Hell Difficulty Tutorial Chapter 806 - 11th Floor

Upon returning to the 11th floor, I found myself within a cave of considerable width, though not particularly deep. It offered an unobstructed vista of the searing dunes stretching beyond. Barely any vegetation could be seen, and even rock formations were sparse. It was an expanse of sand as far as the eye could see, the air shimmering above the horizon due to the intense heat. I harbored a strong suspicion that my pre-tutorial self would have simply melted after mere seconds exposed to such conditions.

The sun here appeared to be two or three times the size of Earth's sun, or perhaps we were simply much nearer to it. Its light was piercingly harsh, almost white. Curiously, I doubted this planet rotated at all. Min-Jae had previously speculated it was likely tidally locked, much like Earth's moon.

After observing this desolate panorama for a time, I took over Izzy’s task of absorbing some of the cave’s internal heat, aiming to mitigate the rather unforgiving temperature.

“Did you happen to bring anything to drink?” Sophie inquired, joining me.

“Just a small amount,” I replied, retrieving a few water bottles from my bag. Among them was a bottle of verdant liquid, interspersed with yellow sparks, which I had procured for a single shard. I contemplated this bottle for a moment, my mind racing with thoughts, before directly handing it to Sophie. “Please ensure everyone takes a small sip or two. Izzy and Dennis especially.”

She seemed to perceive the gravity in my tone and nodded in agreement. “You no longer possess that item you once had for storing liquids?”

“I disassembled it quite some time ago. I suspected it contained some form of spatial compression mechanism and attempted to glean knowledge from it.”

“I understand,” she responded. “I cannot recall the last time I felt such intense thirst, and even in this heat, it should not be this pronounced. It may be a pre-set condition of this floor or an environmental effect. There are even side quests that offer water as a reward, which certainly implies its importance.”

“That seems to be the case,” I concurred. “You should utilize a one-day Beyond Stay token and retrieve some resources. I will remain here and conduct a preliminary scout of the vicinity.”

“I believe everything you’ve stated is logical, so let’s proceed cautiously and avoid haste,” I affirmed with a nod.

She covered her face with her palms, rubbing them over her brow with a sigh. “Izzy is in a rather poor state. Tess is enduring, but her arm will not regenerate promptly, even with Lily’s abilities, and we must keep a close watch on Noodle. And then… Biscuit… are you quite alright?”

“There is no need for concern regarding my well-being.”

After looking up at me, she softly added, “Perhaps there isn’t. I have already dispatched Blackie to survey the area, and I will leave him here while I proceed to Beyond. He will respond to any of you, so please utilize him if the need arises.”

“Understood.”

With that, Sophie rejoined the others. I, after distributing the remaining provisions and water acquired from Ruby, then made my way toward the cave’s exit. Prior to departing, I erected an array designed to assist in temperature regulation. I left behind an orb, imbued with a minuscule amount of mana, not intended for power, but within it floated a single drop of my blood—an ongoing experiment to ascertain its efficacy as a substitute for a mana battery.

“You will accompany me,” I stated, pausing to address Min-Jae, who had been sitting in a state of apparent bewilderment. I did not wait for his reply before exiting the cave, hearing him hastily rise to his feet. The temperature immediately escalated, the air itself feeling more intense than some of the fire-based abilities that had been directed against me. To counteract this, I extended my influence to encompass both Min-Jae and myself, consistently absorbing heat and subsequently converting it into mana to sustain the crown hovering above my head.

A sensation of something being absent made me pause and ponder its identity, only to realize the missing element was my connection to Biscuit, which now felt subdued and empty.

I resumed walking, and Min-Jae quickened his pace to match mine. As we progressed, we maintained a leisurely pace. I kept the cave within my visual range, where I had established several Ley Lines and markers.

Traversing a few dunes under the oppressive heat, we reached Blackie. Sophie’s familiar, sensing our approach, bolted forward, halting abruptly some distance away. With every gust of wind or impact of sand grains, pulses of kinetic energy radiated from his body. Unlike our time in the city or aboard the airship, he was not wearing the cloak that usually aided him, though at present, there seemed little necessity for it.

As we stood there, I lowered myself onto the hot sand. I even ceased absorbing the heat entirely, allowing the arid temperature to assail my body. Min-Jae sat beside me, and noticing his gaze, I mirrored his action, permitting us both to feel the burn. Blackie, observing our repose, followed suit, albeit with more vigor. His movement unleashed a greater burst of kinetic energy, causing more sand to erupt and cascade down, triggering a multitude of miniature explosions.

While Blackie gazes at the floating grains, poking them with a fingertip in what seems like pure fascination, I inquire, "Are you alright?"

"I believe so. I mean, I'm certainly sad and shocked, but as long as there's a glimmer of hope, I have something to cling to. If the absolute worst were to unfold, I'll be utterly devastated then, so there's no point in succumbing to despair right now," Blackie responds. "At least, that's the approach I attempt to take. What about yourself?"

