For the first 12 difficulty levels, Jay stood idle, commanding the Origin Glaive to dispatch the monsters one after another with a single, precise strike. The weapon's independent movement alone was enough to handle anything up to Tier-4 monsters with ease.
However, defeating monsters beyond Tier-4 with just the glaive's autonomous actions wasn't feasible—not without Jay wielding it directly. But Jay wished not to reveal the weapon, choosing instead to face the monsters himself from the 13th difficulty level onward.
Up to the 16th level, Jay refrained from activating any skills or abilities, relying solely on his raw stats and his exceptional control over them, achieved through the state of Synchrony.
His countless passive skills and the variety of Innate Talents he had accumulated provided an enormous edge. Even against a Tier-5 High-Phase monster, whose stats matched his own, Jay defeated it in less than ten seconds, all without activating a single active skill.
As the timer for the 16th difficulty level ticked down, Jay turned his focus to the towering figure before him—the Golem Titan. Standing at an imposing 20 meters, it radiated power befitting its level. The monster, at Lv.333, was at the peak of Tier-6 Low-Phase (Level 251 to Level 333).
The sheer number of its stats was staggering—13,000 overall, nearly 3,000 points higher than Jay's own, even with his <Berserk> skill active. Yet, the difference didn't faze Jay. If anything, it only fueled his confidence in winning.
Jay's confidence stemmed from the Golem's inherent weaknesses. Despite its overwhelming defense and crushing attack power, Golems were notoriously slow. In contrast, Jay's movement speed had quadrupled over the past day thanks to his improved stats.
On top of that, with the use of Pseudo-Speed Energy, he calculated that his maximum movement speed should theoretically reach Mach 40. However, MJ had informed him of a critical limitation: the maximum feasible speed using Pseudo-Speed Energy was capped at Mach 25.
While disappointing, Jay trusted MJ's assessment. Now equipped with Grade-6 System access and the wealth of records that came with it, MJ's insights were both thorough and reliable. Though Jay hadn't yet tested these limits himself, he knew better than to doubt MJ's reliable intel.
As Jay's thoughts settled, the five-second timer reached zero, and the Golem Titan sprang into action. Within the endless expanse of the virtual white space, the massive monster charged toward him with surprising speed for its size, moving at Mach 5.
Jay, however, wasted no time. Already bolstered by <Berserk>, he activated Pseudo-Speed Energy immediately, opting for a direct approach rather than probing the Golem Titan's strengths and weaknesses.
In an instant, Jay accelerated, his movements so rapid that the Golem Titan struggled to keep up, its glowing eyes darting in a futile attempt to track him.
To the spectators in the Colosseum, the battle was a blur. Even the azure streak left in Jay's wake was faint, visible only to those with exceptionally high Spirit Attribute stats. None, not even the Tournament Manager Wibbit, could see Jay's body clearly.
Reaching Mach 25, Jay moved at the upper limit of Pseudo-Speed Energy, just as MJ had informed him. Experiencing this velocity firsthand, Jay was struck by the toll it took.
The Centauri Kavach—his full-body armor—began to shed under the extreme strain. Friction from the simulated atmosphere heated the surface of the armor to near-melting temperatures, creating trails of molten streaks as he zipped across the battlefield.
Jay couldn't help but silently admire the breathtaking realism of the Reality Emulator. The simulated environment perfectly mirrored the real world, down to the physical effects of his movements.
Even MJ, with its Grade-6 System access, couldn't discern a difference between this virtual space and reality. The implications were clear—what Jay experienced here would directly translate to reality if he moved at such speeds.
Despite the Kavach's regenerative capabilities, Jay had to adjust. Slowing to Mach 15, he found a balance where the armor's self-repair could keep pace with the damage it sustained. Even at this reduced speed, he was still leagues beyond his opponent.
Typical Tier-6 peak monsters could reach speeds of up to Mach 10 at most, leaving the Golem Titan's Mach 5 speed thoroughly outmatched in comparison.
Jay's movements were sharp and effective, striking the Golem Titan with power comparable to a Tier-6 Mid-Phase monster. The towering monster, despite its incredible defense and attack power, was helpless. It couldn't land a single blow, nor could it effectively defend itself.
Jay exploited the Titan's fatal flaw—its core, hidden deep within its massive rock body and the weakest part of its body. With pinpoint accuracy, Jay targeted it, landing devastating strikes that bypassed the Golem Titan's formidable exterior.
The battle was over in moments. The core shattered, and the Golem Titan collapsed, its massive body crumbling into small fragments before vanishing entirely.
The sheer force of Jay's attacks, however, came with a price. The recoil from striking at such high speeds inflicted damage on his body, even with the Centauri Kavach absorbing much of the impact.
The injuries were significant but manageable, thanks to Jay's remarkable regeneration capabilities. For him, the harm was nothing more than a fleeting inconvenience.
Jay didn't immediately proceed to the 17th difficulty level. Unlike before, he chose to take the 10-minute break available after clearing each difficulty level, allowing him to recover lost stamina, Spirit Energy, and health. Using spiritual fruits alongside his passive regeneration, Jay efficiently began to restore his reserves.
Meanwhile, the Colosseum buzzed with chatter, the audience consumed by discussions of Jay's astonishing feats. Thus far, not a single participant had managed to defeat even a Tier-5 monster. Yet, Jay had gone beyond that, destroying a Tier-6 monster as though it were routine.
The difference between him and the others was so vast that envy had no room to take root. No one dared compare themselves to Jay—his performance transcended any conventional standard. Even Yinad, who earned the highest individual score with an impressive display, faded into insignificance beside him.
Even those who were familiar with Jay were left in stunned disbelief at the immense power he had displayed. To them, it seemed impossible that someone could grow so strong in just a single day. Whispers circulated among them, speculating whether Jay had been hiding his true strength all along, only to unveil it now for the Tournament.
Seath, Vral, Tyuk, Vorqen, and others who had yet to fully join Jay's faction found themselves wavering. They had been hesitant, torn between the allure of benefits for core members and the fear of losing their freedom as Sigil Holders. But after witnessing his overwhelming display of power, their doubts began to fade.
The strength Jay had demonstrated was enough to sway even the most conflicted minds. Freedom felt like a small price to pay to follow someone with the potential to reshape the Trial World itself.
Wibbit, meanwhile, regarded Jay with unbridled excitement. To him, it was as though he had unearthed a priceless treasure. In his enthusiasm, Wibbit removed all other screens that showcased the strongest members from the 99 other teams. He enlarged Jay's screen, making it the centerpiece of the Colosseum's attention.
No one complained. All eyes remained fixed on the screen, even during the 10-minute break, as they eagerly awaited Jay's performance in the 17th difficulty level.
Elsewhere, Urzo observed the unfolding events with growing unease. The spectacle of Jay's strength was impossible to ignore. He had expected Jay to grow stronger, but the rate of his progression exceeded even Urzo's calculations.
If Urzo waited any longer, Jay's power would only become harder to counter. Realizing this, Urzo began making drastic changes to his plans, hastily advancing every contingency he had devised.
The time had come to wage war.
Exclusive artwork for every free chapter is now available on my PATRE0N page! You can find the link in my Discord server.
I'm thrilled to share that I'm taking a big leap forward! Alongside Earth's Alpha Prime, I've launched the first sub-book for EAP.
ALTER REALITY: Online
The first ten to comment for new chapter releases will get '1 ADVANCED CHAPTER' for free on Earth Alpha Prime's Discord server.
In the discord server, I opened a private channel for those Top 10 candidates, where I posted the respective Advanced Chapter.
Discord Link for 'Earth's Alpha Prime' :