Infinite Realm

"Hmph!"

-65

-70 (633/2000 Blood king Varg's HP)

With the Blood king pinned down on the ground, Sato dealt damage to it continuously, aiming for the same spot on its leg in hopes of crippling it. With the chains holding it down, the Blood king was like a fish caught in a net, with no way to go or route to escape to, but Sato didn't relax his guard. He was only able to land 2 extra strikes to the [Horizontal Slash] before the Blood king reacted to the attack.

"Roar!"

[Blood Wave]

The Blood king released a blood-red energy wave from its body that tugged at the chains. 

-24 (96/150 Sato's HP)

While Sato was prepared, he was still knocked back a couple of feet by the energy wave.

*Clink* *Clink*

2 of the seven chains that got in were forced out from Varg's body, one of them being the one stuck close to the heart while the other was the one that pinned down its sword-wielding right hand. Following the removal of the chains, the talismans that held them disintegrated together with the chains attached to them. 

The remaining 5, though weren't forced out, were already loosened much as compared to before. Without a doubt, if the Blood king were to perform the same skill once more, all the chains would be removed from its body. 

The good news was that the skill was in cool-down, the bad news was that the cool-down wouldn't last long. The terrible news was that since one of its arms was free, the Blood king could remove the rest with it. And yes, it did exactly so.

*Clink* *Clink*

Grabbing its sword with a single hand, the Blood king swept it at the 5 chains at once, cutting right through them like a hot knife through butter. The talismans above disintegrated once they lost the connection and the remnant part of the chain that was still stuck in the Blood king's body also vanished, just a while after losing connection with the talismans.

"Tsk." Sato clicked his tongue at the sight.

He had been hoping that the talismans could hold the monster down for a while but the entire thing crumbled under one move.

'It can't be helped. Not only is there the level difference between the two but Xue Yan is still an apprentice at inscribing runes.'

While levels didn't matter much to subclasses as much as their ranks do, they were still important. For one to be able to create a true masterpiece work, they would need the necessary ability. A blacksmith would require the strength to work with a hammer as well as the stamina to last under the heat and undergo long-term activities. As for a scribe, they would need enough mana to be able to draw more complicated runes as well as the stamina and fortitude to be able to hold on while doing so. All these were either stats that players could directly increase as they level up or would naturally as they level up. 

With this limitation on them, even if a player had the blueprints, recipe, structure, or formula for a piece of forbidden god-level equipment, potion, technology, or array, due to the low level they would not be able to produce it. 

So while Xue Yan did have the formula and structural patterns for the [Arcane Spell: Mystical Lock], she couldn't be able to produce it to the highest degree due to her level limitations. Being able to already make one that held the Blood king down for a while was already an achievement that no scribe player had ever done.

'This far is already good enough.' 

With a determined look in his eyes, Sato decided to finish the battle within 3 minutes. 

This wasn't him overestimating himself or underestimating the Blood king but Sato trying to squeeze out his potential in this fight. He had glanced at the timer and realized that he didn't have much time left for this trial. Sato's instincts told him that defeating this monster, however, would help increase his mission rating. The title of guardian of the first sector obviously wouldn't be for show and abiding by the player rule of risks, the greater the difficulty, the larger the reward.

'If I use it, I should be able to wrap this up in seconds. However, the cool-down is too long.' Sato seemed to be hesitating to make a decision.

"Roar!"

Varg finally got to its feet after taking off the chains. Its entire body was covered in crimson blood and looked all gory. If a player with a weak stomach were in Sato's place, they would undoubtedly puke at the sight.

"Human, you must pay with your life." Varg growled as a blood-colored light shimmered its eyes.

[Blood Glare]

[[ System notification :

[Blood Glare] has been used.

Player undergoing [Willpower] check.

Difference exceeds 10. ]]

Accompanying the system notification was an instantaneous change in scenery for Sato. He got dragged from the previous blue-lit hall to a strange blood plain that had a crimson sky that looked like it was lit ablaze. The ground was a dark red soil that was littered with bones and skulls. Some of the bones even had a bit of blood dripping from them as if they were recently taken out from their bodies.

Standing in the middle of this plain, Sato was confused as to how he arrived here but before he could think about it, a terrifying pressure came down on him without any sign. Compared to the pressure Sato was currently facing, the one on the first challenge's [Stair of Zolstris] was like a breeze.

*Ding*

"Puah!"

-60  (36/150 Sato's HP)

Sato couldn't even last 3 seconds before the sword left his hand as he was forced to his knees. He also puked out a mouthful of blood that splattered on the floor and seemed to blend with the soil. Even now, Sato found it had to keep his conscious intact as he felt the strength in his body flow out from him.

Luckily for Sato, this experience didn't last for long as he suddenly returned to the hall.

"What just happened?" 

Sato wondered before realizing that he was down on his knees and just like in that strange world, there was a small puddle of blood before him. That blood was his.

"!!!"

Shock appeared on Sato's face but before he could think more about it, he suddenly felt a figure heading towards him.

"Die!"

The blood king swung its sword down at Sato.

Having lost his sword and not having recovered from the unpleasant experience, Sato looked to be too slow to react and if things continued like this, he would surely die from the attack.

"Hmph!"

With a resolute expression, Sato finally decided to stop holding back.

'Berserk skill, [Gratitude of Races]'