Dodging his initial sword strike, I lash out a punch towards his face. Dodging my fist, The Blade returns the favour and punches towards my stomach. Pivoting slightly on my foot, I dodge the blow but before I could do anything else, his sword was already swinging towards my neck. Ducking, I could hear the sword cut the air as it narrowly missed my head as I swung my fist upwards while launching myself from my crouched position.
Taking a step back, The Blade casually avoids my punch as his sword once again came swinging, this time downwards diagonally. Using my speed, I kicked myself backwards as the sword narrowly missed my chest. I felt a stinging pain and looking down, I saw a small sword cut had actually cut through. The wound wasn’t a problem, it was merely a scratch, but I knew I had dodged the attack but somehow I still ended up cut.
Feeling the scratch already healing, I watched as The Blade moved in once again, there was no hesitation in his step. Dodging another sword strike, I step in to punch his chest, but he grabs my fist with his free hand and pulls me in while his sword arm rises in the air. Knowing I had no time, I used the momentum of being pulled in, turned slightly, and charged into him with my shoulder.
Knocking him back, his grip loosened slightly as I yanked my arm free, using the wind around me to push me back, however in that small amount of time he had already recovered and once again moved in with his sword swinging downwards. Dodging to the right by pivoting on my leg, I throw a kick towards his hip, a flame surging from my leg as I used Lashing Fire Kick.
Deflecting my leg with his free arm, he thrusts his sword towards my shoulder as I dodged as quickly as I could. Feeling the sword cut my shoulder slightly, I grip his sword arm with my hand as I reach out with my hand to grab his head. Grabbing my arm before I could reach him, he pulled me in as he reels his head back and knowing he was about to headbutt me I duck and twist my body, trying to throw him to the side.
Neither of us lost our grips on each other, the force of my attempted throw caused him to stumble slightly but he quickly removed his feet as he raised a foot and kicked towards my face. Jumping from my crotch while still holding his arm while he held mine, I dodged the kick before I pulled myself downwards with my own kick towards his head. He dodges towards the sword arm I still held as my kick missed.
Pulling my downwards towards the ground, he shakes my grip off as I redirect the kick into the arm that held me, and as it connects he loses his grip on me as I lost my grip on his arm. Rolling on the ground once, I spring back up just in time to see him above me midair, swinging down with his sword, a giant smile on his face.
I realised I had started smiling at some point as well. I found this exciting, fun and intense. I had thought no one could threaten me around my level, but this man, The Blade, has shown me the truth. He might be a dungeon boss, but if there were others like this…I wanted to fight them.
Raising my palm, I sent a Wind Explosion in front of me, blowing him backwards as I clapped my hands together. Every fibre of my being wanted to fight The Blade with my full strength, and as I stomp down on the ground I yell.
“Domain! Mystical Lunar Starfield!”
Spreading out quickly, I watched as the man threw a palm upwards.
“Domain Cancellation!”
With a shattering sound, my Domain stopped spreading as I felt it become sealed within me. Taken by a surprise for half a second, The Blade stepped in once again and swung his sword upwards. Due to my surprise, I was half a step late in dodging the attack completely as the sword cut through my shirt, digging in and cutting my chest diagonally.
Hissing at the pain, I knew it wasn’t deep, but it wasn’t shallow either. My hesitation at something I didn’t expect caused me to become injured. So there is a way to cancel Domains? I had to find out how it was done, it would help me immensely in the future. It didn't even use mana, I hadn't sensed anything from him. Stepping back a bit, I felt the wound already healing itself as I used a Lunar Blessing instead, once again hitting that barrier that prevented it from completely covering my body.
The Blade steps in once more as a red aura springs out, covering his body as he swung his sword downwards once again. Pivoting, I noticed his speed had gone up another level, in comparison mine had improved because of Lunar Blessing however it couldn’t compare to whatever he had just used. Pivoting on my foot once again, I summoned Astral Ice Spikes behind me, twelve in total, and fired multiple at him.
