Smashing was not a pleasant feeling at all. I tried to make it swift, but that was impossible when I was fighting three of them, and they were all more powerful than before. The good thing was that my magic swordsman had gained many levels from this trial. Even without my dungeon bonus, I had already reached level 5. I probably would have been level 10 if I had all of those bonuses. As the last of them fell, I desperately tried to maintain my focus.
“Your weapon has transformed.” The guide noted. “Impressive. It would have done this a long time ago if you hadn’t been using your tricks. I almost considered banning them.”
So, it really was like that. The pain that Alysia felt was supposed to force her to evolve. Every time I helplessly cut down her soul, she’d become desperate enough that her shape would change and she’d kill it a different way. This trial wasn’t just testing my ability to defeat the clones, but Alysia’s ability as well. I had been cheating up until that point by using spells, but I was supposed to be depending on my weapon.
Most people who would enter this world would likely only have a handful of similar jobs. So, it’d make sense that a swordsman wouldn’t be able to defeat them nine different ways. I was simply far too versatile for this dungeon, making it far easier than it was supposed to be. That was something I was extremely used to, and it actually caused me to relax a bit. For a while, I had been worrying that this dungeon was a bit too easy.
I did worry that Alysia might have been losing out by not feeling the pain she was supposed to. My hope was that her refining process was in fighting alongside me, and not in feeling some kind of soul torture. My mind was still a bit shaky, but I felt like I could make it to the end of this dungeon now. It was in sight.
“The next trial will be your final match.”
She nodded. “The last two trials will be… special. They will finalize your sword.”
I nodded, and then continued on into the 6th safe room and rested up. After being crushed three times, I decided to take my time. At this point, I had been in the dungeon about three days by my count. So much could have happened outside by now. It was best to complete this trial soon.
“I think there is more to this than I originally thought.”
“I’ve been acting passively, and letting you handle me. However, what is the point of that.”
“Like a girl just lying there during sex.”
“Wh-what did you say?” She yelped.
“N-nothing!” I quickly sat up.
“I’m just saying that I feel like I could do more. I should use my strength to your advantage.”
“You may be right. Upon thinking about it, most people can’t do what I do. Most people would just be a single fighting class. How would they be able to kill an enemy in so many different ways? I believe the trick to that is you. You’re supposed to be learning about yourself, and grow powerful.”
I didn’t mention the pain part of it. She had long forgotten about it, but I would never be able to forget it. It was a truly spartan form of training.
“I… will grow stronger. I want… I want to be Master’s weapon!”
“Mm… I’ll be counting on you.”
I was still recovering from my own pain and trauma, so I was answering nonchalantly. I hadn’t realized that this would be an oath that would carry us together through a turbulent future.