The skeleton fell to the ground, reduced to ash.
The flying knife, which had been piercing his body like a mass of bone spurs, also fell. Alka walked over and picked it up.
He examined it carefully.
"I didn't expect it would work so well at this moment." This was the attack method that Alka had just come up with on a whim.
He hadn't expected it to have such a severe impact on the skeleton, which was also made of bones.
The numerous bone spurs protruding from the cracks in the skeleton completely blocked the movement of his upper body.
Otherwise, he would have had to expend even more effort on this level.
The environment changed again.
Alka returned to the hall.
The number on the door in front of him showed the symbol of five.
Looking at the symbol on the door, Alka wondered whether he should continue to the next level for the trial. According to speculation, the enemies on the next level should have reached 18 spirals, while he only had 14.
If he were outside, Alka might have thought he had a chance of defeating them above his level.
But after fighting on these floors, Alka discovered that every enemy here had the potential to defeat them above their level.
From spell combinations to offensive techniques, they were perfectly matched.
Luckily, Alka's only comfort was that the enemies here didn't possess any treasures.
If any of these enemies possessed a treasure, he would be in trouble.
Although the spells displayed by the skeleton he had just faced were already top-tier, like spells derived from treasures,
it was ultimately not as powerful as possessing a treasure.
The spells the skeleton had just used, combined with his attack methods, could easily kill even someone who possessed a treasure if he wasn't careful.
After a moment's thought, Alka decided to continue on to the next level.
After all, he possessed two treasures.
Even if he could predict the enemies on the next level would be targeted, he could still accept the situation and have a reasonable chance of victory, as long as he didn't possess the treasures.
Furthermore, if he was truly in imminent danger of death, he could always surrender and leave. With this in mind, Alka pushed the door open with all his might.
As his condition returned to full strength, Alka entered.
The scene before him didn't present the unfavorable conditions Alka had imagined.
It was simply a circular stone platform, its edges surrounded by railings.
It didn't look like an arena.
Rather, it resembled a training ground. Before him stood a middle-aged man in a figure-hugging gray suit.
His facial expression and features looked incredibly ordinary; if you were to throw him into a crowd, you wouldn't have noticed him at all.
He stood there, hands clasped behind his back, looking at Alka.
Watching Alka turn her attention to him, he gave a slight nod.
"Hello, Trialist! I'm the instructor of this Trial Tower. From now on, I'll be your opponent."
Can you speak? Can you communicate?
Alka frowned. Why had those enemies just now seemed completely unable to communicate?
Why did something change on this floor?
"Why can you communicate? Is there anything different about this floor than the others?"
In response to Alka's question, the middle-aged man who claimed to be the instructor was remarkably patient.
He said, "Because this level is the limit of your strength, and the levels before that are beyond your capabilities.
If you can't even clear levels below your strength, then there's no need for an instructor to adjust your combat methods.
If you do, the tower will determine whether an instructor needs adjustments based on your previous combat style, helping you better master your power."
"I see. Thank you for your explanation."
Alka nodded after hearing this. It seemed that this was the true training ground.
This was truly the place known as the Trial Tower.
Breaking through oneself and striving for progress isn't something you can do alone; the Trial Tower will provide assistance.
"You're welcome."
As he spoke, the instructor in front of him looked at him and said, "Do you consider yourself a ranged spellcaster? A trickster?"
Alka nodded. That was indeed how he considered himself.
At the same time, through simulation, he could transform his form to take into account more aspects. Seeing Alka nod, the instructor shook his head.
"Then your performance doesn't seem very good. If you're just dodging, that would be considered deceitful."
This single sentence immediately made Alka feel awkward.
Because it was true, his favorite thing to do in battle was to distance himself and then attack.
Or switch to Dream Reaper mode for close combat.
That was fine; the problem was the complete lack of deception.
The only deceptive moves were the Mirror Maze and its coordination with the Realm of Journey.
