A new wave was sweeping through the academy these days.
Apart from incidents and accidents, this was the first ti a situation had heated up since the tournant.
"They're on the 10th floor now."
"With the 10th floor, Adrias won't be able to rely solely on magic anymore, right?"
The spark for the Tower of Modras, which had seed to die down after Dianne, had been reignited by Adrias.
All surviving until the 10th floor.
The students were questioning just how that was possible.
Understanding Adrias' tily judgnts and tactics was difficult unless you had experienced it firsthand.
However, outsiders who continued to watch without leaving their seats could still perceive how remarkable Adrias was.
How talented Adrias was.
Even though they couldn't hear the sound, they could roughly guess what was happening through Adrias' gestures and the movents of his team mbers, viewing it from the perspective of soone with experience as a leader or a commander.
"Looks like there was another unexpected talent."
"I suppose he'd be an interesting addition to the Northern Fortress. I've heard that small-scale regional battles still happen frequently, and Lord Bargrass would probably appreciate knowing that."
"Huh, sending such talent to the North is a waste! However, there's no doubt that he's a talent capable of both combat and command."
"Originally, even though Adrias Cromwell might be a student right now, he'll be a Count if he graduates. Everyone, be cautious of your words."
"Hehe, he's beco so famous that we've been forgetting. But how is it that he's still maintaining the status of a Count?"
By this point, even the journalists who had stepped back after Dianne's achievents had to return.
Of course, they couldn't compare to Dianne's records, but if there were exceptional individuals who perford well in the sa grade, that was enough to create buzz.
As a result, the area in front of the Tower of Modras was more lively than ever.
.
.
.
.
As we ascended to the 10th floor, only a massive door awaited us.
Despite already taking enough rest on the previous floors, everyone's faces still showed signs of tension.
'I'd like to get everyone through the 10th floor if possible.'
I was soone who saw through unknown gimmicks and weaknesses.
Perhaps it was possible for everyone to survive on this floor too.
While pondering that, one of the freshn suddenly ca forward and bowed his head.
"I've been grateful up until now. Senior, you'll probably pass the 10th floor without any problems. I might end up eliminated, so I want to express my gratitude in advance."
At first, I was uncertain about the guy, but after coming up to this point together, he had beco an ardent fan of mine.
After he greeted , other guys followed suit, one after the other, bowing respectfully.
"I never thought we'd make it to the 10th floor. It's all thanks to Senior Adrias. Thank you for giving us this valuable experience."
"I was hoping to join a prestigious order of knights, but thanks to you, Senior, my goal has changed. If I get the chance, I want to beco a knight capable of strategizing and commanding like you. Thank you for solidifying my life's goals."
"Adrias, Senior, do you have a girlfriend? If not, can I confess to you later?"
Britney's sowhat playful remark, the only lighthearted mont, brought laughter to everyone, diffusing what could have been a dark atmosphere.
Even Vincent, my fellow grade mber, ca up to to express his gratitude, so I waved him off.
"Why do you think this is the end?"
Everyone who had been chatting as if they thought this was the end turned to .
"As of now, the 10th-floor mission briefing begins. Listen well and follow along."
I smiled at their surprised expressions.
"Let's rewrite history."
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.
.
.
Up to this point, I had never once finished playing through the floors below the 10th.
With that, I could proudly claim to have a better understanding of the 10th floor than anyone else.
'The boss on the 10th floor is the Iron Golem.'
Although the na might sound weak, its danger and strength were imnse, enough to be considered a true boss. Its imnse strength was to the point that even one wrong hit from its powerful fist would an an automatic elimination.
Furthermore, its speed was on par with its power, so there was no room for complacency.
Despite its massive size, its speed was comparable to that of an average knight, making it difficult for wizards to escape unscathed when the golem suddenly closed in while they were providing support from the rear.
'A golem, so it has unlimited stamina. Jousting is aningless.'
Even the jousting techniques often used when facing formidable opponents were ineffective.
However, it was possible to stop its movents by destroying the magical core that powered it. But it was easier said than done, as the golem's magical core changed its position frequently. Fortunately, I wasn't worried about that.
"Whew."
Soone let out a tense sigh.
I had given a detailed plan, covering various gimmicks and weaknesses, but it seed that tension was inevitable.
"I'll open the door."
They nodded.
As I did, the door blocking our way started to slowly moisten.
"Adrias, are you really okay?"
Vincent asked with an uneasy voice.
I raised my voice for everyone to hear in response to his question.
"Your current rankings alone put you in the top tier. There's no need to worry. Just do what I told you."
"That's right. We're all in the top ranks anyway."
