The massive stone paws of the Obsidian Chimera descended casting a dark shadow over Glen.

"Glacies" Isla shouted her voice cutting through the deafening roar of the monster.

She pulled the trigger of her left pistol. A concentrated beam of absolute zero energy shot across the courtyard. It bypassed Glen entirely and slammed directly into the center of the Chimera’s chest.

The effect was instantaneous. A thick layer of jagged white frost exploded outward from the point of impact rapidly spreading across the monster’s obsidian armor. The extreme cold locked the beast’s joints freezing its massive raised paws in mid air just inches above Glen’s head.

The Chimera let out a distorted screech struggling against the magical ice.

"One" Glen counted out loud his eyes locked on the frozen monster.

Isla dropped her left pistol and raised her right. The runes on the barrel flared with a blinding orange intensity. The air around her warped from the sheer heat she was gathering into the chamber.

"Two" Glen counted feeling the ice above him begin to crack as the Chimera forced its muscles to move.

"Ignis" Isla screamed.

She fired. A massive bullet of compressed liquid fire tore through the air. It struck the exact same spot on the Chimera’s chest where the ice had formed.

"Three."

The thermal shock was catastrophic. The rapid shift from absolute zero to thousands of degrees caused the indestructible obsidian armor to violently expand and contract in a fraction of a second.

A deafening crack echoed through the temple courtyard. The center of the Chimera’s chest shattered exploding outward in a shower of sharp black glass and boiling steam. The monster was thrown backward by the force of the blast crashing onto the stone floor and thrashing in absolute agony.

Where the thick armor had been there was now a gaping jagged hole revealing the glowing yellow core pulsing deep within the beast’s chest.

"The core is exposed" Isla yelled dropping to one knee as her pistols vented thick clouds of exhaust smoke. "Finish it Mcdonald. I am out of mana."

Glen did not hesitate. This was the opening they had created.

He activated Thunder Phantom Step. The purple lightning erupted around him compressing the air and reinforcing his bones. He dashed forward moving faster than the Chimera could track. He leaped into the air soaring directly over the thrashing monster.

He brought both of his silver swords together pointing the blades straight down. He channeled every remaining drop of his mana into the weapons wrapping them in a dense aura of purple electricity.

Gravity and momentum did the rest.

Glen drove the twin swords directly into the gaping hole in the Chimera’s chest plunging the blades deep into the glowing yellow core.

The monster went completely rigid. A blinding flash of yellow light erupted from its chest blinding Glen for a split second. Then the light faded. The massive stone body crumbled turning into a pile of lifeless gray ash and shattered obsidian.

Glen landed heavily on the floor rolling across the marble to absorb the impact. He lay on his back staring up at the dark ceiling of the cavern gasping for air. His muscles were screaming his mana was completely empty and his hands were shaking.

But he was alive.

A cascade of system prompts flooded his vision illuminating the dark cavern with crimson text.

Boss Defeated.

Massive Experience Gained.

Level Up.

Level Up.

Level Up.

Level Up.

Level Up.

Level Up.

System Alert: User has surpassed Level 10.

Spiritual Core Evolved.

Core Capacity Expanded: +1 Slot.

Glen closed his eyes and let out a long exhausted laugh. He had jumped from Level 6 to Level 12 in a single fight. The soothing energy of the level up washed over him repairing his torn muscles and reinforcing his skeleton.

But the most important notification was the last one. He felt a deep physical shift inside his chest. His spiritual core which had been stretched to its absolute limit holding three high tier skills suddenly expanded. It felt like a compressed lung finally taking a deep breath of fresh air. Reaching Level 10 had broken a natural threshold granting him a fourth slot.

He heard the sound of footsteps approaching. Isla walked over and looked down at him. Her face was covered in soot and sweat but she was smiling. It was a real genuine smile.

"Not bad luggage carrier" Isla said offering him a hand.

Glen took her hand and let her pull him to his feet. "Not bad yourself, Your timing was perfect."

"Do not let it go to your head" Isla said turning toward the pile of ash. Resting in the center of the debris was a massive pristine B Rank boss core. It glowed with a warm yellow light.

Glen walked over and picked it up. It was heavy pulsing with raw earth mana. He looked at the ash surrounding it. His Skill Predator class usually required blood to steal a skill but this monster was made of stone and magic.

He knelt down and pressed his bare hand against the glowing core itself. He had an empty slot now and he was not going to let it go to waste.

His dark spiritual core reacted instantly.

System Error.

Hidden Condition Met: Direct Contact with Boss Core.

Skill Acquired: Obsidian Skin C Rank.

Status: Permanent.

Core Capacity: 4 of 4 Slots Filled.

Glen felt a strange heavy sensation wash over his skin. He focused his mind and activated the new skill. A thin layer of dark translucent armor formed over his hands and forearms hardening his skin to the density of volcanic glass. It was a perfect defensive skill. He deactivated it saving his remaining mana.

"Did you get something good?" Isla asked watching him closely.

"Obsidian Skin" Glen replied tossing the boss core to her. "A defensive buff. It will keep me from breaking my bones every time I punch something."

Isla caught the core and stored it in her duster. "Good. You are going to need it. The Grimhunt assassins we killed earlier mean that Duncan Carmichael is not going to stop. He knows you are a threat. He will use his guild connections to make your life a living hell."

Glen frowned looking at the dark tunnel leading back to the surface. "So what is the plan? I cannot fight an entire guild branch by myself. Not yet anyway."

"You do not have to" Isla said walking toward the exit. "In three weeks the Academy is hosting the Global Rookie Tournament. It is a massive broadcasted event. If you enter and place in the top ten the Hunter Association grants you an Independent License."

Glen raised an eyebrow following her. "An Independent License?"

"It means you answer directly to the global government" Isla explained. "No local guild manager can touch you. Duncan Carmichael would not be able to send assassins without committing an act of treason against the world council. You become untouchable by the middle management trash."

Glen smiled. A tournament. A chance to fight the best rookies in the world on live television. A chance to show everyone exactly what the F Rank Mimic had become.

"Three weeks" Glen said his dark eyes gleaming with anticipation. "That gives me plenty of time to level up. Sign me up Sinclair."