After immersing himself in the intricate art of mana manipulation for the past three hours, Jay finally found himself gaining proficiency. At this juncture, he could replicate the initial shield Rose had demonstrated – forming the shield's core before extending mana outward.
Although the process had been arduous, Jay's relentless dedication paid dividends. Within the first hour, he succeeded in creating the shield's core, a concentrated sphere of expelled mana. By the second hour, he adeptly transformed the sphere into a more uniform, flat disk. Finally, during the third hour, he achieved success in manipulating the surrounding mana to fashion the complete mana shield.
While Jay couldn't be labelled a master just yet, occasional failures aside, his quick and easily deployable shield showcased the fruits of his labour. In a surprising turn of events, he unlocked a new ability:
*Mana Manipulation: (Level 1) - User gains a fundamental understanding of mana control.*
With this passive ability, Jay found it easier to sense the mana in his surroundings. Drawing mana towards his body and shaping his shield also became more efficient, thanks to his newfound skill.
After an extended period of seated concentration, mindfully drawing mana in and out, Jay decided it was time to put his shield to the test in combat. Seeking practical experience, Rose summoned a level-five training dummy, matching Jay's current level, and they engaged in a sparring session.
Given Jay's proficiency with a spear, a weapon requiring both hands for effective defence and offense, he faced challenges against area-of-effect attacks at his current level.
The ability to cast a mana shield in the midst of combat emerged as a crucial skill, enhancing his overall battle prowess, as he did not have to use his hands to control the shield.
----------------------------------------
Jay boldly leaped over the hazard line, venturing into the danger zone with unwavering determination. As he confronted the training dummy, he swiftly summoned his spear from his ring, adopting a battle stance that resembled an impenetrable mountain unable to be overcome.
The dummy, armed with a bow and a wind affinity, began the onslaught. Jay, recognizing the need to close the distance, braced himself for the barrage of arrows.
The first projectile sailed toward his chest, but with lightning reflexes, Jay rotated his body and sidestepped left, evading the spiralling arrow.
The bow-wielding dummy unleashed a relentless barrage of arrows, creating a storm of projectiles that tested Jay's agility.
Evading became too challenging, forcing Jay to employ the pointed tip of his spear to either deflect or cleave through the incoming arrows.
Despite Jay's skilful dodges and blocks, the prolonged exchange left him fatigued. Realizing the need to change tactics, Jay made a bold decision — he had to engage in close combat.
Closing the gap, Jay dashed toward the dummy, only to be met with a sudden onslaught of arrows as it unleashed it's *Rapid Fire ability: - User shoots five mana arrows in rapid succession.* However, Jay sensed an anomaly in the mana flow caused by his recent passive ability Mana Manipulation. His heightened battle intuition kicked in.
With swift precision, Jay conjured a mana shield in front of him, halting the barrage of arrows in their tracks. As he closed in on the dummy, a grin crossed Jay's face. He unleashed his newly acquired skill, Flurry, channelling mana to create multiple spectral copies of his spear that stabbed relentlessly at his target.
The dummy, caught off guard, couldn't withstand the onslaught. In a dazzling display of skill, Jay's flurry of spectral spears overwhelmed the training dummy, leaving it no chance to retaliate.
In an instant, the dummy vanished, defeated by Jay's evolving mastery of both spear and mana manipulation.
----------------------------------------
Rose beamed with pride as she remarked, "You've made remarkable progress since you first arrived here the other day. You might just be the fastest-growing challenger on the planet, though not the strongest just yet. It's unfortunate, but others are gearing up to tackle the fourth floor while you have yet to conquer the third."
Jay, displaying unwavering resolve, declared, "I plan on challenging it today. Let me go collect my armor and some equipment before I set off. Speaking of which, can you give me any hints for the third floor?"
"I'm afraid I cannot," Rose replied. "However, the layout is different from the first two. I'm sure you'll enjoy it. I'll tell you one thing, though: take your time. They might not have publicly admitted it, but those ahead of you regretted rushing to be the first to finish. In this world, there's a saying – 'slow and steady wins the race.' I think you should apply that approach to this floor."
Jay found her words somewhat perplexing at this moment, but he couldn't dismiss her advice lightly. After collecting all his gear, he confidently stepped through the portal and ventured into the mysterious challenges that awaited him on the third floor.
----------------------------------------
Upon opening his eyes, Jay found himself surrounded by a myriad of expressive artworks from across the galaxy. Though he admired the pieces, nothing truly captivated his attention.
"I insist, have a look around. On this floor, your challenge is to complete the pieces. Challengers from your planet have already done these two," the gallery owner explained.
"What if I wanted to choose those ones to complete? They're already done," Jay questioned.
"You can choose them if you wish," the gallery owner replied, "but I highly advise against it. You seem to be the strongest challenger we've had so far. It would be a waste to simply skip this level. I implore you to find something that calls out to you, discover your own perspective, and learn about who you are."
