Chapter 8 of 10

Chapter 8

7 min read1,749 words

From the 51st to the 65th floors, only insect-type monsters appeared.

For someone who normally hates bugs, these floors would have been quite mentally taxing.

Of course, I myself also dislike bugs.

However, perhaps this environment has shaped me, and now I perceive the monsters as mere data or simple information entities.

To the point where I feel like praising my former self, who used to be a NEET and played games all day.

From the 66th to the 75th floors.

The monsters themselves are not particularly strong, but they attack in large numbers.

At first, a flock of 15 to 30 Level 75 bird-type monsters called Suzumaru would attack in a single battle.

I dodged their body slams from all directions using Phantom Evasion and dropped a few of them with Ice Chain when they were distracted.

Just repeating this action was enough to easily eliminate them.

Without Phantom Evasion, I would have had to dodge repeatedly and only manage to defeat a few, no doubt.

It's really thanks to the Phantom Evasion skill.

On the other hand, thinking about it, I might not be experiencing thrilling battles because of Phantom Evasion.

I'm starting to wonder if I should be happy or frustrated!

It's great to get stronger, but I also want to have more enjoyable battles!

******************************

And now, I stand before the boss door of the 75th floor.

I rested my tired body by eating Goblin meat.

While resting, I checked my status with a piece of meat in hand.

【Status】

Name: Ayakawa Hotaru

Title: Number 1

Skills: Passive > Super Dynamic Vision Lv.max

Early Maturity Lv.max

Active > Otherworldly Appraisal Lv.5

Item Box Lv.max

Phantom Evasion Lv.8

Magic: Water Magic Lv.9

Ice and Snow Magic Lv.5 (Symbiosis)

Equipment: Armor Spirit Cold Fox

First Wakisashi

Indeed, Phantom Evasion has grown to Level 8, a 4-level increase.

This growth started rapidly when the monsters on the 66th floor began their quantity-based strategy.

On the other hand, despite using Otherworldly Appraisal and Ice and Snow Magic equally, they didn't level up at all.

At first, I was puzzled, but now I understand.

Perhaps this floor range only provides significant experience points for evasion-type skills.

If so, I definitely want to do more laps.

No, I will do more laps!!

With my body rested, it's time for the 75th floor boss battle.

When I entered the room, I couldn't help but open my eyes wide.

There were countless red bird-type monsters flying around.

After appraising them, I saw:

【Status】

Species: Red Crow

Level: 90

Skills: Group Action Lv.max

Flame Cloak Lv.7

Strong Assault Lv.5

Magic:

It's clear that individually they are weak and don't use magic, but the sheer number is overwhelming.

Really, the sight of endless red is enough to drive one mad.

"Alright, let's do this!"

Perhaps I've reached my limit of motivation since coming to this dungeon.

Dungeons should be like this, after all!

First, I cast Water Magic: Rain to apply a wide-area movement hindrance spell.

At that moment, I thought, "This should be enough."

"What? No way, that can't be right!"

To my surprise, the Red Crows evaporated the water with their flames.

No, no, water is supposed to be stronger than fire, right?

"Snow Area"

How about this!

It seemed the Red Crows couldn't defend against the snow.

I decided to focus my attacks on Ice and Snow Magic.

"Ice Sword Double"

I wrapped both hands in ice swords.

Then, I dodged as the Red Crows charged and slashed them with my swords.

Yeah, one hit is enough.

I knew it wouldn't take long to finish them off.

Dodge and slash, then dodge and slash again.

Occasionally, I used Ice Chain to knock them down.

I just repeated this simple process.

Again, it was a monotonous task.

--- About an hour and a half later.

"Alright, just one more to go."

I swung my ice sword, and the boss battle was over.

Wait, no drops at all...

What? I was hoping to make a new down comforter.

As usual, I checked my status.

【Status】

Name: Ayakawa Hotaru

Title: Number 1

Skills: Passive > Super Dynamic Vision Lv.max

Early Maturity Lv.max

Active > Otherworldly Appraisal Lv.5

Item Box Lv.max

Phantom Evasion Lv.10

Magic: Water Magic Lv.9

Ice and Snow Magic Lv.6 (Symbiosis)

Equipment: Armor Spirit Cold Fox

First Wakisashi

Whoa?!

Phantom Evasion has gone up two levels?

This boss must provide excellent experience points for evasion-type skills.

Maybe I'll aim for Phantom Evasion max level by doing more laps tomorrow.

By the way, what level is max?

I thought it was 10.

And finally, Ice and Snow Magic has leveled up.

It was worth the effort.

I checked the details.

【Ice and Snow Magic】

Snow Area

Ice Double Sword

Ice Shield

Ice Thorn

Ice Chain

Instant Freeze (NEW)

It seems I've learned a new spell, Instant Freeze.

I can't wait to use it!

So, I decided to wait for the boss to respawn in front of the 75th floor boss room instead of going down to the 76th floor.

