Chapter 42: The Middle Floors
A week had passed since Alex has defeated the infant dragon and had already moved forward to the middle floors.
On the 14th floor of the underground labyrinth.
"Roar!!!"
The violent roar of monsters immediately turned into vicious howls, followed by a series of death screams accompanied by crimson flashes and swift/quick slashes.
Simultaneously spamming his Flying Raijin, Alex attacked with an incredible speed between his enemies with one or two movements.
Under his ruthless and merciless attacks, many hellhounds, crystal mantis, and almiraj were killed. They instantly disintegrated into a cloud of black clouds, leaving their drops.
The 13th-17th Floors are known as the Cave Labyrinth. The entrance to the 13th Floor is called the First Line. Starting from the 13th Floor, the walls, ground, and ceiling become made of bedrock. While the upper floors are just flat, circular maze, the middle floors have more complex layout which include intertwining upper and lower tunnels.
The light becomes darker and the air seems to be moist. Vertical holes leading to the deeper floors appear randomly. The layout is more complex and monsters spawn at faster rate in the middle floors than in the upper floors, so it is very difficult for Level 2 adventurers to solo these floors which was why, Alex didn't hesitate on using his Flying Raijin or any skills.
The monsters on the 13th and 14th Floors are not much different than the ones on the 12th Floor in terms of strength and so even Level 2 adventurers with status of I and H in most of their basic abilities are capable of exploring these floors.
[Status]
Name: Alex Uchiha
Race: High Human
Level: 2
Abilities:
Strength: F- 342
Endurance: F- 356
Dexterity: E- 410
Agility: E- 402
Magic: D- 507
Luck: I > G
Swordsman: I > H
Master of Swiftness: I > H
Rogue: I > H
Skills: Supreme Overlord Lv.Max (S), Dragon Heart Lv.2 (S), Player's Avatar Lv.Max (A), Stellar Pilgrim Lv.2 (A), Coup de Grace Lv.2 (B), Sharingan Lv.3 (B), Reaper Stalker Lv.1 (C), Intermediate Blade Mastery Lv.4 (D), Assassinate Lv.3 (E), Vital Strike Lv.3 (E).
Magic: Flying Thunder God Lv.2 (S), Fire Dragon's Fury Lv.2 (S), Great Fire Annihilation Lv.1 (S), Grand Fireball Lv.2 (C), Phoenix Sage Fire Lv.2 (D).
Only 7 days had passed since he had leveled up. Despite that, his highest basic ability was already at D which was enough for him to level up again, while the lowest was at F.
Again, the recommendation for the first two floors in the middle levels for level 2 adventurers were Basic Abilities ranging from I to H which was more than adequate for Alex. With his basic abilities, Alex could now move to the deeper floors.
However, he put that on hold as even just in the 14th floor, proved a great challenge for Alex. His updated status strengthened his senses, so Alex immediately looked into the darkness before him.
Atleast 50 dark shadows appear in the dim light. Coming from the end of the other path, the monsters finally came into view. Their muscular bodies are completely black. Eyes glowing a deep red, they embody the meaning of the word "monster".
Four legged frames far too brawny to be a dog. Hellhounds.
"You guys don't really let me take a rest."
Alex mumbles with a low voice. Just like what the dungeon has always been doing to him, it was sending him monster parties, wave after wave of monsters which he had gotten used to in the upper floors.
However, in the middle levels were different. The spawn rate was 4 times faster and the numbers were even larger. Alex was aware that even this wasn't normal even in the middle floors but it was deliberately set up by the dungeon to deal with him.
[ You have hit the target's vital spot. Damage will be amplified. ]
[ The effect of the skill 'Reaper Stalker' has been activated, adding 60% critical damage. ]
[ The effect of the skill 'Coup de Grace' has been activated, adding 230% critical damage. ]
[Reaper Stalker Lv.1]
Rating: Rare
[* Your attacks carry the aspect of death, calling victims unseen into its silent embrace. Next hit deals extra 60% damage on the next attack.
* There is a very low chance of instantaneously killing the target.
Type: Passive
Skill Proficiency: 47.3%
Cooldown Time: 10 Seconds.]
However, despite the endless numbers, Alex skillfully deal with them. Utilizing his ultra speed regeneration, Alex didn't bat an eye to the wounds and injuries the monsters were dealing.
New monsters also appeared together with the onslaught with the hellhounds. A rabbit monster with white fur and a horn. Contrary to its cute looks, it likes to battle. It is one of the weakest monsters in the Middle Floors. Level 1 adventurers can hold their own against one, but it is classified as Level 2 monster when together as a group.
