A/N: Hey everyone, now I haven't decided on a love interest yet, but I'll let you all decide. I'll throw out some names in the next chapter and you guys vote and the woman with the highest amount of votes will be the love interest. Also will Ben and Gwen ever have a fight to determine who's the stronger cousin? Yeah, how else do you determine they'd settle there differences. Ben's hate for Gwen will subside after there battle, but rn all he has for her is hate and resentment towards her. I can tell you, we will be seeing alien Shadow soliders, some monsters will be implemented from Greek, Japanese, & Norse Mythology (Like Ben's pen sword). Rex and the Saturday's will be in this book, and tbh the sky's the limit on how much you can imagine how this book will go. And no worries, I'm always open to hear what you guys think. One thing I need to say the Jeju Island raid will not happen. Ik that's one of the major SL arc's, but for me to use it I'd have to introduce the first few failed attempts and have the ants evolve over time which wouldn't make for a good story so I'll change that arc and think of something else to replace it. Tbh I didn't even wanna skip almost two years into the story, but to keep it a bit like the canon, it had to be done, but one thing Ben will have that Jinwoo didn't: The Great Calamity Kamish. One spoiler, ik, but that's it no more for now. But like Jinwoo, he will regain the original Shadow Army, (Which already include both Jinwoo and Ashborns army) that's a guaranteed promise.
Chapter 2: Dungeon Break or Bust
On the other side of the portal, Ben Tennyson stepped out. He was greeted by a dark empty building of his favorite eating establishment. He gazed around before hearing the door shut behind him. He turned around to try and get the door open when the system's window opened.
[In order to escape, you will need to find the Hearth Stone or Slay the Boss.]
"Find the Hearth Stone or Kill the boss? One seems more possible than the other." The boy in question sighed before removing his hood before turning back to the small establishment, "Only way out is forward."
He then leaped behind the counter and into the kitchen, his hand was in his front pocket, grasping his pen tightly. Not seeing or sensing any monsters, Ben trekked onwards. He pushed open the kitchens basement door where he felt the tense air shift, "Guess the monsters are down there." He remarked before taking his pen out his pocket before he went down the stairs.
After trekking through Mr. Smoothies underground, he came to a large cavern with torches lightning the sides of the massive tunnel. As Ben kept walking he felt multiple pairs of eyes on him, making the teenager tense before he narrowed his eyes, "Who's hunting whom?" He wondered as above his head multiple pairs of red eyes watched him.
Ben stiffened as he heard growling coming from behind him. He turned around as something came from the other end of the tunnel. It's red menacing eyes bore down on him, freezing him in his place as it drew closer to him.
Standing at over 8 feet tall was a hybrid of a monster, Ben knew all too well from the myths. With the head of a bull, large horns, tree trunk sized hands, hooves for feet, and snorting angrily. Ben absentmindedly took a hesitant step back as the name of the monster graced his lips, "The Minotaur." The monster roared at him, making the boy leap away, he created a solid ten feet from his new enemy. Ben gazed above it's head as an orange named appeared above said creatures head.
[The Rampaging Minotaur]
'I was expecting a Goblin or Kobolds. Not a Boss fight from the beginning. So glad, I studied history.' He remarked as the Greek Monster dropped to its hands, pointing its large horns forward. It scrapped its hooves preparing to charge. Ben sighed before pushing the cap of his pen, "Alright, let's do this." The pen soon transformed into its sword form. Ben held the sword upwards glaring at the beast.
The two eyed each other carefully, before the staredown soon ended and the two enemies were sprinting towards the other. The two charged forward, gradually closing the distance between each other. The two screamed out as Ben raised his sword over his head, leaping above the Minotaur, who raised it's horns to defend against the attack.
Ben's sword slid off the Minotaur's horn as the boy landed back onto the ground, as he quickly spun around to see the bull man already charging at him again. He watched as it charged at him, before seeing it stand on its hind legs and quickly picking up more speed. It's huge fists cocked back before slamming it's large hand onto the boy who leaped backwards to see the floor cave in from the Minotaur's monstrous strength.
Ben leaped onto the caverns wall before seeing the floor destroyed, "Oof, if I'd been hit by that, my chances of living are 5% and I'm not liking my odds." The Minotaur soon turned his attention to the boy who was latched onto the cavern wall, "Alright, big guy, it's either gonna be you or me walking outta here alive and I can say it's definitely not gonna be you." Ben taunted which seemed to work as the Minotaur snorted angrily before charging at him again.
