Chapter 17 - Challenger

Chapter 17: Chapter 17 - Challenger

My steps echoed as I climbed down the winding stairs. Red torchlight licked at the walls, each bracket flaring as I passed, as if acknowledging my presence.

It was a long way down. The air grew warmer the deeper I went, the distant grinding still periodically grating away. I descended for at least 15 minutes before the tunnel finally widened.

The line of torches ended and the archaic stone gradually morphed into straight-cut, white-tiled walls, that reminded me of the sterile labs on Earth.

I kept walking. The rough thuds of my boots on stone were replaced by clacks on tile, until everything---the floors, the ceiling, the walls---was covered in it.

Like this place belonged to a different world entirely.

The tunnel ahead turned a sharp corner, a full 90 degrees to the right. I approached carefully. It was impossible to tread silently on the tile, so I readied myself for anything that might await me past the corner.

My grip on the haft tightened.

I pounced into the hallway, Axe primed to swing, but there was nothing to attack. Only an entrance.

A rectangular cutout, that emptied out into an enormous cube-shaped chamber.

What in the world is this place?

Hesitation was useless here. I stepped in.

[Welcome, Axel Vorous]

[You have been selected as a Potential Inheritor by the Unique Dungeon, Eidolon’s Matrix]

[Recommended Rank: Any]

[Do you wish to Challenge this dungeon?]

[Yes/No]

My eyes widened. If the System didn’t have to calibrate to display these messages, that meant they were from the Words. And this place was giving me a choice now? I was basically kidnapped, then asked if I want to participate...

If I choose "No" will I return to the cave?

The System didn’t reply. I eyed the Prompt about Recommended Rank.

Any Rank...either this dungeon doesn’t require combat, or...it scales according to the Challenger’s strength...

Either way, I wouldn’t be out of my league, so why was I still hesitating?

I had set out to find my own path. To grow my own strength. So when an opportunity like this falls into my lap, I should be diving in headfirst!

I looked back up at the System Prompts, and selected "Yes".

It did seem like too much of a coincidence, but thinking about why things like this happened would always be fruitless. There was no explanation that could justify the good or bad nature of fortune. I just had to deal with things as they came.

[The First Challenge is being initialized...]

[Prepare for Battle.]

And then a timer materialized as a giant System Window in the middle of the chamber.

[Time remaining: 4 Minutes 59 seconds]

I turned back to where I came from, but the entrance was no longer. Not even a sound, and it had been closed off seamlessly. I was stuck in this enormous room.

I set my pack down against the wall, and lifted my axe onto my shoulder, a strange calm washing over me.

5 minutes. Might as well practice some swings.

I walked a little further into the chamber to give myself some space, the greataxe sliding heavy into both hands. I shifted my stance, feet apart. Then, raising it straight above me, I swung.

The head whooshed through the air, but its considerable weight carried me forward with it. My stance collapsed as the weapon pulled me, and even though I’d swung as hard as I could, the axe actually bounced off the Tile with a sharp DING, and the blunt rear of the blade slammed into my own head that had been pulled in by the momentum.

I stumbled back, rattling my head to shake off the impact. I was otherwise unharmed, and I knew that was only because I had [Impact Resistance VIII] that negated 80% of the damage. I’d have been knocked unconscious, maybe concussed if not for the skill.

I groaned as I rubbed my forehead.

That has to be the most pathetic Axe swing ever conceived.

If Gerard had been here to see it, he’d be rolling on the floor laughing, no doubt. I would never live it down. Thankfully, he wasn’t, but I found myself subtly wishing he was. I could’ve used his advice.

I looked up at the timer...

[4 minutes 39 seconds]

...then back to my pack.

Something’s better than nothing.

I ran back to the pack, rummaging through it to pull out the Axemanship Manual.

The first pages spoke of how The Words classified one’s skill with a weapon, introducing a new category called Mastery, that used its own Rank System. But I didn’t have time to waste on that.

I flipped through the pages, straight to the real meat.

//////////////////////////////////////

Neutral/Guard Stance

Feet shoulder-width, off-shoulder facing the enemy, knees slightly bent, axe vertical in front of chest. Note that there are no "correct" hand positions for gripping the weapon. Your hold must adapt to the action you intend to perform, and your stance should always be ready to transition fluidly, with your feet and body prepared to lend their full weight to the swing.

...

//////////////////////////////////////

The page contained detailed diagrams of a human holding the same pose from a variety of different angles, and grips. I committed them to memory and moved to the next page.

//////////////////////////////////////

Offensive Maneuvers

Maintain a stable base, while using quick, firm steps to counter-balance momentum. Your off hand is what provides power by pulling or pushing the butt-end of the Weapon’s shaft, while your dominant hand acts as a guide.

Engage the core whenever possible to maintain stability and generate maximum force. These are the foundations of all offensive maneuvers.

Strikes

1. The Downward Chop: From the Guard Stance, raise the weapon slightly as you step forward with your dominant foot, then bring the axe down in a cutting motion, letting the dominant hand slide down the shaft as needed, creating additional leverage.

2. The Undercut

3. ....

//////////////////////////////////////

The page continued, detailing forms for various different attacks, but I was short on time. I noted the most basic moves, both offensive and defensive, and set the manual aside.

[2 minutes 15 seconds]

Just having read those few paragraphs, I was already able to identify what went wrong with my first swing. My grip had been locked on the axe’s shaft, when my grip was supposed to be loose, and variable. The downward chop’s description was what highlighted it best.

’...letting the dominant hand slide down the shaft as needed, creating additional leverage.’

I took up the neutral stance as specified, and tried out the Downward Chop again, this time implementing what I’d learnt from the diagrams and descriptions.

The axe swung down far harder, but it still ricocheted off the ground. This time though, I was nowhere near close enough for the head to make contact with me.

I realized letting the hands slide along the handle meant the axe carried its own momentum. That meant the blow would be heavier, AND the wielder’s own balance would remain unaffected. A simple fix, but game-changing for a beginner like myself.

I practiced it a few times and moved on to diagonal swings, employing similar techniques for both the downward and upward motions. Having the off-hand generate power made the forms feel like a lever system. My right hand was just the base, my left hand moved the tail end, and in return, the heavy-bladed axe head moved with immense speed and force.

The more I swung, the more natural it felt.

When the timer reached the 30 second mark, the ground vibrated slightly and a new System Prompt appeared in front of my eyes.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

[Floor One - Challenge Rules]

1. Beasts appear in waves, starting from a single level 1 Squall-Class, and increasing in strength or numbers with every successive wave.

2. Once a wave has begun, you must either clear the wave, or survive for 20 minutes.

3. After successfully clearing a wave, you may choose to continue or cash in your rewards. This decision is final.

4. Upon choosing to continue, you are given an optional rest period of 5 minutes before the Challenge resumes.

5. Clear the 10th Wave to pass this Challenge.

~ ~ ~ ~ ~

Clear the wave...or survive.

A small smile broke loose on my face.

If there was one thing I could trust this body to do no matter the situation, it was to survive.