Chương 66

Rudra stood in the center of the swarming red horde, the scorching heat of the Volcanic Salamander Labyrinth threatening to melt his boots. He didn't pull his heavy ironwood staff back to his shoulder. He didn't reset his stance. Instead, he completely relaxed his grip, letting the raw, heavy weight of the wood dictate his movement. A massive Salamander lunged at his chest, its jaws dripping with black smoke. Rudra didn't wind up for a strike.

He simply stepped to the side, allowing his previous downward swing to carry its momentum backward. The staff naturally looped into a fluid figure-eight, sweeping upward in a clean, unbroken arc. THWACK! The heavy wood cracked the lunging monster perfectly under its jaw, sending it flying backward into the magma. Rudra didn't stop. Using the recoil from the impact, he pivoted on his heel. He channeled his massive Agility and Dexterity, spinning the staff around his body like a dark, blurry propeller.

When another wave of fireballs rained down, he didn't dodge. He seamlessly transitioned his spinning momentum into a defensive wall.

"[Iron Guard]!" Because the staff was already moving at breakneck speed, the defensive skill didn't just absorb the fireballs—it violently batted them away, scattering the flames across the cavern.

"I get it now," Rudra grinned wildly beneath his dark leather mask.

"Don't fight the weight. Ride it!" He dashed forward, launching himself into the thickest part of the horde. He triggered [Abyssal Step], creating invisible footholds in the air to bounce around the cavern without ever planting his feet in one spot. His combat style transformed completely. He stopped throwing isolated, heavy chops and started fighting like a violent, unending hurricane.

Every time he used [Crushing Strike], he let the devastating downward force bounce off the stone floor, immediately rolling that momentum into a horizontal [Sweeping Gale]. The skills bled into each other flawlessly. The system instantly recognized his enlightenment. [You have comprehended the profound truth of your weapon!] [Your understanding of 'Endless Momentum' has deepened your foundation.] [Advanced Staff Mastery (Lv. 2) has leveled up to Lv. 3!] For the next two hours, Rudra was an unstoppable force of nature. He cleared out hundreds of Level 165 Salamanders, carving a path through the winding, magma-filled tunnels. The massive 30% experience boost from his First Discovery buff constantly flooded his system. [Level Up!] [Level Up!] He finally reached the lowest depths of the labyrinth, stopping in front of a set of melting, blackened iron doors. Before pushing them open, Rudra took a deep breath.

His health was stable, but he could feel the oppressive, heavy presence of the boss waiting on the other side.

"If I'm going to fight the lord of this place, I need to be at my absolute peak," Rudra whispered. He sat cross-legged on the hot stone and opened his inventory, pulling out the 25 [Forgotten Skill Fragments] he had hoarded from the sunken temples. He swiped his hand to trigger the synthesis. [Synthesizing 'Forgotten Skill Fragments' (x25)...] [A lost piece of ancient history has been restored!] [Skill Learned: Mana Heart (Legendary)] The parchments dissolved into a blinding sphere of dense blue energy that shot directly into Rudra's chest. His heart gave a violent, massive thud. He could physically feel his previously dormant 4, 000+ mana pool rushing through his veins alongside his blood, reinforcing his bones with invisible, unbreakable steel cables. [Mana Heart (Lv. 1)] [Rating: Legendary] [An ancient, forbidden technique developed by a forgotten tribe of Barbarians. Realizing their human bodies could never match the mythical Titans who once fought the Gods without being at a disadvantage, they created an artificial method to force their own mana to act as a secondary circulatory system, constantly reinforcing their bones and muscle fibers from the inside out. Reading on this site? This novel is published elsewhere. Support the author by seeking out the original. - Passive Effect: [Titan's Constitution] - Your physical density is fundamentally altered. Maximum Health and Stamina permanently increase by 20%. When clashing with overwhelmingly strong physical attacks, the recoil and shock damage are absorbed by your mana pool instead of your physical body.] - Active Effect: [Targeted Manifestation] - You can actively direct the immense, surging flow of the Mana Heart into a specific body part for a 150% localized enhancement. - Resource Consumption: 1% of Max Mana per second.] Rudra clenched his fists, feeling the terrifying, raw power thrumming beneath his skin.

He finally had a practical use for his massive mana pool. He stood up, his newfound vitality surging, and kicked the heavy iron doors open. The final room was a massive, dome-shaped volcanic crater. In the center, resting on an island of solid obsidian surrounded by a lake of bubbling lava, was the ruler of the dungeon. It was twenty feet long, covered in thick, jagged volcanic glass, and breathed pure, white-hot fire. [Salamander Lord - Lv. 185 (Boss)] The beast let out a deafening roar that shook the entire cavern. It opened its massive jaws and unleashed a literal river of molten fire across the obsidian bridge. Rudra didn't hesitate. He triggered [Targeted Manifestation], channeling the dense blue mana of his new Legendary skill straight into his legs. His Agility exploded. He moved so fast he literally blurred, sprinting across the obsidian bridge and easily weaving through the jets of molten fire.

