First Technique • 3
Monsters were divided into three main types: Normal, Elite, and lastly, Named. Normal monsters were the most abundant, covering nearly the entire spectrum. Elite monsters, on the other hand, were rare and possessed higher-level skills, making them one rank higher than the Normal type. However, Named monsters were nothing to be belittled.
Named monsters shared some similarities with their Normal and Elite counterparts, but in terms of overall strength, they were on another level. This was due to their unique skill sets and special physical traits never seen before. Named monsters could appear only in higher-ranked dungeons—and always as boss monsters—with their rank being unfixed.
The Enthorn covering the ceiling was unlike anything I had ever seen or heard of, which left only one answer before me…
"It's a Named Monster."
My heart began pounding uncontrollably as I realized my situation. I gripped my sword in distress and muttered with a trembling voice,
"[Dimensional Shift]"
[ Skill "Dimensional Shift ⌜Max⌟" Cannot be Activated under the Negative Status Effect "Exhaustion I" ]
The worst-case scenario had come to pass. I was exhausted—which, honestly, wasn't surprising—and that blocked any chance of escaping the situation.
Maybe I had a small chance of defeating the monster ahead of me, but the exhaustion made it impossible to believe in that anymore.
Anxiety and nervousness were emotions I hadn't felt in a while since becoming a full-fledged Awakener. The uncertainty of life and death as an Awakener was never pleasant, but it was usually bearable through hope… yet now, there was none.
Phew- I took a deep breath, pushing aside the negativity. I scanned the corners of the room, tracing the thorny vines of the Enthorn as they slowly crept closer together. I then looked back at the wall drawings, hoping to find a way to unlock the door to the outside.
Slash-! As soon as the vines fully surrounded the room and touched one another, they expanded with formidable speed. Threads of many vines, both small and thick, began spreading toward me at a walking pace.
I tightened my grip on the sword's handle and swung it at the closing thorns, using the last bits of energy in my arms.
Swush-! The vine I struck received only a shallow cut, despite being as thick as my finger. I stepped back in shock and quickly created distance between myself and the vine.
"Is this another blessing?" I said, realizing what I was facing.
In this world, monsters didn't use skills like we did, but rather "blessings" of various attributes. Just like the Big Wolf I encountered when I first met Diego.
Fwish-! The speed at which the vines attacked was still within what my eyes could track… but I knew it was only a matter of time before exhaustion stopped me from dodging.
Phew-! I took another deep breath to stay calm and focused. It wasn't my first time facing an unfavorable battle, so I knew I could get through it, just like before.
I stared ahead with focused eyes, not at the vines, but at the tip of my blade.
"I didn't want to use this," I muttered, displeased.
I started moving my blade, slowly but with resolve. To the rhythm I once understood and comprehended with my own eyes. To the teachings of Diego, who had shown it to me countless times from my point of view.
As I danced to the melody of my previous observation, I felt energy flowing through my previously exhausted body. My muscles throbbed with joy. I could sense the flow of mana through my veins, just as I had learned through [Learning].
It was a joyous and pleasant feeling I had never experienced before. The only reason I hadn't used this technique earlier… was because the song I was dancing to was incomplete.
UGH-! I screamed in agony as power surged through my muscles. The blade's movement became blurry as my mind was consumed not only by pain, but by the madness carried within the flow of mana.
As if it were fully sentient, the Enthorn noticed the irregularities in my body and intensified its attacks. I moved my blade in response to the vines, using every last sliver of sanity remaining in my consciousness, cutting through everything I could.
Crunch-! The vines were tough, and my powers were limited. Even in that mindless state, I knew—I had to end this quickly.
"B-body…" I muttered, barely conscious.
Enthorns, no matter the type, had a very weak body: nothing more than vines surrounding a core. My only hope for survival lay in targeting that.
Swish-! I whipped my head around as I slashed through the vines, trying to spot the body… and among all the blood, I saw something unusual.
The yellow crystals on the ceiling reflected a brownish, moving mass, with lines spreading outward from its center. It looked far too convincing to be anything but the core.
Slish-! As if I instinctively knew what to do, I grabbed the most visible vine. It wrapped around my hand and pierced its thorns into my flesh, worsening the bleeding.
Still, I pulled on the vine with all my might, launching myself toward the crystals. With a punch packed with every last ounce of strength, I shattered them and fell back down.
I cut the vine wrapped around my arm and used it to apply pressure to the wound, trying not to make the bleeding worse. Then I looked up and as expected, the body of the Enthorn was there, with its core clearly visible.
Excited, I readied my sword to cut the remaining vines—only to realize what I had overlooked…
Clank-! My sword shattered, much like the crystals, leaving me with only the handle. In disbelief, I dropped it. Gritting my teeth, I began punching the vines… but it was all in vain.
They wrapped around me and slowly drained my blood and remaining stamina. My vision dimmed. I was losing consciousness, and the once-clear path of the blade faded into nothingness.
[ All Mana has been Depleted ]
[ You cannot use Mana for 24 hours ]
As I was being crushed to death, I clenched my jaw in pain and despair. It was truly tragic—to die right after I had finally acquired my [Status Window] and my skills…
But the worst part… was knowing I was leaving my mother behind, all alone.
CRACK-! "Haha… I knew you were a genius."
A voice I was all too familiar with reached my ears. With what little consciousness I had left, I opened my eyes and saw something unexpected—a smile, unlike the original, now filled with greed and joy.