Swinging his hand with force, the spikes shattered before reaching him. I had not sensed any magic coming from him, it was pure force that he had used to shatter those spikes. Feeling my right leg straining, I knew it I had limited time, however I hadn’t even landed a blow on The Blade and he was always one step ahead of me.
Stepping back quickly to dodge another sword strike, I paid attention to the red aura covering him. I could release an aura similar to this, however it only raised my bloodthirst and I had to release my monster form, something that I knew would give me a disadvantage here due to losing the ability to punch, and wouldn't help me here. Still I had to wonder, did his cause his strength to increase, or is it not like my aura but something else?
As we went back and forth, I was severely on the backfoot. I was narrowly dodging most attacks, and those that I couldn’t I received small cuts or scratches. Feeling my right leg becoming more strained, I grew frustrated. I was enjoying this fight so much, yet this leg couldn’t keep up with what I demanded of it.
Bending backwards, I dodge yet another sword swing before pivoting on my left leg as I send a punch out towards his neck. Deflecting the punch with a swipe of his free hand, I throw the last of my spikes at him as I jump back, stumbling a bit on my right leg.
Looking at The Blade, I didn’t need anyone to tell me why I was struggling to hit him, I didn’t need anyone to tell me why he had the advantage. I understood now why those from the Church had been so weak, why those adventurers who tried to enslave me had been so easily killed and why those nobles and humans from Crater had fallen so easily. None of them were like The Blade or I, none of them had even trained or been trained nor had they had experience in fighting other humans or evolved monsters.
Everything I’ve thrown at this man he has had an answer for, he knew when to attack and when to defend. He was experienced, far more than I was, and he knew how to handle his sword. Meanwhile I was simply imitating what I’ve learned from Teacher Lee, I hadn’t improved his teachings to be my own, I was doing as told. Keep my body relaxed and tense up at the last second, use the wind around me to improve my speed and sometimes make my attacks stronger.
Dodging is all I’m capable of against The Blade, and even then my advantage in speed had been lost, causing me to take the odd cut. Against him, I can see my shortcomings clearly. I only have my Astral Ice Spikes that can be used for quick ranged attacks. Astral Ice Wind consumed too much mana and needed to be used continuously, while Wind Explosion didn’t really do damage and was only useful for knocking things back. Gritting my teeth, I tried to think of what I could do to regain the advantage, what I could do to improve myself.
Dodging another strike, I once again grab The Blade’s sword arm, and just like before I throw a punch, only for it to be quickly grabbed. Reeling his head back, The Blade attempts to headbutt me as I dodge to the right. In this situation he can’t dodge magic, but spikes won’t work since they would appear around me, making it difficult to aim them at his body. While I’m thinking, I remember the magic attack that the monster, Hellfire Hound, attempted to use, a fire breath.
As I remember that, I also remember the Guardian giant from the Depths of Crater Hell and how he used a frost breath. Could I do the same? Thinking quickly, I decided to try and use Astral Ice as the base of the spell. I tried visualising how to use the magic, but I had no idea how to form it. Dodging a kick narrowly, I raise a foot and kick out as The Blade dodges it.
The spell can’t have much delay, if none at all. It had to be released quickly, without a chance to be countered or dodged and it had to have some effect on the person it hit. Dodging a knee that came for my chin, inspiration hit me. Not a breath, no. Everything I tried to think of involving a breath attack would have a delay, letting The Blade time to counter or dodge. But what about sound? Thinking of Aubrey’s humming over the last day, I knew that wouldn’t be strong enough, but what about singing?
Taken from Royal Road, this narrative should be reported if found on Amazon.
I’ve never sang, I’ve heard it on the streets of Vale but I didn’t know how it worked. Was it like talking? Astral Ice wouldn’t work either for singing…but Lunar magic. Slowly I entered a trance as I started gathering Lunar Energy and Mana from my Mana Realm. The Lunar Energy was pure and strong, it was the first time I was gathering it from my Mana Realm. Opening my mouth while in the trance, words came to me as I sang like I had known how to for a long time.
