Not long after finding Tom in the dark-infested cavern, I was sent on a quest to conquer the first floor of the dungeon with only my physical skills. I knew it was a quest because my system said so.

  

  

  

  

  

  

  

  I walked through the dungeon, choosing the path leading to Lipper first. Based on the latest scenarios, the fight with her would be tough but doable.

  The rocky tunnel had become familiar ground to me. I've walked this path so many times… Hell, I've fought this battle thousands of times if mental fights were included. For good measure, I stopped at the bend a hundred yards before Lipper's den. The fight ahead played over in my mind's eye as I stretched and limbered up.

  I knew things would get dicey, yet a cool calmness surrounded me. It was almost like my mana had broken through Tom's silencing bracelet and blanketed me. As calming as it felt, there was no cyan energy here. At least none that I had access to.

  The source of my calmness was elsewhere. As Light's Edge formed in my hand, I knew the source. Instinctively, my body started into a kata, and I restrained my motions to keep the air crackling to a minimum.

  I always wanted to be a swordsman. Everything about the sword drew me in, from their forms, how they were made, their sharp edges, handles, pommels, and how they flowed in combat. In my youth, I dreamed of being a master. Lack of talent held me back. I'd pushed myself as far as I could go on the path of the sword—passable, sometimes good, rarely great. Never better than that nor consistent. Despite my lack of talent, I kept a sword as a secondary weapon, refusing to let a child's dream die.

  As I listened to the crackles around me, an old dream awakened. My blade slashed through the air, returning to the first form. I didn't need talent. A simple motion caused the blade to cut in a diagonal motion. I had a strong desire. More soft crackles. A desire fueled by endless drive.

  The cracks grew louder despite my attempts to keep them quiet. It was a fool's attempt. Air popped around me.

  The calmness I felt before had turned into a raging fire. Each second, my mind flowed through the battle ahead—Light's Edge mirroring the fight—the fire burned hotter.

  No longer able to hold the flame within, I ended the mental fight before it concluded. It was time to put myself through the actual test.

  "Hello, Lipper," I said to the bugbear, disturbing her peace. "Sorry, we can't chat. I've come to fight."

  "Silence. You have not earned the right to speak." Stones formed around my legs. The walls closed in. Boulders flew at my face. Death's grip tightened, the crushing blow only moments away.

  In a moment of solitude, I took a deep breath. Time seemed so still. The rocks flying toward me, the solid ground shaping around my feet, and the rugged cavern walls were all so dull. It was nothing like the tempest burning within.

  This tale has been unlawfully lifted from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere.

  Lip's opening salvo was nothing like the start of the fights in my scenarios. For one, we were on much better terms and started with a friendly conversation. We agreed that after the loops, we'd never fight again. It might seem out of place, but that was just how relationships worked. One side cared more, and since I was more invested, I had to make the extra effort. Maybe a bit , but I was here for it.

  My hands gripped the enchanted silk-wrapped handle of Light's Edge. In the dilated time, I raised the sword and slashed down. The boulder split easily, and the followthrough of my blade cut through the ground, severing the locks around my feet. A horizontal slash severed the walls at my sides. Another slash cleared the next volley of rock.

  Stone fell. Earth rumbled. Lipper roared, forming an endless volley of attacks. I dashed forward, cutting through each of her attacks with perfect slashes. The air crackled. Rumbling louder and faster. It thundered as I reached Lipper, who stood behind a bulwark of earth.

  Fern-colored energy bloomed from the grounder. The firm energy pulled at the rubble left behind, forming it into spears.

  Light's Edge cut through the earthen wall, splitting it in half. I have to slice it twice more for it to fall apart.

  Lip's hand stretched out, and as she closed it, she pulled on the earth mana. Her other hand was a stone gauntlet, swinging in a haymaker motion at my face with unreal speed—as if the energy she pulled upon gave her extra leverage.

  I ducked and side-stepped into a spin, avoiding the assault and cutting through the walls closing in. I quickly slashed upwards to part the falling ceiling and then to the side to destroy the bulwark before it could form again. A quick combo slices another volley of rocky spears. I fought through another attack but was forced back a step.

  Lipper licked her lips as she repaired her defenses and blasted me with more earth mana.

  I was starting to have a strong distaste for grounders. Tom was a real bastard for requiring me to fight one underground without mana. If I ever got the chance, I would challenge him to a duel in the seas. Despite the irritation, I remained calm.

  If I was being honest, the fight was growing on me. I wasn't a battle junky, but there was something about pushing my skill to the limit that fed the fire within.

  The den rumbled from earth and blade. Echoes praised our tenacity. I fell into the rhythm of the fight, trusting my training and instincts. The path of mastery pushed me forward, and as my sword sang, it was almost as if I was in another realm. It felt so peaceful here like the whole world was right, and at the same time, I felt like I had immense power.

  The fight drew on, not because of a stalemate of skill. Rather, my skill sharpened each second the battle lasted. Our fight compounded the skill I mastered in my mind, and I wasn't ready to end my training. I was nearing my limit of growth when Lipper fell to the ground. With her fall, the earth stopped warring with me.

  I cut through the bulwark revealing the awakened wolfbear breathing heavily. Lips' steadfast gaze and demeanor suggested she wanted to continue the fight. Her limp body said otherwise.

  "Thank you for the fight." I sheath my sword and lowered my head. This was not how I saw the fight playing out. The reality was better than expected.

  Lipper muttered something foul, which must've been her customary way of saying, 'Thank you,' as well. Hard to say otherwise. She passed out a moment later. I pulled a blanket from Lana's ring, covered my and let her sleep. She was no longer a threat.

  Light of step and eager for more, I entered the jungle to stir up another fight.

  The jungle fight went a lot like Cult planned it to be. I snuck around the forest, shooting things until they got upset. Once they were in a frenzy, I led them to Gulley, where they took out their frustration. Once Gulley fell and Vines appeared, the pack of hounds entered the jungle, and a four-sided brawl played out.

  The execution was near perfect. I did a lot more slicing than the plan called for, and the body count was closer to Tack's runs than Cult's, but the results were the same. I just got there a little faster. I also delivered the last blow to Vines and the Bastard Rat King, whose undead army felt much weaker than I recalled.

  When the fight ended, floor one had been cleared of all monsters. I collected the core from Vines and stashed it in my ring, knowing full well I wouldn't use it. It was hard to pass up a valuable core. Light's Edge was sheathed and strapped on my back. I washed off in one of the cleaner pounds, changed up my clothes, leaving the dirty ones behind, and sought out Tom. Luckily, I didn't have to travel far in the darkness. The earth sage waited just outside the jungle floor.

  "That… I'm impressed," Tom said, nodding his head.

  I wasn't sure how the sage watched my fights. I got the feeling the highlander didn't miss much of what happened in this cavern. At least not when he paid attention.

  "Not sure there's much I can teach ya if I'm bein' honest." Tom must've seen an accusatory gaze. "Relax lad. A deal's a deal. Come on, I'll take ya to my home."

  A hole formed beneath the grounder, who fell into it as if it was the most normal thing. That sealed the deal. Grounders were nutty. As I walked over to inspect the hole, I fell through my own.