Kureous

  What?! Just like that?! I couldn't believe it, even as I stopped the Minotauros' axe with a powerful swing of my sword. I can win! Wasting no time, the Minotauros sent me flying to the other end of the barrier with a kick from its front legs. S-so fast! This created some distance between us, which gave me an opportunity I was all too happy to take advantage of.

  As I switched to my bow, the adrenaline rush was in full swing. I was almost running on autopilot, observing my very own movements from the outside. I fired my arrows with all the speed and power I could muster, but it elegantly weaved through their paths, blocking or cutting down anyone it could not evade. The way it moved coupled with its body size almost felt unfair, but I sure as hell wasn't one to talk. Mr. Minotaur is probably real pissed right now, I thought to myself with a nervous smile. It wasn't going to be easy, but I knew I'd eventually find the opening I was looking for as the fight dragged on. Just then, however...

  "It seems your wits are at their sharpest when you're less involved in the action," Tamara spoke directly into my mind like the st time.

  "W-what do you mean?" I asked, not knowing how to feel about her comment.

  "You must develop your ability to think calmly in the heat of battle," She instructed, continuing with, "Remember, it's a boss. You gain EXP for each successful hit, so trying to find an opening to deal critical damage is useless. Just whittle down its HP little by little, and you'll find yourself on equal footing before long."

  She can definitely read minds, I thought to myself as I moved out of the Minotauros way for the umpteenth time. It turned to face me, baring its teeth with an unexpinable rage as it prepared for another charge. It was risky, but once it took off, I chose to meet it head on for the second time. This time, however, there was a small twist.

  As its axe was moments away from splitting me in half, I unleashed my full speed and blitzed past it, leaving several cuts as a parting gift. I learned the technique from Phildina and generally found it easier to pull off on horseback. Still, it didn't really deal all that much damage. That's some absurd defense, I thought to myself as the panel appeared before me.

  DaphneLV 82HP1083 + 40%Str566 + 40%Dex695 + 40%Spd523 + 40%Luck 471 + 40%P-DEF450 + 40%M-DEF578 + 40%Status-----CompatibilityLuciaThree levels! It must've been ridiculously powerful, probably even maxed out to give this much EXP. As I stood there in utter disbelief, it let out a wild howl and galloped towards me, swinging its massive axe once I was within striking range. However, I'd already committed to going on the offensive, so I parried its strike with my sword and counterattacked with an upward ssh that cut deep into its thick hide, wounding the beast grievously and netting me five levels in the process.

  DaphneLV 87HP1136+ 40%Str604 + 40%Dex712 + 40%Spd554 + 40%Luck 499 + 40%P-DEF476 + 40%M-DEF597 + 40%Status-----CompatibilityLuciaAs it roared in great pain, I switched to my bow and felt the surge of power I was all too familiar with take over as I carefully positioned the arrow and drew the string. Time to put you out of your misery, I thought to myself as I released and watched it obliterate the Minotauros, resulting in a shower of blood within the barrier and a panel that read:

  DaphneLV 97HP1249+ 40%Str663 + 40%Dex750 + 40%Spd591 + 40%Luck 532 + 40%P-DEF517 + 40%M-DEF645 + 40%Status-----CompatibilityLuciaI could probably fight the emperor and win, I thought to myself quite arrogantly but quickly dismissed the thought as the barrier dissipated into nothing and as Tamara approached me with an enchanting smile on her face.

  "With this, monsters of their caliber won't suffice, so you'll be training with me from now on!" She delivered the news smiling from ear to ear, but I felt like dropping to my knees. As she dragged me to our new training ground, I could only wonder how my days would be like under my master's tutege.