A Realm Above

Ryolu vanished.

Akiol's body moved subconsciously, Ryolu's fist barely missing his core. Turning his sword he quickly shouted, "Repulse!"

Ryolu was pushed back, creating some much needed distance between them. The humanoid dragon cracked her neck, "This is some decent exercise."

Akiol's mind was racing. Although all he had to do was survive, he felt like this was an opportunity. To truly test his limits, and to break past them.

So he needed something, he had all his past experience, the best stats he could currently have, the majority of his techniques, and a near invulnerable body. What could he possibly have to go further beyond that?

The two vanished, their speed incredible. A series of afterimages appeared scattered around the room.

A shockwave suddenly formed, shaking the floor. Akiol was sent flying into a wall. Ryolu walked towards him, "You're quite strong for a First Stage. One of the strongest I have ever seen. However this is as close as you can get to my level, after all a Dragon's might only increases by every stage."

'Akiol! Are you good?!'

Akiol cleared himself from the rubble, "I'm still in Stars."

'You need to do something!'

"Stars... even if I am quite capable, there are barriers I cannot hope to overcome sometimes?"

'Still! Do something!'

"Something..."

A thought flashed through Akiol's head. A technique he never got the chance to learn. The requirements on it included the realm of {Hyperfocused Battle Intensity} at the bare minimum.

He scrambled to remember its contents. Perhaps this was the next stage!

Yet it's contents slipped his mind, he cursed his past self. It would be handy now! Why didn't you memorize it?!

Ryolu outstretched a hand, "[Venomous Unguis]."

A green claw appeared inside Akiol, like he had been pierced by it. The poison spread through Akiol quickly. He grit his teeth, "This better work!"

———————————————————————-

"What... what is your brother?"

Otion looked up, "Did he beat Opportunity's high score?"

"He... slaughtered it."

The three rose an eyebrow at Ocava's words. Otion asked, "What do you mean slaughtered it?"

"He made it past floor one-hundred-fifty... but now he is on three-hundred!"

"What?!"

Opportunity checked herself. A small smile spread across her face.

She hadn't expected this, at all. However if James was this strong... She certainly wouldn't turn down another ally.

Otion felt dejected, "I really became some mob character. I boasted that he was overconfident, but really it was I who was overconfident."

Oranjay patted his shoulder, "It's alright man, we all make mistakes."

"Psh."

———————————————————————-

Akiol began to absorb the poison. It was so bizarre that even Ryolu was taken aback, "You're... absorbing poison?!"

"Not quite, this is the special element made of mana right? In that case... isn't it still the same?"

"No?! I create true poison through mana! It isn't merely some element, it's poison! You will die!"

Akiol grit his teeth and continued to absorb the rest of the poison. He had no idea what it might do, but he was almost positive he was immune to it.

The claw of poison was fully absorbed. Akiol remained completely fine and unharmed by it.

Ryolu was unsure on how to feel about the situation, "Your entire existence is so strange..."

Akiol took a breath and lifted his sword, "I wonder about that."

The two vanished again. Akiol doing his best to survive.

He couldn't remember what it was! It was something! Something to aim for above {Hyperfocused Battle Intensity}! But what?!

Ryolu sighed, "I am getting tired of this game of cat and mouse."

She swiped through the air with her hand, a wall of poison slammed into Akiol. This threw him off balance, but he quickly rolled to recover.

Ryolu was in front of him, he couldn't move fast enough!

Ryolu grabbed his core, "This is a slime's weakness if I am correct. However... two minutes, you lasted two minutes. This is not a bad time at all. This is where we say goodbye."

A memory flashed through Akiol's head, "Ah, that was it..."

Ryolu crushed his core, a sharp pain shot through his body and his vision quickly faded to black.

Ryolu's eyes narrowed, "I thought you could perhaps free her... I am sorry for putting too much on your shoulders."

Ting~~

Tick~

Tick~

The pocket watch around Akiol's neck opened suddenly, the hands on it made a ticking sound every time it moved. Suddenly the hand stopped and began rotating back rapidly.

