The dark staircase leading to the third floor was illuminated by the soft glow of bioluminescent fungi clinging to the walls. The sight was oddly calming, their light pulsing gently like a heartbeat. I'd read somewhere that dungeon divers often harvested these fungi as decorations. Their popularity stemmed from the fact that they regrew within days, making them a sustainable and aesthetically pleasing commodity.
As I descended, the oppressive air of the second floor began to lift, replaced by something lighter, almost refreshing. By the time I reached the base of the stairs, I was greeted by an expansive horizon.
---
The terrain here was vastly different from the marshes I had just endured. A vast plain stretched before me, dotted with rolling hills and patches of vibrant wildflowers. Artificial clouds hung low in the sky, their silver edges shimmering faintly as if infused with mana. It was almost serene, a deceptive contrast to the dangers I knew lurked ahead.
"This floor's definitely larger," I muttered, scanning the landscape. "Maybe this terrain sticks around for a few levels."
After about ten minutes of walking, I spotted movement in the sky. A flock of creatures circled high above, their dark silhouettes sharp against the glowing clouds. As they descended, I recognized them immediately: Sky Vultures.
These were no ordinary birds. Their talons were as sharp and sturdy as enchanted steel, capable of tearing through even reinforced armor. Their feathers weren't just for flight—they were razor-sharp projectiles that could shred flesh and dent iron. And there were ten of them, their piercing cries echoing across the plains.
---
"Alright," I said, tightening my grip on my new mana blade. "Time to make some noise."
I channeled mana into my voice, amplifying it as I shouted, "Hey, you dumb birds! Come and get me!" Most monsters are quite dumb especially inside of lower tier dungeons thus its quite a common tactic to raise their aggro by screaming and It's quite practical too.
The flock immediately took notice, their cries growing louder as they turned their attention to me. The whooshing of their wings grew louder, the air vibrating with their speed as they dived toward me like living missiles.
"Perfect," I said, smirking.
I planted my feet firmly and cast Mana Web, weaving a massive net of glowing threads across the sky above me. It was a gamble, but the results were immediate.
Four of the vultures slammed into the web, their talons and wings tangling in the threads. They thrashed and screeched, struggling to free themselves, but the web held strong. The remaining six veered off, circling cautiously as they assessed the situation.
---
I wasn't going to give them time to think.
Summoning mana from within, I combined wind and lightning into a swirling storm of destruction.
"Lightning Tornado!"
The air crackled as a massive vortex of wind and electricity erupted around me. The tornado roared to life, its spiraling winds laced with blinding arcs of lightning. The four trapped vultures were the first to be caught. Their cries turned to screams as the storm tore through their bodies, reducing them to ash and charred feathers.
The scent of burning flesh filled the air, oddly reminiscent of grilled chicken. My stomach growled involuntarily.
The remaining vultures screeched in rage, their eyes glowing with fury. They spread their wings wide, launching a barrage of razor-sharp feathers in my direction.
---
"Not today," I muttered, raising my hand.
"Wind Barrier! Mana Barrier! Double Layered Defense!"
The first layer of the barrier formed with a shimmer of blue, a standard mana shield that absorbed the initial impact. The second layer—a swirling wall of hardened wind—followed immediately, deflecting the rest of the projectiles. The sound of feathers shattering against the barriers was like glass breaking in rapid succession.
The vultures, undeterred, dived toward me in unison, their talons gleaming like polished blades.
"Alright, let's dance," I said, dropping my barriers and summoning my mana blade.
---
The first vulture came at me from the left, its talons aimed for my head. I sidestepped its strike, spinning around to slash its wing clean off. It crashed to the ground, flailing in agony before I ended it with a quick strike to the neck.
Two more came at me from above, their claws poised to skewer me. I jumped back, raising my hand to cast Flame Burst. A wave of fire engulfed the air above me, incinerating the vultures mid-dive.
The remaining three circled me warily, their cries echoing across the plains.
"Smart enough to be cautious, huh?" I said, smirking.
But caution wasn't going to save them.
I charged at the closest one, leaping into the air with a burst of mana. The vulture tried to dodge, but I was faster. My blade sliced through its chest, and it fell to the ground with a pained shriek.
The last two vultures tried to escape, flapping their wings frantically to gain altitude.
"Not so fast," I said, channeling mana into my hand.
"Chain Lightning!"
A bolt of electricity shot from my palm, splitting mid-air to strike both vultures simultaneously. Their bodies convulsed as the lightning coursed through them, and they dropped like stones, lifeless.
---
The battlefield fell silent, save for the crackling of lingering electricity.
I took a moment to catch my breath, surveying the aftermath. The once-pristine plains were now littered with scorched feathers, ash, and the remains of the fallen vultures.
"That was... exhilarating," I said, a grin spreading across my face.
Among the debris, I found a few mana cores and a set of vulture talons that still pulsed with residual energy.
"These could fetch a good price," I muttered, storing them in my spatial Storage.
---
With the vultures dealt with, I continued my journey across the plains. The third floor was proving to be more challenging than the previous ones, but it was also more rewarding.
As I walked, I couldn't help but wonder what other challenges awaited me. This dungeon was far from over, and I had a feeling that things were only going to get tougher from here.
But that was fine by me.
I wasn't just here to survive—I was here to conquer and ofcourse sweet loot.