Bloodstained Shadows and Illusory Skies. (100)

Using Breath Hypnosis, I halted in my tracks as the enormous tail crashed into the ground, creating a colossal depression with deep cracks stretching for hundreds of meters.

Summoning the power of the General's Armor, I descended using Shadow Steps onto the eyeless snout of the monstrous creature.

"GRAAAH," the head shook violently from side to side, attempting to dislodge me.

Maintaining my balance, I made a decisive gesture, directing my Spiritual Weapon directly into the core of the nasal orifice from which a torrent of black blood spewed forth.

"Grrr," the creature growled, shrouding itself in a noxious haze.

My soles began to melt.

[Participant 137 Boss has activated the Aura of a Monster.

Damage increased by 45%.

Regeneration rate reduced by 75%.]

With a powerful push from my legs, I propelled myself into the air, launching hundreds of Poisonous Arrows skyward.

[Endurance: 168,100.]

The arrows pierced the creature's tough hide by only a few centimeters. Hard, shaking off the arrows like minor annoyances, raised itself on its forelimbs and pounded the floor with its massive paw.

A metallic clang resounded as the arrows collided with the monster's hide, but even more deafening was the grating sound accompanying the birth of a newly-formed figure—a second monster.

This new creature was an exact copy of Hard, albeit smaller in size. Unlike its sibling, this one had eyes ablaze with malevolent fire, seemingly eager to devour me whole.

Flapping my wings, I quickly distanced myself from the battlefield, putting dozens of meters between me and the impending confrontation.

[Participant 137 employs a skill combination.

Summoned 128 Poison Arrows merge with 29 Spectral Familiars.

A new subskill is emerging.

The Iron Soldier.

Endurance Absorption: 1,000 Points per minute.]

A puppet constructed entirely of razor-sharp arrows hovered near me, its head conspicuously absent, yet most importantly, it remained impervious to pain.

"I've never witnessed this ability of Kai before. It appears we are the first to observe his new POWER! Can the SMALL triumph over the BIG?" 

I regretted my proximity to the chatty announcer.

"GRRR," the smaller monster leaped onto the back of the Boss and charged in my direction.

Summoning my Spiritual Weapon, I yelled and took aim at the creature's open maw, venom dripping from the tips of its fangs.

"KYAYA," the creature managed to release a thin stream of saliva towards me before my blade pierced its belly. The smaller monster was flung back onto the field, and the sword clattered against the metallic floor.

The puppet absorbed the brunt of the damage, shielding me from harm. While the arrows melted, I promptly replaced them with new ones.

"GRRR." Unfurling the leather fan-like structure around his neck, the Boss growled menacingly.

The puppet, responding to my silent commands, launched an assault on the rounded skull of the monstrous creature.

The whistling of the wind revealed its position, while Hard summoned a dozen more of its diminutive kin.

My fighter's attack faltered as it attempted to plunge its hand into the appendage above the monster's mouth. Hard obligingly opened its mouth, swallowing the puppet whole and audibly crunching its metal limbs.

"Unfortunately, not this time, LADIES AND GENTLEMEN!" the announcer declared dramatically.

The creatures swarmed towards me. Raising my hand, I summoned hundreds of Poisonous Arrows, pinning a couple of the monsters to the ground.

"GYAYAYA," a smaller monster charged at me, its sharp claws poised to grab my torso.

Bending down with a swift maneuver, I narrowly dodged its claws and thrust my hand into the thick belly, puncturing the dirty green skin with a steel glove.

I could feel a pleasing warmth through the breach in my helmet.

Blood.

It was said that Hard's blood resembled that of a venomous flower, whose pollen slowly and agonizingly consumed all living things.

Indeed, the skin began to dissolve, revealing bare bones beneath. As I absorbed the poisonous blood, I gradually enhanced my skill "Iron Stomach."

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy, suffering 2,000 points of damage out of 200,700.]

Sometimes, we had to endure pain to gain even more power. That's what fighters like me relied on.

"Grr." the creature slithered down, collapsing to the floor with a wet, echoing splat as it fragmented into numerous pieces. Nearby monsters pounced upon the remnants, consuming them with a shrill, slurping sound.

I touched down on a shimmering surface, taking a few nimble Shadow Steps closer to the Boss.

"WHAT DO I SEE, A DECEPTIVE TRICK? OH, I'M AFRAID TO EVEN LOOK!" 

The Boss raised its massive paw in an attempt to squash me. My Spiritual Weapon sliced through its chest, and a scalding torrent of blood drenched my head.

"GRAAAAA." In agony, the Boss swung its tail wildly, but it struck empty air, narrowly missing me.

"OOOH, AND OUR FIGHTER IS STILL LUCKY. BUT HE SEEMS TO FORGET THAT HARD'S BLOOD IS PURE POISON."

My helmet, gorget, and parts of my cuirass dissolved away, exposing my skin to the corrosive blood. Snow-white strands with patches of scalp fell onto the creature's dark green hide.

[Participant 137 is attacked with the Blood of a Poisonous Boss, taking 7,000 points of damage.]

