Canon Fodder

CHAPTER 326 TRAPS GALORE

The door slammed shut behind me. The area slowly illuminated to show the same gray stone walls. Focusing my Haki all around me this was one of the few tests in the manhwa I remembered in detail. Arrows would be shot from hidden compartments in the wall. I had to dodge and block every single one. But this was the reason I picked this as my first World Choice.

Stepping forward I pulled 2 long knives from the sheathes at my side. 10 inch long blades. They were bigger than I was used to, but I decided weight was important since I didn’t have my Seastone Jitte anymore. I had my Gantz Armor of course, but I didn’t think I would need to wear it. 

Continuing forward the spiritual energy around me shifted and 3 arrows were shot out 1 after the other in quick succession. My Observation Haki on high, I blocked all 3 with my blade. 

The notification popped up when I blocked the second arrow. Looking to the ground each arrow had a different color tip. The first was blue, the second red, and the third yellow. That meant blocking red would give me a Strength Stat. 

“One down,” I mumbled. Moving forward another trap activated and I dodged this time. I received +1 Agility for dodging past the blue tipped arrow. 

Taking calming breaths I could almost feel the increased agility. My body became slightly slimmer. It wouldn't be long until I was at least average in everything. As I studied the arrows I was surprisingly able to feel a different energy for each. Subtle but there. They had way more Spiritual Energy than normal arrows should have had. Closing my eyes it was time to do this all blind. 

I learned the hard way that getting stabbed by the yellow arrow awarded +1 Stamina. After 2 stabbed into me I got the timing right and caught the yellow arrow. Since the arrow stabbing into me counted as technically catching it, grabbing the arrow also awarded the Stamina. Excited as I passed the first hall I turned down the next hall and was met with more traps. 

My eyes closed, my Observation Haki was all I relied on as I moved. The red arrow felt like it had more spiritual energy, the blue arrow felt faster, and the yellow felt like it could go farther. It was an interesting distinction. But as I moved through hall after hall the stats rolled in. 

I actually felt the changes in my body. The test forcefully increased my Strength, Stamina, and Agility with each arrow dealt with. My skin rippled and bones lengthened as I slimmed down and became taller. But that wasn’t my focus for now. My mind was all around me as I felt the Haki of every stone, trap, trigger, and arrow. 

My hand moving in a blur I parried 1 arrow to dodge another as I twisted, only to grab the last arrow. Sometimes there were groupings of the same color arrow, others there were 6 instead of 2 or 3 arrows, but each one was another point in my favor as I got ever closer to my goal. 

I wasn’t too worried about Hancock in the hall. Though she specialized in Armament Haki, she still knew Observation Haki. Able to have as much of a cheat as me, I continued on until I felt something off. 

My eyes opening for the first time in hours, I saw 2 large wood doors straight ahead, but just to the side of it was a focusing of Spiritual Energy. Like the small door that had allowed me into the test, it leaked power. Risking it I headed toward the grouping of energy. No more arrows flew as I moved to the nondescript wall section. 

When I was close I began running my hands along the wall until I felt 1 brick that was weaker than the others. Pushing it in, a group of blocks dropped down and disappeared into the flooring. A dark opening the size of my body was revealed. I hesitated but stepped in. 

That didn’t sound good, but I had already gained a boatload of stats. I didn’t remember this particular part in the original manhwa, but I doubted the protagonist had Haki. That or maybe taking the test on time awarded different challenges. Taking a breath I walked in but the darkness did not retreat.

A long expanse in front of me I closed my eyes and felt that I was in a much smaller hall. Only about 6 feet wide, this would be much harder. Taking a breath I stepped forward and the light from the opening behind me disappeared as the stones slid back into place. 

“Only one way to go,” I mumbled in the dark and ran forward. As soon as I took a step an arrow was shot toward my head. Cursing, I ducked down but another shot from the wall toward my head. Changing my crouch into a dodge roll it became constant movement from there. I didn’t receive any more stat increases as I dodged more arrows. 

Instead of focusing on my head they were aimed at my body as I twisted and turned. More than a few nicked me as I kept forward. A vague sense of a wall ahead I hoped it was another door. Pushing myself faster with chakra the arrows increased in volume with every movement. 

From 2 to 4 to 8 arrows at a time, I was struck by more than a few as I kept on. Panic far from my mind this was a true test of strength as I pushed Armament Haki to my body. Arrows bouncing off my arms and legs. A few made it to my torso causing me to falter. 

My hand extending out I touched the cool stone at the end of the hall, desperate to end the test. Fearful I had to find another hidden catch, the arrows stopped and I received more notifications. With a relieved sigh I pulled out the arrows sticking out of me. Pushing the pain back they hadn’t stabbed in terribly deep. Once they were out I focused on my Kame mode, replenishing my stamina and healing me slightly. I read through the notifications when I was sure I wouldn’t drop dead. 

I guessed the Armor Skin was the tower trying to understand my Armament Haki. But Swift Movements was new. I could remember that skills were able to be learned, so I guessed that was it. I brought up my Status Screen. 

Quite the change from what I had started with, I felt much stronger and fitter than when I had entered a couple of hours ago. Excited to put an end to this, light was emitted from where I had come from. The path to the main hall was open once more. Walking back I was still on alert for more arrows, but none were shot at me. 

When I was back in the main test I walked to the large double doors and received yet another notification. 

Without hesitating I stepped through the door. 

Unsure what laid ahead I walked forward. Flaming arrows flying at me I blocked them one at a time. My movements fluid now I would test where I was compared to my Manga Hall body later. I focused on survival for now. 

More notifications popping up as I hit arrows away. More traps were added to Block A. The first issue was a trap door floor. Opening up when I stepped on a trick brick I jumped forward and narrowly missed falling in. Getting +1 Agility for bypassing the trap I was getting excited again. 

Spears shooting out of the wall, more flaming arrows, a battering ram swinging from above. Block A had a Kevin McCallister worthy test of traps as I made my way step after step. My Observation Haki focused all around me. I brought more Armament Haki out, and began to really use my Quake Fist/Tremor Fruit. Popups continuing on as I showed my true skills. My status screen updated the Quake Fist proficiency as it judged my power bit by bit. 

When the traps ended I fought real foes this time. Mannequins made from copper walked upright as they headed toward me. Their spiritual energy centered on their chest. I focused my Quake Fist there and made them vibrate and shatter. As my body had strengthened, so had my Tremor fruit, chakra, and nen. 

“Nice,” I said and continued on. Everytime my body ached I used Kame Mode. There was no reason to go slow or wait. My stomach was starving. A deep ache I had slowly gotten used to over the last few days as I tried to lose weight. But with all the changes to my body I guessed I really needed energy. This wasn’t the time to worry about that though. 

I pushed away the pain of my body until I reached the end. No foes in front of me I stepped up to yet another set of double doors. More ornate I guessed they were special. I expected to find a boss behind the door especially after a healing notification. 

Feeling a difference between the magical healing of the tower and my Kame mode I let out a sigh as I felt my strength come back to me. 

“Sweet,” I said. Taking a breath I opened the door ready to fight something big and scary. Instead I was met with the white glow of a large room. 

A small fountain in the middle of the room. There appeared to be no one to fight. Letting out a sigh, the large room only had me in it. Worried for Hancock I decided to wait and see when she would make it through.