The first few floors were a warm-up, a testament to Max's growing strength as he faced familiar beasts of increasing strength. But as he progressed, things started to change. Each floor presented new threats, and each creature had a story, a myth, attached to it.
Floor 4: Max encountered fierce creatures resembling the Hinn, a lesser-known creature from Egyptian myth. They had the body of a lion and the head of a falcon, their talons sharp and beaks sharp as knives. Though their level was relatively low, the creatures attacked in pairs, circling him and coordinating their moves. Max quickly learned to anticipate their dives, using Bone Manipulation to shield himself and Wind Barrier to deflect their strikes. With precise timing, he sliced through their feathers, sending them crashing to the ground one after the other. Each kill was a step forward, each victory a little closer to the unknown.
Floor 7: Here, he faced a beast out of Hindu mythology, a Makara. It was an aquatic terror with a body combining elements of a crocodile and a fish, its scales as tough as steel and its bite powerful enough to snap bone. Even as Max's sword clashed against its iron-hard scales, the creature's force threw him back. But Max held his ground. Using Bone Creation, he fashioned heavy gauntlets that he empowered with Bone Manipulation to resist the Makara's forceful blows. After a grueling bout, he finally struck the creature in the eyes, ending its fury and moving forward with a newfound respect for these ancient beasts.
Floor 13: The air was thick with venomous fog as Max stepped onto Floor 13, and he soon realized the source. A Naga—a serpent-like creature with the torso of a human and the lower body of a snake—emerged from the mist. The Naga wielded venom-laden spears and moved with a fluid grace, striking with lethal accuracy. Max quickly activated his Wind Barrier, deflecting the Naga's spears back. Despite his skills, it was the Naga's sheer speed that forced him to retreat, using the terrain to his advantage. He tricked the creature into lunging forward, then struck, severing the creature's head with a powerful bone-crafted blade.
Floor 20: This floor felt like a sanctuary of horror as Max encountered the Ahi, a monstrous serpent from Hindu lore, notorious for its regenerative abilities. The serpent's body stretched nearly the length of the room, its skin glistening with venom. No matter how many times Max struck it down, the Ahi regenerated, rising anew. He finally had an idea: using his newly acquired poison blood skill from a previous creature, he combined it with his sword, striking Ahi at its core with a venomous edge. The poison seeped into the creature's bloodstream, corrupting its regeneration and allowing Max to end its unyielding resilience.
Every battle honed Max's abilities and sense for the battlefield. As he progressed, his peers lagged behind, taking rest breaks and struggling with increasingly difficult creatures. Max, however, pressed on, fueled by the Abyssal Breathing technique that now sustained his stamina.
Teacher's Observation POV:
Back in the observation hall, the teachers watched in stunned silence as Max's score continued to rise. The young boy with an unassuming demeanor was now climbing past legendary floors. As he reached floor 23, Simon Mordy, the principal, couldn't help but shake his head.
"How does he keep going?" murmured Mr. Caldwell. "Only eight hours in, and he's doing what teams of high-tier students could barely accomplish. Hell difficulty isn't meant for one person, and definitely not a new student…"
Ms. Hartford was silent, watching Max with a mix of curiosity and disbelief. She glanced at the other screens. Sophia Silver had made impressive progress on Floor 18, Arlen was on Floor 14, and most students were managing around Floors 6 to 8. Max, however, was now entering uncharted territory, and not a single teacher had any idea how he was achieving it.
Floor 23: Max found himself face to face with a Rakshasa, a fierce humanoid demon from Hindu legend. It stood twice his height, its skin dark as midnight, adorned with fanged tusks and claws. The Rakshasa's roar reverberated through the cavern, shaking the ground beneath him. Max prepared himself, summoning his Wind Barrier as the creature lunged, and countered with a bone-forged blade reinforced with poison blood.
The battle was brutal, with each strike met by the demon's resilience. But Max stayed calm, using his Sense stat to track the Rakshasa's movements. He began to notice a pattern—a slight hesitation before it leapt, a brief moment when its eyes lost focus before a strike. He capitalized on it, dodging its claws and striking its vulnerable spots, eventually bringing it to its knees and claiming its soul.