"Cough. Cough." Coughing up purple blood, I plunged the sword into Hard's back and leaned on the hilt.

"HE'S TIRED. HE'S DONE. THEY'RE GOING TO EAT HIM!! AH-HA-HA. I SEE THE STAKES HAVE GONE UP! LET'S HAVE MORE, MORE!"

"Grrr." All the surrounding monsters rushed toward me, their mouths drooling, their sharp claws scratching at the Boss's skin.

I hastily enclosed myself within a Shield of Light at the last moment.

Confronted by their ancient foe, the creatures hissed and recoiled, struggling to contain their confusion. They huddled together nearby, their razor-sharp claws scratching at the Boss's skin. Saliva dripped from their gaping mouths in copious streams.

"WHAT IS THIS? DID HE... ESCAPE? A DARK ELF USING LIGHT MAGIC, WHERE HAS THAT BEEN SEEN?! THAT'S RIGHT, ONLY IN THE TIN ISLAND ARENA!"

"YEAH!!"

The acrid stench overwhelmed me, and I sank to my knees, gasping for breath. One of the monsters managed to breach the barrier, but it hastily withdrew its burned fingers, the claws completely eradicated.

My throat burned as if I had ingested acid. Spitting out a purple clot, I closed my eyes tightly, enduring the excruciating pain.

The surface I was perched on began to tremble. It seemed that Hard had grown tired of this prolonged pause. We began to ascend.

He was back on his feet, swinging first to the left and then to the right.

The monsters couldn't withstand his blows, and one by one, they fell. The last one couldn't bear it any longer and shrieked before rushing toward me. I unleashed a Poisonous Arrow, hearing a wet squelch, and forced my bleary eyes open.

The faint light of the Timer displayed:

19:43.

Gripping the sword's handle, I pulled the blade from Hard's back and slumped to the ground. I coughed up blood, staring blankly at the ceiling. The protective barrier hit the floor first, shattering into bright fragments, and then my body followed suit.

[Participant 137 received fall damage totaling 200 points, with an additional increase due to the Boss's Aura, resulting in a final score of 290 points.]

"Gha-ah." My insides felt like they were corroding, but I had finally located the vulnerable area on Hard's belly, which also contained a high concentration of dangerous poison.

The Boss's massive paw blocked out the light, casting a shadow over me.

[Participant 137 has raised the Iron Stomach skill by two levels.]

Coughing into my sleeve, I rose from the floor and met the paw pads with the tip of my sword.

"GRAAAH." The Boss opened its mouth, releasing a poisonous mist that enveloped me.

Once again, I found myself bathed in the creature's blood.

[Participant 137 is attacked by an enemy, sustaining 15,000 points of damage.]

Just a little more. Just a little more. With a burst of Shadow Steps, I darted out of the green haze and leaped onto Hard's belly.

He summoned more monsters, this time numbering at least fifty.

Drawing in as much toxic air as I could bear, nearly tearing my internal organs apart, I initiated a Sound Attack.

The vibrations in the air swept over the monsters, pushing them to the fringes of the field. They crowded around the Boss, forming a protective barrier around it.

Intercepting the course of the attack aimed at me, I skillfully evaded with Breath Hypnosis. The creatures scurried across the field in search of me, while the Boss stood vigilantly over them, its ears alert and icy droplets of sweat dripping onto the metallic floor.

The whistle of the Spiritual Weapon's flight alerted everyone, including the audience.

"HUUU..."

The blade struck its side, and I threw my entire body weight behind the handle, creating a large hole from which black blood gushed forth, flooding the entire floor along with some of its innards.

"GRLAAH." the Boss struggled to remain upright.

[Participant 137 sustains damage due to the Boss's Poisonous Blood, taking 20,000 points of damage.]

Only a skeletal frame remained above my waist.

I couldn't see anything else, relying solely on my mental tendrils.

[You look quite eerie~

I think I'll turn on the night light before going to bed~]

I checked 605 comments.

[Participant 137 has raised the Iron Stomach skill by 4 levels.]

After dispatching the troublesome monsters, I secured the Boss's limbs to the floor with Poisonous Arrows and began the grim task of dissecting it.

The Boss's massive ears and tail were rendered completely immobile, a testament to my precision and control.

But where was it?

I had already made a near-complete recovery. The Boss's blood had minimal effect on me; I had developed an immunity to its poison.

I needed its heart. The blood it pumped would be ideal.

Entrails, entrails, and more entrails—uniform throughout.

I tore through the skin up to its chin, probing for the beating flesh.

Boom. Boom. Boom.

Even amidst the slippery innards, I could feel the unhurried rhythm of life.

By administering a potent sedative, I had lulled the Boss into a deep, drug-induced slumber, an act that had merely warranted a Third-Level reward, or so I had anticipated.

I swung the blade once more, and my search led me to a rigid shell—no bones, no tendons, something different, the color of ripe cherries.

It stood out so distinctly amidst the glossy black mass.

There it was.

I savored the raw meat, the pulsating life force of the Boss, until its existence finally dissolved into nothingness.

Nausea welled up in my throat. I forced down the revolting mixture of bitter porridge and coughed.

Curses.

