Even with the tip of my sword swirling with the volatile pressure of 'Chaos', the invisible surface of the [Absolute Wall] remained exactly that: absolute. It didn't so much as crack under the strain. The [Absolute Wall] was the undisputed transition of all 'Shield' type defenses, a Skill so rare that encountering it was a statistical anomaly.
Even for a {Demon Peer}, possessing such a conceptual defense was unheard of; it was highly likely that in the entirety of the Nebula [Pandemonium], only a handful of beings could claim such a power.
"{You really are one interesting fellow... Perhaps you'll do just fine in my experiments...}" {Gunthafer} hissed. He licked his lips with a rhythmic, unsettling slow motion, his eyes scanning me as if I were a rare specimen pinned to an observation board.
Ah, Experiments? I felt a jolt of recognition. Back in the VR days, I had never crossed paths with a demon named {Gunthafer} personally, but the lore spoke of a high-ranking entity whose obsession with the macabre was well-known. The 'Abyssal Doctor' was his moniker. He was a nomad of the abyss, a demon whose clinical obsession was so all-consuming that he was known to hop from serving one {Demon King} to another whenever his research required a new patron.
Normally, such shifting loyalties were considered the highest form of treason in any realm, but the 'Abyssal Doctor' was always an exception. From what I could recall, he possessed a 'Unique Ability' that made him indispensable until his final master decided to execute him to seize his research. If {Gunthafer} was indeed that doctor, then defeating him might not be a matter of raw power, but a matter of psychology.
"...Well, it's an honor to meet the 'Abyssal Doctor'," I said, finally opening my mouth to test the waters of conversation.
"{?? 'Abyssal Doctor'??? What's that??}" {Gunthafer} blinked, his dumbfounded expression appearing startlingly honest. He looked genuinely clueless. Was he faking it? Or was the 'Abyssal Doctor' a different entity entirely? That didn't seem right. I was confident that the 'Unique Ability' from the lore was the [Absolute Wall]. Perhaps, at this point in the Tower's timeline, he simply hadn't earned the title yet.
"[Activating 'Water Lightning' Lvl 1!]"
I didn't wait for him to process the name. Using the natural conductivity of the water and the residual energy sparking from my blade, I triggered a massive surge of electricity that flash-boiled the surrounding liquid into a thick, obscuring vapor. Under the cover of the smokescreen, I pushed off and created distance between us.
"[Activating The Class Exclusive Skill, 'Shield: Thousand Spears'!]"
"[Notice: The Class Exclusive Passive Skill, 'Absolute Manipulation', has been applied!]"
I manifested a huge number of 'Shield Spears' in the murky water and launched them in a simultaneous volley. I knew they wouldn't penetrate the [Absolute Wall], but I needed to confirm a hypothesis.
"{Ahhhhh... Is that the 'Shield' Class!?? I never thought it could be used like this! What an interesting way of using the most trashy Class! Ahahahahant!}"{Gunthafer} laughed, a manic, possessed sound that echoed through the trenches.
I ignored the taunt and raised 'Erravoth' high, filling the steel with nothing but pure, unfiltered 'Chaos'. Earlier, I had mixed in [Sword Energy] and [Hell Flame], which masked the true nature of my power. This time, I let the 'Chaos' bleed out cleanly. I swung a massive vertical slash directly at his barrier. My 'Chaos' level and base level were far too inferior to his, so the energy, despite being the perfect counter to all things, couldn't quite bite through.
"{??!!! What was that??? That chaotic energy!! I sensed a mixture of different types of energies... even 'Divinity' and 'Demonic Energy' inside!?? Heyyy! Tell me what that was!?? Ahhhhh~~ show.. show me moreeeee..}"{Gunthafer} was practically vibrating with giddiness, his 'Weird and Obsessive' trait flaring up just like the 'Abyssal Doctor' from the lore.
"Oh? Wanna see more?" I taunted.
With his near-infinite reserves of 'Demonic Energy', his [Absolute Wall] was effectively a perpetual motion machine of defense. Trying to grind him down in a fair fight was a death sentence for me. I had to lean into his madness.
"{Yesss!!!! Moreeeee!!}"
"[Activating the 3-Star Barrier, 'Triune Axiom Field'!]"
"[Activating 'Moon Imprint' Lvl 1!]"
"[Notice: Your 'Barrier' Skills have been greatly enhanced!]"
Ethereal 'Runic Languages' manifested in the water, encircling {Gunthafer} in a glowing geometric cage.
"{Ahhh!!?? Rune magic!!?? You know that too...?!}" he shrieked in delight.
"[Activating The Exclusive Skill, 'Crimson Constellation Sovereign: Judgement of Chaos' Lvl 1!]"
With a sharp downward gesture, I called forth another pillar of pure 'Chaos' energy. it struck like a massive, silent lightning bolt, slamming into his barrier with the full weight of my remaining reserves. This was my strongest offensive Skill, a conceptual hammer designed to shatter reality itself.
"[Warning: Your 'Chaos' has depleted!]"
I exhaled, my body feeling suddenly heavy. That was the last of my energy. As the vibrations in the water settled and the vapor cleared, {Gunthafer} was still there, standing comfortably behind his 'Wall'. My Level was still far too low to pierce his defense; the strength of an [Absolute Series] Skill was simply too dependent on the user's 'Rank' and 'Energy'.