Ben launched off the wall, and leaped over the Minotaur's fist. He brought his sword down onto the bull hybrid monster and slashed his arm. Ben rolled onto the caverns floor to see the wall smashed in as blood started leaking from its newly acquired wound. Ben clicked his teeth together in annoyance, 'The attack was too shallow.' He thought as the Minotaur glared at him before dropping onto his hands and hooves, horns pointed directly at him.
Ben spun his sword and aimed it at the Minotaur, 'Gotta think of a plan or else, I won't be winning this fight.' He thought before a smile graced his face before he taunted him with his sword urging him to bring it. The Minotaur seeing the taunt, charged forward hoping to either maim him or impale him.
Ben dodged the charge as the Minotaur collided with the caverns wall, it's horn seemingly getting stuck within the wall. Ben seeing his opening, immediately dashed towards him. The Minotaur noticed him approaching and launched his fist at him only to see the boy put on a burst of speed as he soared over him and slashing him in his back. The Minotaur yelled in anguish as a sizeable gash appeared on its back. The Minotaur soon saw the boy land within arms reach of him, before swinging his other arm into Ben launching the boy down the caverns tunnel.
HP: 850
Ben groaned in pain, as he rubbed his ribs in pain. He shouldn't have dropped his guard so quickly, now he was left nursing atleast four broken ribs. He looked up to see the Minotaur finally free itself as the horn broke off from the Minotaur's head. Ben grinned a bit having enjoyed that alittle when he noticed his sword was near the downed Minotaur, "You've got to be kidding me." He groaned before seeing the Minotaur get back onto it's hooves. He raced forward before quickly activating his skill Dash.
[Dash will consume 1 mp per second upon activation]
The system told the boy as he bursted through the cavern in hopes to retrieve his sword before the Minotaur regains its balance. The Minotaur noticed the boy approaching before swinging his fist downward onto him, but Ben slid by grabbed his sword, slid through the Minotaur's legs and hopped onto the beasts back. The monster roared as it attempted to buck the boy from its back.
Ben stabbed his sword straight into the monsters back as it roared in pain and tried bucking even harder to shake the boy free, "YEE-HAW! THIS IS WHAT I CALL A BULL RIDE!" Ben screamed as he gripped the hilt of his sword tightly before he was bucked off and collided with the other side of the cavern wall, "Okay, that one hurt." He groaned as the Minotaur charged and quickly grabbed Ben's leg before launching him upwards and punching him straight into the wall where it's horn was imbedded. Ben roared in pain as he felt his collarbone shatter from the Minotaur's fist hitting him. Ben could count atleast all his ribs were broken and his vision was getting extremely hazy as the large beast approached him, ready to end this fight.
HP: 220
[Health has fallen below 50%, now activating Tenacity Skill!]
Ben felt a new surge of energy burst within him, he looked around for his sword only to remember it was imbedded within the Minotaur's back. He looked over to his right to find the Minotaur's broken horn and immediately sprung to his feet before grabbing the discarded horn and attempting to pull it free. The Minotaur seeing the boys last ditch attempts to save himself raced toward him.
"Come on!" He urged as he tried to wriggle it free, "Come on!" He yelled as he saw the Minotaur drawing closer to him, "COME ON!" He screamed finally pulling the horn free and turning around quickly as the Minotaur raised his fist before slamming it down into him. Ben dodged the fist before impaling the horn into the beasts chest. The Minotaur roared in pain as it attempted to grab him, but Ben ducked underneath his arm before pulling the horn free and launched onto the beasts arm before launching high into the air, impaling the Minotaur through its brain as it roared one last time before collapsing on its stomach.
Ben panted heavily as he dropped the Minotaur's horn. As the system opened multiple window screens.
[You have defeated The Rampaging Minotaur]
[You have earned the title 'Minotaur Slayer'!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
After feeling himself level up, his injured bones immediately healed causing the teenager to sigh in relief. Ben wiped the blood off his face as he tried to regain his breath. As he collapsed onto the Minotaur's back gazing down at his status, "Status Open."
Name: Benjamin Tennyson
Level: 9
Class: None
Title: Minotaur Slayer
Hp: 1500
Mp: 1490
Fatigue: 0
[STATS]
Strength: 24
Agility: 24
Stamina: 24
Intelligence: 23
Perception: 23
[Available Stat Points to distribute: 9]
[Skills]
Passive Skills
-(Unknown) Lv. Max
-(Tenacity) Lv. 3
Active Skill
-(Dash) Lv. 2
"I went up eight levels from slaying the Minotaur. I wonder what else is down here. Hopefully there's nothing else here aside from the boss that was as strong as the Minotaur." He huffed before he heard growling coming from the end of the tunnel that the Minotaur showed up from.
