm boss deduced, observing the young slayer, a twisted grin forming on his face.

    He tightened his grip on the weapon and in a smooth motion yanked it out of the ground and swung it at Cyrus who was still in the air with all his might.

    Cyrus managed to block the attack, but the force sent him hurtling backward. In a mere instant, the realm boss appeared before him and thrust through his left shoulder with a swift strike.

    The arm dangled uselessly while the mana in the air fused with the katana, cloaking it in a sinister deep purple aura. The blade was then plunged into the boss''s stomach, making him feel as if his belly were ablaze.

    When they landed on their feet Cyrus forced himself to get closer with each of their weapons moving deeper into the wounds.

    "He is willing to sacrifice his own life just to take mine!" The realization roared in his mind as his head snapped backward after taking a punch to the damaged nose. "And he''s adapting every second!"

    Before the runes on his arms dimmed he still had enough strength to knock a couple of sharp teeth out and send the monkey boss flying back while releasing his weapon.

    While soaring he focused most of his mana to regrow his arm instead of teeth before flipping himself around so he could land with a crouch. He brought his newly remade arm up to catch the broken end of his weapon before quickly using his other hand to catch the other end.

    The boss smiled as the mana-encased katana rocketed towards him at such fast speed that it forced him to block with his left leg instead of taking it straight to the chest.

    Even though he anticipated it, the pain made him blink, and as he reopened his eyes, there was Cyrus, his left knee swiftly rising towards his face.

    "He''s getting more dangerous as the fight continues! The boss might lose. who is this challenger!?" The three monsters chatted to themselves as they watched their boss barely lean back in time to avoid the flying knee.

    Cyrus executed a swift forward flip, landing a powerful heel kick that drove the realm boss''s head into the ground and shattered his nose. Instantly, he grabbed the katana and plunged it towards the boss''s forehead, only to be halted as it impaled the boss''s outstretched palms in a last-ditch effort to block.

    Locked in another struggle for victory as the blood-stained katana got closer to piercing the forehead, The boss swiftly drew his legs up to his chest and then forcefully extended them into Cyrus''s injured stomach.

    Cyrus clenched his teeth against the sharp pain as he was thrust backward into the air, his katana slipping from the enemy''s palms. The realm boss didn''t waste a moment, leaping after the young slayer to deliver his own sharp heel kick into his stomach again.

    Cyrus crashed to the ground, a gush of blood and spit escaping his mouth as the heel dug deeper into his belly, bursting something crucial within him just as the floor around him cracked open.

    "I''M BEGGING YOU, DON''T YOU DARE DIE!" The realm boss let out a cry of sheer delight while they plunged deeper into the temple''s lower levels as the floors broke under the force of Cyrus''s body.

    <hr>

    (At the second door entrance)

    Rick saw the temple start to collapse in on itself and quickened his pace.

    "What''s going on!" Sarah called out making him glance back to see reinforcement and healers.

    "Something crazy! come on!!" He roared as large gorilla monsters appeared to guard the temple and charge the incoming slayers.

 A Winner And New Discovery

    In a moment of free fall, Cyrus swung his katana at the realm boss''s mouth, leaving light cuts in the corners before the creature clamped down with a force strong enough to shatter the blade.

    They crashed to the bottom, the mossy ground offering little cushioning for Cyrus as it collapsed under the impact''s force, scattering them to opposite sides.

    As the dust cleared, the three beasts saw Cyrus, his aura flickering, standing unsteadily and bleeding profusely from numerous wounds.

    The few runes left are shining like a beacon while knitting together fractured bones, sealing wide gashes, and dulling the sharp full body pain.

    A moment later, they noticed their boss standing there in an even worse state, sporting a broad grin smeared with blood, revealing several missing teeth, even as his mana worked sluggishly to heal his numerous injuries.

    Both of them limped slowly towards each other, meeting in the center of the ruined temple where a single beam of sunlight pierced the gloom, illuminating them in the shadowy depths.

    The realm boss gazed down at Cyrus with a fiery, battle-hungry stare, which failed to intimidate Cyrus as he returned the gaze with equal defiance.

    "Seems we''re both running out of steam," the realm boss remarked, exhaling wearily as he surveyed his followers, each displaying varying degrees of nervousness.

    "Yeah, but I''ve got enough to take you down," Cyrus retorted, fighting to stay conscious as a fierce wound throbbed with excruciating pain, keeping him alert.

    Debris rained down, striking the ground just as the two of them attacked simultaneously.

    A solid right hook crashed into Cyrus''s face, and a strong left punch to the boss''s bruised kidney had them both staggering.

    The realm boss was quick to recover, launching a swift kick towards Cyrus''s head. Cyrus dodged just in time, ducking under the blow and countering with a leaping punch that landed squarely in the boss''s mouth, dislodging yet another pointed tooth.

    A single sweat droplet tumbled from one of the black-furred beasts as the two combatants exchanged fierce strikes, accompanied by the chilling sounds of bones cracking and blood splashing.

    Reeling from a punch to the throat, the realm boss retaliated swiftly with a right high kick to the face, landing with a thunderous boom that shook the room.

    Clenching his teeth, Cyrus propelled himself upward with the force of that hit, before countering with a swift roundhouse kick to the left side of his opponent''s head.

    As the realm boss stumbled from the force of Cyrus''s kick, the young slayer collapsed to his knees, coughing up blood. His body was wracked with pain as more runes vanished, just as the realm boss lunged forward, delivering an overhead punch.

    "It''s my win!" He exclaimed with a roar as his fist got closer.

    Cyrus abruptly fell backward, causing the incoming attack to gash his forehead. He swiftly grabbed the extended arm, kicked out both legs and yanked forward, tripping the realm boss. Like a snake, he rapidly coiled his right arm around the exposed neck, secured it tightly, and locked his legs around the hips, establishing a solid guillotine choke hold.

    Stolen story; please report.

    The monster roared and bellowed in complete shock, quickly starting a howling frenzy.

    The realm boss clenched his teeth as he delivered punches to Cyrus''s injured ribs, each blow forcing him to cough up blood. Yet, through the excruciating pain, he maintained his grip, even as his muscles screamed and the punches went deeper.

    Cyrus contorted his torso while making the hold tighter even as pain engulfed him. The realm boss, with a trembling hand, feebly attempted to strike Cyrus''s head, then collapsed, motionless.

    "What an amazing fight, I wish it could go on forever..." murmured the realm boss, a faint smile on his lips as he succumbed to unconsciousness, his eyes rolling back.

    The three monsters looked on with utter amazement as Cyrus pushed the realm boss off himself and slowly got to his feet, then began to stagger about.

    He swiftly extended his right hand and clutched a pillar, forcing himself to remain upright despite his severely injured body and the wave of pain that was creeping back as each rune faded away.

    "Don''t fight merely for the sake of fighting; you must have a goal, otherwise, what''s the point of raising your fists?" A distant, aged voice echoed in the realm boss''s mind as he came to and gazed upon Cyrus, who remained standing.

    "Hey... may I join you?" he asked suddenly in a much softer tone, causing Cyrus to drop to his knees in confusion and shock.

    "Huh?" Cyrus''s eyes widened at the strange request, while the formidable and deadly boss chuckled and scratched the back of his head.

    "What did you just say?" he asked, gazing at the realm boss as if a second head had sprouted from his shoulders.

    "I want to escape this dull place and join you," he said, his smile tinged with blood. "By the way, what''s your name? I wish to know the name of the man who has bested me in combat."

    Cyrus extended a firm handshake as he introduced himself, his confusion about the current situation still evident on his battered face.

    "A name befitting my leader, I am Yasha, and these are my three generals" The realm boss smirked as the three black furry creatures leaped down and positioned themselves beside him.

    "That one is Kirk, next is Theo, and last is Bufkin," Yasha said, pointing to the one with filthy bandages over his eyes named Kirk, the one without ears named Theo, and finally, Bufkin, whose mouth was sewn shut.

    "So if I say yes what do I get in return?" Cyrus asked as he shook the three generals'' hands.

    "A disciple eager to learn, grow stronger, and aid you in achieving your goals," Yasha declared, His grin was wide and fierce, his bright orange eyes brimming with pure determination.

    "How could I refuse such a response" Cyrus chuckled, his laughter tinged with a rough cough. "Just don''t cause me any trouble, or I''ll have to beat you again!"

    "You won''t regret it, come on guys!" Yasha exclaimed, laughing excitedly as the three monsters disappeared into his shadow. Then, he gave Cyrus a thumbs-up, despite his broken thumb.

