Ch 197.
Matt gazed up at the imposing cliff that towered above him, a deep sigh escaping his lips as he acknowledged the only option left: to climb. A flicker of temptation danced in his mind, urging him to attempt a leap over the sheer wall, but a heavy sensation enveloped his body, a stark reminder that his physical prowess had diminished under some unseen constraint. The weight of this realization drew him back to the ominous warning he and his fellow trainees had received on their tutorial world—that failing to achieve a certain rank would result in death upon returning to Earth. This troubling thought led him to ponder whether other worlds imposed similar B rank prerequisites for survival, and if so, how children could possibly thrive in such harsh environments.
Setting those unsettling thoughts aside, Matt began to stretch his limbs, jumping lightly and performing a series of exercises to gauge his physical condition. He discovered that although he still possessed superhuman abilities compared to his former self, they paled in comparison to his strength at C rank before his return to Earth. This realization solidified his belief that he had entered a new realm of challenges. As he surveyed the cliff, he mentally mapped out a route, searching for a starting point that offered multiple avenues for ascent. After careful consideration, he identified a promising position and meticulously plotted at least twenty different pathways that would allow him to reach the summit safely. With determination ignited within him, Matt set off, swiftly beginning his climb up the rugged face of the cliff.
If Matt had to estimate, he would say that the cliff towered at least two miles into the sky, its face nearly vertical and imposing. However, it did possess a slight slope of about two to four degrees, which made the ascent just a fraction easier. Adding to his confidence, every few hundred feet, there was a narrow ledge, just wide enough for him to perch or rest on, allowing him to catch his breath. With this in mind, Matt felt increasingly certain that it was only a matter of when, not if, he would conquer the summit. Yet, as he reached the halfway point without encountering a single monster, trap, or any other obstacle to impede his progress, a flicker of doubt crept into his mind. Was this truly just a straightforward climbing challenge? If he had been an avid reader or someone who paid attention to the tales spun around campfires, he would have recognized that it was precisely during moments of false security that calamity often struck.
As he resumed his climb, with his sense of danger at its lowest since he began the ascent, Matt was nearly thrown off balance when the grip point he had just seized shot out like a fist. If not for his body’s instinctive reaction, which transformed his hand into a loop that tightened around the newly formed sideways pillar, he would have plummeted to the depths below. The thought of such a fall barely had time to register before the ground around the new pillar began to disintegrate, with several nearby sections crumbling away as well. Panic surged through him at the realization that the pillar might soon give way. Without hesitation, Matt swung his body forward, releasing his hold on the precarious pillar, and landed on the last ledge where he had previously rested, his heart racing from the sudden rush of adrenaline.
This quickly proved to be a grave mistake as rocks from above began to plummet, some nearly twice his size. Even the smaller ones, no bigger than his fist, posed a significant threat. Panic surged through Matt as he realized he needed to act swiftly. In a flash, his thoughts turned to his newfound time essence, and he thrust his arm into the rock wall before him, hoping to unleash a millennia's worth of erosion upon it. Instead, all he managed to achieve was a mere crack, while simultaneously healing the injury to his hand.
He then glanced up at the chaotic cascade of boulders looming just ten feet above him, their descent imminent. With sheer determination, he willed time to halt for them, bracing himself against the wall as best he could. This time, a remarkable phenomenon occurred: every rock within his ten-foot radius froze midair, suspended in a surreal tableau. As new rocks entered the zone or collided with the ones already frozen, they too ceased their descent or bounced off harmlessly, leaving the air thick with debris.
However, the rocks that strayed even slightly outside the range of his ability shattered into smaller fragments as they were struck by their falling companions. Matt found himself staring up at an imposing wall of suspended debris, panting heavily from the exertion of maintaining his grip on the chaotic scene. A wave of terror washed over him at the thought of releasing his skill, but deep down, he sensed that his control was slipping, and failure loomed closer with each passing moment. Gritting his teeth, he began to shimmy along the narrow ledge where he stood, desperately searching for a way out of this perilous situation.
As he did this, the rocks thankfully didn’t follow him, and once they were out of the range of his skill, they plummeted to the ground below. This allowed him to shimmy first to one side and then to the other, narrowly escaping danger in just a few seconds as he released his grip on the power the moment the area above him was clear. As he regained his bearings, his gaze fell upon at least six stone figures, each roughly his size, looming ominously above. Instantly, Matt began to strategize how he would engage these foes while precariously clinging to the cliffside, even if it was merely to maneuver past them. He contemplated various methods to secure himself to the rock face, but every idea that surfaced threatened to restrict his mobility. Ultimately, Matt concluded that his best option was to grow two extra arms, dedicated solely to climbing, while he utilized his original limbs for combat.
While the process of manifesting the additional arms was straightforward, mastering their coordination proved to be a significant challenge. It was only due to his previous experience with the giant octopus that he managed to adapt at all. Another fortunate aspect of this moment was that he wasn’t attacked while preparing for the impending fight, which left Matt pondering the reason behind this unexpected reprieve. Nevertheless, he wasn’t about to question such good fortune; instead, he began practicing his climbing technique with the two new arms that awkwardly extended from his chest, albeit with a somewhat limited range of motion. About an hour after their emergence, Matt finally felt ready to confront the first of the rock monsters that awaited him.
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Matt approached the first rock monster with utmost caution, acutely aware that slipping past it would likely spell disaster. Sure enough, as he drew to within ten feet of its massive form, it began to ascend the cliff towards him. Each movement sent a cascade of loose stones tumbling down, for rather than searching for handholds like a climber, it simply forged them by slamming its fists and feet into the cliffside with bone-jarring force. A part of Matt felt he could glean valuable lessons from the creature's brute strength, but he quickly filed that thought away for later, focusing instead on maneuvering himself to avoid being directly beneath the looming behemoth when it reached his level.
