SLASH—BOOM!

"..."

Verc frowned as he cut down another dark spear headed at him and it exploded in front of his face.

The heat from the blast licked at his skin, and the acrid smell of burnt mana filled his nostrils for the hundredth time. The concussive force rattled his teeth, but he didn’t let his stance waver. He couldn’t afford to.

’I can’t get a proper look at that monster.’

He grumbled internally as he lightly jumped and rotated his body to the right to dodge a shadow spike—TSIIIK!

The shadow that was as sharp as blades grazed him, whistling past his ear with a cold, murderous intent. It slammed into the floor where his head had been a millisecond ago. Because of [Black Scales]; Verc wasn’t cut, but he could feel the vibration of the impact through the stone. The obsidian-like protection on his shoulder was starting to look dull, chipped away by the constant friction of near-misses and direct hits.

Their fight was now ongoing for a couple of hours now!

Time had lost its meaning in this circular tomb. The only clock Verc had was the steady rhythm of his own heartbeat and the slow depletion of his energy reserves. A dull ache beginning to settle into his joints from the constant, explosive movements.

While the skeleton was still hovering in the middle of the massive room as it rained a barrage of attacks at Verc!

It was like a dark god looking down on a struggling insect. It didn’t seem tired. It didn’t seem to breathe. It just floated there, its skeletal fingers dancing in the air as if it were playing an invisible harp made of death.

"KEUK...!"

Verc tried his best to avoid all of them and take down the attacks—getting closer as well to jump off and try to counter-attack... but unlike before, he couldn’t even touch the skeleton now!

The monster had adapted. It was no longer playing around or testing his strength. Every time Verc managed to close the distance, the skeleton would shift its position or unleash a blast so violent it forced him back to the edge of the room.

The number of attacks increased significantly, and what’s more—they’re much lethal now, aiming for the kill!

The dark spears were no longer coming one by one; they were coming in waves, dozens at a time, forming patterns of destruction that left almost no room for escape. The shadow spikes erupted from the ground with such frequency that the floor seemed to be alive, a forest of black needles trying to impale him.

PHUCK!

"URGH...!"

Just then--Verc got stabbed by a shadow spike on his back!

The force of it slammed him forward, nearly making him fall forward. If it wasn’t for the scales blocking it; the attack would’ve pierced through all the way to his heart!

As it was, the impact left him breathless, a fresh crack spider-webbing across his scale armor.

He had long realized that the skeleton isn’t holding back anymore, that it was willing to kill him now.

It was a sobering thought. The creature had realized that Verc was a genuine threat, or perhaps it had simply run out of patience. If he didn’t realize that fast; he might’ve made a mistake and already died by now.

But still—all Verc could do for the past couple of hours was nothing but dodge and block the attacks sent by the skeleton.

He was trapped in a defensive loop. He would dash, a spear would explode; he would jump, a spike would emerge. It was a hellish routine that tested his mental fortitude as much as his physical strength. If it wasn’t for the absurd amount of energy he had stored; Verc would’ve collapsed by now.

Anyway, Verc had been trying since earlier to use [Vital Mapping] too to find the weakness, or the core of the skeleton.

He knew that everything had a weak point. Even an ancient, robed skeleton had to have a source for its power, a knot in its mana that he could sever. But every time he tried to focus his vision and let the skill highlight the creature’s structural flaws—

-There is it again, you’re disgusting look on me.

The skeleton’s voice would rattled through the chamber, dripping with cold disdain.

SWOOSH!

Then it would would rain more attacks at him!

Six dark spears manifested in a tight cluster, screaming toward Verc’s face. Making him lose focus to use the skill properly!

"BITCH...!"

BOOOOOM--!!!

Verc had to abandon the mapping to roll sideways, the subsequent explosion throwing dust into his eyes.

Not just this, the skeleton would even dodge his eyes or hinder his sight with shadow spikes, purposely creating barriers of darkness to break his line of sight. It was as if the monster knew exactly what he was trying to do.

And this—

"FUCK...!"

This frustrates Verc.

His teeth were gritted so hard his jaw ached. He hated being on the back foot. He hated being the one who had to react instead of the one who acted. But even frustrated...

’How the hell am I suppose to kill that thing?!’

