Chapter 46: Eleventh Floor, Two Doors (4)

I deflected the sword away with a sharp clang, but another blade came thrusting toward me before I could react.

What the...? They were only wielding one sword before. Did they have another one ready this whole time?

I suppressed my confusion and focused on defending myself. I hadn’t fully adjusted to the complete darkness so my senses weren’t sharp enough yet. This opponent wasn’t like the tutulli guardians, and it was much more agile than I had expected. In fact, its abilities could even be on par with mine.

I predicted the trajectory of the stabbing sword and swung my axe down to block it.

... Huh?

The sword should’ve been there, but instead, my axe hit empty air.

Suddenly, the sword pierced through a space I had left unguarded. I pulled my upper body back as fast as possible but moved too late to avoid it completely.

“Hmph!”

The tip of the blade sank into my abdomen.

I needed to quickly put some distance between myself and my opponent. Acting instinctively, I swung my axe wildly, forcing the opponent back.

I immediately checked the wound, and thankfully, it wasn’t too deep. Relief washed over me, but it was instantly followed by confusion.

What...? How?

I had swung my axe along the exact path the sword should’ve taken.

Why was I not able to block it?

However, my opponent wasn’t about to stand still and give me time to understand what happened, so it charged at me again.

Damn it, I need time to think... just a moment.

Unfortunately, I didn’t have time for that and had to act. I quickly adjusted my grip on the axe and drew a dagger with my left hand.

“Are you trying to copy me with that pathetic form? How amusing!”

Left, right, center. The attacks came one after another, an unrelenting barrage. The sharp clang of metal echoed over and over in the darkness.

Luckily, gripping my axe higher up on the shaft allowed my arm to move faster, and I barely managed to fend off the onslaught.

Wait... this isn’t a longsword, is it?

It suddenly occurred to me during our exchange that something was up. My opponent’s strikes were far too quick and fluid to be a longsword. Adding in the thrust I failed to block earlier, and the fact that my wound wasn’t deep, my suspicion only grew.

The only possibility I could think of was that the “weapon” was actually a pair of weapons, a set of daggers.

Fuck.

𝙛𝒓𝒆𝙚𝒘𝒆𝓫𝙣𝓸𝙫𝓮𝒍.𝒄𝒐𝓶

I had gotten too used to fighting the tutulli guardians and their longswords. I had automatically assumed this opponent would use a similar weapon.

The flurry of strikes continued, and I could feel my senses dulling. It wasn’t that I was losing focus, but rather I hadn’t fully adjusted to detecting movements in the dark.

I need to create some space.

I swung my axe and harnessed my Lightning Essence skill to unleash a powerful burst of lightning forward. Although the streaks had flown quickly and powerfully, there was no reaction. It didn’t seem like I had hit the opponent.

Wait... what?

There was no way it dodged that. No one was faster than lightning.

Does it have Lightning Resistance?

Or maybe its gear was enchanted...

“

Ha!

Cheap tricks like that won’t work on me!”

Damn it... I can’t rely on lightning for this.

This opponent was way harder than those tutulli guardians. It was the boss of the bosses.

I had joked about it earlier, but only half-seriously. Encountering such a powerful enemy on this floor had never crossed my mind.

Sigh... Well, no matter what, I have to defeat it.

It has a distinct fighting style centered around a fast, dual-dagger technique.

Through my Awareness, I could barely make out a vague shape. It was slender and just over two meters tall, clearly built for agility. A snout protruded from its face, and I could see a stubby tail behind it.

Beyond that, I couldn’t discern much else.

Hmm... Should I use my newest offensive skill, Flash Strike?

The issue was I couldn’t pinpoint its exact location. Plus, Flash Strike drained a lot of mana. Using it once would nearly deplete my reserves.

This wasn’t like the earlier fights where I could wipe out the enemies without relying on mana, as this opponent could keep up with my speed. I needed to use everything I had to gain an edge over this enemy. Failure meant death.

No... I’m overthinking it.

