Chapter 29
In the Valdeon Saga, monsters are categorized in a unique way.
Long ago, before the appearance of human empires.
Back when dungeons were called ‘Demon Pits’, there existed the first colossal dungeon.
[Hell]
It was named ‘Hell’ because the grotesque monsters swarming inside looked exactly like what people imagined hell would be like.
Hell was divided into a total of six floors, and the deeper you went, the stronger the monsters that dwelled there became.
For instance, on the 1st floor, relatively weak monsters like goblins and slimes existed.
Whereas on the 3rd floor, orcs and gargoyles would appear, monsters so formidable that even a skilled warrior would struggle to handle them.
‘The grading standard from that time has continued to this day.’
Even now, when determining the danger level of monsters, they are categorized based on the floor they inhabited in Hell.
“If you want to enter Polaris, at the very least, you have to defeat a 3rd-floor-level monster.”
It’s still a spicy difficulty level, no matter how many tricks you have up your sleeve.
‘So, here’s the question.’
What would it take to be the top scorer among them?
To receive the best results?
“That’s obvious.”
I smiled while gripping the key tightly.
“You have to catch a 4th-floor-level monster, right?”
***
“Haaa~♥”
Karen let out a sweet sigh as she watched the screen.
She tapped her red lips with her finger, a faint smile forming.
“See? I knew there was a reason why I had my eyes on him.”
“…….”
Meanwhile.
The instructor, who was watching the scene with her, stood frozen, unable to utter a word.
‘What did I just witness?’
The instructor swallowed dryly, recalling the scene he had just seen.
The footage broadcasted live by the other instructors who were hiding for safety.
-Slice!
-Thud!
-Screech!
A one-sided slaughter.
Cutting down 3rd-floor-level monsters with a single stroke and running wild.
Even his attitude towards the admission tickets was like looking at a stack of flyers.
‘That was no longer an exam….’
Rather, it felt like Ran was the one testing them instead.
The professor hastily flipped through the documents to look up information on Ran.
There was nothing special.
The only record was that he had been left at an orphanage, which no longer exists now.
There was no noteworthy history after that.
‘Where did such a monster suddenly appear from!’
To be honest, I didn’t think he would pass.
A man wielding a sword?
Aren’t they inherently weak, delicate, and feeble beings?
The crude joke, ‘The only sword a man can wield is a kitchen knife,’ didn’t circulate for no reason.
But, this?
-‘Candidate #433 has just defeated another orc!’
-‘The number of admission tickets #433 has collected now exceeds eight!’
-‘Confirmed a crisis situation. Dispatching in… #433 has resolved it… No further action needed….’
What is he?
“I don’t get it. He only needs one admission ticket, so why is he collecting them so recklessly…?”
“Hmm~? You still haven’t realized?”
Karen chuckled softly.
“What that boy wants isn’t just to be admitted~.”
“…Professor, don’t tell me, you really intend to do it?!”
“I was originally going to abolish it, but I’ve changed my mind.”
And just then.
[Key of Pandemonium]
-‘…Found it!’
Ran grasped the key on the screen.
“Arin? Activate it.”
“Professor….”
“Aaah~ Stop nagging me~.”
A sinister flame of excitement ignited in Karen’s eyes.
A mix of curiosity and anticipation.
“Let’s open it. Pandemonium.”
It was madness.
***
As soon as I got my hands on the key, a faint vibration began.
Buzzzzzz…
By the way, this key also serves as a compass.
I concentrated on the key that was buzzing in my hand and wandered around the dungeon.
“It’s this way.”
The method is simple.
You just need to move in the direction where the vibration gets stronger.
Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz! Buzzz!
When I reached the spot where the vibration was the strongest, I saw a red, glowing pentagram on the floor.
‘It’s just like how it was in the game.’
Standing over it, I inserted the key into the centre.
The floor, which should have been solid, had a virtual groove that fit the key perfectly.
Click!
As I twisted the key, the sound of a mechanism activating echoed.
Rrrrrrr-!
The spot where the pentagram was located began to descend like an elevator.
Going down in a dungeon means you’re heading to an even more dangerous place.
Among them, the place I’m headed to now, ‘Pandemonium’ is—
‘A type of boss room.’
It’s a space where a powerful singular entity exists along with special rewards.
Unlike other areas, it requires special methods like this to access.
Thud!
The place I arrived at was the interior of a gigantic hall.
Rows of blue flames lined up like a temple on either side, and in the centre stood a massive throne.
“…….”
Sitting on the throne was a creature with the head of a bull and the body of a man.
Its eerie black eyes, bound tightly in chains, stared blankly in this direction.
A ‘Diamond’ treasure chest hung at its waist.
A 4th-floor-level monster.
Minotaur.
‘From the 4th floor onwards, it’s classified as the Deep Layers.’
The gap between the 4th floor and the next levels becomes much greater.
