( Showing Stats >>> ... )
Level: 45
Health: 1375
Stamina: 892
Strength: 512
Magic: 563
Physical Defense: 157+19.5
Magic Resist: 139+19.5
Skills: DragonClaw(Lv4) FireBall(Lv4) SwordStrike(Lv3) Heal(Lv1) FireBullets(1)
Passive Skills: DraconicScales(Lv3) DraconicAura(Lv5) VoidSpace(Lv1)
Zero looks at his [Stats] with a satisfied smile forming on his face. Undeniably, he was able to raise it unlike when he does his grinding outside - that is, having almost unlimited amount of monsters to gain XPs with. And on the 20th floor, he was already able to defeat hundreds of monsters, together with Will who has also already defeated many enemies herself, even furthering her level beyond Zero.
[ Zero... How about we take a rest? ] taking a rather seemingly exhausted breath, Will asks him.
An hour had already passed as they first went to the first floor, with Will clearing almost all the monsters from the first to the 10th floor without any kind of rest whatsoever, she was bound to tire in exhaustion. And so, with consideration, Zero agrees to take a rest with her - with Zear still continuing collecting the mana crystals that were on the ground as if it was its only job.
On the 20th floor, they rest beside the grey walls, lacking color. In this floor, there is a lot of moss and unknown kind of plants that are growing, feeding on the color of the ground and walls itself. And like any other floors, the room itself provides dim illumination for both the monsters and people to see.
As it turns out, the floors in this dungeon have different vegetations based on what monsters live in each one of them - in which monsters that live here are insect-type monsters that are tolerant of starvation; mainly Bladeflies, Darklocusts, Spinemantis, and others that rely on their accumulated exoskeletons, monsters who only eat when they have preys to latch on - also when needed, eats the plants that exist to satisfy their need to grow, as everything that grows in the dungeon is made of mana.
[ So this is what it's like inside the dungeon, huh? I really can't believe we're inside it... It actually feels as if we're still outside. ]
To the vastness of the dungeon, one would have a hard time trying to differentiate each floor from the outside world. This is Will's first time going inside one, and it baffles her to see how fascinating and dangerous each floor was.
And it was like the dungeon is creating a mirage to separate each floor - that even when they already passes a floor, they felt as if they're still on the same one; with no stares to climb up to advance on the upper floors, they rely on the unreliable dull, outlining road that doesn't tell them if they already skipped a floor or if they are on the same one. That was why there is always the lingering feeling that they will lose their tracks if they go any further ahead.
[ Did you know, the record for the highest floor that was reached by an adventurer was floor 130? ] she shares her knowledge as if she was proud to know about it. Hearing it, Zero was not that really amazed like her. As that kind of feat is nothing but a day of an all-nighter to complete with his previous self.
But still, in the back of his mind, he respected the people who accomplished it, as in his current state, he will not be able to do what they had achieved.
In AAO, a mid-level dungeon has 200 floors, and 300 for the high-level. Back then, he can easily conquer any dungeon without a party, but for his level right now, he will need at least a party of three people with the same level as him to past floor 50, where supposed bosses start appearing.
And as he experiences the dungeon of this world itself, he realized that it was nothing like any he had conquered before. Just reaching this far is already a journey. He can't imagine himself completing it without a party of his own. Definitely, he will need to assemble one if he wants to complete it as soon and as effectively as possible.
[ Say, how about we beat that record? ]
[ Huh? ] he turns his head to Will who said something ridiculous.
[ We're both strong so with the both of us, it won't be long before we pass it, right? ]
[ It's not implausible but... Yes, I think we'll be able to. ]
Perhaps a year or two, he will be able to reach Lvl.200, which is the minimum for mid-level dungeons, and if Will is as strong as he by then, then they really be able to past that record.
[ Right? Haah... This is much exciting than fighting off bandits and tribes of monsters outside the city. ]
[ Is that really? ]
[ Of course. If we defeat the end of this dungeon, we will be able to accomplish something no man had ever accomplish before! We'll be more famous than any warrior or hero! Hey, Zero, say... What are you trying to gain from here? ] suddenly, her enthusiastic manner turns serious as she asks the question. Leaving Zero baffled on the sudden change of her attitude.
It was then that he realized the story Alex had told him about Will in the past.
Like Alex, Will grew from a noble family which served as knights for the royal family for generations. But also unlike Alex, Will was surrounded by a bunch of brothers that practically forced her to become one. Before, she was just a sheltered small girl, but once she became involved with her family, especially her brothers, she was forced to turn to a different person.
Alex mentioned that she never really liked being a knight. In a sense, she was more of a heroine than the hero herself. And the fact was - the only part of being a knight that she has an aspiration for was to protect Alex, the person who was more suitable for what she had become.
[ I just want to become stronger. ]
Unlike himself, Will doesn't have a reason to be here. Maybe that's why she's trying to involve herself into him - to have something she truly wishes to gain, the same as him. And remembering what had become of their previous deal - it was null and void. The other knights did not allow her to become his slave, but then as an exchange, she became fascinated with him, the person who had dominated her, and the person she had exchanged joy with, now leading to their current situation.
[ Ohho~? So that's your reason, huh? That's lame... ] there was a large smug on her face as she looks down on him, breaking the icy atmosphere in the process.
[ But... it's great to have a goal, right? ] she smiles as she came with a comeback.
[ Well, I guess so... ]
( But... It's not like I really wanted to make my self stronger... I'm practically also being forced to become one for the sake of the future... ) he was reminiscent of the reason why he was sent to this world in the first place. Probably a task that shoulders him a boulder behind his back.
The fate of this world will rely on his result. And meeting and bonding with the people in this world, he now most likely wants to save it.
[ Well, it's better than having to achieve nothing. ] he also smiled back to Will.
[ Hehe... You know, I really like you, Zero. ] scratching her cheeks as she blushes, she said with a laugh, causing Zero to take her words as a joke.
[ Umm... Right, back in the company... I'm really sorry I treated you that way... I just really thought that you were a fraud who's trying to gain Alex's favor. ]
[ Don't worry, Alex already apologized for it herself. ]
'In fact, she told me everything about you' - he wanted to add but he knows that she will have a shocked reaction to it.
[ I-is that so...? ] again, she blushes as she continues to scratch her cheek - which seems to be a habit of hers.
[ Hey, Zero - ] with a huge smile on her face, she turns to Zero, eager to say something, but then she was stopped by a loud shout from the other side of the floor.
[ That's...! ]
Soon, the shout turns to cries of help, following the sound of desperation.
With the echoing sound of terror, they both stood up and responded. And seeing his master standing up, Zear again went to Zero's shoulder with a delighted sound.
[ Zero! ] Will turns to him without a word other than his name. And knowing what she meant, he nodded.