I'm back on the 19th floor, with one thing on my mind.
"I need to find a strong opponent to test this new ability on."
I activate enemy detection and inspect to begin taking a look around for a Berskerer to test out my new mana control technique on.
Every 1km or so, there's a level 400-405 hiding deep whiting the dungeon. The black hills, valleys, caves, and mazes fill my senses as I search. Finally, a reading that catches my eye pops up.
[1250m]
[Lv. 408]
A level 408... Immediately, I lock onto this familiar reading and Dungeon Walk back to the square-shaped black arena that I know so well. Drawing my sword and igniting my body and weapon into flames, I prepare for our second battle.
A 4m tall red-skinned Berskerer Giant stands in the open air with its long silver sword winging back and forth, mindlessly staring up at the sky. It's exactly the same as the last one I fought. The area destroyed from our previous fight is completely renewed as well, it looks like more than just dungeon mass respawns after a certain period of time.
The manically smiling green-eyed monster turns its gaze toward me just moments after I appear.
Just like that, we begin.
It plants its back legs and begins darting toward me while glowing with the red aura of a berserker skill activating. I grin, putting off a red and gold glow myself, and charging up my blade.
Last time I faced this beast, I used both of my weapons at full blast. I was able to slowly chip away at its defenses because of my attack's pure destructive power, but I'd like to win things a bit differently this time around if possible.
I activate my All-Seeing Eye.
The pink and white swirls of mana around me begin to fill my vision. The crystal-like black rock structures glow brightly with a similar grid pattern that the rocks on the 10th floor showed off. They're just much tighter gridlines, closer together, and vibrating at a much higher frequency.
I move my gaze to the fast-moving Berserker coming my way. Its silver-colored light armor pieces give off a dense mana reading too. Again, it's similar to the stones and crystal-like structures around me, just much much tighter nit threads of energy creating an almost microscopic grid in my mind's eye.
"Perfect."
Grinning, I focus my attention on the charging monster's chest plate. Burning through an entire MP potion in a matter of seconds, I visualize every last mana particle in the monster's armor.
The green-eyed fiend cracks the ground with every step it takes. I drink another MP potion to prepare my attack. Charging up just 100MP, I burn through another full potion just to get near matching this new ultra-thin level of mana control.
My body shakes, and I grit my teeth as I grip my blade tight, attempting to line up the perfect attack.
Now, it's within range, but I am too...
"Dungeon Walker."
I teleport to the opposite side of the monster and let my strike soar. It's thin, with a black tint, letting out light red flickers of flames as it rips through the air toward the solid metal plate of armor covering its back.
My attack makes contact with the oblivious battle-hungry beast. I grin as I watch my strike disappear momentarily into the back of its armor. Fractions of a second later, I see a flash of white light and a small explosion of flames.
Gritting my teeth, and letting out a frustrated grunt, I air-step upwards to get out of rage before it gets too mad...
When the fire and dust clears, I'm not too disappointed with the results of my first attempt.
There's a huge chunk of metal missing from the top half of its backside's armor. It seems like no actual damage was done to the berserker itself, but with just 100MP, I managed to break its armor that much...
I smirk, air-stepping back down to the ground about 30m away from the berserker. I drink another potion and prepare my next attack. This time around, I'll try to add even more mana to the blade.
The monster turns to me, locking its sharp green eyes on my blade. It's glowing red with 250MP worth of charge. At this level of precision, it's much harder to manage this much mana and keep it stable at an exact hair-line width and perfect frequency.
My arms shake as I grip my blade burning through copious amounts of MP on my perception skill to hold the concentration. Even of a fraction of a second slip-up makes for an entirely different attack.
I teleport to the now charging Berserker's blind spot and let my attack soar.
I land the hit. The thin black flaming blade slips through its armor, then a flash of white light triggers a fiery explosion, just like last time.
Thankfully, Im fighting at a much closer range this time around. The beast doesn't have much time to dodge. Even if it could, I'm not sure it would...
As the flames and dust begin to clear I hear the clanging of metal on stone.
The red-skinned menace turns to me holding its long silver sword while its armor falls to the dungeon floor in pieces.
I cut through its chest plate with that attack. Parts of the metal are sliced cleanly in two, showing off a glossy texture, just like the boulders I cut through earlier.
