Chapter 266: Chapter 266 - Bedrock Smash
So that was the answer... Atlas had to form his own skill to complete this trial. And he had done it once. Now he just needed to repeat the process again and again, using his creativity to shape the skills he needed.
He sprinted across the sands as the massive monster rolled toward him, while the smaller ones kept bursting out around him with every stride.
Another one! Atlas dashed forward, just as a centipede shot from the right, an earth spike erupted and flung it back, stopping its attack.
But then he froze. From behind a jagged tower, another giant monster surged into view, barreling straight at him.
Damn it! Now there were two Terrascales!
Atlas darted left, his body twisting with speed. He kicked off a jagged wall, flipping upward in a powerful leap. He soared high into the air, the monsters below tracking his every movement, ready to strike upward.
"Vienne, you’re having fun, aren’t you?" he said, even as he dived down with fierce speed.
Activate!
Atlas channeled his core, forcing his mana downward, focusing it into his legs. He tried to gather every fragment of earth element particles into his foot, hoping that if he could concentrate the earth’s force into a single point and combine it with his kick, he could pierce through the monster’s armor.
He spun in midair, aiming straight for the Terrascale’s head.
Kick! The blow landed hard. But the skill failed to activate.
This is bad!
Atlas sprang away, darting across the monster’s back, clutching Vienne close to his chest. He leapt back to the ground and hit the sand running.
Not yet. He needed more time. He had to think this through.
It was far from easy. Maybe Atlas just needed to try again and again, but finding the right momentum was proving nearly impossible. The more chaotic the battlefield became, the more monsters appeared around him.
This was truly bad, if he got surrounded, he wouldn’t be able to dodge at all. After all, every one of these creatures was above level 100.
At last, he chose to run. Just run. He had to escape this area before the swarm grew any worse.
He sprinted across the desert, avoiding the smaller monsters as they erupted from the sand, lunging at him with snapping mandibles.
But then, something even worse appeared. A stone-scaled lizard burst from the ground, its movements frighteningly fast as it shot straight toward him.
One crushing strike came too suddenly to dodge. Atlas twisted his body at the last moment, forcing the blow to land against his back instead.
The impact hurled him forward, sand spraying around him. He curled tight, protecting Vienne with everything he had.
"Ga ga ga ga!"
The baby complained, her tiny fists thumping against his chest.
"Yes, sorry, Vienne. You’re not hurt, are you?" Atlas panted as he scrambled back to his feet and pushed into another run.
Every monster had its own nature: the centipedes vanished and struck without warning, while these lizards chased him relentlessly, refusing to let him flee.
Five of the stone lizards were already closing in from behind. Atlas knew if he slipped for even a second, they would swarm him.
And then, at the same moment, a massive Terrascale rolled from behind at high speed, and another one suddenly erupted ahead, crashing forward to block his path.
Atlas tried to dash left, but a centipede shot straight at him. He clenched his teeth hard.
[Rare - Stonepierce Fang (Active Skill) Lv. 1 activated.]
The spike sent the centipede flying as Atlas ducked low, barely avoiding another strike. The shadows of monsters stretched over him as the day neared its end.
But now, he was truly cornered. Two Terrascales rolled toward him from opposite sides. He tried to sprint out, but a lizard monster lunged and clamped its jaws onto his leg.
Atlas stumbled, his body crashing into the sand, pinned by the bite. The Terrascale thundered closer, closing the distance fast. He had no choice left.
He had attempted this countless times throughout the day, dozens of times. But had yet to succeed. His fists alone couldn’t hurt these monsters. They were too massive, their scales far too thick. The armored hide carried an earth element density so strong that his normal strikes were useless.
Wait... an idea sparked.
Atlas braced his body, pulling Vienne closer with his left arm, shielding her tightly. With his right, he summoned his mana, forcing it to condense in his fist, gathering earth-element particles in a dense concentration. He clenched harder, willing the element to merge with his strike.
The Terrascale loomed over him, rolling in to crush them both. If he failed, Vienne would be in danger, and he would be forced to use one of his items. But no, not yet. He refused to give in.
