This was the consequence of the unprepared.
I am a fool and a failure...
Blinded by ego and pride...
» [System]: Logout request initiated.
» Do you wish to Exit Life?
Yes...
Avoiding death in a video game by logging out mid-fight. At least, that's what I hoped for...
For how long, have I been repeating this?
» Input received: Y.
» Error: Insufficient privileges.
» Logout Denied: Administrator permissions required.
Just let me go...
» [System]: Logout request initiated.
» Do you wish to Exit Life?
Yes...
» Input Received: Y.
» Multiple Attempts Detected.
» Warning: You do not have the right to log out.
» LOG OUT: DENIED.
» [System Response]: Resistance logged.
» Punishment pending...
---
The sound of thunder in a raging storm was far too familiar.
Defeated, I was lying on the cold marble floor of a massive, floating golden arena.
Etched into the back of my right wrist was the Blasphemy Crest—a detailed, gold, sword-shaped mark that signified my class.
A Guard. It granted me access to my stats, and more importantly, the blessing of the System.
The power to use skills, grow stronger, and level up.
But now, it was glowing blood red.
---
» [System]: Punishment Initiated.
» Reason: Multiple Unauthorized Exit Attempts.
How cruel, no matter how much power I possess.
In this world, I am nothing more than a caged animal.
---
» Executing Sentence: 3... 2... 1...
» Debuff Applied: -40% ATK DAMAGE.
» Debuff Applied: -60% HP reduction.
» Debuff Applied: +20% Damage Taken from Enemies.
» Debuff Applied: -20 Sanity.
» Restriction Applied: Locking Secondary Archetype, Hiding Attributes.
---
I am a prisoner of the system.
---
» [Notice]: You are too afraid, the system will now numb your emotions.
» Emotional Response Weakened.
I can't even mourn my fallen comrades. I can't shed a single tear. The system stripped away the one thing that separates me from artificial intelligence, my last shred of humanity.
» [Warning]: Sanity approaching unstable levels.
My sanity drops—from 70 to 50.
Nausea hits me. I began to hallucinate. Faces from my past, former allies, stare back at me, some disappointed and some took pity. All of them are victims of the tower's brutality.
Yet, I find myself unmoved by the darkness I saw.
My UI was malfunctioning. Red and Glitching, Bleeding like a fresh open wound.
It's a miracle, that I'm still alive...
---
» Warning: Enemy Approaching...
Above the reaches of the crying sky, the Tower sent me my next challenge.
It descended.
It crashed down violently, landing in the arena with a devastating impact—a sound so loud it sent a sharp pain through my ears as dust and debris flew in all directions.
---
» EMERGENCY: Enemy Has Arrived...
A red-colored name?
It must be far above my level.
» ENEMY DESCRIPTION: Samson the Flawed.
The Guardian before the terminal—a knight in decaying golden armor. Red flesh laughs visibly through the holes in its plating. Its cape, red and old, tells the history of many slain ascendants who managed to reach the summit of the tower.
To ultimately fall to their deaths.
And It wants you to be part of its kill log.
It wields the Heavenly Spear of Midas.
---
Check Enemy Stats—
» HP: ??#/#ERROR
» DEF: ??#/#ERROR
» ATK (AD): ??#/#ERROR
» ATK (AP): ??#/#ERROR
» LEVEL: ??#/#ERROR
» RESISTANCE: ??#/#ERROR
» ELEMENT RESIST: ??#/#ERROR
» WEAKNESS: ??#/#ERROR
Its armor on top of its higher level is preventing me from scanning.
---
I stood up, I'm sluggish. My black military uniform, once an honorable symbol of the order of the Leviathan, under the command of the Vaxian Army.
Now, it has been disrespected by my inadequacy.
---
Status Check:
» RACE: Human
» BLASPHEMY CREST: Domination (Vaxian Variant)
» CLASS: Hybrid Guard
» MAIN ARCHETYPE: Elite 2, LEVEL 90, Liberator (Legendary Rarity) (UNIQUE)
» SECONDARY ARCHETYPE: Elite 1, LEVEL 80, ARTS GUARD (HEROIC RARITY) [RESTRICTED]
» HP: ??#/#ERROR
» ATK (AD): ??#/#ERROR
» ATK (AP): ??#/#ERROR
» DEF: ??#/#ERROR
» RESISTANCE: ??#/#ERROR
» SP: ??#/#ERROR (60/60)
» SANITY: ??#/#ERROR (50/100)
» WEAKNESS: ??#/#ERROR
---
As expected, my stats are obscured. In this world, there are no player levels as it is tied to the blasphemy crest.
