*dingg!*
+
♤Notice!♤
You entered the 'Dearby's Territory' !
Your 'Stamina' will temporarily increase by 10.
'Stamina' will return back to normal after clearing the 0th floor.
+
That's right. The book didn't go into detail on how they cleared the 0th level; instead, it focused on the knights' hard work and emotions after entering the dungeon. It's because this Dungeon is the location for the prologue chapter of the tale.
After entering the dungeon, the system instantly emerged in front of me; at first, the warp-like entrance seemed scary, and we felt a little dizzy; the next thing we knew, we were already here, and we couldn't find the entrance we came in from. Such an unskilled leader as the Crown Prince's strategy can never succeed here. After recalling the "meeting" earlier, I was about to facepalm, because he doesn't have plan B... What if his plan fails? Tch.
The prince was referring to five stories from the top and floors that extend to the depth of the underground floors. However, this center floor is also known as the 0th floor, there are blood splatters on the floor and on the walls.
*dingg!*
*dingg!*
+
♤WARNING!♤
Warning! Killing intent detected.
0th Floor is a domain of 'Arcantrophe' who was once considered as the [Lack of Authority], but was eventually punished by [Lack of Authority] after she challenged the God of Wisdom herself.
+
♤Notice!♤
Defeat all 'Arcantrophe's Minions' 0/20
0th Floor Reward: [???]
Next Floor: 1st floor or -1st floor
+
"Halt." The knights stopped.
'What's up with this information? I could hardly understand since I lacked authority… What level of authority is required? haaa...'
I have no idea who or what an Arcantrophe is, but I believe I understand the gist of it. If she was punished by the God of Wisdom for challenging that God, then I guess it's reasonable to say she's both clever and foolish.
On the floor, there are odd signs and markings. Was it all a trap? I picked up a pebble and tossed it at the sign, but it had no effect. Perhaps something a little more large? I asked Efren to pick up a stone the size of my head and hurled it with power, then just like the trap I know from some fantasy stories, arrows emerged out of nowhere and shot the stone. Hah! It's just too obvious... My lips curled into victory grins.
But then I realized. If an adventurer was victimized by this trap then where's the body? There's no bone either.
*click* *click* *click* *click*
"What's that sound?" Selek alarmingly asked.
Then a swarm of enormous spiders descended from above, completely surrounding us. As we saw how the creatures moved, my Knights had a concerned look. It has eight large eyes, long and slender legs, is hairy, and has a large red spot on its back.
I took a big gulp. Aside from the human-looking Vampire, this is my first encounter with a monster. This kind is far more disgusting than I had anticipated. After seeing the sticky greenish stuff streaming from its mouth, I felt sick. But... this is not the time to examine the filthy area.
I drew my sword, and the same goes for my knights. I was the first to strike but I slipped and lightly wounded the spider but the big spider was easily cut, it was like…
'Tearing a paper- What?'
I blinked twice to check if I saw it right.
Drio and Efren were the next to strike it with their swords, while Selek helped me in getting up. Drio and Efren seem to be at a disadvantage after attempting to kill it by force, while I witness the struggle.
Drio was stabbed in the waist by the spider's long, pointed leg. While Efren used his massive shield to deflect the spider's silk thread's impending attack.
'By being clumsy, I had a chance to murder one... Couldn't they at least murder one by cooperating?'
Selek took a rock to try to attract the spider's attention away from Drio, who was now injured. As soon as he flung it at the spider, the spider collapsed as if it had been hit by a boulder.
We were dumbfounded by what we just witnessed… I get it.
"Wait." They were about to attack when I intervened. "Something's not right here." I sheathed my blade and tried to punch one of the spiders, but it died just as I had predicted.
Haaa… I had a feeling something wasn't right, but to die like that? This 0th floor has been cleared in my opinion.
"Wow, Milady, you're a strong person!" Selek exclaimed with glee.
'Wrong.'
I didn't even use my normal strength to hit it... I threw the weakest punch I could muster.
"Selek, no. Try striking one with all of your might." I ordered. He obeyed my command and did his best to slice the spider, but it didn't die. Instead, it became enraged and attacked Selek with two times his power; however, Efren quickly snatched Selek out of the way, and the wall took the impact in his place. The wall was completely crushed.
"Holy shi-!" Selek's eyes widened as he realized what had happened to the wall.
"…See?" I scratched my chin and smirked.
By observing the situation. What we saw is exactly the explanation of this floor's rule.
"Attack it with a weaker attack and it will die; strike it with a greater attack and it will attack you twice as hard. The greatest option for us is to softly hit it." I stated with a smirk.
