Chapter 78

[25th Room]

It’s to the right .

I quickly raised my arm and blocked the shockwave that was emanating from my right . I was pushed far to the back .

Fortunately, I didn’t end up falling and rolling on the ground .

My arm was also safe because I used the Iron Wall Skill .

Pang!

I moved my body immediately and dodged the trajectory of the palm blast .

I need to force the battle into close range if I am to fight that monk .

When there’s distance, the monk throws his fist around in the air freely without any hindrance while I have to dodge an endless barrage of shockwaves .

If this continued, I will eventually get hit before the monk collapses from the poison .

I could probably win if I draw the fight out, but I still have to charge into that monk and close the gap to ensure my victory .

I charged toward the monk’s chest and swung my fist .

All of my weapons were either broken or scattered on the floor somewhere .

All I have left is hand-to-hand combat .

The monk has superior body in comparison to mine .

He also has greater reach .

He is also a lot more used to this darkness than me .

I am disadvantaged in three different ways, but the monk is infected by the poison .

So, I will win if I just hold out .

The monk’s movements are too rigid .

He is not being flexible in his responses to the opponent’s moves .

He does not try to hide the intent of his moves by doing strange things either .

He just thoroughly executes the fighting art form that he knows .

So, if I recognize the monk’s stance and miniscule movements in his muscles, I can predict the angle of his attack and respond to it accordingly .

I have two advantages .

[Sensory Amplification]

I approached the monk and used the skill .

In a moment like this, even if it is just a miniscule buff, I should raise my senses further and predict the monk’s movements .

Usually, I do not use this skill often because its duration is too short . However, it is extremely important right now .

I looked at the movements of the monk’s shoulder, waist, knees and right arm’s muscles, eventually discerning the monk’s intentions

I have experienced his move several times already .

It’s a knuckle strike aimed at my heart .

I quickly lowered my body and adjusted my left hand to block his fist from the side . I closed in the gap .

Pang!

A shockwave was generated from the left side and struck the side of my head .

I think my eardrums are going to burst .

For now, I ignored the damage and attempted to execute my plan .

My right fist jolted forward to strike the left side of the monk’s stomach .

This is the stomach, the opposite side of where the poison wound is on the back .

The monk instantly changed his stance and stopped my fist .

It was not that he saw my prior moves and predicted this . He didn’t predict my plan either .

He merely saw the fist flying at him and then moved his stance to respond .

No matter how I think about it, that was an insane reaction speed .

The monk snatched my arm and threw me to the ground like a Judo practitioner .

[Blink]

Just before I collided with the ground, I used Blink to the same spot .

With this, although I won’t be going anywhere, I wouldn’t experience the imapac because of Blink negated momentum .

I raised my body in that state and smacked the monk’s face with my left hand .

I didn’t take a proper stance . I just swung my fist . Still, it hit his face square .

This was the first time to successfully hurt the monk with a direct attack .

The monk has weakened a lot .

The poison is running through his body, so it is obvious .

Because of the shock on his head, the monk was not able to take a proper stance . I charged at the monk and pushed his body over .

Because the monks had such sturdy bodies, they had a tendency to be slow in response when their head experienced trauma .

The monk fell on the floor . I became certain as I mounted his body .

I won .

* * *

[30th Room]

[Welcome, Challenger . It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anyone coming this far . ]

As I listened to the monk’s greeting, I checked the change in senses .

It was the tactile sensation .

Since the 20th Room, the rooms had a strange darkness that completely blocked my vision . Now, it even paralyzed my sense of touch .

It is really strange .

Is this how it feels to being completely anesthetized yet able to walk around somehow?

I raised my hand and felt around my face .

My senses were effectively nulled; my face, hand, or the arm and shoulder that supported the hand did not seem to exist .

This strange lack of sensation generated unfamiliar fear in me .

It felt like I was swimming in deep sea .

[Are you alright, Challenger?]

Having heard the monk, I got a grip of myself .

“You said it’s been awhile since seeing someone making this far, right?”

[I did, Challenger . Is there something you are curious about?]

I was so glad that I could still hear him .

I can still talk properly .

“Ah . . . ah . ”

I tried making noises again .

Although I could not feel my lips, tongue, neck and vocal cords from moving, I was making proper sounds through my voice .

That fact felt mysterious somehow .

“How many… challengers… challengers were . . . were there before me…”

Damn it .

[Uuhurhurhur! You sure talk funny . First, try getting used to this place a little more . ]

When I talked without thinking about the room’s mysterious effects, I pronounced the words as my body remembered . However, when I tried to talk while being conscious about the room, the pronunciations got tangled up .

I feel so embarrassed .

[Experiences like this are probably not common . Enduring the conditions of this place is great training by itself . First, I recommend that you take time and wait until you get used to this place . ]

As the monk said, I quietly went to a corner of the room and sat down .

I cannot even feel the floor .

With my eyes closed, I can’t even tell if I am sitting down or lying down .

Actually, since I can’t see anything even with my eyes open, it is the same .

As I spent the time to get used to the place, I decided to organize my thoughts .

That monk is not attacking me .

He has made a strange decision, but it is a definite fact .

I have confirmed this several times as I sat in the 30th Room .

I should have plenty of time to peacefully organize my thoughts .

This place paralyzed the sense of touch, which created a good environment for me to focus my thoughts .

I slowly thought about the actions I took since I entered the 13th Floor’s Stage .

At first, my attitude was more or less the same as before I got here .

Like I always have, I had desire for experience points and growth . Also, I was curious about new Stage .

However, as I met the monks and conversed with them, my attitude changed little by little .

