[Floor 34th - Dark Floor]
Two months had passed since the start of our protagonist, Yuichi's, journey.
Inside the cave, a sudden gust of wind rippled through the air, its strength palpable. In the dimly lit cavern, the growls of wolves echoed, their tension building with each passing moment. The cavern floor trembled as heavy thuds marked the wolves' anxious movements.
Amidst the chaos, a shadowy figure emerged, a monstrous wolf with sharp, gleaming fangs. It lunged towards Yuichi, its intentions were clear—to attack and harm him. But Yuichi, with his determined resolve, extended his hand, his fingers trembling with the power he had honed over time.
He pointed his outstretched hand toward the menacing wolf, summoning the depths of his formidable wind skill.
The atmosphere thickened with anticipation as the wolf hurtled closer, teeth bared and eyes gleaming with malevolence. Yuichi's concentration deepened, his connection to the elemental forces strengthened.
The cavern seemed to hold its breath as Yuichi channeled his power, a whirlwind of energy gathering around his outstretched palm.
[Skill: Wind Gale]
In an instant, the wind responded to his command, a torrential force surging from his fingertips. It collided with the ferocious wolf, a clash of elemental might and primal fury. The wolf was swiftly sliced into fragments, and its flesh scattered all around the area.
[You have slain 1 Shadow Wolf]
[You have earned Solo EXP 400]
[EXP Progression [11266/21000]
Yuichi looked at his hands for a moment. He was thinking for a moment and blinked once. He gripped his hands and looked suddenly determined.
'Still not enough...!'
And then, a shadow wolf propelled into him, attacking him in front.Yuichi noticed the presence of the shadow wolf and he immediately evaded the attack without flaw, rotating himself and delivered a blow into the wolf, killing it in one shot.
[You have slain 1 Shadow Wolf]
[You have earned Solo EXP 400]
[EXP Progression [11666/21000]
He moved swiftly, searching for enemies. When he found one, he swiftly took it down. This routine continued for two whole months, or so this is his life right now.
For two months, Yuichi has been honing his skills by swiftly attacking and improving his instincts. His body has undergone a remarkable transformation, becoming more muscular and his once tidy hair now appears rugged and unkempt.
Initially, being trapped in the dungeon presented a tough challenge for Yuichi. However, with time, it became a more habitual routine for him, almost like a regular job, where he'd slay monsters and progress in levels as the days went by.
'I need few more kills before I head to rest.' Yuichi clenched his fist, looking at it.
Without wasting any moment, he rushed into the darkness and looked for more enemies to fight. Blood splatting and flesh scattering can be seen within the way as Yuichi finds himself an enemy to kill.
...
Two hours have passed.
On the 34th floor of a dark and mysterious dungeon, Yuichi had set up a campfire on the ground to take a much-needed break. In this makeshift resting spot, there were two simple sheet beds and a leather bag.
Over the crackling campfire, Yuichi was roasting raw meat on a stick. As he leaned against the cave wall, he couldn't hide his exhaustion.
He let out a tired yawn and muttered, "Scaling yourself is really tough and exhausting. I wonder when can I end this?"
'Well, I've been doing this for two months now. It's not like I wanted this, but getting stronger whilst being stuck in the dungeon is kinda cliché.'
During the past two months, Yuichi's routine in the dungeon consisted of battling monsters repeatedly, prompting his complaints about when it might end. With every battle, he'd end up soaked in the creatures' blood, and the lack of proper sanitation meant he probably reeked from head to toe.
In the distance, a sudden bright blue light caught Yuichi's attention. Even with his somewhat dim-witted expression, he knew exactly who was approaching, and a small smile crossed his face. He adjusted his sitting position, awaiting the arrival of the one responsible for the luminescent glow.
"Where have you been, Lumiella?" he asked nonchalantly.
The source of the blue glow turned out to be Lumiella, a creature who used to be small and cute, resembling a tiny mushroom. However, in this particular situation, she had transformed into a little girl with light blue skin, cascading blue hair, and a mini cap on her head. Her defining feature was still her ability to emit light, just as she did when she was a Fungling Folks. This transformation was quite unique.
Lumiella had finally made her way to Yuichi after a long walk through the dark cavern. She waved her arms as if trying to communicate with him.
"Mmm-mmm. Mmm!" she mumbled.
Yuichi, having spent two months with Lumiella, understood her non-verbal communication and replied, "I'm happy to see you again, Lumiella."
It had been a challenging journey, as Yuichi had been unable to find any books or literature during their exploration of the dungeon's various floors. He hoped that someday he would come across some written knowledge that would allow him to teach Lumiella how to speak a human language and have proper conversations.
