As time ticked by, Tessa and I chatted idly, eating and keeping each other company. I didn't forget that we were in a dungeon resonance, but with my clone permanently keeping the last of the mobs rooted in place, there was no threat of danger. At least, not immediately.

"So, what's it like being so powerful?" Tessa asked between bites. "I mean, you're practically invincible."

"Er, to put it in the simplest way possible... I guess you can sorta tell what strategies I usually go for when running tower floors and dungeons, right?"

"Oh," Tessa's red eyes glinted with realization. "You simply rush in headfirst and take as much damage as possible to get the most out of it, right?"

"No- well, that's not completely wrong," I admitted. "The only reason I'm this strong is because I take huge gambles for the tiniest chance of rewards. It's... it's like I'm playing with fire. I can't help but feel like I'm cheating."

[Well, technically, you did say that you were going to exploit the system... Besides, it's thanks to me that you obtained this power! :D]

I shrugged, trying to ignore Sephera. "It's not as awesome as it sounds. I mean, yeah, technically I can't permanently die if I'm careful, but I can still get hurt."

[Pain doesn't seem to be much of a problem for you...]

I bit back a retort towards Sephera. Tessa pursed her lips.

"I'm not so sure," she said. "It seems like you're pretty invincible to me. I mean, you're not even worried about dying, and I've seen you take some pretty nasty hits. Even after you got hit with that Grudge's blast, you just kept on going."

[Actually, she has a point. You've never shown any fear in the face of death...]

"Is that right?" I murmured. "Maybe I am kinda invincible. But, it's not like I can just run around and do whatever I want, you know? I still have to be careful. The whole reason I can't permanently die is because I'm always aware of my limits and chances."

[But... you have a sadist sword as a second lifeline, overpowered gear and Skills, a busted Title that uses the ridiculous amount of Risk points you seem obsessed with, and a beautiful yet kind Admin who's always guiding-]

"One mistake, one slip-up, and I could find myself in a very sticky situation," I continued, waving away Sephera's messages like I was swatting a fly. "I might have a lot of surplus 'stock' to keep me alive, but I burn through it just as quickly as I gain it."

Tessa nodded. "I guess you're right. Despite the incredibly absurd antics you always seem to pull off, I've never seen you lose focus in any battle."

"It's just my-" I was going to say 'gamer instinct', but caught myself, "-survival instincts."

"Speaking of which," Tessa said, finishing her noodles, "What do you want to do now?"

I checked the remaining dungeon time. Only 30 minutes left. As much as I wanted to let time run out during the Grudge boss, I also knew that there wasn't a guarantee that running it out was a clear condition. I stood up, brushing myself off. "Guess I'll go ahead and trigger the boss. I'll get my clone to stay with you to protect you."

"Alright. Good luck, Luquier," Tessa said, giving my shoulder a brief squeeze. I grinned at her, then turned to my clone, who was bullying the undead by kicking the water in their faces.

"Hey, I'm gonna go trigger the boss. Keep an eye on Tessa, and if anything happens..."

My doppelganger nodded, giving me a fist-bump. "I found out I can access your Inventory, so I can use the original equipment if needed."

We fell quiet, the both of us silently wondering if that was even possible if I permanently died.

Finally, my clone jogged down the mountain as I turned to the remaining few undead pathetically frozen in place. When I was sure that he was in position to guard Tessa, I promptly blew myself up, killing the last of the mobs.

[System alert: Quest 1 of 2 has been cleared.]

[Quest 2/2: Survive the Grudge of the Fallen in the remaining time.]

[00:00:20]

After reviving, I was immediately greeted with an unearthly growl that resonated across the desolate mountain. At the very top of the mountain, an oozing darkness floated up into the air, solidifying into a misshapen figure I recognized from before. With the same jagged, crimson flesh, I was staring at the Grudge of the Fallen for the second time.

