Chương 87: (B2) Chapter 14 - No armor, no problem

Ethan let out a sigh as the latest monster began flaking and turning into motes. His arm hung limp at his side, blood running down his fingers and dripping onto the floor. He focused on [Aura Overload]. The skill spread through his body, seeping into the damaged arm and accelerating his natural healing. Ethan had been trying to conquer this dungeon for a few days now. He spent most of his time in here, however had struggled to make it past the fifteenth level.

By the time he passed it, his energies were spent and he was no longer in any condition to continue. Without his armor he was a lot more susceptible to damage, and though he had gotten better at adapting and using a more agile fighting style, he still took the odd hit. Especially when he was constantly fighting monsters of a higher level than him. Even now he could feel his core running out of mana. His soul juice struggling to unleash his skills after so many attempts.

His body was telling him it was time to leave. Time to regroup and give it another go tomorrow. But Ethan didn't want to leave. That meant heading back into Conevil. Something he wasn't too keen on. The town had been closed off to visitors since the first murder and had only gotten worse as more and more bodies were discovered. The only thing easing his time here was his access to the dungeon. Something he was sure he wasn't going to be able to achieve.

But luckily enough the guards either liked him or wanted to curry favor with Tomas, hoping he would put in a good word. Whatever it was Ethan wouldn't complain. So when the prompt arrived once more asking if Ethan wanted to leave the dungeon, despite his body's protests and his injured arm, Ethan selected no, and for the first time, was prepared to face the sixteenth challenge. The announcer's voice rang out over the artificial crowd.

"Would you look at that! The human is ready to head into our deepest waters! Let's give the man what he wants." Again the crowd roared. Ethan, however, had done a good job at blocking them out now. They no longer registered to his senses and as a result he had even leveled the skill, bringing it to level fourteen. Not long now and he would be able to evolve it. With the crowd out of the picture, Ethan focused on the trap door that his opponents usually appeared from.

It opened with a slow grate, revealing nothing but shadow behind it. Idly he wondered if it would be another monster like the Shadow Wolf, or if it would be like the Orc. Or any number of other monsters he had faced. Surprise flickered across his face as a humanoid walked out of the shadows. They wore a pair of dark loose pants and a red sash wrapped around their waist. They had no shirt or shoes on, instead revealing blue-tinged skin. Their pale white hair fell down their face and onto their chest.

A spear rested in one hand, balanced casually against their shoulder. They looked up, and Ethan realized he was dealing with a Myr. They resembled humans in every aspect apart from skin color, Ethan wouldn't be surprised if somehow they were distantly related. However, their cultures were entirely different. They were a powerful race of warriors and prided themselves on individual strength, often traveling alone, looking to improve in any way they could. He hadn't expected to see another race so soon.

Last time he hadn't encountered another sentient race until the fifth level. So to see one now came as quite the surprise. But a welcome one. Even if it was just a construct from the dungeon. It also ignited his fighting spirit. This man would be a true challenge. Someone Ethan could sharpen himself against and push his skills to their limit. He could tell just from the way the Myr moved that he was dangerous. Despite the relaxed posture and easygoing stride, Ethan knew he was ready to attack at any moment.

Ethan raised the scimitar slightly, the curve of the blade catching the arena lights. The Myr let his spear slide from his shoulder before rolling his neck slowly. Then he spun the weapon once through his grip, ending with the spear tip hovering just above the arena floor. Then he moved. The spear shot forward so quickly Ethan barely tracked the first thrust. [Keen Sense] screamed as he twisted aside, the spearhead missing his ribs before instantly snapping back toward his throat in a second strike.

Ethan brought the scimitar upward, redirecting the spear just enough that it slid past his cheek. Sparks burst between the weapons before the Myr flowed backward again, spear spinning fluidly through his hands as another thrust came immediately afterward. Ethan felt excitement build in his chest. Finally. Finally he could have a serious fight with someone who actually knew how to fight. Mana surged through Ethan's legs in a sudden burst as he exploded forward, instantly closing the distance between them.

