Regression: Reclaiming the End-Chapter 26: Into the 6th Floor

I stepped forward, and the world shifted.

A pulse rippled through me as the system’s voice echoed.

[You have entered the 6th Floor of the Labyrinth.]

[ Quest Type: Extermination ]

[ Requirement: None ]

[ Objective: Eliminate 50 Ogres ]

[You cannot exit this floor until the objective is complete.]

The scenery around me sharpened into focus — a wide, broken plateau surrounded by jagged cliffs, the ground littered with cracked boulders and dried bloodstains.

From the shadows ahead, I heard the low, rumbling growls.

Thud. Thud. Thud.

Massive shapes emerged from the haze — ogres, easily three meters tall, skin a mottled green and gray, muscles rippling under thick hide. Each one wielded a brutal weapon — spiked maces, rusted axes, crude stone hammers.

A smirk tugged at the corner of my lips under the mask.

"Easy." I murmured softly.

The first ogres let out ear-splitting roars, pounding their weapons into the ground, challenging me.

I exhaled slowly, rolling my shoulders.

"Alright then..."

I surged forward, mana thrumming under my skin, eyes narrowing as I dove straight into the oncoming horde.

The first ogre roared and charged, and its massive feet cracking the stone as it swung a heavy spiked club.

I breathed in, just low, steady.

[Skill Triggered: Emberfang Style]

My fists ignited, faint trails of ember light wrapping around my knuckles. Heat pulsed through my veins, each heartbeat sharpening the fire coiled inside me.

With a swift sidestep, I ducked under the ogre’s club, driving a flaming fist straight into its gut.

[Burn stack: 1 → 2 → 3 → 4 ]

I didn’t stop. My fists blurred, punching into its ribs, thighs, chest —

[Burn stack: 5 → 6 → 7 → 8 → 9 → 10 → 11 → 12 → 13 → 14 → 15 ]

The ogre staggered back, skin smoking, eyes wide.

Then —

[Max Burn reached: Defense and Healing reduced by 30% for 3 sec. ]

I slammed my knee into its chin, driving the fire deep, and the ogre collapsed backward, a massive, burning heap.

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 1/50 ]

The others roared, storming toward me in a wave.

But now I was moving.

I danced between them, fists blazing, hammering strikes into their exposed joints and bellies. Every punch built burn, every impact pushed them closer to collapse.

One tried to grapple me, but I spun, drove my elbow into its temple, and followed with a brutal uppercut. Flames surged up its neck as the burn stacks peaked — and it fell with a howl.

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 3/50 ]

Another came from the side —I pivoted, fists flying, chaining a relentless flurry into its knee, chest, throat.

[Burn stack: 15 → Defense down!]

With a final blast, I palm-struck its chest, sending it crashing into two others behind it.

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 4/50 ]

The battlefield became a blur of motion and heat.

I ducked, punched, spun, ignited, driving strike after strike into flesh and bone.

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 10/50 ]

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 15/50 ]

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 24/50 ]

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 29/50 ]

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 37/50 ]

Sweat dripped down my face, but the burn only fueled me further.

As the last ten ogres circled together, growling warily, I exhaled slowly, fists raised. My arms glowed faintly, shimmering with accumulated heat.

"Let’s finish this," I murmured.

I surged forward, weaving between their swings, fists landing like hammers wrapped in flame.

One. Two. Three fell.

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 43/50 ]

Four more collapsed under stacked burns.

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 47/50 ]

The final three lunged all at once, but I planted my feet, roared, and unleashed a devastating chain of flaming strikes, igniting all three until they dropped in a smoldering heap.

[Ogre Warrior Defeated: 50/50]

I straightened slowly, rolling my shoulders, feeling the faint sizzle of mana fade from my skin.

The floor was littered with charred ogre corpses, heat still shimmering faintly in the air.

I exhaled, shaking out my fists.

"Fifty down," I muttered quietly.

[Quest Complete.]

[You have cleared the 6th Floor of the Labyrinth.]

—

[You are the First to Clear the 6th Floor.]

[You are the Fastest to Clear the 6th Floor: 27 minutes, 19 seconds]

[Rewarding Bonus Experience...]

—

[Rewards Calculated.]

▸Credits: +15,000

▸Magic Stones: +3x High-Grade Magic Stones

▸Skill Reward: Emberfang Style Skill Scroll (Advance Application)

▸Bonus Stats: +3 Strength, +2 Penetration, +2 Regeneration

▸Rare Drop: 1x Ogre King’s Core

—

▸ Achievement Unlocked: [One-Man Army]

Defeat 50 or more ogres or solo on an extermination floor without taking lethal damage

Rewards: +5,000 Credits, Title: Flame-Fanged Challenger

—

▸ New Title Acquired: [Flame-Fanged Challenger]

– Slight increase to fire-type skill potency (+5%)

– Burn effect duration increased (+2 seconds)

—

I let out a slow breath, eyes scanning the list.

"...Nice."

The credits flowed into my account, the magic stones materialized into my inventory, and the faint, fiery scroll pulsed softly before vanishing into storage. But what caught my eye was the Ogre King’s Core.

I lifted it from the system window. A blood-red crystal, pulsing faintly, radiating raw, compressed energy.

"A rare drop, huh?" I murmured, turning it in my hand. "Guess the system’s feeling generous today."

With the system interface closing, I took a moment to look at my surroundings. The last ogre had fallen, and the air was thick with the scent of smoke and burnt flesh. My hands were still warm from the aftermath of the battle, the burn of Emberfang Style still alive in my veins.

I flexed my fingers, feeling the pulse of energy beneath my skin.

[All rewards have been transferred to your inventory.]

[Updating Floor Access...]

[You may now enter Floor 7.]

[Fast Travel Unlocked: Floor 1 ↔ Floor 6]

—

[System Alert – First Clear Recognition]

Your achievement shall be recorded in the Hall of Firsts.

A name is required for the inscription. This name will be eternal, visible to all challengers who follow. Choose wisely.

Please input the name to be etched into the Hall of Firsts:

(....)

I entered the name "Blank"

[The name ’Blank’ has been registered.]

[Labyrinth – 6th Floor: Cleared]

[Cleared By: Blank ]

[Completion Time: 27 minutes, 19 seconds]

[You are being returned to Earth.]

[Please stand by.]

[You have cleared Floor 6.]

[Returning to Earth...]