The instructor said nothing more, but raised his hand and beckoned Alka.
"Attack me, bring your full might."
Is he looking down on me like that?
Since he'd said that, Alka didn't hesitate. After all, this was a trial ground.
Without hesitation, he attacked with the mirror.
A maze of mirrors instantly enveloped the entire stone platform.
And the instructor stood within it.
"Does this thing consume a lot of mana?"
"Not much." Alka's voice echoed from all directions.
It might seem like a lot, but for Alka, who possessed mirrors, this consumption was acceptable.
Hearing this, the instructor said nothing more and simply closed his eyes.
"The mirror surface is engraved with a spell that blocks detection. Hmm... but it's too crude.
A mirror maze is merely used to deceive vision, but it doesn't work for many creatures, right?
And what if the enemy you're facing doesn't see with their eyes?"
A mirrored card arced from the back corner toward the instructor.
A tiny magic bullet, the size of a finger, flew out, striking the card with pinpoint accuracy.
Aside from its speed, this magic bullet possessed no remarkable qualities. After precisely striking the card, it instantly tilted, losing much of its kinetic energy and drifting to the ground.
More cards flew in from all directions.
These cards' flight paths weren't straight lines, but rather arcs, seemingly impossible to defend against.
"Multi-angle attacks, with strange flight angles, are truly effective against an enemy. Such offensive techniques are commendable."
Faced with such an attack, the instructor abandoned the idea of hitting them all with magic bullets. He raised his hand and swung it vigorously.
Magic energy emanated.
A strange scene unfolded.
All the cards suddenly swayed in the air, as if swept by a strong wind. They lost their original trajectory and slid crookedly in all directions.
"The technique of vibrating the air with magic is cheap and easy to learn.
If you know a few wind-related spells, this move would be easier to counter.
It has too many flaws."
He praised Alka's attack, then followed it with a wave of criticism.
He outlined both its strengths and weaknesses.
Then a magic bullet appeared in his hand, engraved with an unknown, simple spell.
He gently tossed it.
The spell flew high into the air and instantly flew toward Alka's hiding place.
Then it suddenly accelerated.
It slammed into Alka.
Thankfully, Alka remained vigilant and rolled to the side, dodging the attack.
"Simply a simple [Guidance] spell, even a child could learn it."
Children 30,000 years ago were very different from those today.
Alka silently grumbled.
The instructor then opened his hands, and magic bullets condensed and floated above his head.
Then they swiftly pelted Alka's position.
They formed a dense line.
Alka was forced to dodge through the mirror.
"There's obviously a better solution? Why use teleportation? Doesn't that consume a lot of mana?"
The instructor's questions clouded Alka's thoughts.
But to be honest.
Alka felt he was right, but these words clearly didn't affect his thinking.
The strength was too low.
There was indeed a better way, if calculated by mana.
Whether it was summoning a mirror to block or transforming into a Dream Reaper to flicker,
the magic power consumption would be slightly lower than using the mirror to teleport.
"Use your pink mist. It can affect the flow of other magical energies. Just finer control is all that's needed."
Clearly, what the instructor said was different from what Alka understood.
The instructor spoke with his eyes still closed, sensing his position in a way Alka couldn't fathom.
The magic bullets he commanded to fly through the sky accurately tracked Alka's position and attacked relentlessly.
Alka followed his instructions and released a large amount of pink mist.
As the mist spread, all the magic bullets were slowed down, a natural function of the pink mist.
"Have you ever considered the true nature of your pink mist's power?"
As he spoke, Alka continued to control the mist, attempting to block the incoming magic bullets.
As the mist slowed the magic bullets, he was able to dodge more easily.
But the instructor shook his head slightly at this mist manipulation; it was too crude. "As a Dream King, your manipulation of the Dream Mist is so crude? It seems you gained this status through a special opportunity. I hope you work hard, or you'll bring shame upon the other kings."
