Toward the 100th Floor (2)
There were calls to jump straight to 3 circles, but they were shot down by the shinigami from 710F.
We couldn't break his stubborn insistence on having me read up on the basics of instant-death black magic during the safe period.
"3 circles might have to wait until next time..."
With that thought, I started reading the post from 710F.
Title: Training Method for the Derivative Black Magic Death Mark from Death Verdict - Engrave
Author: 710F
You've already made 2 circles right away... and you're aiming for the derivative of phase 4's Gaze instant death, so there's a long way to go. Skipping phase 1, straight to phase 2's Engrave derivative. It's called Death Mark.
A curse-type black magic that simplifies the principles of Engrave. You stack death marks with each cooldown until they die. How many stacks it takes varies wildly by target—could be immune due to resistance, or one stack if their mana is high enough.
So how do you learn it? First, you gotta stare intently at a death god...
I read the whole thing.
The training method boiled down to one sentence: 'You gotta see a lot of corpses.'
I pulled out the remains of the female mages I'd killed from my inventory and stared at them all day, apparently.
"Everything's so gore-heavy..."
Black magic all seemed like this.
Still better than necromancy's blood-draining corpse fiddling, though.
...Thanks to the Spirit Blood Tea Ritual, my stomach for it had gotten way stronger.
The moment I decided to give it a shot right away.
"Hm..."
An idea flashed through my mind.
Then 710F gave a somewhat reluctant okay.
"It's called a vacation..."
This wasn't real rest.
During this guaranteed safe time, I had to get as strong as possible.
That's why I was rushing the circle choice a bit.
I had to complete one more sleep cycle within 10 hours.
Couldn't miss a chance to gain EXP without fatigue potions.
Blast through to around 80F like this, then use the remaining vacation for sleep—perfect efficiency.
"Blood Knight, get ready."
<...By your command...>
I hit the promotion battle button for 62F.
Kiiiiiik-
Opened the door.
A massive bipedal reptile monster, its whole body glistening with venom.
It flicked out its tongue.
Shiiik-
"Blood Knight, attack."
The Blood Knight kicked off the floor.
Kwaaang-!
At the same time, the lizardman spat venom.
Just as the venom was about to pour over the armor.
Sweeeek-!
A greatsword infused with blood mist sliced through the lizardman's scales first.
62F Elite Venom Lizardman defeated successfully
Promotion reward: 6,100G acquired!
EXP acquired.
My earring sparkled.
"Clean work."
I stared intently at the fallen lizardman's corpse.
As 710F advised, focusing mana in my eyes warped my vision slightly, revealing crimson-black lines like heat haze over the monster's body.
'Those are the lines of death.'
I imagined rotating my 2-circle dantian and driving my mana into the most vulnerable overlapping spot.
"Hm..."
But they were just faintly visible.
Nothing happened before the corpse vanished.
63F. 64F. 65F.
I blasted through quickly.
Open door, Blood Knight slashes—rinse and repeat.
Each time, I imprinted the fallen monsters' corpses while training Death Mark.
Just before 66F's monster corpse disappeared.
Paat-!
For a split second, a faint red engraving flickered on the chest plate before vanishing.
"Feels like something's happening..."
Off to the next floor.
An automaton wielding curved swords in all four arms.
"Oh."
For the first time, a proper sword fight—I was inwardly excited.
"Blood Knight, show me your swordsmanship."
The Blood Knight charged.
The automaton crossed its four curved swords to meet it.
Kaaaang-!
The moment greatsword met four blades head-on.
One clash.
Craaaack! Chaaang!
"Ah..."
Two of the four swords shattered against the Blood Knight's raw power, dashing my hopes.
The 4-blade automaton panicked and staggered back.
"Hm... wanna test it more."
Too wasteful to end it here. I wanted exact gauge of the Blood Knight's physical stats, especially agility.
With my remaining stats dumped into agility for 50, could I match that mobility? Perfect chance to check.
"Blood Knight, no sword attacks—just evade."
The Blood Knight lowered its greatsword from attack stance and retreated.
The 4-blade automaton rushed in.
Shiiik! Chaeng! Puck!
The automaton's rapid combo.
But the Blood Knight casually deflected every blow with minimal movement—slight torso twist, half-step back. Not even the blade tips grazed the chest plate.
'Fast. And precise.'
I narrowed my eyes, tracking the Blood Knight's footwork.
"Can't do that yet..."
My body felt lighter at agility 50, but that fluid motion was still beyond me.
