Paragon of Skills

Strike Rhythm (Silver - Offensive Skill)

Would you like to absorb Strike Rhythm?

"Yes!"

You have absorbed Strike Rhythm.

Strike Rhythm (Silver - Offensive Skill)

Effect: Your strikes acquire more power as you chain the attacks in order to create weaknesses.

King Baalrek, I say to the Infernal in my soul.

Yes, Cloud?

Strike Rhythm. Is this what I think it is?

What do you mean?

When I took the Champion's test, you had me tap the barrier in order to create a flaw, right? So that the rhythm would disrupt the Mana. I suppose that when you were alive, you had a similar Skill?

No. I never had any Skill that did that. It was just my knowledge. It was never something I used in battle outside of breaking down barriers. But I was strong enough that I mostly shattered them through brute force. Why?

Could I be wrong, then? I think to myself.

Just... nothing.

My hypothesis is pretty simple at the moment, as I pick up both Skills and, with the Grimoire and Heavenly Intuition, I slowly max them out.

Rafnov was a Godlike being that even King Baalrek respected. Yet, the Infernal never mentioned how powerful he might have been in battle. While his focus must have mostly been in mining, he must have had enough power to defend himself, surely. Otherwise, he might have been killed by just about anyone.

Plus, even if he belonged to a crafter's Class, how could have he not acquired incredible power? Swinging a pickaxe is not something you only do against a rock. In fact, whenever someone murdered another miner back home, the main tool they used...

I look at the pickaxe in my hand and then at the Skills I have learned.

"Even Shard Scatter..."

I turn toward the other Champions, but I feel a bit ashamed of asking.

I'll test it out later. Let's just finish the test for now.

* * *

"It's an interesting trial," Asterion says, seeing Jacob getting up after absorbing the Skills and meditating. They had already seen the young man do the same several times. He was probably trying to get as many early levels as possible. "But I don't get why the rocks are floating."

"Striking an object that is mid-air is harder," Vyrrak comments from the right side of the Highblood. "You should know that."

"I do," Asterion replies, not offended in the least by the jab from the Dragonkin. "But why would a miner need to strike floating objects? I would understand if this was training for an axeman, perhaps. But a miner?"

A case of literary theft: this tale is not rightfully on Amazon; if you see it, report the violation.

Vyrrak falls silent for a moment, considering the implication of what Asterion had just said.

There is, indeed, no need for a miner to be able to chain blows like Jacob was currently doing.

Vyrrak narrows his eyes as he sees the pickaxe glowing as Jacob channels Mana into it. Then, he sees the human bounce the pickaxe between the rocks, slowly chipping them apart with just enough force to shave rock off and not completely destroy them. The sound is closer to a musical instrument than what he has heard in mines.

Both witness Jacob getting more and more confident as he slowly takes the rocks apart. The flames that buffet him don't even make him blink, almost as if he had already mastered the Skill Crystal he just absorbed.

Sooner than they realize, he's done and he steps out of the pit.

"Congratulations! You passed this test as well! You showed incredible skill and judgment! Move onto the next test or rest for a while!"

A table riddled with all kinds of food and several bed cots appear as the current cave turns into a mix of an inn and a dormroom.

They all stop to eat for a moment while Jacob stares at the next room with a pensive face.

* * *

I keep going trial by trial.

The next one is in a room that trembles as if there's a constant earthquake in it.

There, I find two more Skill Crystals, one is called Fault Line Instinct and the other is called Stonefoot.

The chore is to hammer at the walls--no pits, no pedestals--and to make sure I'm striking in parts where the stone is solid and won't cause a collapse. I have to admit the trial became quite hardcore since the voice seemed to imply that if I fail to strike at the right place, the entire place might fall on our head.

But the two Skills I've just learned are more than just interesting.

Stonefoot is a Silver Skill that allows me to better balance myself even with the ground shifting and trembling non-stop. Fault Line Instinct, instead, seems very much mining-only oriented and basically allows me to inject Mana into the walls and feel where the weaknesses of the walls might lay. It somehow overlaps with the Grimoire in terms of utility with the walls, but in an opposite way. The Grimoire could tell me where not to strike by highlighting the flaws, whereas Fault Line Instinct doesn't just tell me where not to strike, but gives me a much better sense about the order I can follow in striking stone. I can start by carving out the stronger sections and make even the most dangerous walls secure by gradually carving the parts that were sustained by them. This way, I'm able to reach pretty much any possible vein and carve paths in walls without having to worry about everything crashing down on me at the first mistake.

And so it continues, with me learning more and more Skills that are, at least on a superficial level, meant for miners, but that, at the same time, feel like they could be used for something else.

By the end of the second day we spent in the Secret Room, I've started accruing Gold Ranked Skills and we're all resting because the fight that we had to just sustain almost drained us all. Plus, having to max out Gold Ranked Skills, it's now taking me longer and longer to clear a room.

Even though Rafnov's Secret Room started with the most basic and easiest Skills to learn, I'm slowly getting harder and harder challenges.

* * *

Outside the Dungeon, an Infernal man clad in black robes looks at the entrance of the Tomb of Fate.

There's a cold look in his eyes and his fingertips blaze with power that would make even Princess Iskara do a double-take.

A black, polished stone is held in one of his hands.

"I've just gotten here. Malrik and Toran have failed. Toran is dead. Malrik was taken away by Academy officials. There were two Intermediate Diamond Rankers guarding the place."

The Infernal looks down at two bodies splattered across the ground in a gory scene and then at his own pristine robes.

"Are they dealt with, my friend?" A deep resonant voice comes from the other side.

"Yes, master. I did take care of them. They're both dead. I'm about to enter, now."

The voice on the other side takes a few beats to respond.

"Bring me the Fake Champion intact. And the Margrave girl. The others, restrain them or kill them if they're causing trouble."

"Yes, master."

Feeling some hesitation in the Infernal man, the voice said, "you can deal with the Princess whatever way you prefer, Azrakel. Your history with her is yours to take to an end. Do not fear my retribution."

"Thanks, master. I will not disappoint you, master."