My primary archetype: Liberator Guard, E2 Level 90 accounts for the majority of my attributes. However, the system has sealed my secondary archetype, along with its corresponding stats and abilities.
It took me 36 years to get to this point.
I cannot view my current ATK, but I recall it being relatively low—somewhere around 455 (AD), assuming only my Liberator archetype is active.
My HP was at around 4000 with the liberator stats alone, but with that -60% reduction, I'm left with around 2400. The system didn't debuff my 500 DEF and with that amount—I can survive at least one hit from that boss.
But that +20% increased damage taken—it just makes the math harder to think through.
But the other debuffs, it's equally infuriating.
-40% ATK, I'm left with around 273 base ATK (AD).
Damage calculation is straightforward: [DEF minus attacker's ATK]. If this knight's DEF surpasses my attack, my strikes will barely make a dent—like hitting with a paper towel.
Since I cannot access my secondary archetype, Arts Guard, which specializes in arts damage, I can only pray to the gods that this enemy's weakness is physical rather than the latter.
---
» Notice: Samson the Flawed has challenged you to a duel.
I didn't hesitate to accept, the system graciously prevented me from feeling any hint of fear.
With every movement of the knight, the sky rumbled.
And still... I was the last one standing.
For I am Daedalus—
Title: The Patience of a Thousand Gods.
---
» Liberator Passive Activated:
[Tested Patience.]
In combat: When SP is at its maximum value (60/60), consume all SP at once then activate passive ability.
» Trait: Cannot Attack Enemies.
ATK (AD) gradually increases up to +800% over 60 seconds.
Reaction Sensitivity: Heightened.
Taunt Level: MAX — all enemy aggro is focused on Daedalus.
» Can only attack when skill is activated.
IF: Can defend using blunt force, counted as a valid defense state. If the defense state becomes the aggressor without skill activation, punish the player with 100% increased damage received, and halve HP and DEF for 20 seconds.
» When ATK (AD) exceeds 400%, [Decisive Retaliation] becomes available.
» When ATK (AD) exceeds 800%, [Ultimate: Final Glory] becomes available.
» ATK (AD) is reset upon skill termination (Bypass by unique skill description.)
» Upon skill end, SP regeneration is significantly accelerated.
» Countdown Begins...
1... 304 Atk+
2... 336 Atk+
3... 368 Atk+
I have no weapon.
But I am a Liberator, I don't need one.
» The Liberator Aura: A faint golden glow surrounded the player, and its pressure could gradually be felt as his ATK+ began rising to its peak.
» Samson the Flawed remained vigilant as it observed your SP drop to zero in an instant.
---
» Warning: The Samson the Flawed manifested full killing intent, do you answer with the same gesture?
Yes...
» Battle Initiated: Samson the Flawed vs. Daedalus.
How very tiring...
This beast suddenly lunged forward with its spear extended like a javelin.
I sidestep—but to my horror, it was a feint from the knight.
He was aiming to graze a small fabric of my coat.
9… 559 ATK+
10… 591 ATK+
---
» Warning: Golden corrosion spreading.
What is this?! Where the spear struck, the patch of my military coat stiffened. Slowly turned to gold...
I had no choice!
I tore the infected cloth mid-motion, flinging it aside.
11... 623 ATK+
12... 655 ATK+
Tch!—the knight slammed the spear of Midas right next to where I stood.
A chunk of the floating arena that was touched by the weapon's haft instantly transmuted into a golden crater followed by a shockwave that nearly sent me over the edge.
The sound echoed through the sky—
I braced through the impact and used a dash to stay upright.
Reset—
I didn't take any damage.
15... 687 ATK+
16... 718 ATK+
Samson turned to me—then vanished.
I sensed... Death...
Where are you?!
I raised his arms in a defensive stance just in time for the spear to come down like a lightning bolt.
