The ground split like it had been waiting for him.
Stone cracked. Bones snapped. A shockwave of dust blew outward as a giant rose from the pit—one piece at a time.
First the axe.
Then the gauntlets.
Then the skull, carved in ancient runes that pulsed with violet light.
Bone Reaver Garlan stood tall, eight feet of armored hatred and necrotic muscle. Runes flickered across his ribs. His fingers were tipped with bone claws that clinked like daggers when he moved.
> "You do not belong," the monster growled, his voice like stones grinding together.
"This floor was not meant for conquest."
Jae-won flexed his fingers. Blood still dripped from his knuckles.
> "I'm not here to follow your script."
---
[Elite Field Boss: Bone Reaver Garlan – LV. 10]
[Warning: Power exceeds floor parameters.]
---
The axe came down first—faster than any undead had a right to move.
Jae-won kicked off the ground and spun wide, the blade missing his ribs by inches. It cleaved the earth where he stood, leaving a trench five meters deep.
> One hit and I'm paste. Noted.
Jae-won darted back in before Garlan could lift the axe, sliding under the giant's arm like smoke. His fist slammed into Garlan's ribs—bone crunched.
But Garlan didn't flinch.
Instead, he grabbed Jae-won mid-strike and hurled him across the field like trash.
He smashed into a pillar of ruined stone.
Dust exploded.
---
> "Good throw."
Jae-won stood, wiping blood from his lip.
> "Let's see who breaks first."
---
Garlan rushed. Fast. Stupid fast. Axe raised, runes glowing.
Jae-won didn't run. He stepped into the swing.
The axe whistled toward his skull—he ducked, twisted, and grabbed the handle mid-swing, riding the force like a current.
> [Absolute Check Passed]
He flipped himself up and onto the giant's shoulder, slamming his elbow into the base of Garlan's neck.
Once. Twice. The third time, something cracked.
Garlan roared and threw his body backward, slamming Jae-won into the ground like a meteor.
The world blinked white from the impact.
---
[You have taken 47 Damage.]
[WARNING: You are bleeding.]
---
Jae-won coughed blood and grinned.
> "You're strong. I like that."
He stood up again. Bones aching. Muscles screaming. But alive.
More than alive.
The fight was waking something in his Core. A memory. A rhythm.
> "Come on, System. Give me something."
---
[Skill Awakening Triggered.]
[You have created a Unique Skill: Adaptive Flow]
[Adaptive Flow – Passive/Active]
Harnesses the Absolute Stat to adapt and evolve in real time. Movement, reflex, timing, strength—each strike learns and improves.
---
> "Perfect."
The next clash was different.
Garlan came in like a mountain. Jae-won weaved under the strike and struck the boss's leg. His form tightened. His footwork improved. Faster. Smoother.
Each dodge made the next easier. Each strike hit harder.
He wasn't fighting Garlan.
He was downloading him.
Five dodges in, Jae-won's fist shattered Garlan's knee.
Eight exchanges later, he was behind the boss's back, spine-level.
On the tenth, he leapt up and drove a rock-sharpened bone spike into Garlan's rune-covered skull.
The light in Garlan's eyes flared.
Then died.
---
[Elite Boss Defeated!]
[You have gained 120 EXP.]
[Level Up! +6 Stat Points Earned.]
[Level Up! +6 Stat Points Earned.]
[Title Unlocked: First Breaker]
[Item Obtained: Garlan's Reaver Core (Unique)]
---
Jae-won stood over the broken corpse. Breathing hard. Blood dripping down his brow.
He looked at his hands.
> "This... is more like it."
He opened his interface.
---
[SYSTEM INTERFACE – KIM JAE-WON]
Name: Kim Jae-won
Level: 5
Class: Apex Conductor
Core Stat: Absolute – 40
Stat Points: 0
Skills:
Adaptive Flow (Unique)
Titles:
First Breaker – "You were the first to defy the Floor's script."
Items:
Garlan's Reaver Core – Can be absorbed or forged.
Status: UNBOUND
EXP to next level: 2/60
System Note: Rapid evolution detected. Observation protocols elevated.
---