When I opened my eyes, a grand tower that reaches out to the clouds lies before me.
I was so happy that I laughed out loudly.
The tower was protected by magic barriers under Lucean's power.
Legends say there is an elixir that could bring back the dead on the 100th floor. However, the tower had not been opened by anyone for the last 3000 years due to the records about the tower was erased from history. Even the location of the tower was completely forgotten.
In the past, many strong adventurer parties reached this place. There was even a military expedition by a certain empire looking for the elixir.
It is said that the 100th floor was in another dimension. No one can confirmed it as none of those who entered the tower ever came back or erased by time.
I pushed the huge door and entered the tower. As soon as I walked past the door, there was a loud sound behind me. When I turned around in surprise, the door that supposed to be there was gone.
I calmed myself as lowering my guard inside a dungeon could lead to death. I drank an ear-potion and drew my sword.
Thump, thump.
With my enchanted hearing, I could heard movement from 100m away.
I rushed forward as soon as I heard it. Soon, I could see a group of purple jelly-like monsters. It was a group of 5 abyss slimes.
"Die and be my experiences!"
I shouted excitedly.
Although slime is weak, it can regenerates itself as long as it's core is not destroyed.
Abyssal monsters are stronger than regular monsters, but thanks to the seal that Lucean put, their strength depends on the floor where they reside.
So, no matter how powerful abyssal monsters are, on the 1st the floor they are all at level 1.
In the game, regular level 1 slime only give 42 exp, but a level 1 abyss slime give 126 exp. They might be stronger, but they give more exp when defeated.
This is one of the advantage of this premium dungeon. The tower only has abyssal monsters, but the monster level was tied to the floor level and give 3x the experiences. Only the boss monsters was not affected by level restriction. The boss is 5 levels higher than the floor, in exchange they give more rewards.
For examples, the boss at the 5th floor is level 10, the boss at the 10th floor ie level 15 and so on.
I don't know whether exp and level exist in this world, but I know fighting countless battles will definitely makes me stronger.
"Kiik, kiiik!"
"Kiiiiii!"
As soon as they realized they were being seen, the slimes started jumping around.
I rushed at them and slashed the nearest one. I could feel my sword cutting water at first, then it hit something hard and then slime exploded.
Slime juice splattered all over. I step back quickly, barely evading it.
One of the remaining slimes shot out an acid attack while the rest pounched at me.
I channeled mana into my sword and slashed at them. The crescent shaped wind made by mana cut them into pieces easily.
It was a skill I learned in desperation after being beaten by Ash a few times. I named it "Crescent Slash".
It's weird how I didn't feel anything after killing the slimes.
Tsk.
There is a difference between game and reality. In the game, once the battle is over, battle results will appear and I can see the exp rewards and item drops instantly, but in reality I can't see such a thing.
How should I collect the item drops? put all these juices inside a bottle? it looks disgusting though.
In the end, I didn't took anything. I swung my sword to get rid the slime juice stuck on it and walked away.
∆ ∆ ∆
I went through several trial battles to judge the monsters strength and see whether the dungeon restrictions works or not. After knowing that it worked, I started hunting them proactively.
Meet slimes killing slimes, meet goblins killing goblins.
It felt nauseating killing goblins compared to the time I killed slimes. Maybe because the smells of blood, meat and guts is stronger.
The moment I cut the goblins body I could sense the blade cutting their meat and bones. The subtle hard sensation that is totally different from the soft sensation I felt when I cut the slimes.
It's been 6 hours since I entered the ＜Abyss of the Clouds Tower＞. During this time, I get used to the sensation of cutting meat and the fishy smells of blood and guts. I'm not good with gore, so I tried my best killing them as clean as possible by beheading them in one hit or stabbing their heart.
Clearing the dungeon in the shortest time possible. Killing every monsters. Opening all treasure chests. Not using any healing magic or potions. I used to do these things to have fun in the game, but now I just want to improve my proficiency while killing the enemy cleanly.
Anyway, hunting monsters for 6 hours in game might be boring but it's not tiring. On the other, 6 hours exploring dungeon in reality is so damn tiring both physically and mentally.
For now, let's aim clearing one floor a day. After deciding so, I took out some branches that I collected back in the forest and cooking utensils.
After making a bonfire, I made a simple meal. Counting the time, it's been around 14 hours since I entered ＜Forest of Spirits＞.
I'm going to sleep for 6 hours a day, resting for 3 hours, and use the remaining 15 hours exploring the dungeon.
After making the plan, I put a monster repellant and sleep.
....
The bonfire was already extinguished when I woke up. Even the charcoal felt cold. It must have been extinguished for a while.
I drank water to moisturize my throat and then cleaned up the place.
Thinking back, exploring dungeon is not that great. You can't let your guard even when resting, provisions is limited to only what you bring. More importantly, the freaking toilet.
I could do the small one anywhere as a guy, but the big one is troublesome.
The emergency toilet that bring with me is hardly any use.
Remembering about it just annoys me. And so, I decided to kill some monsters to releases my frustration.
After wandering around for some time, I finally found some slimes.
"I choose you!"
The slimes were alerted and jiggles around. Three acid shots were targeting me, but I avoids it easily.
"Is that all you got?"
I raises my middle fingers at the slimes.
Whether they understand me or not doesn't matter.
One of the slimes let out a 'kiiii' sound. I somehow knew it got mad.
Then, it bites one of the slimes and absorbed it. It's body became bigger. It pounched on the remaining slimes and ate them.
"Damn!"
I was shocked by that sight. The slime became bigger after absorbing them.
"Kiiiiii!"
It shot out a huge acid ball. I jumped sideway unconsciously. The ground where the acid ball hit emitted a horriric sound..
"You bastard"
It was faster and stronger than before. I let out a bitter smile and felt frustrated. If I knew it would evolve into General Slime, I should have killed them earlier.
"Kiiii!"
It bounced it's body and charged at me. I ready my stance and pointed my sword while channeling my mana.
As soon as it entered my range, I leaped forward and thursted.
A huge hole was made on its body. Some of its juices splashed at me.
Tsk.
I clicked my tongue and turned back. The hole was slowly regenerating. Seeing this, I channels my mana and sent crescent slash a few times.
The General Slime has 2 cores, and as long as one of the cores is still intact, it will regenerate the other core. This is a troublesome enemy if it was on the same level.
After confirming it was dead, I slapped my face with both hands. This accident reminds me to never let my guard down and not to be arrogant inside the dungeon where accident could happen anytime.
If this happened at higher floor, there is a high chance I will die due to my carelessness. From now on, I will kill every monsters as soon as I see them. They can't kill me if I kill them first.