With every victory, Max felt himself growing stronger. The Abyssal System seemed to empower him, every absorbed soul adding to his skill arsenal and heightening his senses. His stats had climbed exponentially, and he could feel his body pulsing with newfound strength.
Floor 33: As he stepped onto Floor 33, Max faced one of the strongest monsters he had encountered so far—a Chimera. The creature was a grotesque mix of lion, goat, and serpent, each head capable of attacking independently. The lion's head breathed fire, the goat's head summoned bolts of lightning, and the serpent's tail dripped with lethal venom.
The Chimera charged at him, each head attacking in tandem. Max rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a blast of fire, and activated his Wind Barrier just in time to deflect a lightning bolt. He leaped back, calculating his approach. There was no clear weakness, but he knew he'd have to create an opening.
Using Bone Manipulation, Max crafted a set of spiked bone armor around his fists and legs, enhancing his power. He charged in, evading the serpent's venomous strikes, and landed a bone-reinforced punch directly on the lion's head, momentarily stunning it. The goat's head retaliated, but Max used the Wind Barrier to push back, redirecting the force as he drove his sword deep into the Chimera's chest, bypassing its defenses. With a final surge of strength, he beheaded the creature, watching as its life force dissipated into his own.
After clearing Floor 33, Max finally took a moment to breathe and opened his status window to assess his progress.
Max's Status Window
Abyssal Dominion
Name: Max Miller
Race: Human
Class: Shadowrune
Trait: Soul Usurpation – Grants the ability to absorb the essence of defeated foes, increasing stats with a 10% chance to acquire the foe's skills.
Level: 25
HP: 7400
Defense: 200
Strength: 104
Agility: 112
Stamina: 96
Mana: 83
Vitality: 74
Sense: 90
Skills:
Bone Manipulation (Level 5): Enhanced control over bone structures, allowing for complex manipulations and creations.Bone Creation (Level 4): Ability to craft high-durability items and armor with specialized functions.Bone Equip (Level 2): Integrates bone armor within the body, reducing defense by half when stored.Soul Flame (Level 1): Burns a target's soul, dealing 5 HP of direct damage per second, bypassing armor defenses.Wind Barrier (Level 2): Creates a shield of swirling wind that deflects physical projectiles and reduces incoming damage.
Newly Acquired Skills:
Regeneration (Level 1): Accelerates HP recovery over time.Venomous Blood (Level 1): Blood is laced with poison, causing damage to enemies who strike in close combat.Ogre's Vitality: Passively boosts stamina and vitality.Basilisk's Gaze (Passive): Instills fear in weaker creatures when eye contact is made.Enhanced Reflexes: Boosts agility and reaction speed in critical moments.Poison Mist (Level 1): Releases a cloud of toxic gas that poisons any creature caught within its radius.Scale Armor: Temporarily enhances defense by hardening the skin to scale-like toughness.Vampiric Touch (Passive): Absorbs a small amount of HP from opponents when physical contact is made.Lightning Charge (Level 1): Briefly charges weapons or fists with electricity for a powerful attack.Enhanced Hearing (Passive): Significantly improves auditory perception.
Each new skill was a testament to the brutal battles he had fought. His strength and agility were nearly unparalleled for someone of his level, and he hadn't even assigned any of his free stat points yet. The power he wielded was now leagues above anything he'd anticipated.
Teacher's Commentary:
Meanwhile, back in the observation room, the teachers were in awe as Max's score kept climbing.
"Floor 33 already," one teacher murmured, shaking their head in disbelief. "And he's not slowing down…"
"Silver is on Floor 18," Ms. Hartford commented. "And she's holding her own impressively, but even she's nowhere close to this."
Principal Mordy watched with a sharp gaze. "Hell is supposed to be reserved for teams, for those who can work together to overcome the floors. For him to be going it alone… I didn't even think it possible."
The other teachers nodded, exchanging wary glances. Max had redefined the expectations of what was achievable in the Hell difficulty.
