Swoosh!
Two hours had passed since Yuichi had made up his mind to level up and become stronger.
As he was in the middle of leveling up, a bat suddenly flew towards him with great speed, attempting to attack him. Yuichi's face broke into a confident smile as he swiftly dodged the bat's attack. With determination in his eyes, he readied his broken sword and struck the bat, bringing it down triumphantly.
[You have slain 1 Luminance Bat]
[You have earned Solo EXP 128]
[EXP Progression [32/4200]
After defeating the Luminance Bat moments ago, another one suddenly appeared and attacked Yuichi. Reacting quickly, Yuichi sensed the approaching bat and swung his damaged sword through the air with precision, successfully killing the bat.
[You have slain 1 Luminance Bat]
[You have earned Solo EXP 128]
[EXP Progression [160/4200]
And then another opponent quickly approached from the side, attempting to catch Yuichi off guard. However, just like the previous attacker, Yuichi skillfully avoided the attack. He then unleashed his skill, [Wind Gale], creating a strong gust of wind that sent the bat spinning out of control and crashing into the ground. With precise timing, Yuichi swiftly sliced through the bat, defeating his opponent decisively.
[You have slain 1 Luminance Bat]
[You have earned Solo EXP 128]
[EXP Progression [288/4200]
Yuichi faced a repetitive cycle where a Luminance Bat appeared every seven minutes.
In the process, he had already defeated 16 of these monsters continuously. The intense combat had taken a toll on his sword, which now showed a significant crack along its blade. Aware that the sword could break at any moment, Yuichi took a moment to examine it closely using the System.
[Level up+]
[Current Level: 7]
[Broken Dull Sword - Durability [2/50]
[Attention: Your current weapon needs maintenance! Please repair it or get a new weapon to maintain your safety]
'I'm almost done breaking this sword with a few more swings. After that, I'll need to find a new one. Maybe I can search for the remains of other adventurers nearby and hopefully find a spare sword among their belongings. Although it might be kinda disrespectful, I just don't have a choice.' Yuichi takes a brief moment to calm his mind and then checks his current status.
'Status'
[Status: Yuichi Hanateru♂]
Human [17]
Level 7 [Class Unspecified]
EXP: [288/4200]
Titles: [Aric's Descendants]
Attributes: Wind [Beginner]
MANA: 160
HP: 220
STR: 22
AGI: 17
DEF: 18
INT: 16
DEX: 5
Skill Points: [12]
Skill: [Wind Gale Level 1] [Sword Mastery Level 1]
Passive: [Mystical Eye, Constant Hybrid Regeneration, Spatial Instinct]
'I want to improve my skills to make them stronger. If I level up my Wind Gale ability, it might become more powerful. This way, I can use it in different ways, especially when I don't have a sword and I can use my fist.'
He then began spending Skill Points to upgrade his Skill [Wind Gale].
[Upgrade Successful!]
[Your skill [Wind Gale Level 1] has leveled up to Level 5!]
[Skill Points remaining: 2]
'Alright, I think we're good to go! I'm crossing my fingers that this new skill comes in handy for me now, and not just like a cool breeze against my opponents.' Yuichi closes his status screen and gradually walks along the path.
As he strolled through the area, a sense of wonder washed over him, captivated by the breathtaking display of luminescence that adorned the floor. The gentle cyan radiance emitted by the luminous moss, coupled with the soft glow of the mushrooms, transformed the darkness into an enchanting spectacle that held Yuichi's gaze in rapt fascination.
In the midst of this otherworldly ambiance, he found himself pondering the origins of these remarkable fungi. It was a question that occasionally crossed his mind: how had such unique organisms evolved from the depths of this mysterious realm? Yet, he was well aware that the answer lay in the very magic that infused every aspect of this captivating world.
Despite his questioning, he couldn't help but be entranced, as if under the spell of the scene itself.
He continued his journey and unexpectedly found a ramp sloping downwards. The ramp seemed to suggest that it led to the 21st floor. Without any hesitation, he decided to walk onto the ramp and proceed downward.
And now, Yuichi is on Floor 21st.
The floor hadn't changed much, except now there was more moss and more mushrooms. The scene before Yuichi was familiar, but this time, the glow from below seemed to shine even brighter. Yuichi took a careful look around, scanning the area for any signs of potential danger.
