The Wall

Staying focused in a fight for an extended period is actually incredibly difficult. The thrill of battle fades surprisingly quickly, and concentration ultimately stems from stamina. The longer the fight drags on, the more your stamina depletes, and when your focus slips next, gaps inevitably appear. It's only natural.

Even the Minotaur—Asterios—wildly swinging a weapon beyond his league couldn't avoid tiring out as time passed. He'd been chasing me as I ran around relentlessly, and along the way, he'd seen other Minotaurs used as decoys.

-Thud thud thud thud thud!

Asterios charged, smashing through obstacles, but compared to the start, his momentum and speed had clearly diminished.

"Here, eat this."

I tossed an iron ball, flung nearby debris, and casually widened the distance. I'd been running all day too, but conveniently, my stamina was practically infinite. Daily Mana Reinforcement intervals for training, plus the Super Regeneration skill's effects. The only thing that could run out was mana, but thanks to the sword spirit's nitpicky lectures, my efficiency had improved dramatically.

On top of that, the unique effect on the sword Erwen made for me kept refilling my MP continuously. Useless in the boss room itself, but in a place with mobs like this, it yielded insane efficiency. I'd already tested it thoroughly on floor 12 in a massive battlefield scenario, calculating that my mana would never run dry.

Just stab any wandering Minotaur I spot, and MP fills up easily.

-Rooooaaarrr!!

Asterios's rage-filled roar echoed from afar. He swung his lightning-infused axe. Even from a considerable distance, the slash ignored all obstacles and flew straight at me. But with mana sense reading his movements perfectly, the odds of getting hit were practically zero.

-Boom!

"Oof."

This attack marked who-knows-how-many; barely any smashable obstacles remained. What a mess.

Asterios and I had escaped the labyrinth area, turning the entire stage of floor 16—the island—into a wasteland. And "wasteland" wasn't hyperbole. No life would survive here for decades. The terrain foundational to the ecosystem was obliterated, polluted by the poisons I'd scattered everywhere.

A rare attrition war like this, and it'd be a shame not to use poison against something with sky-high resistance, right?

"Alright, about time you collapse."

I kept my distance and spread mana sense to check Asterios's status. The wounds from using stray Minotaur mobs as bait were festering bit by bit. Paralysis, bleeding, and now the gashes rotting away—effects of my special homemade deadly poison cocktail. I'd crafted it myself to boost efficiency since poison resistance hadn't leveled well lately. Works great on anything but me. Hell, I could probably swim in radioactive coolant right now unscathed. Maybe learn alchemy or potion-making later. After aura and magic, of course.

-Thud!

Finally, after endless pursuit, Asterios hit his stamina limit and dropped to one knee. Gasping with the axe gripped tight, he looked on the verge of total exhaustion.

Phew, it's over. Can't underestimate him—thrashing like that even after my poison. His raw strength and agility might be below mine, but pure endurance? Maybe even superior. Not that it matters against me with Super Regeneration.

I grabbed my Steel Straight Sword and shield, approaching Asterios, whom I'd dodged all this time.

"Impressive."

Clear reason still shone in the two eyes on Asterios's bull head. I'd planned to enrage him for an opening, but even now, he maintained his sanity. Stamina and willpower both top-notch. If not for his gear advantage, I'd praise him purely.

"Hey, don't think it's lame."

I half-explained to the glaring Asterios, raising my sword for a clean decapitation.

That's when it happened.

The axe in Asterios's hand glowed with brilliant starlight again. That weapon had fueled his rampage. After all those swings, it still had more?

What the hell kind of weapon is that?

-Krarung!

Starlight erupted from the axe with thunderous roar, and flickering lightning enveloped Asterios's body once more. It felt familiar.

Fuck, I know hidden bosses make this shit meaningless, but... this is floor 16. Why does a guy with mana reinforcement also wield a cheat item like that?

-Rooooaaarrr!!

The golden axe swung. I'd closed the distance too carelessly. Hard to dodge. But still barely manageable—not impossible.

I tilted my body to slip the diagonal slash. But the axe's speed was off. The enhancement's range exceeded expectations. My prickling Super Sense skill warned: unavoidable.

"Inventory."

I manipulated the interface with my gaze, ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠dumping every obstacle I had. In hyper-focused concentration that made my head throb, the slo-mo axe sliced through them all effortlessly. It dug into my shoulder, severing bone and flesh, ripping my body apart.

Vision bleached to black-and-white, and in the corner of my eye, the system interface.

A chilling dampness on my back jolted my eyes open.

"What the."

Last memory didn't match reality. I remembered HP hitting zero, but what now? All around: pitch-black, damp water. And for some reason, I was naked. What is this? Dead and in the afterlife? Then this water... the river you can't return from once crossed. What was it—Samdo River? Styx? Or just a near-death flashback? Happened a few times before.

