The facility loomed ahead, an ominous structure hidden beneath the earth's surface.
Rey stood at the entrance, the faint glow of the moonlight casting long shadows across the jagged rocks surrounding the area. The air was thick with tension, and his pulse quickened in anticipation of the fight to come.
He placed a hand on the hilt of the sword he had summoned with Magic moments earlier, its blade shimmering faintly in the darkness.
Rey took a deep breath, steadying his thoughts.
He had no intention of sneaking in this time.
'Let's see how they handle a frontal assault,' he thought, a smirk forming on his lips.
Gathering his magic, he created a glowing orb of energy in his palm, its light illuminating his determined expression.
With a flick of his wrist, he hurled the orb at the facility's entrance.
~BOOOOOOOOOOOOMMMM!!!~
The explosion that followed was deafening, shaking the ground and sending debris flying.
Almost immediately, the air was filled with guttural growls and hisses as the facility's defenses came alive.
Rey's eyes narrowed as figures emerged from the shadows—monsters of various shapes and sizes, their eyes glowing with a feral light. They charged at him in unison, their movements coordinated and precise.
"Domesticated," Rey muttered, his tone laced with disdain. "Figures they'd train these creatures to guard their dirty little secrets."
These people were very smart about it too.
'This way anyone who sees this from afar and even suspects any activity inside will probably think it's a Monster Den and stay away.'
Rey also had a few other thoughts going on in his mind, but he couldn't afford to dwell on them.
The first wave of monsters lunged at him, but Rey was ready.
~VWUUSH!~
He activated [Battle Aura], a surge of crimson energy enveloping his body. The aura crackled with raw power, heightening his senses and sharpening his reflexes.
The monsters hesitated for a split second, sensing the danger, but it was too late. Rey dashed forward, his sword slicing through the air with unparalleled precision.
His [Grand Weapon Mastery] allowed him to wield the blade as though it were an extension of his arm.
Each swing was calculated, each movement deliberate.
A wolf-like beast leaped at him, but Rey sidestepped effortlessly, his sword cutting through its side in a single, fluid motion.
Another creature—a massive, bear-like monster with spiked fur—charged at him, its claws slashing through the air. Rey ducked under its swipe and retaliated with a powerful upward slash, the blade glowing faintly as it cleaved through the beast's thick hide.
~WHISH!~
The monsters came at him relentlessly, but Rey's [Grand Combat Application] allowed him to adapt to their every move.
A serpent-like creature lunged at him from the side, its fangs dripping with venom.
Rey spun on his heel, his blade arcing through the air to sever the serpent's head before it could strike.
~SWUSH!~
As the battle raged on, Rey's confidence grew.
He moved with a grace and power that felt almost instinctual, his body and mind working in perfect harmony.
It almost felt like he was in H'Trae again.
"Is this all you've got?" he called out, his voice cutting through the chaos. "I expected more from the people running this operation!"
His taunt seemed to trigger a response. From the shadows emerged a larger, more formidable monster—a hulking brute with armored plates covering its body and glowing red eyes that burned with rage.
Rey's smirk widened. "Now we're talking."
The brute roared and charged at him, its massive fists slamming into the ground with enough force to create a shockwave.
~BOOOOOOOOOOOOM!!!~
Rey leaped into the air, avoiding the impact, and brought his sword down in a powerful strike aimed at the creature's exposed neck. The blade glanced off the monster's armor with a sharp clang, and Rey landed gracefully, his mind already analyzing the situation.
Its armor is too tough for a direct attack. I'll need to find a weak spot.
The brute swung its massive arm at him, and Rey rolled out of the way, narrowly avoiding the blow.
He activated [Combat Sense], his mind flooding with information about the creature's movements and potential vulnerabilities.
The joints, he realized, his eyes locking onto the gaps in the creature's armor. That's where I'll strike.
The brute charged again, but this time, Rey was ready.
He ducked under its swing and delivered a precise slash to the back of its knee. The creature let out a pained roar, its movements faltering as it stumbled forward.
Rey didn't hesitate.
He surged forward, his blade cutting into the creature's other leg with ruthless efficiency.
"Guaaarrrk!"
The brute collapsed to its knees, its armored body crashing to the ground with a resounding thud.
With one final leap, Rey brought his sword down on the creature's neck, the blade piercing through the exposed flesh.
~SQUELCH!~
The brute let out a final, guttural roar before falling silent, its massive body going limp.
Rey stood over the fallen beast, his chest heaving as he caught his breath. His aura flickered for a moment before fading, the crimson energy dissipating into the night.
The remaining monsters hesitated, their instincts urging them to flee. Rey raised his sword, its blade gleaming ominously.
"Go ahead," he said, his voice low and menacing. "Run back to your masters. Let them know I'm coming."
The monsters scattered, disappearing into the shadows as Rey lowered his weapon. He glanced back at the facility, his expression hardening.
"This is just the beginning," he muttered, stepping toward the entrance once more.
'Hopefully this is enough to let the people inside know that I mean business… so I should be expecting even more opponents for round two.'
He could do this the entire night, but he most likely wouldn't have to.
'As long as I'm able to Level Up and stop whatever is going on here… I'll consider tonight a big win for me.'
Most importantly, he would leave no trace of his usual fighting style.
'It's why I'm choosing to use Martial Arts rather than my standard Magic or Skills.'
Either way, those thoughts were only secondary.
'What matters now isn't Tess and the rest of her team… but whatever comes out of that cave next.'