[Name: Grudge of the Fallen | Level: 1401]

[Health: 2500000 (???) | Strength: 2500000]

[Speed: 150000 | Magic: 1500000]

Compared to the first run, this Grudge was definitely a lot stronger. Standing closer to the top of the mountain this time, I got a good whiff of its revolting, rotten stench. The air around it seemed to twist and warp, as if the very fabric of reality itself was distorting in its presence. Its red eyes glowed with an inner light that was both terrifying and fascinating. I could see it studying me, as if sizing me up for its next move.

I wasn't expecting it to suddenly quiver and cower in fear.

"You... You're not him..." it rumbled, its voice a pained rasp. The crimson flesh twitched as it glanced at me. "You... you cannot be..."

Um, what? It could talk this whole time?

"Er, what do you mean?" I asked, in spite of the situation. I was scared shitless the first time I went into this dungeon, but there was no sense of fear or nervousness from me now. The Soultaker trembled slightly in my hand.

The Grudge seemed to struggle with its words, the crimson flesh twisting and contorting as it writhed in pain. "It was him... We thought it was him... The one who destroyed us... The one who took everything from us!"

Royal Road is the home of this novel. Visit there to read the original and support the author.

With a roar, the Grudge charged up a red beam of destruction in the gaping hole of its stomach, firing it point blank at me.

I smiled thinly as the attack washed over me. All I felt was a mild warmth as no damage was inflicted on me. Nice.

The Grudge seemed confused, almost disoriented. Its crimson flesh rippled as it stared at me, unblinking red eyes searching my features for something it couldn't quite put its finger on.

"You are not the one who claimed us... but you give off the same presence... who are you?!" The misshapen blob of flesh roared, its voice almost unintelligible. The crimson flesh quivered as it prepared another attack, but it seemed to hesitate, as if it were unsure whether to strike. Or from fear.

With 15 minutes left, it was basically just a waiting game. I could very easily end it, but its questions intrigued me. Who was it that destroyed it? What did it mean that I reminded it of that person? Was I meant to find out, or would it just be another mystery left unsolved?

I decided to engage it in conversation. "I can't say for sure who you're talking about, but I can tell you that I'm not him. I'm not the one who destroyed you or took anything from you. I'm just someone who stumbled upon your story, and I'm curious about it."

Another red beam harmlessly washed over me. I frowned at the Grudge.

"I'm telling the truth," I insisted. "I'm not him. But I want to know who you're talking about. Who destroyed you? Why do you think I'm like him?"

A massive, formless tendril of flesh whipped at me from the side, but it felt like a feather as it slapped me. I forced my irritation down.

"He was... our master," the Grudge rasped, its voice thick with pain. "He was the one who made us, who gave us life... and then he cast us aside."

The Soultaker trembled violently in my hands. "Wait... are you saying this master of yours was someone who claimed the souls of the dead? Some kind of... grim reaper?"

The Grudge seemed to writhe in pain at its words. "Yes... our master was a being of immense power, capable of manipulating life and death as he saw fit. He ruled over the realm of the dead, balancing the scales between mortals and the afterlife. But we were his most prized creations, his most powerful servants. We were the ones who collected the souls of the departed and escorted them to their final destinations."

[!!! What is this?!] Sephera's shocked message scrolled across my vision. I was just as confused by the conversation the inanimate sword in my hands and the literal dungeon boss were having.

"Then... that means we share the same master..." The Soultaker murmured. "No wonder your energy felt so familiar... but I can't quite remember who you are."

"It... matters... not now!" The Grudge thundered, beginning to rain attacks on me in a fury. It might be sentient, but it wasn't very clever as it didn't seem to get that anything it threw at me wouldn't hurt.

[System alert: Emergency quest added.]

[Quest: Defeat the Grudge of the Fallen.]

[Time Remaining: 00:00:08]

"Huh. Change of plans, I guess," I muttered to myself, crouching down into a sprinter's stance. The Soultaker hummed softly in my grip, still lost in thought.

I was in a bind. Since it was only Tessa and I, the Grudge's second phase would link with my stats, making it virtually impossible for it to die as long as I was alive. Conversely, there was no method of me dying long enough for its Linked trait to wear off, due to Final Gambit immediately resurrecting me after I killed a target. That meant that I couldn't just use Death Match to end things.

