Absolute Craft

Chapter 14: Versus The Gatekeepers (1)

Sol's light illuminated the narrow corridor for Blake and Vargar. The old dwarf had been hesitant to accompany Blake, but he relented readily after seeing the young man's confidence.

In his long life, Vargar had met countless confident people, but none radiated an aura quite like Blake's. Though bratty, impatient, and even somewhat entitled, this player strove to overcome his flaws and change himself—a quality that was part of his charm. He undoubtedly had something that drew people to him.

Moreover, this was yet another trial for The Lost King's throne. It might be dangerous for outsiders to enter the trial zone, but Vargar couldn't bear to miss the rise of the new king—especially since he'd been involved from the start. All things considered, he couldn't bring himself to disappoint Blake or himself.

After ten minutes of walking, Sol's light reached the corridor's end, revealing a threshold. Beyond it, a vast expanse opened in all directions—so large that Sol's glow was like a single drop in a sea of darkness.

Nevertheless, Blake and Vargar could already see at least fifty ominous red orbs glaring at them from across the open space. At the edge of Sol's light, Blake made out a few pairs of pristine white sabatons and glimpses of similarly colored greaves. Despite their bright color, these armors blended easily into the hall's darkness—an intriguing and fairly advanced mechanic for a first battle zone.

<0/50>

Without hesitation, Blake accepted. The moment he did, hidden beacons high on either side of the hall ignited, casting a mix of blue and red lights across the area. Every nook and cranny became visible to human eyes.

With the hall illuminated, the gatekeepers' appearance was revealed. Seemingly crafted from marble that adapted to any light source, their armor—now reflecting the red and blue beacons—fit so snugly it looked like a second layer of skin. Intricate details and polished finishes gave each armor a celestial look. Although perhaps overly ornate, Vargar couldn't find any flaw in the design and only grew more impressed by the second. Sol didn't know anything about craftsmanship, but his little eyes gleamed like a thousand stars.

Meanwhile, Blake studied the gatekeepers' weapons. They all carried spears forged from the same light-absorbing material as their armor. "Forging and enchanting at its finest," he muttered.

Unaware that his words had just pulled Vargar from an awe-struck examination—Vargar hadn't even thought about the enchantments yet—Blake looked up at the gatekeepers' helmets and noticed something odd. Thin strands extended from each helmet to the ceiling, taut like marionette strings. The blue beacon revealed them, while the red beacon concealed them. As the lights swept back and forth, Blake confirmed his suspicions.

He smiled.

Unsheathing his katana, he took a balanced stance—blade in front, tip pointed at the nearest gatekeeper's chest—forcing his opponent to move first. Three gatekeepers advanced in sync, their strings swaying. Each lunged with a thrust, hoping to exploit the spears' reach advantage.

In response, Blake sidestepped just enough to avoid two of the three thrusts without exposing himself to the others. Simultaneously, he angled his curved blade to parry the final thrust, guiding it away from his body and creating a vital opening.

A well-trained spearman—this gatekeeper—recognized the danger and tried to defend himself with the spear's other end, aiming to regain distance and reestablish his advantage. Yet before he could act, the crescent blade sliced through his neck, beheading him in a split second. His finely crafted helmet clattered to the cold floor, rolling between his comrades' legs. The rest of his body dropped to its knees before collapsing facedown.

<1/51>

Vargar's jaw dropped, while Sol danced happily atop Blake's helmet. In just a few seconds, Blake had dispatched one of fifty opponents with such precision and speed that he remained unscathed. What seemed simple and effortless was, in reality, a masterful combination of offense and defense.

Moreover, Blake's stats had risen beyond what the gatekeepers had adapted to, thanks to one of his katana's three skills:

As soon as Blake defeated one of them…