    His form began to radiate intensely, transforming into a luminous white orb that floated and merged seamlessly into Cyrus''s chest.

    "What a weird door to end the day on" Cyrus let out a sigh, laying flat on his back.

    [Congratulations you completed the secret quest: Entertain The Bored Beast lord!]

    [Become worthy to challenge the lord!, Achieved, Plus five strength]

    [Endure a vast amount of pain!, Achieved, Plus five durability]

    [Beat the beast lord in battle!, Achieved, Gained skills summon: Yasha, Kirk, Theo, Bufkin]

    [You have unlocked a secret quest: Path Of The Mighty!]

    "What on hell is this?" Cyrus muttered, squinting at the pop-up screen that hovered before him, struggling to make out the words in his dazed state.

    [You have earned the right for ascension, Will you accept?]

    [Yes or No]

    [You must decide or you will die from your injuries]

    "I can''t die yet; not with everyone waiting for me," Cyrus thought, pressing the glowing ''yes'' button with a finger that bore his cracked ring.

    In that instant, all he could see was a white expanse, feeling a sense of tranquility. The heavy footsteps of healers, the slayers Sarah and Rick, echoed as they hurried over.

 Recovery and Learning

    A soft beeping noise was the first thing Cyrus heard as he opened his eyes to a white ceiling adorned with bright, glowing green glyphs and sigils, casting a faint green glow across the room.

    "Look, I''ll drop off what I have after work. Now stop calling me!" grunted a voice, slightly high-pitched with annoyance.

    Cyrus turned towards the voice and saw a very short man with fair skin, dark brown hair, and eyes to match. A glimpse of a flame tattoo could be seen peeking from under his nurse''s uniform.

    "Oh, you''re awake so soon? I''ll go get the doctor!" exclaimed the short nurse, a look of slight shock on his face.

    "No rush, but are you alright? I kind of overheard your phone call, or at least the end part," Cyrus said as he slowly sat up.

    "Apologies for that being the first thing you hear upon waking up, but it''s just some nonsense I have to handle to help pay the bills. Saving the lives of slayers isn''t a well-paying job," the nurse said with a nervous chuckle.

    "Well, this slayer would like to return the favor for keeping me going another day," Cyrus said, grinning as he flexed his arms��a move he instantly regretted after a shockwave of pain coursed through him.

    "That''s very kind of you, Cyrus. Oh, apologies, you don''t even know my name, and here I am sharing my troubles," the short nurse chuckled, extending his hand. "Merric Springspark." They exchanged a firm handshake accompanied by warm smiles. "Now, let me begin my duties and fetch the doctor for you."

    Cyrus watched Merric exit the room and gently shut the door. His gaze swept the room, coming to rest on the small cluster of get-well cards by the window.

    "Damn, I hope I didn''t scare Jasmine too much with my self-sacrifice act," Cyrus thought while remembering her crying face "And I bet she already told Nina and Scott which means those cry babies are gonna call off work to take care of me."

    The thought of his siblings fussing over him stirred a mix of annoyance and joy within him. Alongside these feelings, there was also a fleeting surge of self-directed anger for his weakness and the worry it caused them.

    The minutes of silent self-reflection were interrupted when the door burst open, revealing a towering man clad in a black suit. His rocky gray skin, bright red wild hair that fell to his shoulders, a matching beard, and short horns protruding from his forehead made a striking entrance.

    "A tiny nurse and a towering doctor��what an odd hospital," Cyrus mused, fighting back laughter at the thought.

    "Glad to see you''re awake," he said in a calm, soft tone, extending a large hand. "I''m Oswald Grove from the GSL UK Investigation Branch."

    "Cyrus Ashford," he introduced himself, offering a handshake and silently appreciating that the rock-like man refrained from using a firm grip.

    "First, let me say that you''ve been asleep for a week, so please take it easy," Oswald stated as Cyrus''s eyes widened in shock. "And before you ask, the survivors of the double door incident have fully recovered, although Henry Greywood has decided to retire due to a severe spinal injury."

    "I''m relieved to hear he and everyone else got out safely. I suppose those who didn''t make it will receive burials?" Cyrus asked while his gaze drifted to the birds soaring outside the window.

    "Yes, we are in the process of covering the costs for those who have fallen in action," Oswald stated, casting a glance at Cyrus, who clenched his fist tightly.

    "It''s reassuring to hear that, despite only knowing them for a few hours, they''re impressive slayers," Cyrus said, his eyes narrowing, a sign of his frustration at not being strong enough to stop those deaths from happening. "I don''t mean to be rude, but why would an investigator want to see me?"

    "The report was certainly troubling," Oswald said, his expression grave as he produced a tablet that seemed far too small for his large frame. "To put it succinctly, the slayers found you severely injured, with the realm beginning to collapse upon their arrival."

    Silence filled the room as they stared at each other.

    "Realms with double doors are special cases," Oswald remarked, memories of countless reports he had compiled over the years rushing back to him. "Unpredictable events occur within them, and no one can exit until the realm reaches completion."

    You could be reading stolen content. Head to the original site for the genuine story.

    Cyrus recalled that Yasha had let everyone else go because of the deal they had made.

    "Would you mind providing an investigator''s perspective on double doors?" Cyrus inquired, noting the slight frown that formed on the investigator''s face.

    "Despite our best efforts over the years, the information remains sparse; and from what isn''t classified, it''s either a blessing or a curse," Oswald explained calmly, locking eyes. "Some Slayers amass untold riches, catapulting them above the one percent, or they acquire formidable weapons that can challenge legendary beasts of myth. Others emerge as bloodthirsty killers, deranged cowards, or they simply vanish without a trace."

    "Well, I don''t crave blood, I''m not much of a coward, and I''m still here, so I consider myself lucky," Cyrus chuckled, eliciting a fleeting smile from Oswald.

    "Based on the report and statements, you chose to play the role of a sacrificial hero to ensure everyone''s escape," Oswald said as he opened the notepad app. "Now, please recount everything that transpired afterward."

    Cyrus concluded his explanation, deliberately omitting certain events such as the floating pop-up screens and the boss merging into his chest. Following this, Oswald laid a reassuring hand on his shoulder.

    "Most encounters at double doors end in a massacre. I''m relieved that such a skilled slayer has lived to see another day," Oswald said gently, as visions of graves and dog tags flashed through his mind.

    "Now, for this test," he said, extracting a smooth white crystal attached to a golden chain from a grey covered in sacred paper seals.

    "What''s that for?" Cyrus asked as he could feel a draining presence coming from the crystal.

    "It''s a portable mana detector," Oswald explained, presenting it to Cyrus. "Since no magical items were found with you, I suspect the reward you received was an internal one. I just need to confirm this for my report."

    Cyrus shrugged his shoulders and put it around his neck.

    "Double doors are so lethal that only slayers ranked obsidian or higher are permitted to engage with them. The gem should emit a glow akin to a candle at his current rank, and if he received a boost, it would shine even brighter."

    Oswald gazed at the crystal, which failed to emit any light, prompting a slight raise of his eyebrow in response to the unexpected result.

    After waiting a couple of seconds Cyrus removed the necklace and gave it back.

    "I''ve completed my investigation," Oswald declared, bowing respectfully before he produced a phone. "I wish you a swift recovery, Mr. Ashford."

    "Of course, I''m eager for more work," Cyrus chuckled, watching Oswald exit the room. He let out a sigh as the door closed.

    "So, this is your world, boss? It looks interesting," Yasha remarked, leaning against a wall with a broad, toothy grin.

    "There must be a reason he didn''t see you, right?" Cyrus asked while staring at the ex-realm boss, memories of their battle flickering through his mind.

    "I have no clue; this is a first for me," Yasha declared as he leaped into the air, flipped, and landed on a chair with perfect balance. "So, how long are you going to rest before we can go explore?"

    "Until I have a better understanding of what the hell happened after our fight, we can start with this thing," Cyrus sighed, glancing at a floating pop-up screen.

    The screen displays a detailed list of information similar to a video game character sheet, including all current skills, stats, inventory, health, and a shop that is currently locked.

    "Interesting, let''s see if this works," Cyrus muttered to himself as he tapped the cartoon image of a water bottle, and to his surprise, a full bottle of water materialized in his hand.

    "Wow, that''s amazing!" Yasha''s eyes sparkled with excitement as Cyrus took a deep gulp of water.

    "Yeah, along with the strange," he replied while keeping his eyes on the fatigue stat that had dropped from eighty-nine to eighty after drinking half of the bottle.

