Chapter 15 Preview - How I Became The World's Strongest Warrior Book 2!

The next morning started with my usual routine: checking on my sword first. I headed straight to NatTheCat's shop, hoping for good news.

The sign outside had changed again: "SENTIENCE CALIBRATION IN PROGRESS. DO NOT DISTURB. SERIOUSLY."

I knocked anyway.

Peter opened the door, his hair sticking up in all directions and something glittery embedded in his beard. "Chuck! Good morning! You're looking... alive! How was the Tower?"

"I reached floor twenty one," I replied. "Is my sword ready?"

Peter's expression turned apologetic. "Well, not quite. We've stabilized the fire and ice affinities, but now the nature affinity is causing unexpected interactions with the sentience matrix." He gestured vaguely toward the back of the workshop where NatTheCat was frantically adjusting something while surrounded by floating runes.

"ALMOST THERE!" NatTheCat called without looking up. "JUST NEED TO RECALIBRATE THE TERTIARY HARMONIC RESONANCE FREQUENCY!"

I sighed. "How much longer?"

"Maybe tomorrow?" Peter offered hopefully. "The sentience development is progressing faster than expected, which is both good and bad. Good because it means your sword will be even more powerful when finished. Bad because it keeps, well, having opinions about the process."

"Having opinions?" I raised an eyebrow.

"Yes, it seems to prefer certain configurations over others," Peter explained. "It's particularly stubborn about maintaining all three elemental affinities in perfect balance, which is making the enchantment enhancement much more complicated."

I looked past him to where my sword floated in its containment field. Was it my imagination, or did it pulse slightly, as if acknowledging my presence?

"If it had been ready, the Tower would have been easier," I noted. "Floor twenty one is fire-based, and the ice affinity would have been effective."

"Double alas!" NatTheCat called, apparently listening to our conversation despite the chaotic activity. "It would have adapted perfectly! Probably could have developed specialized ice techniques on the spot!"

I nodded. That was what I'd suspected. With my evolved sword's adaptive properties, it likely would have adjusted to the fire environment automatically, potentially developing new ice-oriented abilities.

"I'll check back tomorrow," I said, turning to leave.

"Wait!" Peter called. "How's the Rimeheart Axe working out? Gerald messaged that you'd purchased it."

"Haven't tested it yet," I replied. "Heading to Witch's first to get my armor enhancements."

"Good plan," Peter nodded. "Ice weapons and fire resistance should make those floors manageable, even without your sword."

I left NatTheCat's shop and headed directly to Witch's workshop. The door opened before I could knock, revealing a satisfied-looking Witch.

"It's done!" she announced triumphantly. "Come in, come in!"

Inside, my armor and cloak were laid out on her workbench, looking largely the same but with subtle rune patterns now visible along the edges, glowing with a cool blue light.

"Fire resistance enhancements complete," Witch declared. "Your cloak now provides 50% fire resistance, and your armor adds another 35%. Combined with the natural resistances they already had, you should have about 90% total fire damage reduction."

"That's good," I said, examining the enhanced gear. "This should make floor twenty one manageable."

"Actually..." Witch hesitated, her expression shifting to slight dissatisfaction. "It's good, but it could be better. Much better."

"Explain," I prompted.

"If I had a Fire Drake scale, I could create a complete immunity enchantment instead of just resistance," she explained. "Fire Drakes are essentially the apex predators of flame environments. Their scales naturally repel all fire damage, allowing them to swim in magma as easily as we move through air."

"Where do I find a Fire Drake?" I asked without hesitation.

Witch blinked, seemingly surprised by my immediate interest. "You... want to hunt a Fire Drake? Just like that?"

"If it provides optimal equipment enhancement, yes," I confirmed.

She laughed, shaking her head. "I should have known. Okay, Fire Drakes inhabit the Ashen Mountains about a day's journey east of here. Well, a day's journey if you're walking. Mario can probably teleport you there in seconds." Then she added, almost offhandedly, "Oh, and if you end up going through the lower magma zones and run into any Fire Bears, make sure you keep their hearts. They stay magically active after death and have all kinds of uses. Fuel, crafting, even emergency offense if you’re creative."

“Noted,” I said. “"What level are they? The drakes, I mean, not the fire bears."

"Level 40 to 45, approximately," Witch replied. "They're not world bosses or anything, but they're tough. Completely immune to fire, highly resistant to physical damage due to their scales, and they can breathe fire hot enough to melt steel instantly."

"Weaknesses?" I asked.

"Ice, obviously," Witch said. "That axe you bought should be effective. They're also vulnerable to precise strikes at the joints where the scales are thinner."

I nodded, the plan already forming. "I'll get you a scale. How many do you need?"

"Just one large one would be sufficient," Witch said. "But Chuck, this isn't necessary for the Tower. Your current enhancements will work fine against—"

"Optimal is better than fine," I cut her off. "I'll be back with a scale."

Before she could argue further, I collected my enhanced gear and headed straight for Mario's teleportation service.

Mario was sweeping the floor when I arrived, his mustache bouncing with every cheerful hum.
“Wahoo! It’s-a the Tower climber again!” he said, twirling the broom like a baton. “Where to this time, eh? Back into the big scary Tower?”

“Ashen Mountains,” I replied. “I need to hunt a Fire Drake.”

Mario froze mid-sweep. “Mamma mia! Fire Drake?! Are you outta your noodle? That thing’s-a big, it’s-a spicy, and it bites real hard!”

“I’ve got the right equipment,” I said, patting the Rimeheart Axe on my back.

He squinted at it, then at me. “Hmm… Ice axe for a fire lizard. Okie dokie!” He tossed the broom aside and waddled over to the counter. “That’s-a gonna be 600 copper, my friend! Special destination fee. It’s-a not negotiable!”

I paid and followed him to a red pipe in the back corner that glowed with obvious heat. "Special pipe for special hot places," Mario explained. "Hold on to your eyebrows!"

The teleportation was rough, with a sensation like being pulled through a tube filled with hot coals. When I emerged, the heat hit me immediately, though much less intensely than I'd expected thanks to my enhanced gear.

The Ashen Mountains stretched before me, a range of volcanic peaks with rivers of lava flowing down their sides. The ground was black volcanic soil mixed with gray ash, and the air shimmered with heat distortion. In the distance, I could see massive winged shapes circling one of the larger mountains.

[Environmental Analysis]
[Ambient Temperature: 150°F]
[Base Damage per Minute: 15]
[Gear Protection: 90% reduction]
[Actual Damage per Minute: 1.5]

Easily manageable. I drew the Rimeheart Axe and made my way toward the mountain where I'd spotted the flying shapes. The axe felt strange in my hands, heavier and less balanced than my usual weapons, but there was a satisfying coolness emanating from its blade that contrasted pleasantly with the surrounding heat.

I didn't have to search for long. A fire elemental similar to those I'd encountered in the Tower, but larger and more aggressive, emerged from behind a rock formation and immediately attacked.

[Greater Fire Elemental]
[Level 35]
[Health: 7,000/7,000]
[Special Abilities: Fire Aura, Magma Bolt, Heat Absorption]

Time to test the axe. I gripped it with both hands and swung in a wide arc, connecting solidly with the elemental's core.

[Rimeheart Axe Strike]
[Base Damage: 25.6]
[Proficiency Differential: 3,365 (Attacker: 3,400 vs Target: 35)]
[Proficiency Damage Bonus: +336.5]
[Two-Handed Penalty: -30% accuracy, -20% damage]
[Fire Elemental Resistance: 75% physical damage reduction]
[Ice Affinity Bonus: +100% effectiveness against fire]
[Total Base + Proficiency: 362.1] [Total Damage after Penalties and Resistance: 724.2]
[Greater Fire Elemental Health: 6,275.8/7,000]

Not as devastating as my usual attacks with my evolved sword or the dual wielding setup I'd perfected, but still substantial. The axe was clearly effective against fire creatures despite the unfamiliar weapon penalties. I'd need to develop more proficiency with it to maximize its effectiveness.

I swung again, focusing on more precise targeting and better form.

[Two-Handed Axe Proficiency Initiated]
[Current Level: 1.0]
[Perfect Strike cannot be used with unfamiliar weapon types]

[Rimeheart Axe Strike]
[Base Damage: 25.6]
[Proficiency Differential: 3,365 (Attacker: 3,400 vs Target: 35)]
[Proficiency Damage Bonus: +336.5]
[Two-Handed Penalty: -30% accuracy, -20% damage]
[Fire Elemental Resistance: 75% physical damage reduction]
[Ice Affinity Bonus: +100% effectiveness against fire]
[Special Trigger: Ice Blast Activated!]
[Additional Ice Damage: 100]
[Total Damage: 824.2]
[Greater Fire Elemental Health: 5,451.6/7,000]

The Ice Blast triggered with a satisfying explosion of frost, adding significant damage to my attack. The elemental reeled back, parts of its fiery form dimming where the ice had struck.

After a few more strikes, I eliminated the elemental.

[Greater Fire Elemental Eliminated]
[Experience Gained: 200]
[Two-Handed Axe Proficiency increased to 5.7]
[Two-Handed Penalties Reduced: -28% accuracy, -18% damage]

This was good practice. If the axe was my best option against fire creatures, I needed to develop proficiency with it before returning to the Tower. The damage output was already impressive despite the penalties, and I could see it improving significantly as I gained mastery, especially once I was skilled enough to be able to use Perfect Strike.

I spent the next several hours methodically hunting fire elementals, lava worms, and ash wraiths that inhabited the lower slopes of the mountain. Each encounter improved my proficiency with the axe slightly, gradually reducing the penalties and increasing my overall effectiveness.

By nightfall, I'd worked my way up to a respectable skill level:

[Two-Handed Axe Proficiency: 34.8]
[Two-Handed Penalties Reduced: -15% accuracy, -10% damage]
[Experience Gained: 6,800]
[Level 20: 87% progress to Level 21]

I made camp in a small cave that provided shelter from both the heat and any wandering creatures. The next morning, I continued my methodical hunt, working my way higher up the mountain toward where I'd spotted the flying shapes.

Around mid-day, I encountered my first Fire Drake.

The creature was magnificent in a terrifying way. It was about the size of a large horse, with a wingspan nearly thirty feet across when fully extended. Its scales were deep crimson with hints of gold that caught the sunlight, and heat distortion surrounded it like a permanent aura. Its eyes glowed like hot coals, and smoke curled from its nostrils with each breath.

[Fire Drake]
[Level 42]
[Health: 15,000/15,000]
[Special Abilities: Fire Breath, Magma Scales, Flight, Burning Claws]

This would be a real test of the axe and my developing proficiency with it. I approached carefully, using the volcanic terrain for cover until I was within striking distance.

The drake spotted me when I was about fifty feet away, its head swiveling with surprising speed for such a large creature. It let out a roar that sent a plume of flame into the air, then launched itself toward me with powerful beats of its massive wings.

I waited until the last possible moment, then rolled under its initial diving attack. As it passed overhead, I swung the axe upward, aiming for the softer scales of its belly.

[Rimeheart Axe Strike]
[Base Damage: 25.6]
[Proficiency Differential: 3,358 (Attacker: 3,400 vs Target: 42)]
[Proficiency Damage Bonus: +335.8]
[Two-Handed Penalty: -15% accuracy, -10% damage]
[Fire Drake Resistance: 60% physical damage reduction]
[Ice Affinity Bonus: +100% effectiveness against fire]
[Vulnerable Area Struck!]
[Critical Hit!]
[Total Base + Proficiency: 361.4]
[Total Damage after Penalties and Bonuses: 1,373.3]
[Special Trigger: Ice Blast Activated!]
[Additional Ice Damage: 100]
[Fire Drake Health: 13,526.7/15,000]

A solid hit! The critical strike combined with the vulnerable area multiplier and ice affinity created substantial damage despite the drake's resistances. The creature screeched in pain, clearly surprised by the effectiveness of my attack. It circled around, obviously angered, and opened its mouth wide.