But in an instant, The Flawed one appeared beside me—
19... 878 ATK+
20... 910 ATK+
The spears come at me—in thousand silhouettes, I knew it would be unwise to try and deflect every hit with my bare hands.
So I gambled, rather than parrying the cursed tip of the spear and risking turning golden, I combined back-stepping maneuvers while misdirecting the spear's golden shaft.
We were trading blows faster than the eye could follow, faster than the system could render.
But the knight suddenly widened the distance between us, then circled me like prey.
» Warning: Samson is enraged by your actions; he sees your defensive behavior as a shameful display.
22... 973 ATK+
23... 1005 ATK+
» The Liberator's golden aura was slowly intensifying.
---
» Alert: Samson the Flawed has vanished.
He teleported? Or blinked?! The sound queue he made was similar to one—I kept my guard up, my eyes looking in every direction.
Expecting a spear at any angle...
But I made one crucial mistake going into this fight, I lacked proper information about my enemy.
?!!
It was too late—
The knight didn't teleport or blink...
It turned invisible while mimicking the visuals and audio of a blink/teleport ability.
25... 1069 ATK+
» [ALERT]: FATAL BLOW DETECTED!
I couldn't see my enemy, but I felt it. The cold sensation of golden steel caressing my left cheek—
Gold bloomed where the blade touched—slowly spreading across, as a solidifying golden crust could be felt growing on my skin.
Like a tumor. I staggered—
---
» [ALERT]: OFF GUARD!
I couldn't recover quickly—And then...
I felt it—
A sudden impact—as Samson, planted his fist into my gut like a cannonball.
Followed by an explosion of air across the arena.
My body skidded across the marble floor, breaking through columns of golden stone as I crushed through the architecture violently—stopping my momentum.
» DAMAGE TAKEN: -1,823 HP
26... 1101 ATK+
27... 1132 ATK+
---
An excruciating pain flowed within my battered body, and I contorted in agony.
I can't breathe properly—My ribs were fractured—A trail of blood was seen in my wake.
But I must endure...
As every tick brings me closer to salvation.
My HP Interface was still malfunctioning—but I can still estimate despite the pain.
» Remaining HP: ???
» Estimated Remaining HP: ~577
---
I laughed in amusement as I spat out blood.
I stood up, tearing off the flesh of my left cheek while making sure my fingers didn't make contact with the infected flesh to prevent the golden Curse from further spreading, exposing my teeth in the process.
» Warning: Self-inflicted wound, damage dealt -200 HP, bleed status initiated.
» Please seal your wound.
» Remaining HP: ???
» Estimated Remaining HP: ~377
---
I staggered on my feet. Blood pooled in my mouth, accompanied by a blurred vision.
I still can't feel a single strong emotion.
Yet, I only felt... patience...
28... 1164 ATK+
29... 1196 ATK+
It's halfway there—But my patience was already at Its limits.
This foe must die...
» [System]: 400% ATK reached.
30... 1228 ATK+
» A Liberator skill can now be activated.
?!!
» [WARNING]: FATAL BLOW DETECTED
The knight violently lunged forward, spear pointed at my chest.
...
...Unleash Liberator Skill...
---
» [System]: Activation Confirmed
» Unlocked: Revealing ATK+ Stat to Daedalus
A golden light resembling a long sword manifested in my right hand.
I knew this shape.
I had forged it from the depths of my patience.
My old friend...
» Exalted Weapon: Dawn Bringer
---
» [System]: Initiating...
» Granted Transcendent State Tier 1 [400%] [BUFF]
» ATK (AD) increased further by 100%
» ATK SPEED/Movement speed, Set to » hypersonic—
» ATK Now counts as 'Light Damage.' / Still counts as AD.
» Attacks twice consecutively—
» 500% Critical Damage Multiplier
» Can blink, without losing stamina
» IF: an elite/boss enemy has been defeated while the skill is active, it keeps the current ATK+ stat.
» IF: failing to kill an enemy—reset ATK+ stat.
» Skill can be halted at any time while active, Remaining duration can be used to charge up a powerful attack that deals 2000% AD in crit damage with a 200% light attack as bonus damage.
» Duration: 30 Seconds
» Final Attack Stat: 2456 ATK
Prologue 1 End.