Zhao Luo had pushed back the attack of the level 22 puppet with the newly learned technique 'Wood Drop' even though he could force the puppet back if only Zhao Luo used more of his strength.

Zhao Luo was preserving his strength because there were many stages ahead of him. If he went all out from the start then how will he be able to give his all in the end stages of this moonstone puppet challenge.

"Hmph."

Zhao Luo made a sound showing how much annoyed he was after the puppet's attack.

There was a burst of energy behind the last sword move that this level 22 sword apprentice puppet with the *Fire* status used.

'I should observe its technique first.'

Zhao Luo thought as he looked a the puppet that was coming at him again.

This was indeed the most efficient way. Zhao Luo went easy on the puppet just till he can grasp the technique that the puppet is using.

'Wood drop is indeed a great move. If I can just learn this fire puppets technique too....hehe.'

Zhao Luo smirked as the puppet was bringing down its sword with its full force.

It looked unstoppable as Zhao Luo focused on the puppet's hand and its body.

The puppet was simply bringing down the sword but its strike had immense power.

As if something had been ignited midway like a spark had set the puppet's sword on fire.

"Clang, Clang."

Zhao Luo again used 'Wood Drop' to block the puppet's sword and pushed it back.

"Creak."

The puppet created a metallic sound as it was pushed away by the force behind Zhao Luo's Ifrit.

"So that is it."

Zhao Luo shouted as he brought his other hand to hold Ifrit's hilt tightly.

Zhao Luo raised Ifrit toward the ceiling of the silver space and brought ifrit down with an intense speed.

Right when Ifrit had reached halfway, Zhao Luo pushed one of his legs back and bent the knee of the other leg.

This helped him decrease the distance to the target while increasing the speed of his sword.

"Woosh."

A sound was heard by Zhao Luo and the puppet as Ifrit had slashed through the air.

Zhao Luo hadn't copied the puppets technique perfectly yet but the power behind the technique was still amazing.

"Sixty percent. I need more practice."

Zhao Luo said as he glanced at the confused puppet who was watching Zhao Luo through its lifeless eyes.

"Hehehe."

Zhao Luo started laughing creepily as he already had the perfect opponent who would help him master this technique.

The puppet rushed at Zhao Luo.

'Swing.'

"Clang." *Spark*

Zhao Luo and the puppet used the same techniques to clash with their swords. Sparks were produced as the Puppet was thrown back.

'Even though its technique is better, level 22 puppet can't even match half of my strength.'

Zhao Luo thought as he struck the puppet with Ifrit again and again.

'Wood Drop' Zhao Luo shouted in his mind as he brought down his sword on the puppet.

"Clang"

"Clang"

While the puppet had a powerful attack pattern, its defense was not even comparable to the puppets with *wood* in their name.

"So the *Fire* puppets have explosive attacks but their defensive ability is almost null."

Zhao Luo said as the puppet failed to block Ifrit and got sliced in half.

"Clap."

'Sigh.'

Another stage ended but this clapping sound.

"If only I could change it to something else...."

Zhao Luo said as the next stage started.

<Stage 23>

Two "LVL 23" puppets appeared in front of the complaining Zhao Luo.

*Sword Apprentice: Fire*

"Good, good. Come at me."

Zhao Luo said as he signaled the puppets with his hand.

"Creak, Creak."

The puppets slightly dropped before sprinting at Zhao Luo with their swords.

As they reached Zhao Luo they used the same technique that is while bringing their swords down, they pushed their leg back and bent the knee of the other leg to get that bursting power behind their sword. But unfortunately for them, Zhao Luo didn't wait for them to use the technique.

"Clang."

Zhao Luo closed in on them as they had just pushed their leg backward and struck their swords with Ifrit breaking the technique.

Then he pulled back the sword to use the 'wood drop' technique to attack the puppets.

"Clang."

Ifrit collided with the swords of both puppets.

Zhao Luo pulled back Ifrit to stile them again thus completing the 'wood drop'. But before he could complete the technique, Zhao Luo was hit with an epiphany as he used his other to grab the sword too. Then he pushed his left leg back while bending the knee of the right leg, adding the fire attribute 'explosion' to his 'wood drop'.

"Clan~"

Both the puppets were sent flying as Ifrit collided with their swords.

'Crack.'

Their swords were on the brink of breaking into shards as cracks had formed all over their sword as a result of the last collision.

"Heh, what did I do?"

Zhao Luo wondered as he looked at his hand and Ifrit which was shining with its Crimson fiery color even more than before.

