Chapter 221 - Clearing The 12th Floor

(From Mc's Perspective)

12th floor,

After arriving on the twelfth floor, I looked around for a moment. There is overwhelming silence around the area. I don't know why this feels a little creepy. But I'm on guard with my perception. I try to notice any subtle changes around here. 

After a couple of seconds, I heard some noise,

Hearing that sound makes my expression dignified. Usually, Monsters appear out of thin air in front of me. "What is happening now?" I mumbled under my breath. This pattern is something new to me. So, I didn't let down my guard.

Suddenly, 

I heard something coming towards me. I held my black sword in a vertical position to attack it.  Using my operation, I saw something unbelievable. This twelfth floor is quite visible, after a couple of seconds the thing becomes visible to naked eye.   

"I never thought I would see this type of Monster so soon" I sighed in my heart. Right now, the thing coming towards me is the root of a tree monster.

"Giant Tree Monster – Class 1- Mid level "

It's been a while since I fought against the Class Tree Monster. Last time it was in Black Forests, that trip is one of the most memorable trips in my life. On that trip, I'm almost at the mercy of the Class Tree Monster. Fortunately, this is Class 1 at Mid level.

In the meantime, when the root reaches me. I flew backwards a little to avoid it. For a time being, I don't want to get entangled with root. I need to find the main body. Especially, in this level there will be one more tree monster.   

But the tree root seems to track me, it follows me wherever I try to move away. Seeing that it's not working.  I begin to trace the main body using its roots.  As I flew towards the main body, the root began to retract at a faster pace.

Seeing that I smirked a little, it looked like a tree monster was alerted , sensing my speed. Seems like it's little intelligence is working well. Then I increased my speed even more. As I move past at breakneck speed. 

A couple of seconds later I found the main body. Which looks horrible because there is no single leaf in its branches. The Giant tree stood 50ft tall.  It looked entirely dark brown in color. It uses its branches as arms and roots as legs. The roots were wide and thick. Time to time there is root spike sprouting out from the root.

Seeing that I knew it's one of the attack methods of tree monsters. But I didn't immediately jump on to attack it. Last time I fought it's a different family of tree monsters. Yet it attacked me with mind power. I still remember it as clear as a day. So, right now I don't want surprises like that. First I need to figure out its characteristics.

Even so, I spend tons of hours studying class monster's description. But still there is some left out. Like the tree monster in front of me. Which is completely new to me. Time to time, I evaded its root attack. If I get even a step closer to it's main body. I suspect it will attack me with its branches.

But it didn't stop me from trying. After waiting for a couple of seconds. I analyzed its speed of attack. So, I adjusted my speed to evade it without attacking. I moved a bit closer to it's main body. Just as I stepped a little closer. Soon, I found several branches coming towards me like a whip. 

Its speed is making a tearing sound in the air. But it didn't faze me a little. I casually held my sword and made a slight swing. But it was enough. As my blade comes in contact with incoming branches. There is no chance of resistance. As I easily cleaved the branches into two. 

Soon seeing it get attacked the tree monster sent a couple of more branches towards me. I gripped my sword and immediately poured lightning essence to charge it. In a few seconds the sword was completely charged. Then I held my black sword and aimed at the giant tree's body. I'm focusing at it's branches.

"Sword Divide"

As I recited the Sword attack method in my mind. A lightning power burst out from my sword. A long purple lightning strike fell on the Giant Tree Monster's body.  Especially the attack aimed at its trunk.

"Bang"

A crackling sound can be heard from the tree. This lightning strike contains the strength of a Special Trainee. For a moment the chasing of tree branches and roots were stopped for a moment. Looks like the full blown attack of mine is quite effective.

I waited a couple of seconds to see the aftermath. As expected there were several cracks on it's trunk. Almost the target area is darkened due to the attack. It appears though the giant tree had no life but I won't be fooled by its appearance.

Then suddenly the Giant tree monster let out a loud scream. For a moment, I was dazed. But due to my higher cultivation base I wasn't affected that much. "Damn " I uttered in a solemn tone.  If I had a little bit lower base than this monster then the outcome would be severe.   

Still some bad experience of black forest flashes before my eyes. For a moment, I felt wrath.  I gripped my sword once again to charge it. In a moment, I executed another deadly lightning strike. This time when the purple lightning falls on it. The Giant tree monster dissipates like smoke.

Seeing that I immediately ponder about another monster. So far each monster appeared in pairs that too side by side. But this level is different, I didn't even catch wind of this monster's appearance. I need to search around this area further .

For a while I circled around this area. But I didn't find any trails of monsters. I felt it was a little bit tricky to solve. Even with my perception range, I didn't notice any changes. Then I decided to start from the location where I appeared. 

Several minutes later, I searched around the area after coming back to the location.  I observed some changes in the east. Which is exactly opposite to the previous monster's location. This place seems to be more challenging and the space around this floor is larger than the previous floors. 

And with causation I flew towards the spot while observing with my perception. Sometimes later, I don't know how much time has passed. But I reached the monster's location. In front of me is another giant tree monster.

Unlike the previous monster, it seems dead. But I knew it was faking it. What is wrong with the intelligence of these monsters? From each level not only their strength but their intelligence seems to work a lot. So the same monsters but each with different intelligence.

This is something I need to be careful of. From each floor here after I may need to be careful of their tricks. After sorting out my thoughts, I made an attack. Though the monster didn't take initiative. But I won't leave it like that.

"Sword Divide"

I made another lightning strike towards it. The Purple lightning power falls on its trunk. Which alarming it greatly but it was too late to do something. As a result, it took full brunt of the attack. 

"Bang" a thundering sound echoed in the area. 

The Giant tree monster got smoked left with half life.  Then I immediately made a consecutive lightning strike to end its life. Finally, the monster dissipates into thin air. Then I recovered my peak state in a blink of an eye. Afterwards, I appeared on the 13th floor. 

…

The corresponding changes take place as Zack cleared the 12th floor. 

[Name, Place – Floor – Clearance Time – Rank]

[Zack Lockwood, Hansen – 12th – 14 min – 1st ]

Outside the Star Tower, 

The update attracted everyone's attention. This time. Everyone thought it was fourteen seconds again. They failed to notice the minutes. 

"Zack cleared the 12th floor. I don't know whether he will clear the 20th floor." A warrior from the second batch said to himself. 

Hearing that someone snorted by saying, "It won't be easy. The levels above are hard for everyone. I don't remember any clear this level before." 

Rest of the people also nodded hearing his words. It's not easy to clear those above level. Even from their organization they haven't heard such a thing. The 18th floor itself is a record. So, Zack clearing those levels won't be easy.

But as for others they have different thoughts in their mind. Seeing the clearance time they felt it was possible to see that miracle. 

Suddenly one of the warriors glanced at the leaderboard ranking.  Seeing the minutes instead of seconds, he felt stunned for a moment. He rubbed his eyes and stared at the leaderboard ranking again. Then he saw 14 minutes instead of 14 Seconds. 

"Hey guys look at the leaderboard ranking! Zack took 14 minutes to clear the 12th floor.." He yelled out in surprise.