    After finishing the bottle, his fatigue level is at seventy-six, so he''s still feeling tired, though not as much as before.

    "Seems we have a lot more training ahead of us once we''re out of here," Cyrus remarked, hitting the button again and observing the bottle vanish as though it had never been there.

    "Take a break, boss; I''ve got the watch," Yasha saluted as he gazed at the door, His attention was immediately seized by the sight of a cat with radiant neon green fur in hot pursuit of a bird. This spectacle was soon overshadowed as he found himself surrounded by the dazzle of colorful holographic advertisements.

    Cyrus chuckled, amused by Yasha''s intense gaze at the film trailers, then yawned and quickly fell back to sleep.

    [NEW QUEST!!!]

    No rest for the strong! Complete this workout plan and gain a reward. Fail and suffer a dangerous challenge!

    Push-ups 0/30

    Sit-ups 0/30

    Pull-ups 0/30

    Squats 0/30

    Run for 52 minutes [ ]

    Mediate for 1 hour [ ]

    Time Limit: 5 hours

    Suddenly, a screen flashing black and red appeared before Cyrus with a loud ''ping'' that failed to compete with the buzzsaw snoring and the trailer''s gatling gun blowing up three gas trucks.

    The countdown timer steadily decreased.

    <hr>

    (Many Hours Later)

    Merric sighed in frustration and muttered a swear upon discovering that the reason all the top doctors were extremely busy was due to a couple of golden slayers arriving with very minor injuries, seeking to curry favor with them.

    Due to the excessive demands, junior doctors and nurses are overextending themselves to care for all the other patients with serious injuries.

    Merric chose to make up for the extra long wait by bringing Cyrus a bottle of juice, four garlic cheese toasties, and an orange jell-o. After a soft knock, he stepped into the room, only to drop everything in sheer shock.

    "Cyrus!?" Merric exclaimed, his gaze quickly sweeping over the room multiple times before settling on the unkempt, vacant bed.

 Punishment And Visitors

    (Cyrus''s Hospital Room)

    "Okay, calm down, he can''t have gone far; maybe he went to the roof to get some fresh air or something?" Merric suggested, frantically glancing around the empty room.

    He let out a nervous breath while placing the tray down.

    "I hope he isn''t doing anything reckless"

    <hr>

    (Punishment Zone)

    A surge of pain shot across the bridge of Cyrus''s nose as his head jerked back, followed by another jolt of pain coursing down his right leg, bringing him to his knees.

    The wooden dummy in front of him dropped its leg, and then quickly launched a left uppercut. Cyrus dodged the blow by a hair''s breadth, his mind set on creating distance. He retaliated with a rapid right hook, crunching into the dummy''s torso and leaving a dent in the shape of his fist.

    He was taken aback by the power of his strike; normally, he would have to exert a ton of effort and hit the same spot multiple times to inflict such damage with his fists. Yet, this time, it took just one hit and hardly any thought to achieve that effect.

    Cracks spread quickly from the impact site, causing the dummy to fall apart, while a wave of pressure made Cyrus''s body compact, resulting in a slight slump.

    He glanced at the floating screen in the purple sky while two dummies suddenly appeared from thin air.

    [PUNISHMENT!, SURVIVE UNTIL THE TIME RUNS OUT!, TIME REQUIRED: 6 HOURS

    TIME REMAINING: 5 H, 55 MIN, 11 SEC]

    He let out a sigh and clenched his fists as the dummies rushed him from different angles.

    One was quicker, launching forward with a flying knee. He raised his arms, intending to block, but instead, the strike landed squarely on his nose. The impact twisted it, causing blood to burst from his nostrils.

    "What the hell?, I can barely move!" Cyrus thought, his face etched with shock as he was swept off his feet by the opposing dummy. He struggled to bring his arms across his stomach, managing just in time to block the follow-up stomp.

    He delivered a punch that was slower than usual, twisting the dummy''s knee at an awkward angle. This maneuver brought the dummy down to one knee, leaving its head exposed. Seizing the opportunity, he grabbed the back of its head and slammed its wooden skull into the matted floor repeatedly until it cracked apart in his hands.

    Cyrus barely had a moment to breathe when he was struck in the mouth and tackled by the twin dummy. His arms weighed down, flailed to block the incoming blows. Finally, he managed to catch a punch and locked the dummy in the same submission hold he had used on Yasha, ending the scuffle with a swift neck twist.

    Having defeated both dummies, he felt another wave of pressure sweep over him as he struggled to stand and inhale deeply.

    Three dummies emerged, each wielding a bo staff, twirling them with a skill level that rivaled professional martial artists.

    A case of theft: this story is not rightfully on Amazon; if you spot it, report the violation.

    Cyrus reset his broken nose with a snap and readied himself, fists clenched tightly and a fierce grin spreading across his face.

    <hr>

    (Back to the hospital)

    "Damn it, okay, he''s not on the roof; maybe he''s looking for ghosts in the basement," Merric muttered, sweating profusely as he speed-walked toward the elevator, passing a group of people in the waiting room.

    "I''m relieved that Cyrus is awake; he slept longer than I would have liked," a worried voice said, causing Marric to skid to a halt. "I hope he hasn''t suffered any brain damage."

    "Yeah, it''s concerning because he''s never been to a slayer hospital before; he''s only needed on-site healers for patching up," Jasmine remarked, recalling how a healer had fainted at the sight of Cyrus''s mangled arms and his nonchalant attitude about it.

    "Maybe this will finally get him to think about his survival," Scott said with a soft chuckle, attempting to lift their spirits. "And I''ll wager fifty that he is plotting his escape as we speak."

    "Are you guys visiting Ashford?" Merric inquired, having been swamped with work the previous week and unable to visit Cyrus during the visiting hours.

    "Yeah, we heard he was awake and wanted to bring him some things," Nina said, shaking the bags filled with clothes and snacks.

    "Can you take us to him? The woman at the desk mentioned he changed rooms," Scott asked. The short nurse began to sweat profusely, silently nodding his head and slowly making his way toward Cyrus''s room.

    The questions being asked are gradually being overshadowed by his internal voice, which is berating him for the loss of a patient.

    <hr>

    (Back to the punishment zone)

    A barrage of staff strikes pummeled Cyrus''s body as the three dummies converged on him from every direction. One targeted his right knee, another jabbed at his left elbow, halting the only counterattack he could manage, while the third dummy delivered an upward blow to his chin, knocking him backward.

    As his vision blurred, he glanced at the clock, noting that only one hour and thirty minutes had passed, before shifting his attention back to the three dummies.

    One charged at him and delivered a kick to the stomach, sending him flying into another section of the seemingly infinite dojo.

    "Where the hell is Yasha?" he wondered while rolling to a stop, as the monkey man was meant to be keeping an eye on him.

    [Would you like to use the skill Summon?]

    [Use Skill/Cancel]

    That pop-up screen suddenly appeared in his face as his eyes widened. He pressed the use skill button and wanted to give his new ally a stern talking to.

    [Who would you like to summon?, Yasha, Kirk, Theo, Bufkin]

    He pressed the Yasha button and felt a slight drain on his energy as the former realm boss materialized beside him, with the status screen hovering at the edge of his vision.

    [Since you had no mana a small portion of your health was used instead]

    "Hey boss, what just happened? I was in the middle of watching something awesome, and then suddenly, everything went dark. Now, it''s just me and the guys in your mind''s space," Yasha said, his confusion turning to worry and shock as he looked at Cyrus''s injured state. "What the hell happened to you? I thought you were getting better!"

    "I was before ending up in this random place and getting jumped as punishment" Cyrus muttered, wincing in pain as he propped himself up "But now I''m starting to think that bizarre status screen has something to do with it"

    "Well, whatever we''ve gotten ourselves into, it seems you''re getting your ass kicked, which means someone strong is around," Yasha said, a wide, toothy grin spreading across his face.

    "Not someone, but an endless wave of training dummies that grow in number and combat skill the more you defeat them," Cyrus said, glancing at Yasha, who is currently shaking with excitement like a child in a comic book shop.

    "Why don''t you take a seat and relax while I take care of this?" Yasha offered, as the three dummies loomed threateningly in the distance.

    "Sure, it will give me some time to properly look over everything this has to offer," Cyrus said while narrowing his eyes and checking the status screen slowly to which he found an options button he had overlooked before going to sleep.

    "Enjoy your reading, boss," Yasha remarked, turning towards the three dummies. He cracked his knuckles and charged forward. "Let''s find out why you were causing him so much trouble."

