The Ancients World

Chapter 38: The Trials of Monrell VII

{I wont be uploading Thursday. Time to catch up with an old friend called sleep. I have insomnia and I have a really hard time with keeping a regulated schedule, when its time to sleep nothing stands in the way. I'll be uploading Friday morning, just need to catch some Z's. Thanks everyone!!!}

This fight is turning to the more cautious side and I see Florian looking to deal some damage now. My last attack did a real number on him. This is the most damage he has taken from someone other than his uncle. The other disciples had weaknesses I could exploit right at the start, getting to that blind spot is going to be harder than I'd like to admit. I might be able to beat him if I can land more powerful strikes. He wont allow that though, he will be using a lot of his powerful defensive skills now that he knows I am capable of killing him.

We circle each other waiting for the next move to be made. I want to go in for the attack, but I will more than likely get hit by that blade. He may never push for an attack because his defense is so good. They say ambition is the enemy of success, and I want that legendary sword so much. Just waiting here is killing me slowly. Florian isn't as eager as I am to win this fight, he is more focused on finding a weakness. If he really payed attention he could see I don't have a single defense skill other than protected by heaven. I can only use it once a day as well. He might suspect something, but he cant confirm it unless he lands attacks.

My armor will absorb most of the base damage and my healing buff will keep me alive. This is looking more like a balanced fight since he is off his game now. His focus isn't where is should be and I can use that to get into that blind spot. As we circle one another he prepare to launch an attack. My patience has paid off and now I can also perform some counter attacks.

-13,000(Dodged)

-0(Actual)

-13,000(Dodged)

-0(Actual)

-13,000(Blocked 11,000)

-2,000(Actual)

[You have gained a radiation debuff]

[You will lose 50 health every minute]

[You will heal 400 health a minute]

[Your healing buff is strong enough to negated the effects of radiation damage]

[Radiation debuff removed]

Well that is an amazing surprise. He still did a lot of damage though. Holy Willow Trees savior is more than just a healing perk. Sometimes unique perks have hidden effects that are kept from the players and they don't even know it. Now I know I have a passive perk that removes certain debuffs. I can't say that it removes all of them at this point, but this is a really nice find. I'm lucky with this little surprise because he could have stacked radiation debuffs on me. This changes the direction I can take in this fight. More and more this tips in my favor. I jump away and check my status, my health is already rising thanks to that perk.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.19]

[Exp: 16,180/21,000]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden),+2 more]

[Stats]

[Strength - 850]

[Endurance - 800]

[Dexterity - 805]

[Speed - 800]

[Focus - 2300]

[Mana: 23000/23000]

[Health: 5,735/6,600]

[Stat Points: 120]

[Armor rating: 475]

[Inventory]

[Skills/Perks]

[Inheritor of the sword (Passive) - Son of Heaven (Passive) - Heavens light Lvl.4 325/400 (Active) - Protected by Heaven Lvl.4 225/300 (Active) - Slash Lvl.10 300/1000 (Active) Slayer of Evil (Passive) - Holy Willow Trees savior (Passive) - Parry Lvl.1 80/100 (Active) - Finder of Legends (Passive) - The divine who has legend (Passive) - Destined for Greatness (Passive) - Dungeon Diver (Passive)]

Florian is looking at me in frustration and confusion. I would be too if a powerful debuff like radiation didn't work on someone either. He is putting it together in his head pretty fast though. My fast closing wound is evidence of that. "You have some sort of healing and debuff removal ability. I have never seen something stop my Radiation Blade." He is a quick thinker too. He is going to have to use more active skills now that he has confirmed some of my powerful abilities. I want to attack more openly now that his special debuff doesn't work on me. I charge forward and use normal attacks so he uses up his parry skill.

[King Florian Lvl. 25 Trial Boss]

496,385/700,000

-19,300(Parried)

-0(Actual)

-19,300(Parried)

-0(Actual)

-19,300(Parried)

-0(Actual)

-19,300(Parried)

-0(Actual)

-19,300(Parried)

-0(Actual)

Now that his parry skill is on cooldown I attack again with slash. I am succeeding in whittling down his health. This battle is now in my favor.

-35,705

-35,705

-35,705(Blocked 25,000)

-10,705(Actual)

My last slash attack is cut down by a lot, but I still did sizable damage to him. I go in for some normal attacks. I get hit with something I didn't plan for.

