The moment the system notification faded, Finn felt something he couldn't explain surge within.
It felt raw and alive.
Even though he had never been the gym type back in his world, his body now felt different....lighter, stronger, sharper. Every muscle responded with a precision, as if it had been awakened from a long sleep.
The combat ability? Finn thought inwardly with his eyes wide open in realization. I believe the combat ability is responsible.
He had just purchased it… and now he was feeling the effects.
His fingers curled slowly into fists as he exhaled, testing the strength in his arms.
"…So this is what it feels like," he murmured under his breath.
{Move.}
The system's command rang sharply in his head.
Before Finn could even process it, his body reacted on instinct.
His legs moved fast.
In the blink of an eye, he was no longer standing where he had been a second ago.
BOOM!
A deafening impact shook the ground behind him.
Finn's eyes widened as he turned back, the spot he had been standing on… was gone.
The floor had been completely shattered, cracks spider-webbing outward from a massive crater. Dust and debris rose into the air, and at the center of it all stood a monstrous fist embedded into the ground.
That punch…
It had been meant for him.
"…What the..."
{+500 Coins}
The notification flashed briefly before disappearing.
"Fuck…" Finn breathed, his voice low and filled with disbelief.
His hands tightened into fists again as he slowly lifted his gaze snd that was when he saw it.
The monster.
It towered over him like a walking mountain....its entire body made of rough, jagged stone. Light fire could be seen in it's cracks as heat radiated from it, distorting the air around its massive frame.
Its presence alone was suffocating.
Finn swallowed hard.
"I didn't even see it coming…" he muttered, his brows knitting together. "When the hell did it get here?"
His eyes flickered toward the creature's back.
Wings.
Massive stone wings extended from its shoulders, faint fire flickering between the cracks.
"…So it flew?" Finn guessed, his voice uncertain.
But that didn't make sense.
Even if it flew, something that huge should have made noise when it landed.
A lot of noise yet he hadn't hear a thing.
Ding!
{It has movement concealment active. A normal human wouldn't even realize when it kills them but fortunately, you're not alone. You have me.}
Finn let out a short breath, a dry chuckle escaping him despite the tension in his chest.
"Oh, how reassuring," he muttered sarcastically.
Then his expression shifted, something clicking in his mind.
"Wait… what about the Dragon Prince?" Finn asked quickly, his gaze darting around. "At this rate, that thing might just step on him!"
A flicker of fear passed through his eyes, and his body trembled slightly but he forced himself to stay upright.
Running now wasn't an option.....not when something like this stood in front of him.
Ding!
{He is under my protection.}
{Focus on the task at hand. Defeat this monster, and both you and the Dragon Prince will be able to escape safely.}
Finn frowned.
"That's funny," he said, his tone laced with irritation. "You can protect him, but not me?"
{Your survival depends on your actions, Host.}
Finn clicked his tongue in annoyance.
"Yeah, yeah… figures."
Ding!
{The other monsters have already been absorbed by the Circular Gear. They cannot manifest again today.}
Finn blinked.
"The… what?"
{The Circular Gear.}
{Only the Stone Monster is currently active. If you fail to defeat it, it will eliminate you.}
There was a brief pause.
Finn dragged a hand down his face, exhaling sharply.
"…Circular Gear? Absorbed monsters?" he repeated, his voice rising slightly in disbelief. "I don't understand a single thing you're saying."
He lowered his hand, his gaze hardening as it locked onto the towering creature ahead.
"The only thing I do understand…" Finn said quietly, his fists clenching once more, "…is that if I don't take this bastard down…"
His eyes sharpened, a flicker of resolve igniting within them.
"…then I'm dead."
"Growl!"
{Get ready, host. The moment I remove the spell binding its legs, the monster will charge at you. There is a limit to how much I can assist and every form of assistance comes at a cost. The coins you earn from monsters will be partially deducted as payment for my help.}
Finn scoffed, his lips curling in irritation. "No wonder that bastard wasn't moving. I was already wondering why." He exhaled sharply, shaking his head. "And you… you're seriously greedy."
