[25th Room]

It’s to the right.

Fortunately, I didn’t end up falling and rolling on the ground.

My arm was also safe because I used the Iron Wall Skill.

Pang!

I moved my body immediately and dodged the trajectory of the palm blast.

When there’s distance, the monk throws his fist around in the air freely without any hindrance while I have to dodge an endless barrage of shockwaves.

If this continued, I will eventually  get hit before the monk collapses from the poison.

I charged toward the monk’s chest and swung my fist.

All of my weapons were either broken or scattered on the floor somewhere.

All I have left is hand-to-hand combat.

The monk has superior body in comparison to mine.

He is also a lot more used to this darkness than me.

So, I will win if I just hold out.

The monk’s movements are too rigid.

He does not try to hide the intent of his moves by doing strange things either.

So, if I recognize the monk’s stance and miniscule movements in his muscles, I can predict the angle of his attack and respond to it accordingly.

I have two advantages.

[Sensory Amplification]

I approached the monk and used the skill.

Usually, I do not use this skill often because its duration is too short. However, it is extremely important  right now.

I looked at the movements of the monk’s shoulder, waist, knees and right arm’s muscles, eventually discerning the monk’s intentions

It’s a knuckle strike aimed at my heart.

I quickly lowered my body and adjusted my left hand to block his fist from the side. I closed in the gap.

Pang!

A shockwave was generated from the left side and struck the side of my head.

I think my eardrums are going to burst.

For now, I ignored the damage and attempted to execute my plan.

My right fist jolted forward to strike the left side of the monk’s stomach.

This is the stomach, the opposite side of where the poison wound is on the back.

The monk instantly changed his stance and stopped my fist.

It was not that he saw my prior moves and predicted this. He didn’t predict my plan either.

No matter how I think about it, that was an insane reaction speed.

The monk s.n.a.t.c.hed my arm and threw me to the ground like a Judo pract.i.tioner.

[Blink]

Just before I collided with the ground, I used Blink to the same spot.

With this, although I won’t be going anywhere, I wouldn’t experience the imapac because of Blink negated momentum.

I raised my body in that state and smacked the monk’s face with my left hand.

I didn’t take a proper stance. I just swung my fist. Still, it hit his face square.

This was the first time to successfully hurt the monk with a direct attack.

The poison is running through his body, so it is obvious.

Because of the shock on his head, the monk was not able to take a proper stance. I charged at the monk and pushed his body over.

The monk fell on the floor. I became certain as I mounted his body.

I won.

[30th Room]

[Welcome, Challenger. It’s been a long time since I’ve seen anyone coming this far.]

As I listened to the monk’s greeting, I checked the change in senses.

Since the 20th Room, the rooms had a strange darkness that completely blocked my vision. Now, it even paralyzed my sense of touch.

It is really strange.

Is this how it feels to being completely anesthetized yet able to walk around  somehow?

I raised my hand and felt around my face.

My senses were effectively nulled;  my face, hand, or the arm and shoulder that supported the hand did not seem to exist.

This strange lack of sensation generated unfamiliar fear in me.

It felt like I was swimming in deep sea.

[Are you alright, Challenger?]

Having heard the monk, I got a grip of myself.

“You said it’s been awhile since seeing someone making this far, right?”

[I did, Challenger. Is there something you are curious about?]

I was so glad that I could still hear him.

I can still talk properly.

“Ah… ah.”

I tried making noises again.

Although I could not feel my lips, tongue, neck and vocal cords from moving, I was making proper sounds through my voice.

That fact felt mysterious somehow.

“How many… challengers… challengers were… were there before me…”

d.a.m.n it.

[Uuhurhurhur! You sure talk funny. First, try getting used to this place a little more.]

When I talked without thinking about the room’s mysterious effects, I p.r.o.nounced the words as my body remembered. However, when I tried to talk while being conscious about the room, the p.r.o.nunciations got tangled up.

I feel so embarra.s.sed.

[Experiences like this are probably not common. Enduring the conditions of this place is great training by itself. First, I recommend that you take time and wait until you get used to this place.]

As the monk said, I quietly went to a corner of the room and sat down.

With my eyes closed, I can’t even tell if I am sitting down or lying down.

As I spent the time to get used to the place, I decided to organize my thoughts.

He has made a strange decision, but it is a definite fact.

I should have plenty of time to peacefully organize my thoughts.

This place paralyzed the sense of touch, which created a good environment for me to focus my thoughts.

I slowly thought about the actions I took since I entered the 13th Floor’s Stage.

At first, my att.i.tude was more or less the same as before I got here.

