[Congratulations, Isaac, for defeating the fourth opponent. Please proceed to the next floor.]
[+100 Points gained.]
I know that the lower levels in this tower won’t have strong opponents right off the bat, but this is just boring. It’s like sitting at a computer all day mindlessly grinding mobs. I thought these suits of armor would be strong since they looked intimidating enough, but after trading blows for a couple of seconds, I soon found out that they weren’t all that. It’s to the point where I just had to end it in one punch just so I could get through quicker.
“You truly are a strong challenger… I admit defeat,” a strained voice croaked from the ground.
I waved at the fallen hunk of iron, walking toward the next door. While hoping that the next opponent was much stronger, I gently gripped the doorknob and pushed the door, entering the next room.
“Oh? This is an interesting place…”
Instead of a brightly lit room, it was now pitch-black where not even a molecule of light was present. Even with [Night Vision] on, I couldn't even see anything in the room at all. Not even the walls, the floor, the ceiling, or-
[Battling while shrouded in darkness may be your dangerous enemy or ally. You must fight what your eyes cannot see.]
...What in the hell kind of notification is that?!
“Welcome, challenger,” a young voice from the shadows spoke. I looked around the room, hoping to somehow catch a glimpse of the person speaking.
“…It’s pretty dark in here. Can you even see in this room?” I shouted, paying close attention to the voice.
“While it is dark for you, I can see perfectly fine. My eyes are adjusted to the darkness…”
Well, that’s nice to know. I’m already at a disadvantage. Things are finally starting to get difficult.
“Would you rather I wait for your eyes to adjust? Or would you want to immediately begin the battle?”
“I get a choice in this matter? How nice of you…” I grumbled. It sounds like the voice is coming from the far-left corner of the room. The fact that I can’t see shit is already bad enough. If I were to fight while blinded, there’s a high probability that I will lose since my opponent is used to the darkness. Even when the odds are stacked against me, picking the former option just isn’t my style.
“Let’s get on with the fight. I’ll figure this shit out somehow, don’t worry.” I answered, unsheathing the crystal sword.
“How brave of you, challenger. I will adhere to your wishes!”
As I glanced around the room, I heard the sound of bare feet smacking against the floor. Is this guy not wearing any armor at all? The ones I fought before would make a racket, their armor clanking like pots smashing against each other. The sound was kind of getting on my nerves… Maybe it’s one of the reasons why I wanted to end things quickly.
The area was silent, all I could make out was my own heart thumping with excitement, and my steady breaths. I got into a fighting stance, ready to swing at any time. Since my eyes are going to be useless, there’s no need for them to be open, so I closed them. I’ll have to rely on my other senses. This is the perfect opportunity to train. I might even unlock new masteries while I’m at it!
“…”
…This guy is patient as hell. He has yet to make a single move. Is he just standing there, watching me, waiting for me to make the first move? I’ll have you know that I won’t fall for it. If I were to walk around aimlessly, I’m sure to lose. It’s best to stay rooted in a single spot. My ears will pick up even the faintest of-
Out of nowhere, I felt a blow straight to my stomach. It wasn’t light, nor was it heavy. It had the same force as a smack to the cheek. There was no follow-up attack. My opponent must have backed off as soon as the blow landed. Is there a reason why he only threw one punch? Also, why was it so… lacking? Either my durability is high, or this dude is weak. Then again, this is only the fifth floor. If what I’m thinking is correct, then…
“…!”
There it is again! Instead of aiming for my stomach, the back of my head was hit. How did he get around me so quickly without making a single noise? Is he using a skill that masks his movements? It’s a good thing this guy is weak, or else I’d be done for. Using my ears isn’t helping at all since I can’t hear shit. Do I have to resort to using my mana to search for this person instead? I mean, I could do that, but that would defeat the purpose of training my human senses. I can’t solely rely on my mana every time or else my potential will reach a bottleneck.
No... Calm down Isaac, just focus. My opponent cannot land a killing blow on me since the difference in our levels is vast. If my calculations are correct, then it would take them at least a hundred blows to kill me. I also have to keep in mind that I’m speed-running the First Stage in order to get the best rewards possible. I’ll just have to master this predicament in under twenty blows.
Bring it on! You’ll be my stepladder to success, opponent of the fifth floor!
****
I've just received fifteen blows total all over my body. Seven towards my stomach, two on each leg, three at the back of my head, and one at my jugular. Thanks to my durability, while the pain is minimal, I can still feel it. Every hit my body receives, the stronger it becomes. All I could think about is when will the next strike hit, and how long it would take for my opponent to retreat. I've been taking notes of their breathing whenever they got too close, and how their fists felt once they connect.