Floor 35: As Max approached Floor 35, a sense of anticipation flooded him. He knew he was about to break new ground—the record for the tutorial's highest floor. Every student in the observation room had their eyes glued to his screen. The floor boss's roar reverberated through the walls, signaling that a new challenge awaited him.
Max stood alone, feeling the weight of his accomplishments as well as the enormity of the task still ahead. Around him lay the silent, shadowed expanse of a cavern so vast that it seemed to swallow sound. And in this cavern, four monstrous figures awaited him.
These weren't ordinary creatures; each of them was a boss, each level 65, each embodying a distinct elemental force and ancient power.
First came The Ice Guardian from Norse legend, a frost-covered giant that exhaled clouds of mist with every movement, its entire form encased in an armor of razor-sharp ice. Beside it floated the Wind Conqueror, an ethereal creature from Egyptian myth, wrapped in spiraling currents that flickered with faint glimmers of lightning. Further back, The Poison Fiend slithered, leaking a toxic green mist that corroded the stone it touched, while the Lightning Brute prowled to the side, arcs of electricity dancing over its massive frame, each step leaving scorch marks.
The four creatures moved as one, coordinating their attacks with precision. Max barely had time to analyze his options as they charged, each one activating its unique ability.
Skill: Wind Barrier Activated.
The shield of swirling wind deflected the initial bolts of electricity launched by the Lightning Brute, sparing him from instant harm. But as he maneuvered, the Ice Guardian lashed out, sending a wall of ice shards racing toward him. Max dodged, feeling the shards slice the air just above his head.
With a quick turn, he saw his opening and launched himself at the Poison Fiend, hoping to take down at least one of the creatures quickly. He swung his bone-forged blade into its flank, but the Poison Fiend retaliated with a swipe of its venomous claws, grazing his arm. Pain flared as poison seeped into his bloodstream, dropping his HP.
Skill: Regeneration (Ogre's Vitality) Activated.
Max felt the healing process begin, pushing the poison back just enough to keep him fighting. With renewed focus, he attacked, slashing through the Poison Fiend's side until it let out a shriek and stumbled back. One final strike severed its head, and as the creature dissolved, its remains merged with the Ice Guardian.
A tremor ran through the cavern as the Wind-Ice Conqueror emerged, level 70 and now possessing both wind and frost abilities. The creature's gaze fixed on Max, and with a bone-chilling roar, it sent a combined assault—a blizzard charged with slicing winds—toward him.
Skill: Bone Manipulation Activated.
Max raised his arms, manipulating the bones in his armor to absorb some of the impact. The wind cut deep, but his enhanced armor held firm. Summoning his strength, he launched a surprise attack, his blade glinting as he aimed for the Wind-Ice Conqueror's exposed side. With a precise strike, he sliced through its icy armor, watching as cracks spread across its body.
He was momentarily relieved, but his victory was short-lived. The Poison Fiend's remnants fused into the Wind-Ice Conqueror, raising its level again to 73 and adding a venomous edge to its attacks. Poison mist mingled with the icy wind, creating a toxic blizzard that seeped through Max's armor.
Skill: Basilisk's Regeneration Activated.
The poison coursing through him was countered, but his energy waned as he struggled to withstand the frigid air. His vision blurred, his breaths shallow. Then, from behind, the Lightning Brute joined the fray, charging forward with a thunderous roar and unleashing a blast of lightning.
Max's heart pounded as he sidestepped, barely dodging the strike. The Lightning Brute circled him, eyeing his every move, and then lunged, slashing its claws as electricity arced from its body. Max dropped to a crouch, activating his Wind Barrier just as the Lightning Brute's electric claws swiped above him, deflecting the worst of the impact.
Taking a deep breath, he lunged toward the Lightning Brute and plunged his blade into its chest. A fierce shriek echoed through the cavern as the Lightning Brute fell, its form disintegrating. The remnants of its essence merged with the monster before him, creating a behemoth of level 75, now wielding the power of ice, wind, poison, and lightning.
