Ethan tightened his grip on the Soul Sword, the weight of exhaustion pressing down on him. Despite that, his mind was sharp, focused entirely on the final opponent. Across the room, the Samurai stood in perfect stillness, his katana gleaming under the torchlight.
The air was thick with tension, the flickering flames casting shadows that danced between them. Ethan could feel the Samurai’s unwavering presence, a wall of discipline and lethality that seemed insurmountable.
“Let’s go, fucking Samurai,” Ethan snarled, his voice carrying equal parts frustration and resolve. “Give me the best you’ve got!”
Without hesitation, Ethan charged. The clang of their weapons filled the room as their blades collided. The Samurai parried each of Ethan’s strikes with ease, countering with precise blows that found their mark every time.
For 15 grueling seconds, the two engaged in a brutal exchange. Ethan’s swings were relentless, aiming for the Samurai’s defenses. The Samurai’s counters, however, left cuts and bruises across Ethan’s body.
Ethan’s breaths came heavy, his vision blurring slightly from the exhaustion. Blood seeped from the dozens of wounds scattered across his arms and torso, but he didn’t back down.
“You’re tough,” Ethan admitted, his voice ragged. “But maybe you should check your katana’s condition.”
The Samurai’s expression remained unchanged, but a closer look revealed the truth. Every strike Ethan had thrown wasn’t aimed at the Samurai directly but at his weapon. Fine cracks had begun to form along the blade, faint but unmistakable.
Ethan smirked. “Sorry, but I don’t have time to play anymore.”
He stepped back, planting his feet firmly, and raised the Soul Sword high above his head.
“All or nothing,” he muttered, channeling every ounce of his strength into a final blow.
The Soul Sword came down with a deafening crash, shattering the Samurai’s katana in an explosion of sparks and splintered steel.
The Samurai staggered back, his broken weapon falling uselessly to the ground. Ethan didn’t let up. With a roar, he unleashed a flurry of relentless strikes.
His blade found its mark again and again—cutting through the Samurai’s chest, arms, and legs. Blood splattered across the room as Ethan’s assault continued, each swing fueled by sheer adrenaline.
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Ethan screamed as he brought the Soul Sword down in a final, vertical slice. The blade cut through the Samurai from head to toe, splitting him cleanly in two. The lifeless body collapsed to the ground, dissolving into shimmering fragments.
{Due to executing the strongest vertical strike recorded, you have been granted a new skill: Vertical Slice [B] Lv1. After successfully landing 15 hits on the same enemy, your next vertical attack will be enhanced.}
Ethan glanced at the timer as he stumbled backward, his legs barely able to support his weight.
{Due to defeating an enemy with high vitality, bonus souls have been granted.}
A wave of relief washed over him, and a smile broke across his bloodied face.
“Let’s fucking go!” Ethan yelled, triumph in his voice. But as the adrenaline drained from his body, his legs gave out, and he collapsed to the ground.
“Ah... my legs... I can’t stand anymore,” he muttered, his breath ragged.
Suddenly, a bright flash illuminated the room, blinding Ethan and sending waves of dizziness through him. His vision dimmed, and his body felt impossibly heavy. Just before losing consciousness, he caught a glimpse of something standing over him—a humanoid figure with three glowing eyes and six arms. The creature smiled eerily, and Ethan’s world went dark.
When Ethan came to, the pain in his body was gone. He groaned, sitting up slowly as his head throbbed. Every scratch, bruise, and wound from his battle with the Samurai had vanished.
“What the...?” he muttered, his hand instinctively going to his chest.
Memories of the fight flooded back, and his eyes darted to the timer.
Below the timer, a new message appeared:
{Admin Message: You did really well, but the admin council has decided that your actions exceeded the plausibility for this point. Try again, loser. At least we pity you, so here are the rewards we held back.}
Ethan stared at the message, his jaw tightening as rage boiled within him.
“AAAAAAAAAAAAAHHHHHHHHH!!!”
He slammed his fists into the walls of the chamber, over and over, until blood began to drip from his knuckles. He didn’t care. The pain was nothing compared to the fury coursing through him.
Just as he prepared to punch again, a faint glow from his backpack caught his attention. The egg—the strange item he had won from the gacha machine—was spinning and levitating, radiating a soft light.
Ethan paused, his anger giving way to confusion. The egg cracked, its shell splitting apart to reveal a small, humanoid figure. The light faded, revealing a male dwarf with a wide grin and a forging hammer slung over his shoulder.
Ethan blinked, activating his Inspect skill.
Name: Fafner Durinn (Companion of Ethan Wanless)
Level: 5
Character Rank: B
Class: Blacksmith
Weapon: Forging Hammer
Unique Skills:
* Weapon Upgrade [A] Lv1
* Accessory Upgrade [A] Lv1
The dwarf dusted off his trousers and looked up at Ethan with an easy smile.
“Hey there, Master,” he said cheerfully. “I’ll be supporting you in your battles and your adventures. But I’ve got a favor to ask in return.”
Ethan’s brow furrowed. “A favor?” he asked, confused. “Aren’t companions just supposed to serve their masters?”
The dwarf chuckled. “Sure, most of the time. But I’m not just any companion. I need your help, Master, to become the greatest blacksmith in all of Estithae. So, what do you say? Equal partnership?”
Ethan stared at the dwarf for a moment, processing the situation. Finally, he let out a tired laugh, shaking his head.
“Equal partnership, huh? Fine. Let’s see what you’ve got, Fafner.”
The dwarf grinned, his eyes sparkling with determination.