Even for those who can single-handedly take down 3rd-floor-level monsters, challenging a 4th-floor-level monster is not something they should do lightly.
“To include something like this in an exam.”
Karen really isn’t normal.
The only consolation is that it’s wrapped in [Chains of Demon Subjugation], leaving it in a semi-sealed state.
But even so, it’s still incomparably stronger than a 3rd-floor-level monster.
‘And there’s one more advantage.’
This is a trick I used in the game.
In this treasure hunt exam, that Minotaur is a type of hidden boss.
Because it’s extremely difficult to deal with, a slight mercy is granted.
‘Pre-emptive strike.’
The Minotaur won’t move unless the player attacks it first.
So, if you land a powerful blow at the beginning, you can start the battle with a relative advantage.
‘I’ve memorized its weaknesses and attack patterns to the point of exhaustion.’
So, let’s do it.
I can do it.
“Grrrrrr…!”
As I approached, its arm started trembling.
The battle axes in its hands coldly reflected the light of the flames.
If I land even a single strike, it will immediately break free from the chains and charge at me.
‘So, I’ll keep a bit of distance.’
I prepare for the attack.
The strongest technique I can currently manifest.
“Huuuu….”
Breathing deeply, I draw out the fragment of her soul latent within mine.
[Your latent power responds to your call.]
[Using 「Soul Bond: Ornica Feron」.]
The form of Ornica overlaps over my body.
Unlike before, Ornica’s figure felt more vivid.
‘Is it because I’ve become stronger?’
The larger the gap between the summoned soul and myself, the greater the strain caused by 「Soul Bond」.
Conversely, as that gap narrows, a more complete form of bonding becomes possible.
‘I’ve grown quite a bit in the meantime.’
With 「Sword Mastery」 and even the implementation of Qi Force,
I might have the fastest growth speed in this world.
Buzzzzz-!
The aura of 「Scarlet Moon Style」 enveloped my sword.
‘I’m getting greedy, aren’t I?’
Last time, it was powerful enough to briefly knock out even Marco.
If I pour out all the growth I’ve achieved now—
‘How strong will it be?’
Thump, thump!
My heart raced for no reason.
Barely suppressing my rising excitement, I wrapped the blade in a dense layer of Qi Force.
Swoooosh…
The steadfast blue energy coated the sword like a film.
“Ugh!”
Is it because I’m using too much power?
A wave of sharp pain surged through the arm holding the sword.
“I guess my physical growth is still insufficient…!”
It’s similar to when I first fought against Ornica.
My body can’t withstand this overwhelming talent.
I thought I’d narrowed the gap a bit, but—
‘That doesn’t mean I’m going to back out now.’
Coming this far and then retreating?
That would disqualify me as a man.
Crackle! Bzzzzt!
Swoooosh-!
The two forces mixed and clashed repeatedly.
The surrounding area trembled, and stone dust fell.
“Krraaaaah!”
The Minotaur’s eyes gleamed, and thick drool dripped from its mouth.
It looked like it wanted to smash me with its axes at any moment.
“Just hold on a little longer, you bastard.”
I’ll put you at ease soon enough.
Swoosh!
I got into position.
Then, I swung.
With that enormous power.
[Simultaneously using 「Scarlet Moon Style」 and 「Savage Claw Style」.]
[Skill, 『Moonlit Destruction: Extreme』 activated!]
A strike that cuts through and shatters the moon.
It’s a disciplined violence, embodying the will to leave nothing of the target at the sword’s tip.
Kwooooooo—!
It destroys everything as it advances.
It cleaves through the world as it charges forward.
All around, it turned red.
—Baaang!
The strike engulfed the Minotaur.
“Haa… Haa….”
My body felt completely drained of energy.
I expected this, but it’s a skill that far surpasses my current level.
My entire body trembled uncontrollably, and my vision flickered black.
[Ending the use of 「Soul Bond: Ornica Feron」.]
[This skill cannot be used again for a while.]
‘Damn… this is bad.’
To make things worse, 「Soul Bond」 had also ended.
It’s because I overused 「Scarlet Moon Style」 in a single burst.
‘The real fight starts now…!’
After being struck by the initial attack, the Minotaur will begin to move in earnest.
But with my body in this state, I won’t even be able to avoid its attacks, let alone fight it.
“Did I push myself too hard…?”
As a bitter taste spread in my mouth,
Fwoosh…
The dust settled in front, revealing the Minotaur’s figure.
“…Huh?”
In a form completely different from what I expected.
“Why is that bastard dead…?”
It was lying there, still bound in chains, chopped into pieces.
Its extended tongue, blood and organs gushing out from the severed cross-section, and the faintly connected neck.
It wasn’t pretending to be dead or anything like that.
It was definitively dead.
Without even letting out a dying scream.
“Well, uh.”
I hadn’t anticipated this.
I scratched my neck and spoke to Karen, who must be watching from somewhere.
“Is it supposed to go down in one hit?”
—
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