No reason to drag it out anymore. I nodded.
"Kill it now."
The Blood Knight spun using the momentum from the last parry.
Sweeeeeek-!
The greatsword cleaved the automaton's torso clean.
67F 4-Blade Automaton defeated successfully
Promotion reward: 6,600G acquired!
EXP acquired.
I approached the fallen automaton slowly.
"Even inorganic stuff like this counts as a corpse... right?"
I gathered mana in my eyes and stared piercingly at the crimson-black lines rising like haze over the remains.
Paat-!
Driving mana into the overlapping lines engraved a red mark.
"Oh."
First real progress.
But the corpse vanished soon after.
I lifted my gaze from the floor and headed to the next.
68F.
Kwaaaang!
68F Undead Tree defeated successfully
Promotion reward: 6,700G acquired!
Stat Points +3 acquired!
First level up after clearing 68F. Put 2 points in STR, 1 in AGI.
Next floor.
Kwaang-!
"Aigoo..."
69F attacked first, ending it in a flash.
Wooong-
Finished Death Mark training and headed to 70F.
70F's gatekeeper: a flying gargoyle hurling rocks.
Somehow refilled rocks spawned at its feet automatically.
"Blood Knight. Attack."
The Blood Knight leaped with greatsword raised, but the gargoyle annoyingly gained altitude, out of range.
Thud!
Shoo-!
It kept that up.
No signs of a decisive blow.
The gargoyle ignored me standing back.
"Maybe craft some commands..."
Wonder if direct control would work.
Until now, I'd kept commands minimal to avoid interference, but this stalemate needed specifics.
"Blood Knight, hold."
Stopped the Blood Knight chasing under the flying gargoyle.
Added: "Taunt."
The Blood Knight tilted its head.
Too abstract—couldn't parse it.
"Taunt means pound your chest hard."
It slammed its greatsword flat against its chest plate. Bam bam!
Kieeeek!
Taunt worked—the gargoyle dove for another attack.
As it prepared a rock.
"Grab the sword reverse grip!!"
Then:
"Dodge!"
Evaded the incoming rock.
Timing the next attack.
"Throw it like that and hit!!!"
The Blood Knight hurled the greatsword like an Olympic athlete.
Whiiiirrr-!!! Kwaaang!
Direct hit. Gargoyle's wings shredded, crashing down.
Thud!!!
"Finish it!"
The Blood Knight smashed the gargoyle's face with the greatsword.
70F Stone Gargoyle Veteran defeated successfully
Promotion reward: 6,900G acquired!
EXP acquired.
"Nice, that's it."
Handles detailed situational commands well. Felt like controlling a game character—fun.
"Necromancy... might suit me."
Climbs after were smooth.
71F. 72F. 75F.
I refined tactics with command combos on the Blood Knight while steadily training Death Mark by staring at corpses.
"Breakthrough spin!"
"Shove!"
"Backstep twice!"
Every order, perfectly executed.
Felt like it was wired straight to my brain.
"Is this the power of the Spirit Blood Tea Ritual..."
Probably.
All the blood making the Blood Knight had passed through my body once.
Infused with my mana drop by drop, then vomited out—unity made sense.
Bang!
Early on, timing slips caused injuries, but no big deal.
"Blood Command."
Mana-laced blood flowed from my fingertips, instantly repairing the damaged armor and frame.
My roles were many: healer, commander, and in crises, instant-death dealer.
Still far off, but tasting the hexagonal tree's appeal early.
And.
Kiiiiiik-
80F door opened.
Seemed like around 20F? Monster vibe.
"Last time it was stone golem."
Different material this time. Massive iron chunks fused together.
A blue magnetic field crackled with sparks around its body.
"Gimmick mob stench."
The name and look clicked—I could read its weakness. And mine.
"Blood Knight, charge!"
Brute-forced it.
Blood Knight raised greatsword and kicked off.
Kwaaang-!
Golem swung a huge iron arm.
Kagagang-!!!
Metal on metal roar.
Then.
Woooong-!
Golem's blue field expanded.
Blood Knight tried retrieving sword, but clunk!—stuck to the leg armor.
"Blood Knight! Disengage!"
Command given, but.
Chulk-!
Blood Knight's steel armor got sucked in too, fully magnetized to the body.
"Oh... as expected."
Didn't expect the ridiculous pose, though.
"Bit of an emergency exit vibe..."
Anyway, that was my weakness.
Now, time to exploit its.