010. Growth (3)
As soon as the exclusive effect of ‘Assassin’s Cloak’ is activated, I entered the 3rd floor ordeal.
There was no hesitation as it was in the best condition with all preparations completed.
In order to live and return to Earth, I had to challenge now.
「Enter the 3rd floor of the Tower of Trials.」
「Difficulty – Hard」
「The subject of the ordeal is ‘Duel’.」 「I hope that the
challenger will get a satisfactory result after the penance he/she chooses.」
Going over, a damp cavity appeared.
“….”
A plain-looking cave with water pooling here and there.
There is a small hole in the ceiling, so that light enters the center.
「The 3rd floor ordeal begins.」
「Order breakthrough condition – Kill the Guardian of Darkness」
「Order failure condition – challenger death」
「Order breakthrough reward – Flask of Steel (C)」
「Ordeal failure penalty – death
」 After reading, I glanced around.
I have no idea what the monster called the Guardian of Darkness is.
Even in the monster encyclopedia published by the Hunter Association, there was no monster named Guardian of Darkness, so it was natural.
And too.
‘I can’t see a monster who should be called a guardian?’
That’s why…
‘It could be hidden.’
I moved my steps towards the center of the cave with my shield tightly clenched.
I don’t know where the enemy will pop out.
You don’t even know who the enemy is, so you have to be as careful and alert as possible.
at that time.
「The Guardian of Darkness will appear in 10 seconds.」
“…?”
I blinked at the message that suddenly came to my mind.
‘I think I’ve seen it somewhere…’
Then I remembered where I saw this phrase.
‘Tutorial Ordeal.’
A phrase that I saw during the tutorial ordeal that now feels like the old days.
This means that the enemy is not created.
But that fact made me even more emotionally burdened.
That would also be the case…
If it’s burrowing normally, you don’t know, but you don’t know where it will spawn.
‘This is more tricky.’
Of course, there’s no way to do that, so…
I waited for the 10 seconds to pass, vigilantly in all directions.
After such a short 10 seconds passed.
“The Guardian of Darkness appears.”
I remembered that message, and at the same time a terrifying sound passed my ears.
Chow ah!
The sound of ripping air coming from the left.
Immediately, he twists his body and raises his shield.
Wow…!
The shock that made my arms go numb despite being blocked by a shield.
“Kuk.”
It was such a powerful blow that it made me groan.
I was taken aback for a moment, but I quickly stiffened my posture and slipped back.
OK.
「Defeat the Doppelganger of the Guardian of Darkness.」
The ‘Guardian of Darkness’ that the system was talking about appeared in front of you.
A shadow-like monster flickers in the light from the ceiling.
slither.
Resembles.
“….”
A black-colored figure that seemed to imitate a human being clumsily.
And even the blackish shield and blade in his hand.
‘Are you copying me…?’
The monster labeled as a doppelganger was impersonating me.
I get goosebumps even though it’s just a dark appearance with no eyes, no nose, and no mouth.
Unlike the monsters I’ve seen so far, a monster with no information.
‘In other words, it must be a monster that even hunters have never faced.’
That fact alone sends chills down your spine.
Not having the knowledge I can use right now would be a significant penalty.
First of all, I watched the doppelganger’s movements and strengthened my guard.
It’s because I’m at a disadvantage for making hasty moves.
but.
“…?”
The doppelganger just stood still.
As if he wasn’t alive, he didn’t move an inch.
Could it be that he is a monster with high intelligence?
‘Then it’s a bit dangerous.’
Usually, about 90% of the actions of monsters are based on instinct.
However, among monsters of Class C or higher, there are occasionally individuals with high intelligence.
It’s not enough to be a monster with a name you’ve never heard of, so your intellect is high.
‘There were wizards on the second floor, but…’
I can feel the difficulty level.
The more you go through the ordeal, the more you go through it.
The feeling of approaching death intensifies.
I wonder if this is what it feels like to walk on a knife blade.
It was when the confrontation continued like that.
“Kreuk keureuk keureuk.”
The doppelganger’s dark face opened wide, revealing a mouth.
and.
The moment the doppelganger’s low cry spreads, revealing the irregularly placed sharp teeth.
Whoa!
The doppelganger’s right arm stretched out and rushed into my face.
A menacing blow that closes the distance even without moving a single step.
I hurriedly threw my upper body back and got out of the trajectory of my arms.
Quad de de de deuk-!
His outstretched right arm scratched the wall of the cave, creating a roar.
Incredibly powerful.
“…”
In an instant, I felt my head go blank.
‘A duel means I have to kill that monster…?’
There is no range limit, and even the physical ability is superior.
It’s completely different from the 2nd floor ordeal.
I can’t do it like the 2nd floor, where I set fire to the forest and fought while excluding the strong.
one to one.
