Absolute Craft

Chapter 15: Versus The Gatekeepers (2)

Given Sheathed Pride's enhanced stat bonuses, it was more advantageous for Blake to disarm the gatekeepers rather than execute them one by one. In immersive virtual reality, enemies could be subdued in countless ways—many of which Blake could easily perform as a beta tester with nearly two extra years of experience compared to other players.

As he swept through the gatekeepers, the hollow rattling of their helmets echoed behind him, followed by the dull crash of armored bodies collapsing onto the floor. Those distant sounds faded as he dashed toward his next targets, slicing crescent arcs that severed their heads in a single, fluid motion.

Each slash carved a silver crescent streak tinted with a crimson sheen. These glowing arcs lingered briefly above the falling gatekeepers, almost as if observing them on Blake's behalf. This display revealed that Blake had been using his katana's second skill—Crescent Pride (Rare).

Combined with The Executioner's End enchantment, this skill turned Blake into a genuine whirlwind of destruction. He obliterated his foes and stayed completely unimpeded, largely because he had deciphered the hall's mechanics.

The alternating blue and red lights, along with the strings connected to the gatekeepers' helmets, were all linked. These lights alternately revealed and hid the strings, each strand hinting at a gatekeeper's moves before its armored shell could fully respond to Blake's approach.

During his very first exchange, Blake confirmed his theory by noting each subtle shift. In subsequent clashes, he matched the sway of each strand to the gatekeepers' attacks and stances, memorizing all patterns. From that moment on, Blake not only redirected their spears but also lured gatekeepers with fully exposed strings into lunging at him.

Having shed all the rust from his year-long hiatus, Blake no longer bowed to the hall's constraints—he challenged the gatekeepers on his own terms.

"…unbelievable," Vargar muttered under his breath.

Despite Blake's substantial stat boosts, the old dwarf could clearly see the finer points of his technique and cunning. Fascinated by the way Blake wielded his katana, Vargar analyzed his tactics, from exploiting the trial's mechanics to incessantly testing the gatekeepers' limits.

"I have no doubts now," Vargar said, clenching his hands and grinning broadly as he watched the one-sided carnage. "He's The Supreme Blade, The Main Head of The Cerberus—the one who dealt the most damage to the leviathan a century ago!"

Players were an inescapable force that inhabitants of this world had to adapt to—just as the world itself already had. Refusing their cooperation or severing ties altogether would be sheer folly. Still, not every player deserved attention. Even though they possessed infinite potential and could revive after death, many never capitalized on those advantages.

But the player who had torn through The Lost King's trial…

<50/51>

…was definitely someone the world wouldn't soon forget. Vargar had no doubts about that.

"He really showed me the third objective is the easiest! Haha!"

No sooner had the old dwarf spoken than the beacons shattered into a thousand fragments, plunging the hall into total darkness. Nothing could be seen; only the faint clink of glassy shards hitting the floor echoed through the darkness.

Sol emitted a startled squeak as the darkness snuffed out his excitement. Switching from lively thrashing to a sullen pout, the sun elemental rose to the challenge, forcing his apple-shaped body to shine with even more intense, soothing sunlight.

Blake smiled as he caught sight of his own hands again—and the gleam along his katana's ridge. "Thanks, Sol."

Sol hummed softly, his eyes glowing with pride at having helped his master—only for those same eyes to shrink back as blue and red lights surged around them, stealing his moment in the spotlight.

Half the hall now shone a brilliant crimson, while the other half gleamed a cool sapphire hue. Vargar stood on the blue side, while Blake and Sol remained in the red.

"I expected this, since the counter stalled at fifty," Blake said.

<50/51>

A new system message appeared:

A voice reverberated through the hall:

"The Supreme Archer shall live on!"

A sharp whistle tore through the air.

BANG!

Out of nowhere, an arrow pierced Blake's left pauldron, ripping through the steel and slicing into his flesh.

<-104 HP!>

Grinning, eyes alight with excitement, Blake murmured, "The Supreme, huh?"