As the "Imminent Death" skill surged to full power, time seemed to elongate like a stretched-out movie reel. Faced with its colossal magnitude, Ryoshu absorbed every ounce of available Mana from his surroundings, channeling it into his body to bolster his defenses. In a swift motion, he leaped aside, his senses alert to every detail in his surroundings. Even his seemingly useless ears became invaluable tools in battle, attuned to the faintest sounds."Two more shots... but where are those acidic orbs?" Ryoshu paused, scanning the area until one orb gradually materialized within his line of sight. With reflexes honed by necessity, he dodged and sought the remaining threat."Where's the other one? Show yourself!" His query hung in the air momentarily until, from the rippling surface of the acid pool, Ryoshu caught a glimpse of his reflection, twisted in determination. Behind it lurked another acidic projectile, closing in at a sluggish pace.Reacting swiftly, Ryoshu evaded both orbs in
Ryoshu acted swiftly, channeling Mana into his weary legs until they felt disconnected from his body. If anyone had observed from the outside, they would have witnessed a spectacle reminiscent of a scene from a sci-fi action movie, where the protagonist effortlessly dodges bullets in a fraction of a second.With a sense of urgency pressing upon him, Ryoshu disregarded the cold tone of the System. He couldn't afford to waste time, especially not now. Summoning every ounce of strength, he propelled himself towards the Gate, which loomed just a couple of hand spans away.The bullets drew nearer, menacingly encroaching upon him with each passing moment. Being airborne only compounded the difficulty of controlling his movements.A barrage of acid bullets struck Ryoshu once more, this time fired by Slimes ranked E and higher. The corrosive projectiles hastened the destruction of his body, eating away at his flesh until raw wounds were exposed.Yet, fortune seemed to favor Ryoshu on this fat
As Thursday approaches, I must prepare for the tiered assessment. Only a fleeting span of less than 48 hours remains for me to conquer this challenge. Failure to appear would mean forfeiting my chance at admission to the school.While this trial may be classified as a mere C-level challenge, considerably lower in rank compared to the A+ Hidden Temple I faced previously, it's crucial to note that it's not a test of intellect but rather a test of combat prowess."And that implies the final adversary will be at level C. Damn it... level C is perilous territory when an E+ Slime could inadvertently end me."However, in the recent prolonged skirmish, I unlocked several new skills. Despite noticing that my skin still showed signs of decay, I may have acquired yet another skill.Seating himself against the backdrop of the newly formed temple entrance, Ryoshu summoned the System."System, display my status board."Status Board-Name: Amemura Ryoshu-Race: Human-Tier: Unranked-Stats+Mana: 21
"Is this just a random coincidence or something more... suspicious?" Ryoshu pondered, his eyes fixed on the ominous path ahead. The darkness emanating from the cave's depths felt like it was piercing his soul. An eerie sensation crept through the cavern, causing a chill to run down his spine."Now, it's all about survival," he muttered, his throat tense.Attempting to steady his nerves, Ryoshu reevaluated his strategy for navigating the Hidden Temple. He contemplated launching a long-range sneak attack to assess his proficiency with the bow. It was a skill that the Spiral Academy would undoubtedly scrutinize.He wanted to gauge the effectiveness of this stealthy approach. However, he knew it would require a significant investment of time, potentially diminishing his chances of uncovering additional rewards. Yet, speed and efficiency weren't the sole criteria for success in these trials.Each challenge within the Hidden Temple assessed the Awakened on diverse skills and attributes. Whi
As the creature pivoted towards the source of the arrow, it charged straight at Ryoshu, prompting him to steady himself for another shot."Keep calm... I've got another chance," Ryoshu murmured, though his heart raced with the creature's approach.With each passing moment, the creature accelerated, intensifying the pressure on Ryoshu. Despite the mounting tension, he focused on regulating his breath and readied himself for another shot.With a swift motion, the arrow streaked through the air, finding its mark at the slime's core.In an instant, the slime burst into a watery puddle, a glimmering object tumbling out of its remnants, resembling a radiant stone.Ryoshu's hands glistened with sweat, not from fear but from the adrenaline rush. The stone held a significant amount of pure Mana, known as a Magic Crystal.Though highly sought after, Magic Crystals fetched a modest price at the F-tier level, selling for only 1 RC each."These are more common within the Temple than outside," Ryos
"This potion couldn't be more fitting... Maybe it'll help me avoid some discrimination! Even if it feels like the potion is mocking me directly..." Ryoshu grumbled sourly as he pored over the potion's description.Despite the bitter undertone of his thoughts, he pushed them aside and hoisted the vial towards the heavens, as if presenting it to an unseen audience."I've always wanted to flaunt my newfound treasures like this... But it's a bit more awkward than I imagined..."Thankfully, there was only one observer in the vicinity: Fumiya, who had stealthily slipped out at some point."How did you manage to sneak out? I don't recall summoning you yet," Ryoshu queried, puzzled by Fumiya's sudden appearance.But Fumiya seemed oblivious to Ryoshu's inquiry, its gaze fixed solely on the vial in Ryoshu's grasp, brimming with anticipation."Perhaps it's pondering why I'm so thrilled about discovering this potion."This potion was a rarity, challenging to come by. In the market, its value coul
The potential consequences loomed large in Ryoshu's mind. "If I miss my shot," he mused, "that Thunder Slime boss will come after me relentlessly until I'm dead. And with the odds stacked against me like this, I might bite the dust before it even gets to me. And that's not even considering the other Slimes that would probably join the chase to aid their leader."His hand shook with apprehension, contrasting sharply with the oblivious bouncing of the other Slimes around him.The linear path ahead offered no hidden escapes, making survival seem like a distant dream if they decided to pursue him.From behind, Fumiya emerged, offering a comforting pat on Ryoshu's head. Only then did Ryoshu notice the beads of sweat on his forehead."Fumiya... seems to be more unique than I originally thought," he murmured, turning his gaze towards the hovering sandpile.As Ryoshu opened his arms wide, Fumiya eagerly leaped into his embrace."Its spirit still holds a childlike innocence," he observed. "Tha
As Ryoshu triggered his skill, time seemed to stretch out, almost freezing in place. However, the effect wasn't as drastic as the instant-death skill, only slowing down time by about three times. "Maybe it's related to the Intuition stat, while the other skill pushes the brain to work three times faster... That's my theory," Ryoshu mused, his gaze still fixed on the Slime.The flames on the arrow continued to burn steadily, spreading rapidly. Ryoshu knew he had to act quickly, or the arrow would turn to ash before reaching the Slimes."I really hope I don't miss," Ryoshu whispered, his confidence shaky but his trust in Fumiya unwavering.The usual fear on Ryoshu's face vanished, replaced by absolute calmness. Before releasing the arrow, he waited until his mind was as tranquil as a still pond, disturbed only by a single drop.The arrow shot out, but due to the Time Bullet effect, it moved slowly, like a scene in slow motion."I've put everything into this... now it's time to see what