Chapter 20: The Strongest Adventurer
From the eighth floor to the ninth floor, the scenery changes drastically. The amount and size of rooms increase and the length of the hallways between them become shorter. Also, the ceiling changes height from three to four meters from the floors above to nearly ten meters above.
Moss covers the brown colored walls and the ground below becomes a short grass plain. The strong light from the phosphorescence above is similar to light from the sun.
No new monsters appear, however monsters from 1st-7th Floors appear again but stronger. According to the common information he had gathered so far, it's recommended for Level 1 adventurers to have status of at least E in their basic abilities to explore these floors.
Since their pattern and weaknesses are the same, Alex can still swiftly deal with them. Although weak monsters like goblin and kobolds have become stronger, that doesn't mean Alex couldn't handle them. It would only be more challenging after all.
The moment a killer ant made an eye contact with Alex, it immediately stopped moving. Seeing that his attempt was a success, Alex smirked.
Alex could cast an illusion that is created when he controls the Mind flow of a target's cerebral nervous system, thereby affecting their five senses; this could be frequently used to create false images and/or trick the body into believing its has experienced physical pain.
Those under the influence of the illusion will either appear to be unconscious or continue to move around under the pretence of the illusion. The latter is very effective in battle as the user can make themselves appear to be somewhere else and attack the victim from behind or change the environment to make the victim see a flat plain where there is a steep cliff. Alternatively, a user can create relatively small differences in the environment, which is more effective for intel gathering.
In Alex's case who had a sharingan, by establishing eye contact with a target, Alex could trap them within an illusion which can be exploited for one of various purposes, such as: causing instantaneous — but temporary — loss of consciousness or paralysis in the target, forceful extraction of information, relaying memories, erasing memories, removing an illusion placed on the target by others, and controlling a target's actions.
Holding the Splitting Edge, Alex attacked the unmoving killer ant. He continued to beat up the rigid killer ant. He didn't take a break at all. He bombarded it with sword attacks. Then.
Flames exploded in succession.
[The option effect 'Flames Explosion' has activated from the Splitting Edge.]
[Critical!]
[The weak spot has been attacked! Further damage will be dealt!!]
[The effect of the skill 'Coup de Grace' has been activated, adding 200% critical damage!]
[The option effect 'Flames Explosion' has activated from the Splitting Edge.]
[The option effect 'Flames Explosion' has activated from the Splitting Edge.]
[The option effect 'Flames Explosion' has activated from the Splitting Edge.]
[Critical!]
[The effect of the skill 'Coup de Grace' has been activated, adding 200% critical damage!]
[...]
[...]
"Kiyaaaaah!"
The killer ant's scream resounded throughout the eighth floor. It was a screech filled with pain, anger, agony and fear.
[The killer ant has died and returned to the soil.]
"Ah… Ahhh…"
Duguen! Duguen!
Alex was pale as he was amazed beyond admiration at the absurd aggressiveness of his attacks. He was so surprised that he could feel a pain in his heart. With his strikes that continued exploding. The flames of death turned the killer ant into rags and then vanished into dust.
"I think the sword had become a magic weapon!"
Alex exclaimed seeing the devastating flames that occasionally exploded everytime he swung the sword after it was upgraded. Magic Weapons are different from normal equipment.
The Magic Weapon grants great power but comes at a cost of a "Backlash" side effect. Magic items have a certain number of uses or "charges" before the weapons shatter into pieces. Normal magic weapons can't have their durability or power modified in any way after they've been crafted. The skill of the smith that makes them depends on how durable and powerful it is.
However as this weapon was a growth item from the system, Alex hopefully wished that the system had something that could help him repair the weapon's durability.
After dealing with the last needle rabbit, Alex decided to look at his status as he wanted to know what's his progress was.
[Status]
Name: Alex Uchiha
Race: High Human
Level: 1
Abilities:
Strength: B- 725> SS- 1075
Endurance: B- 708> S- 999
Dexterity: A- 845> SS- 1090
Agility: A- 873> SS- 1095
Magic: S- 963> SSS- 1450
•~~~•
His stats were already monstrous. He could easily take on level 2 adventurers even without any of his skills and magic. More importantly, he had just become an adventurer some weeks ago. With this unparalleled growth, Alex knew that his growth could cause some ruckus in Orario.
After looking at his status, Alex efficiently managed to cross both eighth and ninth floor and reached the more special floor. The reason why this floor is unique is that the environment is foggy.
The 10th-12th Floors keeps the same structure as the 8th-9th Floors, however the light from above becomes reminiscent of morning mist. The mist on the 12th Floor becomes much thicker than on the 10th and 11th Floors. Large category monsters such as Orcs and Infant Dragons begin to appear on these floors. These floors are also where monsters use landforms such as trees as weapons are seen for the first time.
