My Isekai Life in Hard Mode

Trial of Cunning

Recalling the urgent red alerts, Ryoshu hoped they indicated something different. However, he remained optimistic and stubbornly attempted once more despite knowing the futility of his efforts.

"Damn it!"

"So... all glitches are now limited to single use, huh?!"

Initially, he had planned to exploit glitches to gain power swiftly. Yet, the System's ability to swiftly rectify glitches thwarted his strategy entirely.

"If only I'd known earlier, I'd have headed straight to an SSS+ Ranked Shrine..."

Regret painted Ryoshu's face. Wasting one of the game's most valuable glitches was understandably regrettable.

"Well, what's done is done. Can't undo it now," he muttered, though regret lingered.

The two skills would greatly expedite his training, particularly Lightning Reflexes, which are invaluable in any battle. Additionally, the Premonition of Death skill boosted his chances of survival.

Moreover, various avenues existed to upgrade abilities in the game, with many unused glitches remaining. Despite the one-time use restriction, there remained a chance for success.

"I'll ensure to preserve some crucial glitches for future use."

Ryoshu raised the two Memory Spheres cautiously.

"I hope these aren't toxic."

With a gulp, he swallowed them, unwilling to test their taste.

You received the new Innates "Super Memory" (C-) and "Lightning Reflexes" (D+).

Suddenly, his senses peaked, every nerve in his body accelerating frighteningly. The world seemed to slow, akin to the effects of a potent stimulant. Initially invigorated, the sensation soon transformed into unbearable pain.

Ryoshu collapsed in agony, hands clutching his head as if trying to contain the torment within. With eyes squeezed shut, he prayed for relief from the escalating pain, but it only intensified with each passing moment.

His senses, heightened beyond measure, amplified every sound, every sensation. Once-ignored noises like rustling leaves or chirping birds now assaulted his ears like thunder.

Despite the excruciating ordeal, Ryoshu gradually acclimated to the heightened sensitivity, though his limbs remained beyond his control, his movements reduced to mere finger twitches.

"Finally," he breathed, relief mingling with lingering discomfort.

Attempting to move his arm, Ryoshu observed a peculiar phenomenon: it moved slowly, its motion disjointed, as if existing in multiple frames simultaneously.

"Is this the effect of Lightning Reflexes?" he pondered, bewildered by the unfamiliar sensation.

As his senses normalized, or perhaps as he adjusted to their new intensity, Ryoshu marveled at the clarity of his surroundings. Objects previously distant now seemed within reach, their details vivid and sharp.

"This clarity... Have I become something other than human?" he wondered aloud, grappling with his newfound perception.

Surprisingly, it wasn't his vision but his sense of smell and hearing that underwent the most dramatic change, rendering him less human and more attuned to the world around him.

Amidst the sounds of lurking creatures and the overpowering scent of earth and foliage, Ryoshu fought to maintain his composure, steeling himself for what lay ahead.

Venturing into the grassy field nearby, he scoured the area, discovering mushrooms and herbs with potential uses when combined.

"Peculiar... I could have sworn this item was here. Did the game alter its location?" he mused, retrieving a rare four-leaf clover, its touch inducing a faint sense of nausea.

Examining it closely, Ryoshu invoked an appraisal, revealing its legendary status and granting its finder a wish.

"Now, onto my first dungeon challenge in this world," he declared, mustering his strength to open the heavy stone gate.

Entering the hidden cave beyond, he was enveloped by darkness, the flickering torchlights guiding his path through the labyrinthine passages.

Though familiar with the Shrine's challenges from countless virtual ventures, experiencing them firsthand gave him a sense of foreboding.

Navigating the puzzles and avoiding traps, Ryoshu pressed forward, his confidence tinged with uncertainty about the differences between the virtual and real-world versions of the game.

Unfazed, he resolved to complete the challenge swiftly, mindful of the risks posed by his limited use of shortcuts.

A sudden sound alerted him to danger as he sprinted ahead, prompting a swift evasion as a poisoned arrow narrowly missed its mark.

With Lightning Reflexes saving him from a fatal blow, Ryoshu vowed to reserve his abilities for when they were truly needed, recognizing the dangerous nature of his surroundings.

Ryoshu carefully examined the poisoned arrow, noticing the strange liquid on its tip, which was venomous. After a quick check, he tucked it away in his spatial ring, avoiding any foolish accidents.

"This might be useful later," he thought, running his fingers over the ring.

Moving forward, he discovered an invisible button on the stone wall and pressed it, causing a door to appear. This shortcut would make the challenge a breeze.

"Now, just a stroll through this tunnel... I hope it hasn't changed too much," he said, though the challenge's simplicity masked its deadly past.

Once, this trial had been deadly, claiming many lives before a lucky player found the hidden button, turning the shrine into a joke.

"The glory days of this deathtrap," Ryoshu chuckled, recalling his struggles.

***

After a few minutes, Ryoshu reached the end of the challenge, feeling almost indifferent.

"But soon, these trials won't be so easy," he thought, aware of the increasing difficulty ahead.

Upon completion, a gateway would appear, connecting to the exit. But if it were a Hidden Shrine, the gateway would seal permanently, leading somewhere random.

And then, there was the reward chest, Ryoshu's primary goal. Higher challenges meant better rewards.

"Not to mention bonuses for exceptional performance... I hope I've earned those," he mused, opening the chest.

"You've completed the Cunning Challenge!

Difficulty: A+

-Post-challenge rewards:

Gold Bars x5, Protection Necklace (A)

"Standard rewards... I'll sell the gold bars for extra coin," he decided, storing them with the necklace.

Next, a floating ring appeared, dropping into his palm.

"As for this... I'll think about it later," he said, having gotten it many times before with little use.

Knowing there was more, he waited for additional rewards.

"Due to your 3 minutes and 47 seconds completion time, you receive additional rewards for outstanding performance!

Rating: S

Note: How did you know about the invisibility button?!

-Additional rewards:

Secondary Attribute: Adaptation

Seven-Year-Old Ginseng Root (A+)

"3 minutes and 47 seconds? Not bad. But still far from the world record," he reflected, mindful of his restraint in using game exploits.

"Adaptation: Grade 1 (Unranked)

"Perfect, just what I needed," he said, approaching a statue resembling the God of Fear, Phoborias.

"Hope I won't regret what comes next," he muttered, plucking a four-leaf clover. Then, biting his finger, he watched the blood flow.

"Biting harder than I expected... and it stings," he remarked, trying to control his discomfort as he waited for the blood to flow.