Former Hero, Solo Play Oriented-Chapter 159

The inner fortress of the *Duchy of Roeide* had been partially opened.

Adventurers began to gather at the duchy, flocking together in groups.

The third solo dungeon introduced in *Asteria Online*, *The Sword Graveyard*, was expected to offer players a chance to gain new skills, just like the previous solo dungeons. However, obtaining new power was never easy. The solo dungeons in *Asteria Online* had always demanded numerous attempts from players. Facing the named bosses at the highest floors was difficult enough, but even the bosses on lower floors posed immense challenges.

“In the *Tower of Training*, there was *Warlord Jeff*, and in the *Ice Tower*, the *Ice Ogre King*.”

The boss I would face on the 10th floor of this tower was still a mystery to me. However, I had some information about the boss on the 9th floor, gathered by other players who had reached level 53 before me.

Today, I had finally reached level 53, the required level to enter *The Sword Graveyard*. I was now qualified to challenge the newest solo dungeon.

*Cautiously, I approached.*

Looking around, I noticed many other players were gathered as well. The discovery of two new dungeons—the *Heavenly Basin* elite dungeon and *The Sword Graveyard*—had created a lively atmosphere among players enjoying this expansion.

Now it was my turn to gain new power.

*Swish.*

Suddenly, a hand landed on my shoulder, and I froze.

My personal radar didn’t detect the approach, so there was only one person it could be.

“Rei~n~”

“Chris... You scared me.”

“Hehe, are you still getting startled when someone touches you?”

I turned to find Chris standing there, grinning. I grumbled.

“Isn’t it reasonable to be on guard? Especially since you’d be angry if anyone else touched me.”

“Ahem. I wouldn’t get mad. You’re allowed to hang out with friends.”

I gave her a skeptical look. Chris cleared her throat and fanned herself, trying to appear nonchalant. But then, her expression grew serious as she looked at me intently.

“You... brought the medicine with you, right?”

“...”

I avoided her gaze.

“Based on experience, I’m sure of it. Even after you’ve cleared solo dungeons that others eventually manage to beat, your condition always worsens. The first time we met, your health had deteriorated right after you cleared the *Tower of Training*.”

Chris was sharp, no doubt about it.

Though she often seemed busy with work and overly fond of petting me absentmindedly, she was always aware of my gameplay patterns and how they affected me.

I sighed deeply.

How could I explain this?

I sat down near the back of the tower to talk with Chris.

“So, unlike other players, you always face an exceptionally difficult named boss, one that resembles you, and you’ve been hurt because of it,” she said.

I nodded and cautiously watched her reaction.

I hadn’t outright told her, “I was a hero in this world,” but Chris, having spent so much time with me, surely had questions. After all, she had witnessed enough strange events. From *Igrain* to the emperor, there were people in this world who clearly knew me. It wasn’t a secret that this game and I had some kind of connection.

However, saying that I lived in this world before coming to Earth? That the world I lived in had somehow turned into a game? It was too far-fetched for someone like Chris, who came from the highly scientific world of Earth, to believe easily.

Her affection for me and her understanding of logic were separate matters. And I didn’t want her to become too deeply involved in this responsibility, either.

Ultimately, I wanted to enjoy this world as a game, and I wanted Chris to enjoy it the same way.

“I know this sounds strange. And, well, I—”

“Never mind. You’re going to go anyway, right?”

“What?”

“How did I end up falling so hard for someone who’s such a handful?”

Chris chuckled and rested her forehead against mine.

“Ah.”

Her breath was close, her slightly flushed cheeks right next to mine, and I felt my face heat up.

I couldn’t believe Chris, who usually got embarrassed easily, was initiating something so bold.

“No matter what you did in the past, or even if you came from another world, it doesn’t really matter to me,” she said.

“I’m sorry for always worrying you and not explaining things properly.”

“The fact that you’re here with me, right now, is what’s most important. And besides, people here call you the Hero, don’t they?”

I felt tears welling up.

Chris helped me stand and patted my back.

“Go on now, get the power you need.”

I turned away, trying to hide my teary eyes, and headed toward the *Sword Graveyard*.

“My little hero.”

---

**[The Sword Graveyard, 1st Floor]**

A circular hall greeted me.

I was different from before. I had grown both physically and mentally.

Even if I encountered the figure waiting for me at the top, I was confident I wouldn’t be easily defeated.

I set my goal for today.

Don’t die. Don’t get hurt.

I needed to avoid causing any more trouble for the person who cared for me while also letting me forge my own path.

And I would still take what I deserved.

*Srrng.*

The starlight surrounding me flickered between the incoming shields and spears.

---

**[The Sword Graveyard, 2nd Floor]**

I fought using every skill and every part of my body.

Although I wielded a holy sword, I wasn’t strictly a swordsman. The holy sword provided the strength I lacked, and the system supplemented the rest. With a small body like mine, I used agile movements to my advantage.

*Whirl.*

I kicked the temple of a *Demon’s Illusion* floating nearby.

*Thud!*

---

**[The Sword Graveyard, 4th Floor]**

An ice statue in the form of a witch shattered and scattered into pieces.

**[The Sword Graveyard, 5th Floor]**

The massive form of a *Black Dragon* collapsed to the ground.

---

**[The Sword Graveyard, 8th Floor]**

*Kugugung.*

The weakened remnants of *Legion Commander Crow* crumbled before me as I ascended to the 9th floor.

---

**[The Sword Graveyard, 9th Floor]**

“I knew that Melissa admired an ancient master who wielded a spear as their main weapon.”

Yet, she had always insisted on using a sword, saying it suited her better. Even though she believed a true master should not be confined by the form of their weapon, she still paid attention to her family’s tradition. It would’ve been nice if she could have reconciled with the head of the Roeide family back then.

Standing before the illusion of the ancient master on the 9th floor, I couldn’t help but smile at the memories.

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The figure before me was clad in tightly woven chainmail, a middle-aged man embodying strength itself.

The illusion of the warrior had a long beard and a faint red glow around his face.

In one hand, he held a massive spear firmly planted into the ground, its blade shaped like a crescent moon.

There had been an ancient warrior on Earth who used a similar weapon. What was it called again? The *Green Dragon Crescent Blade*?

This figure was the gatekeeper blocking my path to the highest floor.

I had heard that all players who reached level 53 were stuck here. Even with legendary gear from previous expansions, they struggled without upgrading their tier with materials from the new elite dungeons.

The solo dungeon, *The Sword Graveyard*, might have opened even without my involvement. After all, the knights of the *Duke of Roeide* needed to become stronger to face the looming threat from the east.

In a way, this dungeon had opened early because of me.

It all came down to a choice.

Would players wait to upgrade their gear from the new elite dungeon and then challenge the dungeon?

Or would they push the limits of what could be achieved with their current gear?

Of course, the system’s limitations didn’t apply to me.

“If you stand in my way, I’ll just break through.”

I raised my sword and aimed it at the warrior.

Then, I took a step forward into his detection range.

*Beep.* The system’s alert sounded as I drew his aggro.

The warrior’s brow furrowed, and from his eyes, a piercing blue light locked onto me.

*Whirr, whirr, whirr!*

The crescent blade above his head spun rapidly before slamming into the ground.

*Boom!*

The force sent out a blue shockwave that rippled across the floor.

---

**[Level 55 Ancient Master]**

**[HP: 30,000,000 / 30,000,000 (100%)]**