"My sentiments are quite similar."

Min-Jae draws his knees towards his chest. "For a time, I even contemplated wishing it had been me instead, but I recognize the sheer foolishness of such a thought. Now, concurrently, I feel a surge of anger towards Aaron, yet I also find myself admiring him for his actions."

"It was indeed a rather bold move, but as you've noted, I also harbor the desire to deliver a swift punch to him."

"I never mentioned anything about punching."

"Punch him, like, ten times," I exclaim with a sigh, settling back into the sand, unconcerned by the grains settling on my face. "One of my rewards from the previous floor was an option to select a specific item. It was a 'Low Pristine.' Do you not find it paradoxical how incredibly potent the rewards are, yet they simultaneously feel so inadequate?"

"I understand precisely what you mean," Min-Jae affirms.

"Indeed, I had a feeling you would. I intend to purchase an item for Dennis, something designed to shield his mind from mana disruption and mental assaults."

"Did Sophie discuss this with you?"

"She did, but it was a notion that had already formed within my own mind. Her approaching me with the identical thought, before I even had a chance to voice it, strongly suggests that this concern is exceptionally valid."

"Yes," Min-Jae agrees, rising to his feet. His mana begins to pulse around him as he erects a protective barrier against the intense heat. "I shall head back now. Should any necessity arise, I will seek to draw upon one of your Ley Lines."

"Understood, see you later," I reply, turning my attention back to Blackie. "You should return as well. I plan to scout the immediate vicinity for a short while."

As Min-Jae departs, Blackie quickly scrambles to his feet and trots after him. I follow their retreating figures with my gaze for a moment before diverting my attention. Subsequently, I access my notifications, reviewing them systematically, as we had only given them a cursory glance upon completing the tenth floor.

[Redistribution - lvl 77 > Redistribution - lvl 78]

[Manifestation - lvl 43 > Manifestation - lvl 44]

[Manifestation - lvl 44 > Manifestation - lvl 45]

[Current - lvl 47 > Current - lvl 48]

[Mana Manipulation - lvl 79 > Mana Manipulation - lvl 80]

[You have defeated Wyvern Hatchling - lvl 439]

[Lvl 402 > Lvl 403]

[Lvl 403 > Lvl 404]

[Lvl 404 > Lvl 405]

[Lvl 405 > Lvl 406]

[Lvl 406 > Lvl 407]

Congratulations! You have successfully cleared the 10th floor of the Hell difficulty tutorial.

Welcome to the 11th floor: Xyphos.

The objective for the successfully cleared 10th Floor quest has been updated, and the associated rewards have been enhanced in accordance with the newly calculated difficulty.

You have acquired:

I bypass all of that initial information, proceeding directly to examine the objective for the current floor.

Floor Quest:

Rewards:

Engaging in profound contemplation, I ponder the assigned objective, delving deeper into its implications than ever before, scrutinizing it as thoroughly as my current knowledge permits.

Following this deep reflection, I dismiss the current window and open a new one, electing to utilize one of the rewards I received.

You have utilized an active skill combination token. Kindly select three skills from the ensuing list for combination.

Warning! Combining three skills will result in a reduction of the level for the resultant skill.

Warning! The combination of incompatible skills may yield an inferior outcome.

Warning! Post-combination, re-acquiring the skills that were part of the process will become exceedingly difficult.

Please designate the primary skill for the combination, followed by two supporting skills.

Available skills for combination:

Congratulations, you have successfully combined [Ley Line], [Mana Manipulation], and [Current]! A novel skill has been generated.

You have acquired [Weave]

[Weave - lvl 0 > Weave - lvl 9]

Remaining seated in the sand, I extend my hand, palm upturned. As the sand begins to shift around me, several particles composed of mana swirl and coalesce above it.

Congratulations, you have acquired a new skill!

[Mana Manipulation]

[Mana Manipulation - Level 0 > Mana Manipulation - Level 78]

Still insufficient.

These mana particles accelerate their movement, with an increasing number of them appearing. Amongst them, pale blue, white, and golden particles become visible, swirling chaotically like an agitated beehive. I intensify my focus, urging more and more of them to manifest.

[Mana Manipulation - Level 78 > Mana Manipulation - Level 79]

Under the keen sight of my Preeminence Eyes, all the particles halt their chaotic dance, suspended motionlessly in the air. I recall the climax of the previous floor, observing the Wyvern Hatchling's intricate mana movements, how I mirrored and adapted to its techniques with superior speed. A burning sensation ignites within my hand as I begin to actively draw ambient mana from the surrounding air, imprinting my absolute will upon it.

Even without the aid of my passive abilities, my domain, or my black mana, this gathered mana still bends to my command, accumulating in the palm of my hand.

[Mana Manipulation - Level 79 > Mana Manipulation - Level 80]

Much better.