Unfortunately, the monster is completely unharmed. There isn't a single scratch on its skin. The rippling muscles and bulging veins are untouched by my 2 attacks so far.
It shows me a wide toothy grin, then charges forward like the mindless battle junky it is.
I do the same...
Chugging an MP potion and charging up my blade for another attack, I get ready for the next phase of this fight. When I try to get a reading on the fast-moving monster's skin, it seems to be pretty weak....
If anything, it's even less dense than the rocks down on floor 10. This all seems way too good to be true.
Even its sword isn't much denser than the armor I just cut to pieces.
"I must be missing something."
I Dungeon Walk to its blind spot and prepare for my next move.
Imbuing a full 250MP into my sword again, I match up all of the necessary mana readings, similar to my previous strike, then let my attack fly.
The thin black blade of mana rips through the air toward the monster's open back. It jerks its head to the side moments before impact and I watch an interesting interaction of mana particles take place. My attack bounces off the creature's back with only the tiny white glow of excess energy being released
Fractions of a second before impact, an incredibly dense layer of mana seeps out of the creature's skin... Almost like a bodysuit made of pure mana. This is the mana control skill Fisher was talking about.
"Mana Shielding."
I smirk, getting ready for more as the menace walks toward me licking its lips and glowing crimson-red.
I charge up another attack with 250MP. I'm curious about one more thing. Its sword...
It comes running in at full speed as I throw another black crescent of energy its way. With a swift swing of that sliver sword, I watch my attack get deflected far off into the distance.
The same thin layer of mana covered its blade the moment it needed to deflect my strike.
I remember back to the last Berserker I fought, and when I appraised its sword.
[Berserker Giant's Long Sword] [Blood Bonded] +1000 Attack +500 Agility
This [Blood Bonded] perk must be similar to the bonding between an element stone and a sword like mine. It's an extension of the mana user, that's how it's able to use the technique on its weapons as well.
I grit my teeth and Dungeon Walk away the moment my attack is deflected. I'll have to try a new plan...
I start charging up another one, just shy of 100MP, it's low power, but I'm able to send these attacks off very quickly.
This is exactly what I do, with a burst of rapid-fire attacks, I begin Dungeon Walking around the battle-hungry monster throwing attack after attack at it.
I'm not trying to do any actual damage just yet, I just need to get a better reading on its mana shield's exact density and mana frequency levels. It usually only activates for a fraction of a second after each one of my attacks, this isn't nearly enough time to mimic it.
After close to 30 attacks, I feel like I've finally gotten a close enough reading. Burning through just over 4 more MP potions, I've finally got a feeling for this monster's mana shield readings.
Unfortunately.... Just knowing it isn't going to cut it. The tightly wound mana particles create a thin, nearly indestructible defense lining this Berserker. The levels are far beyond any rock wall, or even its armor I destroyed earlier.
I air-step down to face off against my test subject.
It's getting thoroughly annoyed. All this beast wants is a good fight, and all I'm giving it are weak attacks thrown from a distance. This time around, ill give it what it's asking for.
I use up 2 MP potions as it runs in toward me. I close my eyes and picture the dense layers of impossibly small grid-like mana particles it spawns every time my attack comes near its skin.
Gripping by blade tightly, I attempt to match its levels of mana readers, but after 10 seconds the monster is drawing too near and my efforts are starting to seem futile.
I let out a frustrated grunt, releasing the attack, knowing it's not even a quarter of the thinness required to pierce its barrier, not to mention nowhere near enough power either.
I Dungeon Walk far away to its opposite side as it defects my attack with ease using its sword, then runs by my previous position like a raging bull.
I attempt to charge up another attack, watching closely as the monster turns to run toward me again from the far side of the square-shaped arena. I have 20 seconds or so to prepare this time. I concentrate hard, barely using 100MP, attempting to match its mana shielding frequency with all my might.
I'm putting my all into this. With my hands shaking and head aching, I still create a blade way too thick to puncture its shielding and nowhere near enough pure mana to get close to the density required to make any damage.
As it nears I let out a yell of frustration, chucking the attack forward and Dungeon Walking away as it swings its silver sword to send my black blade of flames soaring off into the grey sky.