Jay continued his exploration, nothing standing out until he noticed a piece tucked away in a corner. He approached it, and the gallery curator remarked, "Oh my, how interesting that you would choose that piece."
"What exactly is it?" Jay inquired.
The curator explained, "It's called the Demon's Ten Trials, created when the whole tower challenge was first established. The demon in the colosseum was too powerful, captured and given a chance at freedom by battling the top ten strongest gladiators of that time across the planet. He fought valiantly but fell short in his final battle. I wouldn't recommend you take this challenge; it might be too difficult for you in your current state."
"I want to try it," Jay declared, feeling a profound connection to the piece. "I want to complete it for him."
The curator warned, "I can't stop you, but don't say I didn't warn you."
"If you want to enter it, place your hand on the canvas." The curator said with a sigh. Jay did so, and in an instant, he was transported into the canvas, ready to face the challenge that awaited him in the Demon's Ten Trials.
----------------------------------------
*Warning - Enemy strength stat is too high for current floor! Administrator lowers enemy Strength proportionately*
Support the author by searching for the original publication of this novel.
*Warning - Enemy Agility stat is too high for current floor! Administrator lowers enemy Agility proportionately*
*Warning - Enemy Health stat is too high for current floor! Administrator lowers enemy Heath proportionately*
*Warning - Enemy Mana stat is too high for current floor! Administrator lowers enemy Mana proportionately*
*Warning - Enemy Magic stat is too high for current floor! Administrator lowers enemy Magic proportionately*
Under the scorching sun, Jay felt the heat radiating through his wavy dark hair, and the coarse grains of sand adhering to his bare feet. He realized he stood at the center of the colosseum, embodying the essence of the demon.
"Demon, are you ready to face the first challenger?" bellowed a bearded man sporting a gold crown.
"I am," Jay responded with a steely demeanour. He made his way to the weapons rack, selecting his spear.
As he returned to the centre, a voice echoed in his head. "This first challenger will be the weakest. Save your strength and eliminate him quickly."
"Who are you?" Jay asked curiously.
"I am the remnants of the first demon king, Raijin," the voice replied. "I lost my life here, but a power greater than mine saved my soul. I've been stored in this canvas, waiting for someone to complete my fate and set me free. Many have tried before you, and I had lost hope until now. Challenger, you have the same affinity as mine, I hope you can end my eternal rest."
"I will do my best, senior," Jay vowed.
As he stepped into the sandy colosseum, the first challenger emerged—a lithe elf with long blonde hair, blue eyes, and light green armour. She wielded two daggers, and a gust of wind hinted at her affinity.
"I'm going to be the one to kill you," she declared, while Raijin's voice echoed in Jay's mind, claiming her weakness.
"You must've done something to make this easier, she's only level 7," Raijin remarked.
"That's still two levels higher than me," Jay responded.
Raijin sighed, "You'll be okay. Use your range and don't let her get close."
In the starting zone, they faced each other, and as the crown-wearing king declared the match, the deathmatch began.
Jay strategically waited, using the distance to his advantage. The elf grew impatient, enhancing her agility with a wind ability as the breeze swept towards Jay.
As she closed the gap, Jay probed with his spear, keeping her at bay. He continued to use this method, stepping back and jabbing. Eventually Jay realized he was running out of space. The elf knew this too and attempted to cut him off. Jay swiftly struck horizontally with the tip of his spear barely missing her neck.
Seizing the moment when her weight was on the backfoot, Jay charged forward, mixing up his thrusting and jabbing, making it challenging for her to predict his rhythm and strength.
At first the elf was able to defend, but as the attacks continued she found herself increasingly getting clipped and stabbed by Jay's attacks.
With a final thrust, Jay's spear pierced her midsection, killing her and claiming victory.
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 6!*
*Bonus Reward: Claim by clearing this floor*
Distributing his points, Jay felt the fatigue dissipate. Raijin's caution echoed, "You're lucky you levelled up, kid. End things quickly or you won't last."
----------------------------------------
Merely two minutes later, the next challenger materialized—a bounty hunter named Yorick, a resolute man with no elemental affinity but an unwavering trust in his swordsmanship.
"There's a hefty reward on yer head," Yorick declared. "I'mma be the one to end yer suffering."
As the match commenced, Jay seized the initiative to heed Raijin's advice and end things swiftly. Charging towards Yorick, he thrust his spear linearly, aiming directly for the heart.
Yorick skilfully parried with his sword, attempting to close the distance for a counterattack. Jay stepped back diagonally, strategically creating space. With a swift manoeuvre, he unleashed Flurry, sending a barrage of mana spear attacks at Yorick.
Caught off guard, Yorick found himself vulnerable as he moved forward, weight on his front foot. Armed only with his sword, he held it flat upright to shield his heart and face, desperately attempting to retreat out of range as he was continuously pierced.
