Chapter 10: Clash Against the Mindpiercer
The arena was silent but suffocating. Luo Shen's heart pounded in his chest, every beat syncing with the quiet hum in the air.
The Mindpiercer stood motionless, its pale blue eyes fixed on him like twin spotlights.
Then—
It vanished.
> "—!"
A blur. Luo Shen barely twisted aside as a blade-arm cleaved past his ribs, grazing his armor and sending a shockwave through the pillar behind him. Fragments of obsidian rained down.
He countered instantly, sword arcing upward—but the creature deflected it with contemptuous ease, twisting away and answering with a kick that sent him sprawling across the platform.
Luo Shen coughed blood, rolling to his feet just in time to parry another strike. The impact rattled his bones, forcing him back on his heels.
> "Too fast…"
---
The Mindpiercer's attacks were relentless, surgical. It didn't fight like a beast—it fought like a duelist, testing his defenses, prodding at weaknesses. And every time Luo Shen faltered even slightly, a psychic tremor gnawed at his mind.
> [Warning: Neural Interference Intensifying!]
A sharp pain lanced through his skull, staggering him mid-swing. His vision doubled.
The boss struck again. A blade-arm grazed his shoulder, hot blood spraying.
He grit his teeth, forced his body to move—dodging low, rolling forward, slashing at its leg. Sparks. A shallow cut.
For the first time, its head tilted—acknowledging the hit.
---
The fight dragged on in a storm of motion.
Steel clashed. Blade-arms whistled past. Luo Shen weaved between slashes, barely alive, sweat blinding his eyes, lungs burning. His sword trembled in his grip.
> "I can't… keep this up forever…"
A downward strike came. He blocked—too slow. The sheer force hurled him back, smashing him into a pillar. Pain exploded across his ribs.
The Mindpiercer advanced, slow and deliberate, pale eyes gleaming.
> "Move!"
He pushed off the wall, lunging forward. Their blades met again.
---
But then—
Something changed.
Every nerve in his body screamed, but in the chaos, his senses sharpened. His muscles responded faster, his footing steadier. He moved without thinking—ducking under a horizontal slash, pivoting, and slamming his shoulder into the creature's side.
It stumbled.
Luo Shen didn't stop. He struck low, forcing it back. Another cut. Another crack in its armor. His instincts honed sharper with every exchange.
> "I'm… adapting."
---
The Mindpiercer tilted its head, for the first time hesitating.
Then it roared—not aloud, but with a psychic scream that sent Luo Shen reeling, clutching his head. His vision flickered, shadows dancing at the edges.
It struck.
Blade-arms rained down, faster than before, each blow testing his limits. One strike cut deep across his thigh, nearly dropping him. Another slammed his sword aside, disarming him.
He barely managed to roll clear, snatching his weapon up again, gasping for breath.
---
> "If I slow down even for a second… I'm dead."
He forced his legs to move. Pain was fuel. His body adjusted, his movements flowed—faster, tighter. He deflected a thrust, spun inside its reach, drove his sword into its side.
The creature staggered back, cracks glowing faintly across its armor.
---
The fight devolved into chaos.
Luo Shen bleeding, limping but unrelenting.
The Mindpiercer slashing with surgical precision, psychic waves pounding his skull.
Sparks flying, pillars shattering under stray blows.
Finally, with a roar, Luo Shen drove forward, blade singing. His sword cleaved through its chest.
The Mindpiercer froze. Its glowing eyes dimmed. It reached out—almost… curious—before collapsing, its body fracturing into light and dust.
---
> [Boss Entity Defeated!]
[Adaptive Combat Protocol: Progress +12%]
[Reward Acquired: Architect's Neural Shard]
Luo Shen dropped to one knee, panting. His vision swam, but a grim smile tugged at his lips.
> "That… was insane…"
He stared at the glowing shard, its faint hum pulsing in sync with his heartbeat.
Luo Shen staggered, breath ragged, standing amidst the fading motes of light where the Mindpiercer had fallen. His sword tip dragged against the obsidian floor, his body trembling—but still upright.
> "That… thing was no ordinary B-rank…"
Then—
> [SYSTEM UPDATE]
Combat Analysis Complete.
Adaptive Synchronization Achieved.
A soft chime rang in his head, accompanied by a stream of glowing data.