 A Brand New Slayer

    Yasha burst into laughter as he dodged a barrage of staff strikes, retaliating with a quick punch to the stomach at the first opportunity which split the dummy in half.

    With only two opponents remaining, he dominated them with powerful kicks, breaking one of their staffs in the process and taking the other one as his own.

    The wave of pressure washed over him as he glanced at the four dummies that were wielding knuckle dusters.

    "I see why you were having a tough time, boss, but it''s nothing I can''t handle!" Yasha exclaimed, twirling the bo staff around before dashing towards the group to exchange blows swiftly.

    "Nice, having auto-scrolling, instant translation, and voice commands available; they simplify things during combat," Cyrus murmured, as five screens floated before him.

    The one that has his attention is the main quest screen.

    [Path of the Mighty]

    Become strong enough to conquer whatever challenges the world presents to you! The path you choose is yours alone; just ensure it''s one you won''t regret walking down.

    "What a vague mission description but one that allows a lot of freedom at least for now," Cyrus thought to himself as the sound of battle rang out around him.

    One of the dummies charged at Cyrus and sprang towards him, only to be halted as a tail swiftly coiled around its neck.

    "Gotcha!" Yasha bellowed, yanking the dummy closer before demolishing its head with a powerful elbow strike.

    "Hey Yasha, it turns out I can use any experience points I get to level up your stats as well," Cyrus called out, staring at the screen displaying Yasha and his three generals'' stats, which were similar, with high agility and strength.

    "Awesome, I knew joining you was the right decision!" Yasha smirked, taking down the last dummy as more pressure weighed upon him.

    After blinking once five dummies appeared each wielding wooden swords and shields.

    As they quickly surrounded Yasha, he noticed an additional one materialize, bearing his name etched onto its torso standing further back.

    "Step aside, small fry!" he roared, swiftly defeating the dummies with powerful counterstrikes that broke their bodies, weapons, and shields into pieces.

    He discarded the bo staff and clenched his fists. before sprinting towards that strange dummy. As they came within range, both he and the dummy struck with their fists simultaneously.

    The dummy''s fist struck a second quicker, slamming into Yasha''s cheek.

    Yasha''s punch missed its mark, which allowed the dummy to retaliate with a swift knee strike, powerful enough to lift Yasha off the ground.

    "Okay, that''s a good start. Let''s see if you can keep up," Yasha said with a grin, gripping the dummy''s head tightly and delivering a knee strike to the center of its blank face.

    As the dummy reeled backward, Yasha''s head jerked back from sudden impact to his nose, which erupted in blood.

    "That''s strange, but I can handle it!" Yasha exclaimed. As soon as he touched down, he dashed toward the dazed dummy and delivered a punch to its stomach. At the same time, he felt a similar blow to his abdomen.

    "So, for every hit I land, I receive the same in return," Yasha mused, eyeing the dummy with slight cracks in its head and torso. "Let''s see who has the tougher body!"

    With a toothy grin, Yasha charged forward and delivered a powerful right hook that whipped the dummy''s head to the side.

    As he rotated his body, the familiar sting of the punch shook his vision but didn''t stop him from executing a forceful leg sweep that sent the dummy off the ground.

    This book was originally published on Royal Road. Check it out there for the real experience.

    Leaping into the air, he felt a surge of pain in his legs, yet he persevered, twisting mid-air to deliver a heel kick directly to the chest. The force of the impact shattered the chest and a small section of the ground beneath.

    "That was disappointing," Yasha sighed, feeling his chest begin to bruise. Suddenly, seven dummies materialized, each bearing his name and armed with real swords and knives. "Looks like I spoke too soon," he remarked with a smirk.

    <hr>

    (In the hospital)

    Merric is currently a sweating mess as he slowly leads Scott, Nina, and Jasmine.

    "So, who''s going to tell him that he missed visiting our folks?" Scott asked, a hint of nervousness on his face.

    "I think he already knows if they told him how long he was out for," Nina said with a sigh.

    "Which is why it was a great idea to record it," Jasmine remarked, a small smile playing on her lips.

    <hr>

    (Back in the punishment zone)

    "Damn, this punishment is getting a bit tough," Yasha grunted, wincing slightly as he settled atop the pile of dummies. His body was adorned with an array of bruises and a few superficial cuts.

    He watched the latest dummy attempt to rise, its shaky right leg struggling to support it before suddenly snapping under the pressure, sending it tumbling back down.

    "Yeah, being me is a tough job; I don''t judge you for taking a rest," Yasha chuckled as he picked up a broken sword and hurled it with enough force to crack the clone dummy''s head, causing an identical wound to suddenly appear on his head as the dummy stopped moving.

    [PUNISHMENT OVER!!]

    [You have survived the punishment and will be returned to your previous location. Congratulations don''t let it happen again or suffer greater consequences!]

    That screen suddenly appeared in front of Cyrus, startling him and interrupting his reading.

    "Oh, that was quick; I''m glad I could count on you, Yasha," he said with a smile, glancing at the large pile that the former realm boss was using as a throne.

    "It was great training, boss. You should get punished more often," Yasha laughed "So what now?"

    "Well, I''ve learned that the reason you can exist in the real world is because we''ve soul-bonded," Cyrus spoke, a look of curiosity etched on his face. "Also summoning you requires fifty points from mana or in this case health, whereas calling upon Kirk, Theo, or Bufkin only takes ten points. So please understand if I reserve your presence for more critical moments.

    "Don''t worry, boss. Those guys are skilled in combat, which leaves me fresh and ready for my opponent. Now, dismiss me, and I''ll talk it over with the guys to see if they can exist in the real world as well." Yasha said, his eager smile lingering as he faded away.

    [REWARDS!!]

    [You survived the full punishment time limit and have been given rewards!]

    [Choose one!]

    [Reward #1 Physical Recovery]

    [Reward #2 + 3 Points]

    [Reward #3 Random Box]

    [Accept] OR [Reject]

    "Physical recovery must be linked to healing, but that''s not necessary since I''m heading back to the hospital anyway," Cyrus mused, rubbing his chin thoughtfully. "Considering how I managed at the start of this punishment, my stats seem fine. So, that leaves the random box, and you know what? I''m feeling lucky. Let''s go for the random box."

    The world around him began to shine brightly as he found himself floating in a tranquil, weightless grey void. An item materialized in his hands, eliciting a chuckle from him.

    <hr>

    (Cyrus''s hospital room)

    "J-Just one second," Merric said as he stared at Cyrus''s door and gently knocked "Cyrus you got visitors" He tried to hide the nervous stutter in his voice while slowly opening the door to hold onto his job as long as he could before letting out a reluctant sigh and holding the door wide open.

    "What the hell happened, man? Did you fall out of the window while sneaking out for pizza?" Scott''s question came as a stunning shock to Merric, who stared wide-eyed at Cyrus, who was currently sitting on his bed, covered in fresh injuries, with a box of freshly made pepperoni pizza beside him.

    "Yeah, the hospital food is nearly as terrible as Nina''s cooking, so can you blame me?" Cyrus joked with a laugh and a grin, which abruptly ended as his lip split open from a cut.

    "Fine, I''ll give your meals to Reggie; at least he appreciates them and asks for seconds!" Nina shouted angrily as she stormed over, followed by her snakes sulking and stuffing get-well cookies into his face.

    "I''m glad you''re up and back to your usual self, bro," Jasmine said with a warm and sincere smile that quickly shifted to a sly smirk. "It was getting a bit boring not having anyone to laugh at my funny jokes or to save from low-level monsters."

    "Funny, sis, I could say the same thing. All this quiet is irritating without your relentless bad jokes and the sound of gun blasts invading my ears and personal space," Cyrus said, extending a fist that she bumped with a solid punch, dispelling her lingering doubts and fears, reassuring her that he was alive and well after all they had endured.

    "Mr. Ashford, we will address your abrupt departure for fast food later. For now, sit still and don''t move," Merric commanded in a stern voice, the shock dissipating instantly as he assessed his patient''s condition and shifted into caregiver mode.

    Kirk, Theo, and Bufkin observed with smiles from the window, but soon their attention shifted to the odd world outside��a place their new leader calls home and their old leader turned new vice-captain had described to them.

    Yasha perched atop a wardrobe, grinning, as the formidable man he had chosen to accompany was now squirming at the sight of a few tiny needles in the hands of a shorter man.

 Medical Assisted Sidequest

    (Training Mind Realm)

    Cyrus let out a grunt of pain as Yasha''s fist connected with his jaw, sending him tumbling onto the grassy terrain.

