Chapter 57: Cleared

Chapter 57: Chapter 57: Cleared

With a soft flash of blue light, Squad 07 materialized back onto the crisp, windy mountain trail of Floor 2. Behind them, the narrow fissure in the slate cliff shuddered, sealing shut seamlessly until no trace of the crack remained—its ancient duty fulfilled.

Before they could even catch their breath, a shadow dropped from the high stone ledge above.

Monitor 07 landed silently on the rocky path, her leather cloak fluttering in the wind. Her eyes immediately swept over the five students, scrutinizing their condition for injuries before settling on the surging aura radiating from each of them.

"You actually cleared an undiscovered Hidden Zone," Monitor 07 said, her usual stoic voice tinged with genuine astonishment. She tapped her evaluation stone, recording their return. "I was blocked by the ancient floor barrier due to my level. Report: what are your spoils?"

Barney stepped forward first, broad grin spreading across his face as he unslung a gleaming, obsidian-infused shield with glowing crimson runes forged directly into its face. "Passed my blacksmithing trial! Synthesized a Grade-D+ shield and bound the Aegis of the Sunken Bastion relic to my class slot."

Mirei stepped up next, holding out a sleek, translucent bow that seemed to bend the surrounding air currents. "I received the Breeze-Striker Longbow. My precision shots draw zero wind resistance now, and I gained +1 level on my main archery skill."

Seraphina proudly tapped a glowing, ornate crystal flask hanging from her belt. "The Crucible of Eternal Transmutation. It automatically increases the purity of any potion I mix by one full grade! Perfected a Tier-2 elixir during my trial."

Caelen unsheathed a slender, silver-hued blade that hummed with heavy spatial mana. "Bound the Edge of the First Warden. Passed a parry endurance trial."

Finally, Monitor 07’s gaze shifted to Rowan.

He stood calmly with his Enchanted Straw Hat tilted back. Resting on his shoulder was a new, magnificent tool—the Hoe of the World-Tiller. Its shaft was carved from ancient ironwood, and its blade shimmered with a quiet, terrifying earth mana.

He didn’t just clear a trial, she thought, a cold shiver of awe running down her spine as she noted his aura emanating from his body. His entire foundation evolved.

"Excellent work, Squad 07," Monitor 07 said, quickly updating the encrypted Academy log. "Your performance inside an unmapped Hidden Zone will be submitted directly to the Dean. Now—the Floor 3 portal is just up this ridge."

Rowan adjusted his hat, feeling the incredible baseline power of his awakened Prime Human bloodline thrumming through his veins.

"Lead the way," Rowan smiled quietly. "Let’s see what Floor 3 has to offer."

***

The winding mountain path finally culminated in a massive, ancient stone amphitheater carved directly into the peak of Floor 2. At the center of the arena stood a towering archway carved with swirling azure runes—the ascension gate to Floor 3.

However, guarding the portal was a hunched, sinister creature draped in dark bone armor and carrying a gnarled wooden staff topped with a glowing purple skull. High above its head, a massive boss-tier health and mana bar illuminated the foggy arena:

"Level 8 Floor Boss," Caelen said, his hands moving instantly to the hilt of his newly bound blade, Edge of the First Warden. "Clear this, and we gain the authority to step onto Floor 3."

"22,000 HP and a full 10,000 mana pool," Barney muttered, raising his Grade-D+ shield. "He’s going to throw a lot of high-tier magic at us."

Monitor 07 observed silently from the perimeter pillars. Standard Floor 2 bosses were formidable challenges for fledgling squads, but Squad 07 was no longer a standard team.

The Goblin Shaman raised its staff, its yellow eyes glowing with dark malice as it shrieked an incantation, launching a volley of shadow bolts directly toward the party.

"Barney, take front! Mirei, pin his casting arm!" Rowan ordered, stepping into the center of the formation.

[Battle Initiated!]

Barney surged forward, his new shield flaring with golden runes as he absorbed the dark magic, barely flinching under the impact. Mirei drew her Breeze-Striker Longbow, releasing three near-invisible wind arrows in rapid succession that pierced the Shaman’s shoulders, interrupting its channel and chunking its health bar down.

Seraphina unclipped a potion synthesized with her Crucible of Eternal Transmutation, smashing it near the Shaman’s feet to release a cloud of corrosive, defense-lowering gas. Caelen blurred into motion, utilizing spatial cuts from his new weapon to carve deep marks across the boss’s flank.

Rowan slammed the Hoe of the World-Tiller into the stone floor.

[Skill Activated: Earthbreaker Plough - Celestial Furrow]

The arena floor beneath the Shaman violently ruptured, trapping its legs in churning earth and interrupting its heavy defensive wards. With his Prime Human bloodline actively thrumming through his veins, Rowan’s raw physical force and earth affinity tore through the Shaman’s barriers, forcing its health down at an unprecedented speed.

20,000... 15,000... 8,000...

Within minutes of coordinated, relentless pressure, the Shaman’s health bar dropped under a critical threshold, flashing bright crimson.

[Boss Skill Activated: Summon Goblins]

Health Threshold Reached: 10% (2,200 / 22,000 HP)

The Shaman slammed its gnarled staff into the ground, burning through 5,000 of its remaining mana in a single, desperate surge.

"KRAAA-KA-ROK!"

Dark summoning circles burst open across the entire arena floor. Dozens of screeching goblin warriors, archers, and hobgoblin vanguards began crawling out of the violet portals to reinforce their leader.

"He’s summoning reinforcements!" Seraphina warned.

"Don’t give him time to organize!" Rowan said, his golden eyes glowing. He raised the ironwood shaft of his hoe high above his head, channeling a massive wave of dense earth and vitality mana.

[Skill Activated: Breath of Eden - Lv. 2]

Vibrant green and golden energy exploded outward in a massive shockwave across the entire amphitheater floor. The ground itself sprouted thick, thorned vines that instantly ensnared and crushed the newly summoned goblin horde before they could even step out of their portals.

The divine mana wave didn’t just bind the adds—it ripped through the Shaman’s final defensive barrier, completely paralyzing the boss.

Caelen executed a flawless spatial dash, thrusting his blade clean through the Shaman’s core, while Mirei loosed a final wind arrow straight through its throat.

[FLOOR 2 BOSS DEFEATED]

Boss Defeated: Level 8 Goblin Shaman

Floor 2 Mastery: 100%

Authority Granted: Access to Floor 3 Unlocked.

With an agonized shriek, the Shaman dissolved into a massive shower of mana particles and loot, leaving behind the glowing Floor Ascension Key.

Up on the pillar, Monitor 07 tapped her record stone, marking the clear time with a look of silent praise.

The massive archway at the back of the arena began to hum with deep spatial energy as the blue portal materialized, stabilized, and opened wide.

Rowan adjusted his Enchanted Straw Hat, resting the Hoe of the World-Tiller over his shoulder as Squad 07 stepped up to the threshold.

"Floor 3," Rowan smiled quietly. "Let’s go."