Chapter 238: Sixty-Third Floor, Test (2)

Like most people, I didn’t particularly enjoy others acting aggressively toward me—especially when they were hostile for no good reason. To be honest, it would have shocked me if this beastkin did have one.

This was partly why I found this encounter nothing short of unpleasant.

I glared at the figure standing in the center of the colosseum-like arena.

Well, I can guess why they are being such a brat.

Jealousy, most likely.

If I had to guess, she was one of Omniscient Thunder Axe’s apostles. As someone receiving Omniscient Thunder Axe’s favor and sponsorship, I was probably an eyesore to her.

She probably hoped to undermine me, make me fail, and redirect my patron deity’s attention onto herself.

People are the same no matter where you go.

I exhaled quietly, a little disappointed.

When I saw she wielded a greataxe, I was actually a little excited.

In my experience, greataxes weren’t particularly popular weapons. Not just among climbers, either, but even among the various species I had encountered throughout the tower.

They packed immense destructive power, but often lacked flexibility, making quick reactions difficult.

Because of that, I had never gotten the chance to learn proper axe techniques from anyone. My style had simply developed through trial and error.

That was why I had been momentarily hopeful, thinking that this could be my chance to learn from a true master of the axe.

Hmm, she may not be friendly, but...

Looking at it from a different angle, this could work to my advantage. Doppy had seemed rather excited to choose this door.

I doubted Omniscient Thunder Axe was a fool, after all. There had to be a reason they had sent this apostle in particular. While she didn’t view me positively, that didn’t mean I couldn’t gain anything.

I just had to do what I had always done.

Observe. Learn. Adapt.

[Earn the recognition of the first-class god ‘Omniscient Thunder Axe’s’ apostle, Angelina. Time remaining: 71 hours 59 minutes.]

Compared to other trials, three days could be considered generous.

In this case, however, it felt short.

Angelina’s sheer presence felt overwhelming, a clear indication of her strength. Not only did I have to gain a master of the axe’s acknowledgement, I had to do it when she was openly biased against me.

Although this infuriated me, I couldn’t afford to let her see that—Angelina was the examiner, and I was being tested.

That said, I had no intention of groveling for her approval. I would demonstrate my abilities, and she would recognize them. That was all there was to it.

With my mind resolved, I turned back to her. She didn’t seem to want to speak another word to me, and her cold, piercing eyes remained locked onto me.

Unconsciously, I loosened my grip on my axe and let it rotate once in my palm—a reflexive habit. “So, I need your recognition. What do I have to do to earn it?"

“Prove your worth. Show me that sending me here wasn’t a waste of Lord Omniscient Thunder Axe’s resources.”

Contrary to my expectations, although she had spoken scathingly, she had remained composed.

“Show me that you are worth investing in further. Otherwise, you will not leave this place alive.”

Hearing her dissatisfaction without outright malice, my perspective shifted slightly.

She wasn’t jealous, and she didn’t hate me just because I had gained her lord’s favor—she resented how much Omniscient Thunder Axe had spent on my behalf.

Sponsorships required sacrifices, and not just from the climber.

This isn’t as bad as I first assumed.

She was simply a devoted follower. Yes, she disliked me, but she wasn’t looking to fail me purely out of spite.

That realization came as a huge relief, and I felt like this trial had just become a lot easier. I no longer had to concern myself with overcoming petty jealousy.

I only needed to prove myself.

Of course, her loyalty towards her god meant that her standards would be exceptionally high. Of course, compared to what I had feared, this was a bargain.

I nodded and asked, “How will I prove myself?"

“Come at me. I need to assess your current level.”

Attack her?

Her request sparked my amusement.

Between Flash Strike, Master of Shadows, and Aura, I had plenty of options that could instantly overwhelm opponents. Only some rare opponents could even keep up with my speed while Flash Strike was activated.

Still, I don’t think I should use Master of Shadows right now.

She wielded a greataxe, and depending on Master of Shadows wouldn’t allow me to meet my ultimate goal—to improve my axe-wielding. I would limit myself to Flash Strike and Aura.

Honestly, I would have preferred not to use Flash Strike either. It was her fault for rubbing me the wrong way, though. Provoking her a little wouldn’t hurt.

Angelina had already lifted her greataxe and aimed it at me like a knight issuing a challenge.

No need to announce the start, I guess.

In a fraction of a second, I mapped out my first move. There was no need for anything complicated.

Instantly activating Flash Strike, I closed the distance in two steps before making a shallow, lunging strike.

Feeling confident now that everything had slowed around me, I locked eyes with Angelina. She hadn’t even noticed that I had moved yet.

Heh.

Her pupils suddenly widened when she finally perceived my sudden attack.

I would expect a master to be able to react, after all.

The flicker of shock in her slightly dilated eyes did feel very satisfying, though.

Still perceiving the world through an accelerated lens, I saw her fur ripple as the muscles under it contracted in preparation for a counterattack.

Moving according to my plan, I imbued my axe with Aura only moments before it was about to land.

Out of nowhere, Angelina moved her wrist at an astonishing speed. With minimal effort, she intercepted my attack.

Tch.

At this rate, I would lose control of my axe if I continued my strike. I needed to adjust. Sharply twisting my wrist and forearm, I altered the trajectory of my axe, aiming for her shoulder instead.

Angelina reacted instantly again. She shifted a half-step backward, slipping outside my attack range.

My axe sliced through empty air. I tensed my arm, halting my weapon mid-air before attempting a lateral swing, only for Angelina to extend her elbow and position her axe right in front of my chest.

It was a decisive win—for her.

I exhaled sharply and deactivated Flash Strike.

So, she really is a master.

I had lost.

