The breath was hot and intense, Corwin could feel his flesh burn as his HP dropped. He quickly moved to the side taking the shortest path out of the cone. The dragon continued to breathe forward. Fortunately, he couldn’t change the direction of the breath during the attack. At less than 50% HP, Corwin immediately used a health potion.

The dragon tried to activate another skill but disrupting blow prevented that. A regular claw attack was parried and a thunder slash hit the dragon in the face. The dragon lashed out with his sharp teeth trying to catch Corwin’s arm in the claws. Corwin was too quick, by the time the bite nearly landed he had twisted his body moving the arm backwards out of the way. While he was off-balance the dragon landed another claw attack, erasing all the good the potion had done and bringing Corwin back to 50% health.

Is it still too much? Corwin wasn’t anticipating the remainder of the fight going well. He pushed himself to the limit, using vanishing steps consistently to avoid the dragon’s combination attacks. He used his skills occasionally getting damage in, but his stamina was depleting quickly. It became a race between the dragon’s HP and Corwin’s stamina. Luckily, the dragon did not activate special abilities every 20% health lost. Corwin’s stamina reached 50% as the dragon dropped to 50% HP. Corwin started to take the occasional blow to reduce the pressure on his stamina, and finally got ahead. He had 30% stamina and 30% HP when the dragon reached 20%. The dragon berserk started to charge.

Dragons are unusual in that they have charged berserks that are quite powerful. Think 360-degree AoE breath attacks or shooting many exploding fireballs powerful. Whatever was about to happen Corwin was unlikely to survive. "I suppose this is my limit right now" Corwin thought as he hit the dragon with everything he had. Wind Charge, Thunder Slash, Double Slash, Slash, Pierce, Disrupting Blow. Remarkably, his luck was in as the berserk was interrupted, cancelling it. He still had no clue how he’d survive whatever was coming at 5% but he used more stamina to stop taking damage, and let the potion bring his HP back to full.

At 5% health the dragon started to charge “Ultimate breath attack”. Corwin knew this because the words appeared above the dragon with a 30 second timer. Corwin attacked relentlessly using all his saved-up skills: Wind Charge, Thunder Slash, Double Slash, Slash, Pierce and disrupting blow. The breath attack continued to tick down. Corwin bombarded the dragon with normal attacks pushing himself to the limits to attack as fast as humanly possible. As the timer hit 5 seconds the dragon still had 1% health left. Corwin was just a little short. 4 seconds, 0.9% health, 3 seconds, 0.7% health, 2 seconds 0.5% health, 1 second 0.3% health.

If Corwin failed here, in addition to being slowed down by the death penalty he’d be unable to challenge the divine trial again for another week. In that week, someone else might complete it, leading him to lose his growth tier item forever. Corwin didn’t want to risk that possibility, but didn’t know what more he could do.

Then, just in that moment an alert: “Technique Rapid Blow unlocked.” The breath weapon exploded in a blinding flash of white flame and light. Corwin’s health plummeted but he remained surrounded in the AoE attack. He used rapid blow on the dragon and the dragon’s health was precariously low as well. 0.3% Dragon, 50% Corwin, 0.2% Dragon 30% Corwin, 0.1% Dragon 10% Corwin, 0% Dragon, 1% Corwin. Corwin had barely survived.

He looted the dragon and saw the delightful flash of a luck trigger. He received 4 magic crystals bringing his total to 9. Perhaps even more valuable was the level 8 silver cuisse that had dropped as well. Silver gear was unheard of at low levels; Corwin had never before seen silver gear below level 15. Of course, Corwin had never participated in a low-level divine trial before this life either. Regardless, this plate leg armor would be more powerful than a basic level 15 iron tier cuisse. Corwin excitedly put it away, eagerly awaiting the one level that would let him wear it.

He then pondered his next move. The 40th stair was clearly a step too far. Did he want to die and lose a level and some skill XP, or did he want to take the rewards for the 39th stair? What ultimately decided it for him, is that once he took the rewards he’d not be able to try the divine trial again. If my last life is any indication this one should still be around in a week, perhaps I can only pass it then.

Corwin tried his best to think that he somehow had a fighting chance, and did whatever he could to lift his spirits. My only way is forwards he thought. If nothing else, I’ll test my skills to the limits and may even gain benefits like the technique I learned this time. Once he felt a lot more positive about his next move, he finished resting. He fully expected to fight a superior lord enemy, something he wasn’t even remotely capable of soloing at this stage in the game. He pushed thoughts about how much luck he needed to beat the dragon out of his head and bravely stepped onto the 40th stair. He looked at the situation and immediately let out a surprised gasp.

Corwin Swordborn

Spoiler : Level 6: 63% of level 7

Str: 149 (base:5)

Agi: 169 (base:30)

Con: 149 (base:5)

Int: 52 (base:5)

Cha: 52 (base:5)

Lck: 33 (base:5)

Cnc: 33 (base:5)

Sta: 33 (base: 5)

Def: 349

MDef: 152

HP: 1494/1494

MP: 912/912

Gear:

MW: Iron Tier Level 7 Longsword, +14 Str, +14 Agi, +14 Con

Base Damage: 56-64, Durability 24/25, Requirements: 42 Str

OW: Iron Tier, Level 7 Shortsword, +14 Str, +14Agi, +14 Con

Base Damage 42-49, Durability 25/25, Requirements: 42 Str

MA: Iron Tier Level 6 Plate, +12 Str, +12 Agi, +12 Con

48Def,24MDef, Durability 29/30, Requirements:36 Str

LA: Iron Tier Level 6 Plate Cuisse +12Str, +12Agi, +12Con

48Def,24MDef, Durability 29/30, Requirements:36 Str

B: Iron Tier Level 6 Plate Gloves +12 Str, +12 Agi, +12Con

48Def,24MDef, Durability 29/30, Requirements: 36Str

G: Iron Tier Level 7 Plate Boots, +14Str, +14Agi, +14Con

56Def,28Mdef, Durability 35/35, Requirements: 42Str

RR: Silver Tier, Level 7 Ring of Hidden Attributes (+28 All base attributes, +28 All Hidden Attributes)

LR: Iron Tier, Level 5 Amulet (+10 All base attributes)

AM: Silver Tier, Level 7 Ring of Elements (+28 All base attributes,

Ignore 1.4 Levels, Ignore 1.4 Equip Levels

Skills:

Time Manipulation, Special, Tier 0, Level 0

Space Manipulation, Special, Tier 0, Level 0

Thunder Slash, Rare, Tier 0, Level 1

Wind Charge, Rare, Tier 0, Level 1

Disrupting Blow, Rare, Tier 0, Level 1

Double Slash, Uncommon, Tier 0, Level 1

Slash, Common, Tier 0, Level 1

Pierce, Common, Tier 0, Level 1

Parry, Common, Tier 0, Level 1