A showdown of pure power versus power that requires nothing else.
Realizing that that is the only way to pass this 3rd floor ordeal, a sense of despair sets in.
but.
Aww…!
Without a chance to get frustrated, the doppelganger’s arm is shot again.
It is a shocking attack that cannot be blocked with a shield.
In order to respond to the next attack, you must avoid it with minimal movement.
I had no choice but to shake off any worries or hesitations.
I twisted my head and narrowly avoided the doppelganger’s attack.
Chow!
The moment the doppelganger’s dagger, which was close by, brushed past his cheek.
shiver.
My cheeks are burning and hot blood is running down my cheeks.
After roughly wiping off the flowing blood with the back of his hand, he rushed towards his doppelganger.
‘The only way to win is to narrow the distance…!’
The doppelganger’s body transformation would be less threatening if the distance was reduced more than now.
It is also urgent to block, but there is no end to just responding at this distance.
First of all, the ability to freely control the reach in close proximity must be blocked.
however.
The doppelganger rather confronted her head-on, as if she wanted it.
I don’t know why, but I gave up the advantage of distance that I had, and now is my chance.
I quickly closed the gap and thrust the dagger into the doppelganger’s heart.
But the doppelganger wasn’t easy either.
Kaaang!
“Creak clatter.”
I blocked the dagger stabbed through my heart with the shield on my left arm.
He acted skillfully as if he hadn’t allowed close combat for nothing.
However, since I am basically imitating myself, this is also within the expected category.
Not stopping there, I stabbed the follow-up.
Wheein juice…!
Wielding a black iron dagger, he drives away his doppelganger.
An oblique cut that runs from bottom to top.
Kang!
Likewise, the shield blocked the attack as before, but it didn’t matter.
It wasn’t because I was trying to get an effective hit with a dagger anyway.
Wow!
Taking advantage of the moment when the shield was focused on the upper body, I kicked the doppelganger’s leg.
Normally, at this point, he would lose his center of gravity or stumble….
The doppelganger’s legs swayed in shock, and then regained its shape.
‘What kind of fraudulent ability…’
It seems that there was no damage even though it was kicked precisely in the joint.
No, I knew from the beginning that it would not work well at the point of copying others.
Even so, I didn’t know that the physical blow wouldn’t work at all.
‘I thought he would at least stumble.’
It was unexpected to let the shock itself go away and return the attack to no avail.
Kaaang!
Right after one workshop came and went.
I opened the distance briefly and glared at my doppelganger.
“…”
The fraudulent ability is also an ability, but he began to imitate me clearly.
‘I implemented my posture exactly the same.’
It’s not like it’s called a doppelganger for nothing.
Applying the technique or posture you use to your body as it is.
It could be called a doppelganger.
The longer the battle goes on, the stronger the doppelganger becomes.
‘It’s a disadvantageous opponent, but it’s growth.’
The ability to transform the body and even partially harden it.
In addition, the intelligence that imitates the other person’s skills.
Other than that, there may be more abilities, but this alone was the judge.
‘If I drag it for a long time, I will lose unconditionally.’
speedy conclusion.
You have to use everything you can and see the end.
Hitting that fact into his brain, he swung his dagger again.
Kang!
As expected, this time too, the doppelganger defended itself perfectly.
At least it seemed like he had learned how to handle a shield from me.
But…
Kaang! Kang! Caang! kang!
Without stopping, I threw knives at my doppelganger.
Even if the shock is shed, there will be a limit.
If you give a big shock at once or pour an attack like this at once…
‘I’ll find a gap somehow.’
And that speculation soon turned into reality.
Tuoong!
After dozens of sword strikes, the shield was bent backwards.
At that moment, I briefly thrust the dagger into the doppelganger’s heart and pulled it out.
A clean, uncluttered blow.
Fuhuaak!
A hole opened in its black body, and ink-colored liquid flowed out.
However, the doppelganger hesitated for a moment, then straightened up.
Although he seemed a little flustered, he didn’t seem to be in danger of dying.
“…”
The wounds on the doppelganger’s body have healed and disappeared before I knew it.
But it didn’t seem to work at all.
Even if it was only for a moment, when I was stabbed by a knife, I flinched and straightened my posture.
It was clear that he sensed the danger and was trying to prepare for it.
That means that the knife will work through soon.
and.
‘It doesn’t seem like a physical hit doesn’t work at all.’
It seems that if you apply a shock that can not be shed, it can cause damage.
Similarly, if you do more damage with your sword, you may be able to kill it.
At the very least, it would be difficult for him to be fine if he pierced his neck or head with a knife.
Of course, when I stabbed the heart, I was embarrassed… but
the neck and head are different.
‘Among the monsters, there aren’t many that will be fine even if their head or neck is blown off.’
