Chapter 166: Mid-Rank Skill, Peak-Plat Rank

Arriving at the sixth floor, Ethan found himself facing familiar opposition.

Two Void Stalker Panthers crouched in the arena’s centre, their midnight-black forms radiating Mid-Platinum power while Super-sonic capabilities made the air itself vibrate with.

<Hostile Entity: Void Stalker Panther>

<Rank: Mid-Platinum>

<Super-Sonic Talent: B- >

<Quantity: 2>

“Doubled opponents from the previous floor,” Ethan observed while drawing the Noon Sword. “The tower maintains its scaling approach through numerical increases.”

Rambo spread his wings from Ethan’s shoulder, crimson energy flowing through his compact form as blood manipulation systems prepared for coordinated assault.

“Together this time,” Ethan said with tactical assessment. “Two Mid-Platinum speedsters, whilst they aren’t strong, if they keep running, I might miss the record-breaking opportunity, let’s both attack them.”

[3… 2… 1… Begin!]

Both panthers exploded into motion simultaneously, their Super-sonic capabilities creating sonic booms that shattered the arena’s silence. They moved in perfect coordination, one flanking left while the other circled right to eliminate escape routes.

But Ethan’s enhanced agility had reached supernatural levels through equipment bonuses and talent evolution.

WHOOSH! BLUR! INTERCEPT!

Enhanced Speed activated as Ethan launched himself toward the left-flanking panther, his velocity creating displacement waves that challenged the creature’s own momentum. The Noon Sword blazed with accumulated solar energy while Flame Mastery superheated the blade’s cutting edge.

Rambo struck simultaneously, blood spears materialising around the right-flanking panther. SSS-rank talent created projectiles that moved faster than Super-sonic evasion while blood manipulation targeted vital circulatory systems.

PIERCE! SCREECH! IMPACT!

The first panther met Ethan’s charge with desperate counter-attack, its claws extending toward his approach trajectory. But C-grade Super-sonic movement allowed last-second repositioning that turned its strike into wasted motion.

SLASH! DISCHARGE! DEVASTATION!

Solar energy erupted as the Noon Sword connected with exposed flesh, legendary equipment proving decisive against their flesh. The thermal discharge created plasma explosions that illuminated the entire arena.

THUD! COLLAPSE! ELIMINATION!

The first panther crumpled among cooling solar energy while Rambo’s blood spears found their marks on the second creature. Blood control eliminated its life support systems with surgical precision that bypassed conventional defences entirely.

PIERCE! HEMORRHAGE! DEATH!

Both panthers lay motionless within seconds of combat initiation, their Super-sonic capabilities rendered meaningless by Ethan’s and Rambo’s assault that exceeded their reaction capabilities.

“Two strikes total,” Ethan noted with satisfaction as he examined the fallen creatures. “We are too powerful…”

[Floor 6 Complete]

[Record Broken!]

[New Record: 8 seconds – Set by Ethan Brandon][REWARD DOUBLED!]

[Reward: Twilight Blade (Tier 6)]

[Twilight Blade]

[Tier: 6]

[Details: Dual-element sword combining shadow and light properties. When equipped: +45 Strength, +35 Agility. Special ability: Phase Strike – bypasses physical defences once per day.]

The weapon materialized through dimensional transport, its blade shimmering between brilliant radiance and absolute darkness.

Ethan examined the sword briefly before storing it in his dimensional ring without ceremony. “Useful backup weapon, but the Noon Sword remains optimal for current combat requirements.”

His storage capacity had expanded significantly through various acquisitions, allowing collection of legendary equipment for future utilization or potential trading opportunities.

<+14 Agility>

<+14 Agility>

<+8 Agility>

<+8 Agility>

<Your talent Super Sonic has evolved (C -> C+)>

…

On the seventh floor, Ethan once again faced an escalated challenge as four Void Stalker Panthers materialized across the expanded arena. Their coordinated positioning demonstrated pack intelligence while Mid-Platinum power signatures created overlapping threat zones.

The encounter lasted mere seconds as Ethan and Rambo’s partnership had reached devastating efficiency levels. Enhanced agility approaching supernatural velocities combined with SSS-rank blood manipulation eliminated the creatures before they could establish effective tactical coordination.

Another record broken, another doubled reward claimed, and most importantly, a substantial advancement in attributes acquired through devouring.

<+12 Agility><+12 Agility><+12 Agility><+12 Agility>

<+8 Agility><+8 Agility><+8 Agility><+8 Agility>(Core consumption)

The massive agility enhancement totalled eighty points from a single floor, an advancement that would normally require months of careful development compressed into minutes of combat efficiency.

His Super-sonic talent remained at C+ grade despite multiple B- rank consumptions. But the attribute gains had pushed his capabilities into new territory.

More significantly, the combined enhancements had triggered rank advancement beyond Mid-Platinum.

<RANK ADVANCEMENT ACHIEVED><Mid-Platinum → High-Platinum>

<Human: Ethan Brandon>

<Rank: High-Platinum>

<Talents: Flame Mastery (C+), Super Sonic (C+), Water (D-), Crystal Manipulation (D), Wind(D), Protective Shield (F+), Accuracy Enhancement (F+), Regeneration (D+), Dagger Wield (F-), Mental Enhancement (F)>

<Transformations: Stalker Panther(Mid-Plat) ,FireFly(Low-Plat),Dark Wraith(High-Gold), Apex Mane(Mid-Gold), Crystal Butterfly(Low-Gold), …>

<Level 9>

<Health Points: 5250> <Mana Points:5500>

<Strength: 515 (+60)> <Agility: 740(+110)>

<Intelligence: 560 (+60)> <Vitality: 525(+40)>

<Free Attributes: 23>

<Skills: Basic Footwork (Apprentice- 20%), Swordsmanship (Apprentice – 5%), Mana control (Apprentice – 14%)>

“High-Platinum rank achieved,” Ethan said with deep satisfaction as he processed the transformation coursing through his enhanced physiology. “Seven floors of tower challenges have pushed my capabilities beyond anything I hoped for…”

His agility had reached 850 total points with equipment bonuses—velocity that approached teleportation through physical space. Movement at such speeds would make him appear to vanish and reappear rather than travel conventional distances.

