Chapter 41
Chapter 41
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Vine
Chapter: 41
Chapter Title: Clearing the Tower of Training
-----------------------------------------------------------------
KABOOOM!
Using Counter, I deflected the shockwave of sword aura, then swung my sword rapidly from side to side.
*Swish!*
With that, twenty hits.
The moment my final strike hit the Hero's protective aura, I used Backstep.
*FWOOSH!*
A storm of sword aura erupted from the Hero's body, whipping wildly in all directions. Having used Backstep, my body barely managed to escape the storm's range.
Alright, this is the rhythm. Backstep simultaneously with every tenth hit.
As the storm of sword aura subsided, I quickly closed the distance to the Hero. If I was even a little late, a long-range blast of sword aura would slice me in half.
*CLANG! CLANG! CLANG!*
Once again, a barrage of sword strikes rained down at a terrifying speed. I wasn't just blocking them. With what little leeway I had, I memorized the path of each strike. Forty exchanges, and I committed the trajectory of every single one to memory.
Again, the thirtieth strike. Backstep.
*FWOOSH!*
After the sword aura storm pattern, it would revert to the first pattern. If it continued like this to the end, it would be an easy win. But this was a unique boss, the "Ancient Hero." There was no way these were its only patterns.
*Wooooong.*
As the third sword aura storm was ending, I could see a massive, tangible energy gathering in the Holy Sword.
*CRACKLE!*
Soon, streams of sword aura, each several meters long, began to erupt from the Hero's Holy Sword.
It was a sword aura filled with absolute power, as if declaring that nothing would be left standing in its wake. So, did that make me a praying mantis trying to stop a chariot?
I swallowed hard without realizing it.
Wow, I'm envious. I used to wield that kind of power, too. But at the end, I pushed myself to the brink, drawing on every last ounce of strength, and ended up a complete wreck. The legs were just a bonus.
If my body were still intact, I could've made a living doing manual labor or express delivery with that strength. Should I be glad I can at least make a living in a game?
My idle thoughts while gazing at the Hero's magnificent sword aura were brief; I quickly returned to my combat stance.
I couldn't block the attacks anymore. That Holy Sword, wreathed in several meters of sword aura, would easily slice me to pieces, sword and all, even if I was just a game character.
Forty exchanges. There was a reason I'd hidden behind my guard, patiently memorizing the path of its sword.
From now on, I would dodge everything.
*Whoosh, whoosh, WHOOSH!*
With a hair-raising shriek that split the air, a massive blade of light surged toward me.
A downward slash from the upper right to the lower left—I twisted my upper body to the lower right to evade it. Two vertical slashes, left and right—I simply ducked my head. The third, the fourth—I twisted my body to the left as if dancing, then spun. I didn't forget to unleash my own strike in that fleeting opening.
*Whoosh, whoosh!*
A diagonal slash, left and right, followed by a 360-degree spinning slash. After that, four vertical slashes.
The four strikes after the spin were not pursuit-type; they were cast in place. If I used Counter on the spinning slash that swept the entire area, I could seize an opportunity to attack.
The problem was, using Counter here meant I'd have no way to dodge the shockwave pattern.
But I had no other choice. The reason I memorized the sword paths was to trigger the reflective sword aura with ten hits before the shockwave pattern, resetting its attack cycle.
I had been steadily accumulating hits. No matter how well I knew the paths, I had no choice but to use Counter against a pattern that swept across the entire combat zone.
*WHOOSH!*
*Swoosh.*
I negated the spinning slash wreathed in sword aura with Counter, positioning myself directly behind the Hero as it unleashed four stationary vertical slashes. In this pattern, the Holy Sword's blade covered about 300 degrees of the combat zone, leaving a small 60-degree gap directly behind the Hero.
A chilling sensation grazed my back four times, but I didn't flinch. I used the opening to rain blows on the Hero's protective aura.
One hit short. The next pattern was another 360-degree spin. I had no Counter this time. I had to save Backstep for the sword aura storm.
I had to land the tenth hit and break this pattern before the sword aura sliced me in two.
Ignoring the chilling sensation at my waist, I brought my sword down as fast as I could.
"Hk!"
Suddenly, a searing pain shot through my waist.
A scream almost escaped my lips. But I managed to land the tenth strike just before the sword aura could completely tear through me.
How bad was my waist? How much HP was left? It's a game, so my guts won't spill out, right?
I had no time for useless thoughts. I had to dodge the reflective sword aura.
*Tap!*
Gritting my teeth against the pain, I used Backstep to create distance from the Hero.
The Hero's protective aura was flickering, now extremely faint. The massive sword aura that had enveloped the Holy Sword had vanished.
I could see the end. No, even if it wasn't the absolute end, at least the protective aura phase was about to be over.