I laughed at their philosophy in the beginning, but that was only for a short while . I was intrigued from having conversations with them . It was interesting to learn new things by exchanging ideas with them .

I reminisced, recognizing that I was feeling very lonely at the moment . With that in consideration, I realized that my behavior was not all that weird .

It was not weird for a lonely person to become close quickly with someone who he could have conversations about a topic of mutual interest and enjoy it .

The problem was that the monks were the enemies in this stage that I had to defeat regardless . Also, the other problem was that I had inadvertently lowered my mental guard .

I guess there are about two problems .

I don’t need to worry too much about the first one .

These monks are definitely very welcoming toward the challengers, and they seem to enjoy having conversations with the challengers .

On top of this, they never attack the opponent by taking advantage of the moment when the opponent’s guard is down .

Again, this is something I confirmed from meeting many different monks .

Also, I am maintaining enough alertness to respond should the monk attack me suddenly while having a conversation .

Of course, I think it would be a serious problem if I became this lax even when facing enemies who are not monks .

I should not let that happen .

The second problem crept up to me because I never diagnosed myself accurately .

I have two weaknesses . I am currently extremely lonely, and I am opening up too easily to the ones who seem accepting .

At first, I was not aware of these weaknesses .

I cannot fix them right now, but now that I am aware of it at least, I won’t have to worry about being too close to them and panicking afterwards .

I should watch out from now on .

This should be enough .

I have not organized all of my thoughts, but I don’t feel as uneasy .

Now, I should focus on what to come .

First, let’s try adapting to this space .

* * *

[32nd Room]

[Challenger, then try going to the next room . The Master Monk will be waiting . I hope you pass the final trial . ]

The monk was saying words of farewell . I looked at the monk and expressed my sincere gratitude for his match .

[Would you like to continue?]

Of course .

I opened the 32nd Room’s door and entered the conjoining corridor . My vision and sense of touch came back alive .

Surprisingly, I felt burdened by the senses . How strange…

First, I checked the time .

[Round 15, Day 27, 07:30]

I had been worrying about the time, but I was not as late as I thought .

I was able to pass the 30th Room to the 32nd Room with far greater ease than I anticipated .

It was not anything special .

It was just that the monks in those rooms were not well-adapted to the conditions of their own room .

The monks focused on maintaining their art form to the perfection and executing their movement .

Because of this, not being able to sense their own body’s movement became a huge penalty .

On the other hand, I didn’t give a damn about the perfection of my movements . I only cared about charging in and attacking successfully .

I was able to move more freely than them .

Also, after some time passed, I was able to adjust to the conditions with greater ease than the monks .

Eventually, I was able to get through the rooms from 30th to the 32nd Room .

In fact, I felt that the rooms that came before them were harder .

I grabbed hold of the door handle ring of the 33rd Room .

Finally, this is the very last room .

As soon as I entered the room, I could not help but panic from my senses being paralyzed .

Of course, I was aware that my senses would be paralyzed .

However… I didn’t know all senses would be paralyzed at the same time .

Vision, touch, smell, hearing, and taste…

All senses were paralyzed .

[Welcome, Challenger . I am this temple’s master . ]

Instead of having my body’s nerves removed, it felt more like I lost my body itself . I was panicking . At that moment, the Master Monk’s voice echoed inside my head .

How is he able to communicate to me?

Also, how did I hear that?

[Little by little, you will find out . There is no need to be in such rush . Try looking around . ]

As the Master Monk said, I spread my mana wide and poked at the surroundings .

It was fortunate that I could at least feel things through mana .

I used the mana to check my body as well, and I realized that there were goosebumps on my arms and face .

It seemed my body was quite surprised .

I have a mountain of questions .

I have so many things I want to ask, but I am not sure if I will be able to talk properly in this place .

I am not even sure if the Master Monk will be able to understand me .

[It’s all right . I can understand you . ]

How?

[It’s a part of the Power Skills that I received from a God . ]

Power Skill?

[That’s right . I am currently going through the trial to become a God’s apostle, just like you . ]

I was not surprised about the fact that the Master Monk knew I was going through the trial to become a God’s apostle .

I was also speculating that he might have something similar to Power Skills .

He gives off a sensation similar to when I use the Power Skills .

Likewise, the space emanates the same feeling .

Could it be that apostles can recognize each other?

[To be precise, you are sensing the holy power . Because of the holy power, the priests can tell amongst themselves naturally that they are servants of a God . It is also a form of identification . Were you not aware of this? You are quite in the dark when it comes to the common knowledge . ]

You are able to communicate meanings to me . Is that also by a Power Skill?

[No . That’s a technique manifested through the mana . More importantly, have you calmed your agonizing thoughts?]

Agonizing thoughts? Are you aware of even my troubling thoughts?

[I was watching everything since you entered this temple . ]

How?

[Using the same method you are using to look at me . ]

You are saying that you spread mana and watched me through the detection .

You are at the 33rd Room, yet you could see all the way to the very first room .

I get to witness such a ridiculous fiend .

I think I might die here .

[You have such rude thoughts . ]

It’s the fault of the one who looked into my mind .

My troubling thoughts were resolved to some extent .

The root of the problem was that I was unaware of the problems in the first place .

[The first step in resolving a problem is identifying the cause . ]

[Well then, I’ll tell you the details of the trial . ]

[The final trial will begin .

Description: Be acknowledged by Armout, the temple’s master and the one is blessed by the God . Prove that your proclamation is not just empty words . ]

[Clear condition:

Endure both of Armout’s trials and earn his recognition .