Getting spoiled in a woman dominating world-Chapter 71: A-rank Dungeon [5]

Naevora’s gaze squinted slightly looking at him ’The small fights, the spar training or the hologram beast he fought in Academy would not give him much experience...’

’Struggle, get beaten up and stand again, Brandon.’

A smile curled on her lips as she looked at him ’Good thing, he has not broken yet.’

He expected him to ask for her help when faced with a powerful aberrant, but he is fighting that aberrant with all of his strength.

’Yeah.. that’s it. Force your ether core to evolve...’

Brandon’s grip tightened around his dagger as he rolled his shoulders, shaking off the lingering pain from being tossed like a ragdoll.

The aberrant lunged at him again as its sharp claws gleamed under the eerie glow of the dungeon’s distorted sky.

Brandon sidestepped, and as the aberrant’s swipe passed inches from his face, he struck.

His dagger slashed upward... SHINK!... slicing into its arm, but the aberrant barely flinched.

Instead, it retaliated instantly, and its free arm shot toward him with monstrous speed.

Brandon ducked low and the attack whizzed over his head, carving a deep gash into the ruined stone wall behind him.

Without missing a beat, he planted his foot and drove his fist into the aberrant’s gut.

BAM!

The creature let out a distorted shriek as the impact sent ripples through its body.

It staggered, but before it could recover, Brandon sprang into action as a blue glint of energy passed through his eyes.

A blue square-shaped seal flared beneath the aberrant’s feet.

Instantly, the creature lurched downward as gravity pulled it to the ground.

Its body buckled, its limbs trembled, and it let out a strangled snarl as the crushing force pinned it in place.

’Gravity Vortex...’

Brandon dashed forward and drove his knee straight into its jaw—CRACK!—a sickening crunch echoed as its head snapped back.

Before it could recover, he spun, swinging his dagger in a deadly arc.

SHIIIK!

A deep gash appeared across its chest as black blood sprayed onto the crumbling stone floor.

"Grraarghh!!" The aberrant let out a guttural howl and its body convulsed as it forced itself to break free of the seal’s crushing force.

But Brandon didn’t let it go easily and used the ’Gravity Vortex’ skill once again.

The creature shrieked as the overwhelming gravitational pull once again pinned it down.

It struggled harder this time and its muscles bulged as it tried to resist... but Brandon didn’t let up.

He lunged forward and plunged his dagger into its shoulder, twisting the blade with brutal force.

SCHLK!

His other hand curled into a fist as ether surged into his muscles.

He pulled back and—

BOOM!

A devastating right hook smashed into its ribs.

Bones cracked beneath his fist.

"GHRAAKK!" The aberrant gagged and its body jerked violently, but before it could react, Brandon pivoted and drove his elbow into its gut.

The force sent shockwaves through its body, causing its entire body to buckle under the assault.

Then, with a grin, he twisted his dagger and ripped it back, tearing through flesh and bone in one fluid motion.

SCHRRK!

A spray of thick, black blood splattered across his jacket, but he didn’t even notice that.

The aberrant stumbled back, limbs shaking and its movements became sluggish from the repeated gravitational seals and relentless strikes.

Brandon exhaled as ether flooded his muscles and he lunged forward.

His dagger whipped through the air, slashing across the aberrant’s wrist, severing it cleanly.

The creature let out a shriek, stumbling backward—

But Brandon was already on the move.

SCHLK!

With another slash, its entire left arm was sliced off.

The aberrant screeched in agony as its black blood pooled around its feet.

Gripping his dagger in a reverse grip, Brandon stepped forward and plunged it straight into the aberrant’s throat.

SHHNK!

"GHRRAGHH!" The creature’s shrieks turned into a strangled gurgle as black blood poured from its throat.

Brandon twisted the dagger and ripped it back, tearing its entire neck open.

The aberrant collapsed to its knees, twitching violently.

Brandon exhaled and watched as the creature’s body shuddered... and then finally fell still.

A silence followed.

His arms were slick with the aberrant’s dark blood.

His jacket was tattered and his side still stinging from the earlier wound, but despite it all—

He grinned.

’That felt good.’

Naevora walked to him with a smile on her face "Well done, Brandon... You fought well. Your movements are starting to align with your instincts, and you’re learning how to use ether naturally without overthinking it. But you still need refinement."

"And.. congrats, now you are a D-rank awakener."

Huh?

Only then did Brandon realize and closed his eyes to feel his Ether core, and sure enough... it had expanded a bit.

Before, his ether core had been small, unstable, something that felt like an ember struggling to catch fire.

But now, it has grown and expanded.

At this time, he felt a hot sensation on his chest and grabbed the fabric of his jacket near his heart.

Naevora noticed this and spoke "It must be your Genesis mark, which evolves a little as your rank increases every time."

As she spoke, she took a potion of glass from the ring and gave it to him "Drink this, your injuries will be healed..."

Looking at the green potion inside the glass bottle, he quickly gulped it down.

Soon, the wounds on his body and the pain quickly disappeared.

Taking a deep breath, he threw the glass bottle away "Haa... now I feel better."

He removed his jacket and looked at the torn t-shirt, but the injuries has been gone.

Naevora looked around and spoke "For now, let’s leave..."

Brandon nodded his head and glanced at the surroundings once more before making his way back outside the dungeon.

---

As they stepped out of the dungeon’s massive gateway, Brandon took a deep breath to fill his lungs, and he instinctively rolled his shoulders, feeling the tension begin to ease from his body.

He ran a hand through his damp hair, pushing it back as he adjusted the torn fabric of his shirt.

Naevora smiled, her gaze shifting to the sky "The hovercraft should be arriving soon. Let’s move toward the landing zone."

Brandon followed her as they walked across the barren landscape outside the dungeon.

After a few minutes of walking, a rumbling sound vibrated in the air.

Brandon looked up, squinting against the bright sunlight as he spotted a dark silhouette cutting across the sky.

A sleek, black military-grade hovercraft descended toward them and its massive thrusters kicked up gusts of wind and sent loose dirt scattering across the ground.

The craft hovered just a few feet above the surface before extending a metallic ramp from its underbelly.

The hatch opened, and two armed female guards in black-and-gray combat uniforms stood at the entrance, their weapons slung across their backs.

Naevora strode up the ramp and Brandon immediately followed her.

As soon as they were inside, the ramp retracted, and the hatch sealed shut with a mechanical hiss.

The hovercraft immediately began its ascent, smoothly lifting off the ground and soaring back into the sky.

Brandon leaned back against one of the seats, closing his eyes for a moment.

Naevora plopped down on the seat across from him, crossing her legs as she looked at him ausedly "So, how was it? Your first real dungeon experience?"

Brandon cracked one eye open. "Painful."

Naevora couldn’t help but chuckle and asked "Want something to eat? Or you can refresh in the Hovercraft."

With a shake of his head, he replied "Nope, just need a little rest for now."

---

Stepping out of the car, Brandon looked at the house in front of him and sighed in his heart.