While waiting, I practiced Instant Freeze in the air.

This new spell doesn't activate unless it directly or indirectly touches the target.

When the target is frozen, it shatters into pieces with just a slight vibration.

It's not just a highly lethal spell; it's an almost instant kill.

However, it can also be arbitrarily canceled.

Wow, Ice and Snow Magic is terrifying.

Water Magic is also excellent, but it seems to pale in comparison.

While testing, the boss respawned, so I decided to gain more experience points right away.

******************************

"Hey!"

I've completed the 8th lap of the 75th floor boss.

Knowing that no drops fall, I was about to return to the boss room when a treasure chest appeared again.

"Huh? This boss does drop items. Lucky!"

I opened the treasure chest with excitement.

Oops, I forgot to be cautious about traps.

But it was too late!

I opened it impulsively.

I quickly moved away from the treasure chest, but nothing happened.

Once again, I found myself wrestling with a treasure chest alone.

Anyway, I switched my mindset and checked the contents.

There were two items I recognized.

"Is this... a scroll?"

【Contents】

Confirmed Random Skill Scroll × 2

The display prompted me to appraise it immediately.

【Result】

Name: Confirmed Random Skill Scroll

Effect: A skill scroll that grants a random skill with a rarity of 5 or higher.

This feels like the best drop so far.

Finally, a new skill!

I almost teared up.

So far, I've only gained skills from the boss battles on the 1st and 10th floors.

Finally, finally.

The drop rate from the 10th floor to the 75th floor is so low, it could be considered a bad game!

I calmed down and entered the 76th floor resting area.

"Alright, let's open the first skill scroll!"

【Skill】

Name: Shape Manipulation

Rarity: 5

Status: Active

Effect: Provides a significant bonus to the transformation and manipulation of magical shapes.

Huh?

I'm not quite sure, but does this mean it makes magic easier to use?

I'll check it out tomorrow.

Next, next, I still have one more skill scroll!

I opened it with a racing heart.

【Skill】

Name: Magic Power

Rarity: 6

Status: Passive

Effect: Increases MP by 2.2 times from the original amount and provides a significant bonus to attack power when using magic.

Rarity 6?!

Is this a big win?

Moreover, MP...

This clarifies something for me.

The name for the MP-like resource is indeed MP.

This dungeon feels even more like a game now.

Then, I realized something.

Maybe I have pretty high luck in real life?

In social games, I rarely got rewards even after paying, but since entering this dungeon, I've been on a lucky streak.

After all, I've only obtained high-rarity skills so far.

Otherworldly Appraisal is rarity 2.

Item Box is rarity 4.

These were given to me initially, so I didn't feel it much.

Early Maturity is rarity 6.

Super Dynamic Vision is rarity 5.

Phantom Evasion is rarity 5.

And this time, I got one each of rarity 5 and 6.

I'm definitely on a roll.

Maybe I'll buy a lottery ticket when I return to the surface.

Then, I might graduate from being a home guard and become the head of the household.

While daydreaming, I suddenly felt very sleepy, so I decided to go to sleep.

******************************

Good morning.

As soon as I woke up, I started testing the skills I gained yesterday.

I really like the Shape Manipulation skill.

It's so much fun!

Until now, I could only cast magic with fixed shapes and power.

But with this skill, I can change the shape and power to some extent.

However, since it's only Level 1, the freedom is limited.

If the level increases, maybe I can make ice birds fly or create ice roses.

Thinking about it, my imagination as a gamer runs wild.

This kind of thing requires proficiency.

I'll practice every day from tomorrow!

Yes, I'll work hard from tomorrow!

And the Magic Power skill.

It feels like the power of my magic has increased by about 1.5 times.

Additionally, the number of times I can use magic has nearly doubled.

It's a straightforward increase in magic power.

It's strong, but I don't really feel it.

Well, it's rarity 6, so it must be strong.

Like Early Maturity.

So, I'll work hard on magic training from tomorrow!

Until now, I've focused on close combat, but I think it would be good to shift to a magic-focused style.

After all, the skill composition suggests a change in style.

I suddenly realized that I forgot to check my status after all those laps with the birds yesterday.

So, I checked it.

【Status】

Name: Ayakawa Hotaru

Title: Number 1

Skills: Passive > Super Dynamic Vision Lv.max

Early Maturity Lv.max

Magic Power Lv.max

Active > Otherworldly Appraisal Lv.5

Item Box Lv.max

Phantom Evasion Lv.24

Shape Manipulation Lv.1

Magic: Water Magic Lv.9

Ice and Snow Magic Lv.6 (Symbiosis)

Equipment: Armor Spirit Cold Fox

First Wakisashi

Wow, Phantom Evasion has jumped to Level 24.

It seems those birds provide a lot of experience points.

By the way, what's the max level really?

Sigh, more laps with the birds today...

I'm starting to get tired, but I'll keep going!