The Arena of a Thousand Claws

Mark slowly opened his eyes. The rest area was silent, his body finally freed from the crushing gravity of the last floor. He took a deep breath, savoring the newfound lightness. Every muscle, every fiber of his body vibrated with newfound strength, forged through pain and endurance.

[[Teleportation to the fifth floor in progress. Prepare yourself.]]

— Finally.

The light engulfed him, and he felt a thrill rise within. After days of pure endurance, he craved something different. Something brutal.

He landed on cold stone. Massive walls surrounded him, forming a circular coliseum towering dozens of meters high. Blue torches illuminated the arena, casting dancing shadows along the walls.

At the center, an enormous black portal pulsed slowly, like a heart ready to unleash its malice.

[[Welcome to the Fifth Floor: The Arena of a Thousand Claws.]]

[[Main Objective: Survive the waves of the swarm.]]

[[Number of waves: 10]]

[[Progressive difficulty. No escape possible.]]

Mark grinned. A genuine, eager smile.

— Perfect.

He clenched his fists, feeling power surge through his muscles. His body had changed. Stronger. Tougher. Ready for anything. The weight of the previous trials had vanished, replaced by a deceptive lightness, as if the world itself had become his playground.

The portal rumbled open. The first wave poured out: giant ants, the size of dogs, black and glossy, with mandibles shimmering like blades.

— Ants, huh? Perfect timing.

The creatures charged without hesitation. Mark didn't wait. He threw himself into the fray, a fierce grin on his lips.

His first punch obliterated an ant's head. The body crashed to the ground as two more leaped at him. He dodged effortlessly, grabbed one by the mandibles, and slammed it into the stone.

The satisfying crunch echoed through the air.

— This is what I've been waiting for.

The following waves came without respite. Each was denser, faster. The ants grew larger, their carapaces thicker. Some even began emitting a low-frequency hum, momentarily disorienting Mark.

But he didn't falter. On the contrary, he laughed, his fists striking with machine-like precision.

One ant tried to flank him. He spun, caught its head, and crushed it into the ground. Others lunged, but he ducked, letting them collide before sweeping them away with a powerful kick.

He felt his muscles working at full capacity, each movement smoother, more instinctive. He was no longer just a human fighting to survive. He was a predator at the top of the food chain.

[[Wave 5 complete. 30-second break.]]

Mark wiped the black ichor from his face, the grin never leaving his lips.

— That's it? he called toward the portal.

He felt alive. The frustration built up during previous trials dissolved with every blow. No passive endurance here—just pure violence, pure satisfaction.

The sixth wave erupted. Larger ants, now the size of wolves, with sharp claws extending from their forelegs. They moved differently, as if guided by a collective intelligence.

Mark burst out laughing.

— Bring me something stronger!

He sidestepped an attack, grabbed a clawed leg, and used the momentum to smash the creature into its kin. Two others flanked him, but he charged headfirst, his fists falling like hammers.

His breath came in ragged bursts, but every fiber of his being buzzed with excitement. He'd never felt this before. It wasn't fear. It was pure euphoria.

[[Wave 7 complete. 20-second break.]]

The arena walls were now coated with black blood and shattered chitin. Mark rolled his shoulders, stretching with a chuckle.

— More. More!

The eighth wave exploded from the portal. This time, the ants were massive, the size of bulls. Their mandibles vibrated with strange energy, and their speed had doubled. Some spat green acid, sizzling as it corroded the stone floor.

Mark's eyes gleamed as his smile widened.

— Finally, a real challenge.

He charged, meeting the first head-on. His fist struck the carapace with titanic force, cracking it along its length. Another ant barreled into his side, but he rolled, springing back to his feet and shattering its skull with an upward punch.

He laughed. A wild, unrestrained laugh.

The ninth wave followed immediately. The ants were now crimson, their claws glowing like heated metal. The ground trembled beneath their synchronized march. Some wore reinforced chitin armor, reducing the impact of Mark's blows.

Mark didn't retreat. He advanced to meet them.

— You really think this will stop me?

He dove into the horde, his movements flowing like water. His body absorbed the blows, but each flash of pain only fueled his inner fire.

Then he noticed something. The ants weren't attacking randomly anymore. They moved in coordinated patterns, forming circles around him, cutting off his escape routes. Their collective intelligence had evolved.

— Interesting.

Instead of retreating, Mark doubled down. He grabbed an ant by the mandibles and, leveraging his enhanced strength, swung it like a flail, smashing through the ranks.

[[Wave 9 complete. 10-second break.]]

Mark stood tall, drenched in black ichor, his breath ragged but his smile undimmed.

— The last one, huh? Show me what you've got.

The portal pulsed violently, expanding until it dominated half the arena.

[[Final wave approaching. Prepare yourself.]]

A titanic ant emerged, towering three meters tall, its mandibles crackling with blue energy. Behind it, dozens of crimson ants followed, forming a tight swarm. Some had membranous wings, hovering to strike from above.

Mark laughed, arms wide open.

— Finally!

Without hesitation, he charged the queen, dodging her snapping mandibles with fluid grace. His fist, loaded with every ounce of strength, hammered into her foreleg joint.

Snap.

The queen stumbled. Mark didn't hesitate. He leapt onto her back, raining down blow after blow, each strike echoing like a war drum.

But this time, the queen retaliated. A surge of electricity coursed through her body, blasting Mark off. He hit the ground hard, lungs burning.

— Damn… She's serious?

The crimson ants swarmed him, but he fought like a man possessed, his grin gleaming through the splattered exoskeleton shards.

Finally, the queen screeched one last time before collapsing under a devastating strike.

[[Congratulations! Trial completed.]]

Mark stood still, fists clenched, heart pounding.

Then he burst into laughter, arms raised toward the sky.

— That was incredible!

He collapsed onto the blood-soaked ground, breathing heavily but grinning, savoring every second of victory.

[[Rewards:]]

+3 Permanent Strength

New Active Skill Unlocked: Titan's Frenzy (Increases punch strength by 50% for 30 seconds. Cost: 20% endurance.)

1,500 credits

Mark smiled, eyes fixed on the sky above the arena.

— If this is life in the D.M.U., I'm ready for what's next.

Slowly, he rose, every muscle sore but satisfied. He was no longer just a participant. He was a conqueror, a warrior forged in suffering and tempered by combat.

The portal sealed shut, leaving the arena silent. Mark's grin widened.