    "As much as I enjoy sparring with you, boss, would you mind explaining why?" Yasha inquired, his gaze fixed on the three generals keeping score, signaling that this victory marked ten wins for Yasha and only one for Cyrus.

    "We are doing this because I want to see if I can defeat you," Cyrus huffed, spitting out blood as he stood up. "Come on, one more round."

    "But you''ve already beaten me, or else we wouldn''t be here with you," Yasha retorted, confusion evident on his face as he dodged strikes and launched his counterattacks.

    Cyrus muttered, recalling the surge of power he felt when he wielded the ring and katana in battle. "If it weren''t for those, I would''ve died," he admitted the weight of his reliance on the enchanted items heavy in his voice.

    "But you didn''t, boss!" Yasha exclaimed, his expression serious as he caught Cyrus''s fist in a firm grasp. "And besides, those items may have brought you to my level, but it was your skills that made the fight incredible!"

    Cyrus gazed at his new ally, eyes wide, as Yasha deftly executed a shoulder toss, flipping him over swiftly.

    "Enough moping, let''s wrap up this meditating spar stuff and get ready to defeat our strong foes!" Yasha exclaimed, flashing a grin as he thrust his fist forward, his generals responding with a resounding cheer of solidarity.

    "Thanks for the talk, Yasha; I needed that," Cyrus said, smiling as they fist-bumped and everything faded to white.

    <hr>

    (One Week Later)

    The room is filled with the gentle buzz of healing and stasis glyphs as Cyrus gazes at the occupants of the glowing blue pods. Inside one, there''s a diminutive man with goat-like traits, and in the other, a towering woman sporting a solitary eye.

    Both individuals bear faint, purple, glowing glyphs on their skin.

    "Hey guys, I apologize for missing the visit. I''ve been recovering from a particularly challenging mission," Cyrus said in a gentle tone, his hands pressed against the pod glass. "I can''t stay long, but I wanted to let you know that I''m better and everyone''s in good spirits."

    The only answer he received was a continuation of the soft hum as he rose and exited the room.

    "I''m sorry, there''s nothing more we can do for them," Merric said, his frustration evident. "Living in a world augmented by magic has its many downsides. People expect miracle cures, but the reality is we''re grappling with brand new fatal injuries and unfamiliar diseases."

    "Ain''t that the truth," Cyrus muttered, eyeing the scars on his arms left by those bizarre creatures, as they made their way to the hospital''s entrance. "I''ll take care of that situation for you. It may take some time."

    "Don''t worry at all; it''s my burden to bear for getting involved with those types of people," Merric said, a nervous look on his face.

    "You got into that mess to defend the hospital from those thugs, and to make some extra cash for rent and more equipment since they''re reserving it all for the top-tier slayers," Cyrus stated, his expression serious."I don''t blame you for doing what you thought was right at the time, and now you need help from a bronze-ranked slayer eager to return a favor."

    Love what you''re reading? Discover and support the author on the platform they originally published on.

    "You are an odd fellow, Cyrus. I wish you luck, and let''s not meet again too soon," Merric chuckled, watching Cyrus depart and stroll down the street.

    "Side quest open," Cyrus said as he turned a corner to which a pop-up screen appeared.

    [Visting Time Closed]

    [An unknown gang is terrorising Merric and the Slayer Hospital put a stop to it however you see fit!

    Victory: The gang leaves Merric alone forever

    Fail: Merric is killed or the hospital is destroyed]

    "So how are we gonna do this boss?" Yasha asked as he glanced at the screen.

    "Well we can start by meeting up whoever is supposed to pick this up" Cyrus replied while casually tossing up a bag of pills and other drugs.

    "I see and then we beat the info out of them!" Yasha exclaimed with glee.

    "No, well, maybe��it depends on them," Cyrus said, a thoughtful expression crossing his face. "But hopefully, they can lead us to their boss."

    "And then we beat them up and make them stop!" Yasha shouted as his generals gave thumbs up from the shadows.

    "Yes, we can take on the leader," Cyrus agreed as they slipped into an alleyway. "Now, let''s wait for the pickup."

    (A couple of hours later)

    Two individuals entered the alley: one, a large man with a rusty cybernetic left arm and a snake tattoo encircling his face; the other, a frightened, slender teenage boy.

    The heavyset man cast a hard, suspicious glance at Cyrus.

    "Where''s the short guy?" he asked gruffly, shifting his hand toward his waistband.

    "He''s busy with something and sent me instead," Cyrus said as he held up the bag and took out one of the pill bottles.

    "Throw it in the middle and step back!" he shouted, drawing a compact double-barreled shotgun adorned with sickly green glyphs.

    "Hold on, you promised you wouldn''t hurt anyone!" the teenage boy whispered urgently, his eyes wide with fear as he surveyed the tense scene.

    "That was before I got a good look at this asshole," he growled, fixing his gaze on Cyrus. "There''s something about him that''s creeping me out!"

    "Let''s crush them," Yasha snarled, eyeing the formidable weapon that he saw in Cyrus''s memories which is called a shotgun. "They''re asking for a fight!"

    "Sorry about that I''m just nervous myself. I''ve never done a drug deal before" Cyrus chuckled softly as he ignored Yasha and tossed the bag onto the rough concrete ground.

    "Do something useful and grab the bag!" bellowed the overweight man, pushing the teenage boy forward with his metallic hand.

    The boy advanced slowly, his eyes wide with fear, never straying from Cyrus.

    For a fleeting moment, the man caught the spectral vision of an angry Yasha looming behind Cyrus, which caused his eyes to widen in shock and fear.

    "What the fuck is that!" he yelled, firing at Yasha. The loud boom caused the boy to halt instantly, clutching the bag with trembling hands.

    The bullets passed harmlessly through Yasha''s head and torso, instead shattering the stone wall behind him.

    "I knew something was off with you!" the massive man growled, aiming at Cyrus. Despite the boy being in the line of fire, he squeezed the trigger once more.

    Cyrus had already wrapped the boy in his arms when the gunshot rang out. As he spun around, he tensed his back muscles, preparing to summon Yasha into this world.

    Rather than bullets striking his back, he felt a warm pressure gently against him and heard the sound of bullets ricocheting off metal.

    The overweight man gazed in astonishment as the metal police tower shield transformed into a buckler, unveiling a young woman with dark skin, piercing grey eyes, a short curly black bob obscuring her left eye, and full lips.

    She is dressed in a collared white button-down shirt with a dark purple zipper and a black tie, paired with black combat trousers adorned with numerous pouches, and sturdy boots featuring metal on the front and heels.

    "Officer Cassandra here, preparing to apprehend a suspect involved in drug dealing and attempted murder," she announced in a steely voice, extending her baton with a swift flick of her wrist. "Bring the van to my location."

    A tiny fairy wearing a police hat and vest paused briefly before zooming off incredibly fast, not wanting to miss the takedown.

    Cyrus let go of the boy, who sprinted to the alley''s end and concealed himself in a corner behind a dumpster.

    "Do you need some help?" Cyrus inquired, standing beside Officer Cassandra with an angry look as he glared at the overweight man.

    "The GSL''s renowned door kicker, it''s odd to find you engaged in illicit activities," she remarked, her expression shifting from curiosity to a sly smirk. "Yes, your assistance would be appreciated, and I''ll turn a blind eye to your actions in this alleyway, just this once."

    "Good, I didn''t want to be hunted down by the cops," Cyrus said, grinning as he clenched his fists.

    "This is an interesting side quest," Yasha muttered with a smile, glancing at the policewoman and his boss while standing protectively in front of the boy.

 Chasing A Junkyard Dog

    Chasing A Junkyard Dog

    The teenager stared in utter shock as the cop and drug dealer are currently attacking Boris.

    Cassandra darted to the right, swiftly swinging at the burly gang member in an attempt to hit his head, but her strike was thwarted as he deflected the blow with his cybernetic arm.

    "Gotcha bitch" He snarled while aiming his gun at Cassandra but before he could pull the trigger Cyrus pulled his arm down making the gun blast into the gravel.

    Without allowing him a moment to fire again, Cyrus sprang up and thrust his knee into Boris''s already fractured nose, causing further damage.

    He attempted to break it again, but his cybernetic hand caught the oncoming knee. Cassandra thrust the rim of her shield against Boris''s left knee, eliciting a grunt of pain and forcing him to let go of Cyrus''s knee.

    Another blow from the shield to Boris''s knee caused the bone to dislocate, toppling the large man onto one knee. Seizing the opportunity, Cyrus gripped Boris''s head firmly and drove his face into the ground with the momentum of his fall.

