6 Chapter 5) The Mystic Brutalizer.
"Eh...System?"
[System is ready to receive your Instructions or Queries]
"What if I don't make it pass the boss?" asked Xavier as he stepped over what looked like a large femur bone. Probably from a gorilla or something equally huge.
He almost jumped out of his skin in fright when he came eyeballs to sockets with a skull in the wall. This was the fifth one he came across. Xavier didn't find the increasing number encouraging.
[If a Mystic doesn't defeat the boss, they would still be ranked relatively to the performance of the other Ninety Nine Mystics.]
Xavier nodded. "Surely out of that ninety nine there must be at least ten out there who are having worse tests than mine."
[System has no comment on that.]
"Hmmm...isn't there a way for you to find out?" asked Xavier. "I mean, since you exist in all of us and feel or experience whatever we do."
[The Celestial system is an Ultra level Quantum intelligence that can configure a part of itself to a particular Mystic. The system is one and the same in all Hundred Mystics but I am the intelligence unit fused with your consciousness.]
"That sounds complex and beyond what science actually thinks is possible."
[System advices that the Mystic concentrate on the test in session.]
Xavier's face went red as blood flowed into it. Being chastised by a System didn't feel any less embarrassing than when it was a school teacher or his Aunt. He didn't ask any more of the questions he had. There would be enough time for that after the test whether he survived or not. It's a simulation, right. Surely even if his three lives ran out he won't die for real. Hopefully
The cave would have been dark as the night if not for the glowing rocks that made up its walls. It would've been breathtakingly beautiful too if not for the pale bones and skeletons of unknown creatures all over the place.
Xavier's one consoling thought was that this was all a simulation and no matter the outcome, his bones wouldn't be left behind for the Mystics after him to find.
He reached what looked like a treasure chamber. It was filled with gold items, pearls, rubies and vibrant silver stones. There were also weapons: Swords of various types and sizes, spears, bows and arrows.
"I did not expect to see those in here." said Xavier as he ducked into the vast space.
He was talking about the gun rack on the opposite wall. There were big and small ones, all of them black and placed beside their bundles of bullets. Below that, in antique cases were grenades, time bombs and the likes.
[You do not have the required Level Points to wield Grade C weapons.]
"Don't worry, System. I have no idea how to shoot a gun or set up a missile launcher. I would just end up shooting myself on the foot." He picked up a strange looking disc. That's exactly what it was. A silver disc with nothing special about it.
"What kind of weapon is this?"
[Processing weapon...processing weapon...System has found no information.]
This took him by surprise. "I thought you knew everything?"
[System cannot reveal information that doesn't corresponds with your level.]
"Everything is about levels around here!"
He dropped two of the discs into his side pocket before starting out of the room. He had delayed for too long already.
Xavier followed the red dot on the map, twisting and turning through the tunnels of the cave till he arrived at a perfectly square wooden door. The red dot was on the other side.
[You have reached the Mystic Brutalizer's lair. Mystic may proceed and get Terribly Annihilated.]
"Thanks again, System. You are really rooting for me."
A sick feeling settled into his stomach. The low grunts and deep scratching sounds he could hear from the other side of the door was not doing anything to calm him down.
He gingerly approached the door, took in a deep breath and pushed. It felt like shoving against a wall. The door didn't move an inch.
"System, should I be looking for a key or keypad somewhere?"
[If the mystic doesn't have the strength and resilience to open the door, then he is not worthy to face the boss...Section 54: Numeral IV of the guidebook of the Test of worthiness.]
"Wait a minute, there's a guidebook for the test? Why didn't you tell me about it?"
[Mystic never inquired for it.]
Xavier sighed and returned his attention to the door. On closer look, there were strange symbols running all over it. They fell into a pattern that tracked down into where an opening knob should've been.
His fingers idly traced the symbols. As he did, he felt heat against his palms and up his hands. He jumped back in shock, even as the symbols glowed brighter. Soon, the light from the door spread out over the entire cave chamber.
"Wow...I didn't see that coming."
[Mystic is worthy to proceed to his sure death. ]
Xavier shook his head. "After all this, you and I are going to have a long, serious talk about loyalty."
He didn't need to even touch the door this time. Once he stepped towards it, it opened to reveal a wide chamber with a top that rose high up the mountain. It was like walking into an empty sports stadium, what with the chilly damp air and open space.