Flash Strike moved as fast as lightning. If my opponent could react that fast, I’d already be dead. This skill could be my best option.

It was all about timing. If I could pinpoint its exact position during the clash, I could unleash the skill and it wouldn’t be able to counter it.

As I continued to plan, it charged again.

I need to time this perfectly.

Even though Flash Strike was powerful, I wasn’t immune to its effects at this close range. If I didn’t get a clean shot, I could end up injuring myself.

The first dagger flew diagonally at me from my right. I swung my axe hard and knocked it wide.

The second dagger came from my left, horizontally this time, and I twisted my wrist to deflect it.

Now!

The enemy was right in front of me, exposed. Both of its daggers had been knocked aside.

If I had reacted to the opening instead of proactively planning for it, my opponent would have been able to defend itself before I could land the blow, just like earlier. However, I was prepared this time. Utilizing the mana I had already distributed throughout my body, I conjured up a surge of lightning.

This is the end.

Time seemed to halt as I activated Flash Strike and perceived the world in extreme slow motion. Twisting my wrist to the right, I adjusted my axe’s trajectory, aiming not for my opponent’s unseen head but directly at its torso.

As I swung my axe toward their center of mass, my senses became razor-sharp in the slowed time. I could detect my opponent’s startled movements. Unlike the tutulli guardians, this one could react, albeit sluggishly.

But I was quicker. My axe was inches from crushing their torso when—

... What?

Suddenly, I sensed the creature’s right hand contort unnaturally. Its dagger swiftly cut through the air, intercepting my axe before it could strike.

Claaaang!

The prolonged silence was shattered by the harsh clang of metal, reverberating around us.

How...? Wh-what’s happening?

I stammered internally, bewildered. It didn’t make sense. I had been faster. Its response had been delayed, awkwardly caught out by my attack. Both of its daggers had been knocked aside, and it shouldn’t have been able to block in time.

Yet, impossibly, its right hand had moved with alarming speed.

Damn it!

The sudden and unexpected shift disrupted my concentration, causing Flash Strike to dissipate. My opponent stumbled backward two large steps, visibly shaken and off-balance.

“Oh, so you do have some skills.”

“Pretending to be confident after retreating? How quaint.”

“...”

It didn’t respond, hinting that it still had a hidden card it could play. Something was amiss.

Am I being overly cautious, or did I charge in recklessly? Should I try again...?

No, it could employ that bizarre defense again. I couldn't risk repeating my attack without knowing how many times it could unleash that skill.

What should I do?

During this brief standoff, I quickly weighed my options. Returning to fighting it in close combat seemed pointless.

I had already spent half my mana on Flash Strike. Conversely, it seemed like my opponent hadn’t expended much energy to pull off their strange defense. Our speeds were matched, but it could see through the darkness and likely had more mana than me.

Continuing the fight without mana would be futile.

Using Lightning Essence to attack it directly isn’t viable either...

I was trapped between a rock and a hard place. My opponent had countered every attack I had thrown at it, whether physical or magical.

Damn it, I need to make a decision. Maybe I should just use Flash Strike one more time... Wait, what if...?

A new idea suddenly sparked in my mind.

I had used Flash Strike in the second room to charge through and obliterate a tutulli guardian.

Could it work again here? I can use my sword to deflect its attack and then follow up with a lightning-infused charge.

I plotted, aware of the risks. It was dangerous, and I could get seriously hurt, but Doppy was with me—I could be healed as long as I didn’t die.

Yes, that was the plan.

Suddenly, the previously quiet monster opened its mouth.

“

Heh

... I can hear your thoughts from here. How long are you going to keep this up?”

“I thought that was the sound of your brain rolling around,” I retorted.

The brief deadlock wasn’t coincidental. It was clear it was also rattled, probably trying to figure out how many times I could use Flash Strike. That was why it had posed its question with such false bravado earlier.

“Typical thieves, you have no manners. Can’t even understand when I’m trying to be generous...”

