Chapter 8: 1st Floor Hidden (Part 1)

The highest skill grade revealed to date is Rare.

The hierarchy goes Normal > Normal+ > Rare, and it is said that no higher grade has appeared yet. I suppose the next one after Rare would be Rare+.

For reference, the Flame Strike skill I obtained was Rare grade.

Skills are broadly categorized into Physical and Magic types, and it seemed that Magic skills appeared far less frequently than Physical ones.

At first, I thought I had lucked out with a great skill. I figured since I was on Nightmare Difficulty, this was the kind of reward I deserved.

I was wrong.

Among Climbers, the consensus on Magic skills was generally lukewarm at best. There were several reasons for this.

“Mr. Davis, you mentioned you recently acquired a new Magic skill on the 7th floor. Exactly what kind of skill is it?”

“It’s a Normal+ grade skill called Shockwave. It simply releases an intangible force.”

“How was it when you used it? I heard most Climbers are negative about Magic skills.”

“Well… that’s right. Magic does have its advantages and unique traits. Basically, it allows for long-range attacks, and the power itself is quite decent.”

I once saw an interview with a man named Davis, a famous frontrunner on Normal difficulty, and he explained the reasoning well.

“But that’s where it ends. At my current level, the consumption is so horrific that my Willpower bottoms out after just a few uses. But above all, the problem is the specific Penalty of Magic skills called ‘Concentration.'”

Concentration.

In other words, the time required to cast a skill.

This was a condition—a penalty—that existed solely for Magic skills.

“While you’re in Concentration, it’s impossible to move your body. This is completely absurd. I mean, do you think an enemy is going to wait for you just because you need to cast a skill mid-fight?”

“Hahaha.”

“Look, let’s take a look. The Shockwave skill requires 10 seconds of Concentration and consumes 50 Willpower. On the other hand, my other Normal+ skill, ‘Dash,’ requires no casting time and only consumes 15 Willpower. In the 10 seconds wasted trying to use Shockwave once, I can use Dash more than three times.”

“Oho… I see.”

Mr. Davis’s conclusion was clear.

“In short, Magic skills are just flashy garbage. There are almost no situations where they can be utilized other than waiting for an enemy to blow them up with one big hit before the battle starts. Well, I suppose it depends on how you use it, but Physical skills are much better in almost every way. Honestly, no Climber would disagree with that.”

Long casting times.

Difficult to use during combat.

And on top of that, a “one-trick pony” trash heap that devours an insane amount of Willpower.

That was exactly what Magic skills were.

Man, did he really have to be that scathing?

But then again… I couldn’t argue.

The skill description of the Flame Strike I obtained.

For reference, Willpower is a concept similar to Mana in games. It was a stat that increased along with your level. Once consumed, it was said to recover by 1% per minute.

And this was my status window.

In short, for me to use the Flame Strike skill… I had to finish 20 seconds of Concentration and then use it exactly once.

To use it again, I had to wait until my Willpower fully recovered—which meant waiting 100 minutes.

What kind of bullshit was this? Just like they said, it really was flashy garbage. Still, since the power was supposed to be great, that was the only part I was looking forward to.

[You have entered Nightmare Difficulty 1st Floor.]

A familiar cave. I picked up my Sword and stared down the passage. I didn’t plan on using the skill right away. I’d take down the first three myself and then try it on the Archer Goblin when it appeared.

After a short wait, Goblins emerged from the passage.

“Yeah, welcome.”

I hadn’t tested the skill yet because I felt awkward trying it in reality, but my body, strengthened by leveling up, was already well-adjusted. Honestly, I was surprised by how much stronger I had become.

I heard that on Hard difficulty, you gain 4 levels every time you clear a floor? Nightmare gave 10 levels, which was 2.5 times that. So, I wasn’t confident. I wasn’t confident that I could actually struggle against mere Goblins anymore.

Kieeeek!

As expected, a Sword Goblin rushed in first. I didn’t even need to split hairs with timing. Since my reflexes and kinetic vision had improved, the Goblin’s attack was plain as day. I dodged lightly and swung my sword.

Crack!

The Goblin’s upper body was split in half.

‘Wait.’

The blade cut too well. No, it was my strength that had increased. The Goblin’s halved body collapsed with a wet thud. The two Goblins following behind flinched. It must have been quite a shocking performance for them too.

“What’s wrong? Come at me.”

Since they didn’t attack, I moved first. I charged at a Sword Goblin and swung. It couldn’t even mount a proper resistance before its body was cut in two like its friend. The last remaining Spear Goblin suddenly fled toward the passage.