Tock~

The hand stopped moving and the watch closed with a snap. Akiol blinked, he was alive?

Ryolu raised an eyebrow, "That was..?!"

To be precise, Akiol was back where he was when the fight started! His body felt completely fine! It was like it never happened!

Akiol caught on immediately, "The watch... this is one of it's abilities."

Akiol suddenly shifted his footing, he had a second chance. He wasn't going to waste it now!

His breathing steadied, his face devoid of any emotion. Like a hollow shell who is only sustaining life.

Before his death he remembered what the technique was.

It was called {Absolute Territory}.

When executed, everything that happens around Akiol will not go unnoticed. Whilst this seems pointless when {Hyperfocused Battle Intensity} does something similar, but passively, it is actually quite the improvement.

Akiol could feel the movements in the air around him, that was what alarmed him with any sudden changes. However with {Absolute Territory} he would notice movement itself. Moreover its distance was increased.

This was the first step into something completely different, Akiol would make sure he succeeded here.

Ryolu noticed the change in temperament, "What is this..?"

Unlike the other times, Akiol did not answer. He stood there, cold and calculating.

Ryolu frowned, this was strange. However she quickly acted before her contract's punishment activated.

She vanished, such an ability would have a long time before it can be used again. So she would use the same tactic, crush the core.

Akiol moved, his sword cutting through the air brilliantly. Ryolu stopped before it, a small cut on her nose. She retreated slightly in surprise, 'He predicted my moves? No... that was a reaction. But reacting to what? He couldn't see my movements mere seconds ago!'

Akiol returned to the stance, his strike was a little off. But he was feeling it, the power and ability of {Absolute Territory}.

Ryolu shot forward, 'Then how about when I go faster?!'

The sword slid across her neck, a thin cut formed on it. She immediately retreated, "Interesting! So this is your final push? Magnificent!"

She vanished. Akiol felt the movement, she was heading towards his left... No, her movements lacked signs of a full attack. Meaning it was a feint!

Schiing~

A scratch appeared on Ryolu's cheek. Her hands were an inch away from Akiol's body. A smile appeared on her face, "It seems like I lost."

Akiol's focus faltered, "What?"

"Three hits. That was the certain amount of damage. If someone landed three hits on me they passed. It's such a shame too! One more try and I would have figured out how this worked."

"So I... passed? Like that?"

"What do you mean like that? You hurt a Dragon! Three times!"

"Yet... it was only due to the restrictions..."

"What Dragon would go all out on those they believe is beneath them? It's still an achievement. Be proud."

Akiol was at a loss for words, he had succeeded. Yet why did it not feel that way?

Ryolu returned to the spot she was resting at. Transforming back into her dragon form she laid back down, "I haven't moved so much in ages. I think I shall rest for another decade or so..."

Ryolu blinked, "Also... thank you. I sincerely mean it."

Akiol had a feeling that he was gifted something. Yet he wasn't sure what it was.

The voice spoke, "Ahh! You actually went that far! Now I have to..!"

The voice sighed, "Floor three hundred complete, hidden requirements fulfilled. Rating... S+, top rating achieved."

The voice went silent for a bit. Akiol looked up and asked, "So what do I get?"

"..."

Akiol's vision turned white, once it faded he noticed the room he was in was different from the others.

First it was almost endlessly white. He truthfully felt like it was unnecessary. Secondly a chair was a small distance away. A small girl sat in it, an annoyed expression on their face.

Akiol asked, "And this place is?"

"I am sure you have already heard about me from my mother."

"So your her daughter... still that doesn't answer my question."

"The place only people who fulfill the hidden requirements can enter. The place that sealed me."

"I see."

She sighed, "Let's hurry through the introductions then. My name is Givale, the 'voice' of the tower."

"Akiol, climber of the tower."

Givale smacked her lips, "I see that."

"So why are you so upset?"

"Because the one I have to be permanently linked to is you!"

"I... I'm sorry?"