No one around to answer my pondering. As always. I'm a solo player.

-Splash.

"Sigh."

I slumped on the damp river surface, sighing. Afterlife or flashback—doesn't change shit. Fight's over. Result: crushing defeat. Cause: pathetic carelessness.

Slowly replaying memories conjured visuals before my eyes. The golden axe cleaving my body.

"That's straight-up bullshit, right?"

Ignored my defense way too easily. Thanks to Super Regeneration, I was near full HP, yet one-shot. Damn, why'd that bullhead suddenly use mana reinforcement? Without it, I could've dodged. Wait, not that weird. He'd died once and revived. Treated as separate from the boss monster, so a second phase apart from the boss's own. I figured no fourth phase since the original boss's third... fuck.

"Fuck... if not for that."

The more I thought, the more regretful. Hadn't even gone all-out yet—one lapse and dead. Still had the sword spirit summon strat, and my own "phase two"—Unyielding—unused. Vowed to avenge Mom, ease Elenoir's ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠grudge, and this is how it ends?

"No fuck, why's a bastard like that even on floor 16? And that axe."

Hard mode has limits—this is super extreme ultimate hell mode. What kind of dev made this? Fuck, can't blame an unknown dev or GM. Solo life's like that. No teammates to cover mistakes—every moment one-life, only myself to blame. My choice, my failure, my weakness. Root cause: too weak to survive one axe hit.

"But fuck, seriously."

Still, just floor 16—possible to spec that high? After devouring every hidden element for growth, getting stronger here? Bullshit! So fucking unfair!

-Splash! Splash!

I slapped the surface in frustration, but it faded fast. Why whine? Getting stronger's always possible.

"Aura."

If I'd mastered the sword spirit's aura perfectly, outcome might've differed. Staring at the water thinking that, suddenly a sword rose from the depths.

What? Gifting aura practice now? This late?

"Eh, nothing better to do."

Grumbling, I grabbed the sword. Slowly manipulated mana. Compress released mana tightly around the blade—sounds simple, but no. Even with Mana Control for precise particle handling. Particles aren't one or two. Like manipulating millions of sand grains—doesn't make artistic castles easy.

"Ah, damn... feels like it'll work."

Quiet world here. Samdo or whatever—perfect focus spot. Let's try. Recalled sword spirit's tips, infused mana slowly, hardened it. Opposite of Mana Reinforcement, yet rippling mana looked similar. Can make aura like this, but puny amount.

"Hm... again, again."

Like a potter breaking pots, retried endlessly—no success. Wonder if this is even right. Did that spirit troll me? Sounded legit, taught sincerely, but fails.

"Or just not for me."

Tips vary per person. Maybe doesn't mesh with me. Fine, forget tips—my way.

Seen samples plenty. Replicate sword spirit's aura my ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠style.

-Pop!

Felt promising, but sword shattered first, unable to handle mana. Damn, that felt good—really? Want more tries, any other swords?

"Oh, there's one."

Glanced around; another rose from the distant lake. Waded splashing water, grabbed it. Resumed practice.

How many more tries? Sword exploded again. But new one surfaced afar. Slashed lake, retrieved, repeated.

-Splash, splash.

Step for new sword, try stuff, break it, step for new. How many times? Hundreds? Thousands? Millions?

After endless practice, finally: sword coated in solid aura in my hand.

"What, no big deal."

Huge time investment, but success felt underwhelming. Dispelled aura, set sword down. Curious how long—turned back.

Just stepped forward for swords, yet come so far. "What's that."

Thought flat lake, but crossed a massive near-vertical cliff-mountain, like a giant wall.

A flashing light jolted my eyes open. Dark vision brightened, body wracked with intense pain. Body I thought dead still lived. Thought I'd crossed Samdo for sure.

Before me: Asterios with gleaming axe. Floor soaked in blood. Flickering system interface.

HP clearly zero, yet alive. Upper body I thought severed barely attached. Or is it? Barely held by spine.

What happened? Does HP zero mean non-fatal until then? Any wound survivable once if HP remains. Full HP ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠strike let me cling to this state without instant death.

"Guh, khek. Fuck."

But what now? Barely alive. Asterios raised starlight axe again. Finishing blow. HP gone. Super Regeneration might recover a bit idle, but his attack faster. Survived instant death? Useless in combat-incapable state! Fuck, any way out? HP depleted, but MP remains—do something?

-Grrr!

Activated Mana Reinforcement on ragdoll body. Forced mana through to move. Lightning axe descends. Desperate all-out sword swing. Knew that insane axe unstoppable, but fought to live.

Flashback in a split second. Technique from that maybe-fantasy world. Sword swung recalling it.

-Clang!

Aura-coated blade blocked Asterios's axe.

"Hey, you're fucked now."