-19,300(Countered)

-9,650(Reflected, Blocked 7,000)

[You have gained a radiation debuff]

[Your healing buff is strong enough to negated the effects of radiation damage]

[Radiation debuff removed]

He uses a favorite among most high level players, but we don't get access to this skill till level 130. The damage he dealt with that nearly killed me. I should say the damage I dealt, my armor saved my life with it blocking the reflected damage. I have created space between us and I immediately check on my health. He wont attack since I did some decent damage and he is recovering too.

[Slayer (Zern) Lvl.19]

[Exp: 16,180/21,000]

[Title: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael (Hidden),+2 more]

[Stats]

[Strength - 850]

[Endurance - 800]

[Dexterity - 805]

[Speed - 800]

[Focus - 2300]

[Mana: 23000/23000]

[Health: 3,995/6,600]

[Stat Points: 120]

[Armor rating: 475]

[Inventory]

[Skills/Perks]

[Inheritor of the sword (Passive) - Son of Heaven (Passive) - Heavens light Lvl.4 325/400 (Active) - Protected by Heaven Lvl.4 225/300 (Active) - Slash Lvl.10 300/1000 (Active) Slayer of Evil (Passive) - Holy Willow Trees savior (Passive) - Parry Lvl.1 80/100 (Active) - Finder of Legends (Passive) - The divine who has legend (Passive) - Destined for Greatness (Passive) - Dungeon Diver (Passive)]

I am now just above half health, my healing perk is already working magic. I should have dealt enough damage to him with that last attack. I can finish him off with protected by heaven and heavens light. One of the unique features about heavens light is the attack's used with it cant be interrupted and cant be blocked. That means counter wont work either. I charge forward while activating my skills and begin my assault with slash. Lets just say he wasn't expecting the powerful aura and light show.

[King Florian Lvl. 25 Trial Boss]

414,270/700,000

-105,329.75

-121,397

-110,685.5

He is looking near death at this point. He jumps back and stands for a few seconds before kneeling on one knee and taking heavy and deep breathes. "You aren't human!! No mortal creature so young can achieve such power!!" He isn't wrong. I am only 19 years old, he must think I am some powerful monster in disguise or something. I really do want to finish this off and my slash cooldown just ended. Time to end this.

[King Florian Lvl. 25 Trial Boss]

76,857.75/700,000

-107,115

I dash forward and slash at his neck. I didn't get a critical because it was an armored vital point. Its more than enough damage to end his life and this simulation though. The falling head freezes in place and everything fades to black once again. I hear the system begin speaking, I am happy at what I hear.

[You have completed the Trial of Sword Saint Monrell]

[Your time will now be calculated for a reward and evaluation]

[You have earned: S+++]

[The reward will now be drastically increased]

That's the highest grade I have ever heard of. I did make great time now that I think about it. To bad I cant earn experience from trials. You cant earn experience while in a simulations since the things you are fighting don't really exist. Soon the endless darkness turns back to the field I met Monrell in. I look over to the pile of bodies and he is actually looking at me instead of into the far off distance.

I walk up to him and as I approach the pile of bodies he removes his helmet. I look at the pristine face of the man. So its true he never sustained an injury to the face. "I never thought I'd see the day this trial completed. Come up here and talk with me, there is much to discuss." He must want to talk to someone before this place is destroyed now that the trial is completed. I walk up the pile of bodies and stand next to him looking out into the beautiful view.

Outside of the simulation a world wide announcement is happening. These have become rarer for other people besides Cera to receive, this one is unsurprisingly also about The Son of Arch-Angel Michael.

[World-Wide Announcement: The Son of Arch-Angel Michael is the first and only person to clear the trial of Sword Saint Monrell on the first try with the best possible score! The Almighty Father and Arch-Angel Michael have decided to celebrate by giving everyone a 2x exp to use at any time!]

[World Mission Announcement: The church of light are sending emissaries and soldiers in mass to the monument of Sword Saint Monrell to meet the Son of Arch-Angel Michael!]

[World Mission Announcement: The church of the dark ones have drastically increased their rewards for any harm done to The Son of Arch-Angel Michael!]

Many of the players and NPC's cheer in the happiness of the exp buff. The NPC's learn a different way than the players do. It is unknown how they gain strength without the system, but they have there own mysterious ways. The outside world is also in uproar, a very minuscule amount is known about trials. Only that they are incredible difficult and take multiple tries. That wasn't the case for Cera and many are going to increase there search for this player.

{Don't worry, I know what you are all thinking and all I can say is that isn't happening. Yet....}