The Guardian Construct's crimson eye burned with intensity as its form shifted, plates rearranging, vents glowing hotter. The relatively predictable rhythm of the first half of the fight shattered instantly. << WARNING: Guardian Construct entering ENRAGED state! Attack patterns altered! Lethality protocols engaged! >>
It lunged, moving with a speed that seemed impossible for its bulk, far faster than before. Simultaneously, missile pods on its shoulders launched a volley of small, seeking energy projectiles. Drake reacted instinctively, activating [Defend] against the primary lunge – a multi-stage slam this time, faster and harder to read than its previous attacks.
<< Skill Success! SCR 100%! PERFECT DEFEND! >> << Damage Taken: 0! >> <<[Guardian Construct] >> << [Versatile Execution] >>
He negated the main blow, but the seeking projectiles curved in. He immediately used the Off-Balance window and GCD reduction not for offense, but to execute a rapid sidestep, the projectiles detonating where he'd been a split second before. "Can't just stand and trade anymore. Need to move. New patterns..."
The Guardian unleashed a barrage of attacks completely different from its initial phase. Rapid-fire energy beams sizzled through the air, forcing Drake to constantly reposition while timing Perfect Defend. Wide, sweeping energy arcs forced him to backpedal furiously. The ground occasionally erupted with localized energy fields, requiring him to identify safe zones instantly.
This was a different beast entirely. His perfected 100% SCR [Defend] was essential, allowing him to negate direct hits that would otherwise still be lethal, but the sheer volume and variety of attacks tested his reaction time and spatial awareness to their absolute limits. He couldn't just rely on blocking; dodging and positioning became equally critical.
He took hits. An energy beam grazed him when he mistimed a sidestep (<< Damage Taken: 75! >>). A lingering AoE field scorched his boots (<< Damage Taken: 30! >>). His health bar, previously untouched, dipped precariously low multiple times, forcing him to rely on his slow passive regeneration during brief lulls.
Crucially, though, [Perfect Recall] was working constantly, even mid-combat. Each new attack pattern, each near-miss, each successful Perfect Defend against a new timing, was instantly analyzed. "Beam sequence: Left, Right, Center burst... Dodge left first. Energy field persists 3 seconds after visual fades... Parry the sweep then move, not before..."
He began to adapt, not through slow trial and error over hundreds of deaths, but through rapid, real-time analysis and the guaranteed perfect execution provided by [Eidetic Execution] once he understood the required response. He started anticipating the seeking projectiles, parrying the beams with less wasted movement, finding the tiny safe spots within the AoE fields.
And between the frantic defense and dodging, he found openings. A Perfect Defend on a heavy slam still granted that precious 1-second Off-Balance window. Drake exploited it ruthlessly, landing Perfect [Basic Slash] attacks whenever possible. << Skill Success! SCR 100%! PERFECT EXECUTION! Effect Applied: Flawless Strike! Damage Dealt: 58! >> The damage felt small against the enraged Guardian's health, but it was consistent, chipping away relentlessly.
The fight became a harrowing, high-speed dance of survival and precision offense. Block, dodge, slash. Dodge, block, slash. Analyze, adapt, execute. It was mentally exhausting, demanding absolute focus for what felt like an eternity, though the instance timer likely showed only minutes passing. He pushed the Guardian's health down past 40%, then 30%, then 20%. The Construct grew even more frantic, its attacks faster, its energy output more intense.
Finally, after weathering a particularly intense barrage of beams and AoEs, Drake saw his opening. The Guardian momentarily staggered after unleashing a massive energy pulse. Drake surged forward, his [Well-Used Longsword] glowing faintly from the [Flawless Strike] title's passive energy. One final, perfectly executed [Basic Slash].
<< Skill Success! SCR 100%! PERFECT EXECUTION! Effect Applied: Flawless Strike! Damage Dealt: 60!>>
The critical hit landed on a damaged conduit. The Guardian Construct shuddered violently, its crimson eye flickered, dimmed, and then extinguished entirely. The massive automaton slumped forward, inert, circuits sparking before fading into silence.
Drake stood panting in the sudden quiet, virtual sweat beading on his brow, his heart pounding. He had done it. He had actually defeated the Unbeatable Guardian. Exhaustion washed over him, profound and deep, but beneath it surged a wave of pure, unadulterated triumph.
A moment of silence hung in the chamber, then his interface exploded with notifications, including a system-wide alert that momentarily startled him.
<< GLOBAL ANNOUNCEMENT: Player [Hidden] is the FIRST to defeat the Tutorial Guardian Construct on UNBEATABLE difficulty! A legendary feat of persistence and skill! >>
Drake quickly ensured his privacy settings kept his character name anonymous in the global chat feed repeating the message. He didn't need that kind of attention. His personal log confirmed the achievement:
<< Achievement Unlocked: [Impossible Persistence]! Description: You faced insurmountable odds and refused to yield. Your tenacity is legendary. >> << Title Acquired: [He Who Beat the Unbeatable]! Effect: Grants Significant Global Reputation. NPCs may react differently to your presence. (Further effects may exist). >> << Quest Reward: Gold x 500! >> << Tutorial Complete! Access to main world granted! >>
Then came the loot window from the Guardian itself: << Loot Acquired: [Alvari Power Core (Damaged)] x3, [Guardian Plating Scrap] x5, [Rare Warrior's Resolve Charm] (Trinket), [Rare Precise Strike Gauntlets], [Epic Ring of the Threshold Guardian]
He quickly checked the ring, the Epic purple glow catching his eye.
[Ring of the Threshold Guardian]
Quality: Epic
Type: Ring
Requirements: Level 10
Stats: +5 Strength +5 Endurance +3% Critical Hit Chance
Special Effect: Growth (This item will slowly gain power alongside its wearer). Set: Threshold Guardian (1/2) - ???
"Epic! And it grows? Set piece too... implies there's another matching ring somewhere. Very nice."
But there was one final, crucial reward notification, directly related to being the first to achieve this impossible feat.
<< Special Achievement Reward: First Clear - Unbeatable Guardian! Your relentless assault has unlocked latent potential! >> << Acquired Unique Passive Skill: [Relentless Assault]! >>
He immediately checked the skill description:
[Relentless Assault]
Type: Unique Passive Skill (Acquired from First Clear: Unbeatable Tutorial Guardian)
Rank: Innate (Always Active)
Description: Your precision strikes fuel a relentless offensive momentum. Only near-flawless execution sustains the assault; any lapse shatters the flow.
Mechanics:
Stacks gained on successful hits (skill or basic attack) >= 80% SCR. Stacks Gained = 1 + (Achieved SCR% - 80%). (e.g., 100% SCR = +21 stacks).Each stack grants +0.1% Physical Damage AND +0.05% Attack Speed.Max Stacks: 1000 (+100% Phys Dmg / +50% ASP).Duration: 5 seconds, refreshed on gaining stacks.Stack Loss: All stacks lost if 5 seconds pass without gaining stacks OR if a successful hit lands with <80% SCR.
"Whoa... This is insane. Stacking damage and attack speed just for hitting with high SCR? And 100% hits give max stacks per hit? With my 100% basics... this is a massive DPS boost. This changes combat completely."
Drake slowly gathered the loot, the reality sinking in. He was free. Free of the tutorial, free of the instance that had nearly broken him. He looked back at the inert Guardian, then at the now-glowing portal leading out to the main world. Exhausted, but victorious beyond expectation, holding unprecedented rewards and a game-changing new passive, Drake stepped towards the exit, ready for whatever Legacy of Alvari threw at him next.