This statement instantly embarrassed Alka even more. This was a fact that could not be refuted.
He had no choice but to answer the previous question.
"It's sleep, dreams."
Alka replied, dodging.
"No, it's the true essence."
"Spirit."
"Correct. Your magic has completely transformed into spiritual attributes. You're a natural trickster, so why... don't you seem to have any attacks or spells related to the spirit?"
He could hear a deep sense of confusion in the instructor's voice.
"..." Alka fell silent.
He couldn't say that he only discovered the true nature of his magic power a dozen days after becoming a Dream God and Dream King.
He hadn't previously paid much attention to the true nature of the pink mist's power, merely mistaking it for some of the Dream Catcher's powers.
Only a dozen days ago did he realize something was amiss.
The Dream Catcher's pink mist was completely different from the pink mist his magic had absorbed.
They both possessed a spiritual essence, for dreams were the spiritual world.
He had come to this realization through the power of the Dream Kings and the bloodline of the Dream Gods.
Dreams were not truly dreams.
But the Dream Catcher's pink mist was tainted with the principle of "Dream Scavenger."
His magic was simply the essence of the spirit.
"When you transformed into that dream creature, why did you really only use it as a powerful melee weapon?"
"Isn't it essentially derived from the same source as your magic? That should have allowed for greater changes, right?"
"That mirror mask you're using can simulate even more changes. Why not combine it with yours?"
Stop talking, Master.
The instructor's various words had completely robbed Alka of even the thought of attacking.
He practically railed against him, peppering him with deadly questions.
Alka had actually noticed many of these problems; he just hadn't yet, or perhaps didn't want to, change them.
His inherent weaknesses, along with other pursuits and hobbies, weighed down his experience.
And with so little time, he acquired these powers one after another.
So little time, he simply didn't have the time or energy to fully master them.
Even if he spent most of his free time reading and studying, it still wasn't enough.
He'd only truly entered this field a few years ago.
He'd spent most of his time supplementing his basic knowledge with the books in Lucelia's dream library.
He had to do this now.
"Your powers are too complex. Each one is impressive on its own, but when combined, they hinder you.
You're too young. Your age, compared to your achievements, seems too young. This is both your advantage and your disadvantage.
I can tell you don't seem to have received this kind of education since childhood. How long have you been in this field?"
"Hmm... the time is a bit vague, but around five years."
"..." After saying this, the instructor fell silent.
"Okay, kid, I take it back. You've done very well."
"But after that, you'll have to make a choice. Don't rush. Take your time.
You're no longer a mortal. You have the blood of a god and the power of kings. Time will leave no more marks on you."
This is a true untapped genius, and his growth must be carefully nurtured.
The instructor's eyes had already opened, and a faint glint could be seen in them.
He raised his hand and gently snapped his fingers.
The mirror maze surrounding him shattered instantly.
"Every mirror seems to have similar hardness. All you need to do is vibrate the surroundings with a similar amount of magic power."
He said this as if to show off.
Alka simply stood there and nodded. "Your power is unstructured, your attacks unstructured, like a wild animal.
Didn't your elders teach you how to fight? You seem to have received no training at all."
Hearing the instructor's words, Alka nodded.
"Yes, the fighting style I've displayed so far is just something I figured out on my own."
"Hmm..." The instructor paused; the situation was worse than he'd imagined.
"I'm not sure what's going on outside anymore. I can sense some changes.
It seems the normal conditions I described no longer apply to the outside world. But being stronger isn't a bad thing, is it?
No matter how the world changes, it will always be the same.
Everything is determined by power... Sigh."
He seemed more than just a byproduct of the Tower of Trials.
"But my experience should still apply."
He looked up at Alka and said seriously, "Remember what I just said. The essence of power is you. Don't use a treasure as a weapon or a tool.
You should study its essence, understand its power, and then control it."