I tapped the spider's leg that had almost killed Selek, and it died as predicted. The issue has been resolved. After the demonstration, Selek and Efren were surprised, but only Drio chuckled because of their reaction. Hahaha~
*dingg!*
+
♤Notice!♤
Defeat all 'Arcantrophe's Minions' 20/20
'Stamina' will return to normal.
---
0th Floor Rewards:
- Permanent increase of 'Intelligence' by 10.
- Permanent Increase of 'Wisdom' by 5.
- 20 bottles of Arcantrophe's Liquor
+
Following the defeat of all enemies, 20 bottles carrying green liquid appeared beneath the bodies of the monsters. Liquor? What is the significance of the color green? My thoughts raced back to the nasty green liquid dripping from the spiders' mouth. Yuck. Thank you, but no thanks.
After picking all 20 bottles with Drio, Selek said, "We have the loot, Milady!"
"Nah. Those are yours to keep; I'm fine without them."
Then a large rectangular stone with inscriptions rose from the ground. Like when the system asks me a question.
-----
Which floor do you want to proceed on?
<1st floor> <-1st floor>
-----
We passed the 0th floor easily. After what we experienced on the 0th floor, I think I should follow the simpleton rules of this dungeon. I stared at the choices.
'…The Raid Team will choose the underground floors. And the book also followed the underground floors… What about the top floors? What's on the top floor… is still unknown from everyone, even from me. I have a brief knowledge of what the underground floors monsters and trials are, and it's all about strength and teamwork that's why many people died when they first entered the underground floors. Should I risk it? We're only four in total- We can't.'
I pressed the <1st floor>.
"Why would we select top floors, Milady?" Drio was the one who asked.
"Drop the milady; I'm posing as a man, not a lady." I made a sarcastic comment, "After finishing the 0th floor, most people would naturally move below, but I like to stay on the upper floors. Even with teamwork, we won't be able to clear the underground floor with our numbers."
'What I mean is... As soon as we get there, I'm going to die. - The first level is filthy, and it appears like a battalion is required to clean it up, as long as they're careful.'
"Stats." I whispered.
*dingg!*
+
♤Character Status♤
Name : Tania Roa Cavelier
Age : 17
Gender : Female
Title :
Job :
Family : Cavelier Family
Status :
Level : 27
Next Lvl. : 92.13%
⌸• Stats •⌸
Health : 65/65
Agility : 48
Stamina : 140/140
Intelligence : 120
Magic : -895
Wisdom : 52
Power : 64
Luck : 50
---
Authority gauge : 24%
Fame Points : 150
Gem Points : 39
Money 9778 G : 9864 S : 996 C
(Gold : Silver : Copper)
+
I'm exactly at Lvl. 27 and on the verge of leveling up by 8.87 %. Can I make it with these stats? In comparison to the three knights' levels, I'm just a fly. If I can't handle the opponent, I'll just hide behind them; after all, that's why they're here with me, right?
*dingg!*
*dingg!*
*dingg!*
+
♤Character Status♤
Name : Drionard Walrusea
Age : 21
Gender : Male
Title :
Job :
Family : Walrusea Family (affiliated to Cavelier House as Knight)
Status :
Level : 51
Next Lvl. : 3.132%
⌸• Stats •⌸
Health : 130/160
Magic : 54
Stamina: 129/150
Power : 93
Agility : 130
Intelligence : 90
Wisdom : 50
Luck 37
---
Short description:
Youngest among the Cavelier Family Knights and talented if given a proper and strict training because he tends to laze around sometimes if given an opportunity. He was assigned as Lady Tania's escort by the Lord. He relies on his strength when fighting. Drio is the type of knight who's shy and childish.
+
♤Character Status♤
Name : Selek Leví
Age : 28
Gender : Male
Title :
Job :
Family : Leví Family (affiliated to Cavelier House as Knight)
Status :
Level : 67 Next Lvl. : 76.12%
⌸• Stats •⌸
Health : 230/230
Magic : 60
Stamina : 170/170
Power : 210
Agility : 65
Intelligence : 90
Wisdom : 46
Luck : 68
---
Description:
A bit cocky and frank with his words, he is the type of man who says what he feels like to say, an extremely honest knight who you can't tell your secrets since he tends to point out everything, including your mistakes and flaws - even in public. He is also a blabber-mouth. Despite that, he can be considered as the most loyal and honest man who is currently alive.
+
♤Character Status♤
Name : Efren Dawson
Age : 30
Gender : Male
Title :
Job :
Family : Dawson Family (affiliated to Cavelier House as Knight)
Status :
Level : 80
Next Lvl. : 67.31%
⌸• Stats •⌸
Health : 310/330
Magic : 80
Stamina : 240/250
Power : 320
Agility : 89
Intelligence: 52
Wisdom : 56
Luck : 45
---
Short description:
Efren is your usual uptight but almost perfect knight who devotes his life to someone he swore his knight's oath to. He is a proud knight of Cavelier who followed every order he was given by Marquess Trastius and Tania.
