Chapter 92
We made it through the hundreds of steps connecting the long stairway between floors.
Twenty-second floor. We've finally arrived.
The dark fortress-like corridor we'd been walking through since the tenth floor has now shifted to one built from what looks like white brick. This place gives off a holy vibe. If this were a game, it would definitely be a light-element dungeon. And surely, enemies with wings and holy attributes would appear.
Oh, we've already spotted a monster.
But instead of a winged angel-type enemy, it's the same old Dungeon Dachshund.
It's seriously huge.
But hey, I've gotten stronger too.
"ATK 10,000, get obliterated—Calibur."
I snap my fingers to test just how strong I've become.
——Snap
A massive explosion erupts, and the Dungeon Dachshund ascends to heaven——
"Grrr rrr!!"
"Wait, it didn't?!"
The dachshund is enraged.
Swinging its long body and short legs with all its might, it charges in using Super armor, unfazed by the blast, and tries to bite off my head.
As usual, I use my semi-regular skill, the yakuza-style kick, to blow away its snout and put some distance between us. I wonder if this kick will officially become a skill soon.
"Calibur."
Alright, another ATK 10,000 boom.
Charred remains—confirmed.
"Grrr rrr!"
Wait, it's still alive!!?
No way—that thing on the twenty-first floor only had around 7,400 HP!
As it tries to charge again, I punch it away and follow up with another ATK 10,000. This time, since it's right in front of me, I launch the destructive energy forward like a slash so I don't get caught in the explosion. And finally, the Dungeon Dachshund turns to charred remains.
That was tough.
"Chii chii chii."
"Gii."
"Yeah, that strength is nothing to underestimate. I see—just like how the dungeon's appearance changed to white, the monsters' levels must have spiked too."
Still, I'm not too worried. If I blast them with a fixed 30,000 attack, it's over.
And it hits 100% of the time... yeah, 100%...
"Chii?"
"Gii......"
Getting dodged by Shirokko still stings a bit.
Honestly, I kind of thought I was already the strongest.
But that was completely wrong. I wasn't the strongest at all.
Shirokko's overwhelming strength.
If Shimaenaga-san hadn't been cute, and the Daily Mission hadn't given me a chance at payback, that would've been the end for me. I was spared.
"Chii chii chii."
"Gii."
"Don't worry, I'll protect you."
To protect what's important, I have to become even stronger.
First, I need to improve my finger snap accuracy.
Sharpen my senses, find the target, and hit it without fail.
Monster spotted already.
"Calibur."
ATK 30,000 flares into a fiery blast.
But the dachshund is still alive.
I finish it off with another Calibur to erase its remaining HP, and the battle ends.
I've realized two things.
First, if I aim manually, it seems I can turn off the auto-aim—or auto-targeting, I guess (they're basically the same thing).
Second, until now, whenever I picked an ATK value, it hit and dealt the expected damage, but unless it's a clean hit, the ideal DMG doesn't get calculated.
"Man, I've really been relying on skills to fight, huh..."
There's a lot to learn.
Shirokko must be that strong because he's built up all this technical precision too. If I don't train properly, the next time I'm in a crisis, I'll make the same mistake again. And that would just... really suck.
——One hour later
"Chii chii chii!"
"Hm? What is it, Shimaenaga-san?"
While I was practicing my aim and turning adorable dachshunds into charred remains, Shimaenaga-san suddenly flew off ahead.
Did it find something?
I ran to follow—and then I stopped in my tracks.
"What is this..."
Up until now, the corridor had been a civilized stone structure, but now, as if a giant had hacked it with a massive cleaver, it abruptly ends in utter darkness. In short, the corridor just cuts off, and an enormous void opens up.
I can't see the bottom.
Just how deep is it...?
I feel like I'd die if I fell.
"Gii."
"Gii-san, is that...?"
Gii-san found writing in red on the edge of the collapsed corridor.
I instinctively want to look away, but I stare straight at it (Steel Spirit).
"Gii (Translation: This is human blood.)"
A terrifying message written in blood—'Do Not Descend. Metal Gyle.'
"Do not descend... Metal is there...?"
"Chii......"
"Gii......"
We immediately jumped into the hole.