“Sleep well, and don’t you fear.”
A voice came from me, it was my voice, but soft and gentle. It had a strange power with it, and seeing The Blade’s reaction I knew it had an effect as he suddenly struggled against my grip. I don’t know where the words were coming from as I continued.
“For the moon will always be near; guiding you through the darkest of nights.”
As the voice flowed from me, The Blade’s struggle started weakening. I didn’t know what effect it was having but I knew I had to finish this song. Clenching my hand down, he released my other hand but was too slow in pulling it away as I grabbed it in a vice grip.
“Close your eyes and drift away; into a land of make-believe; where all your dreams shall be received.”
Watching as his eyes glaze over as if he had been hit by a spell, The Blade completely stopped struggling there as if in a trance…a dream. Seeing light slowly returning to his eyes, I knew I had seconds. Releasing my grips, I throw both fists, one aimed at his heart the other at his stomach as I used everything.
Light returned to his eyes just as I’m about to connect. He steps to the side to avoid my blows, but I still succeed, one fist smashing through his stomach and the other into the shoulder of his sword arm. I saw his eyes widen in surprise as my fist simply pierces through with some resistance, I felt all the bones in his shoulder breaking.
Swiping at me with his free hand, I let it hit me as I gripped a bone in his shoulder. As the blow landed, I felt myself hit with dizziness as my body felt like it was going to be blown away, but I held onto The Blade thanks to grabbing whatever bone I had.
Shaking the dizziness off as the sword dropped from his hand, I pulled my hand from his stomach and punched out at his head while using Stardust Fists. He reacted a lot slower now and I could still see a faint glaze to his eyes. He blocked my fist but couldn’t react to the knee I had thrown up. Striking him in the chin, I once again throw a punch out and watch as my hit connects, causing him to stumble while shaking his head. His eyes regained their clarity completely, no longer having that glaze to them.
As I throw another punch at him, he instead strikes the arm holding his shoulder bone with a heavy chop. Hissing as I heard a crack, I knew my arm had been broken but I followed through and punched him hard, sending him tumbling along the ground as I lost my grip. Keeping myself steady, I saw him standing with a wobble as I bit my lip, attempting to keep my focus.
I had enough mana to finish this, and my Domain no longer felt sealed. I had one arm left as my right leg throbbed with pain. I had to end it now, before he could recover. We stood there, facing each other, both of us still grinning in excitement. This feeling was amazing, even though I had managed to injure him so severely I still sensed him as a great threat.
A ringing silence rang out as I created Astral Ice Spikes behind me. He takes a step forward as I watch him carefully. A second passed. I stomp down on the ground, as he does the same. I send all the spikes at him while wordlessly spreading my Domain. His stomp cracks the ground all around him. I picked up the sword he had dropped and threw it at him as hard as I could with my working arm.
A large piece of earth comes from the ground. Spinning on the spot, he kicks it, it’s at least 3 metres tall, 2 wide. My Domain rushes forth as the piece of earth slams into the spikes and sword, stopping them in their tracks. Without hesitating this time, I use every muscle in my legs to take off, moving around the earth.
Arriving at his side with speed that surprised me, I saw him looking at me with excitement. Throwing a punch with my remaining hand, he does the same. Hitting him in the face, I felt his jaw crack as his punch landed on my chest as I felt my ribs break. We send each other flying, tumbling on the ground as I get back up. My Domain surrounding us, I sway slightly while gasping for breath.
Seeing him trying to stand, he collapses onto his knees. As I’m about to move in, I see his outline start shining as…he started fading. Panting heavily, I watch as he slowly stands while panting himself, grinning at me.
As he faded, he spoke for the first time. “See you again.” Watching as he faded, I gave him a slight bow. “Thank you.” I meant it, this was the first time I had fought like this, it reminded me of my shortcomings, but it also made me feel excited. Excited to improve, to find ways to become stronger and to find him again. I knew those words he spoke were real and we would indeed meet again.