Zhao Luo rushed at the puppets again and repeated the moves with the same movement to confirm he had done it.

"Swoosh."

The puppet's swords broke as Ifrit passed through them. With one swing of his sword, Zhao Luo had not only destroyed their sword but also their bodies.

Zhao Luo had indeed combined the two techniques.

"Am I a genius? I can already combine 'Wood drop' and 'Burst Slash' together."

Zhao Luo said as he looked at destroyed puppets.

Another good technique had fallen to Zhao Luo's inhuman naming sense.

"Clap"

Zhao Luo grabbed his head as the hateful sounds echoed in the silver space again.

Thus just like that stage after stage, Zhao Luo kept on fighting the puppets fiercely as their numbers kept on increasing till he finally cleared the 29th stage.

<Stage 30>

Zhao Luo saw the new number as the clapping sound subsided.

He had already mastered the 'Burst Slash' while Zhao Luo's 'Wood Drop' now was probably even better than the puppets.

"LVL 30"

The level was the same as the stage just like the previous times.

A humanoid puppet that is a puppet with the same height as Zhao Luo appeared in front of him.

*Skilled Sword Apprentice: Fire*

'Scratch.'

Zhao Luo scratched his ears while looking at the puppet.

"It's getting boring."

Zhao Luo complained.

it was because Zhao Luo could already predict what kind of puppet would be appearing at every stage as the challenge continued.

"Flash."

The puppet who was the boss of this stage squinted its eyes as it moved towards Zhao Luo so fast that it was hard to see its movements.

Zhao Luo who was taking it easy sensed a hint of danger looming around him as he raised Ifrit to block the attack of the incoming puppet.

"Clang, Clang."

Zhao Luo used 'Wood drop' to block the attack, but it didn't end there as Zhao Luo twisted his body while jumping off the ground.

From mid-air, he brought down his sword on the level 30 puppet boss.

"Clang, Clang."

Using the Wood drop to attack again Zhao Luo pushed away from the puppet as he landed on the ground again while showing a smirk on his handsome face.

'Trying to scare me?'

Zhao Luo thought as he rushed at the puppet.

"Clang, Clang~"

Using the Wood Drop combined with Burst Slash, Zhao Luo defeated the puppet easily.

The level 30 puppets destroyed body fell to the ground as the 'clapping' sound erupted again.

It was there to show that Zhao Luo had completed stage 30.

<Stage 31>

"LVL 31"

*Skilled Sword apprentice: Dual*

Like before, a new word appeared in the status of the puppet.

Its level had increased and its characteristics had changed too.

The puppet attacked Zhao Luo.

The strength behind its attack was still bearable but the movement of the puppet was like shocking news to Zhao Luo.

"Clang, Clang, Clang, Clang."

'Huh?'

"Why are you copying me?"

Zhao Luo questioned the puppet in anger.

"Creak."

The puppet replied in a way that made Zhao Luo even angrier.

It was because the pullet was using the same rhythm as Zhao Luo.

The puppet was also using a combination of 'Wood Drop' and 'Burst Slash'.

Even though Zhao Luo had learned both of these techniques from the puppets, he was now accusing the puppet of stealing his 'original' technique.

'Clang'

'Clang'

'Clang'

'Clang'

The fight was fierce as both Zhao Luo and the puppet collided against each other multiple times in a single minute.

Metal clashing metal sounds kept on echoing around the silver space while sparks were flying around their swords because of the force behind the clash.

After a continuous cycle of 'Wood Drop' and 'Burst Slash', Zhao Luo finally destroyed the puppet.

The cursed stage had finished.

'Clap.'

"Hah, hah, hah."

Zhao Luo felt relieved as the stage clearing clapping enveloped him.

<Stage 32>

"Level 32"

*Skilled Sword Apprentice: Wood*

*Skilled Sword Apprentice: Fire*

Two puppets spawned in front of him.

Both of the puppets were level 32 while also being 'skilled' sword apprentices.

Zhao Luo was already able to feel the difference between a sword apprentice and the skilled sword apprentice.

It was the difference between how they used their technique. 

The technique of a sword apprentice felt forced while the skilled sword apprentice used it more naturally as if their sword was an extension of their metallic bodies.

'Hahaha.'

Zhao Laughed while the expression on his face showed otherwise.

The cursed stage which had just ended was repeating itself in front of Zhao Luo but just in a different form.

'Sh*t, Here we go again.'

Zhao Luo cursed as he attacked the puppet while the puppets slashed their swords at him.