"Oh."
But then.
The reflective sword aura pattern didn't come.
*Thud.*
Instead, the Hero lowered its stance and bent its knees.
As its body sank, its heels touched the floor, assuming a stable posture like a tree rooted in the earth.
One hand gripped the hilt tightly, while the other brushed lightly along the blade.
The Hero became one with its sword.
That stance. I knew it.
Flash. A technique I used to favor.
I bit my lip.
Could I dodge it with the "invincible while casting" frames?
But Backstep and Counter were still on cooldown. I couldn't use any invincibility frames.
*Wooooong.*
A tangible energy began to rise from the Hero's body.
*Rumble...*
Soon, the entire 9th-floor hall began to vibrate.
Even if I wasn't cut by the blade, the storm of mana accompanying the Flash would tear anything standing in its path to shreds.
For some reason, a feeling welled up inside me, like a child whose favorite toy had just been stolen.
That's my technique.
*Thud.*
I lowered my stance in response.
If that thing was modeled after the past me...
If this world really is a game...
Then I can use it, too.
*Wooooong.*
A sensation of unprecedented energy flowed through my entire body.
The energy started from the tips of my toes, traveled up my legs, through my waist and shoulders, and reached my fingertips. I could feel an explosive power condensing within me.
And the moment I stomped my foot down hard.
*FLASH!*
The Hero's body became a single streak of light.
*KRAKOOOM!*
A powerful storm of mana raged in its wake.
At the same time, my body also became light.
*Fwoosh!*
With a blinding flash.
The past Rain and the present Rain—the two beings switched places.
*Crack!*
I heard the sound of the protective aura shattering, and the golden energy surrounding the Hero faded away.
*Woooong.*
Simultaneously, the Hero's body grew faint.
Soon, nothing was left in its place.
I clutched the wound on my waist and collapsed to the floor, staring blankly at the empty space.
*Ting.*
With the system's notification sound, a skill interface window popped up before my eyes.
[Flash (一閃)]
[Cooldown: 1 minute]
[Invincible while casting]
[???]
"Ahaha!"
For some reason, I started to laugh.
A victory for the system!
I wanted to shout it, but this time, I'd only seen a fragment of the Hero.
I had a strong feeling that it would appear before me again someday.
Fine, come at me anytime.
I can definitely beat you.
After the battle ended, I drank a potion, and the pain in my waist subsided as the wound closed.
My HP had been almost completely depleted. If the sword aura had cut even an inch deeper, I would have died for sure.
In reality, an injury like that would have been fatal. Thank goodness for games.
"Hmm."
*Fwoosh!*
After clearing the tower, I tried casting the "Flash" skill I had acquired during the fight several times.
A forward-dashing, high-damage skill with a one-minute cooldown. A potential substitute for a movement skill in a pinch, with invincibility frames during casting. It was definitely a good skill.
However.
"I feel like I had more power surging through me before."
It felt a little different from when I used mana back in my Hero days. But that energy had definitely sent an explosive force through my entire body.
[Flash (一閃)]
[Cooldown: 1 minute]
[Invincible while casting]
[???]
"Is it this?"
The question marks on the last line of the skill interface bothered me. Was it a skill that grew stronger under certain conditions?
Well, I'd figure it out as I used it.
*
*Whirrr.*
With the sound of the capsule opening, I carefully supported my upper body with my hands and lay down on my new latex mattress.
I had only planned to get the skill and rest today, but I ended up playing for longer than I expected.
*Drip.*
"Ugh."
Huh, a nosebleed. It's been a while.
I thought I was fine since I've been eating well lately.
I tore off some toilet paper from the roll next to my mattress and plugged my nose.
My body felt weak and languid.
Still, I'd acquired a powerful new skill today. It was a pleasant sort of exhaustion.
Rest will fix it. Rest heals everything.
I'll build up my stats until the next elite dungeon opens, get plenty of rest, and challenge the dungeon in peak condition.
As I was about to fall asleep, my thoughts drifted to the boss I had seen on the 9th floor.
That thing, which seemed to be modeled after my past self.
A clash between the past and the present.
If it had been anyone but me, they would have gone through a normal mirror match.
Whether it's dummy data or something else, it means something like that actually exists within the game.
Should I call customer service and say I encountered a bug in the Tower of Training? Demand to speak to the manager? *Heh heh.* That's ridiculous. I'm not a normal player. If they took any measures, like adjusting my synchronization rate, it would be all over. If I lost this sense of reality, I'd lose all my motivation.
I guess someone created the base data, and they're just patching and updating on top of that. Maybe the person who created the base data with the Astria Continent as a backdrop is some kind of god in this world, or something like that?
Anyway, whoever it is, I'd like to see their face someday.
To think they'd slip in a charming little feature like that.