+
Yep, I am a fly compared to them. I've got a long way to go. The scenery greeted us as we ascended to the first floor. The system appeared in the same manner as before.
*dingg!*
+
♤WARNING!♤
Killing intent detected. It's on observed mode.
1st Floor is the domain of [Lack of Authority], the fox who was the enemy of [Lack of Authority], the snake. Groups of [Lack of Authority] are everywhere and they eat every living thing. Solve the game of [Lack of Authority], the King of Cunningness and open the door.
+
♤Notice!♤
Defeat 'Kruma' 0/1
Defeat 'Sritra' 0/1
Retrieve the 'keys' 0/3
Open the 'door' 0/1
---
1st Floor Reward: [???]
Next Floor: 2nd floor
+
[Lack of Authority] strikes again... Never mind, haaa... I heard someone say something as I pounded the panel.
"As many would expect from a dungeon..." Selek chuckled as he examined the scene—it appears to be a real forest with a blue sky.
"Why? What exactly is it?" I inquired, my curiosity piqued. This is my first time raiding a dungeon with the rest of the group. They've had similar experiences when they've been dispatched to other kingdoms to help... When I was watching Snow Right, she was held up in a dungeon-like underground passage with numerous crocodiles guarding her, which I recall called a "dungeon". It was when she was caught by her evil stepmother, but managed to flee with the assistance of her dwarf friends.
"Every floor has its own unique setting, such as the ocean, forest, volcanoes, or desert. Furthermore, monsters or demons or guardian beasts protect every floor or treasures on each floor. Those spiders are protecting the floors for the top and underground, same like the ones we saw on the 0th floor." Selek elaborated. "After we enter the next floor, every beast will respawn, therefore I'm guessing the spiders we just killed have already respawned. It's more than likely that the following group will struggle to clear the floor just like we did, unless they have smart people like you, Master."
There is an arrogant smirk on his face. Just like how he was described. Drio has always been the type of knight who was shy and childish. While Efren is your usual uptight but almost perfect knight who devotes his life to anyone he swore upon his knight's oath, just like how they did earlier.
"Alright, just like before, we're going to finish this floor in a jiffy." I proudly said. "Make your senses sharper than ever, we can't afford to fall into a trap carelessly."
-*-
The grass is about my waist high, the trees are overgrown and tall, and the soil is moist. It's as if this is a place for giants or titans, and we're near a pond.
"Wait... Giants?" I had a sudden realization: forest and giants. "Could someone please lift me up?" As I asked the three, they all offered to help. However, I choose Efren since he is the tallest.
To get a better view, I sat on his shoulder, and there... I saw crimson ants the height of my shoulders with scorpion tails. I observed three eyed frogs around Efren's height while on the pond, which I found nasty. Eerp…! I spotted a terrifying sleeping huge ash-grey fox with nine tails and three eyes from afar. I recalled Naruto's fox from the anime. Overall, they are the only monsters within my visual range.
I'm sure there's a monster out there that I haven't identified yet. I'm also interested about the creature that stood still, watching our every move. What a cunning bastard
"It's Giants, Just as I thought. Those monsters must be avoided at all costs." "I'll guide you," I stated firmly. "Just follow the path I tell you."
While being carried, I directed everyone to a safe path away from the pond and patrolling ants. Selek and Drio are trailing us, keeping an eye from the sides and rear for us.
When I saw one of the ants from the left, I told them to go to the right. "Walk quietly, I believe these huge ants have excellent hearing senses" There were bright red letters over each of the ants' heads...
Fuck. Those levels are beyond my expectations. For sure, I couldn't even scratch it's thick shell once we fought. These monsters are the only ones that are moving in groups, so this might be the Living Thing Earters that were mentioned in the description.
They took it slow and steady till we reached a big tree about 10 meters distant from the sleeping fox. This appears to be one of the targets to be slain. I jumped down from Efren's shoulders, drew my sword, and approached the sleeping fox with caution, as did the others.
Above its head were glowing letters just like the others…
The sleeping fox's breathing seemed odd, as if it was weary. I made a noise in the grass in the hopes of waking it up, but it didn't.
"Why are you waking it up, Master? It is preferable to kill it when it is sleeping." I didn't respond to Efren's suggestion. Rather, I grabbed a rock and threw it at the sleeping fox.
*moanes* *whimpers*
"It's not sleeping, and it appears to be in pain." I pointed it out.
*hisses* *hisses*
Snake!