I dove behind a large boulder just as a stream of liquid fire engulfed my previous position. The heat was incredible, even through my enhanced protection. The boulder I was hiding behind began to glow red, then white, before portions of it began to melt.

[Fire Breath]
[Base Damage: 500]
[Fire Resistance: 90% reduction]
[Damage Avoided Through Cover]
[Residual Heat Damage: 50]
[Health: 150/200]

The moment the fire breath stopped, I emerged from cover and charged, swinging the axe in a powerful horizontal strike aimed at the drake's front leg joint.

[Rimeheart Axe Strike]
[Base Damage: 25.6]
[Proficiency Differential: 3,358 (Attacker: 3,400 vs Target: 42)]
[Proficiency Damage Bonus: +335.8]
[Two-Handed Penalty: -15% accuracy, -10% damage]
[Fire Drake Resistance: 60% physical damage reduction]
[Ice Affinity Bonus: +100% effectiveness against fire]
[Vulnerable Area Struck!]
[Total Base + Proficiency: 361.4]
[Total Damage after Penalties and Bonuses: 686.7]
[Special Trigger: Ice Blast Activated!]
[Additional Ice Damage: 100]
[Fire Drake Health: 12,740.0/15,000]

The drake screeched as ice crystals laced around its wounded joint. It tried to lift off, wings beating furiously, but the partially frozen leg buckled beneath its weight. Grounded. At least for now.

It lashed out with its tail, claws, and flaming breath, forcing me into constant motion. Dodge. Pivot. Wait. I kept circling, looking for an opening to strike.

[Rimeheart Axe Strike]
[Total Damage: 686.7]
[Fire Drake Health: 12,053.3 / 15,000]

Another solid hit. The axe’s edge bit deep, its chilling magic biting deeper.

[Rimeheart Axe Strike]
[Critical Hit!]
[Total Damage: 1,373.4]
[Special Trigger: Ice Blast Activated!]
[Additional Ice Damage: 100]
[Fire Drake Health: 10,579.9 / 15,000]

It howled, steam blasting from its wounds as the ice flared.

[Rimeheart Axe Strike]
[Total Damage: 686.7]
[Fire Drake Health: 9,893.2 / 15,000]

Its attacks were relentless—tail whips, claw swipes, jets of fire that could melt armor in seconds. My health dipped dangerously low more than once, and I had to slam potion after potion just to stay on my feet. But every exchange pushed my skill forward. Every strike brought a whisper of improvement and increased my proficiency. 

Two-Handed Axe Proficiency: +0.1%... +0.2%...

Ten minutes. Maybe more. By the end, my hands were numb, my armor scorched, and the drake was barely standing.

One final strike.

[Rimeheart Axe Strike]
[Total Damage: 693.8]
[Special Trigger: Ice Blast Activated!]
[Additional Ice Damage: 100]
[Fire Drake Health: 0 / 15,000]

The beast collapsed with a crash of ice and ash. I stood over it, panting, steaming in the mountain air.

[Fire Drake Eliminated]
[Experience Gained: 1,500]
[Two-Handed Axe Proficiency increased to 46.2]
[Two-Handed Penalties Reduced: -10% accuracy, -7% damage]
[Level Up!]
[Level 20 → Level 21]

[Items Obtained]
[Fire Drake Scale (Large): 2]
[Fire Drake Claw: 5]
[Fire Drake Heart: 1]
[Fire Drake Eye: 2]
[Fire Drake Tooth: 14]

Success! I'd obtained not just one but two large scales, plus various other valuable parts. The level up was an unexpected bonus, providing a welcome increase to my base stats:

[Level 21]
[Health: 210/210]
[Stamina: 230/230]
[Base Attack Damage: 5.7]
[Attribute Point Gained: 1]
[Skill Improvement Point Gained: 1]

I decided to save the attribute and skill points for later, when I could carefully consider the optimal allocation. For now, I focused on harvesting everything useful from the drake and preparing for the return journey.