The moment he stepped inside, the door grinded shut with a finality that startled him. He shivered and clutched tightly to the daggers in both hands. Staring around, he felt too exposed all of a sudden.
"System? I don't see anyone." He hoped his voice was not as strangled as it sounded to his ears. "Or is the so called Mystic Brutalizer invisible?"
[The Boss is here.]
"Where? I don't see anything."
[The Boss is above you.]
Xavier almost released the liquid in his bladder as fright waves traveled down his spine. Something cold dropped on his forehead and dribbled down his nose. It smelled awful. The chamber smelled awful...like snakes. Xavier didn't tolerate anything that crawled for a living.
Slowly, almost without breathing, he lifted his head. What his eyes saw made his knees go weak even though his brain was yet to understand the sight.
The Mystic Brutalizer looked exactly as its name. It was a huger, uglier, darker and more intimidating version of the Doctipuses. Add a few more eyes, tentacles and an upper covering of scaly armor. Four pairs of eyes stared down at Xavier almost in boredom.
[Stats on The Mystic Brutalizer.]
[Nature: Master Level Beast.]
[Health Points: 1500/1500]
[Mana Points: 1234/1500.]
[Strength: 500/500]
[Stamina: 500/500]
[Agility: 500/500]
[Offensive Skill 1: Poison membranes on tentacles that releases harmful toxins. Toxin can cause muscle paralysis.]
[Offensive Skill 2: Fatal Tommy Balls from stomach region that can render Mystic lifeless after three strikes.]
[Offensive Skill 3: Fangs that reduces Mystics to shreds in one bite.]
[Defensive Skill 1: Impenetrable armor over upper body region. Can only be destroyed by blasts of raging flames.]
[Defensive Skill 2: Quick reflexes and recovery time from attacks.]
[System Remark: Mystic does not stand a chance. Abort mission before Terrible Annihilation.]
Xavier gulped and lifted his trembling hand to wave the dagger at the boss.
"Eh...hello?"
The Boss let out a rumbling growl that sprayed gooey spit everywhere before dropping down. Good thing the roof was a good distance from the ground or Xavier would've been reduced to mush. He had enough time to tumble out of the way before it crashed on the ground. The entire cave shuddered from the impact.
The System had not been kidding about the boss's quick reflex. One moment Xavier was trying to get to his feet and the next second he was colliding crushingly to a wall. The Boss had swept around with its tentacles to fling him away.
"Ah...my body is breaking into pieces. How can everything hurt so bad when it's just a simulation?"
Everywhere hurt. Xavier hated to think about what the real deal would feel like.
A green ball crashed into the wall above his head and broke into a shower of sparks. His skin tingled where the sparks touched and before his very eyes, began to form boils.
"How can I defeat this thing, system?" He asked as he tried to put space between himself and the boss.
[Your Mana Bar is empty. You must use your wits and the weapons at your disposal.]
"I think I left my wits back in the real world." He admitted.
A tentacle reached for him and he struck it with the dagger. The blade broke off.
Xavier stared at the hilt in surprise. "That should not be possible."
He threw the other dagger at it and started sprinting away before a tentacle wrapped around his waist, lifted him up and slammed on the ground.
The Boss pounced on him and pined him down, it's ten tentacles forming a circular wall of no escape around him. It screeched into his face.
This was it. The end for him. Xavier couldn't even believe how he had managed to come this far and felt proud of himself. The Boss's underbelly went green, gathering poison to spill over him.
Almost as if it had a will, his right hand reached into his pocket and pulled out the two silver discs he had carried from the treasure/weapons chamber.
He flung it at the Boss just as the beast opened its mouth wide to destroy him. The discs took on speed and momentum as they went, taking on a glow too. They disappeared into the beasts mouth almost at the same time when green globes of poison poured out from it.
The discs must've done something to it because the boss growled in pain and staggered back. Xavier didn't know what happened next because the poison globes connected with him and sucked out the last of his life bar.
He felt a funny sensation over his body, before darkness took over his vision. When the blackness cleared, he was back in his room. Everything was the same as he had left it, almost as if time itself had stood still throughout the simulation. Could it had been a very bad, realistic dream.
"System?" He held his breath. Was he actually hoping for a reply?
[System is ready to receive your instructions and Queries.]
He sighed. No such luck for him. He collapsed into his bed in exhaustion, before remembering what the simulation had been all about.
"Did I pass the Test of Worthiness?"
[System is processing your test performance and would release a detailed result in sixty seconds.]