Unfortunately, he was only half successful; the rock monster moved with surprising speed, and before he could fully reposition, he found himself still under its left side just as its enormous foot descended toward him. It came as no shock when the creature initiated its attack with a thunderous stomp. Matt barely managed to deflect the blow, instinctively yanking down on the foot as if to throw it off balance. Predictably, the yank had no effect other than to pull him upward, which ignited a spark of desperation within him. In a split-second decision, he propelled himself upward, aiming for the spot where the rock man had burst forth from the cliff.
There, Matt discovered a hollow space about three feet deep, five feet wide, and seven feet tall—a snug refuge just large enough for him to stand and prepare for combat. Yet, the confined space also felt perilously claustrophobic, leaving him vulnerable and trapped should he engage in battle. Despite this unsettling realization, Matt folded his extra set of climbing limbs against his body and braced himself, listening intently as the rock man continued its ascent. Simultaneously, he could hear the ominous movements of the other rock monsters drawing closer, forcing him to weigh his options carefully as tension coiled tightly in his chest.
This left Matt with no choice but to rely on his instincts as he watched the first rock man attempt to pull itself into the hollow space with him. Determined not to allow that to happen, he transformed his fist into a sharp spike made of tooth enamel and thrust it forward with all the strength he could muster. Unbeknownst to him, all materials possessed ranks, and upon reaching B rank, every one of his cells followed suit. While this meant that a B rank rock could be tougher than a lower-ranked material, it didn’t create an insurmountable gap. As Matt’s spiked fist collided with the rock man’s elbow, he exploited the joint's vulnerability, sending the creature’s upper arm flying back as it tumbled down toward the ground below.
A grin spread across Matt's face as he regenerated the tip of his spiked hand, and he swiftly launched a follow-up attack, hoping to topple the first rock man. Unfortunately, his ambition proved overly optimistic; the creature deftly sidestepped his strike, its form shifting fluidly as if it were crafted from clay rather than solid stone. Its limb reformed seamlessly, a clear indication to Matt that a swift victory was out of reach. Undeterred, he focused his assault on a joint, this time aiming for the rock man's right wrist. As before, his strike connected, but the rock man quickly regained its composure and surged into the hollow space where Matt had sought refuge. The ensuing battle devolved into a brutal close-quarters clash, with Matt’s body repeatedly slammed against the rough stone wall, each impact reverberating through him. Despite sustaining significant damage, he found himself powerless to transfer any of his injuries to his foe, no matter how hard he concentrated or how many tactics he devised.
The only saving grace was that only one rock man could fit in the hollow at any given time, and despite the others arriving, they could only work on tearing the cliffside apart. The sound of grinding stone echoed as they relentlessly smashed their fists into the rock, sending dust and debris cascading down around Matt. He realized that if they were allowed to continue, they would soon create enough space for all of them to confront him simultaneously, leaving him with no room to maneuver. This scenario was the worst possible outcome he could imagine, and his desperation surged like a tidal wave. Yet, he had no choice but to keep battling his current opponent; diverting his attention elsewhere would surely lead to disaster. He continued to strike at the creature's joints, hoping to wear it down. With each calculated blow, he noticed progress—his adversary was already a head shorter than him and was steadily being overwhelmed. However, it proved to be too little, too late, as the gap widened just enough for two more rock men to prepare to join the fray.
The only saving grace was that only one rock man could fit in the hollow at any given time, and despite the others arriving, they could only work on tearing the cliffside apart. The sound of grinding stone echoed as they relentlessly smashed their fists into the rock, sending dust and debris cascading down around Matt. He realized that if they were allowed to continue, they would soon create enough space for all of them to confront him simultaneously, leaving him with no room to maneuver. This scenario was the worst possible outcome he could imagine, and his desperation surged like a tidal wave. Yet, he had no choice but to keep battling his current opponent; diverting his attention elsewhere would surely lead to disaster. He continued to strike at the creature's joints, hoping to wear it down. With each calculated blow, he noticed progress—his adversary was already a head shorter than him and was steadily being overwhelmed. However, it proved to be too little, too late, as the gap widened just enough for two more rock men to prepare to join the fray.
With barely a moment to spare, Matt delivered a powerful spartan kick to the smaller rock man, sending it tumbling out of the hollow. He quickly activated his skill to freeze time for everyone but himself. The rock man halted mid-fall, suspended in the air, yet its arms and legs continued to thrash, just as the other approaching rock monsters remained in motion. Without a trace of hesitation, Matt dashed forward, using the suspended rock man as a springboard to leap upward and evade the oncoming horde. As he soared above the hollow where he had been cornered, he spotted another crevice that had formed during the chaotic emergence of the rock men from the cliffside.
The remaining rock monsters were relentless in their pursuit, scrambling after him with surprising speed, except for the first one, which began to plummet the instant it slipped beyond the reach of Matt’s skill. A frown creased Matt’s brow as he contemplated the limitations of his abilities; how many more confrontations like this could he endure? Each punch he had absorbed directly had drained a full twentieth of his total health points, a staggering cost in the heat of battle. Even with his regeneration actively working, he had still lost over a quarter of his HP by the fight's end. If he found himself facing three of these rock men simultaneously in such cramped quarters, he feared that he would last no more than a minute before succumbing to their overwhelming force. It was a sobering thought, one that echoed in his mind like a grim reminder from the dungeon or system: he was still just a mortal, and could die at any given moment.