I hadn’t even lasted a full exchange, much less graze her fur.

Despite that, this brief encounter had been enough to show me just how refined and precise a double-headed axe could be. If I challenged her again, I felt confident that I could last two exchanges.

Sounding slightly less hostile than before, Angelina finally remarked, “That’s an interesting trick. Your movements aren’t completely pathetic, either.”

Of course, she wasn’t done with her preliminary assessment. “But you are far from sufficient. I’ve assessed your level, so now I will show you something. Watch closely and try to grasp what you can. Someone of your caliber, the mere entry level of mastery, wouldn’t be able to learn much, however.”

The entry level of mastery.

She wasn’t wrong.

Is she stronger than Ryun? No, focus! Now isn’t the time for that.

Eagerly awaiting the lesson, I nodded briefly. “Go ahead. Show me.”

***

Pure art unfolded before me. It was like a dance, a partnership between axe and wielder, each one syncing perfectly with the other. Of course, it wasn’t truly a dance, but it felt like one.

I had never witnessed a sword dance, yet if such an art existed for the axe, I imagined it would look exactly like this.

Swift, relentless, and precise.

Her greataxe moved gracefully and lethally, carving through the air with an elegance that seemed almost unnatural. There was nothing crude or reckless about it. Her strikes were not mere displays of brute force, nor were they driven by sheer speed.

Every motion of her wrists, waist, and ankles worked in perfect harmony, all for the singular purpose of guiding her axe.

Even her blinking felt deliberate.

I fixated on Angelina's movements, committing every one to memory in a single, uninterrupted sequence.

Hmm, how did she...? Ah, yes, now I see. And that move?

One second. Half a second. No, a tenth of a second. Each fleeting instant revealed something new, seemingly throwing open a door in my mind and unleashing a wave of comprehension and understanding.

She had arrogantly claimed that I wouldn’t be able to appreciate her display, but every motion, every step, became a lesson.

As her performance reached its peak, Angelina unleashed a final, lightning-fast slash.

For a moment, it felt as if the very space before her had been cleaved apart.

Then, the dance came to an abrupt halt. It had lasted less than a minute, yet in that brief time, I had absorbed more than in any trial the tower had put before me.

Angelina turned to me, eyes cool and unreadable. “Did you see anything?”

Her question hadn’t sounded like genuine curiosity. It had been skeptical at best, and the condescension in her gaze was unmistakable.

She didn’t simply dismiss Flash Strike as a petty trick; she underestimated my entire existence simply because of my level of mastery.

I met her gaze, my expression unwavering. “Yes.”

Her lips twisted slightly. “

Hah

.”

Despite the exclamation, her eyes remained sharp and unreadable. “Fine. We’ll see if it’s just empty bravado or something real. Describe what you saw.”

I shook my head.

The corner of her mouth lifted into a smirk. That expression—so full of certainty—seemed to shout that I hadn’t actually perceived any of her movements.

Before she could speak again, I interjected, “Words won’t suffice. I’ll show you what I saw. What I understood.”

For a moment, she remained silent, caught off guard. Then, after her brief hesitation, she signaled me to start with a small nod. “Go ahead.”

Her expression seemed conflicted—subtle, yet revealing. I observed ninety percent disbelief, but the remaining ten percent was the faintest glimmer of expectation.

Much like I had before my first attack, I adjusted my grip on my axe.

I won’t be able to replicate it perfectly, but ninety percent? I can manage that much.

Playing back her movements in my mind, I recalled the starting position.

Precisely and fluidly, I stepped forward and simply swung my axe. Letting it flow through the air, I followed the lines she had carved—

No. Rather than merely following her movements, I reproduced what I had absorbed.

I demonstrated my understanding of why her strikes followed that path, the intent behind each motion, and how to manipulate my body to achieve the most efficient trajectory.

Despite focusing almost entirely on the training exercise, I still stole a glance at Angelina. Her eyes had widened, even more than when I had used Flash Strike.

I continued moving while trying to make each strike and step refined and deliberate. The more I moved, the more my body aligned with the technique.

With every second, her eyes widened further. By the final sequence, she was staring at me, mouth slightly open, utterly transfixed.

I clenched my jaw.

The technique she had executed at the very end was a slash that had severed space itself.

Can I pull it off?

I couldn’t explain it, but I knew how it worked.

Just like she performed it, like a bolt of light.

I envisioned my axe cutting beyond the limit of its material, cleaving through space itself.

I swung.

Tch.

Despite my confidence, my strike hadn’t severed space; it had only managed to distort it.

C’mon.

Suppressing my frustration, I turned back to Angelina. She was still staring, frozen in place. Her usual sharpness momentarily dulled as she struggled to process what she had just seen.

A long pause followed before she finally regained her composure and stared at the floor. “You weren’t holding back earlier?”

With how quiet that last remark had been, it was almost as if she had spoken to herself.

She was right, however. If I had concealed my strength, someone of her caliber would have seen through it immediately.

Even though she hadn’t directed her comment at me, I responded, “I wasn’t.”

She looked up and locked eyes with me.

The disdainful look in her gaze had disappeared, now replaced by a complicated mix of emotions. “You’ve never received formal training with the axe, have you?”

This time, I didn’t speak. I simply nodded.

A heavy silence settled between us.

Then, after a long pause, she muttered, “You’re insane.”

𝑓𝑟𝑒𝘦𝓌𝑒𝑏𝑛𝑜𝘷𝑒𝘭.𝒸𝘰𝑚

For the first time since her appearance, her words hadn’t contained any hostility. Moreover, her gaze no longer bore the same condescending edge.

As if still struggling to grasp what she had just witnessed, she repeated, “Completely insane.”