I berated myself for thinking that I had this dungeon all figured out. If only we had another party member strong enough to kill the Grudge or something.

"Wait a minute–" An idea suddenly popped in my head. I zipped back down to where my clone and Tessa were at, activating my ring.

In a flash of blue light, Levius materialized, grinning at me when he formed.

"Ah, Immortal. I've been–"

"Protect her at all costs," I interrupted Levius, pointing to Tessa. The specter frowned, as if offended that I'd interrupt whatever he was going to say, but he immediately turned to Tessa, standing between her and the boss. "No harm shall come to her while you are gone," he promised.

"Good." I glanced at my clone. "I've got a plan."

"Wait, Luquier–" Tessa protested, but I cut her off with a wave of my hand.

"Levius won't hurt you under my rule, so don't worry."

"No, that's not what I meant–" My clone and I had already flown back up to the Grudge, who was spamming attacks with all its might.

"So, what plan did you come up with?" My clone asked, giving me a wry grin.

I outlined the hastily formulated plan to him, to which he responded with a grimace.

"As much as I hate the idea, I can't come up with anything else either," he admitted. "Let's do it."

Within the warmth of the Grudge's red beams, I rapidly punched my clone five times, bringing his Health down to the 25% threshold and to his knees.

"That- I think... you've might've... broken a rib..." My clone wheezed between gasps for air. "I fucking hate our skillset."

It was one thing to look back and see Tessa in utter bewilderment at my actions, but it was another when I saw that even Levius was speechless.

[Torturing a clone of yourself? I can't tell if this is a new form of masochism... e.e]

Ignoring Sephera, I injected another three million points into the Soultaker and stashed it away, checking on my clone.

"Whew!" He shouted, popping back up with a crazed smile. "Looks like your plan worked. The Achievement triggered for me too."

"Jesus..." I muttered, checking his stats. With a near 12800% boost, his numbers easily broke past one hundred million.

"I'll make this quick," he grinned, taking out the Soultaker and immediately blinking out of existence. A split second later, I heard the Grudge roar in agony, shaking the entire mountain.

[System alert: Grudge of the Fallen's special ability has triggered.]

I made a face as the stench from the boss hit me while it transformed into its second phase. Just like how it was the first time I was in the dungeon, the Grudge took influence from my base Health, but it Linked with my clone's life instead. That was a relief. I was worried that my damage output would be the factor to which the Grudge copied, but it seemed like the strongest Player took precedence instead.

I glanced at the remaining time, seeing three minutes left. I then turned my attention to my clone, who saluted me.

"I fucking hate this part, but it's up to you now," he grinned, stashing away the Soultaker before using Final Gambit on himself and hitting nothing.

As the ferocity of attacks grew, I took out the Soultaker and flew towards the Grudge, swinging it twice. With a choked gurgle, the boss fell to the ground, defeated. The mountain seemed to groan in relief as the air around it cleared, the red aura fading away. I looked down towards the base of the mountain, where Levius seemed bored, standing guard in front of Tessa.

[Congratulations! Tessa Iskra's Party has cleared Mountain of the Unforgiving.]

[Rewards: Grudge of the Fallen core.]

[You have gained 1 (x11000) experience points.]

[Level up!]

I exhaled, flying back down to meet up with Tessa and dismissing Levius. Despite not getting anything else from the Grudge boss, I at least had more Stat Points than I knew what to do with it. It made me extremely happy, but the feeling was marred by the questions burning within me.

Tessa was speaking to me, but I was too distracted to really focus on what she was saying. I was more concerned with how both the Grudge and the Soultaker had the same master. Someone who seemed to be the very basis for my entire strength.

****

[Updating…]

[Name: Luquier Vaunt | Level: 1511]

[Title: Infinite Immortal (S)]

[Health: 10750000 | Strength: 2300000]

[Speed: 1250000 | Magic: 1100000]

[Risk: 1281760 | Stat Points: 161094215]

[Experience: 18%]

[Items]

[Soultaker (8125700)]

[Grudge of the Fallen core (x1)]