Argus's body, battered and bruised, started to heal as he waited, his physical strength slowly returning. The pain gradually became a dull roar, and his breathing steadied, though he remained slumped against the wall, taking the time he needed to recuperate from the battle.
The cave around him was silent now, a stark contrast to the cacophony of battle that had just taken place. There was still more to face in the dungeon. For now, though, he rested, allowing his gravely injured body to heal and regain its strength.
"Sigh... It's harder than I thought."(Argus)
'Are you fine Master? You are too reckless!'(Astrea)
Astrea was deeply worried about her Master. Every time she saw him getting hurt by the undead's attacks, a strong feeling of helplessness and anger surged within her. She wanted nothing more than to jump in and protect him, but the system's intervention kept her from being summoned to his side. This left her feeling powerless, knowing that despite all her strength and abilities, she couldn't do anything to help him. The frustration built up inside her as she watched her Master fight alone, her heart aching with the desire to be there and fight alongside him.
"Yeah, thanks to my regeneration, I'm fully healed. I'm slightly tired though but I can still continue."(Argus)
Argus could sense what Astrea was feeling through their connection. He knew she was worried and frustrated, feeling helpless because she couldn't be by his side. To ease her concern, he sent calming thoughts to her through their bond, reassuring her that he was fine. He let her know that he was strong enough to handle the situation and that she didn't need to worry.
"Don't disturb me for a while. I need some time to reflect on this while the fight is still fresh in my mind."(Argus)
'Yes Master.'(Argus)
Argus took a deep breath as he leaned against the cold, rough dungeon wall, his scythe resting beside him. His body had fully healed, with no trace of the injuries that had marked him just moments ago. Even though he was physically fine, he didn't immediately stand. Instead, he remained seated, thinking about the battle.
He replayed the fight in his mind, going over each move he had made. Charging into the mass of undead, his scythe had been a powerful and controlled weapon, cutting through his enemies with precision. The fight had pushed him to rely heavily on his fighting skills.
Argus's innate skills, Sovereign's Apathy and Sovereign's Intuition, were crucial abilities that had played a significant role in the battle. Sovereign's Apathy allowed him to maintain a calm, detached state of mind, enabling him to fight with clear judgment even in the most intense moments. Meanwhile, Sovereign's Intuition had been his silent guide, sharpening his senses and alerting him to incoming threats, ensuring that his reactions were precise and timely.
'There are more thing to discover on my innate skill.'(Argus)
Argus was certain that there was still much more to uncover about these two innate skills he possessed. Although he had already relied heavily on Sovereign's Apathy and Sovereign's Intuition in countless battles, he sensed that their true potential had yet to be fully realized. These skills were complex, layered with nuances he hadn't yet explored, and he knew that with further experience and deeper understanding, he could unlock even greater power within them. There was a sense of anticipation within him, knowing that the more he pushed himself, the more these abilities would reveal.
As he reflected, he recognized how effective his techniques had been. The spinning scythe that deflected arrows, the sweeping strikes that reduced skeletons to nothing. Yet, there were moments where he knew he could have done better. His intuition had led him to take hits in less vital areas to avoid more dangerous attacks. While this approach had worked, it showed him where his defenses could be stronger.
Argus also saw that his movements could still improve. His scythe work, though controlled and powerful, could be faster and smoother. He had fought well, but there was always room to get better. The battle had shown him where he needed to improve, and he planned to work on it.
After sitting for a few more moments, Argus decided it was time to move on. A smile appeared on his face as he gazed on the stairs leading on the third floor.
"Astrea sorry for this but stay put for a while."(Argus)
Without even waiting for her to reply, Argus block her communication with Astrea so she wouldn't hear her. He even block Astrea's vision so she wouldn't see what he was gonna do.
"She will probably knows what I'm gonna do and will stop me. Either way Sylvan, you are the only one who knows what will happen and do not tell her."(Argus)
Argus said while picking Sylvan with its pot. Sylvan's level already increased but his sapling form did not change. Sylvan sways its body as it was telling him that it will keep its Master's secret.
"Very well, shall we go then?"(Argus)
Argus descended with Sylvan on his left hand and his Scythe on the other. He was also checking Sylvan's Stats while walking down.
Name: Sylvan
Race: Blood Sap Sapling
Realm: Beginner Realm
Level: 10(3%)(↑10)
Attribute: ???
HP: 100%/100%
Star Energy: 700
HP:100%/100%
MP: 120(↑100)
VIT: 140(↑100)
STR: 100(↑80)
AGI: 0
INT: 90(↑70)
'Of course Sylvan's Agility stats wouldn't increase. It also like it can use magic like I thought. Hmm, the problem is Sylvan is an stationary summoned. Well I can only wait for what it can do after it reach the next realm.'(Argus)
Argus thought as he gazed at the dancing sprout on his palm. Argus continued to walk until he reach the next floor.
"Enjoy the ride Sylvan."(Argus)
Argus said as he sprinted forward, quickly bypassing the first group of skeletons. He aimed to replicate what he had done on the second floor, even though he knew it was risky. After the battle on the second floor, he had noticed his growth in scythe wielding and how much fighting experience he had gained. It became clear to him that he was the type of person who grew more through combat than through training.
This realization gave him a newfound confidence in his abilities. He understood that he could push himself to overcome difficult opponents, but he also recognized the importance of choosing his battles wisely. He could only apply this strategy effectively against level 26-30 monsters that possessed blue and red orb monsters.
The gap in stats between him and these monsters could be bridged by his growing fighting skills, allowing him to hold his own even against stronger foes. However, he knew that if the gap was too wide, his skills alone might not be enough, so he needed to be careful in assessing each enemy's strength.
Here's the revised version focusing on stats:
---
Argus weaved and dodged through the mass of skeletons, his movements fluid and calculated as he made his way toward the stairs leading down to the fourth floor of the dungeon. The clatter of bones and the scrape of weapons echoed around him, but he remained focused, slipping past the undead with ease. When he finally reached the stairs, he paused briefly, setting Sylvan, down near the entrance to keep it safe from the impending battle. His eyes scanned the new wave of skeletons emerging from the darkness, another batch of 100 undead, their soulless eyes now burning with a faint soul fire, a sign of their higher level.
As Argus faced this fresh horde, he noticed that these undead were stronger than those on the previous floors. However, while their power had grown, the increase was still negligible compared to the skills Argus had honed. He knew that with his refined combat abilities, he could handle them, even if their stats were higher.
"Round two, I guess"(Argus)
Argus muttered under his breath, his voice steady as he mentally prepared himself for the fight ahead.
Without wasting another moment, Argus dashed forward, his scythe held firmly in his grip. He swung it with controlled ferocity, its sharp edge cutting through the air as he closed the distance between him and the approaching undead. The skeletons advanced with their weapons raised, but Argus was ready, his every move calculated to maximize his advantage. This battle, like the ones before.
Certainly, here's the revised version including the aspect of ongoing mistakes:
---
It was clear that Argus had received fewer and less severe injuries compared to the previous fight. Instead of deep, painful cuts or serious wounds, he had sustained a noticeable gashes and bruises. Though these wounds were still bothersome, they were far less severe than those from before. Which makes him happy deep inside.
This reduction in injury severity was a clear result of the experience he had gained from previous battles, showcasing his improved skill and resilience. However, Argus was aware that he still made mistakes during the fight. Despite his progress, some errors were unavoidable and could not be corrected immediately.