Only I Am A Reader

{ The Multiversal Arena of Ascension welcomes you, challenger. }

’It’s that thing again?’

Seeing the same small green creature that she saw on the second floor of the White Gate, Aurora was intrigued, wondering if this was the same challenge but with a higher level of difficulty.

However...

’Just one?’

Was it the opposite? Seeing just one Goblin viciously staring at her made Aurora question her earlier guess.

{ Your current location is Level 0. Fight and defeat your opponent to ascend... }

’Maybe it lasts longer.’

Hearing that this was only level 0, Aurora figured that the number of challenges that she would face wasn’t going to end at 11.

Perhaps this time, the number of opponents was supposed to gradually increase rather than remain constant.

’This could get tough.’

At first glance, having to fight fewer opponents at first seemed like a win, but an exponential increase was a very terrifying thought.

It was one thing if one additional opponent was meant to be added per level, but if this Multiversal Arena of Ascension followed the rule of doubling enemies...

{ 5... 4... 3... 2... 1. }

’It doesn’t matter.’

Either way, the objective she had to achieve was very clear.

Regardless of how challenging this Arena was going to be, Aurora had to clear it.

It wasn’t a matter of how, only a matter of when.

In any case, opting out of the challenge didn’t seem to be an option, but even if it was, Aurora wasn’t going to pick it.

Although it was a completely viable idea, the thought of waiting things out until Leo cleared the Gate before safely leaving with her goal achieved never crossed Aurora’s mind.

{ Challenge starts. }

Once Aurora’s head cleared out with the announcement that the challenge had started, the Goblin’s destiny was already sealed.

She didn’t give the Goblin the chance to enjoy his long-awaited freedom.

Swish.

The moment its muscles finally started responding, a small crescent blade made of light entered his vision before it could rejoice for regaining its freedom.

{ Level 0, cleared. }

Its head flew high with a spin before landing on the ground with a thud.

’It doesn’t seem to be stronger.’

Having excluded the possibility that the small creature was actually a terrifying monster hiding in Goblin skin, Aurora felt more reassured.

{ Proceed to Level 1? }

’Maybe this will be easy in preparation for the thing that will be waiting for us at the end.’

She wasn’t exactly sure that all Encroachment Gates were the same, but Aurora’s experience with the first Encroachment Gate told her that they would need to beat something that was far worse to truly clear this Gate.

{ Combat Skills and Damage Dealt had crossed the threshold of Level 0 by 9 Levels. Initiating Rapid Ascension... }

{ Would you like to use your Rapid Ascension Privilege to immediately move to Level 10? }

’You can skip?’

The possibility of skipping so much confirmed Aurora’s suspicion that the final level wouldn’t be a low number while also providing her with a chance catch up to Leo, but...

"Ahem, proceed to Level 1."

The prospect of finishing this challenge quickly was enticing to her, but to Aurora, estimating the nature of the threat she was facing came first.

{ 5...4... }

Being engulfed by the pillar of light again, yet appearing to be in the same spot, Aurora found the same little creature in front of her, albeit a slight bit taller, providing her with the answer she needed.

Swish!

{ Level 1, cleared. }

{ Proceed to Level 2? }

The increase in strength was barely noticeable, while the numerical increase that she was apprehensive of didn’t occur, giving her the courage to push forward.

’Let’s do this.’

{ Combat Skills and Damage Dealt had crossed the threshold of Level 1 by 15 Levels. Initiating Rapid Ascension... }

Having somewhat understood how this Arena worked, Aurora put more strength into the blade she sent in the second Goblin’s way, trying to skip as many levels as possible.

Unfortunately, however...

{ Maximum Levels that can be skipped at once is set to 10. }

’I see.’

Breaking through the entire thing with just a few challenges didn’t seem possible, but Aurora fully understood the reasoning behind it.

’Circumstances do matter.’

Her crescent blade of light might be extremely effective against Goblins, but what if the opponent changed into something like the Dragonoid she faced before?

If the opponent was meant to change progressively with each stage, then maybe even her Maelstrom of Light might not be able to oneshot the enemy at the very top.

{ Would you like to use your Rapid Ascension Privilege to immediately move to Level 12? }

’I will take it. Use the Rapid Ascension Privilege.’

Since the skipping limit also worked in her favor by getting to have a solid understanding of the enemy’s strength progression trend, Aurora was more than happy to dish out just the right amount of strength.

’It changed.’

As the countdown started once again, Aurora saw her first Orc on the Arena’s stage, which was rather tall when compared to its predecessor.

It was another monster that she had seen in the White Gate, but it actually corresponded to the fourth floor, not the third one.

’Was it supposed to change to the third floor’s species in the middle of the first 10 floors, or is the jump in strength intentional?’

With only a single opponent in sight, the increase of strength was still negligible for Aurora, so she didn’t dwell on the matter for too long.

In both cases, Aurora had no intention of giving up the Rapid Ascension Privilege.

Swish!

{ Level 12, cleared. }

{ Combat Skills and Damage Dealt had crossed the threshold of Level 12 by 11 Levels... }

{ Would you like to- }

’Use privilege.’

The monster that appeared after was still green, but its skin had a darker shade, and its body was exploding with muscles, appearing a lot more intimidating.

’Again.’

Swish!

{ Level 22, cleared. }

Still, in front of Aurora’s crescent blade, its head flew up all the same. It was just that the final result was a bit disappointing.

{ Combat Skills and Damage Dealt had crossed the threshold of Level 22 by 8 Levels... }

’Looks like I need to up the intensity just to be safe.’

Rather than a life-threatening ordeal, the Multiversal Arena of Ascension had somehow transformed into Aurora’s min-maxing challenge.