Just call me Thor

Tower of Truth, Fourteenth Floor.

Lightning flashed, and Mike's figure appeared.

"This is a public instance."

People swarmed around Mike, many of them having consumed mushrooms, their bodies enlarged and filled with fighting spirit.

Mike frowned slightly, muttering to himself, "Damn, this might be a bit troublesome."

Just now, on the Thirteenth Floor, Mike had helped the Yordle clan defend their city, killing numerous monsters. His level had risen from 94 to 108.

The problem lay here. Previously, Mike had used a ribbon to conceal his ID, but this ribbon could only hide IDs below level 100. Throughout his journey, the concealed ID had provided him with considerable convenience, especially in public instances.

"Sigh, leveling up too fast can be a headache sometimes..."

What Mike feared had already happened. As soon as he appeared, bearing the name [Thor], he immediately attracted a lot of attention.

"It's Thor!"

"He's on the Fourteenth Floor?!"

"Quick, take a picture of me with my idol Thor, hurry!"

Seeing more and more people gathering around, Mike used Windstride Slash and disappeared into the distance.

[Fourteenth Floor Exploration Rate Method: Challenge the Slaughter Projections. Defeat them to gain a certain Exploration Rate.]

[Slaughter Projections: Shadows left by human participants who have previously cleared this floor, retaining only the top 10,000 strongest.]

Leaving the crowd behind, Mike found a secluded corner and located a Slaughter Stele. The Slaughter Stele was only 8 feet tall, resembling a sword thrust into the ground, emitting a faint killing aura. Those with weaker nerves would feel fear if they stared at it for too long.

The stele was inscribed with the projections of participants who had successfully cleared the floor, along with their descriptions.

[Projections on the Slaughter Stele cannot use participants' talents, attributes +100%.]

Mike read from top to bottom,

"Challenge [Morpheus] (Lv.107), gain 33% Exploration Rate."

"Challenge [Ares] (Lv.105), gain 33% Exploration Rate."

"Challenge [Apollo] (Lv.99), gain 30% Exploration Rate."

The names of three Supreme Beings naturally topped the list, corresponding to two SSS-rated conquests and one SS-rated conquest.

"First, eliminate a wrong option—Apollo."

No matter what, Mike wouldn't choose to challenge Apollo!

The Slaughter Stele allows five challenge attempts. Winning three matches will settle the rating.

To achieve an S rating, you must defeat anyone in the top 100. To achieve an SS rating, you must defeat anyone in the top 10. To achieve an SSS rating, you must defeat anyone in the top three.

Not everyone leaves a projection on the Slaughter Stele; it only retains the top 10,000 projections. The fact that Slaughter Projections can't use talents is good news for Mike.

His talents are more auxiliary, not significantly impactful in combat. His main offensive means are lightning and other spell damage.

With five challenge attempts, Mike needed to challenge either [Ares] or [Morpheus] to achieve an SSSS rating.

"Such a tough choice."

"Why not challenge both?"

Mike decided not to challenge the Supreme Beings first but instead looked for familiar names further down the list.

"Maxen Stoneheart, ranked eighteenth, not bad!"

"Challenge [Maxen Stoneheart] (Lv.104), gain 25% Exploration Rate."

Using his real name as his ID in the Tower of Truth, only Maxen Stoneheart would do that. Mike scanned the top 100 projections and found a few more familiar names.

"Challenge [Zephyrus] (Lv.98), gain 25% Exploration Rate."

"Challenge [Notus] (Lv.103), gain 24% Exploration Rate."

"Challenge [Malphite] (Lv.100), gain 23% Exploration Rate."

[Zephyrus] was actually Joseph Windrider, who had awakened an SS-grade talent and was a ninth-tier Battle Lord, ranked twentieth, just below Maxen Stoneheart. What truly surprised Mike were the next two names.

[Notus], real name Kaelum Oakwood, ranked twenty-sixth!

[Malphite], real name Anderson, ranked thirty-first!

"Although I knew these two were hiding their strength, I didn't expect them to be this strong."