Over the next two days, I continued hunting in the Ashen Mountains, not just Fire Drakes but everything I encountered. While I knew my sword might possibly be done, the efficiency here meant more for the time being. It was excellent practice with the axe, and by the third day, I'd eliminated three more drakes and countless lesser fire creatures. With each drake, the battles became progressively easier as my proficiency improved:

[Two-Handed Axe Proficiency: 78.3]
[Two-Handed Penalties Reduced: -5% accuracy, -3% damage]
[New Ability Unlocked: Cleave I (Can hit up to 2 targets in a single strike)]

My damage output with the axe was now approaching what I could achieve with my dual wielding setup:

[Rimeheart Axe Strike]
[Base Damage: 25.6]
[Proficiency Differential: 3,358 (Attacker: 3,400 vs Target: 42)]
[Proficiency Damage Bonus: +335.8]
[Two-Handed Penalty: -3% damage]
[Fire Drake Resistance: 60% physical damage reduction]
[Ice Affinity Bonus: +100% effectiveness against fire]
[Total Base + Proficiency: 361.4]
[Total Damage after Penalties and Bonuses: 838.4]
[Special Trigger: Ice Blast Activated!]
[Additional Ice Damage: 100]
[Total Damage with Proc: 938.4]

[Status Update]
[Level 21]
[Experience: 18,250/345,600 (5.28% to Level 22)]
[Health: 210/210]
[Stamina: 230/230]

With four large Fire Drake scales and numerous other valuable components collected, I decided it was time to return to the city. Once I reached Mario’s pipe, I activated the return token he had provided, and after another uncomfortable journey through the red pipe, found myself back in his teleportation shop.

"Ah! You survived!" Mario exclaimed, genuinely surprised. "And with all eyebrows intact! Impressive!"

"I need to get these to Witch," I said, already heading for the door.

Witch's reaction when I placed the four Fire Drake scales on her workbench was priceless. Her eyes widened to an almost comical degree, and she actually gasped.

"Four?" she managed, picking one up with reverent care. "You brought four Fire Drake scales? Do you have any idea how rare and valuable these are?"

"You said you needed one," I replied with a shrug. "I got extras in case quality mattered. Or we needed more later."

She laughed, the sound somewhere between amazement and disbelief. "Quality absolutely matters, and these are perfect specimens. How many Fire Drakes did you have to kill to get these?"

"Three," I said.

Witch stared at me. "Three Fire Drakes. In three days. Solo."

“Yeah. Only one spawns a day.” I shrugged. "The axe was effective, though the two-handed proficiency took time to develop"

She shook her head slowly. "Of course it did. And of course you killed three apex predators like it was just another day at the office." She carefully set the scales aside. "Well, this changes everything. With these, I can create not just fire immunity for your gear, but actual fire absorption. You'll heal from fire damage instead of taking it."

"That's significantly more optimal," I approved. "Timeline?"

"Give me until tomorrow morning," Witch said, already moving to gather additional components. "These scales are so pure they'll significantly streamline the enchantment process."

With that settled, I decided to finally check on my sword again. The sign outside NatTheCat's shop now read: "FINAL CALIBRATION IN PROGRESS. ALMOST THERE! MAYBE! PROBABLY!"

Peter answered my knock, looking marginally more put-together than this morning. "Oh, good timing! We've made substantial progress today. The sentience stabilization is nearly complete, and the enchantment matrices are aligning properly."

"When?" I asked simply.

"Tomorrow for sure," Peter nodded confidently, then hesitated. "Well, 90% sure. 85% at minimum. Unless there's an unexpected dimensional fluctuation or the sentience decides to recalibrate itself again."

It had been tomorrow days ago. 

I suppressed a sigh. "I'll check back tomorrow."