The Quad-Element Behemoth fixed its glowing eyes on Max, its aura exuding deadly energy. Every movement it made was calculated, and its attack was swift, merciless, sending bolts of lightning crackling toward him, followed by a venomous blizzard that burned his skin with each contact.
Skill: Wind Barrier Activated.
Max tried to shield himself, but the combined assault overwhelmed his defenses. His HP plummeted, and his vision blurred as pain tore through him. For a moment, he felt death's grip tighten, but he wasn't about to give in.
Skill: Poison Blood Activated.
Max gritted his teeth, using the poison in his veins to create a barrier against the incoming venom. He could feel the Abyssal Body strengthening as it endured the strain, rising slowly but steadily.
Abyssal Body Progression: 7/100
The creature lunged again, this time with lightning-infused claws aimed at Max's throat. He ducked, spinning to avoid the strike, and in a flash activated:
Skill: Bone Creation Activated.
Max formed a sharp, jagged spear from the bones embedded in his armor, wielding it with both hands. With precise control, he hurled it straight at the behemoth's face. The spear struck its target, embedding itself deep into the creature's icy armor, creating a momentary fissure in its otherwise impenetrable defense.
Seeing the slight opening, Max capitalized on it.
Skill: Poison Blood Activated.
He sent a surge of the poison from his blood into the wound on his arm, channeling it down the spear's length. The poison seeped into the behemoth's cracked armor, mixing with its internal elements and causing the monster to stagger, its body convulsing as the venom took effect.
The Quad-Element Behemoth roared, its voice echoing through the cavern. It shook off the poison, its wounds mending as it retaliated with a powerful wind-infused ice strike, aiming to freeze Max on the spot.
Skill: Regeneration (Basilisk's Vitality) Activated.
Max's wounds knitted together as he evaded, dashing sideways to avoid the lethal strike. He could feel the Abyssal Breathing Technique working in tandem with his passive regeneration, replenishing his stamina just enough to keep fighting. Each breath was painful, but it fueled him forward.
With a swift motion, he drew his bone-forged blade once more, its edge now sharpened and enhanced by his Bone Manipulation skill. He circled the behemoth, looking for another weak point while his mind raced for a way to bring down the monstrous fusion.
Skill: Wind Barrier Activated.
He deflected another barrage of venomous ice shards, pushing through the onslaught with determination. His HP was dangerously low, but he wasn't out yet. Spotting a fleeting opening as the behemoth reared back for another attack, Max lunged forward, slashing upward toward its throat with all his might.
The blade struck true, sending a shockwave of elemental backlash through the creature. It let out a guttural cry as the combined elements within it began to destabilize, each force clashing with the others, forming a chaotic whirlpool of power.
In a final, desperate move, Max activated Skill: Bone Manipulation to anchor himself to the ground, bracing for the inevitable explosion.
With a deafening roar, the Quad-Element Behemoth detonated, its energy scattering into the air, lighting up the cavern with a flash of blinding light. Max shielded his eyes, feeling the force of the explosion pass over him. When he finally opened his eyes, the monstrous figure lay still, its body dissipating into remnants of elemental essence.
Skill Usurped: Electropoison Blade
Creates a blade imbued with ice, wind, electricity, and poison. Deals swift, multi-elemental damage, stunning targets and inflicting poison for 50 HP per second for 10 seconds. Mana cost: 50.
Max saw that this new skill and realized its potential. Electropoison Blade was more than just a spell—it was a weaponized storm of elemental power that could inflict continuous, devastating damage. He could already envision the strategy behind it: swift strikes to disorient enemies, while the poison and electricity took their toll over time.
With the intensity of the recent battle fresh in his mind, Max let himself fall back, surrendering to the regenerative effects of his Abyssal Breathing Technique. His HP slowly began to climb as his body absorbed the benefits, a soothing wave of recovery washing over his tired muscles.
As he lay on the cold cavern floor, gathering his strength, a large hologram message materialized above him:
"8 hours have passed. All students will receive a 5-hour break before the tutorial resumes."
Max exhaled deeply, grateful for the unexpected reprieve. His body was battered, but with the break, he'd have a chance to fully recover and prepare for the floors ahead.