It's important to note that the Slaughter Stele ranks all human participants who have cleared the floor. The ranking somewhat correlates with potential!

Although they were only around level 100 when they challenged the Fourteenth Floor, that level was enough to reveal a portion of their potential and convert it into strength.

Kaelum ranking in the top thirty and Anderson in the top thirty-one was already an impressive feat!

Those ranked in the top fifty on the Slaughter Stele, if they grow smoothly, none will achieve less than a ninth-tier Battle Lord! Looking at the rankings, Mike realized something.

"Given this, Kaelum being assigned as my senior seems coincidental, but someone must be pulling the strings behind the scenes."

With Kaelum's real strength, he could easily guide students with SS-grade talents in the SS-grade talent training camp. Was it really just a coincidence that Kaelum and Anderson were assigned to two students with only D-grade talents?

Mike scanned the top 100 IDs again, puzzled, "Why can't I find Shadow Nine?"

The Eye of Truth quickly provided an answer.

[Members of Guardian Shadow do not leave projections on the Slaughter Stele.]

"Alright, I wanted to experience Shadow Nine's blade!"

Mike said it confidently. But if Shadow Nine were on the Slaughter Stele, he definitely wouldn't choose to challenge!

"Let's start with an easier challenge."

His gaze shifted, and Mike finally locked onto a target: Maxen Stoneheart.

"It's you, Stone!"

Touching Maxen Stoneheart's ID with his fingertip, a suction force pulled Mike in. Standing in a pure white, boundless space, a blurry figure slowly condensed before Mike.

[Bankrupt Ninth-tier Battle Lord]—Maxen Stoneheart!

Maxen Stoneheart carried a heavy sword on his shoulder, looking fierce. As he appeared, he smirked and gave a thumbs-up, pointing at himself. "Just like a stone, I stand unyielding and resolute!"

He could leave a message?

The projection clearly had no consciousness, only panel data and skills, along with Maxen Stoneheart's preset message.

After the greeting, it was time to fight. Mike was eager to face the Supreme Beings.

He raised his staff, and lightning streaked across the sky.

"Thunderclap Strike!"

Boom—

The battle began. But the enemy was defeated in one move. Should he say something?

Looking at the shattered remains of Maxen Stoneheart's projection, Mike pondered and remarked,

"If you ignore Lightning resistance, no one can withstand a single lightning attack from me."

Exiting the white space, a prompt appeared before Mike.

"Defeated [Maxen Stoneheart], gained 25% Exploration Rate!"

Mike looked at another name, [Zephyrus].

"Let's try Joseph Windrider, my fanboy Battle Lord."

After creating [Wind's Reach], Thor had become Joseph Windrider's idol. If Joseph knew his idol challenged his projection, he would be thrilled.

The challenge began quickly. Joseph Windrider's projection appeared before Mike, softly saying, "Feel the west wind's power!"

Mike didn't use Thunderclap Strike. Out of respect for Joseph Windrider and to test his own wind element skills, he preferred to use wind element skills to defeat his opponent.

"Wind Fury!"

"Wind's Reach!"

"...."

A minute later, Joseph Windrider's figure was torn to shreds by the wind, dissipating.

"Defeated [Zephyrus], gained 25% Exploration Rate!"

Having defeated two opponents, Mike had gained 50% Exploration Rate and had his fill of fun. His gaze shifted to the top two names.

[Morpheus], [Ares]!

"Challenge both... but who first?"

After a moment's hesitation, Mike decided it was safer to challenge Ares first. Familiarity provided some psychological comfort. Mike's fingertip touched the name [Ares], and he was once again pulled into the challenge space.

Before he arrived, a sword energy slashed towards Mike.

"Lightning Phantom Form!"

The sword energy passed through him without causing any harm, but Mike still felt a lingering fear.

A sneak attack! After the sword energy, Ares' figure appeared before Mike. In an instant, sword energy surged, soaring into the sky!

Ares, holding a greatsword, said softly,

"Behold the might of my sword!"