The Convergent Path (Reincarnation/LitRPG)

The wyvern lunged, claws slashing air, mana rippling from its roar. Fin dodged left, tantō cutting, steel grazed crystalline wing, sparks scattering. It reared, tail spiking, he rolled, thrusting at its flank. Mana flared, high Tier One, dense, but weak. Scientific Warfare clocked it, off-balance, rigid, stronger than mid-Tier Manikins.

The construct's claws scraped against the obsidian floor, leaving shallow gouges as it pivoted. Despite its imposing appearance, the wyvern's movements betrayed fundamental flaws in its design, joints too rigid, reactions predictable, attack patterns recycling after only three variations. Impressive to look at, certainly, but ultimately disappointing in execution.

It swiped, a wide horizontal arc meant to force him back, but Fin ducked beneath the attack, slashed upward across its foreleg. His tantō met resistance, then cut through, mana seeping from the wound like luminescent blood, scales splitting apart where the blade had passed. The wyvern staggered, its weight distribution recalculating after the damage.

Annoyance crept into Fin's thoughts as he circled the construct. Wave 11, all that buildup, and this was it? Knox had described Shattered Echoes as a genuinely challenging dungeon, yet he'd carved through ten waves with minimal effort, and this supposedly impressive boss creature was proving equally trivial.

The wyvern's mana signature pulsed erratically, a sign its programming was cycling through available combat routines, seeking an effective approach. Fin mapped its options before it chose, Scientific Warfare processing possibilities faster than the construct could execute them.

It screeched, the sound grating against Fin's ears, wings beating powerfully, creating gusts that rippled across the arena floor. The construct lifted off, banking high toward the shadowed ceiling, apparently adopting a ranged attack strategy.

Fin's jaw tightened, fleeing for a better position? Or worse, stalling? "Not happening," he growled, mana surging through channels he'd kept carefully dormant until now. Ten waves of pretending to be a talented Tier One, hiding his true capabilities beneath restrained technique. Now, with no observers beyond the System itself, he could unleash a fraction of his actual power.

Plasma Compression Burst coiled into existence above his palm, a crackling orb of concentrated energy, white-hot and humming with destructive potential. The mana construct grew denser, more volatile as he channeled additional power into it. Fin tracked the wyvern's flight path, calculated trajectory, and launched the burst, air snapping in its wake as it streaked upward.

The wyvern twisted in mid-air, attempting evasion, too slow, too predictable, explosion flared as the plasma burst made contact with its chest. Mana erupted outward, the construct's form destabilizing instantly, scales raining down as iridescent dust across the arena.

Silence fell, arena dimmed as the System processed the outcome. Fin lowered his arm, Equilibrium cooling the channels of power he'd momentarily opened. "Waste of time," he muttered, voice bouncing off gray walls. His disappointment was palpable. If this was the best Shattered Echoes could offer, perhaps he should have chosen a different testing ground.

A System ping flared in his vision:

Wave 11 Cleared
Rest Period: 5:00
Note: Performance exceeds Tier One parameters. Difficulty escalated to Tier Two effective Wave 12.

Fin's eyes flicked over the notification twice, Tier Two? The dungeon was finally waking up. A smile tugged at the corner of his mouth as he sheathed his tantō. Five minutes to prepare, and now there might be real stakes ahead.

He knelt in the center of the arena, closing his eyes to better sense the changing mana currents around him. The ambient energy had shifted, growing denser, more volatile. Tier Two dungeons operated on fundamentally different principles than their Tier One counterparts, not merely stronger opponents, but smarter ones, with more complex tactics and greater unpredictability.

Fin regulated his breathing. He'd need to be more careful now. While he had the power of a Tier Two, he only ever had to maintain that level of performance once, his spar with Gavric. The first time he'd actually pushed into his mana reserve. Showing his full capabilities too early would drain his reserves unnecessarily. Better to escalate gradually, matching the dungeon's increasing difficulty rather than overwhelming it.

The rest period ticked down its final seconds. Fin opened his eyes, rising to his feet with practiced grace. The air in the arena had changed, thicker now, charged with potential, as if the space itself had awakened to the challenge of containing higher-tier energies.

