Ares' heart raced with anticipation as the second notification appeared.
"Ding! [You meet the qualifications to enter the dungeon. Do you wish to enter?"]
Without a moment's hesitation, Ares, fueled by curiosity and the thrill of adventure, eagerly selected "yes" to embark on this new challenge.
"Ding! [You have entered the dungeon created by the combined effort of all mythological beings of the past era.]"
Dungeon: Tomb of Past Eras' Mythological Beings.
Clear condition: Complete all 3 stages of trials at exceptional rank
Failure: Account will be crippled Permanently.
Reward: Unknown
As he read the details of the dungeon, Ares was dumbfounded. What was this? He had already invested a lot of effort into the game, and now the penalty threatened to cripple his account permanently. He couldn't afford to let that happen; he had to conquer this trial no matter what.
Resolving himself, Ares steeled his heart and moved forward. The first stage of the trial required him to kill 5000 monsters within a day. Frustration welled up within him, but he knew it was not impossible. He embarked on a bloody massacre, tirelessly slaying wave after wave of monsters. Though he didn't gain any experience points from these kills, he earned mythological points, the purpose of which remained unknown to him. Nevertheless, he pressed on.
Ares' sword moved with fluidity, as if it were an extension of his own being. He danced through the hordes of monsters, starting with the bronze-level creatures and then facing a fresh batch of silver-level foes. As he unleashed his deadly skills, an old poem taught to him by his grandfather resurfaced in his mind. Reciting the verses and moving in harmony with his sword, Ares felt something stirring within him. The poem held a deeper meaning, and with each strike, he sensed a new power awakening.
"In the realm of warriors, where steel meets skill, Ancient poets sing of the sword with a thrill. A dance of blades, a symphony of might, Unleashing valor and courage in the night. With each strike, a tale of heroes unfolds..."
These verses carried hidden significance, and Ares sensed their power. Lost in a trance, he continued his battle, the poem swirling in his mind. With each sword strike, he felt something awakening within him. A sharp aura emanated from his body and infused his sword, making it faster and more threatening. Oblivious to the notifications that had popped up during his fight, Ares remained in a state of transcendence.
After almost 20 hours of relentless combat, Ares finally emerged from his trance, having slain all the monsters in the first stage, surpassing the requirement of 5000 kills. As he came to his senses, he quickly checked the notifications that had accumulated:
He had accumulated 10,000 mythological points, and he had awakened the ability called Sword Aura, which increased his attack power by 200%.
Ding [you have successfully killed…..]
Ding [..]
..
..
Ding! [ you have awakened sword aura]
[Sword aura]
Awakened ability .
Rank: Epic
Increases the efficiency of sword skills and attack power by 200%
Decreases sword related skill cooldown by 50%.
Ares was taken by surprise at the sudden appearance of a new ability, especially since he hadn't fully grasped the use of his previous ability yet. Nevertheless, he was grateful for the clear description provided for this new ability. Setting his thoughts aside, Ares focused on the next trial that awaited him.
[Second Trial: Defeat the Left Behind Will of the Myths without Martial Soul at Level 10]
[1st Opponent: A wisp of will left behind by King Arthur]
Level: 10
HP: 1500
Class: Legendary
Intent: King Realm Sword Intent
Ares observed King Arthur's avatar and dived headfirst into battle. He wielded his sword in a magnificent manner, even catching King Arthur off guard for a moment. However, that was the extent of King Arthur's surprise. Instead of wielding his famous Excalibur, King Arthur used a mere wooden stick, displaying his mighty sword intent. Ares felt as if he could be turned to ice just by the terrifying sword intent emitted by King Arthur. Nevertheless, he unleashed his full Sword Aura, resisting the intent with all his might. With unwavering determination and a resolute heart, Ares continued to attack. As he fought, the images of him reciting the poem overlapped with his movements. Finally, he landed a hit on King Arthur. In response, King Arthur withdrew his intent and said, "Well done. You are so young and already possess a firm sword heart, along with an awakened Sword Aura. I even feel you are close to awakening your own Sword Intent. You are qualified to pass." And with that, King Arthur disappeared.
After King Arthur vanished, Odin, the King of Gods from Norse mythology, appeared. Instead of launching an attack, Odin silently observed Ares. Sensing Odin's reluctance to make a move, Ares took the initiative and attacked. With his seemingly perfect sword art, Ares faced Odin, who continually employed an unbreakable mana shield. Odin only utilized the power of thunder to strike at Ares, and no matter what Ares did, he couldn't make the shield budge. After a prolonged period of dodging and wearing down, Ares was already pale and exhausted. Determined to turn the tide, he decided to utilize his sword skill, Heaven Cleaver, along with the Sword Aura, which further amplified his attack power by 200%. With this combined power, Ares launched his attack. This time, he finally managed to break through Odin's shield. Surprised, a flash of recognition appeared in Odin's eyes, sensing something akin to an intent in that strike. Odin spoke, "Very well, as you managed to break my mana shield, you shall pass."
And so, Ares emerged victorious from his encounters with the left-behind wills of King Arthur and Odin, qualifying him to proceed further in the trial.
After Odin, Ares faced Parasuram, followed by Zeus. Stepping into the battleground, Ares gripped his Heaven Cleaver tightly, sensing a peculiar sensation wash over him. The sword resonated with his inner energy, seemingly eager to unleash its full power. It was as if the weapon possessed its own will and consciousness, a dormant force known as sword intent.
As Ares swung the sword, he felt glimpses of that sword intent, a flickering flame on the verge of ignition. The blade moved with enhanced fluidity and precision, emanating an undeniable aura of menace. It seemed as though the sword itself guided his movements, infusing his attacks with a touch of supernatural power.
However, Ares knew that the sword intent had yet to fully awaken. There were moments when his strikes lacked the seamless connection he desired, indicating that the sword's true potential remained restrained. It was a frustrating yet exhilarating experience, as he teetered on the edge of discovering the hidden power within the Heaven Cleaver.
Realizing the need for further training and skill refinement, Ares vowed to unravel the mysteries of the sword and unlock its full potential. Each encounter with the left-behind wills of mythological figures became a stepping stone in his journey, propelling him closer to the state where sword and wielder merged as one.
With unwavering determination, Ares pressed forward, landing attacks on every legendary figure from all mythologies. As he honed his skills, he began to grasp the essence of sword intent, forming his own version of a pseudo sword intent. This newfound power increased his attack power by 150% and bestowed a suppressive effect on his opponents, making each sword move more formidable.
Having successfully cleared the second trial, Ares took a much-needed rest before proceeding to the next challenge. He glanced at the notification that appeared during his rest:
[Ding! You have awakened pseudo sword intent]
[Pseudo Sword Intent: Increases attack power by 150% and carries a suppressive effect, making every sword move more formidable]