    "Look out on your left!" Cassandra called out making Cyrus quickly bring his arms up and block a strong punch at an unusual angle. The force of that strike made the bones in his arms shake and skid back slightly as it packed a stronger impact than he thought.

    Boris twisted his cybernetic arm back into its normal position and swiftly raised his gun, firing a shot at Cyrus. He let out a growl of frustration as Cassandra slid in front, intercepting the bullets.

    "Thanks for the triple save," Cyrus said, keeping his eyes on the cybernetic arm. "We''ve got to break that arm."

    "It''s going to be tough; it''s made of a strange metal," Cassandra remarked, observing Boris as he reloaded his shotgun, which holds three shells. "From the scant intelligence we''ve gathered, it''s harder than most metals and can absorb minor kinetic impacts."

    "Got it so avoid getting hit and snap the joints along with kicking his teeth in," Cyrus said with a grin as Cassandra smiled.

    "In simple terms, yes. You concentrate on that, and I''ll handle his gun; the boys at the office are eager to examine it," she said, while Cyrus eyed the rune-etched shotgun.

    "Understood, ready?" Cyrus asked as Boris suddenly injected a dark purple syringe into his thick neck as he stood up.

    "Ready," She said as the overweight gang member growled in rage as his veins pulsed and turned bright purple.

    "I''M GONNA KILL BOTH OF YOU FUCKS!!" Boris roared in utter rage as his shotgun glowed brightly before dashing forward and throwing a punch at Cyrus who barely avoided it.

    The teenager looked on, both shocked and amazed, as Cyrus swiftly grasped Boris''s arm and maneuvered into an armbar submission hold.

    As Cyrus wrestled with the mechanical joints, Boris simply pointed his weapon at him. Suddenly, a heavy blow struck Boris''s natural elbow, causing it to crack and dislocate.

    With the danger of having his head blown clean off dealt with Cyrus had nothing to stop him from wrenching the joints out and twist his body leaving Boris''s cybernetic arm damanaged and broken.

    With both arms hanging limply at his sides Cassandra simply walked over and pressed the baton against his neck making him scream in pain until he slumped to the ground in a daze.

    "Damn that was kinda easy if you don''t count almost getting blasted four times," Cyrus said with a smirk.

    "Only because I had your assistance door kicker," She said with a smile as she put the cuffs on the stunned gang member.

    "Aw, man, I missed it," the small fairy from earlier pouted, returning with a police van and five burly officers in tow.

    "Don''t worry Lala I''m sure you''ll get to see the next one," Cassandra said as the other officers dragged Boris into the back of the van along with his weapon.

    This narrative has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. If you see it on Amazon, please report it.

    "So what was that weird drug he took at the end?" Cyrus asked as he glanced at the teenager in the corner "Because it sure as shit didn''t make him any stronger."

    "To address your query, we will seek any information from Boris that we can and bring the young boy in for questioning," stated Cassandra, as the officers passed through Yasha and reached out to apprehend the boy, who abruptly disappeared into thin air.

    "What the!?" One of the officers yelled as they glanced around the area.

    "Damn, that boy looked like he was going to talk," Cassandra muttered, frustration evident on her face.

    "I see him, boss, follow me!" Yasha shouted, effortlessly leaping from the two building walls to the rooftop.

    "Don''t worry, I''ll get him," Cyrus shouted, mirroring Yasha''s movements and astonishing everyone.

    "Lala, follow him! Everyone else, get in the van!" Cassandra yelled as they all hurried to the van and turned on the sirens.

    "I love a good chase!" exclaimed Lala, glowing bright pink as she flew after Cyrus, who was skillfully leaping across rooftops.

    <hr>

    "The kid is only teleporting in short bursts," Yasha said as they watched the boy run toward the end of a building and leap as far as he could before teleporting the rest of the way across.

    "Which means that''s his limit, or he''s saving up for one big jump," Cyrus muttered, dashing forward and effortlessly leaping over the gap to reveal the bustling streets below.

    "So let''s catch the brat," Yasha said, grinning, which quickly faded as he realized he was back in Cyrus''s mental space with the others. "What the hell, boss?"

    "Sorry, but you''ll just scare him, and he might do something rash," Cyrus said, recalling his own fear when he first met Yasha. "I''ll make it up to you later."

    "You better," Yasha huffed, resembling an annoyed child, while Cyrus maintained his usual pace. He waited for the teenager to teleport across the larger gap before accelerating and landing just a few meters behind him.

    "Kid, you wanna stop and tell me why you decided to run?" Cyrus called out as the boy teleported to a different rooftop, nearly causing him to trip over the unexpected change in direction he now had to take.

    "Because I know how you cops treat us with your interrogations!" the teenager shouted, vaulting over a gap and using a satellite dish to swing across, which caused someone''s TV reception to go fuzzy.

    "I''m not a cop, so don''t worry, I won''t break your bones for information or anything like that," Cyrus called out as he used the same dish to cross the gap. It snapped off the wall, leaving nothing but static on the TV.

    "Why are you chasing me?" the boy shouted, his voice tinged with anger and confusion as exhaustion began to set in.

    "Because the gang you''re involved with has been terrorizing my new friend and the hospital where he works, I want to put an end to it," Cyrus stated as he caught up and placed a firm hand on the boy''s shoulder. "Also you seemed frightened when that bastard was forcing you to fetch the pills, so perhaps I can help you too."

    "Why would you do that?" asked the teenager, gazing up at Cyrus with an expression mingled with uncertainty, suspicion, and hesitation.

    "Because it''s the right thing to do, and I might even make a new friend out of it. So, why not?" Cyrus said, his smile broadening.

    "You''re a weird old man, you know that?" the teenager said with a scoff and a slight chuckle, making Cyrus stare down in utter shock at being called old.

    The boy looked up and noticed Lala rapidly gaining on him. In a swift motion, he placed something into Cyrus''s left hand and pushed him away with all his might, then he took a leap off the building.

    Just as Cyrus prepared to leap down, the boy hurled two rusty metal objects upward and vanished through teleportation.

    "What happened to the perp?" Lala shouted, unable to see the boy, before two crudely made objects suddenly appeared right in front of her tiny face.

    Cyrus sprang up, swiftly yet cautiously encircling Lala with his right hand before propelling her into the air. At that moment, the devices activated; one emitted a bright light and a deafening noise that overwhelmed his two senses, while another released an orange slime that enveloped his body.

    Despite what just happened Cyrus couldn''t hide that look of awe on his face at the clever combination of the flashbang and goo grenade.

    Tears and stinging pain hindering his vision, causing him to misstep; only one foot landed on the building''s edge. He fell, grasping the edge with his free hand, trying to pull himself up. However, the bubbling slime coating his body made him lose his grip, and he tumbled into a dumpster below.

    The impact was so intense that it broke the wheels, ripped open all the trash bags, and dented the bottom, trapping him inside as the goo was now expanding.

    "Are you okay, Mr. Door Kicker?" Lala asked with concern as she gazed at the destroyed dumpster covered in disgusting trash and orange hard goo.

    "I''m fine don''t worry about me" Cyrus said as he struggled to keep from vomiting due to the stench of rotten food. "Are you okay?"

    "I''m safe and unharmed thanks to you," She said with a large blush on her small face "Oh stay tight and I''ll get Miss Violette right away!"

    "Please hurry, I think the rats are mad," Cyrus muttered as the squeeking got more agitated.

    "That kid really messed you up, boss," Yasha said while trying not to laugh and failing miserably.

    "You can say that again, but he did give me this, so let''s call it even," Cyrus said, tuning out the laughter as the other three monkeys joined in.

    Struggling to maneuver his fingers, he grasped the item the teenager handed him and examined the tiny card.

    Junkyard dogs for all your scrap selling and car repairing needs!

    A tough-looking, winking pitbull dog and the address both stared back at him as the person who handed it to him put on his hood held the package of pills tightly, and stuck to the alleyways, while a police van zoomed down the road.

 Junkyard Ambush

    "Old man you made it," The teenager said with a grin as he left the junkyard to see Cyrus crossing the road.

    "Well that flashbang and goo grenade combo did catch my interest for a start," Cyrus said with a grin as he peeled off a dried piece of goo from his elbow. "What''s your name anyway? couldn''t exactly ask in the middle of all that chaos"

    "Same, kinda hard to be polite while running from the police, It''s Randy Emmons," Randy said with a chuckle as he held out a fist.

    "Nice to meet you, I''m Cyrus Ashford," said Cyrus, completing the fist bump and surveying the dilapidated junkyard. "Is this where you work when you''re not involved with the gang?"