Wave 12 materialized, two Mana Manikins, their forms sleeker than previous waves, red mana pulsing beneath semi-transparent skin. Each wielded twin swords, held in balanced grips that spoke of sophisticated combat programming. Tier Two constructs, without question, their mana signatures burned brighter, more complex patterns threading through their cores.

They moved before fully materializing, fast, blades arcing toward him from opposite directions. Fin parried the first strike, steel meeting steel with a force that jolted his wrist. These weren't the fragile wooden weapons of earlier waves, but proper blades with weight and momentum behind them.

He spun between the constructs, tantō slashing across the first Manikin's torso. It burst apart, but not as easily as the Tier One versions had. The resistance against his blade had been substantial, requiring genuine effort to overcome.

The second Manikin had already flanked him, its programming allowing for tactical repositioning while he'd engaged its partner. Scientific Warfare tracked its movement, calculating the most likely attack vector. Fin ducked precisely as twin blades sliced through the space his head had occupied a heartbeat earlier. His tantō cut upward, cleaving through the construct from hip to shoulder. Wave cleared.

The rest period activated, and Fin noted a novel sensation, sweat pricking at his temples. Not exertion yet, merely his body responding appropriately to increased demands. Equilibrium recalibrated his systems, balancing energy expenditure against optimal performance.

Wave 13 brought three Manikins, each armed with spears that extended their reach significantly. Tier Two constructs again, their movements tight, coordinated, more sophisticated algorithms driving their behavior. They formed a triangle around him, spears creating overlapping zones of threat.

Fin wove between thrusts, tantō deflecting strikes that couldn't be avoided entirely, spear points skimming past him with margins measured in millimeters. He struck decisively when an opening appeared, two Manikins bursting apart under his blade.

The third jabbed its spear with precision, forcing him to sidestep. Its follow-up was immediate, a sweep aimed at his ankles. Fin jumped the low attack, then ended the construct with a descending slash. Wave down, his breath coming slightly sharper now.

The pattern continued as waves stacked, 14 brought four Manikins with axes, 15 introduced five with shields and short swords. Tier Two difficulty climbing steadily: armor grew thicker, strikes became keener, tactics more sophisticated. Fin flowed through each challenge, tantō moving with precision born of thousands of practice hours, but strain began edging into his movements.

Wave 16 presented six Manikins, a mix of swords and clubs, that pushed him harder than previous rounds. They coordinated with unsettling efficiency, forcing him to roll, dodge, and counter in rapid succession. Wave cleared, but Fin felt tightness spreading across his chest. Not fatigue exactly, but the awareness that he was working now, truly exerting himself.

Wave 17 materialized eight Manikins with mixed armaments, Tier Two constructs that moved with near-organic fluidity. They immediately deployed herding tactics, attempting to corner him against the arena wall. Fin broke through their formation with a burst of speed, four constructs shattering under his tantō in rapid succession.

He held a Plasma Burst ready, hovering above his palm, but decided against using it, conserving mana. His tantō claimed the remaining Manikins with precise strikes. Wave done, but now his lungs stung with each breath, the first real indication that he was approaching meaningful limits.

Stolen content alert: this content belongs on Royal Road. Report any occurrences.

Wave 18 brought a shift in opposition, two wyvern constructs, Tier Two variants significantly smaller than their Tier One predecessor. Six feet from head to tail, wings thin and blade-like, they swooped through the arena with impressive speed, claws flashing in coordinated attack patterns.

Fin dodged the first diving attack, his tantō nicking one wyvern's wing as it passed. Mana sprayed from the wound, glittering briefly before dissipating. The constructs banked sharply, separating to attack from different angles.

He calculated trajectory, then leapt at precisely the right moment, tantō striking downward through the first wyvern's back. It burst into mana fragments instantly. The second dived toward him as he landed, he rolled beneath its attack, slashing upward to catch its underbelly as it passed overhead. Wave cleared, but the four-minute rest period found him with burning lungs and tightness spreading across his shoulders.

Wave 19 presented a new tactical challenge, ten Manikins with shields locked together in a tight formation, swords jabbing through gaps in their defense. A phalanx, solid and methodical, advancing across the arena with inexorable discipline.