"Ba ba ba!"
Vienne cried out loudly at that very moment.
Atlas grit his teeth, raised his fist, and drove it forward with everything he had. Straight into the Terrascale.
Would his hand shatter under the impact?
Time slowed to a crawl. In that suspended moment, he felt the collision. An overwhelming force meeting his strike.
The Terrascale’s rolling form halted, and a violent surge of energy erupted.
The blast hurled both Atlas and Vienne backward, while cracks spread across the monster’s armored body.
[You have successfully triggered: Bedrock Smash.]
[Skill unlocked: Rare – Bedrock Smash (Active Skill).]
[Channels earth mana into a direct blow, releasing crushing force and shock on impact.]
Atlas made it! But his body was flung violently backward, tumbling out of control. Straight into the path of another Terrascale rolling toward him.
He was thrown, struggling to hold Vienne steady against him. The momentum was brutal, every twist of his body a battle to keep her safe.
In that split-second, Atlas forced himself to repeat the same technique, but this time he channeled it into his leg.
[Rare – Bedrock Smash (Active Skill) Lv. 1 activated.]
His kick connected with a crushing impact against the Terrascale, halting its advance. The backlash, however, sent Atlas crashing down again, his body tumbling across the sand. He rolled desperately, curling tight to shield Vienne from harm.
He scrambled back onto his feet, panic flooding him as he looked down at his daughter’s face.
"Vienne?!"
No, she was okay. But her cheeks were dusted with sand, and this time her face twisted with anger. She burst out crying, her wails sharp and furious.
"Sorry, sorry! We’ll finish this, I promise!" Atlas said quickly, his voice trembling between desperation and determination.
What followed was Atlas running through the tightening ring of monsters. He could finally deal damage now, but being surrounded from every side still left him at a disadvantage.
By the time the shadows of night began to stretch across the island and the blistering heat of day started to fade, the massive Terrascale was still in pursuit, rolling and crashing toward him from both sides. They simply refused to give up.
Atlas sprinted into the narrow paths between jagged cliffs, vaulted upward, and soared high into the air. Beneath him, the monster spun in place, ready to crush him the moment he came down.
He held Vienne tightly against his chest as his body dropped.
Once more, he forced his core and mana to ignite, gritting his teeth until his whole body trembled.
"Ga ga ga ga!"
[Rare – Bedrock Smash (Active Skill) Lv. 1 activated.]
Atlas descended like a hammer, slamming into the Terrascale with a thunderous strike. The impact sent shockwaves tearing through the sand, and cracks spread across the monster’s armored body as it crashed hard into the ground.
Atlas landed heavily, momentum driving him forward. He clenched his fist and drove it into the creature again.
[Rare – Bedrock Smash (Active Skill) Lv. 1 activated.]
"Ga ga ga ga!"
A violent explosion of energy burst out, throwing Atlas backward, but not before the Terrascale shrieked, its scales fracturing, pieces of armor splintering open.
Atlas surged forward again, twisting into a spinning kick that struck with brutal force. This time, his strike landed harder, sharper, shaking the ground beneath them.
[Rare – Bedrock Smash (Active Skill) Lv. 1 activated.]
The Terrascale’s massive body was hurled back, crashing into a jagged cliff wall with a roar of breaking stone.
Atlas charged forward once more, holding Vienne tightly against his chest with utmost care. He spun into a fierce kick, slamming into the battered Terrascale that was still pinned against the cliff.
Hit again. Kick again. Strike after strike.
Until at last, with one final crushing blow, Atlas staggered forward, his body bowing from exhaustion, sweat pouring down in heavy streams. His chest heaved as he fought to keep his balance, every muscle burning.
Then, across his vision, a system message flashed, confirming what he had accomplished.
[You have killed Terrascale Lv. 101]
[..]
[Affinity Increase Confirmed]
[Element: Earth]
[Current Rank: Medium Affinity]
Atlas collapsed to his knees in the sand. But it wasn’t the exhaustion that shocked him. It wasn’t even relief from surviving the battle.
It was what he heard next.
"Pa... pa."
What?!