SSS Awakening: I am the First Legendary Mage

Two Titan Reef Crabs stood inside one of the side tunnels. The monsters raised pincers and clicked them around, making it obvious they had already sensed something. The group instinctively became alert.

"Let’s move away quietly. If they don’t notice us, we can avoid fighting," Sarah whispered.

"No. We’re going to fight them," Alex replied.

Sarah looked at him in surprise, and even Frank frowned slightly. Before either of them could speak, Alex continued.

"If we leave them alive, they could attack us from behind later. More importantly, we’re here to rescue Joseph and Yulia. If they’re surrounded by monsters, who is supposed to save them? Surely you aren’t expecting me to do all the fighting by myself."

Sarah lowered her eyes as her face slowly turned red. She had known how much she had been relying on Alex and others. His words stung because they were true.

"Alex..." Frank began, but stopped halfway through. He understood why Alex was saying this, even if it sounded harsh.

"I’m not asking anyone to throw themselves into unnecessary danger. But we can’t keep avoiding fights when we have a good chance of winning. Every battle helps us grow stronger, and we’ll need that strength before we find Joseph and Yulia," Alex said more calmly.

He also had another reason to fight. The Tutorial Quest required him to reach Level 10, and that wasn’t going to happen if he avoided every monster they encountered.

Petra quietly reached over and held Sarah’s hand. The little girl’s eyes were filled with determination.

"Let’s fight," Petra said.

Emma smiled brightly. "Yeah, let’s fight. I’ve always wanted to battle with a full party. It almost feels like one of those VR games."

"We don’t have extra lives. This isn’t a game," Alex replied.

"You’re seriously no fun." Emma pouted before sticking out her tongue.

"What’s a VR game?" Frank looked confused.

"It’s nothing important right now. Let’s focus on the battle," Alex answered.

He quickly explained everyone’s role. Frank would hold the monsters in front while Emma used Taunt to draw their attention. Sarah would attack whenever an opening appeared, and Petra would stay back and create distractions if she found the chance.

Everyone nodded before moving into position. They quietly approached the entrance of the side tunnel.

Emma activated Taunt. A pulse of mana spread outward through the tunnel, instantly attracting both Titan Reef Crabs.

The monsters immediately turned toward the group. Although they were slightly smaller than the crabs guarding the dungeon entrance, they reacted much more aggressively. Entering their colony had clearly enraged them, and they rushed forward with surprising speed.

Frank circulated Aura through his body. Like Alex’s Body Reinforcement Spell, Aura enhanced a Warrior’s physical abilities, allowing him to withstand attacks that would otherwise overwhelm him.

He planted his feet firmly and raised his shield. The first crab’s pincer slammed into it with tremendous force, making Frank grunt as his boots slid backward across the floor. Even so, he held his ground.

That brief moment was all Alex needed. He burst out from behind Frank with Body Reinforcement already flowing through his muscles.

His sword swept toward the exposed pincer joint. The blade bit deep, severing the massive claw cleanly from the monster’s body.

The injured crab shrieked and immediately lashed out with its remaining pincer. Alex had already stepped backward, allowing the attack to pass harmlessly in front of him.

Sarah moved at that exact moment. Frank was still kneeling behind his shield after blocking the attack, giving her the perfect angle to strike over him.

The crab was completely focused on Alex. It never noticed Sarah’s spear until the tip pierced the soft area between its eye stalks.

Sarah clenched her teeth as Aura surged through her arms. She forced the spear deeper until it pierced the monster’s brain. The Titan Reef Crab shuddered once before collapsing lifelessly.

The second crab reached them almost immediately. It swung a heavy pincer toward Alex, but instead of blocking, he sidestepped and continued moving backward.

The enraged monster chased after him without hesitation. Just then, Petra threw a small stone that bounced harmlessly off its shell.

The attack dealt no damage, but it distracted the crab for a split second. Alex compressed as much mana as possible into his legs and exploded forward with incredible speed.

He appeared beside the monster before it could react. His sword flashed low, cutting through the exposed leg joints instead of striking the heavily armored shell.

Several legs were severed in one motion. The Titan Reef Crab immediately lost its balance and crashed sideways onto the floor.

It swung one massive pincer toward Alex. Frank rushed in without hesitation and slammed his shield against the extended limb with all his strength.

The crab was obviously stronger, but its attack had left the pincer stretched into an awkward position. Using his full body weight, Frank forced it aside for a few precious moments, creating another opening for others.

Alex and Sarah attacked immediately. Alex’s sword slashed across the exposed joint while Sarah’s spear pierced through the gap between the monster’s eyes.

The Titan Reef Crab convulsed once before collapsing onto the floor.

[Level 7 Titan Reef Crab killed.]

[Level 8 Titan Reef Crab killed.]

[Battle Instinct Spell has leveled up. Level 1 → Level 2]

..

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