    "Yeah, it''s just me and my grandpa," Randy said, glancing at his phone. "Speaking of which, I need to take care of something quickly. Go in and keep the old man company for a bit; I''ll be back soon."

    Before Cyrus could say anything Randy teleported away and saw him run down an alleyway.

    "Do you want me to tail him?" Yasha inquired, materializing beside Cyrus. "We still have much to learn about the gang he''s involved with."

    "Good idea. Since there''s a zone you must stay within, I''ll summon you to explore freely," Cyrus declared, using some of his life force to manifest Yasha into the real world fully.

    "Good to stretch my legs," Yasha said while stretching as Cyrus stared at him with a confused look on his face "What''s wrong?"

    "So this is the result of summoning you," Cyrus remarked, his confusion shifting to curiosity. Instead of the expected monkey monster, Yasha stood before him, clad in baggy, stylish streetwear, his human-like features more prominent. The most striking was his long, unkempt white hair, now tied back in a stylish bun.

    "Cool human clothes," Yasha remarked with a grin, eyeing the oversized hoodie that matched the shade of his fur, the black cargo pants secured with a furry belt, and the red combat boots that reminded him of his fractured mask.

    "Get going," Cyrus said snapping Yasha out of his poses as he ran after Randy. With that sorted he went inside the junkyard and saw large mounds of scrap filling up the entire yard.

    "Oi, lad, we''ve got a massive order in, so start hopping to it!" shouted an elderly voice, punctuated by a cough, as the door swung open to reveal an old man clad in oil-stained overalls, leaning on a cane.

    "Who the hell are you?" demanded the old man, fixing Cyrus with a stare from his good eye while his lazy eye gazed skyward.

    "I''m a friend of your grandson; he asked me to stop by but had to attend to something first," Cyrus explained as he approached the elderly man.

    "You''re a big bastard ain''t ya?" The old man asked as he glanced up at Cyrus with a stern look "You aren''t one of his street friends are you!?"

    "Nope, I''m swamped with work," Cyrus replied with a light chuckle, even as the old man jabbed him in the chest a few times with his cane.

    "Good, my name is Greg," he muttered with a wet cough, "and if my grandson has any manners, you''d know that. Now, since you''re built like an ox, I''m going to need you to do a few jobs for me."

    He handed Cyrus a grease-stained sheet of paper full of different vehicle parts.

    [Mini Quest-Junkyard Helper]

    [Assist Greg Emmons with his tasks and gain a reward. Fail and take a debuff!]

    "Sure let''s get started" Cyrus said with a smile as Greg pointed at different sections of the junkyard.

    While Cyrus is busy helping Greg Yasha is crouching outside a closed bakery shop. He glanced inside and stared at Randy sitting at one of the booths.

    Knowing grandad his gonna scare Cyrus off with all his complaining and hitting The thought of that made Randy take out his phone to call his old man but got no reply.

    "How long is it going to take Tobias?" He asked before the sounds of many locks being undone came from the backroom door.

    "H-Hey R-Randy, y-you know it takes time to perfectly sort it how Cobra likes" Tobias a sickly pale teenager with four spikes under his chin stuttered out a sigh.

    "I know sorry, I have over deliveries to make and need to hurry," Randy said as he glanced out a window.

    "T-They working you hard again?" Tobias asked as he threw a package on the table before scratching at his scales.

    A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

    "They enjoy taking advantage of my power, but hey, it''s better than a cashier job," Randy remarked with a chuckle, tucking the package into his backpack. He then stood up and pulled out a tightly sealed jar, causing Tobias''s lizard-like eyes to widen and his body to tremble slightly.

    "I-Is that?" Tobias asked as his usual unfocused eyes locked firmly on the jar.

    "Yep a couple of fruit and insects that can get you high enough to knock on god''s door," Randy said with a grin "A present from me for all the hard work you do, and before you ask I got Kate to get it as she still owes me a couple of favors for covering her hot-headed ass"

    "Thank you, Randy," Tobias said with a smile as he gave Randy a sudden hug.

    "No worries, I''ve heard about the trouble they''ve caused you. Just so you know, I don''t fuck with them, and if I was bigger I''ll make them eat pavement," Randy stated earnestly. "When I''m in charge, that''s going to be one of the first things to change."

    "Then I''ll do everything in my power to support your rise to leadership. Now, go quickly and complete that delivery before they pile on more work," Tobias said, grinning as he grabbed the package and disappeared into the backroom.

    As Randy walked away, the ringtone of his phone caught his attention; he received a text from Leon. Opening the message, a serious expression formed on his face.

    [We need to chat now. Come to the water tower.]

    "It''s always something right when I''m finished" Randy growled as Leon only texts him when its something the boss personally needs his powers for.

    With a heavy sigh, he turned around and ran towards the direction of the water tower with Yasha following way behind. It took a couple of minutes but he finally arrived at the water tower where a tall athletic man and two overweight boys are waiting.

    "What do you want Leon? I''m in the middle of a run" Randy asked with annoyance in his voice as he stared up at the athletic guy who is wearing a slightly worn-out stylish grey suit and an eyepatch over his right eye.

    "It will only take a second," Leon said as he took a drag of his cigarette. "First, how many charges do you have left?"

    "I''ve got three charges left, just enough to complete this supply run and head home," Randy stated, having expended seven charges zipping across the city. "Whatever the boss wants, it''ll have to wait until tomorrow."

    "That should be enough, you got the package?" Leon asked as Randy took out the supplies "Ivan grab it"

    One of the overweight men with a spiky mohawk grabbed the package and swiftly placed heavy cuffs with red glyphs on Randy''s wrists.

    He collapsed instantly, overcome by a wave of exhaustion, feeling his powers diminish as if they were a frightened animal.

    "Suppression cuffs how the hell did you get this?" Randy asked a look of shock on his face.

    "Having some friends in the police comes in handy," Leon said, smirking as he crouched and blew smoke into Randy''s face. "Now, we can talk without you trying to run off."

    "To talk about what?" Randy asked as Ivan placed a strong meaty hand on his shoulder to keep him in place.

    "Well, it''s time for the boss to step down from leadership and for me to take over," Leon said with a smile."I already have most people on my side, besides you and that stubborn bitch Kate"

    "And why would I help you?" Randy asked keeping his eyes on Leon.

    "Because I''m aware of your disdain for the boss and his methods, under my leadership we won''t be confined to petty crimes. We''ll ascend to the big leagues and establish ourselves as a formidable power in this city," Leon declared with a grin. "And with you as my right-hand man, operations will run much more smoothly."

    "Your right-hand guy?" Randy asked as he glanced at the ground.

    "Yes, no more supply runs or being the messenger; you''ll have your own group to lead," Leon said, extending his hand. "But first, I need your help to convince that loyal dog Kate that Cobra is finished, and it''s time to look to the future."

    "Sounds good, just one problem," Randy said as he stared up at Leon, who wore a sly smile on his face.

    "And what would that be?" Leon inquired, just as Randy, in a sudden act of disrespect, spat in his eye, causing him to stagger back. "You little fucker!!"

    "I want to be in charge and I''ll do it without killing the boss and betraying my friends you rat bastard!" Randy declared with a fiery look in his eyes.

    "A shame then, you can visit your grandfather in hospital and tell him you were the reason what happened to him and his shitty junkyard," Leon said with a snarl as he pulled out a phone.

    "What the fuck did you do to my grandfather!" Randy shouted in pure anger and lunged forward but was stopped by the hand on his shoulder.

    "He didn''t accept, so do what you must," Leon said into the phone, glancing at the furious Randy. "Now, let''s continue discussing your joining us without being my right-hand man. Paul, get started."

    A meaty fist slammed into Randy''s mouth sending him crashing to the ground as the other overweight man with facial piercings stood over him while putting knuckle dusters on.

    Damn it, not my granddad; he doesn''t deserve to get caught up in all this gang stuff. Randy couldn''t hold back the tears as he recalled all the times his grandfather had tried to persuade him to leave the gang and return to school.

    "You always had a punchable face" Paul snarled as he pulled his fist back and threw a punch aimed straight for Randy''s nose.

    As he tensed in anticipation of the blow, it surprisingly never arrived, prompting him to cautiously open his eyes. To his relief, he saw the fist had been pulled back.

    "Yo, leave that kid alone" a voice suddenly called out, causing everyone to turn in shock towards the man who now stood over Randy, gripping Paul''s wrist tightly.