The scimitar flashed low toward the Myr's waist only for the spear shaft to reverse direction and intercept the strike completely. The counter followed soon after. The butt of the spear slammed toward Ethan's jaw hard enough that he barely managed to duck underneath it. Air whistled over his head before he retaliated with another slash toward the Myr's side. However, he hit nothing but air. The warrior moved around the strike like flowing water.

The crowd roared around them as the fight intensified, both men trading blows across the arena floor while neither fully committed yet. Ethan quickly realized the biggest issue wasn't speed or strength. It was reach. Every time Ethan entered range, the spear forced him back out again. The Myr controlled space perfectly, constantly threatening Ethan from angles the scimitar simply couldn't match. So Ethan took the advice he had given Leah and began relying on feints.

After he got the Myr to bite on an attack, he quickly followed it up, slashing his leg and opening a small wound. The Myr grunted as he jumped back out of range. He looked down at the blood flowing from the cut on his leg, touched it, bringing his hand up to his mouth and tasting it, a satisfied smile on his face. He looked back at Ethan and gave a short nod before engaging again. His spear lashed toward Ethan's chest. Ethan knocked it aside before using [Mana Infusion] to get inside his reach.

The scimitar snapped upward toward the Myr's shoulder, but the warrior twisted aside while driving his elbow directly into Ethan's sternum. Unauthorized usage: this tale is on Amazon without the author's consent. Report any sightings. Pain exploded through Ethan's chest as an intense pressure assaulted him. Without armor protecting him, every hit suddenly mattered far more than before. He staggered backward, trying to create space and gather himself. The Myr didn't let him. The spear became a blur. Thrust. Sweep.

Reverse strike. Ethan narrowly slipped around the attacks while redirecting others with the scimitar, but even strengthened through mana, the spear user still controlled the pace of the fight completely. A thrust slipped through. Pain tore across Ethan's side as the spearhead carved through flesh near his ribs. Ethan immediately disengaged, breathing harder now while his mana reserves dropped dangerously low. Too many fights. Too much experimentation with the molten release technique.

Normally Ethan would simply flood his body with mana and overwhelm the opponent through explosive movement, but he couldn't sustain that anymore. Which meant he needed to change again. Ethan exhaled slowly. Then let the mana fade. Aura spread throughout his body instead, seeping into muscle and bone while strength steadily filled his limbs. Unlike mana, aura wasn't explosive. It didn't grant those sudden bursts of overwhelming speed. But it was constant, and was eager to obey him.

So instead of using it to heal, he focused on making it enhance his strength. The Myr tilted his head slightly as if noticing the shift. Then attacked harder, not allowing Ethan a moment to gather himself. The spear lashed toward Ethan's throat. Ethan slipped outside the strike before immediately stepping back in, the scimitar flashing toward the warrior's hand. The Myr pulled back just in time, but Ethan followed with another strike. Then another. Then another.

The spear user retreated smoothly while continuing to counterattack, but Ethan could feel himself entering a flow state. His movements had grown steadier under aura. Less explosive perhaps, but more grounded, more constant. The spear thrust again. Ethan feinted backward. The Myr committed slightly further, trying to chase him. That was the mistake. Ethan cut off his aura. Mana exploded through his legs in one final burst as he instantly surged back into range faster than before.

The sudden acceleration clearly caught the warrior off guard. His spear was still extended. Ethan slapped it aside and kept moving forward. The Myr's eyes widened slightly just as Ethan's scimitar carved upward in a brutal slash across the warrior's chest and throat. Blood sprayed through the arena. For a brief moment neither moved. Then the Myr slowly smiled and looked down.

Ethan followed his gaze, pausing when he noticed the Myr had given up his weapon and instead used his hand as a spear, puncturing through Ethan's side. Ethan stepped back as its hand came free, coated in his blood. Aura was already flooding the area, but his grip tightened on his sword as he prepared to attack again. However, it looked like he didn't need to. The Myr was slowly dissolving into motes of light. A smile still on its face. Ethan nodded.

Despite not sharing a single word, he felt like they both had a keen understanding of each other.

