Starting out as a Dragon Slave-Chapter 45: Rank D dungeon

After only a few hours of troubled sleep, Isaac opened his eyes, his body still aching and heavy with exhaustion. The dull morning light filtered slowly through the curtains, gently illuminating his face marked by fatigue and the night’s exertions.

Without saying a word, he slowly rose from his bed, feeling every muscle protest violently under the weight of the tension he had imposed on them. Yet no physical pain now seemed able to match the unbearable intensity of the rage still burning fiercely inside him.

His mind was now focused on a single goal: to become stronger, powerful enough to crush Belgaroth and avenge Akane.

Isaac dressed quickly, grabbing his black katana before leaving his apartment. He walked swiftly through the now bustling streets of Paris, his face closed and cold, without a smile or apparent emotion. His eyes, burning with anger, stared straight ahead with cold, implacable determination.

Arriving in front of the guild’s discreet building, he pushed open the door with cool assurance, heading immediately for the old hunter in charge of reception.

The man, as always, was seated behind his desk, immersed in a timeworn ledger. On seeing Isaac arrive, he slowly raised his eyes, calmly observing the young hunter before him with curiosity mixed with a hint of concern.

- It’s you again, Isaac," he finally said in a neutral but intrigued voice. What are you after today? Another E-rank dungeon?

Isaac stared intently at the man, his gaze now burning with cold, resolute determination:

- No. This time, I want a D-rank dungeon.

The old hunter looked at him intensely, silently, slowly probing Isaac’s cold, determined eyes. A heavy, tense silence slowly stretched between them, before he finally let out a deep, resigned sigh:

- Rank D, eh?" he repeated slowly, watching her carefully. You know this isn’t a joke, Isaac? This kind of dungeon is far more dangerous than anything you’ve done so far.

Isaac remains perfectly calm and impassive, staring intently at the man in front of him:

- I’m perfectly aware of the risks. I’m ready for it.

The old hunter nodded slowly, a discreet but approving smile finally appearing on his time-worn lips:

- All right, kid. But I’ll need some time to find you a team and a suitable dungeon. Come back in the afternoon. I’ll do my best to make sure you get what you want.

Isaac simply nodded, silently acknowledging the old hunter’s understanding. But just as he was about to leave, the man suddenly called out to him, staring intensely into his now serious eyes:

- One last thing, Isaac: if you want to continue exploring higher-level dungeons, you’ll need to raise your hunter rank. Your current map won’t be enough for much longer.

Isaac watched the old hunter calmly, clearly understanding the deeper meaning of his words. He simply nodded, his determination intact:

- I’ll do whatever it takes.

The old hunter smiled slowly, seeming satisfied by this direct and determined answer. Isaac finally left the guild building, his thoughts now entirely focused on the challenges ahead.

When Isaac returned to the guild that afternoon, the old hunter was already waiting for him, sitting behind his desk cluttered with yellowing registers and parchments.

Without a word, he points to a group of individuals gathered nearby, busy checking their equipment with care and seriousness.

Isaac slowly approaches the group, his face cold, impassive. A man with short-cropped dark hair, wearing reinforced leather armor and a broad sword at his back, immediately turns to him, watching him intently with his dark, sharp, piercing eyes.

- You must be Isaac," he said simply, extending his hand in a firm but friendly gesture. I’m Jack, captain of this team. Welcome to our group.

Isaac calmly shook the outstretched hand, quickly observing each team member. They were all experienced, determined and clearly used to working together.

Jack quickly introduced each of them:

- This is Ella, our scout, quick and precise with her bow. Right behind, you’re Marcus, a defensive specialist with a large shield and short spear. On the flank is Dimitri, an agile offensive fighter with double blades. At the back, you’ve got Kara, our support magician specialized in healing and magical defense. Finally, next to her, Seiji, an offensive magician specializing in fire.

Isaac simply nodded at each one, aware that their training was optimal, with each member having a precise role to play.

Jack placed a firm hand on Isaac’s shoulder, serious but calm:

- We’re going into a D-rank dungeon infested with giant ants. You’ll soon see that the difficulty is far greater than anything you’ve faced before. I’m counting on you to stay focused.

Isaac replied simply with a cold, determined look:

- I’ll do my part.

