YM778.TV Chapter 29: 29: A Mission? Ok, That's What It Means
He stood under a large wooden bridge that spanned the stream, his back pressed against one of the many boulders that lined the water\'s edge. The faint sound of rushing water was oddly calming, despite the urgency he felt. The bridge offered shelter and concealment, ensuring no wandering eyes could spot him as he prepared for his mission.
Axel\'s sharp gaze darted to the glowing notification before him.
**[1 hour 12 minutes left]**
\'Took too long getting here. Typical,\' Axel thought with frustration. He shifted his stance on the boulder, ensuring he wouldn\'t slip into the stream. The familiar tension of an impending battle settled in his muscles. \'Before I face whatever\'s coming, I need to be prepared. I can\'t afford any mistakes like last time.\'
Recalling how unprepared he had been against the Kaiju King—a battle he had survived only through luck—Axel opened the system shop, scrolling through the items available.
**[You have 450 store points available]**
His eyes widened at the balance. \'Guess I haven\'t been paying attention. I haven\'t even converted the souls from the spaceship raid yet.\' Axel quickly scrolled through the available potions, seeking those that would give him the edge he needed.
**[High-grade health replenishment pill—50 coins each]**
**Three purchased.**
**[Evolution pill—100 coins]**
**Two purchased.**
*The pill drastically increases all stats by ten percent or more for a few minutes. However, it has serious backlash afterward.*
Axel paused for a moment, considering the downside of the Evolution pill. The backlash would be brutal, but with the advanced healing pills, he hoped it would be manageable. \'I can\'t rely on luck anymore. Against the Kaiju King, I barely scraped by, and the Fatek General was even worse. If I keep relying on chance, I\'ll never make it to S-rank.\'
He closed the shop and tapped the notification that had been nagging at him.
**[Would you like to enter the quest?]**
**[Yes✓]**
---
A blink later, Axel was no longer in the forest. His surroundings shifted violently, and when his vision cleared, he found himself standing on a jagged rocky platform perched high on a mountainside. The sky was an eerie shade of orange, with a scorching sun hanging low, casting a harsh, oppressive light over the scene.
Yet, despite the sun\'s heat, the air was biting cold, a chill seeping into Axel\'s bones.
The platform beneath him felt unstable, the rocks shifting slightly under his boots as if they could give way at any moment. Directly ahead of him stood an imposing mountain wall, towering into the sky and partially obscured by thick clouds. A narrow, man-sized passageway cut through the base of the mountain, beckoning him forward.
Behind him was nothing but endless sky, a sheer drop that promised certain death.
Axel swallowed hard, his pulse quickening at the sight. \'This place feels like something out of a manga,\' he thought, stepping closer to the passageway, his mind racing with anticipation.
**[Welcome to the Island Above the Ground]**
**[A place hidden from sight, where life and death battles occur]**
**[Mission: You have been challenged for the Gate of Hell, which you conquered from the Kaiju King. Defend your title and kill the enemy.]**
**[Reward: High grade]**
Axel processed the information quickly. \'So, this is about that gate... just like when I challenged the Kaiju, they want me to defend it now. But who\'s coming after it?\' He couldn\'t shake the feeling that this challenger would be stronger than the Kaiju King.
He gritted his teeth and moved toward the narrow tunnel, his sword materializing in his hand with a soft hiss of energy. His instincts screamed at him to be cautious, but Axel knew hesitation would only get him killed.
As he entered the dim tunnel, the air grew damp, and the sound of dripping water echoed off the stone walls. The path was narrow, forcing him to duck slightly as he navigated through the darkness. Faint light flickered ahead, hinting at an exit not too far away. Despite the looming battle, Axel couldn\'t help but feel a sliver of hope. Maybe, just maybe, this fight wouldn\'t be as bad as the last ones.
"Master of the first trial, we meet physically once more."
Axel froze as **Velerium** materialized in front of him, the ancient bone figure clutching a large purple tome in his skeletal hand. His glowing purple eyes bore into Axel\'s, and for the first time in a while, Axel felt a flicker of relief.
"Got any advice?" Axel asked, his tone half-joking.
Velerium growled softly, flipping open his tome. "Just try your best not to get stabbed."
Axel blinked. "What kind of advice is that?" he muttered, shaking his head. "Whatever, I\'ll take it."
As he continued down the tunnel, leaving Velerium behind, the light at the end grew brighter. Axel emerged from the tunnel, squinting as the harsh sunlight assaulted his eyes. He blinked rapidly, trying to adjust to the sudden brightness, and when his vision cleared, his surroundings sent a shiver down his spine.
He stood in a vast circular arena carved into the mountainside, the walls towering high above him. The ground beneath him was rocky, uneven, and dusted with fine gravel. The arena was eerily quiet, save for the low hum of the wind whistling through the narrow cracks in the stone walls.
And there, in the center of the arena, stood **Metal Jaw**.
Axel\'s breath caught in his throat. The creature was massive, standing twice the height of any man, its body encased in battle-scarred metal armor. Thick horns protruded from its helmet, curling upward like those of a demonic bull. Black smoke hissed from the gaps in its helmet, and its glowing eyes burned with malice. In its hands was a massive sword, the blade slick with old blood.
**[You have met with Metal Jaw.]**
**[You have successfully accepted the battle.]**
Axel widened his stance, gripping his sword tightly as it crackled with energy. **[Fang of Kaijus has been activated.]**
Metal Jaw let out a monstrous exhale, the sound reverberating through the arena. He raised his sword overhead, his voice a deep, guttural growl. "It\'s been quite a while since I had human flesh for dinner."
**[Time limit has started.]**
**[You both have ten minutes to kill each other. If not, both of you will die.]**
Axel\'s heart raced. There was no time to hesitate.
"Let\'s make this quick, Metal Jaw!"
The towering figure didn\'t reply, only advancing with heavy, thunderous steps. The battle had begun, and Axel knew he was in for the fight of his life.
***Author\'s note***
One magic castle and I\'ll release ten chapters in a day... Plus seven extra