    "Who the fuck are you!?" Leon shouted, hastily drawing a knife as the stranger leaped up, delivering a swift roundhouse kick to Paul''s head, instantly knocking the burly man unconscious.

    "I''m a friend of his friend who happened to be passing by," Yasha said, frowning as he stared at the two men. "And judging by how easily he went down with just a light tap, this is going to be easy."

    Randy sprang up and positioned himself behind the man shielding him. A text alert caught his attention, and he glanced down to find Tobias'' name on the screen. Opening the message, he read it with an intense expression.

    [Don''t go home ambush waiting! called your grandfather let''s meet up!]

    "Don''t worry, kid," Yasha said, glancing behind him and giving Randy a reassuring grin. "Cyrus and my friends will ensure your elder is safe from harm."

    "You''re friends with Cyrus?" Randy inquired, eyeing Leon and Ivan, who were both angry and cautious due to Yasha''s unexpected arrival.

    "Yeah, you could say he''s my boss," Yasha remarked, cracking his knuckles. "Let me handle these weaklings before we catch up with them."

 Junkyard Defenders

This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road. If you spot it on Amazon, please report it.

 Level Up And Plan

    [Squads beaten (4/4)]

    [Congratulations you have leveled up!, And gained ten points to put into your stats!]

    Nice, my first level up. Let''s check my stats first before going crazy, Cyrus thought with a grin as his character sheet appeared in his view.

    "Okay, my strength, durability, and agility are very close to being twenty, so let''s test this out and see if anything changes."

    He carefully pressed the up arrow next to his strength and allocated three points to it. With each point, he felt his muscle fibers tingle and bulge with small surges of power.

    [Congratulations! Your strength has reached to an impressive 20! As a result, you have unlocked the "Strong Body" passive perk.

    With this newfound power, your bare-handed attacks now deliver blunt damage with 10 percent more force and you now possess the astounding ability to lift up to 10 tons effortlessly. Moreover, as you continue to boost your strength stat, not only will this perk grow even more potent, but you''ll also discover a realm of exciting new abilities waiting to be unlocked. Embrace your strength and unleash your potential!]

    Cyrus''s eyes widened as he read the perk pop-up screen and instantly allocated three points to durability and agility, making both stats reach twenty.

    [You have acquired the passive perk: Physical Endurance.

    Embarking on the path of the mighty is fraught with relentless violence and daunting challenges which is perk makes even more tougher. As you engage in prolonged battles against formidable bosses, their physical attacks become increasingly powerful. Specifically, for every hour that the conflict continues, their strength and speed escalates by an alarming ten percent, reflecting their growing ferocity.

    Yet, if you manage to endure these fierce confrontations, two useful benefits awaits you.

    Which is with each successful survival you will be given a permanent boost in your durability stat, increasing it by one point. And a tough layer of second skin that increases your resilience against all forms of attack may they be blunt, piercing, or slashing will be stored for future use and lasts for five seconds.

    The second skin will improve with a longer duration for each boss you surive and overcome!]

    "Interesting so I should drag certain fights out to increase my survival for future fights at the risk of getting my ass beat quicker" As Cyrus read the pop-up screen he felt his bones get slightly tougher and heavier.

    [You have acquired the remarkable passive ability known as Quick Limbs.

    Your strikes now flow with a newfound swiftness allowing you to deliver blows with lightning speed. Your movement has also become more fluid and agile, with your overall speed heightened by fifteen percent.

    That powerful combination of quick striking and movement has unlocked the gift of ambidexterity, enabling you to wield your weapons with finesse and precision in both hands.]

    "A nice and simple perk with a cool bonus," Cyrus said with a grin as his body felt oddly lighter while he made his way to the center of the junkyard.

    "That was awesome! I hope you bring us out more, boss!" Theo exclaimed with a smirk before ramming his forehead into the nose of a barely conscious fat teenager, knocking him out cold.

    "It was quite enjoyable completing a quest with you, and exploring this fascinating world, even for a brief moment, is a profoundly enriching learning experience," Kirk said with a small smile as he glanced around at the street currently being blocked off by police vans and firetrucks.

    Support the creativity of authors by visiting Royal Road for this novel and more.

    Bufkin simply gave two big thumbs up as he sat cross-legged on a pile of beaten gang members.

    "Yeah, I''ll definitely summon you guys more often," Cyrus smiled as he ruffled each one of their heads before returning them back to his mind place with a quick unsummon.

    The police and firefighters rushed in to arrest the knocked-out gang members and put out the raging fires.

    "Door kicker nice to see you again, but I got to wonder why our paths seem to cross a lot," Cassandra said with a small smile as she stuck her hand out.

    "Who knows, maybe it''s fate or we both can''t stand annoying gangs" Cyrus replied with a small grin as he shook her hand.

    "Hey Cyrus you seem to be having an interesting day," Lala said with a wide smile before glancing around. "So what happened here exactly?"

    "Just following up with that boy I chased down yesterday, He''s a cool kid just caught up in some gang stuff. But they took it to a dangerous level when they attacked his grandpa" Cyrus said while glancing at Greg who was yelling at a group of gang members being led away.

    "I see, I''ll add that to my report" Cassandra muttered while taking out a notepad "So where is the young man?"

    "We got a problem Boss!" Yasha yelled as he landed with a boom gaining everyone''s attention.

    "What the hell happened!?" Cyrus asked in utter shock as he ran over and stared at Randy who was drenched in sweat and getting paler by the second.

    "He was ambushed by a couple of bastards, one of them summoned a weak creature and then ran off like a coward," Yasha hissed in annoyance. "While I was making my way over he suddenly started vomiting and passed out"

    "Medic, get over here now!" Cassandra yelled as a couple of EMTs ran over with a trolley and an oxygen tank.

    "Randy!, what''s wrong with him!?" Greg yelled as he held onto the trolley so tightly his knuckles turned white.

    "We will determine that once we arrive at the hospital sir," one of the EMTs said as they placed Randy inside the ambulance.

    "Is his guardian or relative present?" the other EMT in, glancing at Greg and Cyrus.

    "Yes, I''m his grandfather" Greg huffed with tears forming in the corners of his eyes while struggling to get inside the ambulance.

    "Don''t worry about this place. I will have it fixed up before meeting you at the hospital," Cyrus said with a serious nod, which Greg returned before the ambulance doors shut and flew into the sky.

    "Boss, we need to deal with those bastards right now! Especially that cowardly summoner! " Yasha snarled as he tightly clenched his fist.

    "Save that rage for later, let''s get this place clean up" Cyrus muttered in barely contained anger as he easily picked up two damaged cars and sprinted over to a section of the junkyard.

    Lala was surprised at how quickly Cyrus and his strange friend cleaned the place up as it only took them three minutes.

    "I''ll give you a lift to the hospital, we can go over the plan to deal with them on the way," Cassandra said as Cyrus put a padlock and chains on the main gate.

    "You found their hideout? How?" he asked as she handed him a datapad displaying a three-story warehouse with multiple entrances.

    "Boris told us everything we needed, apparently loyalty means nothing when faced with a lengthy sentence and fine," Cassandra said with a sly smirk.

    "Good, I can''t wait to start a counterattack," Cyrus said with a fierce grin on his face.

    "We have the place, Make sure you call me when the fighting starts," Yasha said with a serious nod as he patted Cyrus on the shoulder before he got unsummoned back to the mind place.

    "It is rare to encounter a fellow summoner these days, let alone one capable of utilizing four creatures without collapsing. Is this due to your incredible fighting spirit? I am curious to know which other rumors of the infamous door kicker are true if that''s the case," Cassandra inquired, her expression inquisitive as she gazed at Cyrus.

    "I stopped caring about the rumors when they said I killed a slime by eating it, but I''ll let you know that it takes a lot of energy for me to summon one of them let alone all four like today," Cyrus said as he patted Lala on the top of her head "Compared to you two though it seems you can have her out for days without breaking a sweat"

    "Lalatina and I are a special case, to the point where she is barely a burden on my life force," Cassandra with a small smile as she and Cyrus got into the police car and headed towards the hospital.

    "Yep! My mother saved Cass''s mother when she went through one of the doors to catch a criminal, and they became friends. Now we are like sisters, which means she gets to bring me out to help her with work without making a funny contract" Lala said with a wide smile and massive stars in her eyes. "And in return, I get to enjoy this fun world and meet interesting people like everyone at the station, and now you!"

    "I see. Well, I hope that my bond with those guys is at least half as strong as yours," Cyrus said with a smile as he glanced at the warehouse information while listening to his four summons excitedly discuss their experiences today and how to improve for next time.