Chapter 5
Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Combination - Rank.?
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It's like this...
Wanna see a survival report or death report.
"Hoo."
I exhaled, and my breath was filled with mana.
I could feel my entire body tinged with blue mana.
This mana moved at my will, strengthening muscles or gathering at a single point.
This unknown power felt unfamiliar, yet my extreme proficiency allowed me to wield it as naturally as breathing.
"There's a disconnect."
Thanks to Hell difficulty's correction boosting proficiency gain sharply, but I'd only trained for 10 days.
There was a gap between actual experience and proficiency.
Even so, it didn't take long to get used to it in practice.
While loosening up, a message arrived.
"Is there a problem?"
"Fast?"
Is this that fast?
No comparison, so not sure.
Of course, Climber Gallery folks take half a year for one proficiency level, but can't compare to Hell's boost.
Constellations say it's fast, so probably is.
Curious, I checked the gallery.
Thanks again, Causality Dream!
Time flew by already?
Lost track while training obsessively.
Almost missed the tower challenge deadline and auto-deleted.
Need to be careful next time.
"Survival, huh..."
Sounds like stamina-focused at first glance.
Got to run well to survive the boss.
But I'm already at F-rank peak, can't train stamina more.
Mana's like another stamina, though.
Strengthens body, replenishes energy, restores vitality.
Basic mana operation, so higher magic's hard, but still valuable.
Operating mana, felt my movements change drastically.
Light, agile.
A bit confident now, asked if I could challenge the next floor all day from the boss.
"Can I try the next floor?"
Cross-checked gallery too, consensus: max mana handles a day easily.
Just watch for Hell variables.
Waiting room: no hunger, no fatigue, always peak condition.
Survive boss a day? Tough.
No point hesitating, entered immediately.
Surroundings changed instantly.
Vast forest.
Floor 2 looked ordinary, spacious for running from boss.
Stepping forward confidently, eyes widened at unexpected text.
One week?
Wasn't it one day?
Before panicking, checked Constellation Gallery.
Old timer planned this? Why give that random sword otherwise.
I stay calm because constellations analyze perfectly and guide regardless of situation.
Got hint from their talk again.
Raised the sword.
Sword info appeared.
[Challenger's Double-Edged Sword - Rank D (Low)]
Classification: Weapon (Sword)
▶ Good quality sword with strong durability. ▶ Against strong foes, 'Challenge' activates. Body rank rises one step. Max rise limited to D-rank low.
"If there's Challenge..."
Could bridge rank gap?
But felt insufficient.
From galleries, F to D gap is huge despite one rank.
Climbers struggle to raise ranks.
"What if I maximize Challenge effect?"
Tried potential 'Combination'.
Held back, but must use all resources for boss kill chance.
Researched 'Combination': min 2, max 3 materials.
2: no rank up, blends traits.
3: rank up.
Available materials:
Items: [Challenger's Double-Edged Sword - Rank D (Low)] [Guardian Bracelet - Rank D (Low)]
Skills: [Endurance - Rank C (Mid)]
Proficiencies: [Basic Swordsmanship - Rank F (Lv.15)] [Mana - Rank F (Lv.20)]
Consumables: [Healing Potion - Rank D]
"Limited options, tight..."
Better use some as-is than consume.
Even all-in might not rank up.
Only way to enhance Challenger sword?
Glanced at gallery, hint appeared quick.
Issue: lacks materials. Pity to burn precious ones.
Oh yeah?
Climber Gallery said use Floor 2 starter items max.
Turned and ran at comments.
Semitransparent barrier around, protecting space.
Ruins full of debris, signs of past occupants.
Like ambushed mid-travel.
Items scattered on ground.
Scanned hurriedly.
Junk: no info.
Viable ones showed as items.
Gathered all junk, tried combining.
"Keep combining."
More junk than expected.
Weapons, armor, clothes, food.
Supply spot for struggling Floor 1 newbies, OP with my combination.
Gathered all, combined one by one.
3 low → mid, 3 mid → high.
3 high → top.
Combined these three.
Moment crossing biggest wall: one rank diff.
Dazzling light from hands.
Nearly 100 items consumed, blade rippled wildly.
Waves surged like crashing tides, overwhelming.
"Wow..."
Couldn't help but gasp.
D-rank fundamentally different from F.
Gained ability: boosts proficiency rank.
"Meaning from countless junk united?"
Name and desc suggest so.
Combination not just rank up, imbues process meaning.
Learned about my potential.
Smiled, wiped sweat from running around, moved for final combination.
One sword not enough for boss.
Already have one, dual-wield no.
All effort for one thing.
Prove next step.
D mid-rank.
Pity burning 3 items for one step, but galleries taught: that step is huge.
Gathered bracelet, Challenger sword, Sword of Will.
Center on Challenger sword.
Three D-ranks combined, birthed sword with fierce, heaven-defying will in brilliant light.
Flash-!
Opened eyes slowly, sword floated nobly before me.
Reached, grinned.
"This'll do."
To kill Floor 2 boss.