Malik averted his gaze from the lady to his replica, who just stood there like a golden sentinel, waiting for Malik to come at him.
"Although it's because of that lady your attacks are far greater than mine and not in the same setting," Malik said, his voice low and sharp like a blade, "you still don't have what it takes to fight me head-on."
His silhouette flickered like a shadow dashing across moonlight, and he appeared before the golden dummy with an uppercut that tore through the air like thunder.
The golden dummy swayed to the left, narrowly dodging the blow. But Malik's reflexes were monstrous—faster than a blink—as he launched another attack from the right. This time, the dummy could only block the strike with its elbows, its body flung sideways like a broken puppet. Malik followed it up with a devastating kick that sent the boss crashing into the golden throne.
"He's gaining the upper hand..." the female silhouette muttered in awe as she watched Malik storm forward with no hesitation.
He punched straight out when the dummy retaliated with a punch of its own.
"Mountain Strength..." Malik growled, and both their auras exploded like colliding storms. Their fists clashed, sending ripples through the entire chamber as if the tower itself trembled.
"It's the same attack… the same strength… No, due to my presence, the strength of the dummy is far higher than his. How come it was the dummy that got pushed back?" the lady whispered in disbelief.
"It's just as I thought, haha... You can't use Spiritual Energy!" Malik laughed as he surged spiritual energy into his limbs. A divine aura enveloped his form like a second skin.
He feinted a kick toward the golden dummy's stomach. The boss reacted, preparing to counterattack—but at the last moment, Malik retracted his leg and drove his fist forward instead. The punch, coalesced with spiritual energy, triggered the Black Lightning Art and struck the dummy's head.
CRASH!
The golden dummy slammed into the wall, and a damage notification popped up:
-1000
"Haha! You can't even counter a feint!" Malik laughed uproariously, his voice echoing like thunder across the golden chamber.
"Wait—he feinted the Golden Boss? Is that even possible? How come I never thought of that?" The Level 17 player stared in shock as Malik extended his finger toward the boss.
"Now... take this!"
Malik aimed the finger at the dummy's head—the known weak point. Black lightning surged out in a blinding arc, stabbing through the air like a divine javelin. It pierced the golden dummy's skull with a hiss and sizzle, reaping every last drop of its HP.
---
[You've defeated the Level 45 Golden Boss]
[You've cleared the Hidden Piece of the Second Stage of the Beginning Tower.]
[As the first person to clear the Hidden Piece, you've gained a unique skill and a golden dagger.]
---
"No cultivation points? Just a skill and a weapon?" Malik's eye twitched. He wanted to check the new skill when he remembered—he wasn't alone in the room.
"Now, back to you..." he muttered, turning toward the Level 17 female player still kneeling on the floor, waiting for her fate. Someone who could defeat the Golden Boss in such a tyrannical manner—she knew she was absolutely no match for him.
"How did you discover this golden room?" Malik's question caught her off guard, but she quickly gathered her nerves and answered.
"I got lost while running from the golden dummies and accidentally discovered this hidden room. I had no choice but to enter… I didn't know there was a boss in here."
"So why didn't the boss kill you?" Malik arched a brow, his tone edged with suspicion.
"The Golden Boss only attacks when someone initiates. It mimics aggression. It retreated the moment you did. But to leave this room, it's either you die or defeat the boss."
'I thought as much.' Malik's gaze finally softened.
"But to think you're able to discover this room at Level 17? Do you have a hidden class or are you a high-level mage or something?" Malik probed, his tone unreadable.
"No… I'm not any of those. I'm an Assassin class," she replied, her voice tinged with embarrassment.
"An Assassin class?"
"Yes... It's just that in the real world, my friends mock me for having low intelligence and for not being able to speak well. So, I dumped most of my stats into intelligence. Luckily, I gained a passive skill called Stealth Eyes, which allows me to see things beyond the ordinary."
Her words were sincere, and Malik's gaze lingered on her face for a moment, struck with realization.
"To think we're the same…" he murmured. "I also invested most of my stats in intelligence. That's why I've come this far. Everyone's always running after agility."
"Yeah, agility's good... but intelligence is the key to understanding the deeper essence of God's Realm. And for you to activate a skill like Stealth Eyes—is that how you chose this mode too?"
"Yes… Apart from the three doors, I discovered another hidden path, and it led me here. Investing all my stats in intelligence is a decision I now regret…" she said, sighing deeply.
"You can rise, Elfreda. I can see you're not lying." Malik gestured, and she slowly stood up, her eyes widening.
"What? You're surprised I know your name, despite your identity-concealing gear?" Malik chuckled as she nodded in disbelief.
"You're not the only one with special eyes." Malik activated his Eyes of Insight, and Elfreda involuntarily stepped back.
"Don't worry. I won't harm you. Putting your free stats into intelligence was the right choice. You're free to exit the second floor now—I've cleared all the dummies."
"You should proceed to the third floor of the Beginning Tower."
"I can't proceed. I don't have what it takes…" Elfreda shook her head.
"How about this?" Malik said, pulling out a golden dagger—one of the boss rewards.
"That's a gold-rank dagger!" Elfreda exclaimed.
"Yes, and it's tailored for an Assassin. The best part? With your high intelligence stat, you'll bypass the level restriction."
"I'm giving this to you willingly. You must proceed and challenge your talent. You can't reject it." Malik handed the dagger to her as she trembled with emotion.
Without another word, he turned to leave.
Behind him, Elfreda suddenly dropped to her knees, her voice trembling as she called out:
"I'll forever be in your debt, Brother CrimsonFlame… and I swear—I won't disappoint you!"
A faint smile graced Malik's face as he heard his name echo softly behind him.
"As expected of someone who managed to enter the God Mode of the Second Stage of the Beginning Tower… she's not ordinary at all."