I watched as the portal vanished without a trace leaving me in the second part of this dungeon.
I was left alone in a small room, dimly lit, with a pervasive chill that seeped into the stone walls. Flickering torches were set into iron brackets, their flames casting shadows that twisted and writhed along the uneven surface of the walls. The floor was made of large, worn cobblestones.
In front of me was a giant gate, with mist swirling in front of it, making it impossible to see what was inside. But I knew what was past that gate.
"The [Labyrinth of Reflections], it's time to learn a sword art."
While the first trial gave me power, the second would give me a way to use it properly.
I took a deep breath as I approached the gate, my footsteps tapping evenly on the cobblestone path.
As I made my way inside, the mist grew denser until everything was enveloped in a cloak of white. Eventually, it receded, leaving me in a mirror-filled hallway.
This was both the easiest and the hardest part of the dungeon. If one didn't know where to go, it could take days to get anywhere; however, if someone knew the way, it could be accomplished in less than an hour.
And that someone was me. I had played this game for years and had gone through this maze countless times, For someone like me getting through this maze was as easy as walking in a straight line.
Closing my eyes, I remembered the way out of this labyrinth.
'First, take 7 steps forward, turn right, then keep walking in a straight line until I hit a wall.'
Just like that, I began walking with my eyes closed to avoid becoming disoriented by the mirrors.
After a few moments, my right hand brushed against a cool, hard surface. I opened my eyes, revealing that I had indeed reached the wall.
"Now, the next step is to take the curved path down," I reminded myself, recalling the previous guidance.
I turned to my left, where I felt an incline leading onward. Trusting the path, I closed my eyes again and stepped forward, allowing myself to be drawn into the gentle curve.
And just like that I continued turning and walking in a way I planned until I felt a large breeze of wind blow across my face.
As I opened my eyes I saw a gate just like the entrance of the labyrinth with the same ominous mist swirling in front of it, My lips curved upwards realizing that I had finally reached the last part of the part of the labyrinth.
I nervously walked forward, my heart drumming with excitement as I was about to fight for the first time.
Just like before, I walked forward, and the mist engulfed me, transporting me to a large room. A mirror stood on the far side, while a large, sphere-shaped ball of golden flames illuminated the space, casting flickering shadows across the walls.
When I stepped closer to the mirror, it began to illuminate with a golden glow. Knowing what was about to happen, I stopped walking, but my mirror version continued. It walked until it reached the mirror and took another step.
My mirror self passed through the mirror, holding the same sword I had in my hands, and stood before me looking at me with its dull emotionless eyes.
At that moment I heard a ding go off in my head and two blue screens popped up in front of me.
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[System Notification]
-The opponent is holding a sword.
-Talent conditions have been met.
-[Child of Swords(S)] has been activated.
-Stats of the opponent will be reduced.
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-You are holding a sword.
-Talent conditions have been met.
-[Child of Swords(S)/Imitation] has been activated.
-Your stats will be reduced by 0.5
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Yes, the mirror version of me had copied my talent.
In the game, the mirror version of you would be the same as you from your talents, skills to your artifacts except that it would have 0.2 less in each stat.
But at that moment something unexpected happened.
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[System Notification]
-Talent [Child of Swords(S)] glares at [Child of Swords(S)/Imitation].
-Talent [Child of Swords(S) is outraged at the imitation of it.
-Talent [Child of Swords(S) cuts down [Child of Swords(S)/Imitation].
-Your Stats have been restored.
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"What...?"
It all happened so quickly I was left confused, I had to check the notice twice to confirm that I had not misread.
Earlier I thought it was just a hidden piece between [Radiance] and [Child of Swords(S)] but just now it had happened again, It had seemingly gained a conscience of its own and cut down its imitation.
'once it might just be a coincidence but twice.'
Something like this was not seen even once in the game so there was only one conclusion it had somehow gained a conscience due to my transmigration.
But before I could pull my thoughts together my copy was already rushing towards me with a one handed-sword in its hands.
It raised the sword overhead and the next moment the sword came down in a swift, decisive motion.
It was a simple downward slash.
'Normally I would be worried but...'
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[Talent: Child of Swords(S)]
- All swordsmanship talent blossoms to its ultimate potential.
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Information about the sword flooded my mind.
As I gripped the sword, countless ways to handle the monster before me surged forth.
The sword, having found a new owner, danced effortlessly in my hand.
As the sword descended, I pivoted on my back foot and raised my sword, angling it just right to meet the incoming strike.
Clang!
I redirected the blow, using its own force against it, the momentum caused its strike to glance off to the side.
I quickly shifted my weight forward, and with its blade deflected to the side, I stepped in closer, narrowing the distance between us.
In one fluid motion, I pivot on my foot, bringing my sword around in a swift arc aiming for a decisive strike, focusing entirely on the target: their neck.
I channeled radiance into my sword turning the blade illusory and golden and with a swift and fluid motion, I brought my blade down in a powerful diagonal sweep.
Slash!
The edge meets flesh effortlessly, and I feel the clean cut sever through.
Its head fell before its body even realized what had happened.
The moment the head hit the ground it shattered into tiny glass shards.
Ding!
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[System Notification]
-For killing a monster for the first time
-A reward of 1,000P will be awarded.
---------------------------------------------------------
'I won this.'
I felt incredulous.
My first-ever fight ended just like that.
"Fuuh.."
I exhaled relaxing my body.
'One down many more to go.'
Ding!
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[System Notification]
- [Skill: Swordsmanship(F-)] has been learned.
-[Skill: Swordsmanship(F-)] proficiency has increased.
-[Skill: Swordsmanship(F-)] proficiency has reached 100%
-[Skill: Swordsmanship(F-)] has grown to F.
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[Skill: Swordsmanship(F)]
Proficiency: 13%
-Increases the damage dealt by Swords.
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Swordsmanship was a skill I had already expected to obtain so it wasn't surprising.
What was surprising was the glass shard dropped by the monster after its death, it was a decently large piece of glass that seemed to contain a golden flame in the middle.
I immediately picked it up.
Ding!
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[System Notification]
-[Mimic Shard] has been obtained.
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