"You may find it useful at this stage, but it's like wielding a knife carelessly.
A sharp blade can certainly injure your enemies with a casual swing, but why not use it with more refined skill?
That way, it becomes your power.
You control the blade, not it controlling you. "
Alka nodded, understanding what the instructor was trying to say.
"First, you must construct a treacherous system based on the nature of your magic. Everything that lives has a spirit.
This is a great advantage. The essence of your bloodline's power is leaning towards this direction. You must move in this direction."
"Once you have a rough idea of your own, I will personally teach you again and offer my advice next time you come."
Goodnight, the instructor looked at Alka and waved.
"You failed. I look forward to your next trial."
With that, Alka vanished from the spot.
Once he had returned to the Trial Tower, he returned to where he had entered.
"You've cleared Level 4 this time. Congratulations," the triangle said, floating nearby.
The others gathered around.
"How was it in there? What kind of trial was it?" "Mind? Or combat?"
"To correct myself, this Trial Tower specializes in combat. The one dedicated to the mind has long been destroyed. It's a shame you can't experience it," Triangle said nearby.
Alka listened to everyone's questions and replied, "Well, it was quite rewarding. It helped me sort out my thoughts lately.
I suggest you all try the Trial. It's very, very useful." "
It was indeed as the instructor had said. His power was too disorganized, lacking a single central thread.
Multiple threads ran parallel, yet none supported each other.
He wanted it all, yet achieved nothing.
His time didn't allow it, and he had to read frantically, absorbing knowledge to supplement his missing foundation.
He needed to rethink his current power system and find a better path.
Looking forward to the next trial.
Alka had decided to stay on this island for a while, sorting out his power system.
And having so many suitable enemies like the Trial Tower, without putting one's life in danger, was a rare occurrence.
But this required discussion with everyone.
Let's wait for them to each complete a trial first.
Thinking this way, Alka looked at them and said, "After you've all passed once, we'll discuss our next move. How's that?"
"No problem. I'll do it this time." "
Sofia said as he stepped onto the teleportation platform.
Following Alka's previous actions, he raised his left hand and placed it on the stone pillar, disappearing from the spot.
Watching the vanishing Sofia, Jason turned to Alka and asked.
"How long were you up there, based on your own feelings?"
"About 10 to 15 hours," Alka thought for a moment and said.
He couldn't put a precise time on it, especially during the intense battles, when time seemed to speed up and slow down.
Particularly during that time in the forest, patience was a test, and that level must have consumed him the most time.
After answering this question, Alka looked up at the sky.
"It seems this tower has a time-related function."
He hadn't noticed it when he first emerged, but now that Jason had asked him, he understood the reason for the question.
"Yes, less than two hours had passed from the time you entered to the time you left. We were wondering how you could be so fast." "
"And you don't seem injured? You haven't cleared the level, so how did you get down here?" Julia asked, observing Alka from the side.
After all, Alka didn't look like he'd experienced any battle at all. Not only did he have no scars, but he also looked like he'd barely depleted his physical and magical energy.
Hearing this, Alka smiled and briefly explained the tower's mechanics to everyone.
"So, the most important thing is to face a level of strength equal to yours?" Jason said.
Alka nodded.
Only when you reach that level will the instructors help you.
"While you wait, how about doing me a favor?" the triangle suddenly said, floating nearby.
Glancing at the glances everyone turned towards him, he explained, "As you all know, the concentration of magical energy on this island is very high. This is because the very structure of the stone tower allows for this." Due to the fragmentation and the passage of time, the magic power has dispersed, increasing its concentration throughout the environment. Those affected, now possessing life, have begun to absorb and plunder the island's magic power.
This has had a certain impact on the maintenance of the Trial Tower. If you don't mind, you can clear out these elemental lifeforms while you wait.
Hearing this, Alka nodded.
"No problem."
After all, clearing out these elemental lifeforms can also yield needed materials, so why not?