An excruciating, monstrous agony surged through my body, causing me to double over and tumble into the warm, visceral abyss.

[Participant 137 took 50,000 points of damage from the Boss's Poisonous Blood.]

[Participant 137 has raised the Iron Stomach skill by 4 levels.]

Enshrouded within a cocoon of cooling muscles, I was utterly drained from the ordeal.

[Participant 137 acquired the passive skill Immortal Body.]

"SURPRISINGLY, BUT A FACT. KAI THERON DEFEATED THE THIRD-LEVEL BOSS, EVEN THOUGH HARD WAS AT THE PEAK OF HIS STRENGTH. APPLAUSE FOR THE WINNER."

The applause was the last sound to register before I was teleported to the next floor.

The Fifth Floor of the Third Level.

I collapsed onto the ground, my spine cracking as if a gentle breeze could tear it asunder.

The Boss here was the Creature of a Thousand Faces, a master of illusions. Its lethal prowess lay in mental assaults, prompting me to embark on a daring experiment.

After ten minutes, I slowly opened my eyes, which had not yet fully recovered.

Before me, I heard the murmur of a spring or perhaps the roar of a waterfall. A gentle breeze ruffled my hair, and the refreshing scent of herbs calmed my thoughts. The strenuous trials of the previous floor felt like a distant memory; all I yearned for now was to lie down and surrender to slumber.

The azure sky stretched above, the expansive meadow spread out before me, a scene that might resemble the outside world beyond the Arena.

A white bird with elongated feathers perched on a densely foliated tree, and it chirped a simple, soothing melody.

Oh, how breathtaking it was!

Gentle clinks of cups echoed nearby.

"My Lord." Yuna's familiar voice jolted me from my contemplation, and I turned my gaze to her, my eyes wide. She presented me with a tea-filled cup, a warm smile gracing her features.

Her demeanor as serene as ever.

Pursing my lips into a thin line, I shot a cold, piercing gaze at the white bird that had caught my attention. You're using her for a fatal strike. Ha.

"You think too highly of yourself," I remarked tersely, my first words of the day.

A deadly arrow sliced through the air, silencing the bird's chirping in an instant. Crimson feathers erupted into a mesmerizing cascade, while the tree trunk beneath her transformed into a searing, molten sculpture. The girl's final words disintegrated into an eerie cacophony, her form dissolving into a swirl of decrepit fragments, and the once-idyllic clearing devolved into a desolate wasteland.

Rising from the ground, I donned loose attire and locked eyes with a living bird perched on the edge of a blackened branch. Her dark gaze bore into me, her poised presence an intimidating force on the mental plane.

[Participant 137 has been fully restored.

Parameters are updated:

Health: 106,410.

Endurance: 136,900.

Regeneration: 78,870.

...]

I had successfully vanquished the Creature of a Thousand Faces using the Breath Hypnosis.

This skill allowed me to completely conceal my presence, though it couldn't suppress sounds from movements or impulsive attacks. That's precisely why I favored the invisibility cloak.

Furthermore, a crucial aspect of this skill was absolute control over my breathing. I could project my breath's echo for miles while keeping it close to the enemy's nose.

The animals, the bird, and the illusory world constituted its body. The entire floor was composed entirely of a Thousand Faces, unlike other Bosses. It melded seamlessly with its surroundings, and therein lay its vulnerability.

Physically destroying this place would take at least five years.

However, when considering Mana Perception and Mental Strength, its demise was imminent.

Forcing energy into me, I extended my aura to encompass the entire floor and initiated the impulse to dismantle the Boss's "body."

The ensuing explosion was announced by the booming voice of the Arena's announcer:

"AND KAI THERON TRIUMPHS!"

"Kai Theron, participant 6541, has completed the Third Level. Proceed to the Intersection of the Fourth Level."

Upon stepping through an open portal, I found myself in a densely populated chamber filled with a myriad of creatures.

"Leader," Madeleine quickly stepped forward from a dark corner.

"Madeleine," I acknowledged her with a nod and inquired, "Which among us are present?"

"We have 20 fighters—fifteen of them are rank 1, four rank 3, and one is Rank 5."

"Good."

"Leader!"

All the creatures and beasts were adorned in bronze armor, and if I recalled correctly, they were creatures with a strength ranking above 10 within the Arena.

"I'm delighted to see you. You didn't disappoint," I commended them, and they promptly stood at attention.

Now that I was a Leader with a group of fighters, how would the New Rules affect our situation?

We waited for over an hour until a message arrived from the Caretakers.

"Greetings, dear Arena participants! As you can see, we've shared today's show with multiple Alliances. We anticipate your full support as this is only the beginning!"

The floor rumbled, and the cell's sidewalls collapsed with a resounding crash.

"TODAY'S THEME: cinema. PLEASE ENJOY!"

"HUZZAH!"

"GYAYAYA!!!"

The audience's jubilation was interrupted by a harrowing scream from one of the beasts. It tumbled onto its backside and scrambled away from the edge.

Upon closer examination, even I was horrified, and my hair stood on end. Damn, I shouldn't have expended so many resources on the Fourth Floor!