“Unbelievable.”

I let out a hollow laugh and gave chase. I caught up in an instant and killed it with a stab to the back of the neck.

‘Easy.’

Did it even take 10 seconds to kill all three? I wasn’t even out of breath. I could vividly feel that my body had completely surpassed Human limits.

Now for the next three. I decided to kill that Archer Goblin—the one that had given me so much trouble—the moment it stepped out of the passage.

I cast a skill for the first time. As I began casting Flame Strike, my body stiffened, and I couldn’t move. Something like an hourglass began to flow inside my head. A strange sensation.

Is this the Concentration state? I had to fill 20 seconds in this state to use the skill. If I interrupted it midway, I would naturally have to start over from the beginning.

The mental hourglass emptied, and the skill was ready. I was taken aback.

‘What?’

…I still couldn’t move? Wait, could it be?

It wasn’t just that I couldn’t move during the Concentration time. Was it that I couldn’t move until I actually used the skill after finishing Concentration? To move, I would have to cancel the skill altogether.

‘Wow, seriously.’

I already felt why they called Magic skills garbage. I stood there, helplessly frozen, waiting for the Goblins to appear.

Kerruk—

Finally, the next Goblins emerged from the passage. Two Sword Goblins and one Archer Goblin. I immediately triggered the skill.

Fwoosh!

A fireball surged from the air in front of me. The fireball shot rapidly toward the Goblins according to my will. And then…

BOOM!

The flames erupted, and a massive explosion occurred. My body was pushed back slightly by the shockwave, and my hair fluttered. I was momentarily dazed by the power, which was beyond my imagination.

“Whoa…”

The smoke cleared. The three Goblins that were there just moments ago were nowhere to be found. Instead, black ash-like remnants were scattered around a cratered floor. It seemed they had been blown to bits without even leaving a proper corpse.

“…The power alone is incredible.”

It was definitely strong. I’d admit that. My evaluation went up slightly, but I still wasn’t sure. The penalties attached were just too fatal despite the power. At this rate, I really wouldn’t be able to use it during an actual battle…

Rumble—

Once all the Goblins were dead, the stone gate began to close. I ran out into the passage. I ran up the continuous incline without stopping. By the time the iron ball started rolling, I was already inside the groove.

Thump!

This section is easy once you know it. After the roar faded, I stepped out leisurely and checked my status window.

[Willpower: 1/100]

My Willpower was depleted after using the skill once. I decided to wait until it was full before moving. Next was the boss monster, the Knight Goblin. Based on my current physical abilities, I felt I could win even without using a skill, but I wanted to test the skill’s power against him as well.

After waiting the full 100 minutes to refill my Willpower, I advanced again. I passed the ownerless weapon shop without picking anything. I entered the red-lit boss room.

Grrrr—

The Knight Goblin stood in the middle of the hollow. As soon as I spotted him, I began casting Flame Strike.

20 seconds of Concentration.

But the Knight Goblin approached me faster than that the moment he saw me. I clicked my tongue inwardly.

‘He’s impatient.’

I can’t use the skill like this. I instinctively activated Stop to freeze time.

However…

‘Huh?’

The hourglass in my head kept flowing.

…The Concentration isn’t breaking?

‘Why? I stopped time.’

I was briefly confused by this phenomenon before it dawned on me. Could it be that Concentration is possible even while time is stopped?

The hourglass finished. Having completed the Concentration, I triggered the skill the moment I released time. The fireball slammed into the Knight Goblin.

KABOOM!

The creature was blown back several meters and crashed into the wall. It didn’t move again. I walked closer to inspect it. The impact of the explosion had shattered both the armor and the Goblin’s body. The boss monster I had struggled so much against was taken out in one shot. Even to me, it was impressive.

‘But wait…’

I tilted my head. How was it possible to concentrate while time was stopped? Why did that work?

A hypothesis suddenly occurred to me.

Time Stop. Even when time stops, I can think. In other words, even if the world’s time stops, the time inside my head flows normally. What if Concentration is judged by the mental flow of time? Is that why it’s possible while time is frozen?

Then, another thought struck me.

‘…Then what about Willpower?’

Doesn’t the word “Willpower” sound mental too? I mean, “will” and “mind” carry the same weight here.

Thinking “no way,” I stopped time again.

[Willpower: 0/100]

My Willpower had hit bottom after using the skill. I waited quietly while time was stopped. And a moment later:

[Willpower: 1/100]

‘…!’

My Willpower recovered. Even while time was stopped.

I screamed internally.

‘Eureka.’

…I think I just discovered a god-tier cheat. One that only I can use.