They had the build of a fit male, one with well-developed muscles. They carry no weapon, nor do they have armor equipped, only using the body they've been born with to strike. They have undergone extensive training to hone their skills and fists to become stronger than they were yesterday. With my focus at one hundred percent, it's like I could feel their entire life story all through their fists alone. A story of rigorous training, in hopes of attaining pure perfection in their respective art.
Blam!
"...That makes sixteen."
I've been in the same position for the past five minutes, not moving a tiny muscle. Though I might look stupid in the eyes of others, I can safely say I've improved my senses tremendously. I can now hear the faint heartbeat of my assailant, a sound that wasn't previously there. Whenever I inhaled through my nostrils, I would smell the slight tinge of sweaty clothes. The taste of dust would fill my mouth as my lips opened slightly. I clenched the grip of my sword tightly, listening for my opponent's pulsing heartbeat. That was when it happened...
****
Something is wrong with this challenger. I've dealt sixteen blows to him, yet he hasn't moved an inch from that spot. It's bad enough that the gap between us is so wide! It's to the point where my fists would only serve as a backscratcher for his iron skin, but he's treating this fight as if it was a joke. This boy is full of openings, yet I felt an impending doom like my lifespan was dwindling every time my fists connect. Does he have some sort of plan in mind? Is he hoping to win this battle of attrition? I'll have to put everything into this final attack. If this doesn't work, then defeat is imminent.
This story has been taken without authorization. Report any sightings.
Using the teachings of my master, I incorporate [Shadow Steps] as I move. It's a skill that cancels any noises that I emit, masking my footsteps and breathing, unless the opponent has heightened senses. Add in the darkness of the room, it's the perfect technique for silent takedowns. If blows to the head, abdomen, and legs don't work, I'll target my opponent's softest spots.
I vanished into the dark recess of the room, hiding within the inky space that is my friend. I slowly walked toward the boy who had his eyes closed during this entire battle. When I got near, he made no sudden movements, meaning that he has yet to detect my presence. Infusing mana into my fingers, making them as sharp as a sword, I raised my fingers and thrust them at the boy's exposed weakness: his eyes. It's an area that's one of the squishiest parts of the body.
"There you are..!" The challenger shouted. His sudden outburst had me falter for a moment, and that moment was all he needed to counterattack. The boy finally started to move his body by narrowly dodging my brain-gouging attack with a smirk. In that split second, he grabbed my outstretched arm and swept his legs against mine, causing me to lose my footing. As I was falling slowly toward the ground, I caught a glimpse of my foe's face. He had a wicked grin as he faced me, his eyes still shut. Even though they aren't open, I can still feel his gaze, almost like he was watching me from all over the room. Did he somehow figure out how to 'see' without his eyes in that short amount of time?! What a fearsome foe...
The boy unleashed a terrifying kick to my stomach that launched me across the room. My vision blurred as I almost blacked out from the pain, but with gritted teeth, I hung onto my consciousness.
"You... are too strong... for me," I gasped, sputtering out blood from my lips. "I yield to your... might..."
****
"All it took was sixteen shots instead of twenty. Neat."
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was a bunch of messages popping up.
[Congratulations, Isaac, for defeating the fifth opponent. Please proceed to the next floor.]
[+200 Points Gained for defeating a Pseudo-Boss!]
[Acquired Perception Mastery!]
[Mental Fortitude Mastery is now Lvl 2!]
"Heh, I knew I would gain a mastery if I were to complete this floor my way! Let's check this masteries description while I'm at it! Status."
Name: Isaac
Rank:1st
Points:550
Strength:64 Agility:54
Durability:61 Mana: 88
Masteries: Marksmanship Lvl 4 Swordsmanship Lvl 6 Energy Manipulation Lvl 6 Heat Resistance Lvl 4 Poison Resistance Lvl 3 Frost Resistance Lvl 4 Mental Fortitude Lvl 2 Perception Lvl 1
[Perception: Your human senses have evolved to new heights. You are now able to perceive the world differently. Five senses have increased dramatically.]
Oh? My five senses are sharper than ever now. Yep, I can feel the effects clearly. The sounds and smells have become more pronounced, and the room has gotten a little less dark. When I turned my head over to my opponent, I could now see what they looked like. It was a young male with red skin and no visible pieces of armor strapped on. All that he had on was a dark gray Gi that had an emblem stitched on his left chest, and these words underneath:
<5th Pupil of the Demonic Dojo>
...The hell? Fifth pupil of the Demonic Dojo? That makes no sense at all! The first four floors had people wearing suits of armor and wielding swords! I'm ninety-nine percent sure no fighting dojo allows that!