But in contrast, Yuichi is pleased with the skills Lumiella has developed, even in a tiniest.
At the moment, Lumiella's sudden excitement prompted her to reach into her trusty mini leather bag, as she often did when she wanted to share something with Yuichi. Yuichi, accustomed to her customary acts of generosity, couldn't help but be curious about what she might be eager to present.
"What is it?" Yuichi inquired, half expecting another of Lumiella's thoughtful gifts, a norm whenever she journeyed into the dark recesses of the dungeon.
After a few moments, Lumiella finally extracted something from her bag—a weathered piece of dirty white paper. Initially unassuming, it seemed a rather lackluster gift. Yet, Yuichi found it oddly intriguing, wondering how such an item could find its way into the dungeon's depths.
"A piece of paper? What could this be doing here?" Yuichi contemplated as he inspected the aged paper Lumiella was holding.
Discovering a random piece of paper in the dungeon hinted at potential structures nearby or even the possibility that it belonged to a deceased adventurer who once traversed these depths. Yuichi sensed a faint clue, something that could lead him closer to an elusive goal, but the exact significance eluded him.
"Where did you find this, Lumiella?" he inquired, genuinely fascinated by the unexpected discovery.
Lumiella blinked a few times, tilting her head as she searched for an answer. Eventually, she pointed in the opposite direction from where she had come.
"That's the path to the unexplored new floor..." Yuichi mused, a sense of wonder coloring his thoughts.
While he had been preoccupied battling monsters to gain experience, the idea that Lumiella encountered no danger in that uncharted area intrigued him. It was a tempting prospect, considering his primary objective was to locate an exit from the dungeon.
With a tired sigh and a bewildered scratch of his head, Yuichi admitted, "I'm too exhausted to deal with this right now." However, his contemplation hinted at a brewing curiosity to explore the depths further.
Suddenly, a soft growl emanated from his stomach. Observing Lumiella, who was also showing signs of hunger by caressing her own tummy, Yuichi found the moment amusing, chuckling to himself.
"Wait, I'll grab something for you to eat," Yuichi said.
Without hesitation, he delved into his inventory, looking for something he can give to Lumiella to eat.
Lumiella noticed Yuichi was busy looking through his inventory. She took the chance to sit down beside him.
After a few moments, Yuichi finally retrieve a glowing mushroom obtained from the previous floor.
"Here, have a bite," Yuichi said, offering the mushroom to Lumiella, his kind gesture symbolizing their unique camaraderie in the midst of their dungeon explorations.
But Yuichi's gesture seemed odd—he offered a mushroom to Lumiella, a being made of fungus herself. She accepted it with a small, adorable grimace, a mix of surprise and distaste.
"I understand you don't like mushrooms, but since you avoid eating meat," Yuichi remarked, "if you don't consume anything, you might face the risk of starvation, you know?"
Lumiella made an adorable expression of distaste, puckering her lips and furrowing her brows as she nibbled on the mushroom that Yuichi had offered to her.
"Once we're finished eating, let's take a break, alright?" Yuichi suggested, "Tomorrow, we embark on an adventure."
Lumiella's face lit up with anticipation, her adorable smile peeking through as she savored a bite of the mushroom.
"Mmm-mmm!" she joyfully hummed, savoring the flavors.
Without hesitation, Yuichi seized a piece of meat cooking over the fire, eagerly joining in the meal.
Their bond had flourished since they first met. Lumiella's consistent time and interactions with Yuichi formed a strong connection that brought happiness to both of them.
In the comforting presence of Lumiella, he no longer grappled with loneliness. But despite the circumstances, his longing for his friends persisted. Fueled by this yearning, he was resolute in his determination to uncover an exit from the dungeon where he found himself trapped.
As the meal wound down, they prepared a makeshift bed, seeking much-needed rest after a tiring day. Tomorrow held the promise of something intriguing...
'I wonder what's gonna happen tomorrow...'
[Status: Yuichi Hanateru♂]
Human [17]
Level 15 [Class Unspecified]
EXP: [1666/21000]
Titles: [Aric's Descendants, Fungus Slayer]
Attributes: Wind [Novice]
MANA: 250
HP: 300
STR: 35
AGI: 24
DEF: 28
INT: 22
DEX: 10
Skill Points: [16]
Skill: [Wind Gale Level 5] [Sword Mastery Level 1]
Passive: [Mystical Eye, Constant Hybrid Regeneration, Spatial Instinct]