---
[STATUS UPDATED]
> Name: Luo Shen
Rank: C Rank Peak
Health: 54%
Points: 190 (+120)
Attributes:
— Strength: 37 (+5)
— Agility: 39 (+9)
— Vitality: 33 (+4)
— Perception: 29 (+3)
— Intelligence: 20 (+1)
— Luck: 13 (unchanged)
Synchronization: 40% (+12%)
---
Luo Shen stared at the display, chest heaving.
> "Agility nearly forty… Synchronization forty percent…"
His hands trembled—not from fear, but exhilaration. His body still ached, but it felt… different. Faster. Sharper. Every sense thrummed with newfound precision.
He glanced at the glowing shard left behind by the boss.
> [Item Acquired: Architect's Neural Shard]
[Effect: Permanently enhances neural response and combat perception.]
Luo Shen stood amidst the silent arena, blood drying against his torn armor, his grip still tight on the Architect's Neural Shard. The faint blue crystal pulsed with light, almost alive.
> "This thing… better be worth it."
He crushed it in his palm.
The shard disintegrated instantly—vanishing in a swirl of glowing particles that sank into his skin.
---
> [Item Consumed: Architect's Neural Shard]
[Effect: Neural Response +5 | Combat Perception +6]
A sudden rush hit him—his vision sharpened, his thoughts felt clearer, his senses briefly expanded like ripples in a pond. But just as quickly, the feeling dulled.
> "Huh…?"
He flexed his fingers, testing his grip, his stance. Faster. Smoother. But it wasn't dramatic—not the instant leap he expected.
> "Guess this kind of change only shows in a fight…"
---
[SYSTEM ALERT]
Injuries Detected. Recommend: Healing Potion (Grade C+) — Cost: 50 Points
A holographic panel blinked before his eyes.
Luo Shen exhaled and opened the System Mall, scrolling through. The recommended potion shimmered faintly.
> "Fifty points, huh? Expensive… but worth it."
He confirmed the purchase.
> [-50 Points]
[Item Acquired: Healing Potion (Grade C+)]
---
He uncorked the vial and downed it in one gulp.
A cool warmth spread through his chest. His torn muscles knit back together. The bleeding stopped. Pain melted away like frost under the sun.
> [Health Restored: 100%]
He exhaled sharply, rolling his shoulders. His body felt… whole again.
---
[STATUS UPDATED]
> Name: Luo Shen
Rank: B Rank (Entry)
Health: 100%
Points: 140
Attributes:
— Strength: 37
— Agility: 39
— Vitality: 33
— Perception: 35 (+6)
— Intelligence: 21 (+1)
— Luck: 13 (unchanged)
Synchronization: 40%
---
He stared at the updated rank notification.
> "B Rank, finally…"
But then his gaze lingered on his stats. His Agility was brushing 40, his Perception had leapt forward, and even without testing it, he could feel it: his body's raw potential outpaced his displayed rank.
He clenched his fist.
> "No… this isn't just B Rank. In terms of actual power… I'm at A Rank entry level now."
A sharp chime echoed in his ears.
> [SYSTEM NOTICE]
Dungeon Boss defeated.
This dungeon instance will close in 10 seconds.
Luo Shen blinked.
> "Oh? Already closing?"
The arena around him began to shimmer, its twisted obsidian pillars fading like dust in the wind.
> [9… 8… 7…]
He sheathed his sword, glancing once more at the spot where the Mindpiercer fell.
> "Guess that's it for today."
The countdown hit zero.
---
In an instant, the world folded in on itself.
A flash of white light—
And Luo Shen was standing in his room. The quiet hum of the system faded, replaced by the familiar stillness of home. His bed. His desk. The faint smell of dinner lingering from the kitchen.
---
He sighed, unbuckling his armor and tossing it aside.
> "What a day…"
He headed to the kitchen, reheating a simple meal: rice, stir-fried vegetables, and roasted meat. Nothing fancy—but after a battle like that, it felt like luxury.
He ate in silence, exhaustion finally creeping in now that adrenaline had faded. His body felt powerful, his stats had soared… but his mind craved rest.
---
Dishes done, he collapsed onto his bed.
> "B Rank… actual A Rank strength…"
A faint smile formed as sleep overtook him.
Tomorrow, the world would still be there—hunters, dungeons, rivals. But tonight? He slept. Deeply. Peacefully.
End of Chapter 10