Even if it was a doppelganger, it wouldn’t deviate much from that logic.
If so, it’s well worth a try.
‘First of all, I have to create an opportunity to inflict a fatal wound.’
It’s good even for a moment, so I have to make a gap to kill.
In order to do that, I’ll have to use all the numbers I have.
Concentrating my mind as if contemplating my body, I pulled out the energy that had crouched in my stomach.
And at the same time, mana flows through his veins.
As if the training in the waiting room was worthwhile, he could easily move his mana.
In the past, this process alone was so exhausting that I couldn’t use my mana properly.
Because of all the abilities, the lowest was magic power.
however.
「The Assassin’s Cloak (D) exclusive effect is activated.」
「Movement speed +15%」
「Remaining duration – 00:00:59」
Now that even my magic stats have increased, it wasn’t that hard.
It just feels like something is leaving your body.
‘Even if it’s a bit difficult… I can endure it.’
At that level, it is suitable to seize the victory in this fight.
After putting magic into the assassin’s cloak, he immediately moved on.
thud.
As I lightly kick off the floor and run, the scenery changes in an instant.
Up to a 15% movement speed increase with Dexterity above 30.
In terms of speed, it was clearly overbalanced.
I barely managed to keep my balance amidst the dizzying feeling that my feet might get twisted and fall.
This was also possible through training.
‘I just need to do it like I did in the waiting room…!’
Concentrating all his spirit on his toes, he put up a shield rather than a dagger.
I didn’t think of aiming for the doppelganger’s head arrogantly.
Of course, if I was used to this speed, I would have decapitated him with my dagger.
Not used to this speed, the doppelganger was holding a shield.
There was no way he would give up his head easily just because he pointed a dagger at him.
Even more so if you learned the basics of shield art from me.
So…
this would be the best thing I could do in this situation.
Aaaaaang!
The moment the aftermath of the collision transmitted from the shield hits the entire body.
Beep….
An unknown tinnitus sounded in my ears, shaking my brain.
But there is no time to let out a sound of pain.
Kwa Dang Tang!
The whole body shakes violently, the field of vision rotates violently, and then repeatedly dyed black.
The recoil of the torso slam was stronger than expected.
“Keukkeuhuhuh…!”
I can’t see very well and my head is spinning.
So, inevitably, the body cannot move at will.
「The skill ‘Pain Resistance’ is activated.」
「All types of pain inflicted on the user are reduced by 15%.」
At least, she can maintain her spirit like this thanks to the Pain Resistance skill.
‘Damn it, even if I go crazy, I’m still crazy…!’
However, soon the feeling in the limbs began to return, albeit weakly.
I barely got up on the cold stone floor.
My hands and
feet trembled and blood dripped on the ground.
It looks like it’s bleeding somewhere.
However, he was dizzy and couldn’t tell where he was hurt.
All the pain you feel is there.
But it didn’t matter much.
「The skill ‘fast regeneration’ is activated.]
The skill effect is activated in an instant, and the dizziness gradually stops.
Of course, even the gradual stopping effect felt slow… but
that didn’t mean I couldn’t rest while whimpering in pain.
‘The doppelganger’s body is easy to deform, and it doesn’t withstand large impacts well.’
A fact that I knew because I had personally attacked the body.
If that were the case, this head-butt would have given him a pretty big shock.
At least, there is a high probability that you will not be able to properly control your body like me.
I stood up, staggering, and looked around.
OK.
“This mad monster…”
I saw a doppelganger swaying in a corner of the cave.
As if he had been hit properly, the shape of his arms and legs were crushed here and there.
But even that has been delayed and is being restored.
The only good thing out of all the misfortunes was that he couldn’t handle his body properly.
The doppelganger also seemed to lose control of his body for a moment.
Then you should never hesitate.
I quickly grabbed the dagger and shield and rushed at the guy who was grabbing the shape.
Even though the speed of restoring the body is fast…
I was confident that I could hit the doppelganger’s neck faster than that.
It was natural.
「Remaining duration – 00:00:27」
The buff effect of increasing movement speed is still going on.
Now that you are defenseless, it is possible to decapitate your doppelganger.
「The effect of wearing a dead giant tree’s shield (D-) is activated.」
「Muscle strength temporarily increases by 2.」
「Attack speed temporarily increases slightly.」
A small buff effect flows from the shield just in time.
‘Nice timing…!’
It’s worth investing too much points in a shield.
A little bit of vitality flows from my body, and power surges in my hands.
On the other hand, the doppelganger is still in a state of body control.
I had no intention of missing out on the opportunity I had given my all.
Kwadeudeuk-!
The moment the jet-black dagger was inserted into the doppelganger’s throat.
「Congratulations, you have broken through the 3rd floor of the Tower of Trials」
came to mind.
