Chapter 17

I entered the dungeon [Asuka Raku Sei] and immediately began exploring.

As the name suggests, there were many bird-type monsters flying around inside.

"Kee!" "Shaa!"

"Ah, already?"

Then, right after entering, two monsters attacked me.

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[Beak Bird]

- Recommended Level for Defeat: 11

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[Hungry Bird]

- Recommended Level for Defeat: 13

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Both were flying types, and for players who use close-range weapons, they would normally be quite troublesome.

However, that wasn't the case here.

The dungeon had narrow passages and a low ceiling, despite being home to many flying monsters.

The monsters could only charge straight at me, making them easy to deal with.

"Well, if they all attack at once, it would be troublesome..."

But they were no match for me.

"Haa!"

"Peii!?" "Shaa!?"

I defeated the approaching monsters and continued advancing through the dungeon effortlessly.

My destination was not the boss room, as it had been before.

The reason is this:

The conditions for unlocking the Inheritance Shrine are surprisingly diverse.

There are patterns where you defeat a boss by meeting specific conditions, as before, and other patterns where you clear various gimmicks.

In this case, the dungeon's mechanism was the latter.

"Ah, here it is."

After 30 minutes of exploration, I reached a dead end and noticed a part of the wall that was slightly different in color.

I placed my left hand on it and whispered softly.

"O power of magic, test my aptitude. May the door of wisdom now open."

Right after I chanted those words,

"Keyword confirmed."

"Emblem name: [Emblem of Nothingness] confirmed."

"Conditions met. The door of trials will be unlocked."

A system sound rang out, and the wall transformed into a door.

"Good, it worked."

As you can see, this was a hidden door.

Beyond it lay a trial, and by completing it, I could obtain a skill.

Unlike the [New Recruit's Training Ground], this required knowing the gimmick and keyword to even attempt it.

I opened the door and entered.

Despite being inside the dungeon, sunlight shone down from above.

"...It's blinding."

Looking up, I saw a clear blue sky.

Not only that, but a large number of bird-type monsters were flying around.

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[Fire Bird]

- Recommended Level for Defeat: 16

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[Wind Bird]

- Recommended Level for Defeat: 15

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[Freeze Bird]

- Recommended Level for Defeat: 16

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As you can see, all of them could use magic, and due to the trial, they were higher level than the monsters on the way.

While analyzing this, the system sound rang out again.

"Entrant confirmed."

"Magic trial [Asuka Raku Sei] has begun."

"Eliminate all flying monsters."

Right after the announcement ended, the monsters cast their spells and attacked from high above.

"Whoa!"

Ducking to avoid the attacks, I looked up.

I was recalling the gimmick of this trial and the handling of the [Magic Emblem] in Creon.

The [Magic Emblem].

As the name suggests, it is an emblem that can handle numerous magic skills.

It not only provides high firepower but is also versatile, making it a very popular emblem in Creon.

However, with the [Magic Emblem], one of three skills is randomly given at the initial stage.

Listing those three skills:

[Magic Arrow]: Excellent in rapid-fire and MP efficiency, but low in power.

[Magic Ball]: Balanced in rapid-fire, power, and MP efficiency.

[Magic Missile]: High in power, but low in rapid-fire and MP efficiency.

Each has its strengths and weaknesses. In the early stages, [Magic Arrow] with its good MP efficiency is preferred, while in the later stages, [Magic Missile] with its high firepower is favored.

Still, for efficient progression, it's best to have all of them.

Therefore, players who choose the [Magic Emblem] typically visit the Inheritance Shrines to learn the remaining two skills.

In this dungeon, one of those three, [Magic Arrow], can be obtained.

The trial involves eliminating the birds floating above, which requires a magic skill with long-range capability.

Given that I can't use any magic at all right now, it might seem like an impossible trial.

--- But that's not the case.

"I have this skill now—Slash!"

"Kee!?"

A flying slash cut through one of the monsters perfectly.

Indeed, even without magic skills, a flying slash can complete this trial.

"The feeling is excellent."

I smiled and continued releasing several more slashes.

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