"Dammit...!"
The realization that I couldn't defeat the Bugbears with Acceleration had sent me spiraling into a pit of despair.
Initially, I had been intoxicated by the skill's extraordinary effects. But now that I knew choosing it over and over had been a futile effort, a wave of pure exhaustion washed over me.
Still, I wasn't allowed to stop.
The moment I died, time would snap back to the instant before the first Bugbear launched its assault. No matter how much of a shock this revelation was, doing nothing meant certain death.
I knew that, yet I couldn't seem to find the strength to flip the switch in my mind.
"I hate them..."
To keep going, I chose to remember.
I remembered Namia.
I remembered Dalga, the man who killed her.
And I remembered the villagers who had pinned the crime on me, an innocent man.
"I hate them... I hate them... I hate them...!"
Hatred was my primary fuel. Without this spite, my spirit would have shattered long ago.
"I will definitely escape this dungeon and get my revenge with my own two hands."
With my resolve renewed, I began to walk once more.
◆
Trial count: approximately 305.
I reached the room containing the Treasure Chest once again.
▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽▽
Please select "one" skill you wish to acquire from the following:
S-Rank <Item Box> <Enhanced Recovery> <Enhanced Mana Recovery> <Chant Shortening> <Acceleration> <Stealth>
A-Rank <Healing Magic> <Barrier Magic> <Fire Magic> <Water Magic> <Wind Magic> <Earth Magic> <Alchemy> <Taming Magic> <Enhanced Memory>
B-Rank <Swordsmanship> <Archery> <Axemanship> <Spearmanship> <Shieldmanship> <Martial Arts> <Status Camouflage>
C-Rank <Physical Enhancement> <Presence Detection> <Mana Generation> <Fire Resistance> <Water Resistance> <Wind Resistance> <Earth Resistance> <Poison Resistance> <Paralysis Resistance> <Curse Resistance>
D-Rank <Appraisal> <Provocation> <Strength Enhancement> <Endurance Enhancement> <Agility Enhancement> <Vitality Enhancement> <Vision Enhancement> <Hearing Enhancement>
△△△△△△△△△△△△△△△
Now then, if Acceleration is no good and Stealth is useless, what should I choose next?
The only other S-Rank skill that seemed remotely useful was Enhanced Recovery. It likely allowed wounds to heal quickly, but since a single hit usually meant instant death, it wasn't worth the investment. It seemed like choosing Enhanced Recovery would be pointless.
If that was the case, I had to look through the lower ranks.
First, the A-Rank skills were almost entirely related to magic. Magic affinity skills were useless unless I possessed mana within my body through a skill like Mana Generation, so those were automatically excluded. The only A-Rank skill unrelated to magic was Enhanced Memory, but I had no idea how having a better memory would help me in this situation.
Moving down to B-Rank, those skills were all predicated on possessing a weapon. For example, Swordsmanship wouldn't grant me any benefit unless I actually had a sword in my hand. For a man with empty hands like me, those skills were nothing more than useless baubles.
However, within that B-Rank, there was exactly one skill designed for those who fought without weapons.
"Well, if I'm going in order, I suppose it has to be this."
That skill was—Martial Arts.