Without wasting any more time, the group set off, quickly traversing the bustling city streets to reach the discreet entrance of an abandoned building, the location of the dungeon.

No sooner had they passed through the magical portal leading to the dungeon than an acrid, damp smell immediately permeated the air. They soon found themselves in a huge, dark cavern, criss-crossed by winding tunnels.

Jack immediately gave his orders with precision:

- Ella, lead the way. Marcus, up front with me. Dimitri and Isaac, cover the flanks. Kara and Seiji, stay behind to provide support and care. Let’s go.

Within seconds of their entry, an ominous vibration echoed through the rocky walls of the tunnel. Immediately, dozens of giant ants suddenly emerged from the side tunnels, their shiny black chitin faintly reflecting the group’s magical lights.

- IN FORMATION!" shouted Jack, immediately raising his sword in readiness for battle.

Isaac, his face cold and determined, immediately drew his black katana, instinctively activating [Peau de Pierre Noire], his body covered in solid protection. Without wasting a second, he immediately plunged into the fray.

"Raijin no Kata: Shidensen!" he whispered violently, his silhouette immediately becoming a flash of precision and absolute speed.

The giant ants, though numerous, quickly fell under the effect of his lightning attacks. Immediately, system notifications appeared in front of him:

[Ding! Absorption available: Warrior ant killed. Physical stats / Physical skill?]

Isaac immediately muttered, coldly:

- Physical stats.

Power immediately invaded his body, further strengthening his muscles, sharpening his senses with each enemy he felled.

For their part, Jack and Marcus repelled the relentless waves of ants with perfect coordination, Marcus solidly blocking every attack while Jack immediately took advantage of any openings to strike violently with his broadsword.

On the flanks, Dimitri whirled rapidly, his twin blades slashing creatures with precision, leaving mutilated corpses in his wake. Ella, in the background, shot her quick arrows with surgical precision, aiming exclusively at the monsters’ fragile joints.

At the rear, Kara quickly summoned protective kinds, strengthening the team’s defense while healing the slight wounds that gradually appeared. Seiji, meanwhile, launched fiery, explosive spheres that reduced whole groups of enemies to ashes.

The fighting intensified as they moved deeper into the dungeon. Every minute, dozens more ants appeared, trying to crush the hunters under their overwhelming numbers.

Isaac, perfectly focused, continued to string together his rapid attacks with brutal intensity, each strike immediately accompanied by a new notification:

[Ding! Absorption available: Ant warrior killed. Physical stats / Physical skill]

- Physical statistics, he repeated coldly each time, gradually feeling his power increase even more.

Suddenly, a cry of pain echoed behind him. He turned abruptly, seeing Marcus slightly overwhelmed by the number of enemies. Isaac immediately lunged, his katana swiftly describing a series of swift, deadly strikes, brutally decimating the ants threatening Marcus.

- Well done, Isaac!" Marcus exclaimed gratefully, quickly regaining his position.

But Isaac answered nothing, simply continuing to fight with a cold, implacable intensity, his gaze still burning with the uncontrollable rage he kept buried deep inside.

The fighting continued unabated, each member of the team giving absolutely everything to survive the relentless violence.

Jack, violently striking another giant ant, let out a determined cry:

- Move towards the central room! The boss should be there!

Isaac, obeying without hesitation, further intensified his speed and precision, violently slaughtering every ant in his path. Every enemy he killed further strengthened his power, his stats working every time.

Absorption notifications continued to appear before his eyes, and each time, he repeated coldly:

- Physical statistics. freeweɓnovel.cѳm

His body was gradually becoming a veritable living weapon, each strike more powerful and faster than the last.

But despite this obvious rise in power, his face remained cold, impassive, his eyes still burning intensely with uncontrollable rage.

Finally, after a fierce and exhausting battle, they reached a huge black door carved into the rock: the entrance to the boss’s room.

Jack paused for a moment, watching each team member, determined and serious:

- Get ready. What awaits us behind this door will be far more dangerous than anything we’ve faced before.

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I write the Chapters in advance and when I translate them I don’t have enough words, am I stupid? Sometimes I ask myself the same thing, it’s up to you to judge me in the comments, be nice and say that I’m the best writer in the world, it’s cool to be a failure sometimes!