Giving up didn’t even enter his mind.

Verc wasn’t the type to lay down and die. If he was going to go out, he was going to take a piece of this bastard with him.

He continued analyzing the skeleton throughout the fight, even as he dodged for his life. His mind worked like a high-speed processor, cataloging every movement, every delay, and every flicker of mana.

In doing so, Verc learned something crucial. The skeleton couldn’t move while it attacks.

It was a small window, a fraction of a second where the creature had to remain stationary to anchor the mana required for its spells. That was why after getting past its attack earlier—Verc was able to land hits on it. The monster was a stationary turret, reliant on its overwhelming firepower to keep enemies at bay.

Also, he mapped out the repertoire of death the monster possessed. The skeleton’s main attacks were dark spears, shadow spikes, and the weird space manipulation where he can just summon explosions out of thin air.

The spears were for range, the spikes were for area control, and the explosions were for when Verc got too close. The only good thing was that the skeleton couldn’t summon the attacks super close to him. There was a ’dead zone’ around Verc, a tiny radius where the space manipulation seemed to fail, likely because Verc’s own dense mana aura interfered with the casting.

Though, it can summon it all over the room. There was no escape.

So instead--

"..."

Verc waited. He watched. He looked for the moment when the skeleton would overextend.

His eyes didn’t leave the skeleton.

SLASH--BOOOM!

FWISH~

Even as he deflected and avoided attacks that continued to rain at him. It was started to exhaust him. He was using a lot of his stored stamina fast in this fight.

He don’t have much left after using [Mana Circulation] days before as well. So Verc was betting for the next chace that will appear.

And then... it happened.

SWOOOSH--!

As a dark spear flew straight at him, much later than the other batches--Verc saw a gap in the attacks, a momentary lull as the skeleton prepared a larger shadow spike!

And without hesitation--

’Now!’

BAM!

Verc took that opportunity and lunged!

He ignored the burning in his thighs and the ache in his back.

FWOOOOOOOSSSHHH--!!!

He moved like a bolt of crimson lightning, crossing the distance in a heartbeat!

And upon getting under the skeleton again--BOOM!

He jumped, his sword raised high, aiming for the robed figure’s neck. Verc was going to cut down its other arm, or better yet, take its head!

-...!

The skeleton stopped attacking for a second. Its jawbone creaked, and for a moment, the room went deathly silent.

And after that; it used a teleportation or some sort!

FWISH!

The skeleton didn’t move; it simply ceased to be in one spot and appeared twenty meters away in the blink of an eye!

SWOOSH--

Verc’s sword cut through nothing but empty air, his momentum carrying him forward into a clumsy roll on the stone floor.

"..."

Verc couldn’t believe that... But still, he stood back up.

He was resolute that he will come back where the others were.

And so—

"THAT’S FUCKING CHEATING!!!"

BAM!

He rushed at the skeleton again! Now, he noted that it could teleport!

But this time, the obstacles were even worse.

-Cry me a river, kid.

SWOOOSH--! WHOOOSH--!!!

The skeleton realized Verc’s strategy and began to layer its attacks!

Shadow spikes didn’t just emerge; they twisted and grew branches like gnarled trees, creating a maze of obsidian blades. Dark spears didn’t just fly; they curved in mid-air, chasing Verc like missiles.

WHIIISH~BAM!

SLASH--BOOOM!

Verc had to slide under a shadow branch, vault over a cluster of spikes, and parry three spears at once just to keep moving forward!

"UGH!"

He was bleeding from a dozen small nicks where his scales had finally failed. But Verc didn’t stop.

And once more--TAP!

He closed in at the skeleton! He pushed through a literal wall of explosions, his [Black Scales] glowing red-hot from the friction and the heat!

Then looking up at his opponent--BOOM! SWOOSH!

Verc jumped at the skeleton again!

He put everything into this leap! His teeth gritted tightly together!

Then reaching his target--

"DIEEEEE!!!"

SLAAAASHH--!!!

Verc swung his sword heavily, a horizontal cleave meant to shatter the ribcage of the skeleton.

But with just a small movement to the side--

-You are slow.

FWISH~

The skeleton avoided it. It looked effortless, almost mocking.