"It was a good fight. Thank you," he said, just as the Myr disappeared and he cleared the sixteenth challenge. —~~— Ethan sat outside the small spare room behind the armorer's shop, leaning back in the wooden chair while the cool evening air brushed across his skin. The worst of his injuries had already healed thanks to repeated uses of [Aura Overload], though the fight with the Myr had still taken a noticeable toll on him.

The hole in his side had mostly closed now, leaving behind only faint tenderness and dried blood staining the inside of his shirt. Still. The fight had been worth it. Not only had he finally cleared the sixteenth challenge, but [Aura Overload] had leveled again as well. Honestly, if there was one benefit to fighting without armor, it was that. Ethan took more injuries now, which in turn forced him to rely on the skill far more frequently.

He leaned back, listening to the sound of hammering from inside the armorer's shop. Ryan was likely still working despite the late hour, the rhythmic clang of metal carrying softly through the courtyard. Ethan had actually already gotten his armor back earlier that week. But he'd decided against wearing it. His original plan of keeping both versions of himself separate should still work fine. It wasn't like he'd become famous in this tiny town or anything.

And hopefully, if anyone had been watching his movements, they hadn't noticed the exact moment he removed the armor and started walking around as himself again. So he was happy to keep his scimitar self at the forefront for now. A presence brushed lightly against Ethan's perception, breaking him from his thoughts. He looked up just as Ally stepped out into the courtyard. She moved toward the small table she usually sat at each evening before lowering herself into the chair with a tired sigh.

"I don't know why they can't just open the island again already," she muttered.

"It's not like they're actually going to find the person anyway." Ethan glanced over at her.

"More bodies?" Ally grimaced slightly before nodding.

"Another one this afternoon apparently." She tucked some hair behind her ear.

"People are starting to freak out."

"Can't blame them."

"Maybe." She shrugged lightly.

"Still feels pointless locking everyone down. If someone really wanted to leave, they probably already could've." Ethan hummed quietly. She wasn't wrong. The island wasn't impossible to escape from. Difficult maybe, especially with Broken Dawns controlling the docks, but definitely not impossible. Particularly for someone with the right movement skills or enough levels behind them. Ally looked up suddenly.

"You've been in the dungeon every day right?"

"Pretty much."

"Aren't you worried?" Ethan raised an eyebrow slightly.

"About?"

"The killer." He let out a quiet snort.

"Not particularly."

"What if they come for you?"

"I wouldn't mind." Ally laughed softly beneath her breath before looking back down at her book.

"Honestly, if someone's strong enough, they probably shouldn't be worried. But it seems like they are going for stronger and stronger people." Ethan snorted faintly.

"They'll bite off more than they can chew soon then."

"Maybe." The conversation drifted into silence after that while Ally quietly read her book and Ethan sat listening to the distant sounds of the forge. Occasionally people passed outside the property speaking in hushed voices, but eventually even that began dying down as night settled fully over the town. After a while Ally finally closed the book and stood from the table.

"Anyway," she said while stretching slightly.

"Try not to die in that dungeon tomorrow." Ethan smirked faintly.

"I'll do my best." She gave a lazy wave before disappearing back inside the house. Ethan remained outside for a while longer, staring upward through the open courtyard at the darkening sky above the pines. His body still ached from the Myr fight, but beneath the exhaustion he could feel himself improving. Sharpening. After the latest run he was only a level away from his new skill as well. It was time to push further. Tomorrow he'd finish this dungeon.

Ethan eventually pushed himself to his feet and headed inside the spare room, shutting the door quietly behind him before collapsing onto the bed without bothering to change clothes. This next run would be different. He wouldn't leave the dungeon again until it was cleared. Then it was time to call on Tomas and get the hell out of here. With that thought confirmed, he felt [Oath] nod in acknowledgment. So he confirmed his vow and felt a small rush of power enter his body.

Checking his stats, he noticed it only added an additional five to each category, which was good but he really needed to get the skill leveled higher so he could profit more from it. It had the potential to be a game changer, he just needed to get it there.