He closed the gap in an instant, shifting the mana flow from his legs directly into his arms.

"[Crushing Strike]!" With a +150% Strength multiplier backing his already massive stats, the staff cracked the sound barrier. CLANG! The staff smashed directly into the Salamander Lord's volcanic glass scales. Even with the insane power boost, the boss's absolute defense was incredibly thick. But this time, Rudra didn't pull back. He used the heavy recoil of his blocked strike to spin his body. He rode the momentum, ducking under a spiked tail swipe, and brought the staff around for a second, much faster strike.

CRACK! The second hit struck the exact same spot. He didn't stop. He spun again, his footwork flowing like water while his strikes hit like an avalanche. Three hits. Five hits. Ten hits. With every rotation, the momentum of his staff multiplied. The heavy ironwood became a dark, terrifying blur. He was building endless momentum, completely overwhelming the boss's ability to counterattack. [The passive effect of [Blunt Force] has been triggered!] [The target is temporarily [Stunned]!] The Salamander Lord seized up, its eyes rolling back.

"Game over," Rudra roared. Riding the absolute peak of his accumulated momentum, Rudra poured every ounce of his power into one final, devastating overhead swing. KABOOM! The absolute defense shattered into a million pieces of volcanic glass. The Salamander Lord's skull caved in, and the massive beast collapsed onto the obsidian island, instantly turning into a mountain of grey ash. [You have defeated the Salamander Lord!] [The 'Volcanic Salamander Labyrinth' has been cleared Solo!] [Experience has been acquired.] [Level Up!] Rudra dropped his active skills, dropping to his knees as he gasped for the scorching air. His mana pool had taken a massive hit, and his stamina was completely drained, but the familiar thrill of victory washed away the exhaustion. He crawled over to the ash pile. Thanks to the 30% boost from his First Discovery buff, the boss had dropped a massive pile of glowing loot. He eagerly pulled out three specific items.

[Staff of the Fire Lord] [Rating: Unique Durability: 600/600 | Attack Power: 480 ~ 550 - Strength +100 - Ignores 20% of the enemy's physical defense. - On every hit there is a 15% chance to cause a big fire explosion which deals extra fire damage and knocks the enemy away. A heavy staff made from the spine of the Salamander Lord. It is always burning hot to the touch. Hitting an enemy with it feels like slamming them with an erupting volcano. Conditions of Use: 800 Strength, Intermediate Staff Mastery Lv. 7+] [Blazing Salamander Boots] [Rating: Unique Durability: 300/300 | Defense: 180 - Agility +90 - Fire Resistance +30% - Skill [Fire Dash] is generated. Boots made from the thick, fire-proof skin of the Salamander Lord. They let you dash away in a flash of fire. [Conditions of Use: 700 Agility.] [Fire Dash] [Passive] [When using a movement skill, starting speed increases by 20%. You will leave a trail of hot fire on the ground that burns anyone chasing you.] [Salamander Lord's Heart Meat] [Rating: Unique (Ingredient)] [The best, most magical cut of meat from the boss of the volcano maze. It is insanely spicy and gives off real heat. If a bad cook tries to make it, they will catch on fire. But if a master chef cooks it perfectly, it will make the eater permanently stronger.]"Perfect," Rudra grinned, instantly equipping the new staff and boots. A wave of intense, fiery power surged through his body. As the glow of his new equipment settled, a brilliant golden light flashed from the system. [Staff Saint Candidate Quest: Phase 2 has been completed!] [You have mastered the concept of 'Endless Momentum' and proved your ability to independently conquer a battlefield designed for an army.] [Quest: Staff Saint Candidate (Phase 3) has been generated.] [Staff Saint Candidate (Phase 3)] [Difficulty: SS] [A true Saint does not merely conquer beasts; they must prove their foundation against the ultimate evils of the world. The world is constantly threatened by the existence of Great Demons. Prove your unyielding light by crushing one of the prime evils.] [Clear Conditions: Participate in the subjugation of a Great Demon and land a decisive blow.] Rudra read the final prompt and let out a tired, genuinely happy laugh. His path to a Legendary class was officially laid out before him. He packed his new Unique ingredient into his inventory, stood up, and started the long walk out of the labyrinth. He had an extremely important meal to cook.