Chapter 19: Trials of Floor 9

Intent on bolstering his capabilities, Kael embarked on the perilous journey to conquer Floor 9, accompanied by the stalwart Hanakuto.

As they approached the gateway to the dungeon, a lone passage awaited—one that only allowed a single soul to venture within.

Stepping into the foreboding chamber, Kael found himself immersed in the labyrinthine trials of the dungeon. The initial stage greeted him with a horde of low-level Orcs, their brutish forms poised for battle.

Employing his basic sword skills, Kael dispatched the Orcs with precision, each strike a testament to his growing prowess.

Advancing deeper into the trial, Stage 2 unleashed a legion of skeletal adversaries, numbering close to thirty. Attempting to fell them with his sword, Kael encountered their relentless regeneration, forcing him to adapt.

Channeling his inner strength, he switched tactics, resorting to sheer physical prowess and aura manipulation to overcome the unyielding skeletal horde.

Stage 3 unveiled an arachnid menace—a mini boss clad in impenetrable iron skin. Kael's strikes proved futile against the formidable foe, each attack met with impervious resistance.

Dodging and parrying became his sole recourse as the spider's relentless assault pushed him to the brink of despair.

In a moment of desperation and clarity, a plan formed in Kael's mind. Harnessing every ounce of remaining strength, he employed his flash steps, closing the distance between him and the arachnid menace.

Summoning every last bit of determination, Kael aimed for the spider's eyes, a vulnerable point amidst the armored hide. With a piercing strike, Kael delivered a fatal blow, vanquishing the spider.

Yet, in the course of battle, a poisonous sting from the spider's leg marked Kael's arm, injecting venom that coursed through his veins, weakening his resolve but not breaking his determination to succeed.

The fourth stage, a psychological battleground, manifested a replica of Kael's deepest fear—the visage of Akuma, albeit with a fraction of his original power. As the confrontation unfolded, Kael's attempts to counter Akuma's copy proved fruitless.

 Engaging in a deadly dance of aura-enhanced combat, Kael found himself outmatched, his sword shattering under the overwhelming force of Akuma's copy.

With determination unbroken, Kael and the copy clashed with intensified ferocity. Despite losing his arms in the struggle, Kael pressed on, relying on sheer resilience and unyielding resolve. As the battle ensued, Kael recognized the effects of the spider's poison, manifesting in his weakening state.

Yet, driven by unwavering determination, Kael delivered a flurry of devastating blows, exploiting the copy's gradually slowing movements.

In a final, desperate surge, Kael launched a decisive strike, targeting the copy's jaws. The echoing clash of fists heralded the copy's defeat, but Kael, drained by battle and poisoned, succumbed to unconsciousness, his body unable to withstand the strain.