There was no point in dragging out the verbal sparring. I activated Flash Strike once more. Before it could finish its taunt, I launched forward, draining every last bit of my mana to prepare for one final decisive strike.

I aimed for the source of the voice. Provoking it hadn’t been pointless, as it allowed me to time my next move. Its voice stretched and distorted, sounding like a broken cassette tape. I couldn’t pinpoint the location of its weapons until it moved.

If that strange defense occurred again, I would have to let it deflect my axe and go in for a body slam.

Hmm?

I advanced, but it showed no sign of moving like it had before.

Still, I remained on high alert. It had unexpectedly deflected my attack last time, so I had to stay focused.

However, even as I got closer and closer, it didn’t begin defending at all—normally or strangely. Instead, its arm moved slowly, just like its normal movements. It appeared the weird deflection had been a one-time event.

Did I overthink this?

Indeed, having repeated access to such a bizarre defense would have been excessively overpowered. If I had known this, I would have immediately opted to use Flash Strike again.

Shit.

Unfortunately, it was too late now. I had closed the distance too much, so any movement would inevitably lead me to collide with my opponent. All I could do was parry the slowly advancing dagger.

I swung my axe and dagger in rapid succession.

Clang! Clang!

Deflecting its two daggers simultaneously, I forced its arms wide apart. Then, my vision darkened even more as a resounding crash echoed.

Ugh...

A purplish haze swirled before my eyes, disorienting me. I couldn’t discern whether I was lying down or standing.

A moment later, a wave of pain surged through my body.

“...”

I heard a murmur as a luminous glow appeared before me. Doppy was here to save the day, healing me and restoring my vitality. Gradually, my senses started to return.

I felt soaked. A sticky, warm liquid covered me, plastering my clothes to my skin. As my clarity returned, the room seemed to brighten noticeably.

Defeating the boss had dispelled the darkness. It was just as I had anticipated—this was the last room.

Tasting the metallic tang of blood in my throat, I pondered the result of the floor, confused.

It shouldn't have been this intense...

Was its body harder than a tutulli’s?

Hmm... That was probably the case.

Or perhaps it had exceptional armor.

“

Kriee!

Su-Yeok! Okay?"

“Yeah, yeah, I’m fine, thanks."

Doppy’s voice pulled me from my thoughts, and I quickly stood up.

This was no time to dawdle. Though the notification signaling the floor's conquest hadn’t popped up, the room's increased brightness suggested that the eleventh floor was complete.

Before heading to the waiting room, I needed to retrieve the opponent's items.

Hmm... Will there be any items left?

I questioned whether the equipment had survived the explosive impact that had blown apart my opponent's torso.

I scanned the room hastily. Blood was splattered around the site of the collision, painting a gruesome picture. Chunks of red flesh clung to the floor beneath my feet.

Amidst this chaotic scene, I spotted two daggers and a half-shredded cloak. They must have been thrown clear by the force of the explosion.

Just then, the first notification popped into existence. I needed to collect these items quickly before returning to the waiting room.

But the message that followed halted me in my tracks.

[Congratulations. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has conquered the eleventh floor of the Tower of Ordeal. Achievement points will be calculated.]

[Challenger Kwon Hu-Syeok will not be sent to the waiting room, as the twelfth floor is a continuation of the eleventh. For that reason, achievement point calculation will remain pending for at least the duration of the twelfth floor.]

[A door leading to the twelfth floor has appeared. Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has one hour to enter the door. Time remaining: 59 minutes 59 seconds.]

What? Oh... damn it. I can’t even catch my breath, and the tower is already pushing me to continue?

I couldn’t help but curse loudly.

***

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok has defeated the lizardman guardian. He has displayed skillful combat in the dark. His Agility has increased by 2.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok’s skills have leveled up. Indomitability is now lvl 11. Flash Strike is now lvl 2. Awareness is now lvl 4.」

「Invisible message: Challenger Kwon Su-Hyeok chose only the black doors. Black Dragon Herkest will appear on the twelfth floor, and Black Dragon Sarkeiz on the fourteenth floor.]