"Excellent move," complimented Raijin. "You possess exceptional battle IQ. I wish I could train you, moulding you into the perfect demon king."
"I appreciate that," Jay responded, without any intention of ever becoming a corrupt demon. He continued his relentless advance on the weakened Yorick, slashing and stabbing as the swordsman steadily bled out.
After enduring a barrage for the next fifteen seconds, Yorick launched a desperate, last-ditch attack on Jay. Swiftly dodging, Jay countered, thrusting his spear through Yorick's head and eliminating him.
"Damn, no level up," Jay muttered, his breathing slightly elevated.
----------------------------------------
With little time to regain energy, Jay felt his muscles congealing, knowing that exhaustion was inevitable.
The gates opened for the third challenger, revealing a female dwarf named Cinder. Despite her four-foot stature, her giant hammer radiated a menacing presence. Jay couldn't help but notice her long light brown hair and big brown eyes, finding her kind of cute. However, he swiftly pushed aside any distractions, focusing on the mission to conquer the third floor.
As the battle commenced, Jay cautiously advanced. Cinder, the young dwarf, ignited her hammer with an ability, generating a terrifying heat that enveloped the weapon.
Maintaining a safe distance, Jay menacingly thrust his spear towards Cinder's body. She adeptly blocked his attacks by sheltering behind her massive weapon. seizing the opportunity, Cinder stepped back, charging up an ability that drew mana into her hammer. She swung it in a circular motion, leaving an afterimage resembling a spinning circle of fire.
When the fiery display ceased, Cinder hurtled towards Jay with incredible speed.
"ROLL LEFT!" Raijin's urgent command echoed in Jay's mind. He instinctively obeyed, narrowly evading Cinder's ferocious attack. The dwarf collided with the wall, creating a substantial crack in the concrete.
As Cinder slowly rose, Jay charged at her, unleashing Flurry. Despite his efforts, Cinder managed to block most of the attacks with her formidable hammer. Jay's fatigue became apparent as his assault gradually slowed.
Determined to press on, Jay utilized more attacks from his large mana reserve. Observing Cinder's strategy of using the hammer as a shield, Jay recognized a counter. Stepping to the side at a 45-degree angle, he cast Piercing Strike, slipping past the handle and leaving a gaping hole the size of her heart in Cinder's body.
As she fell and dissipated, Jay felt a wave of sorrow, having taken the life of a young teenage girl. Yet, the harsh reality hit him—this sacrifice was necessary for his survival in this unforgiving challenge.
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 7!*
*Bonus Reward: Claim by clearing this floor*
Jay felt incredible power surge through his body as he was renewed with strength. Now recovered he stepped towards the centre to face his next opponent.
----------------------------------------
"This next challenge will be easy, but it will drain you," Raijin warned Jay.
As he finished speaking, a large six-foot creature, half man, half boulder, stepped out of the dimly lit entrance.
"He's half golem, half human. One of his parents must be a freak, falling in love with a golem," Raijin joked.
"During this battle, with your lacking strength, you can't afford to get hit by the boulder part of his body. If you want, you can use this time to increase your strength.
His strategy is to tire you out and then crush you. He's incredibly slow, with high endurance and defence, except for his fleshy arms, one leg, and his head.
"During this battle, instead of jabbing, I want you to practice your Piercing Strike without using mana. Just use pure strength. This will make your ability even stronger and train you.
"This golem hasn't been nerfed quite so hard stat wise like the others. He's level 12, but only his defence and health stats are high. The others seem to be garbage," Raijin said convincingly.
"When you start to get tired, destroy his human leg, and he will become a punching bag. I want you to use Piercing Strike one hundred times on his boulders before killing him."
"Okay, I can do that," Jay replied.
As the battle commenced, Jay moved forward, pondering why the boulder man was even fighting. Everyone had their story, but Jay didn't really care all that much.
The hybrid lifted his rock arm and smashed it down towards Jay, who rolled to the outside and used Piercing Strike without mana on the rocky flesh. The attack did nothing, only making the hybrid chuckle. With his high level and defence, Jay's attack dealt little to no damage.
The second bout went exactly the same, Jay dashed in and out of range, taunting the golem over and over.
He mindlessly continued the strategy, attacking with full force. After seventy strikes, exhaustion began to set in. Following Raijin's advice, Jay chopped off the hybrid's legs, completing the last thirty reps before finally dispatching the golem.
"Well, that was extremely boring," Jay remarked, panting, his muscles bulging from exertion.
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 8!*
*Level Up! +1 point in each stat. +5 Additional Points*
*Congratulations on reaching level 9!*
*Level Up: Piercing Strike (level 2)*
*Bonus Reward: Claim by completing this floor*
Instantly revitalized, Jay prepared for the next battle.