Chapter 75: The Path to the Boss

Cyprus's voice echoed through the chamber, its tone a chilling reminder of the dangers that still lay ahead.

"Cheol Su, you have proven your strength against the Orcs," the disembodied voice said. "But the Tower's challenge has only just begun. You must now face the floor's boss if you wish to move on to the next level. And remember, conserve your mana. You will need every drop of power to defeat the boss." The warrior, his body still humming with power from the battle, took a deep breath, steadying himself for the task ahead. "I understand, Cyprus," he said, his voice low and gravelly. "The boss, then."

He closed his eyes, visualizing the mana within his body, the swirling currents of power that flowed through his veins. The voices of the Ancient Dragon Roar, the Elemental Grave of Swords, and the other skills echoed in his mind.

He would need them all to face the boss. Cheol Su took a deep breath, letting the power of Full Recovery fill his body. His wounds closed, his muscles and bones knitting together as if by magic. The fatigue that had begun to creep into his body vanished, replaced by a renewed sense of vigor and strength.

With a nod of gratitude to his skills, Cheol Su began to move through the labyrinth once more. As he walked, the voices of the skills whispered in his mind, urging him forward, whispering words of power and fury. The maze was eerily silent, the only sound the faint echo of Cheol Su's footsteps. It was as if the shadows themselves were holding their breath, waiting for the inevitable clash of magic and steel.

Cheol Su's eyes narrowed, his mind racing. "Where are they?" he muttered, his voice barely audible in the silence. "The Orcs, they should be here. They should be attacking me right now."

A cold, uneasy feeling settled in his gut, as if he were being watched. Cheol Su's steps quickened as he searched the maze, his senses on high alert. The silence was like a weight pressing down on him, making him feel as if he were walking through a dream.

Then, Cyprus's voice drifted into his mind, a whisper on the wind. "Cheol Su," it said, "there is a treasure in this maze, a powerful artifact called the Roots of Tranquility. It will aid you in your quest. Find it."

The warrior's eyes gleamed. A treasure, he thought. "Listen closely, Cheol Su," Cyprus instructed, its voice calm and steady. "The Roots of Tranquility are located in the heart of the maze. You will need to navigate a series of twisting passageways to find them."

Cheol Su frowned, his mind racing. "The heart of the maze," he muttered. "And the Orcs, Cyprus? Where are they?"

"They are guarding the treasure," the voice replied. The maze seemed to stretch on for miles, each twist and turn leading to another. Cheol Su could feel the walls closing in around him, the shadows growing darker and more malevolent with every step.

"Stay alert," he warned himself, his daggers poised and ready. "The Orcs will be waiting."

But as he pressed deeper into the maze, a faint glimmer of light began to appear, a beacon in the darkness. He could feel the air growing lighter, the weight of the shadows lifting slightly from his shoulders. The light grew brighter, the air fresher, as Cheol Su neared the center of the maze. He could see the outline of a large, open chamber ahead, the walls of the maze opening up like a giant mouth.

Then, in the distance, he saw them. A horde of Orcs, their numbers seemingly endless, their eyes burning with a fierce, murderous intent.

Cheol Su's blood ran cold, his breath catching in his throat. They were waiting for him. Cheol Su stood frozen in place, his gaze fixed on the horde of armored Orcs that stood between him and the door to the boss chamber. The creatures were massive, their bodies encased in armor that gleamed like black ice in the torchlight.

"The Armored Orcs of the Maze," Cyprus whispered, its voice filled with dread. "They are the most powerful creatures in this level, Cheol Su. Their armor is enchanted with dark magic, making them nearly impervious to physical attacks."

Cheol Su's hands tightened around his daggers. Behind the Armored Orcs, the boss chamber was barely visible, its entrance shrouded in a haze of magic and shadow.

"The boss awaits you," Cyprus warned. "But first, you must get through the Orcs."

Cheol Su nodded, his mind racing. The Orcs were powerful, their armor all but impenetrable. But he had faced worse odds before, had fought against creatures far more terrifying than these.

"I can do this," he whispered, the voices of his skills echoing in his mind. The Armored Orcs let out a deafening roar, the sound echoing off the walls of the maze like the crack of thunder.

"Human," one of them snarled, its voice a guttural growl that sounded almost like laughter. "You think you can pass through our maze? You think you can defeat us?"

Cheol Su bared his teeth, his blood boiling with rage. "Yes," he snarled. "I do."

The Orcs chuckled, their laughter deep and malevolent. The Armored Orcs charged forward, their footsteps shaking the floor and their weapons held high.

Cheol Su met them with a roar of his own, his daggers slicing through the air like lightning bolts. The first Orc fell, its armored hide no match for Cheol Su's speed and agility.

But the others were not so easily defeated. They closed in around him, their weapons biting into his flesh and their armored forms knocking him off balance. Cheol Su stumbled, his daggers slipping from his grasp as the Armored Orcs pressed their attack. He knew he had to act fast, had to find a way out of their deadly embrace.

"Dragon flames!" he shouted, the words exploding from his lips like a blast of pure, red-hot power.

A furnace of flames appear in front of the Orcs, its edges crackling with energy. The creatures howled in surprise, their weapons glancing off its surface. Cheol Su glanced at the bosses door, his heart hammering in his chest. "Roots of Tranquility," he murmured, his eyes narrowing with determination.

But before he could move, the Armored Orcs lunged, their weapons piercing his skin and sending a jolt of agony through his body.

"No!" Cheol Su screamed, his vision blurring. "No!"

And as the darkness took hold, he knew that this was not the end.