As my Domain collapses, The Blade finally disappears in a wisp of light as I fall to my knees. Even with my heightened regeneration I still felt my entire body screaming in pain. I was also fatigued, my right leg screaming at me, but I had somehow done it. As I’m about to turn my head, the System came with two notifications as the field of potato plants disappeared.
The Blood God is furious.
The Moon Goddess is happy for you.
Blinking in a bit of surprise, I turned my head towards Aubrey and Xia as the room returned to the dome with the torches on either side, a chest now laid in the middle, bronze in colour and material. Ignoring the two System messages that had appeared, I looked at the spell I had learnt during the fight that had turned tides.
Lunar Lullaby: Sing a lullaby that causes everyone around you to fall under an illusion. Those that are strong of mind can resist the spell, causing it to either fail or last a few seconds. Effect becomes weaker the more someone hears the song, and can become permanently immune.
Mana Cost: 500
Supremacy of the Moon: Once awakened, those who had been affected will continue to see the illusion and reality.
That’s…quite the spell. Hearing footsteps approach, I turn to see Aubrey pulling out a healing potion while looking at me wide eyed. Thanking her, I down the healing potion as it assists in my regeneration. Touching where The Blade’s final blow had struck me, I felt an indent, he’d punched me so hard that most of my ribs had broken, making breathing painful.
Looking at the spot where he had disappeared, I felt an urge. I wanted to become like that, strong enough to never need to use mana, using my own pure force and strength to fight. I had enjoyed that fight and wanted more…oh god, I sound like Bloom. Rubbing the bridge of my nose, I sighed while slowly standing. Aubrey offers me her shoulder but I decline. Xia approaches before bowing sharply.
“Congratulations Mistress, you’re the first recorded person to conquer the tenth floor solo.”
Pursing my lips, I shake my head. “Any high level person can do this, it’s not an achievement.”
Hearing Aubrey scoff, I turned to her as she explained. “I keep forgetting you don’t know anything about this dungeon. If you enter this room higher than level 35, the boss will not be here, instead the doors to the next floor will be opened.” Following where she had pointed, I saw a pair of doors open, leading somewhere else. Also, how did someone who had a perfect memory forget something? Raising an eyebrow, I planned to ask her that later.
“So that means…”
“Yup. Take pride in it, Alisha. Because the Guild will know in a moment that you’ve done it as well, a lot of people followed us, plus the Guild monitors this room. You’re going to have headaches to deal with once you conquer the twentieth floor.”
Sucking in breath, not due to Aubrey’s words but due to the pain of the hole in my chest popping out, I grit my teeth and dealt with the pain first before turning to Aubrey as it passed.
“So I proved you wrong~” Saying this in a teasing tune, Aubrey blurts out “huh?” before going “AH!”
“I’m sorry! You did prove me wrong, you really got past the tenth floor…maybe you can do it after all…”
As Aubrey muttered to herself, Xia spoke once again. “Madam.” Madam?! “I seek permission to discuss your fight with you.”
Looking at Xia who was still bowing, I was finding it harder and harder to just discard this woman. So far she has only ever bowed, kneeled and shown complete servitude, showing me she was completely willing to follow me. Of course, it could still be a trap set by the Church, so I couldn’t trust her, but I didn’t see the harm in letting her speak.
“Later. We need to move, most of my smaller wounds have already healed, but my right leg, chest and arm still need some recovery. Aubrey, how far is it from the boss room to the next safe zone?”
“As long as it doesn’t mutate, the safe zone will be next to the boss room. We can’t rest here, others can open the doors now, and that would just lock us in with them and the boss again. But first…loot.” Staring at the chest then back to me, I shake my hand and gesture for her to go ahead. With a big grin on her face, she nearly teleports to the chest and opens it.
Looking at the System notifications, I figured I would look them over once we settle down to rest in the safe zone. After Aubrey had cleaned out the chest, while also looking like she wanted to take the chest with her, we walked through the doors to the next floor and down the stairs.