Chapter 28: Bonus Mission; The Entity Within the Dark

[Transportation and setup succeeded, the player is about to commence in the secret path, the bonus mission; having overcome a multitude of ordeals the system deems "the player" in the biggest obstacle of all. The stone wall in front of anyone's life. Awaken so you may proceed.]

Geo awoke to a dim lid chamber. The water around the edges, in a way similar to the first trial, only to find there was no opening on the other side. The water stayed at the same altitude which calmed Geo down. A platform began to form, rising with the water. The water, slowly collected at the outer edges of the platform. Climbing together as some sort of slime. Slowly the blob began to rise and take shape. But Geo was unable to make out the distinct form.

[Bonus Mission, Start!]

[Hold out till the end; 00;00]

Without a moment's notice, the figure chared at me, going straight for the gut.

The mission had started and already was I at high alert.

The figure's fist barely scraping the side of my chin.

I had been caught off guard, I had to see this coming, but instead this struggle. I tried to react accordingly wasn't able to. My body dropped to the ground. Unaware of what just had occurred.

Was the shadow figure aware of otherworldly fighting styles? "Interesting." I had to find out more, as this battle had proven itself to be a challenge worthy to give my all.

"Status!" I yelled hoping to see more than last time, hoping I could calculate the information about the impact which graced my chin. But to no avail...

The shade stood there mockingly, knowing it had delivered a critical blow. But I wasn't about to take it as I lay there on the floor. I had been hit... My defenses had been compromised.

One of the greatest humiliations a man could experience... Frustrated by the fact that I had underestimated the challenge ahead, I tried my best to stand up.

What if I wasn't able to beat it, or worse... what if it knew about my weaknesses and it would humiliate me even more?! "No! I refuse to believe such a thing could be possible!"

My anger began to replace my frustration. Still unable to move, my anger burst out in a loud roar, which unlocked a hidden potential within me.

[Due to participation within the system enough proficiency and experience has been accumulated to unlock the skill known as [Rage].] [Rage Lv. 1] has been unlocked. Initiating newly acquired skill.]

The roar created a shockwave which allowed me to snap out of the paralysis, quickly with only one thing on my mind my body reacted to my deepest and darkest desire. Getting revenge for this humiliation I had been put through by the unknown figure.

Blinded by the desire for revenge I launched at where it had been mocking me earlier. Hitting nothing but air, confusion struck.

"Where are you? You coward!! Show yourself!!"

Frustration had combined with the anger creating a blind rage of flurries as I couldn't clearly see my surroundings anymore. There was no time to assess the situation, I just had to feel its flesh within the palm of my hands. The flesh of the unworthy... Flesh of... The living...

Consumed by these thoughts I had lost all reason, reason needed to find my inner self. The reason, because without it, there were only mindless beasts. After hitting the air for several minutes on end, I heard something. I couldn't really give it shape at the time, but the only thing close to resemblance was that of laughter.

"Hahaha... So... This is the puny one who has found its way to the secret chambers of cultivation?! Pathetic! You should have died a long time ago with the minuscule drive residing within. The drive one would call Pride, or even Desire?

The desire to become strong?! Ha! Don't make me laugh! No one will take that remark of yours seriously if there's no backbone behind it. To manliness to support that statement.

Hell! Where is your Ambition Birchwood, why don't you show it to the family?!"

Why did this entity know so much about me? What was there to know, that I didn't know?

My Family? It can't be that he's part of it, is he?

Doubt began to creep in from the depths of my soul, who could this figure be, did I know him? The disbelieve became too much to handle… Deciding there was nothing to do about it I collected all the strength I had left to stand back up again.

Unaware of the paralysis losing its effects, the only thing on my mind was to throw down with the entity in front of me. I didn't know who or what it was, only that I couldn't let the remark about my family slide.

"Thinking you were all that? I'll show you!"

I launched at the entity to try and put it in its place, but was repelled within moments, its strength almost identical to mine… And his knowledge of the battle, close to those within the Birchwood family. Could it bet the entity would be a long-lost member? A member forgotten by those on top?

"Who are you?!"

Silence filled the room… For a moment it felt like I was the only one there

like there never had been an entity that tried to get into my head. But the silence got broken by a pressing feeling to the chest. A feeling like gravity pressed against me, increasing pressure by the minute. I knew it all too well. "Killing Intent!"

The entity was still in the room with me.

Killing intent filled the room, before I could ask again it redirected towards me.

Pressure pushed me, tot, the ground, having to vent it off the best I could.

Trying to vent for me backfired rather quickly as the entity grabbed me and put me in a lock,

luckily for me I recognized it in time to react to it. Had it been any other person they would have been long gone, but not me. The instant I felt the entity trying to grab me I rolled aside and stood upright then and there.

Trying to grab the small chance that presented itself to me I jumped on the entity trying to do the same, only to result in a kick to the chest launching me backward.

It was almost as if it knew what I was about to do before doing it.

The thought was scaring me, yet motivating weirdly.

Having someone know your every move would allow those to rise to the occasion,

becoming better versions of themselves. Realizing this gave me hope.

Trying to fight the unknown. Something came to mind which I couldn't really place,

but the more I clashed with the entity, the more it became apparent.

The fight grew too intense proportions, kicks and punches thrown left and right.

In time my eyes adjusted to the darkness of the room, allowing me to comprehend what was happening in front of me, calming me down. I had to find a way, a way to counter its blows. Or to see it coming. But how could I in a room almost fill with complete darkness?

That was when it hit me, I already knew where the entity was coming from,

how did I not see this before? Its killing intent is seriously oozing out like crazy.

I had to calm down, or else I couldn't focus on its incoming attacks.

But before I could adjust to the killing intent the entity struck my face with a sharp right.

Sucker punched, my face slammed into the ground. I wasn't going to take this lying down…

I had to stand my ground. It was unforgivable how it kept getting the better of me…

"I am a man damnit! Not a child which others throw around?!"

Anger took the better of me. Activating one of my newly acquired skills.

[Rage] activated, logic against better judgment decreased by 25%,

Increasing STR by 2, Increasing DEX by 2, decreasing pain perception by 10%.]

The entity rushed towards me, almost at the same speed as me.

But now I could care less about it, frustration added into the mix as my blows only hit the air.

Screaming out of frustration. "Aaaarrrrgghh!" I realized there was more to the system.

It adjusted to what suited me the best, only to add to the experience.

My new class registered my anger and frustration activating its signature way of battle.

[Berserker] Activated. The entity jumped into the air, wanting to deliver the final blow.

But something different happened at that moment, without thinking I jumped straight at the entity pulling it out of the air, turning the situation around, and holding it in a deadlock which he couldn't get out of. Holding his neck I turned around my axis adding to the momentum.

I braced for impact, letting go at the final moment and jumping out of harm's way.

Before I realized it, the room's flames had grown more intense, revealing who or what I had been fighting all this time. I looked at what once was a shadow-like figure which lay motionless on the ground. With disbelieve I uttered the words;

"I had been fighting myself all this time?!