Dripping from head to toe in sweat, Jay let his spear drop as he sprawled on the floor attempting to catch his breath. "whew, what a workout" he told himself.
Jay had been training for the past 45 minutes, lugging his spear around as he repeatedly defeated practice dummies. It was all worth it, as what lay in front of him was a screen with the words *Spear Mastery: Level 1 Unlocked!*
After continuously training his pierce, lunge, slash, and parry with the dummy, he had finally gotten somewhere.
His new ability gave him more competence with the spear, making his movements appear a little more graceful although not by much.
After recovering for five minutes, Jay asked Rose to take him to the first floor.
Rose meticulously prepared Jay for his journey, packing a few essentials into an old, grey rucksack. As they made their way toward the light green gate, she reassured him, "This is just the first floor out of a hundred, so it won't be too dangerous. Consider it a gentle introduction to what lies ahead."
The portals escalated in difficulty, starting with green, progressing through the challenges of yellow, orange, red, and intensifying further with the ominous black and perilous white. Each transition marked a climb in danger.
With spear in hand, Jay stepped through the portal, entering an entirely new world. In stark contrast to the stormy grey clouds outside the tower, this realm unfolded under a canopy of sunlight and vast blue skies. Thick, uncut grass at ankle level covered the ground, painting a serene landscape before him.
In awe of his newfound surroundings, Jay's gaze fell upon three light green figures. Resembling humans but noticeably shorter, each held a single pointed dagger, their presence adding an intriguing layer of danger to the vibrant landscape.
In Jay's perception, the goblins seemed remarkably feeble, yet the gleam of their sharp daggers hinted at a potential threat. He approached cautiously, relying on his spear for support. When he reached a distance of about twenty feet, he aimed the sharp edge of his weapon towards them.
One of the goblins, detecting Jay's presence, let out a cry that alerted the others. Swiftly, they charged at him.
Executing a precise horizontal swing, Jay torqued at the waist, the blue ribbon on the spear dancing through the breeze as it severed the goblin's head. The lifeless body crumpled to the ground, transforming into a mist that entered and nourished Jay's body.
Witnessing their comrade's demise, the remaining goblins' eyes turned red with fury, and they charged at Jay with heightened ferocity. Employing agile footwork, Jay manoeuvred around them, strategically jabbing whenever they closed in. Before long, the goblins succumbed to puncture wounds from the sharp tip of his weapon, collapsing to the ground and transforming into valuable experience points for Jay.
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 2!*
Jay called out to the tower, "Place one of each additional point into a different stat." As he finished the command, he felt a surge of energy, and the tower responded to his request.
User: Jay Kim (Level 2)
Titles: The first.
Affinity: Lightning.
Magic: 7.
Mana: 7.
Agility: 4.
Strength: 4.
Health: 4.
"Close status page," Jay commanded, feeling a surge of strength and energy coursing through his revitalized body.
As he continued traversing the grassy fields, another group of goblins, each wielding a single dagger, came into view. Jay, decided to stick with his previous strategy. He dashes towards them, spear at the ready. With a burst of strength, he thrust the weapon towards the first goblin's head. It connects and the goblins lifeless body falls towards the ground.
Retracting the spear from the now lifeless goblin, Jay creates some space before swiftly lunging at the second goblin, piercing its heart and ending it's life.
Enraged by the demise of its companions, the final goblin emitted a shriek and hurled itself toward Jay. Surprised by the sudden attack, Jay instinctively threw a punch, connecting with the goblin's jaw. However, the goblin managed to stab Jay in the ribcage.
Undeterred, Jay aligned his spear with the goblin's heart and relentlessly pierced through, ending the confrontation. Despite the injury, Jay stood victorious, ready for whatever challenges lay ahead in the tower.
"Huh, I'm surprised I didn't level up after that," Jay commented, reflecting on the intense battle. "The amount of experience needed must increase with each level up."
Jay reached into the rucksack that Rose had prepared for him and retrieved a mysterious red potion. With slight hesitation, he took the dagger out of his side and instantly chugged down the liquid. Almost immediately, his wound stopped bleeding, and signs of healing became evident.
A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.
After wrapping his body with a cloth bandage, Jay stood up, ready to press on with his quest to clear the first floor and, hopefully, gain another achievement for being the first to do so. The challenges within the tower awaited, and Jay was determined to overcome each one.
After walking under the blanket of sunlight for what seemed like 15 minutes, Jay arrived in front of the first floor's boss. Seated on a throne made of wood and bones was a human-sized goblin. While not yet a hobgoblin, it was undeniably stronger than the goblin hordes Jay had faced before.
Above the goblin's head were the words "Level 3 Goblin Boss." Jay drew his spear, ready to face the challenge. The goblin leapt out of its seat, grabbing a large sword beside it.
Taking the initiative, the goblin boss charged, sword in hand. Jay kept his distance, measuring the range with his spear. When the goblin was close enough, Jay mightily lunged forward, aiming at the midsection. The goblin boss skilfully blocked the sharp spear with his sword and took a diagonal step closer to Jay's left-hand side.
After the step, the goblin immediately swung its sword awkwardly, targeting Jay's exposed neck. Jay reacted swiftly, stepping back and barely dodging the incoming strike. Realizing how close to death he had just been, he gripped his spear tightly, raising it once more.