Clenching my jaw, I try again... From even further away. I airstrip backward to keep my distance and charge up for a full 40 seconds.
At the end of the charge, my brain feels like mush from focusing so hard on a single point, my hands and arms are numb from grabbing the rattling sword, and I've burned through 8 full MP potions on my All-Seeing Eye skill to release a measly 100MP attack.
A thin crest of black energy comes out of my blade. It doesn't flicker of shine, it just glides through the air without any resistance.
The Berserker ignores the insignificant strike, it has blocked dozens of these attacks and even taken a few head-on in the past. By now, it's just focused on me, its prey.
In an exhausted state, my eyes are locked on the attack I've just released. It may not be full of power, but I believe I got one thing right... It'll definitely be thin enough to slip through this monster's defenses...
Moments later, my theory is proven to be correct.
The thin black blade slides through the red-skinned Berskerer's mana shielding just like it slid through the rock wall during my training hours ago.
Then... an explosion of white light and flames follow.
With a smirk, I Dungeon Walk away to get out of range from the rage fit that's about to take place.
As the flash of light and fireball fade, I hear an ear-piercing screech. Looking closely, I see a small blood-dripping gash on the side of this red-skinned monster's torso. Enough to make the crimson liquid dribble down its side, but not quite enough for the stream to make it to the floor.
"I did it..."
Dungeon Walking to the far side of the arena again, I prepare to charge up another attack.
"Good progress... Now it's time to finish this fight."
I just landed my first successful attack on this monster. It took 40 seconds, and almost 20k MP... but I still landed an attack!
The tingling feeling, along with a mild headache begins to alert me that I'm definitely nearing the point of mana exhaustion. I'll be fine for a little while, but keeping this level of MP usage up will ware me out pretty quickly.
Even so, this newfound technique of mine is very intriguing.
What took over 10k MP in a single dual attack on my last attempt hours ago just to break through its barrier, is now soon to be rivaled by a 100MP attack. I just have to concentrate harder...
I've managed to perfect the hair-thin nature of the attack, but my mana density is nowhere near enough to do any damage. I'll have to compress even more MP into my next strike.
Each time I send off another attack it gets easier to replicate the exact size necessary to slip through its mana shielding. The part that doesn't get easier is the mana density... The only way to train that to a significant degree, is to increase my overall mana control.
Increasing my base levels of mana control would require me to consume massive amounts of mana over long periods of time... I'm severely lacking in both of these options at the moment.
I take a deep breath, then get back to work.
Over and over, I match the exact whisper-thin dimensions of the Berskerer's mana shielding, penetrating it with ease each time. Unfortunately, after 5 more attacks and nearly 75k more MP burned through on my perception skill, not much progress has been made.
Even with up to 60 seconds per charge, all I've managed to do is give this rage-filled monster a few paper cuts. The maximum amount I've been able to store in an attack has been roughly 150MP.
My head is aching and my hands are shaking. I've progressed a lot, but my mana control is just not powerful enough to put out enough charge into one blow.
"Looks like I'll have to do things the old fashion way..."
I start charging up my blade with as much mana as I possibly can. At my current rate of blows, I'll pass out from exhaustion before I do any real damage...
Charging up just over 5k worth of mana points, I start releasing less concentrated, but much more powerful blows. I begin Dungeon Waling around the poor beast throwing attack after attack from my flaming sword.
I prefer using two blades, but drinking potions along with releasing attacks makes dual welding rather awkward.
After just a few minutes, and over 10 attacks later, the red-skinned Berskerer is on its knees. The bloodied and beaten monster still glares at me. Its facial expression says it's ready for another round, but this beast is in no position to fight.
I'm not either...
Since I woke up to start my training again, I've blown through another 200k MP... There's a slight ringing in my ears, a sharp pain in my head, and all of my limbs are tingling after every movement I make.
I stare at the weakened monster, ready to call it a day by just releasing one last brute-force attack. Instead, I decide to finish my training with a useful test.
Activating my All-Seeing Eye, I ready myself for one more attack.
My opponent crawls toward me with an undying will to finish me off, but this just gives me more time to study its mana.
This beast is on its last breath, in full battle mode, with all defenses on full blast.
I can sense the aura of mana shielding that it's continuously holding up as it nears.
Gritting my teeth, I put my all into one last strike.