With nothing else pressing to handle, I decided to visit Gerald's pawn shop to sell some of the excess items I'd collected. Witch had specifically mentioned that several of the items from Lilith's chamber, like the perfumes and exotic implements, weren't particularly useful for our purposes but would fetch a good price from collectors.

Gerald's eyes lit up when I laid out the collection on his counter. "My word! These are from the Temptation Trials, aren't they? Specifically, from Lilith's personal chamber?" He picked up one of the perfume vials with reverent care. "Do you have any idea how many collectors would kill for authenticated items from her domain?"

"So they're valuable?" I asked, getting to the point.

"Valuable?" Gerald laughed. "My dear boy, 'valuable' doesn't begin to cover it. These are priceless! Well, not literally priceless, I can certainly put a price on them, but extraordinarily rare and desirable."

After nearly an hour of cataloging and appraisal, Gerald offered me 22,500 copper for the collection, which seemed fair based on my limited knowledge of such items. Once the transaction was complete, I decided to visit the bathhouse to clean up after three days in the volcanic environment.

The hot springs were exactly what I needed after the extended hunting expedition. As I relaxed in the mineral-rich waters, I found myself thinking about Mayra. She'd been unusually concerned about my safety lately, and I still wasn't entirely sure how to respond to that concern.

On my way back to the inn, I passed a small shop with vibrant displays of flowers in the window. A memory surfaced of Mayra once mentioning how much she enjoyed fresh flowers. On impulse, I entered the shop.

The merchant was a middle-aged man with dirt-stained hands and a genuinely happy expression. "Welcome! Looking for something special?"

"Flowers," I said simply. "What's good?"

"Depends on the occasion," he replied. "Anniversary? Apology? Declaration of undying love?"

I considered this. "None of those. Just... appreciation, I suppose."

The merchant's smile widened. "Ah, the rarest reason of all. How refreshing." He moved among his displays, selecting various blooms with careful consideration. "These mountain lilies paired with these azure bells should do nicely. Simple, elegant, and they actually smell good, unlike those fancy imported ones that are all show and no substance."

As he wrapped the bouquet, he asked casually, "First time buying flowers?"

"Yes," I admitted.

He nodded knowingly. "Thought so. Most guys only get flowers on two occasions: when they're trying to fix something they broke, or when they're dead and someone else is buying for them." He handed me the finished arrangement. "Hope she likes them."

The merchant's observation was interesting. "I've never received flowers either," I noted.

"See? Proving my point." He grinned. "Guys only get flowers when they're dead. And even then, only if they were well-liked. Otherwise, it's just the cheap ones to keep up appearances."

I paid for the bouquet and headed to The Broken Shield. When I entered, Mayra was behind the bar, helping Martin during what appeared to be a busy evening. She spotted me immediately, her face lighting up with a bright smile that made that now-familiar flutter happen in my chest.

She hurried over, already talking. "Chuck! You're back! Witch told me you went to the Ashen Mountains, which was absolutely terrifying to hear, but clearly you're okay, which is such a relief—" She stopped abruptly, noticing the flowers in my hand. "Are those...?"

"For you," I said, holding out the bouquet somewhat awkwardly. "The merchant said they smell good."

Mayra stared at the flowers, then at me, then back at the flowers. For a moment, I thought I'd somehow made a mistake, but then she took them reverently.

"You bought me flowers?" Her voice was unusually soft.

"Yes," I confirmed. "Is that okay?"

Her response was to throw her arms around me, flowers and all, and plant a kiss on my cheek. "It's more than okay," she whispered. "It's perfect. Thank you."

The kiss created another flutter, stronger this time. I was starting to think these physiological responses might require more detailed analysis at some point.

After a meal that Mayra insisted on serving personally, despite the busy evening, I headed up to my room. The last three days of non-stop hunting had taken more of a toll than I'd realized, and exhaustion hit me the moment I sat on the bed. I barely managed to remove my boots before collapsing backward, sleep claiming me almost instantly.

My last conscious thought was that tomorrow I'd have both my fully enhanced fire immunity gear and, hopefully, my evolved sword back. The Tower wouldn't know what hit it.