Feeling so depressed after Draks death. Missing my little buddy that brought me so much joy. Hating myself for letting myself bring him onto the 19th Floor. Even though I thought that it would turn out fine it didn't, and I can't live with it.
Knowing that I need to push past this and move forward. Nothing will help by staying in the past and living with it.
Getting out of bed and making my way towards the bathroom. Looking in the mirror and seeing myself. Looking at the person I couldn't recognize anymore. If you went back in time and told my past self this was me, I wouldn't of believed you.
Looking at how long my hair is, the beard that finally grown in. The look of me reminds me of a homeless person begging for change. Wondering what the people on Earth look like there. Do they even know what's happening to all these people? Thinking of what I could do to learn about what's happening.
The newbies.
The perfect answer. The new people that arrive every month, surely they would have information about what's happening. Wondering if I should ask people around about it. Something pops into my head about the Tower.
I'm on the 20th Floor, I'm so close to the lobby. Why don't I just go and clear the Floor? The 19th Floor wasn't all that challenging.
"Skill Shop"
「Skill Shop
Mana Detection: 1000G
Breathing Control: 2000G
Swordsmanship: 300G」
Does the Tower have inflation? I don't remember the Swordsmanship skill being so expensive.
"Buy 'Mana Detection' and 'Breathing Control'"
「New Skills
Mana Detection: Enables the user to sense, analyze, and comprehend the presence and flow of mana, the fundamental energy of magic, within themselves and the surrounding environment.
Breathing Control: Focused on mastering one's breath, facilitating enhanced physical and mental capabilities through disciplined breathing techniques.」
Looking the martial arts I use, I don't have a proper stance. Looking back at the few games and anime I watched, breathing and stances are important. Trying to picture Goku in my head doing a cool stance before an attack. Remembering the breathe through your nose then out your mouth teachings.
Heading towards the tower, knowing I have to be careful. Needing to survive to honor Drak. Knowing the only way to truly honor him is to clear the Tower.
「Choose Floor
…
Floor 18
Floor 19
Floor 20」
"Floor 20"
Looking around and seeing a wall and a pathway going forwards. Looking at the end of the pathway and seeing it turn to the right. Gazing upwards and seeing little lanterns spread out across the cave.
「Floor 20
Objective: Clear the Maze by beating the minotaur inside.」
Minotaur. I know I've heard that name somewhere. Knowing it's apart of a mythology just not knowing which one. Was it Greek? Moving past the topic since it doesn't matter. Why not put my new skill to use?
This text was taken from Royal Road. Help the author by reading the original version there.
"Mana Detection"
Spreading my Mana outwards like before but seeing a more in-depth picture. A picture that's more detailed compared to before. Feeling nothing with strong Mana within a couple of hundred feet around me.
With the new information, I start walking forwards, keeping the skill activated just in case. Seeing how I don't need to find the end of the maze to clear it, it shouldn't be that hard. Only needing to find the minotaur and killing it.
Looking at the walls. Gazing upon the design and being stunned by the pure beauty. It's not something that you would see everyday. It's nice and refined like a countertop made out of obsidian. Touching it and feeling how cold it is. Not wanting to do it but knowing that it could help me made me.
Pulling my arm out and imbuing Mana inside. Feeling the pain in my hand as it gets sliced off. Seeing the minotaur's axe in front of me. Looking to the left of me and feeling the hot air coming out of his nose. Seeing the drool drip out of his mouth as he looks at me with hunger.
Dashing backwards and pulling out my weapon. Trying to determine how strong the minotaur is. Looking at his skin, seeing the artificial light reflect off of it. Deciding to abandon my plan and just end the Floor right now.
"Vampiric Grasp"
Not knowing why I don't use this skill more, it always does damage on hit.
Rushing towards the minotaur watching it closely. Waiting for the moment he tries to counter my attack.