Seeing Vincent finally relax, I realized how easy it was to deal with him, and I felt relieved.
Although I aid to have everyone pass the floor, I was concerned about Vincent since his movents were slowed as a magician.
As the 10th floor was called the "Realm of Magic," golems were not as straightforward as they appeared. Vincent, who had slower movents, was an easy target for the golem.
"That's an Iron Golem."
"Seeing it in person, its size is much more noticeable."
As the door opened fully, an Iron Golem stood tall in the wide space.
In addition to the golem, there were hidden devices and traps all around, though they weren't visible.
"Be careful of the traps on both sides."
I reiterated the warning, just in case, even though I had already briefed them.
My team nodded and walked forward.
Whiiing.
Thump thump thump thump.
With a massive rumbling sound, the sound of the magical core activating reverberated through the air.
The door we had opened closed again, and the previously dormant golem rose from its crouched position, standing and looking at us.
"Follow the plan."
I whispered to my team and began counting inwardly.
Entering the tower, I drew out Galakshur for the first ti and followed the plan as we had discussed beforehand.
Thwack.
Quaang!
I struck the still immobile golem with a forceful blow.
Trendous recoil was reflected through the magical barrier surrounding the golem's exterior.
"14 seconds. Not bad."
While I was drawing the aggro, my teammates took their positions.
As it was a boss room on the 10th floor, there was only one Iron Golem as the primary enemy. However, various traps were scattered throughout the spacious room, and my team mbers were already positioned near these traps, ready to use them.
"Vincent!"
While striking the slowly moving golem once more, I shouted. In response, Vincent, who had been preparing a spell, swung his staff.
Quaaak!
The water magic he cast was unusually powerful for Vincent. Nevertheless, most of its force was absorbed by the magical barrier surrounding the golem's exterior, leaving the golem barely wet.
Perhaps because of this, the golem's aggro still remained focused on .
Thump!
Without suffering any hits, the golem suddenly swung its fist towards .
I intentionally evaded it narrowly and made my way towards my first target.
"41 seconds. Timing is crucial."
Glancing back as I ran, I confird that the golem's aggro was properly drawn to and shouted.
"Gilbert! Now!"
Clank.
At my shout, Gilbert triggered a trap and quickly jumped out of the way.
In response, a high-voltage current began to flow from a specific part of the floor.
Zziizzt!
Since I had been anticipating this, I stopped abruptly without touching the floor and perford a rapid pivot. However, the golem following couldn't overco its own montum and stepped onto the floor.
Zziizzzt!
With a trendous noise, the Iron Golem shuddered.
The water magic Vincent had prepared earlier collided with the electrical trap, producing a significant effect. It managed to disrupt the magical barrier surrounding the golem's exterior.
"1 minute 12 seconds."
Despite suffering trendous damage from the electricity, the golem turned back to face without showing any sign of pain. It was an artificial lifeform incapable of experiencing pain.
"Angelo! Not there! Two steps to the left!"
"Yes, yes!"
I shouted to a teammate who stood at the next target.
Angelo, tense with concentration, quickly moved two steps to the left.
Thump!
Then, the damage dealt seed stronger than I expected. The golem ca to a halt, raising both hands above its head. It was a signal that it was transitioning to the next phase.
"Change of plan! Formation B!"
However, I had already anticipated this category, so I swiftly switched to the second plan that I had prepared.
My teammates rushed to my side cautiously, avoiding traps, and the golem pounded the ground.
Quaang!
The ground shivered like waves, and the edges crumbled away, forming precipices in all directions.
We jumped to evade the shaky ground, and Vincent carried one of the team mbers and jumped as well, quickly resuming his task.
"Grease."
I had previously made the ground slippery and already had a potion prepared, which I now retrieved from my pouch.
Here, it's at 3 minutes and 23 seconds.
"Faster than planned, but it should be fine."
After tapping the ground, the slightly delayed golem was tapped by each of my team mbers as they passed.
Gradually, the golem stood up, and as its two eyes began to glow red, I realized it was ti and shouted.
"Vincent! Nine o'clock direction! Everyone, be ready!"
Vincent and the teammate carrying him dashed towards the golem facing the nine o'clock direction.
The critical factors now were whether Vincent's spell was ready and whether his magic could withstand the attack.
'If it succeeds, we can all pass.'
Finally, the awaited attack from the golem began.
Whoosh.
Zeeeek
A beam capable of incinerating everything burst forth from the golem's eyes.
Concerned whether Vincent might miss the timing due to the beam's incredibly fast speed, I wondered.
"Aaaah!"
Amid Vincent's scream, his magic activated abruptly.
