Continuous Bloodbath (3)
[Scouted ahead, but Sylvia's already finished resting and is climbing up. Feels like I'm lagging behind—what should I do? T_T]
[Reina's guildmates got some steel nerves? No one's fallen behind yet]
Just lurking in the gallery was enough to get a rough sense of what others were up to. Source didn't matter—news was news.
[Jeong Chan-su, that mad bastard, breaks through 120th floor]
120th stage for Jeong Chan-su. The news hit like a punch to the gut.
Sylvia pulling ahead didn't faze me much. It was ultimately an endurance match, and as a summoner, she had less of an edge in raw stamina than I did.
'Damn talent freaks...'
Jeong Chan-su was different. The real-deal prodigy I'd been openly chasing all this time. The protagonist of this world—or at least this tower. Had to admit it. The gap between us was heaven and earth.
The only reason I'd grown strong enough to be called a ranker was because I knew every move he'd made before possession. But even as I built my own strength, my own pride as a warrior, I couldn't stop fixating on him.
A user's comment flickered in my mind: If you're wielding a sword and training, shouldn't you aim for the top?
Snooping on the constellations' gallery now, could I really surpass him? The one who'd been my lifelong beacon and milestone?
Even Serpina had said I had talent for following someone, not leading.
[Do you all think Reina can catch up to Jeong Chan-su someday—and surpass him?]
Embarrassing, but I'd posted the question myself. Unlike some basement troll's ramblings, these were words from beings far stronger than me or Chan-su—actual constellations. Even empty praise from them would mean something. Fuel to keep hope alive.
"Answer seriously, damn it!"
Most of the replies flooding in were just begging for pics. Did I really crave comfort from these idiots? Self-loathing hit, but thankfully, some sane folks chimed in.
UnquenchableEmber. Calm tone matched the name perfectly.
"Eh, just a hunch."
The mind's sneaky like that—tell me what I wanna hear, and suddenly I'm upbeat. As thanks, I snapped a bath selfie showing just my face clearly and posted it. No need to see the frenzy, so I logged off and woke up.
Now I was fully getting the hang of using their community.
Continuous Bloodbath 110th stage cleared
95th stage reward issued: Advanced Random Stat Fragment, Potion Selection Box, Random Equipment Box
"Hoo."
Continuous Bloodbath rewards every 10 stages past 100: Advanced Random Stat Fragment. Random, sure, but boosts one stat by a whopping 500. Insane item.
"Shit."
Of all things, Insight—which wasn't even effective right now. The 100th stage fragment had boosted stamina, and 500 anywhere is huge, but still.
Insight pierces through mana flows, sharpens intuitive judgment, reveals hidden item or gimmick meanings. Like all stats, more is better.
'This'll be useful.'
And the Random Equipment Box bonus. Minimum B-grade—top-tier reward. No wonder rankers live off these.
But the cost? Endure 10 brutal trials past 100 for the next cycle. My prior best: 115th. Meaning I'd snagged these twice max.
'Let's go.'
Couldn't stop there. Eyeing 120th and its rewards—and beyond, once a pipe dream.
"Long time no see, you bastard."
Continuous Bloodbath 115th stage
Grinding my teeth through the fight, I finally faced it: the 115th stage foe from last cycle. Wraith Knight Darkus. The one that crippled me, forcing retreat.
Deflecting my blade, I bit my lip as the massive knight—ork-warrior bulk—emerged from swirling black mist amid fierce winds. Tower 130th-floor boss level. Solo it to pass.
Gallery lurkers watching my every move in my fatigued state? No way they'd stayed silent on my past loss to Darkus. Naturally, his strat became hot bait, enraging the fans.
Serpina's nagging was nothing compared. Paid for pissing them off: no talent, unprepared, stubborn fool—every insult under the sun. Realizing that taught me exactly how to beat him.
'Can't let them spam "Is Reina okay like this?" again.'
"----!!!!"
Eyes wide, chills from its roar—I vaulted into the air as its flail swung. Massive power. Blocking that alone would be impressive.
Holy light burst from me, neutralizing the curse laced in its bellow—slows movement, dulls nerves. But S-grade trait Radiance made me near-immune.
Past me would've blocked and counterattacked textbook-style. Not this time. Soared over the flail, flipping to strike back.
"As expected."
No room for counters—it retracted the flail, extending its other hand for magic. Knew this trick too.
Instead of swinging, I kicked off empty air again.
'Ngh.'
Black lightning grazed past. Even the skim triggered Hermetica's barrier, sparking shocks. Full hit in my current state? Instant death, no question.
Natural Air Step: synergy of Transcendent Form and ability I'd drilled endlessly. Seized the split-second opening. Darkus's back exposed, briefly.
S-grade ability Destruction Strike. Mana surged from my thrust sword, launching spears that pierced and shredded its back.
"Feels damn good."
Landed, smirking at the staggering, near-broken Darkus. It raised its mist-wreathed flail desperately, but no way it'd land now. Sidestepped easily, wasting no stamina.
Contrast to before: vomiting blood, barely escaping before it crushed me. Now, I looked down on the crumbling foe; it gazed up at victorious me.
Continuous Bloodbath 115th stage cleared
Darkus fully collapsed; notification popped. Proof: the foe that last beat me now slain by my hand.
'Did it.'
Heart pounding, caught my breath. Not just beating a past loss. As I'd told the guild, training means getting stronger. Losing the same way twice? Abnormal, shameful.
But I'd crushed it differently. A new path even the fan gallery constellations couldn't predict.
Proving it endlessly—that's my burden. But right now, success.
Joy of proof. Couldn't see the gallery reaction yet, but easy to imagine.
Continuous Bloodbath 116th stage
Not long after, new stage, new foe—my first time.
"Yeah, come on."
Panting hard, but I grinned.
[116th stage strat with Reina's current stats]
Not just 115th strat. Even first-timers felt familiar—thanks to devouring gallery posts and replies till memorized.