The Rise of the Black Plain
chapter-2727

Just over six hours after entering the previous room, Minos was finally considering leaving to wait for the third floor to open.

In the last few hours, he had managed to finish training his new skill and learn how to use it in an even more advanced way than he had with the Chaotic Gravity technique previously.

Now he could control gravity much more efficiently, using only a fraction of the energy he needed before. Moreover, he had developed a new ability: by manipulating the gravity around his body, he could momentarily create an antimatter barrier capable of negating all forms of non-spiritual attacks.

Besides gaining a better understanding of his abilities, the last few hours had helped him realize what he could achieve as he progressed through the tower.

'It seems that when I get more than one badge per floor, I'll have opportunities for upgrades on the next floor,' Minos concluded as he stood up from where he had been meditating.

Still, this was a challenge, even if it held great potential. Minos had acquired a new skill, but it hadn't come easily. Mastering this skill required him to apply his understanding.

Nothing had come to him for free. If he hadn't been able to decipher the golden book earlier, he wouldn't have left this room with a new skill and would have failed to earn the badge for this room. Once he completed the transition from technique to skill, the room naturally formed a new insignia for him.

Minos opened the door to the room, illuminated by a strong green light, frowning as he prepared to face the situation outside.

A feeling told him that the situation outside would be different this time.

And indeed, when he examined his surroundings, he soon spotted Soli and Forfex in the front of his room, while several individuals in the surrounding area were silent, looking at each other strangely.

Traces of battles could be seen in the surroundings, with one individual lying in the middle of the area, just below where the passage to the third floor would open in a day's time.

Minos didn't need to listen to Forfex's explanation to understand what had happened.

"... And so he was killed by Bartel's group." Forfex finished explaining how that competitor had been killed while vying for one of the seven remaining rooms after the challenges in the area had begun.

As expected, all 93 who entered the second floor won their challenges in no time. But while the 7 individuals who collected two insignia on the previous floor didn't repeat the feat on this floor, half of those who remained did so within minutes of the start of the challenge on the second floor.

Almost everyone finished their tests as quickly as possible to get a second badge, but the seven rooms were occupied after 19 individuals fought each other. From this fight, Soli had gained some injuries before getting one of the rooms for herself, but the fallen individual in the center of the area had ended up dead.

The others who left their rooms after the remaining challenges were completed didn't fight, but remained silent, resolute about the implications of what had happened. Everyone had to rethink their strategies for the next floor.

Looking at Forfex, Minos said, "On the next level, I'll try to get one of the eight rooms. If you're quick, stay close to me. The battle on the third floor will be more brutal than it was here. Now more people know what a second insignia can do for us."

As Soli looked at them with interest, Forfex agreed. What he had experienced in his room on the second floor was truly incredible, and now his goal was to get one of the eight rooms on the next floor.

"Are you leaving me out?" Soli asked.

"You'll understand when you get into the next room." Minos explained vaguely. "But for now, keep in mind that the next floor won't be for you to try two rooms. However, it's best to be careful from the next level onwards.

As far as I can see, the fight on the second floor was for the seven extra rooms. But on the next and subsequent floors, there may be fights for the insignia you've already earned." He looked at the other five people who, apart from him and Forfex, knew the consequences of having two badges on the same floor.

"It makes sense." Forfex agreed with Minos' theory. "Soli, you have one now and no one has tried to take it from you here because those who know about its potential only discovered it at the end of this floor. But on the next floor, there will be 7 who know about it from the start and 7 more who will know about it at the end of the ordeal. The next floors will be much more dangerous."

She looked at Minos, sensing that this could be a problem. "So you'll stay together and I'll have to carry on alone? That won't be good."

"You're right." Minos agreed. "You'll have to sacrifice yourself for us on one of the following floors, Soli. We can't keep alternating between challenging the rooms or take advantage of opportunities. We have to act simultaneously. If we're going to challenge two rooms on the same floor, we'll have to do it all together."

"What do you suggest? On the third floor, she'll take her chance and we'll try two rooms." Forfex questioned.

"On the fourth floor, we'll all go into our rooms and stay there until the end of time there. You shouldn't try to get a second room on the fourth floor, Soli," he said, looking at her. "We'll act together on the fifth floor. And eventually we'll give you an extra insignia to make up for this delay for you."

She clenched her fists, but accepted Minos' plan.

Just then, the timer on the second floor went off and the passage to the third floor of the tower opened. At that moment, everyone put aside their thoughts about the challenges ahead and headed for the third floor, where things promised to heat up!

On the third floor, identical in appearance to the first and second floors, everyone quickly chose their rooms and began the area's 92 tests, with almost everyone aiming to get one of the 8 remaining tests!