Jay imbued himself with mana, his body becoming lighter, more durable, and powerful, thanks to the mystical energy within him. Using his increased speed, Jay thrust his spear forward three times at an incredible pace.
The goblin boss managed to block the first and second strikes but was unable to evade the third. Blood oozed from his chest, marking the impact of Jay's powerful strike. The battle had reached a critical juncture.
After enduring a piercing wound and witnessing its own blood, the boss's fury surged uncontrollably. Devoid of pain, the goblin boss seized its sword, unleashing a relentless barrage of swings fuelled by adrenaline.
Jay grappled with the challenge, each defensive manoeuvre becoming more taxing. He succumbed to a slicing blow on his outer right leg and across his shoulders, breath growing heavy as exhaustion overcame him. The day's prolonged wielding of the spear left his arms feeble and frail.
The pivotal moment arrived. Jay, drawing upon the last remnants of his depleted mana, imbued his weapon and unleashed a mighty thrust toward the goblin. In a stroke of fortune, the goblin, worn from the relentless onslaught, failed to block the powerful blow. The spear cleanly pierced through its chest, and the goblin boss collapsed to the ground.
Jay, utterly drained of both energy and mana, crumpled onto the slowly dissipating goblin body, succumbing to unconsciousness. The intense battle had concluded, leaving Jay in a state of exhaustion and the goblin defeated.
*Congratulations On Clearing The First Floor Challenger*
*Congratulations On Being The Fifth To Clear This Floor*
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 3!*
*Ability Unlocked - Piercing Strike: The first ability learnt by Jay Kim after defeating the Floor One boss. Deals 150% damage and uses 30% of your mana.*
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*Twenty minutes prior, on the first floor.*
"Alright team, looks like this is the boss. Bobby, you keep tanking, and Katrina, I want you to hide in the bushes to attack when he's not expecting. I'll use my longsword to beat him up. Okay, team, let's go," said Francis Neoma, the blonde-haired Frenchman.
The trio, all members of a weapons club at their university, engaged in discussion as they prepared to face the boss on the first floor. While they weren't the first to enter the mysterious tower, they were the first to attempt conquering the boss.
Having experience with their chosen weapons from the weapons club, they skipped the training dummy.
Bobby, a stocky man with long blonde hair cascading down his broad shoulders resembled an ox. He opted for a heavy shield, embodying the concept of an impenetrable wall.
On the other hand, Katrina, a slim figure with sleek black hair blending into the shadows, chose daggers for their silent lethality, embracing the role of an assassin.
Having grown up together, the trio, now in their final year of university, ran the weapons club as their pride and joy. They mentored younger students, imparting knowledge about various weapons, and frequently sparred among themselves to hone their skills.
Their camaraderie and shared experiences had prepared them well for the challenges ahead.
Francis Neoma, the charismatic leader of the weapons club, stood at an imposing six feet four inches. Of French descent, he was renowned for his incredible handsomeness, and many wished they could date him. Born into wealth, Francis led what seemed like a perfect life.
Bobby charged at the goblin boss, wielding his large bronze-grade shield. He taunted the boss by spitting at it, laughing defiantly in its face.
Enraged, the goblin boss swiftly rose, sword in hand, and dashed toward Bobby with deadly intent. As the goblin swung its sword horizontally, Bobby braced for impact, putting his weight on his front foot.
The collision of sword and shield sent them both stumbling back a few steps.
Seizing the moment, Francis stepped forward with his longsword, aiming to sever the goblin's arm.
Although the goblin boss lacked intelligence, it proved its title as the king of goblins by using the recoil from its initial attack to leap back, minimizing the damage it could incur. The blade barely connected, slicing down its arm and drawing green blood.
Undeterred, the goblin boss, realizing the danger it was in, charged toward Francis, ignoring Bobby, whom it deemed less threatening. The goblin swung its sword with momentum, forcing Francis to take several steps back.
Gritting his teeth, Francis retaliated, charging at the goblin. As their swords collided, Katrina leapt out from behind a rock, having circled behind the distracted goblin. Her two bladed daggers found their mark in the goblin's back, and she gracefully flipped off its back, landing on a nearby rock.
The surprise attack caused the goblin to wince and lose focus. Seizing the opportunity, Bobby charged forward, using his heavy shield to knock the goblin off its feet. Francis followed up, piercing his longsword through the goblin's heart, ending its life instantly.
*Congratulations on Clearing the First Floor, Challengers!*
*Congratulations on Being the First Three to Clear This Floor!*
*Bonus Reward: Golden Crowns - Reduces the Amount of Experience Needed to Learn Skills by 20%*
*Ability Unlocked (Bobby Finn) - Harden: Hardening his body, the user can reduce incoming damage by 15%*
*Ability Unlocked (Katrina Hymn) - Assassins Eye: Activating this skill reveals enemy weak points.*
*Ability Unlocked (Victor Neoma) - Mirror Strike: Deflects a single incoming attack no matter the strength, followed by a swift and accurate counterblow in response.
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 3!*
The trio read the screens before them, exchanging smiles, and then walked happily towards the green portal at the exit.