A chill ran down his spine. "Here we go..." he muttered, gripping his sword tightly even as water dripped from its blade. The ocean stirred, and a massive creature burst forth—a Sea Leviathan, its serpent-like body coiling in and out of the waves, its scales glistening like polished armor.
"Time for a real fight," Asher said, smirking despite the situation. He prepared himself, ready for whatever the Leviathan threw at him.
Asher dodged while maxing out his Swimming Skill and Underwater Breathing Technique. "Damn, never thought I'd be using Skill Points on this," he thought, his swimming speed significantly increasing. Though not as fast as the Sea Leviathan, it was just enough to evade and avoid many of the beast's powerful attacks.
Each flick of his legs and stroke of his arms propelled him through the water with precision, narrowly dodging the Leviathan's massive jaws and its tail, which whipped through the water like a battering ram. Asher's eyes remained sharp, analyzing the creature's movements, searching for an opening to strike.
The Sea Leviathan roared, its sound muted yet thunderous beneath the water. Asher gripped his sword tightly, the blade gleaming with a faint energy as he activated one of his advanced techniques.
"Aqua Severance!" he muttered. The sword sliced through the water, creating a sharp, high-speed slash that parted the sea in a direct line toward the Leviathan. The attack struck true, cutting a deep gash into the creature's armored scales. The Leviathan recoiled, its glowing eyes locking onto Asher with fury.
The massive beast surged forward, its body coiling through the water with terrifying speed. Asher spun, dodging to the side just as the Leviathan's tail swept past, causing a violent current that nearly dragged him back toward the creature.
"Time to up my game," he muttered, positioning himself. The Leviathan lunged again, and Asher countered with a precise strike.
"Ripple Blade Dance!"
He executed a series of rapid, fluid strikes, each one flowing into the next like the currents of the sea. The strikes weren't just powerful—they were seamless, creating an unrelenting barrage that forced the Leviathan to retreat momentarily.
The creature retaliated by opening its jaws wide, releasing a torrent of water infused with energy, a devastating attack that churned the surrounding sea into a deadly vortex. Asher braced himself.
"Cyclone Counter!" he yelled, spinning his sword rapidly to create a spiraling barrier of force. The vortex met his defense, neutralizing the brunt of the attack. Still, the sheer force of the Leviathan's assault sent him tumbling backward.
Asher steadied himself, narrowing his eyes. "I need to end this fast."
The Leviathan lunged again, its mouth wide open, revealing rows of razor-sharp teeth. Asher propelled himself forward with a powerful kick, charging directly at the beast.
"Tidal Cleave!" Read latest chapters at Novel~Fire. (n)et
A single, devastatingly powerful slash arced through the water, enhanced by the flow of his swimming skill. The attack struck the Leviathan's open mouth, tearing through its jaw and driving deep into its body. The sea around them darkened with blood as the creature let out a final, gurgling roar before collapsing lifelessly.
[ Floor 20 Guardian Defeated! ]
[ Reward: 200 Tower Coins ]
Asher floated in the water, catching his breath as the system notifications appeared. He smirked. "That was tougher than I thought, but I guess I'll have to expect more surprises ."
The water began to glow, and a portal appeared beneath him, pulling him upward. He emerged in the next chamber, shaking the water from his hair.
[ Choose Your Reward: Mana Ascension Potion, Aura Ascension Potion, or Soul Ascension Potion ]
Asher stared at the options, pondering his choice. "Finally, let's see what this Soul Ascension Potion is all about," he said, reaching out to claim his reward.
Asher used Absolute Appraisal on the potion, and the details became clear.
[ Soul Ascension Potion: Increases the soul energy of the drinker by 50%.
If the drinker does not have soul energy awakened, it will awaken their soul energy, but at a lower grade. ]
[ Soul Energy Grades: The energy grades are ranked as follows: Iron, Bronze, Silver, Gold, Platinum, Diamond, and finally the highest, Prismatic. ]
Asher nodded as he read through the description. "So, soul energy, huh?" he murmured, tapping his chin thoughtfully. "Since I have this cheat, Inheritance hall, there must be plenty of techniques out there that rely on soul energy."
He checked his system quickly, searching for any soul-related arts or techniques. After a moment of browsing, he frowned.
"Hmm, nothing ," he muttered, closing the screen. "Well, it wasn't a wasted choice anyway," he added, examining the potion again. "At least this means I can create some soul-enhanced techniques on my own, but it's strange… Both the Volarisa and Dark Existence Realm didn't have any connection to soul energy."
He shook his head, pocketing the potion for later use. "Guess it's time to move on. I'll figure out how to best utilize soul energy once I have more techniques to work with."
He then checked the Aura and Mana Potions, noting their identical descriptions except for their effects. "Hmm, System, can I use Infinite Fusion on these?" he asked.
The System promptly responded:
[ No, host. Only items owned by the host can be used in Infinite Fusion. ]
Asher nodded thoughtfully. "Well, I guess I'll have to wait. There are plenty of chances between the 30th, 40th, and 50th floors to collect more rewards. I'll take them step by step," he murmured, his resolve firm.
With that, he stepped toward the door leading to the 21st floor, ready to face whatever challenges awaited him.
Stepping through the portal to the 21st floor, Asher found himself in a vast arena surrounded by towering mountains. The air was heavy, and the ground beneath him pulsed faintly, as if the land itself was alive.
"Its mountain range this time," Asher muttered, drawing his blade. He scanned the surroundings, his senses heightened.
Suddenly, the ground rumbled violently. From the shadows of the mountains emerged a colossal creature—a Titanic War Golem—its body made of obsidian and glowing veins of molten energy. It stood at least fifty feet tall, its massive arms ending in jagged blades of crystal.
[ 21st Floor Boss: Obsidian War Golem ]
"Well, this is new," Asher said, smirking. The golem raised one massive arm, slamming it into the ground. Shards of molten rock erupted in every direction, forcing Asher to leap backward.