As Noah stepped onto the fifth floor, he was immediately struck by the starkness of the gray room that surrounded him. The walls were rough-hewn stone, devoid of any adornment or decoration. A heavy silence enveloped the space, amplifying the echo of his own footsteps as he entered. His heart raced with anticipation, but as he took in the sight of the massive ogre standing at the center of the room, a frown creased his brow.

The creature was a hulking behemoth, easily twice Noah's height, with bulging muscles and a thick hide that seemed to ripple with power. Its skin was gray and mottled, and its beady eyes narrowed as they locked onto Noah. A low growl emanated from deep within the ogre's throat, vibrating through the chamber like a rumble of thunder.

Instinctively, Noah reached for his skills, but a sudden wave of emptiness washed over him.

"Tch! I can't use any of my skills. I can only rely on physical strength to pass this level." Frustration flared within him, but he quickly squashed it down. Despite the disadvantage, his golden eyes sparkled with determination. The challenges he had faced in the previous floors had prepared him for this moment, and he would not back down.

[Ding!

Win the fight in less than 30 minutes.

Reward:???]

"Huh! A new system mission with a mysterious reward? I like it." A confident smile spread across his face as he accepted the mission, fueling his resolve. He was ready to face this formidable foe head-on.

With Nemesis gripped tightly in his hand, he kicked off the ground, charging toward the ogre. The distance between them closed rapidly, and the ogre reacted, its massive fists swinging toward him with terrifying force. Noah ducked under the first blow, feeling the rush of wind as the fist grazed past him. He countered with a swift upward strike, aiming for the ogre's midsection. Discover more novels at novel[f]ire.net

The blade met flesh, but the impact barely fazed the creature. It grunted in annoyance, turning its attention back to Noah with renewed fury. The ogre swung its enormous arm again, and Noah rolled to the side, narrowly avoiding a crushing blow that could have ended the fight prematurely.

Noah quickly regained his footing, adrenaline pumping through his veins. He had faced powerful opponents before, but this was different—he was stripped of the advantages his skills provided. He needed to rely on his training, his instincts, and his sheer will to win. Drawing on his past experiences, he focused on the ogre's movements, watching for patterns and openings.

The ogre lunged forward, attempting to tackle him to the ground. Noah sidestepped at the last moment, feeling the rush of air as the creature barreled past him. He took that opportunity to deliver a quick series of strikes to the ogre's legs, aiming to weaken its stability. Each blow landed with a dull thud, but the ogre barely staggered, its sheer size and mass allowing it to absorb the hits with ease.

Noah felt the strain in his muscles as he continued the fight, sweat beading on his forehead. The ogre retaliated with a ground-shaking stomp, and Noah barely leaped out of the way in time. The impact sent vibrations through the ground, and he used the momentum to roll back to his feet, ready for the next assault.

Realizing he needed to change his approach, Noah decided to use the environment to his advantage. He moved around the room, keeping the ogre's attention focused on him as he darted behind columns and avoided its massive swings. He knew he had to tire the creature out; the ogre's brute strength was overwhelming, but it wouldn't last forever.

As he weaved through the space, he noticed a raised platform on one side of the room. With a burst of energy, he sprinted towards it, leaping onto the structure just as the ogre charged him again. The creature slammed its fists down where he had just stood, and Noah used the height advantage to launch himself from the platform, coming down with a powerful strike aimed at the ogre's head.

The blow connected, but the ogre simply shook its head, unfazed. It retaliated with a backhanded swing, catching Noah off guard and sending him sprawling across the ground. Pain shot through his body, but he grit his teeth, refusing to let it deter him. He rolled to his feet, barely avoiding another crushing blow as the ogre pursued him.

With each exchange, Noah felt the toll of the fight weighing heavily on him. He was blasted away multiple times, each encounter leaving him with bruises and exhaustion. But he kept pushing himself, drawing on the memories of his training—every sparring session, every battle he had fought before this moment.

He began to implement feints and quick strikes, using his agility to stay one step ahead of the ogre's powerful attacks. He would dart in, deliver a quick slash, and then retreat to avoid the retaliatory strikes. It was a grueling dance of life and death, but Noah's determination burned bright.

Twenty minutes into the fight, he could feel the ogre tiring, its movements becoming sluggish. Noah seized the opportunity, launching a series of rapid strikes to the creature's legs. He aimed for the joints, hoping to incapacitate it and bring the giant down.

The ogre roared in frustration, swinging wildly, but Noah ducked and dodged, using the creature's momentum against it. With a final burst of energy, he leaped onto the ogre's back, wrapping his arm around its thick neck to gain leverage.

With a fierce twist of his body, he drove Nemesis down into the ogre's shoulder, feeling the blade penetrate deep. The creature howled in pain, its massive hands clawing at Noah as it tried to shake him off. But he held on, pouring all his strength into the strike, twisting the blade with every ounce of determination he had left.

As the ogre thrashed beneath him, Noah felt its strength finally waning. The beast staggered, its eyes wide with anger and confusion. With a final, desperate effort, Noah thrust Nemesis fully into the creature's neck, and as the blade connected with its vital points, the ogre let out a thunderous roar before collapsing to the ground, its massive body shaking the room with its fall.

Noah stumbled back, panting heavily as he took in the sight of the fallen monster. Exhausted but victorious, he had accomplished what he set out to do. The room was quiet now, save for the sound of his heavy breathing.

Checking the time, he realized he had completed the mission with just two minutes to spare. The sense of relief washed over him as the system notification chimed in his mind, confirming his victory.

[Ding!

Mission Complete!

Reward: Egg???]