Chapter 76: Risen Mercenary

Cheol Su lay on the ground, his body screaming in agony. The world around him seemed to blur and fade, darkness creeping in at the edges of his vision.

But he would not give in. He would not surrender to the void.

"Full Recovery," he snarled, his voice a guttural growl.

He felt the power of the skill surge through his veins, mending his broken bones and sealing his wounds. He rose, his daggers gleaming in the spotlight. "Stealth," he muttered, the shadows engulfing his body, making him nearly invisible in the flickering light.

"Rampage." The voice in his mind echoed the word like a battle cry.

With a roar, Cheol Su lunged forward, his daggers a blur of motion. He struck the Orcs, his attacks swift and deadly, his movements fluid and precise.

The Orcs howled in pain, their armored hides no match for the fury of Cheol Su's blades. Cheol Su fought with a savagery that knew no bounds, his body moving with the grace of a dancer and the strength of a warrior.

The Orcs fell like wheat before a scythe, their bodies littering the ground like so much refuse. But Cheol Su did not slow, his blades thirsting for more blood, his mind filled with a single, relentless thought.

"Kill."

And as the last of the Orcs fell, its dying scream echoing through the chamber, he turned his gaze to the door that led to the boss chamber.

The path was clear. Congratulations, Cheol Su. You have successfully cleared the first floor," Cyprus announced, its voice echoing through the chamber like a trumpet fanfare.

"You have slain 500 Orcs and 50 Armored Orcs. Your stealth skill has increased by one level, your rampage skill by two levels, and your Elemental Grave of Swords skill by one level."

"In addition, your mana count has increased by one hundred points. Well done, Cheol Su. You have proven yourself a worthy challenger."

Cheol Su nodded, his chest heaving with the exertion of battle. "The Roots of Tranquility," Cheol Su muttered, the words a whispered incantation.

Like a wraith, he moved through the chamber, his feet silent as he approached the door. He could feel the power of Stealth, his movements so quiet that even the shadows themselves seemed to bend to his will.

The door stood before him, its surface unmarked by the ravages of time or battle.

"Open," Cheol Su whispered, his hand reaching out to touch the door. As Cheol Su's fingers touched the door, it swung open, the hinges groaning like the dying breaths of the Orcs he had just slain.

The room beyond was dimly lit, the walls covered in ancient carvings and symbols. And there, in the center of the room, stood a tree, its branches twisting and turning like a hundred grasping fingers.

The Roots of Tranquility.

Cheol Su moved closer, his footsteps echoing in the chamber. He could feel the magic radiating from the tree, a peaceful, healing power that filled him with a sense of calm and purpose. With a reverent hand, Cheol Su reached out, his fingers brushing against the bark of the tree. As he did, a pulse of energy passed between them, a silent, wordless exchange of power.

And then, with a soft, whispered incantation, he plucked a single root from the tree, its tendrils curling around his hand like a living thing.

"The Roots of Tranquility," he whispered, the power of the root filling him with a sense of purpose. "Now, let the true battle begin." Cheol Su left the room, the Root of Tranquility clutched in his hand, its power filling him with a sense of confidence.

As he approached the door to the boss room, he could feel the air grow colder, the shadows thicker. The hairs on the back of his neck stood on end, as if warning him of the danger that lay ahead.

"It's now or never," he muttered, his hand reaching for the door.

With a single, powerful pull, he opened the door.

And the world beyond beckoned. Stepping through the doorway, Cheol Su was greeted by a room that was dark, eerie, and filled with an oppressive sense of foreboding.

The air was thick with the smell of decay, and the walls were covered in a strange, pulsing moss that seemed to give off a faint, unearthly glow.

The room was vast, stretching out for what seemed like miles, its floor covered in a thick layer of bones and broken weapons. And at the far end of the room, stood the boss of the floor, a colossal figure that seemed to be carved from shadow itself. "Welcome, Cheol Su," Cyprus intoned, its voice heavy with reverence. "You have arrived at the lair of Griorg the Soul Eater, an epic+ level Giant Hybrid High Orc of special evolution and the boss of the first floor."

"Griorg is an ancient, malevolent creature, a twisted and grotesque being that has been corrupted by dark magic and fueled by the souls of his victims. His power is immense, his hatred for all living things unending." The darkness shifted, as if in response to Cheol Su's presence. Griorg's form became more defined, his massive frame looming over the warrior, his glowing red eyes fixed on Cheol Su with a malevolent intensity.

"Ah, a challenger," he rasped, his voice a low, guttural growl. "You have come to me, brave warrior, to challenge the will of the gods themselves."

"What brings you to my lair?" he asked, his voice dripping with contempt. "Do you seek death?