The 11th and 12th Floors are extremely dangerous for Level 1 adventurers because stronger monsters like Silverbacks and Hard Armoreds appear here. Infant Dragons that are categorized as Level 2 and considered as floor boss of the area also appear though rarely. It's recommended for Level 1 adventurers to have status of at least B in their basic abilities to explore these floors. Parties that explore these floors are normally the ones preparing to venture into the middle floors for the first time.
As Alex was wondering around the tenth floor, he found it strange that no monster had spawned around him. For him who always encountered monster party as soon as he arrived on a floor, facing several monsters had become the norm.
Looking around, Alex found an adventurer through the mist who was casually walking without batting an eye to his surrounding. As this was the first time he encountered someone in the dungeon, Alex activated his sharingan to see through the mist.
With his sharingan, the mist that was previously blocking his sight, was cleared allowing to see the 10th floor clearly. Staring at the adventurer who was walking leisurely, Alex decided to observe.
The man was tall and a heavily muscular Boaz with rust-colored hair and eyes along with a pair of boar ears. He wears a dark blue sleeveless top with a red pectoral part with a collar like part, grey pants, and brown and gray shoes.
Seeing the face of the adventurer, Alex immediately recognized him. As someone who had lived in Orario for years, just like the famous Sword Princess, it was impossible for him to not recognize the man.
"Ottar!"
Alex widened his eyes wondering why he was here. Ottar is one of the only two Level 7s in the world. He is the captain of the Freya Familia and is currently the only Level 7 in Orario. He was also recognized as the strongest adventurer in the entire Orario. It was also rumored that Ottar had maxed out all of his basic abilities before leveling up making him an untouchable existence in Orario.
"Should I try to fight him?"
Seeing that Ottar didn't even turn in his direction, Alex thought of testing himself of how he would be compared to the strongest in Orario.
This might be suicidal if he would enrage Ottar but Alex decided to take a risk. With a smirk, Alex throws 10 Assassin's Decree straight towards Ottar at an extreme speed.
"Oho, someone has the guts to ambush me."
Ottar nonchalantly muttered as he noticed the dagger that was rushing to him. With the knowledge he accumulated from all his battles, detecting the daggers weren't hard to do even it was an ambush.
With a swipe of his arm, Ottar easily deflected the daggers and he didn't even receive even the slightest scratch. Suddenly, a crimson flash appeared behind the dagger that was flown towards his back.
Instantly arriving behind Ottar, the dagger in his grasp resembled lightning as it struck out, speeding towards Ottar's back.
The sound of rapid flash and howling wind blended together, creating a mess of sounds that was hard for a person to distinguish.
Assassinate!
Alex wished that his dagger would pierce into his target's back. However, just like what he had expected, the Assasin's Decree shattered the moment it made contact with Ottar's neck.
[The durability of the Assassin's Decree (Uncommon) has been completely lost and is permanently destroyed.]
Ottar never expected his opponent to suddenly appear behind him. As a level 7, he should have noticed and reacted yet he couldn't which greatly surprised him.
With his arms, he swept outwards in his back in a wide slash.
"So fast!"
Alex muttered as he swiftly used [Flying Thunder God] as he dodged the strike and managed to reposition himself a meter behind Ottar where some of his daggers were laying.
"A level one had tried to attack me?"
Ottar mumbles with a slight confused expression looking at Alex. He didn't show any anger or irration but an intrigued expression.
"What gave you the courage to fight me?"
Ottar spoke casually not really expecting his attacker to reply. In his mind, Alex might be one of those adventurers who killed another adventurer to steal their belongings and simply didn't recognized him.
"It's naturally to know how weak I am compared to the strongest Orario."
Alex replied with a grin on his face as he held the Splitting Edge as he took a fighting stance which slightly surprised Ottar. Inwardly, Alex was greatly surprised earlier that not even his sharingan could catch Ottar's movement at all.
Even Ottar casually swung his arm, that speed totally escaped his vision but luckily, his instinct made him use [Flying Thunder God] just in time to avoid it or else, he might be laying dead on the ground.
"I'm surprised. Even you're just a level 1, I'm quite certain that you're faster than Allen."
Hearing the name, Alex knew who Allen is. He was recognized as the fastest of all Orario and an adventurer of the Freya Familia. Hearing Alex, Ottar became interested about the level one adventurer in front of him.
Even he was a level 7, he also recognizes and respects those who are strong or accomplish a great feat, as well as those who demonstrate great resolve to become stronger.
Seeing the determination of Alex, he wanted to see what this adventurer was capable of and wanted to know if he would become one of the true adventurers.
Weekly Power Status
-- Power
Ranking 
-- Power
stone