Concentrating for over a minute, and letting the beast draw nearer and nearer, I compact roughly 200MP. Once it's less than 5m away, I let my razor-thin attack glide through the air.
I fall backward, but eagerly watch as my attack hits the wounded berserker head-on. It glides through its lower torso without a noise. The moment I fall flat on my back with a grin across my face, the monster splits cleanly in two. We hit the dungeon floor with 3 simultaneous thuds along with 2 clangs of our swords.
I let out a chuckle.
"Progress is progress..."
Laying on my back, I let out a sigh and stare up at the grey sky above me. I beat one of these monsters without using a Strengthening Fragment, and most definitely progressed my mana control training.
A 200MP attack sliced one in half, but it was far from full power. Still, this is a good start.
After relaxing on the cool hard floor of the black glossy dungeon surface, the fallen monster drops a mana crystal. Unfortunately, there's no other loot.
With a groan, I stand up to walk over. While doing so, I open up my item storage to let Ember out for the first time in a while.
He flaps his wings while stepping out of the white portal and flies into the sky. After opening up our telepathic link, the Dragon speaks.
"It looks like you've been busy. I haven't gained any levels, so it seems you haven't been busy enough."
I grin, picking up the palm-sized crystal off the ground and plundering it to dust on the spot.
"I've been training my mana control. The progress has been good, but I'm still not ready for the higher floors."
Ember nods, flapping his wings more, soaring higher up into the sky.
"Good to hear, your control does need work. The only reason you're able to handle so much MP is that self regeneration skill, along with your advanced perception abilities. Good training and more mana consumption will do you well. You seemed pretty happy with your fighting style earlier, so I didn't bother to comment on it much before."
I scratch my head, grinning, and watching the dragon stretch it crimson wings while passively throwing shade at my lack of fine-tuned mana control.
"Hey! I'm new to all of this ya know. These things take time!"
Swooping down, no more than 200m away, Ember begins to burst into flames, clearly targeting something.
He replies mid nose-dive.
"Looks like you saved one for me."
I squint, trying to make out what he's aiming at, then realize I've completely dropped my guard after that intense battle...
A new red-skinned Berserker Giant, level 402, has found its way to my position and was charging in my direction....
Ember soars down at the silver sword-carrying beast and lets out a heavy attack of flames from his mouth. The dark red beam of fire hits the monster point blank, creating an explosion over 20 meters wide.
Ember swoops upwards to let the beast deal with its attack. As the Dragon flies away, I watch in awe as the flames stay lit... Mine went out in an instant, yet Ember's stayed ablaze, doing residual damage to the angry beast even after the explosion clears.
The black-scaled Dragon dives in again, this time with his front leg outstretched bearing long red claws aimed straight at the confused fiery fiend.
Moments later, Ember rips the top half of its torso off along with its head... sucking the corpse dry of MP, then tossing it off into the empty dungeon's landscape.
My mouth stays wide open as the Dragon does a few twists and turns in the air before putting out its flames and coming back down to greet me.
"So, what will it be? Are we taking over this Labyrinth? I've been itching more and more to rank up recently."
Ember lands on the dungeon floor with a thud as I struggle to get out a word.
"You... You're this strong...? It took me well over a dozen hits to take out of those Berserkers!"
The black-scaled Dragon replies with a toothy grin.
"If it's that difficult to take these monsters out at your level, we'll need to up your total mana control. If you process more mana, the higher-density attacks become much easier to handle. It's only natural."
I nod slowly.
"I'm aware... but I don't exactly have months to go and train off in-"
I pause. Then reply.
"No... you want to go back to that place...."
Ember moves his head in closer, replying.
"It would be the fastest way for you to gain mana consumption proficiency. It'll be free MP with your plundering ability, and there will be no shortage of time. It's the perfect plan."
I gulp.
"I guess... We'll go back to The Great Plains... and enter another Titan's Domain..."
bình luận đoạn văn
Tính năng bình luận đoạn văn hiện đã có trên Web! Di chuyển chuột qua bất kỳ đoạn nào và nhấp vào biểu tượng để thêm nhận xét của bạn.
Ngoài ra, bạn luôn có thể tắt / bật nó trong Cài đặt.
ĐÃ NHẬN ĐƯỢC