GROWL~
A second later, the invisible restraint vanished while the monster lunged forward.
Its massive stone body thundered across the ground, each step sending violent tremors through the earth. Dust rose into the air as it charged straight at Finn, murderous intent blazing in its hollow eyes.
Yet Finn didn't move or rather he couldn't. He was shaking in fear .
Just as the monster's enormous hand came crashing down to crush him, hiis body finally moved.
It wasn't a conscious decision rather it felt as though the wind itself had seized him, dragging him out of harm's way in a blur of motion. His feet barely registered against the ground, his body acting faster than his fear.
CRASH!
The spot where he had stood shattered into pieces.
"....What the hell…?" Finn gasped, his chest rising and falling rapidly.
{+1000 coins}
"I might actually die from fear at this rate…" he muttered inwardly, his breath uneven.
GROWL~
The monster didn't stop but instead charged towards Finn again, swinging its arm with brutal force.
But then, a sword appeared in Finn's hand.
He barely had time to process it before his arms moved on their own, raising the blade just in time to block the incoming strike. The blade glowing faint blue but Finn didn't even have time to ask why at this rate.
CLANG!
The impact sent a violent shock through his entire body as the blade collided with the monster.
{+1000 coins}
"What the fuck?!" Finn cursed under his breath, his grip tightening around the sword. "How the hell is this thing supposed to die?! It's made of stone!"
Despite his panic, his body kept moving, dodging, striking, reacting far beyond what his mind could keep up with.
{You must locate and destroy its core. That is its heart. Only then will it die. Once the monster is destroyed, the core will be yours.}
"Core?!" Finn barked mentally, narrowly avoiding another crushing blow. "Where the hell is it?!"
The monster's attacks grew faster, more aggressive....its killing intent intensifying with every missed strike.
GROWL~
{You will have to figure that out yourself, host.}
"What?!" Finn snapped, anger flaring through his fear. "How the fuck am I supposed to do that?! I'll be dead before I even find it!"
CRASH!
The monster's fist slammed into the ground again, missing him by inches as his body jerked away at the last second.
Sweat poured down Finn's face, his breathing ragged all while his heartbeat pounded violently in his ears.
GROWL~
{Combat ability will expire in five minutes.}
Finn's eyes widened.
"What?!" he shouted aloud this time. "There's a timer?! After spending 4,000 coins?! Are you serious?!"
{Correction: You have only paid 2,000 coins. A remaining balance of 2,000 coins is required.}
Finn froze for half a second then gritted his teeth.
"That's bullshit! why the hell will there be a timer on something that costs 4,000 coins?! Shouldn't purchased abilities be permanent?!"
{If full payment had been made, the ability would indeed be permanent. However, partial payment results in temporary access.}
"Oh, fuck you," Finn spat, his voice dripping with venom.
{Mind your language, host. I am bound by rules and regulations. I will not be held accountable for your misconduct.}
"Fuck your rules!" Finn snapped loudly.
The monster roared again, charging once more.
GROWL ~
"How the hell am I supposed to kill a walking rock?!" Finn thought frantically, his body continuing to fight on instinct alone.
He slashed, dodged, blocked but none of it is working.
CRASH!
The monster's massive hand struck him directly.
"AAAHHH!"
Finn's body was sent flying through the air like a ragdoll before crashing violently against the wall.
BAM!
The impact knocked the breath out of him as pain exploded across his back.
"Fuck…!" he groaned as blood spilled from his mouth.
His vision blurred instantly while the grip on the sword weakened.
Ding!
{Three minutes remaining, host.}
{You are only facing this creature alone because it is a boss. I permitted the circular gear to absorb the lesser undead. However, if you fail to defeat this boss....they will return. And when they do, you will not only face the boss… but the entire horde alongside it.}
"Just kill me instead. I give up!"