Four black lava like hounds appeared from the end of the cavern, glaring at the boy who was seated ontop of the Minotaur's carcass, "Of course, I'm not given an opportunity to breathe from a fight to the death with the Minotaur." The boy sighed before grabbing his sword that was plunged into the beasts back and extracting it causing blood to splatter everywhere. He leaped off the beasts back before twirling the sword around, "Bring it, you overgrown mutts." An orange named appeared above all the hounds heads.
[Blazing Lava Hounds]
Ben narrowed his eyes as the hounds raced towards him. He leaped forward raising his sword upwards before slashing straight through one of the hounds. He spun around before ducking under one that tried pounching on him. He barrelrolled before swinging his sword upwards, decapitating another. He leaped backwards as another tried to pounce on him from behind. He landed behind the Lava Hound and slashed its hind legs off, before taking its head off. He glanced to the last hound that seemed to be studying him, knowing it wasn't gonna win it retreated into the shadows.
Ben sighed, "Hopefully I'll find the Hearth Stone soon." The teenager replied before pushing the hidden button on his sword as it quickly transformed back into a ballpoint pen.
Ben sat against the wall as the system appeared infront of him.
[You have slain a Blazing Lava Hounds!]
[You have slain a Blazing Lava Hounds!]
[You have slain a Blazing Lava Hounds!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
"I went up two levels, eh, not bad. Maybe I should go and track down that last one that escaped." He replied, "Status open."
Name: Benjamin Tennyson
Level: 11
Class: None
Title: Minotaur Slayer
Hp: 1600
Mp: 1510
Fatigue: 0
[STATS]
Strength: 26
Agility: 26
Stamina: 26
Intelligence: 25
Perception: 25
[Available Stat Points to distribute: 11]
[Skills]
Passive Skills
-(Unknown) Lv. Max
-(Tenacity) Lv. 3
Active Skill
-(Dash) Lv. 2
"11 stat points, might save those after I find the Hearth Stone. God knows who or what else is down here." Ben sighed rubbing his face when his heightened hearing picked up the patter of multiple feet approaching him.
At the end of the cavern, the Lava Hound that escaped had returned and it wasn't alone. Multiple red eyes appeared through the darkness, glaring at the boy who had slain it's comrades, "Seems you came back? With some friends to boot. You've actually done me a favor because you all will become experience points to me." He grinned darkly before he stood up and approached the pack of Lava Hounds. He pulled out his pen and pushed the cap which made it transform into a black long sword, "Who's first?"
The Lava Hounds snarled as they all attacked him at once. Ben dodged and ducked there attacks while slicing through them like there were butter. The hounds tried to look for various weak spots, but found none, but it didn't stop Ben from killing more of there comrades.
After finally decapitating the last Lava Hound, Ben finally let out the breath, he'd been holding. It took almost two hours for him to slay every single one. He dropped to a knee in exhaustion before he saw almost two dozen system windows waiting for him to acknowledge it.
He glimpsed at the window to see various screens acknowledging the same thing.
[You have earned the Title Blazing Hound Killer]
[You have slain a Blazing Lava Hounds!]
[You have slain a Blazing Lava Hounds!]
[You have slain a Blazing Lava Hounds!]
[You have slain a Blazing Lava Hounds!]
[You have slain a Blazing Lava Hounds!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
"Stupid dogs." Ben huffed out a laugh as he gazed at his status once again.
Name: Benjamin Tennyson
Level: 18
Class: None
Title: Minotaur Slayer, Blazing Hound Killer
Hp: 1600
Mp: 1510
Fatigue: 0
[STATS]
Strength: 34
Agility: 34
Stamina: 34
Intelligence: 33
Perception: 33
[Available Stat Points to distribute: 18]
[Skills]
Passive Skills
-(Unknown) Lv. Max
-(Tenacity) Lv. 3
Active Skill
-(Dash) Lv. 2
Ben looked over his eyebrow at the titles, "Minotaur Slayer? Blazing Hound Killer?" He pushed the Minotaur Slayer title.
[Minotaur Slayer]
[You have achieved an incredible feat of killing the Minotaur!]
'Interesting.' He then clicked on the Blazing Hound Killer.
[Blazing Hound Killer]
[You have achieved an incredible feat of slaying an incredible amount Blazing Lava Hounds. When facing beast type monsters, you'll have a 10% advantage over them!]