"Future Sight"
Looking at the all the possibilities and seeing nothing coming from the minotaur. Ignoring the negatives of the situation and only looking at the positives. Bringing my scythe upwards and feeling it. Feeling the negatives of the situation. Looking downwards and seeing blood gushing out a whole in my stomach.
My eyes start dropping as I start loosing conscious. Feeling the regrets of not being more cautious. Looking back at how confident I was. My hands start dropping as a miracle happens.
The scythe dropping and hitting the minotaur. The 'Vampiric Grasp' still in effect. feeling power start coming back to me. Feeling my wound start to mend as my conscious comes back. Gripping my scythe even tighter than before. Reacting to the benefits of my skills rushing in.
Realizing that I need to be more cautious. Knowing I only survived from dumb luck. Only having 1 more chance to succeed and it's right in front of me.
"Flash Step"
Going backwards and thinking of a plan. Needing something to go off of. The minotaur is surprisingly fast. Not even being able to avoid his strike diminished my confidence. Thinking of skills that would be useful in a situation like this.
"Haste"
"Mana Empowerment"
"Heavenly Moonlight Footwork"
Sensing all of the effects of the skills. Rushing towards the minotaur with confidence. Seeing his axe move forward with future sight and adapting. Preparing a counter attack, striking his arm and hearing him roar.
"Blood Configuration"
In the split second I had from his reaction, using it to it's fullest extent. Taking blood from my previous wound and shooting multiple bullets towards him. Every single one of them aimed at the same place.
His right shoulder.
Knowing his skin is too tough for me to just cut with ease. I need to build up damage in one spot to cleanly slice off.
"Frostbolt Barrages"
Aiming most of the lances directly towards his arm. Not wanting to give away my intention of building up damage.
Looking around and seeing a few shadows, just enough for my skill to work.
"Shadow Invisibility"
Disappearing into the shadows while the barrage ends. Rushing towards his arm while he's distracted.
"Shadowless Strike - Hyeonmu's Whisper"
Putting all of my Mana into my right arm preparing to strike off his. Feeling my palm connecting with his fur. Feeling how rigid and rough it is, being able to tell he doesn't clean himself. Feeling the blood splash onto my body. Knowing I succeeded in the moment.
Hearing his knees drop to the ground as I scream in victory. Being the first person to reach the lobby of the 21st Floor.
"Absorb"
「New Skills
Iron Skin: Defensive skill that fortifies the user's body with a resilient and durable layer, enhancing physical resilience and mitigating incoming damage.
「Floor 20 Cleared
Congratulations on Clearing Floor 20!
3500XP, Level Up x2
+25000G」
「Please return to your room soon. Once inside of your room, exciting the room will bring you to the new lobby along with all of your belongings. When going into the new lobby rewards and accomplishments will be given.」
Returning to my room not being able to contain my excitement.
------------------------------------------------------------------------
「Status Window
Name: Kim Yeon
Level: 49
Skills: Soul Absorption, Corpse Summon, Heavy Strike, Low Tier Regeneration LV2, Appraise, Bone Forge, Vampire Grasp LV2, Soul Reaping, Heat Sensing, Heightened Senses LV2, Skill Combination, Future Sight, Master of Mana, Weapon Mastery, Mana Circuit, Shadow Invisibility, Flash Step, Heavenly Moonlight Footwork, Mana Arrow, Automatic Mana Absorption, Corpse Explosion, Blood Configuration, Body Guard Summon, Draconic Senses, Haste, Weapon Enhancement, Armor Enhancement, Teleportation, Frost Nova, Ice Mastery, Thunderclap Palm, Shadowless Strike - Hyeonmu's Whisper, Frostbolt Barrages, Mana Empowerment, Ghost Phase, Combat Adaptation, Ice Sword, Endurance Surge, Mana Vision, Mana Body, Iron Skin.
Stats:
Strength: 69 (15)
Agility: 75 (9)
Intelligence: 92 (14)
Stamina: 54 (12)
Available points: 94
Gold: 69,440」