Like I always have, I had desire for experience points and growth. Also, I was curious about new Stage.

However, as I met the monks and conversed with them, my att.i.tude changed little by little.

I laughed at their philosophy in the beginning, but that was only for a short while. I was intrigued from having conversations with them. It was interesting to learn new things by exchanging ideas with them.

I reminisced, recognizing that I was feeling very lonely at the moment. With that in consideration, I realized that my behavior was not all that weird.

The problem was that the monks were the enemies in this stage that I had to defeat regardless. Also, the other problem was that I had inadvertently lowered my mental guard.

I guess there are about two problems.

I don’t need to worry too much about the first one.

On top of this, they never attack the opponent by taking advantage of the moment when the opponent’s guard is down.

Also, I am maintaining enough alertness to respond should the monk attack me suddenly while having a conversation.

Of course, I think it would be a serious problem if I became this lax even when facing enemies who are not monks.

I should not let that happen.

The second problem crept up to me because I never diagnosed myself accurately.

At first, I was not aware of these weaknesses.

I should watch out from now on.

This should be enough.

I have not organized all of my thoughts, but I don’t feel as uneasy.

Now, I should focus on what to come.

First, let’s try adapting to this s.p.a.ce.

[32nd Room]

[Challenger, then try going to the next room. The Master Monk will be waiting. I hope you pa.s.s the final trial.]

The monk was saying words of farewell. I looked at the monk and expressed my sincere grat.i.tude for his match.

[Would you like to continue?]

Of course.

I opened the 32nd Room’s door and entered the conjoining  corridor. My vision and sense of touch came back alive.

First, I checked the time.

[Round 15, Day 27, 07:30]

I had been worrying about the time, but I was not as late as I thought.

It was not anything special.

The monks focused on maintaining their art form to the perfection and executing their movement.

On the other hand, I didn’t give a d.a.m.n about the perfection of my movements. I only cared about charging in and attacking successfully.

Also, after some time pa.s.sed, I was able to adjust to the conditions with greater ease than the monks.

In fact, I felt that the rooms that came before them were harder.

I grabbed hold of the door handle ring of the 33rd Room.

Finally, this is the very last room.

As soon as I entered the room, I could not help but panic from my senses being paralyzed.

Of course, I was aware that my senses would be paralyzed.

However… I didn’t know all senses would be paralyzed at the same time.

All senses were paralyzed.

[Welcome, Challenger. I am this temple’s master.]

Instead of having my body’s nerves removed, it felt more like I lost my body itself. I was panicking. At that moment, the Master Monk’s voice echoed inside my head.

How is he able to communicate to me?

Also, how did I hear that?

[Little by little, you will find out. There is no need to be in such rush. Try looking around.]

As the Master Monk said, I spread my mana wide and poked at the surroundings.

It was fortunate that I could at least feel things through mana.

I used the mana to check my body as well, and I realized that there were gooseb.u.mps on my arms and face.

I have a mountain of questions.

I am not even sure if the Master Monk will be able to understand me.

[It’s all right. I can understand you.]

How?

[It’s a part of the Power Skills that I received from a G.o.d.]

Power Skill?

[That’s right. I am currently going through the trial to become a G.o.d’s apostle, just like you.]

I was not surprised about the fact that the Master Monk knew I was going through the trial to become a G.o.d’s apostle.

He gives off a sensation similar to when I use the Power Skills.

Likewise, the s.p.a.ce emanates the same feeling.

Could it be that apostles can recognize each other?

[To be precise, you are sensing the holy power. Because of the holy power, the priests can tell amongst themselves naturally that they are servants of a G.o.d. It is also a form of identification. Were you not aware of this? You are quite in the dark when it comes to the common knowledge.]

You are able to communicate meanings to me. Is that also by a Power Skill?

[No. That’s a technique manifested through the mana. More importantly, have you calmed your agonizing thoughts?]

Agonizing thoughts? Are you aware of even my troubling thoughts?

[I was watching everything since you entered this temple.]

How?

[Using the same method you are using to look at me.]

You are saying that you spread mana and watched me through the detection.

I get to witness such a ridiculous fiend.

I think I might die here.

[You have such rude thoughts.]

It’s the fault of the one who looked into my mind.

The root of the problem was that I was unaware of the problems in the first place.

[The first step in resolving a problem is identifying the cause.]

[Well then, I’ll tell you the details of the trial.]

[The final trial will begin.

Description: Be acknowledged by Armout, the temple’s master and the one is blessed by the G.o.d. Prove that your proclamation is not just empty words.]

[Clear condition:

Endure both of Armout’s trials and earn his recognition.

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