"Hm, one is just a title and the other offers 10% advantage over beast types. Not bad." He shrugged before getting up from the surrounding bodies of the Lava hounds, "Welp, looks like I should keep going."
Ben pushed the hidden button on his sword before watching as it shrunk back into its pen form. He stuffed his hands into his pockets and walked through the dead bodies as he continued onward.
As Ben continued through the cavern, he came across a large draw bridge. He stopped at the bridges entrance before gazing at the darkness below, "Okay if that doesn't say trap then I don't know what does." Ben sighed before he walked forward across the bridge when it immediately started moving causing the boy to stop in his tracks. He heard a large howling noise as the bridge went upwards, he could also hear hooting and it sounded like something was pounded on something.
As the bridge finally stopped, Ben gazed around cautiously before he heard a very loud noise ring out from behind him. He turned around to see large red gorillas glaring straight at him. He backed up when he saw there names were orange.
[Inferno Howler Ape]
Ben had deduced the meaning behind the colors. Orange meant he was close to surpassing them and red meaning the monster was leagues stronger than him. Ben watched as the largest Inferno Ape climbed onto the bridge. He knew who this was, it had to be the Alpha. Ben immediately pulled out his pen which made the pack of Apes watch him. He narrowed his eyes cautiously before pushing the cap. The pen immediately transformed into a 10 inch long sword. The Howler Apes pounded on there chest as it charged him.
'Goddamn bridge.' Ben thought before he ducked underneath the first swing from the monster. He plunged the sword straight through its chest. He looked up at it to see the Ape, smirking at him, "What the fu-" He didn't get to finish when the Howler Ape smacked him across the bridge. Ben bounced off bridge, colliding with the canyon wall. He groaned in pain as he gazed upwards to see the Howler Ape take his sword from its chest and toss it off the bridge.
HP: 1200
Ben gritted his teeth as he climbed out of the canyons wall. He stood on the other side of the bridge, 'Damn that monkey for throwing my sword over the bridge.' He quickly opened his inventory for anything he could use when something caught his eye. He grinned before setting his eyes on the gloating Ape, "HEY ASSHOLE!" He screamed which immediately snapped the large apes attention to him, seeing he was still alive.
The Ape growled as he pounded on his chest once again, "It's not over. Not by a long shot." He growled before he raced off at the beast. The Howler Ape roared before meeting him in the middle. Ben yelled as he reached into his inventory and grabbing his pen which he immediately activated by pushing the cap. The pen transformed into his trademark sword as Ben leaped at the inferno beast. The Ape pulled it's arm back roaring loudly as the two collided. Ben sliced straight through his arm as the Beast roared in pain. Ben gazed at the monster as it nursed it's now lost limb.
The Ape turned it's gaze on him before it opened its mouth, "Don't tell me you're about to do what I think you're about to do?!" He shouted as the Inferno Ape shot out a turrent of flames. Ben yelled as he jumped back from the flames watching as the bridge caught fire. His destination was the other side of the canyon and he didn't wanna waste anymore time here. He held his sword tightly before racing through the flames before activating Dash again.
[Dash will consume 1 mp per second upon activation]
He raced through the flames at blinding speeds and straight past the Inferno Howler's Alpha. He soon made it to the other side when the other Apes shot to there feet as Ben grinned when the head of the Howler Ape went flying down into the chasm below. They shouted in anger before jumping onto the bridge, ready to avenge there dead leader, but Ben had other plans. He slashed the ropes holding the bridge together as the insufferable apes went cascading into the chasm with there leaders head.
[You have defeated an Inferno Howler Ape!]
[You have defeated an Inferno Howler Ape!]
[You have defeated an Inferno Howler Ape!]
[You have defeated an Inferno Howler Ape!]
[You have defeated an Inferno Howler Ape!]
[You have defeated an Inferno Howler Ape!]
[You have defeated an Inferno Howler Ape!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
Ben fell onto his butt in exhaustion, "Kinda glad, he didn't hit as hard as the Minotaur." Ben rubbed his aching, but partially healed ribs, "Status open."
Name: Benjamin Tennyson
Level: 22
Class: None
Title: Minotaur Slayer, Blazing Hound Killer
Hp: 1750
Mp: 1530
Fatigue: 0
[STATS]
Strength: 37
Agility: 37
Stamina: 37
Intelligence: 36
Perception: 36
[Available Stat Points to distribute: 22]
[Skills]
Passive Skills
-(Unknown) Lv. Max
-(Tenacity) Lv. 3
Active Skill
-(Dash) Lv. 2
Ben gazed at his status, "Yeah screw waiting to use my stat points, I should maybe invest it into some stuff."
