"Status."
『Name: Rael Kazehiro』
『Age: 18』
『Lumen: 0』
『Titles: Nebula, Trailblazer』
『Affiliation: None』
『Traits/characteristics: Enhanced Adaptation, Universal communication, Axis, Eternium manipulation, Super-human Traits』
『Origin: Kytherra』
『Classification: Layer 1, Floor 1』
"That's good enough," Rael murmured.
[You've grown a lot over the past three months]
"That's thanks to you too. I mean it—thank you, Axis."
[...Acknowledged. Emotional recognition... simulated. If I had tear ducts, this would be the part where I malfunction from gratitude]
Rael chuckled softly. "Anyway, once we're off this floor, I'm counting on you to help me with the next step."
[You mean...]
"Yeah. We're going after those bastards." Rael said, as he lost himself in thought.
…
[Rael, it's time]
Axis's voice cut through his thoughts as a glowing interface appeared before his eyes.
「Floor: The Field Of Eternal Blades」
「Objective of the Floor: Hit the unknown man once」
「Time left: 1 hour」
-
On the golden plain, two pairs of eyes met—one gleaming with hope, the other burning with unwavering determination.
"You know, boy - no... Rael. When you arrived here, I thought it was just an unlucky coincidence on your part, but I think I've changed my mind. I'm sure you'll achieve great things in the future, and I hope to hear about them one day."
"Sensei..." Rael looked at the man before him—the one who had taught him everything.
"You remind me of myself, long ago. But I pray you don't follow the same path I once walked. Now... show me everything I've taught you. This is your final lesson."
Siegfried stepped into a battle stance, his aura leveling itself to match Rael's.
A fair duel.
Rael tightened his grip on the hilt of his sword.
...
"Here I come, Sensei." Then he took a step forward. 'I promise I won't let you down.'
*BOOM!*
A sonic boom cracked through the air as Rael launched forward.
He slashed toward Siegfried's neck, only for his blade to be deflected cleanly. But Rael didn't falter—he feinted, then pivoted into a sharp kick aimed at Siegfried's chest.
"Good, you've improved." Siegfried dodged the kick and put the sword at his waist to block the next attack.
*DING!*
Their blades clashed with ringing intensity.
Siegfried pressed forward, unleashing a barrage of strikes that forced Rael into a tight defensive stance.
In the chaos, Rael tried to lock blades and overpower him, but that gave Siegfried the perfect opening.
A brutal kick slammed into Rael's chest, sending him hurtling into a boulder, shattering it on impact.
*BOOM!*
[He's predicting your movements]
…
"This is going to be tougher than I thought." Rael coughed blood, then stood, planting his sword.
[It's meant to be]
[Tactical Sync: ON]
"But we're just getting started." Rael smiled weakly.
That was the function Axis had unlocked during training—Tactical Sync. It let their minds and reflexes synchronize, amplifying Rael's movements through predictive analysis.
*BOOM!*
Rael shot towards Siegfried again, this time with a slightly different posture.
"Come," Siegfried beckoned with a smile.
[Strike incoming—2.3 seconds—left torso]
Rael bent low and vaulted over the slash.
"Oh?" Siegfried raised an eyebrow.
Rael didn't hesitate. He flipped midair and brought his blade down, aiming for the back of Siegfried's head.
Siegfried twisted to counter with a sharp kick.
[Incoming—1.8 seconds—chest. Dodge right]
Rael spun to the side at the last second.
"Gotcha, Sensei." Rael flashed a smile as his hand was about to touch Siegfried's chest.
"Hahahaha! Very good, but still not enough to win." Siegfried laughed, and a burst of bluish-white energy exploded outward, flinging Rael back.
"What?!" Rael looked at his master with a confused expression. Somehow, the energy was familiar to him.
[Eternium]
"I've never seen him use Eternium like that before."
[Here he comes]
Siegfried vanished—then reappeared in front of him.
BAM!
A punch caved into Rael's ribs, sending him flying.
"Argh!"
Rael spat blood as he stood up.
[His strength, speed, and endurance just spiked. You'll need to go all in too]
"Needless to say." Rael looked at Siegfried, who was walking towards him. His eyes closed as he guided that transcendent energy through his body.
[Activating thought acceleration]
The energy surged around him like starlight, his muscles tightening, senses sharpening.
"It's a really...a addictive feeling." Rael tightened his grip on his sword, his eyes now focused like a predator.
"Round two!" Rael lunged at Siegfried once more, his sword weaving like a serpent.
Siegfried smiled, adjusting his stance to block Rael's blows, but the sight of dozens of surrounding energy blades surprised him.
'Has he reached this level of manipulation?'
Eternium could take any form its user wished, but to reach that level of mastery in just three months was rare.
"Well done!" Matching Rael's action, Siegfried generated multiple energy blades as a defense.
Just as they neutralized each other, Rael closed in from the side with a high-speed slash.
BOOM!
Their blades collided again, triggering a shockwave that shattered the surrounding earth.
When the dust cleared, Siegfried had disappeared from Rael's sight, leaving him apprehensive as he surveyed his surroundings.
...
[Rael—behind you!]
Rael turned, but it was too late—Siegfried's sword was already descending, and an energy blade had manifested behind him, trapping him in place.
'Shit. I can't block both!'
He tried to conjure another sword—too slow.
*Slash!*
Siegfried's blade tore across his chest.
*BAM!*
Then a punch sent him flying again.
*COUGH!* *COUGH!*
Blood spilled from his mouth, but his eyes stayed locked on his master.
"You've lost, boy," Siegfried said, slowly approaching.
"Not... yet... Sensei."
[All set]
"I only need to hit you once, Sensei."
「Sword Rain」
Siegfried frowned when he sensed danger from above. Looking up, he saw hundreds of swords descending toward him.
'When?'
He was confused because he hadn't seen Rael create the swords.
'I see... so it was then.' He remembered the dust explosion.
'Clever boy,' he thought. 'He used that chaos to write his strike into the sky.'
Rael's attack preparations probably started at that moment.
'It seems he already knew what was going to happen.' Then he thought of Axis and smiled.
The swords fell.
Siegfried closed his eyes and let out a breath.
BOOM!
Energy screamed from the heavens as the blades struck. One after another, they cratered into the earth, glowing blue, scorching everything.
…
…
'...Axis.'
[Don't let your guard down. The fight isn't over yet]