“C+ grade talents in both Flame Mastery and Super-sonic talent,” he continued while testing his enhanced reflexes. “Combined with High-Platinum base attributes, my combat effectiveness has reached legendary levels.”

Rambo chirped with obvious satisfaction from his shoulder perch, the Blood Dragon’s ancient intelligence recognising that their partnership had evolved beyond normal companion relationships.

“The tower’s advancement opportunities exceed every expectation,” Ethan observed with growing anticipation. “Seven floors provided materials that would normally require me weeks of finding powerful beasts to devour.”

His decision to preserve the Dark Wraith’s corpse felt increasingly validated. The tower’s legendary challenges offered advancement materials that transcended anything available through conventional territorial activities.

Lady Seraphina and Lord Magnus had reached floor twenty as Diamond-rank individuals. His High-Platinum advancement suggested the potential for surpassing their achievements through his continued progression.

“Ready for floor eight,” Ethan announced with confidence that bordered on certainty. “Time to discover what challenges await someone who has transcended normal power classifications.”

The tower’s systematic testing had forged him into something approaching legendary status. Now came the real education in what individual transcendence could ultimately achieve.

Ethan was a High-platinum rank through his base attributes only. However, when the bonus attributes of his items come into play, Ethan rises to become a peak-platinum ranker.

His agility crossed the 800 attribute rank, marking him as a peak-platinum ranker in combat power.

[Floor 8 Challenge Available]

…

The familiar transition activated as reality shifted toward the next challenge level.

On the eighth floor, Ethan faced two panthers materialising across the arena with power signatures that blazed significantly brighter than previous encounters.

<Hostile Entity: Void Stalker Panthers>

<Rank: High-Platinum>

<Super-Sonic Talent: B>

<Quantity: 2>

These specimens radiated High-Platinum energy while their enhanced size suggested evolutionary advancement beyond their Mid-Platinum predecessors.

But the creatures’ intelligence had evolved as well. Instead of direct assault, they immediately scattered toward opposite ends of the arena while activating stealth capabilities that made visual tracking difficult.

Ethan observed with interest. “They’re attempting evasion rather than confrontation.”

[3… 2… 1… Begin!]

Both creatures vanished into blur-speed movement that pushed their High-Platinum capabilities toward maximum output. They attempted to create confusion through rapid position changes while seeking opportunities for flanking attacks.

But agility approaching one thousand points coupled with C+ Super-sonic talent made their evasion attempts appear sluggish rather than challenging.

Enhanced Speed was activated to moderate levels as he closed the distance with the first panther faster than its enhanced reflexes could process. The creature’s stealth became irrelevant when it could simply appear at its location.

SLASH! DISCHARGE! ELIMINATION!

Solar energy erupted as the Noon Sword connected with the first panther’s exposed flank, legendary equipment proving decisive against High-Platinum durability. The creature collapsed without managing meaningful resistance.

The second panther witnessed its companion’s death and attempted desperate escape toward the arena’s perimeter. But eight hundred total agility meant distance became meaningless.

WHOOSH! INTERCEPT! DEATH!

Ethan appeared behind the fleeing creature before it covered half the intended distance. The second strike ended combat within ten seconds of initiation.

“High-Platinum opposition requires slightly more attention,” he observed while extracting cores from cooling corpses. “But they are still an insufficient challenge for my current capabilities.”

<+13 Agility><+13 Agility>

<+8 Agility><+8 Agility>

The advancement totalled forty-two agility points, pushing his base velocity even higher while maintaining his trajectory toward theoretical attribute maximums.

[Floor 8 Complete][Record Broken!]

[New Record: 13 seconds – Set by Ethan Brandon]

[REWARD DOUBLED!]

[Reward: Fast Steps Skill Book (Mid-Rank)]

The skill book materialised as a bound leather tome that radiated knowledge enhancement rather than simple equipment bonuses. Its pages contained movement techniques that transcended Basic-rank footwork limitations.

[Fast Steps]

[Rank: Mid]

[Details: Advanced footwork technique focusing on velocity multiplication and directional control. Mastery increases speed efficiency while reducing energy consumption.]

“Mid-rank skill,” Ethan said with genuine appreciation as he absorbed the tome’s contents. “It’s a good upgrade from my Basic Footwork.”

The knowledge integration felt different from normal learning techniques and muscle memory, downloading directly into his enhanced consciousness. Decades of movement refinement compressed into instant comprehension.

<Skill Upgrade: Basic Footwork → Fast Steps (Mid-Rank)>

<Current Mastery: Novice – 60%>

<Master from previous footwork skill has been integrated into Fast Steps>

“Mid-rank skill at Novice mastery,” he noted while testing the enhanced movement patterns. “I can sense an immediate improvement over Apprentice-level Basic Footwork despite lower mastery percentage.”

The tower had provided exactly what he’d hoped.

“Eight floors completed with consistent record-breaking performance,” Ethan announced while the tower prepared advancement protocols.

Ethan continued testing out the new skill he had gotten and he felt that it was about 50% more effective than the previous skill despite the lower mastery levels. It was simply a powerful skill that he needed.

Skills weren’t the main factor of strength, but they certainly acted as a medium to buff his own base strength that came from his attributes and talents.

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