[STATS]
Strength: 37
Agility: 37
Stamina: 37
Intelligence: 36
Perception: 36
[Available Stat Points to distribute: 22]
"This one should be easier than before." He grinned
[STATS]
Strength: 41
Agility: 41
Stamina: 41
Intelligence: 41
Perception: 41
[Available Stat Points to distribute: 0]
"A well balanced stat tree. I should be feeling the effects of all this, but for now let's go find that hearthstone." Ben climbed onto his feet and continued forward, "This Mr. Smoothie dungeon is bigger than I thought." He replied before entering a hole in a wall.
Once he came out the other side, it was a larger cavern that seemed to extend even farther and on the other side, Ben could feel it. There was a hole on the far side of the cavern and he figured that's where the boss would be. He looked down into the chasm below and saw various monsters. A few Minotaurs, more inferno Apes, more lava hounds, and a new monster who's name was grey. He didn't know what grey meant, but he was gonna find out one way or another
[Vampiric Bat]
It was a large winged man with glowing red eyes, large fangs, talons that looked that could slice through steel and Ben didn't wanna be on the receiving end of that attack. He looked to the other side of the cavern then back to the army of monsters below, "If the boss is through there, it means one of these monsters has the hearthstone. Guess it means I gotta slay every single monster here. That sounds like a suicidal plan, but at the moment it's my only plan."
"God, this is the worst plan ever. I barely survived my first encounter with the Minotaur." He sighed before grabbing his pen and quickly pushed the cap. He leaned off the cliff into the awaiting monsters with his sword in hand as a thought occurred into his head, 'Maximum Effort.' He raised his sword upwards before decapitating a distracted Howler Ape.
He rolled onto another Howler's back dodging a fireball launched at him and watching it collide with a vampiric bat. He slashed a lava hound in half before ducking and dodging an enraged Minotaur as he cocked his own fist back and launched it into the Minotaur's chest which sent the large beast flying through most of the monsters. Ben gazed down at his fist, "Woah. I knew I was strong, but not that strong."
He leaped onto one hand as he dodged a turrent of flames blasted at him. He noticed that the inferno ape's name was grey, as was the lava hound, 'That's strange, just a couple minutes ago they were both orange?' He didn't have much time to think on it when a vampiric bat flew at him from above. Ben leaped with his sword raised slicing straight through the bat. He flipped onto a lava hound as he drove his sword straight through its head.
He looked up at the monsters to see them approaching, 'Let's get this over with.' He thought as he withdrew his sword and charged toward them.
Ben was panting heavily as he had finally killed the last monster. In his hand was a small green rock with a white symbol on it, "Found you." He grinned.
[You have acquired the Hearthstone!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
Ben wiped the sweat from his face, "After two hours of nonstop fighting I only went up two levels." He laughed slightly, "Status Open."
Name: Benjamin Tennyson
Level: 24
Class: None
Title: Minotaur Slayer, Blazing Hound Killer
Hp: 1850
Mp: 1550
Fatigue: 47
[STATS]
Strength: 41
Agility: 41
Stamina: 41
Intelligence: 41
Perception: 41
[Available Stat Points to distribute: 2]
[Skills]
Passive Skills
-(Unknown) Lv. Max
-(Tenacity) Lv. 3
Active Skill
-(Dash) Lv. 2
Ben sat down on a deceased howler ape as he gazed at his stats, 'Even with my ridiculous climb in levels, I'm still not even close to obtaining the needed level to defeat him.' Ben gazed upwards to the bosses room who's energy could be felt from where he was.
He sighed, 'Should I just quit?' He thought a bit downtrodden, 'How would Gwen fair if she went up against the boss? Gwen! No this isn't the time to think about what it's. Remember why you're even doing this! TO SURPASS HER!' Now determined, Ben placed the Hearthstone into his inventory before he went up the caverns ramp towards the bosses room.
After ten minutes, Ben had cautiously walked through the hole within the wall. As he made it through, he looked around at the swamp like cavern. He looked around, 'Where's the boss?' He thought when his enhanced hearing picked up slithering?
'What's that noise?' He once again looked around trying to determine where the noise was coming from when a large tail slammed into his body launching him into the murky swamp water. Ben groaned as he looked over at his hp.