Verc’s heavy attack that he worked hard for to get an opportunity missed again. It was angering for him.

-You are at a disadvantage. You are a creature of the earth, bound by gravity. I am the master of this void.

The skeleton said, as if putting salt into his wounds.

"...!"

Verc turned to the skeleton as he began to fall. A mix of anger and a predatory smile spread across his face. His eyes were wide, bloodshot, and terrifying.

"SHUT THE FUCK UP! I FUCKING KNOW!"

Verc exclaimed, veins buldging out of his neck.

And with his left hand—FWIP!

As the skeleton moved to dodge the sword, it had moved right into the trajectory of Verc’s reaching hand. Verc grabbed the skeleton’s left wrist with a grip that could crush steel!

-Let go!

The skeleton hissed, its aura flaring in a panic. It hadn’t expected the physical contact.

And with those words—BOOOM!

An explosion that meant to send Verc flying away happened between them! The skeleton had detonated the space directly between their chests!

"GURGH!"

Verc groaned, a spray of blood leaving his lips. He was hurt by this. He was alive after all, and his scales couldn’t protect him from point-blank explosions anymore after being battered for hours. The heat charred his chest, and the shockwave felt like it was trying to peel his skin off.

The skeleton was fine because it couldn’t feel pain anymore. It was just a hollow vessel of mana and bone.

It thought that it handled Verc properly, feeling his hand loosen on its left wrist as the blast pushed them apart. It prepared to summon a spear to finish him off.

But all of a sudden—

"I’LL DRAG YOU DOWN WITH ME!!!"

Verc exclaimed that, his voice a guttural roar that shook the very air! His eyes were red, dyed by the blood dripping from his face!

He swallowed his pain, pushing it into a dark corner of his mind where it couldn’t hinder him!

CLENCH!

He gripped his left hand on the skeleton’s wrist much harder this time! His fingers dug into the bone, the [Black Scales] on his hand grinding against the skeletal surface!

-?!!

The skeleton was surprised. Its eye sockets flared with a sudden, panicked purple light. But before it could even do something—before it could teleport or detonate another blast—

"GRAAAAHHHHH!!!"

WHOOOOOSHt—!!!

Verc used every ounce of his inhuman strength. He twisted his body in mid-air, using his falling weight as a tether. Then he threw the skeleton onto the floor—the monster was like a ball being thrown by a professional pitcher!

BOOOOM!!!

The skeleton was slammed onto the floor with a sound like a falling mountain. And instead of the floor breaking or the stone shattering—

-GAAAAHHHH!!!

The skeleton let out a horrific, screeching cry.

The force bounced back! It didn’t absorb the impact, it reflected it. All the strength Verc had put into the throw was sent directly back into the skeleton’s frame! The damage doubled onto the skeleton; it felt the pain even being an undead!

The seal was really againts the skeleton! The very room it inhabited was its greatest enemy!

CRACK-

Its bone cracks as a pained scream came out of its mouth. The sound was like dry wood snapping in a forest fire. Its left arm, the one Verc had been holding, shattered into a dozen fragments.

Then just as the skeleton was recovering from that damage—BAAAAM!!!

Verc dropped down from the air like a meteor!

He landed straight onto the skeleton’s ribcage, his boots slamming into the center of its chest. He used his momentum to drive the monster back onto the floor again!

-GUUURGHHH...!!!

The skeleton buckled, more cracks appearing across its sternum. The floor beneath it remained perfectly smooth, forcing the creature to absorb the second impact entirely. It was being crushed between Verc and its own prison!

Verc’s sword was already pulled back this time. He was perched on top of the monster, his knees pinning its shoulders down. His eyes were fixed onto the skeleton, cold and unwavering.

"..."

He had no time to use [Vital Mapping]. He could feel the skeleton’s mana beginning to surge again, a desperate attempt to blow them both up. The skeleton could recover quick and this opportunity might slip. If he hesitated for even a second, he would be back to square one—or dead.

So instead—

"FUCK IT!"

He decided to trust his gut!

He trusted the passive skill he got from goblins; [Scavenger’s Instinct].

And without beating around the bush—

PHUCK—!

Verc drove the tip of his sword at the empty left eye-socket of the skeleton, piercing through its skull.