"Hey, dojo guy!"
When I received no reply, I rushed over to the slumped foe. With a quick glance, I could tell he was knocked out cold from his injuries.
"No time for sleeping! I need you to answer my questions about this place!" I grabbed him by the collar, ready to slap him wide awake, until the S.O. appeared before my eyes.
[Please proceed to the next floor. You have ten seconds until you're automatically disqualified.]
I cursed at the message, quickly standing up and running toward the next room. I flung the doors wide open without looking back and shut the door. How was I supposed to know you only had a limited amount of time to get to the next floor?!
"Welcome, chal-"
"Let's get on with the fight already. No need for introductions," I interrupted the voice.
Glancing around, the room was the same as the previous one. The first four floors were brightly lit, making it easier to see what was inside. From floor five to now, the rooms are dark. Knowing all that, that would mean every fifth floor and onwards may have a sort of condition attached to them. For this level, it would be overcoming the darkness inside the rooms and having to fight blindly. I should expect something new on the tenth floor then.
"...Very well. We will now begin the battle!" It answered. I don't know if I'm hearing things, but I think I hear a bit of hurtfulness behind the voice.
This time, my eyes were peeled open. It was another iron-clad warrior, yet the plume on its head, the feather, was red instead of blue. It was also using a spear instead of the regular steel sword. Now that I've figured out what he looks like, I can close my eyes again. I'll use this opportunity to hone my senses and my instincts to become even stronger! I know I said I'll speed run this whole tower just to be first, but after learning more, I've decided I'd rather increase my Stats. And besides, the rewards may be absolute shit too, so there's that...
The battle soon began when I heard the metal creaking of armor. It looks like this guy's sight is used to the darkness like the one I previously defeated. These enemies have no similar themes to one another, making it confusing as hell as to what they may have in common.
The metallic boots were now a few meters away from me. This enemy has the reach advantage since it uses a spear and I use a sword. If I can just dodge the first thrust, and use that chance to disarm him, then victory will be a breeze.
As I thought of my game plan, I heard the sound of rushing wind heading my way. Even though my eyes are closed, and I cannot 'see' the object, I can still 'feel' it coming my way.
When I experimented with my masteries, I figured out quickly that these masteries come into two forms: Passive and Active masteries. Passive masteries are activated twenty/four seven, consuming little, if not, no mana. These Passive masteries include my [Marksmanship], [Swordsmanship], [Night Vision], my resistance masteries, [Mental Fortitude], and my newly acquired skill [Perception]. Active masteries are the opposite of passive masteries, and it requires me to physically or mentally activate the mastery such as [Energy Manipulation], the only mastery in that category.
What I'm trying to get at here is that I don't have to think about activating [Perception], the same as not having to think about breathing. With the help of [Perception], I could always accurately gauge the spear's location. Right now, my opponent has the spear aimed directly at my heart. I could feel the tip of the spear close to my chest. Before it could pierce my skin, that was when I went to work. With my crystal sword in my right hand, I knocked the spear aside with a quick swing, slicing the weapon in half.
"How the-" My bewildered opponent didn't finish their sentence as I landed a punch straight to their chest, which in turn caused them to crash into a nearby wall.
[Congratulations, Isaac, for defeating the sixth opponent. Please proceed to the next floor.]
[+100 Points Gained.]
Yep. This [Perception] skill is totally worth training. Fuck the speed run. I'd rather take the time to train my body in the Tower of Strength. If I don't take advantage of this stage, then it would defeat the purpose of becoming the strongest in the world, and I would rather keep that title for as long as possible. The only person that would threaten my spot would be my sister, but I know that won't happen. She would be too focused on completing the First Stage as quickly as possible just to get out of there.
That's the difference between the both of us. I strive to increase my Stats and skills just to be better than the rest even if it takes time while she focuses on safety and preservation. I don't mind her way of thinking since safety is a good thing, but I think differently. You have to take risks, even if they may kill you, just to achieve the best results, and that's what I will do at this stage. To take the necessary risks even if it may cost me my life. With my sister not here to nag me, I'll be able to freely do what I want. I never want to feel that powerless ever again after what happened that day...
[Please proceed to the next floor. You have ten seconds until you're automatically disqualified.]
"What an annoying system. Well, whatever. It's time to continue climbing."