Hp: 1350
His gaze then went up to the boss that finally revealed itself to him. His eyes widened in complete fear, a large, well large was an understatement, the snake was maybe as big as full scaled Vaxasaurian, it's scales where as blue as the ocean, the underbelly of it was white and armored. It had fish like fins on its ears, a long Y tongue darted out of its insanely fanged mouth. It's red piercing eyes were locked onto his when a name appeared above it's large head, but it wasn't orange. It was crimson red.
[The Ninth Head of Yamato-no-Orochi: Kuzuryū]
Ben backed up which Kuzuryū, took as a sign of weakness and immediately attacked him. Ben rolled away from the vicious attack before reaching into his pocket and grabbing his pen and pushing the cap. The pen immediately transformed into his sword. Kuzuryū coiled itself as it launched straight at him again. Ben barrelrolled out the way before racing forward and attempting to slice into its body. Ben's eyes widened when he saw how tough the hide was, he was soon launched off his feet when Kuzuryū launched its tail into his chest sending him flying into a pillar.
Hp: 750
Ben coughed out blood as Kuzuryū stood above him, it's tongue darting out of its mouth. Ben gripped his sword tightly before gritting hit teeth angrily as he raced towards the large snake. The ninth head launched its tail at him, but Ben jumped over it and activated Dash.
[Dash will consume 1 mp per second upon activation]
Ben soon went racing along the Snakes body as it attempted to shake him off. Ben raised his sword up before trying to slam it into its head when Kuzuryū saw it coming and opened its mouth wide, Ben's eyes widened in shock, as his own attack was used against him. He used Dash once again to spin through its mouth before it could slam shut.
Mp: 1540
Ben landed on the ground as Kuzuryū immediately attacked him, Ben hopped backwards landing onto a pillar before leaping off of it. Kuzuryū tried lunging after him. Ben leaped onto another pillar to try and get away from it, but it was faster than he thought. He activated Dash once again.
[Dash will consume 1 mp per second upon activation]
Ben spent the last ten minutes using Dash to avoid being eaten or crushed by Orochi's ninth head. He leaped backwards, landing ontop of a partially destroyed tree.
Mp: 154
Ben saw his mp bar and knew it wasn't gonna be good if he ran out of mp attempting to dodge the beasts attacks, 'Think! Think what could be this things weakness?' He mentally yelled at himself as Kuzuryū came racing at him once again. Ben immediately launched out the way running across it's body before leaping off and landing on the ground, 'What happened in the lore that lead to it's defeat? Susanoo, Japanese God of Storms, slayed the eight headed beast, but that's it there's no mention of a ninth head.' Lost in his thoughts, he failed to notice the looking threat over him and was launched flying into a wall.
Hp: 150
[Health has fallen below 10%, now activating Tenacity Skill!]
Ben could see the beast looming over him, 'This isn't a dungeon, I can beat on my own.' He thought slowly, 'I should retreat before I'm killed.' Ben reached into his inventory to pull out the hearthstone, but Kuzuryū raced at him, not intending for its prey to escape that easily. Ben's eyes widened as he launched upwards while in the process dropping the hearthstone, "NOOO!" He landed on the ground before dodging a strike from the beasts tail.
Kuzuryū's eyes landed on where he had been standing, but no one was there. Ben having activated Dash at an extremely cynical moment found Kuzuryū looking for him. He was hanging from the vines on the ceiling hoping the snake charmer didn't notice him. While he had a moment to breathe, Ben quickly tried to think of a way to defeat the create that not even the lore mentioned.
'With no way to escape, I have to kill it, but how?' He gazed at its slithering body below as it tried to locate him, 'The lore only mentions eight heads, not nine.' He watched as the snake slithered below him, using his enhanced sight he scanned its body, 'Maybe there's something, I can use to kill this thing.' Ben's eyes moved insanely fast as it scanned its body repeatedly when on its lower back a scale was flipped upside down, 'What's up with that scale?' He couldn't really contemplate on his newest discovery when he heard it sniffing loudly, like it was inhaling his scent. He watched as Kuzuryū's head looked upwards, Ben felt fear when it hissed at him and soon lunged straight at him.
Ben used his sword and cut a vine swinging away, but Kuzuryū quickly changed its trajectory and sailed after him. Ben flipped over the large snake before racing onto its body. Kuzuryū launched after him, but Ben was prepared for it, he leaped back and slashed its tongue straight from its mouth. Kuzuryū snarled in anguish as its body bucked in pain. Ben sailed through the air before twisting and landing on the ground. He looked at the large snake to see the flipped scale was being protected as it coiled itself upwards.
'I don't have much hp left, if I get hit one more time, it's game over. I need to be smart about this and not rush it. Remember what grandpa said, 'an opportunity will always present itself to you.' Just gotta find it.' He thought before standing onto his feet, his sword at the ready.