In the instant that the beam was about to hit Vincent and the team mber carrying him, a mirror magic was activated, deflecting the beam away.
"Stay calm and act as planned!"
The reflected beam scattered in all directions.
My team mbers narrowly avoided the dispersing beam, and finally, a single beam struck the golem.
Crash!
Clang!
"It's shattered."
The magical barrier shattered.
Then, the waiting team mbers swiftly rushed towards the broken barrier and started attacking the golem.
Splat!
Thud!
Thanks to the team mbers who focused on the legs as we had discussed earlier, the slippery ground caused the golem to fall.
Thud!
"5 minutes and 11 seconds."
Considering the ti, I approached the golem.
"It's in the 5-minute range. Attack the designated areas we discussed earlier."
"Can you repeat it one more ti?"
"Group 1, target the left arm! Group 2, aim for the heart! Group 3, hit the right flank!"
Before entering, we had already assigned attack positions based on where the magic core would be every minute. Since the position changed every minute, I had told them in advance which body parts to target. In this chaotic situation, however, my mind was a bit scattered.
Crash! Thud!
Despite the absence of the magical barrier, its body was made of steel and not easily penetrated.
However, this ti, I intended to end it. I used the fusion magic, "Aurora," that I had prepared in advance.
Sizzle.
Black flas erged, and Galakshur lted into the right flank of the golem I was attacking.
'It's a failure.'
There was nothing in my hand.
And the golem's resistance had intensified.
Creak!
"Ugh!"
A team mber attacking the heart blocked the golem's swinging arm and was deflected away.
Fortunately, thanks to Vincent's protective magic from behind, the team mber was not pushed off the cliff.
Realizing I had no ti, I shattered the potion I had prepared and threw it into the pierced side.
Crash.
Pshh.
With the sll of corrosion in the air, the golem's body began to undergo deformations.
"Now, retreat!"
Staying any longer was dangerous.
Following my command, the team mbers stepped back, and I also withdrew.
Just in ti, the golem stood up from its position.
"It's not regenerating!"
One of the team mbers shouted.
Several factors made the 10th-floor boss challenging, but its regenerative abilities played a significant role. Unless the magic core was destroyed, the ever-regenerating Iron Golem should have healed the punctured side, but due to the potion I used, it remained solid.
As a result, the golem's movents were sowhat unnatural.
"6 minutes."
Ti for the magic core to change position again.
Coincidentally, it was now on its head.
"I'll distract it for just one minute."
When the golem was standing, I couldn't target its head.
Afterward, we played a ga of cat and mouse, taking turns to aggro the golem to buy ti.
Still, with all seven of us surviving, buying ti was easy.
'The potion played a role too.'
Since the wound on its side wasn't regenerating, its movents beca sluggish.
Thanks to that, we safely endured a minute and entered the seventh minute.
"Left leg, right arm!"
Targeting the legs was relatively easy, so the team mbers left marks on the legs forcefully.
No matter how steel-reinforced its body was, Galakshur-infused strikes began to penetrate inward.
Crash!
"Huh?"
One of the team mbers tapped the leg and voiced doubt.
Then, with glistening eyes, the team mber who was aggroing the golem called out to .
"I hit its leg! The magic core is in the leg!"
"Let's all attack together."
I could have attacked the leg, but soone still needed to aggro the golem. If another team mber took aggro, they could beco easy prey in an instant. So, I decided to entrust the magic core to my team mbers.
Bang! Clang!
Thanks to Vincent, who cast spells at the right ti from behind, we could navigate through those perilous monts.
Especially the tis when the golem attempted to throw us off the cliff were prevented by Vincent using ground or wind magic.
Crash!
"Huh?"
Suddenly, with a massive cracking sound, light exploded from the golem's leg.
"Get down!"
Even though I had warned them in advance, there was hardly any ti to think. I shouted at the team mbers who were standing there dazed. Then everyone hurriedly flattened themselves on the ground.
Kwaaaah!
Amidst the blinding light, an enormous shockwave surged forward, pushing us away.
As the light gradually faded and we opened our eyes, the golem had completely vanished, and a staircase leading upward had appeared.
"Huh?"
"Could this be..."
"Am I awake? This is unbelievable."
The team mbers, still in disbelief despite what they had accomplished, turned to each other with bright smiles.
"Wow!"
"We did it! We did it!"
"Nobody got eliminated? How is this even possible?"
"We must be the first! Everyone on the 10th floor survived!"
While everyone was rejoicing,
I shifted my gaze toward the shared magical screen that was recording us.
'Dianne, sorry, but I'm taking the victory of the bet.'
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