Fin charged directly toward them, an approach most would consider suicidal, tantō piercing through a momentary gap between shields. Three Manikins burst apart, their destruction creating temporary disorder in the formation. Before they could close ranks, he wove through the opening, tantō moving in tight, efficient arcs.

Seven Manikins down, the last three pressed their attack with undiminished aggression. Fin parried a sword thrust, stepped inside the construct's guard, and finished it with a clean strike. The remaining two fell moments later, wave done, but now his arms felt heavy, muscles protesting the sustained exertion.

Fin knelt in the center of the arena, sweat stinging his eyes as it dripped down his forehead. Equilibrium worked to ease his pulse, regulate his breathing, restore optimal function to oxygen-starved muscles. Tier Two opposition was wearing him steadily, his physical capabilities stretched, but not yet fully tapped out.

He used the rest period to assess his condition objectively. Seventeen percent mana depletion, mana being used faster than Convergent Equilibrium could restore it. Wave 20 would push him harder, but he had reserves to call upon. Wave 25 was still achievable.

The rest period's final minute ticked away. Fin rose to his feet, centered his stance, and prepared for whatever Wave 20 would bring. Based on the escalating pattern, he expected something substantial, a culmination of the previous waves' challenges combined into a single, difficult encounter.

He was not disappointed.

Wave 20 shimmered into existence, the arena shook as five wyvern constructs, Tier Two variants standing eight feet tall, materialized in the center. Their scales glinted with metallic luster, claws extended longer than previous iterations, tails lashing against the floor with enough force to crack the obsidian surface.

Surrounding them, twenty Mana Manikins spread in a wide circle, all Tier Two, armed with swords and spears, their red mana flaring with aggressive programming. The arena, which had felt spacious during earlier waves, suddenly seemed claustrophobically small as the constructs filled the available space.

Fin had barely a moment to process the tactical situation before chaos erupted.

A wyvern dived toward him, Fin rolled aside, its claws tore gouges in the obsidian where he'd stood. Manikins rushed in from three directions, spears thrusting in coordinated patterns. He parried the nearest attack, Thunderfang sparking along his tantō's edge, lightning chained through two Manikins, causing them to burst apart in cascading mana explosions.

One wyvern reared back, wings spread wide, and roared, the sound manifesting as a physical force that slammed against Fin, causing him to skid backward across the arena floor. Equilibrium maintained his balance, preventing a fall that would have left him vulnerable to the encroaching Manikin squad.

Scientific Warfare split his attention effectively: tracking wyverns circling overhead, mapping Manikin movements across the ground, calculating optimal defensive positioning moment by moment. This was no longer about efficiently dispatching fodder, this was survival against intelligent opposition.

Three Manikins converged, swords swinging in high arcs designed to limit his evasion options. Fin ducked beneath the first attack, tantō slashing across the construct's midsection. Two Manikins down, but the third pressed forward, only to explode as Fin released a Plasma Burst directly into its chest.

A wyvern swooped low, tail spiked and ready to impale, he dodged laterally, struck as it passed, his tantō connecting with its wing joint. The crystalline structure cracked but didn't shatter. The construct banked sharply, rejoining its companions circling overhead.

Eighteen Manikins closed in, shields raised in overlapping patterns. Fin surged toward what Scientific Warfare identified as the weakest section of their formation. Thunderfang activated again, arcing electricity through his hand as he punched into the nearest four in rapid succession causing them to rupture.

Two wyverns dived simultaneously from opposite directions, claws extended to rip and tear. Fin calculated trajectory, waited until the last possible moment, then leapt vertically between them. As gravity reclaimed him, he hurled a concentrated Plasma Burst downward, catching one wyvern at the base of its neck. The construct shattered instantly, mana dispersing in a brilliant flash.

The second wyvern banked sharply, avoiding collision with the arena floor, but Fin had already landed and pivoted to face it. His tantō thrust forward, catching the construct as it turned, piercing through scales and into its mana core. The wound sprayed luminescent particles as the wyvern screeched in simulated pain. Three wyverns remained circling overhead, their attack patterns recalibrating.

Fourteen Manikins pressed forward in a tight formation, spears jabbing in alternating rhythms designed to overwhelm single-target defenses. Fin felt his reserves diminishing under the constant pressure. He activated Convergent Equilibrium, a deeper application of his foundational skill, pulsing mana through overworked channels, stabilizing his energy flow.