Kuzuryū glared at him for slicing its tongue off. Ben was scared if he was being honest, this thing had been beating him black and blue, but no more, "Bring it on, you overzealous serpent." Ben knew it wasn't exactly a good idea to taunt the large monstrosity that had been toying with him this entire time, but if he were to die, he'd die fighting.
With that last thought in mind, Ben charged forward, his sword perched behind his back ready for whatever this beast had. Kuzuryū hissed at him before launching straight at him. As the two came with personal distance of the other, Ben slid beneath the monster's jaw, Kuzuryū thinking it had him between it's teeth looked around to find he had disappeared once again. Ben had came from the beasts underbelly before racing across the beasts back. Kuzuryū heard his feet and whipped its head around and snarled as it lunged at him once again.
Ben could feel Kuzuryū closing in on him, he reversed the grip on his sword before he leaped up as he placed his other hand onto his hilt, "DIE!" He screamed as he impaled his sword into the upside down scale, watching as the sword actually went through the scale into its awaiting flesh. Kuzuryū roared in pain as its weak spot was discovered as it attempted to buck the boy off itself. Ben gritted his teeth, "NOT THIS TIME!" He slammed the sword deeper, earning an even louder roar from the beast. Seeing the beast not going down, Ben launched onto its head, and used his new found strength and decided not to hold back. He squeezed tightly feeling the beast start going limp as it attempted to free itself, but Ben didn't have any plans for this and squeezed harder when it finally stopped moving.
Ben making sure the beast wasn't faking it, watched as the name disappeared, meaning he won. He was panting hard as he wiped the blood from his eyes as the system appeared before him.
[You have slain Boss Monster - Ninth Head of Yamato-no-Orochi: Kuzuryū!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
[You leveled up!]
Ben collapsed ontop of the body of Kuzuryū, "Finally, I did it." He smiled when another alert gained his attention.
[Rewards for defeating Ninth Head Yamato-no-Orochi: Kuzuryū have been gift to you. Would you like to claim them?]
"Wonder what I obtained in defeating this monstrosity?" He honestly couldn't really think of anything, "Yes."
[Reward 1: Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi]
[Reward 2: Yamato-no-Orochi: Kuzuryū's poisoned Fanged Dagger]
Ben's eyes widened in shock at what he acquired. He got the sword that Susuanoo obtained after he slayed the beast the first time and one of its fangs turned into a dagger. He quickled opened his inventory to find the legendary blade and the dagger there.
He reached in and grabbed the sheathed blade. The blade was approximately 70 to 75 cm. He wasn't too light and it wasn't too heavy. It was burgundy and gold with a little symbol on the scabbard. The crossguard of the blade was small winged and gold.
[Item: Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi]
[Item Rank: SSS]
[Type: Sword]
[Attack: ???]
[The Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi a holy weapon dropped from the slain beast of Yamato-no-Orochi Kuzuryū. Having the power to cut through anything the wielder deems an enemy.]
[Effect: Able to manipulate the winds in any direction the wielder needs it to.]
Ben's eyes widened even more as it read it's description again, 'Cut through anything the wielder deems an enemy.'
"This is unbelievable, having the sword that could challenge the Heavens?" He replied to himself as he grabbed the blades hilt and gripped the scabbard tightly as he drew the blade out. He looked at the blade to see his reflection looking back at him, "This is some weapon." He spun the sword before placing it back in its scabbard, "Let's see my other prize."
He reached into his inventory again and pulled out the dagger he gained. The Fanged dagger gleamed in the light, The blade is long and curved, resembling a fang. It has a dark, almost black hue with a slight sheen, indicating its sharpness and quality. The hilt is designed to look like a serpent's body, with intricate scales etched into the metal, providing a firm grip.
[Item: Kuzuryū's Venom Fang]
[Item Rank: C]
[Type: Dagger]
[Attack: 12]
[Kuzuryū's Fanged tooth pulled directly from the Serpent's mouth and made into a dagger. It has two effects to make an opponent poisoned and bleed]
[Effects: Poison - the enemy is poisoned and will lose health over time eventually killing them.]
"This isn't a bad weapon, I mean compared to the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi." He replied before walking over to his blade as he pulled it from the dead Serpent.
[Item: Anaklusmos]
[Item Rank: B]
[Type: Pen/Sword]
[Attack: 10]
[Anaklusmos also known as Riptide has been used by the Greeks in tearing monsters to shreds, but if that doesn't scare you it's pen form will.]