Suddenly, Alex felt an ominous feeling. It was extremely uncomfortable. Deciding to swiftly deal with the monsters to explore about it, flames erupted as Alex fired spells one after another, burning the horde of monsters to ash.
After the fight with the hellhounds and monsters at the 14th floor, Alex felt something. An unfamiliar sensation however his intuition was telling him that this has a connection with his retainer Welf.
'Welf's in trouble?'
Alex muttered as he wasn't feeling good about this. He didn't know why but his guts was telling him that Welf was going to face a life threatening situation soon.
Fortunately, he had marked him with the teleportation formula which Welf agreed when Alex asked. Instantly appearing at the location of Welf, he saw he was injured.
With the sudden appearance of a crimson flash, three people who were cautiously moving around shouted in surprise. Their scream was so loud with the appearance of Alex.
The sound of their breathing filled his ears. They were tired, but that wasn't the only reason for their shallow, ragged gasps. It was fear, plain and simple. Fear of the darkness, fear for what the dungeon has store in them.
"You can lower your guards. It's me."
Alex calmly spoke seeing the figures of Bell, Welf and Lilly. They were not in the perfect condition. Recognizing that it was just Alex and not a monster, the three of them breathe out of relief.
"Anyway, what happened? For your conditions to be like this?"
Alex asked Bell who seems to be the party leader but has a helpless expression showing how mentally and physically tired he has been. The three of them were in a small triangle at the end of a tunnel with no exit.
There was nowhere to run if monsters found them. On top of that, they had no idea if or when monsters could spawn in the walls. Alex could see that Bell was doing everything not to express the fear gripping in his chest. Welf and Lilly were no doubt, doing the same thing.
As Bell who was assisting Welf in his shoulders was about to reply, Welf interrupted him.
"It's fine Bell. Let me tell him and just take a rest."
Welf kept his voices low to avoid attracting attention. Bell nodded and lowered their bodies to the ground. Welf then looked at Alex with apologetic expression.
"Sorry, Alex. Even though I am fully armed with equipments for second class adventurers, I'm still gravely injured."
At first, Bell and Lilly were surprised that Welf knew Alex, and sounds like they were close acquaintances which lowered their guards. Welf then explained that they didn't really encounter something out of there capabilities because the greatsword in his hands, and the full set of gears he and Bell was wearing which made it easier for them to deal with the monsters.
Welf then elaborated that his injury didn't come from the monsters but from an accident when a part of the dungeon collapsed and one of his leg was smashed by the rubbles breaking his bones making him incapable to fight as he cannot stand anymore.
His armor might be tough enough to endure the onslaught of the monsters but it wasn't able to perfectly defend against a part of the dungeon that fell from above.
Because they were chased by many monsters while they were in this state, they had already used up all their healing potions and most of their other potions. Looking at them, Welf was in the greateast need of the healing liquid.
"But if you're here, that's a relief. Our scent bag that repels the monsters had just ran out."
Alex then scanned Welf, Bell and Lilly's condition. Welf had already taken off his armor and placed it in his inventory to make it easier for Bell to carry him. It's unfortunate that Alex didn't carry any potions with him because of the effects of the Dragon Heart and he apparently had no sufficient points to buy a healing potion in the shop as he haven't been able to exchange the drops he had obtained.
"I understands the situation so what are your initial plan before I arrived?"
As Welf was suppressing the pain in his leg, he wasn't able to answer immediately. Looking at Welf's pained expression, Lilly took over.
"This is just Lilly's gut feeling but...this could very well be the fifteenth floor."
Alex narrowed his eyes as he didn't expected that they were currently in the 15th floor. Lilly took another breath and kept going.
"To increase the chance of our survival from going very bleak, we plan to take cover on the 18th floor."
Hearing Lilly who was explaining despite trying her best to be calm and composed, Alex nodded.
Instead of going up to the surface, rather they were going down. Although that would mean putting themselves in more danger in order to survive, their better option was to go to the nearest floor of the dungeon where monsters cannot be born— a safe point.
Lilly believes they'll be safe if they can get down there. Listening to them, Alex inwardly thought.
'Well I could just use Flying Raijin to send them back to the surface but where's the fun with that?'
The reason why Alex became a mortal wasn't to escape death but to seek some entertainment. Going to the 18th floor with a party that wasn't in a good condition was exhilarating enough for him.
Aside from he would encounter monsters that was more challenging, he would also get to see a companion to fight in a desperate battle along with him. Of course, he won't let them die in his watch.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone