Toward the 100th Floor (3)
The golem's weakness was all those gaps.
Every joint.
Every connection point in this mass of iron was a vulnerability.
There was no way it was prepared for dust or water resistance.
And I'd just recently learned a spell that could manipulate liquids.
I stared at the nape of the Blood Knight's neck, where red blood mist was seeping out.
Flicking my fingers while keeping my eyes fixed there.
"Blood Command."
At the same time, I spun my two circles in my dantian.
Weeeeng-!
The blood mist spraying from the Blood Knight's neck responded to my mana, beginning to take shape.
The mist compressed densely, soon turning into droplets of blood.
I manipulated my fingers, directing the liquid toward the golem's joints.
Shooooook-!
Since the golem and Blood Knight were pressed right up against each other, it was a cinch.
The blood from the cross-section of the Blood Knight's neck started burrowing into the gaps in the armor.
I could feel the blood droplets infiltrating all throughout the golem's body.
And then, imagining a grinder blade.
I clenched my outstretched fist and twisted.
Crack-!
Kigeegigigik-!!
The blood that had wormed inside rotated like saw teeth, shredding the insides of the golem's joints indiscriminately.
Crackle-crash-!
Sparks flew wildly.
The magnetic field binding the Blood Knight flickered irregularly in blue light, then—
Pssshhhh-!
—spewed black smoke as the golem's power died completely.
The moment the magnetism vanished.
"Blood Knight. Rip it apart."
Freed from the magnetism, the Blood Knight unleashed all the power gathered in its arms in one explosion.
Its greatsword swung horizontally toward the golem's already battered breastplate.
Kwaaaang-!
The blade sank into the central core.
The massive hunk of metal split top to bottom and collapsed.
80th Floor Magneta Iron Golem Defeated Successfully
Victory in duel against floor master. You are now the master of this floor.
Promotion Reward: 7,900G Acquired!
Stat Points +3 Acquired!
"Phew."
STR Stat +1
AGI Stat +2
I assigned my stats, then snapped a photo of the wrecked golem and the Blood Knight shaking off the shards from its greatsword.
______
I hit refresh.
"Huh? Yeah, only an hour's passed?"
Thinking about it, this was record-breaking speed.
Part of it was because I'd pumped AGI a ton, skyrocketing my mobility, but
mostly because the Blood Knight had handled the fighting for me.
The reactions to my various uses of Blood Command were heating up.
"Guess I really do have talent."
Everything I'd ever visualized in my head had come true without fail.
Everyone was praising my talent.
But the real goal, Death Mark, I still hadn't learned.
Hm. One hour might be too greedy.
Maybe expecting to learn what takes others years in an hour was my greed.
Still, I decided to share my progress so far.
And a few seconds later.
The responses were stunned.
Eh?
"For real...?"
"Alright, sleep and test it tomorrow."
Fatigue had built up pretty good.
Seemed clearing fast didn't affect fatigue.
"Fatigue only from the monsters downed, huh."
I checked remaining time precisely.
Guardian duty suspended for 07:05:12!
"Seven hours!"
Full recharge possible again.
I could shake off all the fatigue.
Hadn't been up long since last sleep, but the thought of napping felt amazing.
Why was I so happy? I wasn't even that into sleep usually.
Maybe from all the gains this wake cycle?
Plenty to show for it.
Two circles acquired.
Blasted past level 81.
And the instant-death derivative black magic I'd apparently just awakened to.
Death Mark.
All in the three hours since declaring the hexagonal path.
"Gonna eat and crash."
I set up camp again.
Chair, table, tent, all the gear.
"Nom nom."
After eating.
Asked the Blood Knight to sound the alarm like last time.
Crawled into the tent, using a bag of snacks as a pillow.
"Sleep deep and... zzz..."
For some reason, I was looking forward to whatever monster awaited on the next floor.
Snore-.
.
.
.
.
I snapped my eyes open and sat up.
The Blood Knight was gripping my arm.
"Good job."
Stretching, I checked the hologram time.
Guardian duty suspended for 00:03:15!
"Back to duty..."
Exactly three minutes left.
"Perfect."
Knowing I could hit 100F this cycle felt special.
Post-100F was uncharted—no verified intruder ever.
So, as long as I didn't kill 100F's monster with the scythe like from 61F on...
It'd respawn, and by induction, I could reach a verified safe floor.
Why full throttle so far?
To reach 100F.
I swept tent and gear into inventory, gripped the scythe.
"Void Side, right... You're sealed for now, but wait your turn."
A trump card for life-or-death moments requiring instant kills.
Main star right now was this guy.
"Let's go."
Blood Knight.
It followed behind me.
Elevator Request Submitted