The initial test with Polly’s clone was a colossal failure. It became painfully clear that anything entering the water would be attacked by those aquatic monsters. And these
monsters were no pushovers.
It was obvious that jumping into the pool wasn’t the right move. Those aquatic creatures were far stronger and more agile in the water. This challenge was crafted to test one’s capacity to battle in an aquatic environment-a skill Broken had yet to master. He lacked the techniques and abilities required to either survive or fight effectively in such conditions.
How could he defeat these monsters? While his area-of-effect skill came from his Legendary Spear, which included water element damage, it would be ineffective against these creatures. Broken took a deep gulp, his mind spinning with ideas. “Does this mean that if we don’t enter the water, we’ll be safe from attack?” A thought suddenly sparked in his mind.
Could someone cross the entire pool by staying airborne? Would that avoid drawing the attention of these aquatic monsters?
“If only I had flying skill,” he pondered for a moment.
He scanned the area, searching for a way to cross without entering the water. The tall pillars scattered throughout the pool, stretching from the bottom to the surface above, caught his attention. What was their purpose? Could he use them to his advantage?
His eyes narrowed as he formulated a plan. Those pillars might just be the key to getting across without triggering the monsters. With some agility and careful movement, he could potentially hop from one to the next, bypassing the water entirely. However, he needed to figure out how to grip onto those pillars, as their large diameter made it impossible to wrap his arms around them.
“I need to try this,” he murmured to himself.
Broken pulled the Moonvine Knuckles from his inventory and equipped them. A bold idea had suddenly struck him, one he hadn’t tested before, but somehow he felt oddly confident about. After all, if it failed, he’d end up plunging into the water and facing the monsters lurking below. But it was worth a shot.
“Polly, there’s a superhero in my world who’s admired by many,” he said suddenly.
“Yes, Master?” Polly replied, looking puzzled. “Is it you?”
Broken chuckled at her question. “No, not me, but I’m going to try copying his style.” He adjusted the knuckles, which were already upgraded to +3. Although there was still a long way to go for further upgrades, there was one skill from the Moonvine Knuckles that he believed could help him cross this long pool.
[+3 The Moonvine Knuckles – Guardian Treant Lv. 200]
[Grade: Legendary]
[Attack Power: 552-606
Attack power +20% Under the Moon
Agility +226]
[…..]
[Nature Warp Strike: This skill allows you to summon a long, sharp vine from your knuckles that can tear through space, creating a miniature portal. You can direct this portal to any nearby area, providing you with a significant tactical advantage in battle.]
He took a deep breath, centering his mind. The Moonvine Knuckles had a special ability he hoped would provide the momentum and grip needed to leap from one pillar to the next. freeweɓnovel.cѳm
“Meet me at the end of the pool, Polly.”
Nature Warp Strike was a versatile skill, allowing him to cast alternately from either hand. The vine could bind and wrap around a target or be released or retracted at will. When used skillfully, it had numerous potential functions in combat.
Broken had used the Moonvine Knuckles in several battles, leveraging this skill effectively. However, what he was attempting now was something entirely new.
He stepped to the pool’s edge, raising his right hand. A vine materialized and shot out from his knuckles, snaking toward the ceiling. Suddenly, it vanished and reappeared, wrapping itself around a pillar.
His body was swiftly pulled upward, swinging him above the pool’s surface. Just as he had hoped, no monsters emerged from the water. With a swift motion, he extended his left hand, and another vine shot out, allowing him to swing to his left while the vine on his right hand released its grip.
He was swinging through the air on vines, like some kind of makeshift superhero. Damn, he hadn’t expected it to work so well.
Once he had built up enough momentum, he released both vines, letting them wrap around a pillar. He clung to it, the vines securely holding him there. Yet, his journey was far from over. He took a deep breath, keeping his adrenaline in check as he skimmed over the water’s surface. He knew his movements weren’t perfect yet, and he had to stay focused to make it to the end of the pool. But his initial attempt was already a huge success.
With his first attempt succeeding, his confidence soared. He quickly jumped, flinging both hands into the air, and the vines shot out, latching onto the pillar on the opposite side. Broken swung swiftly, feeling his body maneuver expertly above the water. He began to get a feel for the momentum, seamlessly positioning each movement with precision. Continuing this newfound rhythm, he began to enjoy it so much that he yelled excitedly, “Yoo-hoo! I really did it!”
The monsters didn’t appear; who knows what they were doing. Surely, they should have noticed Broken speeding over the water above their heads.
If they were really in the water, they could have just surfaced and attacked him, right? But they didn’t.
This challenge clearly had a rule that the monsters could only attack those who touched the water. He discovered this through a simple experiment, thanks to Polly’s clone. Someone else might have struggled to get through without an ability to avoid swimming. Maybe someone like Elincia, who could fly, could have breezed through, but unfortunately, she isn’t a water element user, is she?
His confidence soared as he continued swinging with the vines, now managing to do it without pausing at the pillars. Even though he knew this was draining his stamina significantly, he was certain he could make it to the end with just a bit more effort. He remained focused, and the final swing truly brought him to the edge of the pool.
He executed a somersault in the air while the vines retracted back into his knuckles. When he landed gracefully, arms outstretched as if performing a delicate dance, he knew he had done it. Without having to fight the monsters, this was the easiest Trial Domain he could imagine tackling. And yet, this was a level 200 Trial Domain. The grin on his face said it all.
He took a moment to rest, allowing his Stamina to recover as he sat on the floor. Suddenly, Polly reappeared, running to him and hopping into his lap.
How long had he been inside the Trial Domain? Surely, the challenges couldn’t have taken that long, right? He spent a few minutes recuperating, and once he felt his Stamina was sufficiently restored, he stood up again.
Players can’t clearly see their Stamina usage; it is only indicated by colors-green for full and super red for dangerously low. Stamina is a crucial stat because without it, no one can fight or
use their skills.
Now that Broken was ready, he needed to figure out what the next challenge would be. Typically, a place like this would have three challenges, no more. So, the next one ought to be the final test.