He activated Thunderfang once more. Bouncing in between six Manikins in rapid succession. Each burst into mana particles, creating momentary gaps in the formation.

A wyvern dived, jaws opened impossibly wide, Fin sidestepped with precision timing, allowing the construct to crash into the arena floor. Before it could recover, he launched a Plasma Burst directly into its exposed flank. The third wyvern disintegrated, leaving two still airborne.

The remaining Manikins, eight now, attempted to regroup, their programming adapting to his demonstrated capabilities. Electromagnetic Perception activated, allowing Fin to sense the mana currents flowing through the constructs. Their joints glowed brightest in his enhanced vision, vulnerable points where mana flow concentrated to enable movement.

His tantō struck with surgical precision, targeting these weak points in four rapid strikes. Four more Manikins burst apart, their complex programming insufficient to compensate for fundamental design limitations.

The last wyvern screeched, a sound modulated to disorient rather than damage, wings beating powerfully as it prepared another diving attack. Fin ducked beneath its approach, Thunderfang activating as his tantō severed the construct's wing where it joined the body. Before it could crash into the arena wall, he finished it with a precisely aimed Plasma Burst.

Four Manikins remained, Tier Two constructs still moving with relentless determination despite the destruction of their companions. Fin panted heavily now, sweat soaking his tunic, muscles burning with sustained exertion. Scientific Warfare continued tracking movement patterns, identifying the most efficient resolution path.

Thunderfang sparked along his tantō one final time, the electrical discharge chaining through two Manikins. For the last pair, he gathered his remaining mana into a Plasma Compression Burst, larger than previous iterations, dense with destructive potential. The energy construct launched forward, detonating between the final Manikins and causing both to explode simultaneously.

The arena stilled, mana dust settling slowly in the aftermath of so much destruction. Fin stood, chest heaving with each labored breath, tantō slick with luminescent mana residue. For the first time since entering Shattered Echoes, he felt properly tested.

Wave 20 Cleared
Rest Period: 5:00
Note: Mid-Tier Two escalation effective Wave 21

Fin sank to one knee, Equilibrium working overtime to slow his racing heart and regulate his breathing. That had been a real scrap, all five skills deployed, pushed hard to overcome legitimate opposition. And now Wave 21 would escalate to mid-Tier Two difficulty. He grinned, feral, faint, his excitement genuine. Finally, a proper challenge. Bring it.

The rest period passed quickly, Fin using every second to restore his depleted reserves. His mana channels ached from sustained use after weeks of deliberate constraint, muscles trembled with familiar fatigue. Yet beneath the physical symptoms lay something more profound, satisfaction. This was why he trained, why he pushed himself beyond conventional limits. The thrill of genuine challenge, of finding boundaries and surpassing them.

As the countdown for Wave 21 reached its final seconds, Fin rose to his feet. His stance was solid despite fatigue, tantō held in a guard position that could transition instantly to offense or defense as needed. Whatever came next, he would meet it at his full potential.

Wave 21 shimmered into existence, manifesting not as a swarm or team, but as a single Mana Manikin. It stood ten feet tall, humanoid but proportioned with impossible perfection, red mana blazing beneath skin that seemed more substantial than previous constructs. In its hands, it gripped a greatsword double-handed, the blade longer than Fin was tall.

Its armor gleamed with metallic luster, joints articulated with fluid precision that mimicked organic movement. This was mid-Tier Two opposition, no longer merely stronger or faster, but fundamentally more sophisticated in design and function.

It stepped forward, a simple movement executed with unsettling grace, blade swinging in an arc that combined speed with devastating power. Fin dodged laterally, the greatsword bit deep into the stone floor where he'd stood, the entire arena trembling from the impact.

Scientific Warfare ticked through observations with clinical precision: faster reaction time, denser mana structure, more complex attack algorithms. This was no mindless construct operating on basic programming, but a mid-Tier Two solo opponent designed to test every aspect of his capabilities.

Fin settled into a balanced stance, tantō held before him, a smile spreading across his face despite exhaustion. This, finally, was what he'd come for.