[Effects: Pen will transform by pushing it's cap. There's a secret button on the crossguard for it to revert back into its pen form.]
[Effects: If lost, Anaklusmos will return to your inventory.]
"Maybe I should have read the information screen thoroughly, but like they say the pen is mighty then the sword." He laughed before a pop up screen appeared.
[The Dungeon is now closing.]
"About time." He smirked when his eyes were blinded by a giant white light.
When he came too, he was holding his now dubbed sword Riptide and standing infront of Mr. Smoothie. He looked around found it was still dark outside, considering, he'd been in there for over eight hours atleast, "Welp, time to head back to the hospital then." Ben stuffed his hands into his pockets before walking back to the hospital.
On his way there, he noticed there was no one out, he raised an eyebrow before he saw a man in a military uniform and carrying an Ak-47. He soon saw the teenager approaching, "Halt, this is a restricted area." He then stopped once he saw the boys tattered clothes, "Are you a hunter?"
Ben raised an eyebrow before looking at his clothes to see them ripped to shreds and sighed, "Yeah, I am, what's going on around here?"
"Follow me!" The solider grabbed his arm and pulled him along.
'Whats happening?' Ben wondered gazing into the night sky.
"ARE THERE ANY HUNTERS NEARBY?" One of the Hunters screamed.
"THE DPS TEAMS AREN'T DOING THERE JOBS!"
"WE'RE TRYING! OUR WEAPONS DON'T HAVE AN EFFECT ON THE BOSSES BODY!"
A massive crowed was formed as seven hunters attempted to bring down a stone golem with a blue crystal eye. There was one C rank, three D-ranks, and three E-ranks. The tank was doing his best to keep the bosses attention on him while the dps attempted to destroy the rock monster, but none of there attacks were landing.
'Dammit, this isn't going well!' The tanker thought annoyed, 'Maybe, if we had a B rank or an A rank we'd be able to win.'
The fight between the Hunter and the Golem proved fruitless as they had no way of shattering it's defense. When the solider and Benjamin entered the scene.
"Have a look, there struggling really bad. Do you think you could help them?"
Ben placed a hand under his chin as he narrowed his eyes and could tell this monster wasn't anything special compared to Orochi's ninth head or the Minotaur. He should be able to destroy it without using Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi.
"Yeah, I think I can help." He replied curtly before the man smiled and nodded.
"Do what you can."
"Alright." Ben reached into his pocket and out came Anaklusmos. He smiled as he remembered Riptide's special effect, "I'll see you soon, partner." He whispered to the pen as he stepped back and gripped the pen behind his back, his thumb lightly on the cap.
He grinned darkly before pulling his arm back and throwing Anaklusmos through the air. Before he let go he had pushed the cap. He watched as Riptide transformed midair and collide with the golem shattering it's face, with the sword jutting out of the crystal.
Ben kinda sweatdropped at the amount of strength he used. He laughed lightly before pulling his hood up as he vanished before anyone could see him.
Everyone was left flabbergasted when a sword had destroyed the golem, "WE DID IT!" One of the E ranks screamed happily, but the tank knew it wasn't them. Over the loud cheering, he noticed a black long sword jutting out of the destroyed crystal, but before he could grab it, it vanished into thin air.
He gazed around before finding a solider in the background gazing around curiously, "Hey!" He shouted garnering the soldiers attention, "There was a sword jutting out of the golem, did you see who threw it?"
The solider looked around and didn't see the boy he'd come here with, "Yeah, it was another hunter, but I didn't get his name."
'A hunter threw that? He must have been an A-Class Hunter.' He thought.
"That monster was weaker than I thought. Didn't even get any exp from it." He opened his inventory to see Anaklusmos appear before he grinned and made his was back to the hospital, 'Oh well.'
To Be Continued..
A/N: Ok, I know you guys will have questions about why it was abunch of greek and Japanese monsters, but you'll understand where this book will go. Next chapter, will be Ben's first dungeon exploration with a group of people. And I decided to redo Ben's pen sword's item description, cuz let's be honest it deserves a better introduction. Now Ben's sword the Kusanagi-no-Tsurugi, it will be Ben's second choice after Anaklusmos and Kuzuryū's dagger. Or when he's faced against an enemy he knows he can't beat, he'll draw the sword. Ben will be well versed in ancient history's lore and he will be forced to remember like what he did against the ninth head of Yamato-no-Orochi. Ben will be a sword and dagger user instead of dual blade or dual daggers. I'll explain more in the next chapter.