I paused before the spiral staircase to the sixth floor and asked, "Hey system, is there pressure on the stairs again?"
Ding!
Yes, Host.
"Tch, alright. Just take the points and remove the pressure while I climb."
Ding!
30,000 XP deducted.
Current XP: 23,419
As I ascended, the burden of sword pressure vanished completely. No weight. No suffocating aura. Just silence.
I reached the sixth floor.
And once again, reality slipped from my grasp.
When my eyes opened, I found myself shirtless, in a simple courtyard with an axe in hand.
"Huh...? I need to chop wood...?"
I moved without thinking, driven by instinct, and chopped wood like I'd done it a thousand times.
From the cottage nearby, a sweet voice called, "Husband, come here. I have something for you."
I blinked. Wife...?
I entered the cottage and saw a woman in flowing robes, dancing gracefully. The sight melted something in my heart.
Without thinking, I stepped forward and wrapped my arms around her from behind.
But then—
CRACK!
Her neck rotated a full 180 degrees. A chilling smile spread across her face.
Just then, my sword spirit burst into view and slashed at her phantom form.
"Master! Break the illusion!"
"Huh? Illusion? What are you talking about?" I muttered, my voice dazed. "Who are you?"
Then—snap—a torrent of foreign memories rushed into my mind like a broken dam. Hundreds of lives. Dozens of names. Each one not mine.
"Whose memories are these?! WHO AM I?!"
My head throbbed. I screamed.
"I DON'T KNOW ANYMORE! I JUST WANT TO GO BACK!"
A wild, deadly aura exploded from my body, ripping apart the illusion in a storm of spiritual force. The walls burned away, revealing the true room again.
I collapsed to one knee, trembling. "Damn... that was dangerous... too dangerous."
Without warning, five beast monsters lunged from the shadows.
CRACK! One of their strikes smashed into me, sending me flying into a stone wall. My bones groaned from the impact.
These weren't just any beasts—4th-rank high-tier.
I wiped the blood from my lips, rising with fire in my eyes.
"You dare attack me after that illusion? You're courting death!"
I drew my sword. With a furious roar, I charged forward. The beasts tried to block, but my blade cleaved through one of their arms, severing it cleanly.
Fueled by anger, I cut through all five beasts with brutal precision.
Ding!
You killed 4th-rank high-tier Beast – XP Gained: 4000
… (repeated 5 times)
Current XP: 43,419
Panting, I looked around the destroyed chamber and shouted to the heavens.
"WHAT THE HELL ARE THESE ILLUSIONS?! WHY ARE THEY EVEN HERE?!"
My voice echoed like thunder.
"I'LL COME UP THERE AND MAKE YOU MINE, WHOEVER YOU ARE!"
I turned to the system again.
"Hey system. How many days was I stuck in that illusion?"
Ding!
Thirty days.
My fists clenched. "Damn it..."
"System, is there a way to overcome these illusions faster?"
Ding!
Yes, Host. But... you can't afford it.
I growled. "Tell me how much."
The system was silent for a moment—then nodded.
I sighed. "Fine. Take the XP. Just help me climb the next stairs without that damned pressure."
Ding!
35,000 XP deducted.
Current XP: 8,419
The weight was gone once again, but I knew what waited above would be far worse.
I turned to my sword spirit. "Help me get through this quickly."
The sword hummed in response and trembled gently, as if saying: I will.
And so, I climbed—toward the seventh floor and whatever nightmare awaited me there.