Yuichi cautiously explored his surroundings, his eyes scanning the area for any signs of movement. Suddenly, a faint sound of footsteps reached his ears, like the delicate tread of a small creature. Intrigued, he focused his attention and spotted an astonishing sight: a tiny mushroom, actually walking on two small feet.
The unexpected sight left Yuichi amazed and bewildered. He couldn't have anticipated such a creature. Fascinated, he took a hesitant step forward, curious to get a better look. Unfortunately, his movement caught the attention of the mushroom creature. Startled and alarmed, it scurried away quickly, disappearing into the depths of the dark cavern.
Driven by curiosity and the desire to learn more about this unique being, Yuichi couldn't resist calling out.
"Wait, come back!" With determination, he took a deep breath and began to pursue the mushroom creature, his footsteps echoing through the cavern as he ventured further into the darkness.
After running for around 30 seconds, Yuichi found himself in a place that seemed strangely familiar - a small village. The village had a unique and captivating aura, with a soothing cyan glow illuminating its surroundings. Most of the structures were crafted from luminescent mushrooms, giving the place an otherworldly feel. The village itself was quite tiny, reminiscent of something out of a show like Smurf.
Yuichi couldn't help but feel bewildered and amazed as he took in the sight before him. This was an entirely new experience for him, as he had never encountered a village inhabited by beings other than humans.
The inhabitants of this village were not human; instead, they were mushroom-like creatures or beings. The scale of everything was on a smaller level, with the structures and pathways seemingly designed to accommodate beings of about human foot size.
'I've never expected this. This is odd and strange, but it's cool and fascinating to see.'
As Yuichi ventured a step beyond the edges of the diminutive village, a timid mushroom-like creature, which had been frightened earlier, emitted a high-pitched squeak, causing its companions to become alert.
Responding to the commotion, the other mushroom creatures emerged from their quaint homes, encountering a human being for the very first time.
This unfamiliar sight prompted them to react in a state of distress, scurrying about in a mixture of high-pitched squeaks and hurried movements.
Despite unintentionally causing this panic, Yuichi observed the chaotic scene, realizing that his presence had inadvertently provoked fear among these normally tranquil inhabitants.
He stood there, clearly showing that his intentions were far from those that would bring harm, as he was not that kind of person.
"Hey, don't worry, I'm not here to hurt you." Yuichi reassured the mushroom creatures.
Upon hearing Yuichi's words, the mushroom creatures calmed down. Some of them stayed frozen in fear, while others became curious but cautious.
As Yuichi knelt down, his innocent expression captured their attention. "You can believe me, I won't do anything to hurt you." He said, his smile warm and reassuring.
Though a few creatures remained wary, one brave individual climbed onto Yuichi's back and even stood on his head, a clear sign of trust.
Seeing this brave creature's gesture, the others slowly began to trust Yuichi as well. Gradually, they emerged from their little houses, timidly extending their tiny hands and legs in a zigzagging walk as they cautiously approached Yuichi, forming a hesitant but heartwarming greeting.
After earning the trust of the mushroom creatures, Yuichi observed with fascination as they started communicating through gestures and adorable high-pitched sounds. Curious about their surroundings, Yuichi activated the System to analyze them for information.
[Discovery: Fungling Folk [Life-Habitant]
[The Fungling Folk are a community of tiny mushroom people, standing no more than a foot tall. They have delicate, translucent caps with intricate patterns resembling a variety of mushrooms found in nature. Their bodies are slender and their limbs are flexible, allowing them to move gracefully. These creatures communicate through a combination of gestures and endearing squeaks, forming a unique and charming way of interaction. Living in the depths of enchanted forests or depths within the cave, they have a deep connection with the natural world and possess an innate understanding of the ecosystem around them.]
"These small creatures live peacefully in this place, and they're quite adorable and tiny. I would have been extremely surprised if they suddenly started speaking English, just like in that famous scene from the Super Mario movie." Yuichi said.
Amidst the peaceful surroundings, a sudden shriek pierced the air, causing the Fungling Folk to be startled and rush back to their homes, clearly used to this unsettling sound. Even Yuichi was taken by surprise, turning quickly to face the unexpected noise and raising his guard.
However, as the creature approached, a feeling of dread washed over Yuichi. The presence it exuded sent shivers down his spine and brought back a distressing memory. The recognition of the sounds and the overwhelming feeling caused Yuichi to break into a nervous sweat, his complexion turning pale.
The tension in the air grew as the enormous monster came into view, unveiling itself as the same golem that had nearly taken Yuichi's life before.