Toward the 100th Floor (6)

A high-floor user presumed to be of the wolf tribe was going berserk.

The highnik started typing up a storm in excitement.

I read it all.

But.

"It's just the same as with dogs..."

This was all stuff even I, a dog person, already knew.

Where had all the talk of wolves' wild nature evaporated to?

And it wasn't particularly useful info anyway.

That was when it happened.

A comment from the 702F necromancer dropped.

It was the familiar routine by now. They were flipping out that what I'd pulled off wasn't normal.

But that didn't seem to be all.

I replied in a daze.

The moment that went up.

My master's exclamation was followed ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠by 702F foaming at the mouth again.

First time hearing the term, but I got the gist.

Seemed like a way to manipulate spirit bodies with extreme precision.

Looked like I'd used it to sync perfectly. It really felt like controlling my own body.

But hearing "spirit bodies" plural gave me chills.

"Can you... manipulate multiple spirit bodies at once...?"

That'd probably make my head explode. Even one was pushing it for me.

702F looked different now.

Acting all shocked at my talent like it was scary, but at that floor, they were the real monster.

Can't underestimate anyone.

702F huffed and called out the necromancer highnik.

Reinforcement technique, huh.

Turn other monsters' blood into spirit blood and feed it to Blood Knight and Blackfang. Like growth-type earrings, my spirit bodies could grow too.

And if it's just spirit blood, no need for the painful step 3.

"Let's go, kids."

I closed the hologram panel and stood.

Floors 93, 94, and 95 were a total rout. Sure, the monsters felt beefier, but my setup was solid.

Some got bisected by Blood Knight before 4 stacks of Death Mark; others lasted 39 seconds before crumpling at 4 stacks.

I dumped all stat points from clears into INT incrementally.

Shortened Death Mark's cooldown by about a second. Efficiency dropped per point, but it hit 12 seconds.

"Blood Drain."

From fluid-filled monsters, I made spirit blood. "Total factory."

Fed the floating orbs to Blood Knight and Blackfang.

Blood Knight soaked it into his neck stump; Blackfang chomped it down.

Blackfang went nuts with joy; Blood Knight knelt like overcome with gratitude.

Then I opened the door to 96F.

Kieeeek!

The black griffin spread its wings wide and screeched. One flap stirred the cavern air into a whirlwind.

Instinct screamed: this one's no joke.

Straight to 1 stack on sight.

"Flying type... The most annoying kind."

Flyers exploit Death Mark's cooldown, hitting blind spots nonstop.

3D movement made it hard for ground-bound Blood Knight to ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠defend properly.

"Blood Knight, front! Blackfang, flank!"

I yanked Blackfang's leash hard.

Boom!

Blood Knight pulverized the marble floor and leaped. Data said flyers had weak defense. He'd one-shot it.

Shweee!

The griffin rocketed upward at freakish speed. Blood Knight's greatsword whistled through empty air.

Then it dove straight at airborne Blood Knight.

Whoosh!

"Blood Knight, block!"

Blood Knight twisted midair, using the flat of his greatsword to parry the beak.

Craaaack! Clang!!!

Blood Knight's greatsword shattered in two.

"...!"

He landed fine. 'Oh...'

Blood Knight was unscathed, but the sword was gone.

Shit. I remembered what SSS Item Booster said appraising that sword.

"Just a sword from slightly purer iron ore."

Now I knew why it broke.

No regrets over a trash sword, but Blood Knight unarmed was trouble.

"Blood Knight! Fall back! Create distance!"

I pulled him back while keeping eyes on the griffin, riding Blackfang.

2 stacks.

Griffin didn't even touch down before flapping up again. Its aerial maneuverability matched Blackfang's speed at that altitude.

Blackfang was impressive—no wings and all.

I counted while fleeing. 10, 11...

12.

3 stacks.

It folded wings and dove again.

"Right...!"

Grrr!

Blackfang kicked off the wall diagonally on my command. Claws grazed our spot, smashing marble.

At 3 stacks, it rocketed skyward again.

'10 seconds till next stack...' Its turn speed meant dive before then. 'Use Slash...?'

My grip tightened on the scythe. Ribbon teleport into Death Verdict - Slash would end it easy.

But...

'Not 100F yet.'

96F was too early. Save the scythe for the final stand.

Then.

Screeeee!

Griffin dove fiercely again. Trajectory locked on distant Blood Knight.

'Blood Knight has no weapon...!'

I tried turning Blackfang to help.

Shwick!

Griffin flared wings midair, trajectory snapping 90 degrees. Feint. Real target: us.

"Blackfang! Dodge!!"

Yanked the leash like mad, but it was too fast.

We were locked in recovery.

"Black Shift!"

Vwoom!

Black mist bloomed; I skipped 10 meters back. Dodged the griffin.

...But Blackfang ate it full-on.

Slaaaash! Yelp!!

Blackfang hit ground screaming, tumbling.

"Ngh..." Thirteen!

Triggered Death Mark instantly.

4 stacks landed. But griffin didn't drop.

"Tanked 4 stacks...?!"

96F. Different weight class. It landed casually, flapping wings.

'One more time. Survive 12 seconds.'

As it reared its beak at me.

Kaboom!

Distant Blood Knight tossed the broken hilt, bare-handed tackling the griffin's nape.

Kieeeek!

Griffin thrashed in panic. Blood Knight wouldn't let go.

5 sec... 6 sec...

Griffin flapped, trying to lift Blood Knight airborne.

10 sec... 11 sec...

"Hold on!"

12 sec!

Final stroke completed; crimson-black letters etched on griffin's chest.

Thump!

Its heartbeat boomed loud, then it collapsed.

I rushed to Blackfang on the floor.

"Blackfang..."

Not good.

Major torso wound. Back already soaked in bloodmelt. Never healed damage this bad.

"..."

I turned. There lay the griffin corpse from our deathmatch.

Flight. Overwhelming speed. Tanked 4-stack Death Mark. 11 floors above Blackfang—clear spec superiority.

"Switch mounts...?"

At 2 circles, max two spirit bodies anyway.

Ditch Blackfang for griffin? Rest of trip to 100F would be smooth sailing.

Could even feed it Blackfang's spirit blood.

Efficiency said switch.

Seconds till corpse vanish.

"..."

I stood quietly.

Started toward griffin, then...

Stopped dead.

"...Let's give it a shot."