Nine days had passed since Welf joined our party. Now a four-member group, two adventurers, one smith, and one supporter, we had steadily advanced through our exploration.
And then,Β
"Take this!"
A violet slash cut through the mist and an imp emerging from the haze.
"The mist ends here!"
From the rear of the group, Lili's voice drew my attention forward. We stood in the room leading to the staircase connecting the 12th and 13th floors. This was it, we were about to venture into the Mid-Floors.
Keeping track of my companions to avoid separation, we pressed on through the fog.
Suddenly, the mist cleared, revealing a wide-open space. Ahead, a hole about three meters tall gaped in the wall, a sight I recognized from three weeks ago. The entrance to the Mid-Floors.
We've made it back... This time, without relying on our seniors. It's just us now.
Between us and the entrance, monsters dotted the area. With the cleared mist, they could see us as well.
Before the monsters could act, Bell launched a surprise attack.
A crimson flash from his daggers cut down the armadillo-like monster, Hard Armored. Without stopping, he dispatched more enemies, carving a path forward.
"Not bad at all!"
Welf's broadsword roared as he finished off a straggler. But behind the fallen creature, an orc armed with a natural weapon charged toward us.
From my position at the rear, I noticed another threat closing in from above, a bat-like monster, Bad Bat. Hidden near the dark ceiling, it emitted disorienting soundwaves capable of scrambling an adventurer's senses.
Welf was focused on the orc and hadn't noticed the Bad Bat.
I quickly acted, drawing a throwing knife from my pouch. These knives were special, crafted by a high-level smith I recently contracted. I pulled out one and hurled it at the bat.
Screee!
The knife struck true, hitting the small creature in the face. It turned to ash in an instant.
πβββββββββββββπ
"Alright, let's finalize our strategy."
Having cleared all nearby monsters, we formed a circle near the staircase to the Mid-Floors for a final discussion.
"We'll form a proper formation once we're in. Welf, you're at the front."
"Me? Sure about that?"
"Sorry, but you're the best fit for the role. Bell, you'll take the middle, handling both offense and defense. It's a tough position."
"I'm ready for it."
"Lili and I will cover the rear. I'll switch between mid and rear as needed since we lack firepower."
"Isn't that the hardest job, Toki?"
"Only when Bell's hands are full. Otherwise, I'll stick to the rear. That's why I've been using these throwing knives."
"Oh, so that's their purpose."
I'd been relying less on close combat lately, which worried me about my agility growth. Still, that could wait.
"Our biggest weakness is our rear firepower. If we're surrounded, we can't rely on magic to clear the area. Be extra cautious."
"Sounds like we're toast if we're encircled. Is it that bad?"
"Unlike the Upper Floors, the monsters here are far stronger and more numerous. It's easy to get overwhelmed."
"Shall we turn back, Welf? It's not too late."
"Don't be ridiculous! I need to become a top-tier smith, and fast!"
Watching their usual banter, I couldn't help but smile. Glancing at Bell, I noticed a grin creeping across his face.
"Bell, you're grinning."
"Huh? Really?"
"Yep. Not that I blame you."
As a born adventurer, I could understand the thrill he felt, the excitement of the unknown ahead.
"Why are you all smiling?" Welf asked, noticing us. Lili nodded, curious.
With a glance, I signaled Bell to explain. Reluctantly at first, but with a growing smile, he spoke.
"Well... It's just, this feels great. The party's coming together, and I'm... happy, I guess."
It had started with just the two of us.
"And doesn't it make your heart race? Everyone is working together to face an adventure, it's amazing."
What had begun as a duo had, in less than two months, transformed into a real party. Now, we were about to dive into the unknown, trusting our companions. This was the essence of being an adventurer.
"...Haha, you're right. It's exciting, isn't it? A real thrill!"
"Lili doesn't entirely agree, but... she understands how Bell feels."
"Same here."
Smiles spread through the group.
"Everyone ready?"
"Yeah, no problems here. Let's go."
"All set!"
"Ready!"
πβββββββββββββπ
Entering the Mid-Floors
We rose to our feet and formed a line, stepping into the entrance leading to the 13th floor, the Mid-Floors.
This time, unlike before, Asfi and the familiars weren't with us. But that was okay. We had reliable comrades right here with us.
If I had to describe the 13th floor's terrain in one word, it'd be a natural cave. The area was carved from solid rock, and the air felt damp and heavy.
"So, this is the Mid-Floors..."
"I'd heard about it, but the light sources are definitely scarcer than in the floors above."
As for me, my night vision made the darkness hardly a problem.
Also, the Mid-Floors have pits, vertical holes leading down to lower levels. Falling into one means you get transported below and lose track of your position. These pits are a tricky labyrinth trap and a notorious dungeon hazard.
"The 13th floor has very long corridors connecting rooms. To keep our battle stable, let's move quickly to the first room."
Everyone nodded in agreement.
"We'll move as far as we can before running into monsters. Lili, how's the path ahead?"
"It's a straight line."
"Thanks. Welf, keep following the path."
"Got it."
Honestly, I already knew the official route on the 13th floor. But since Lili was our supporter, choosing the path was her responsibility.
"Still... this is flashy, isn't it?"
Welf muttered as we marched in formation.
"You mean the Salamander Wool?"
"Yeah. It's comfortable enough, but..."
For this Mid-Floors expedition, we wore special gear, a glossy, vivid red fabric called the Salamander Wool. It was a rare item created by elemental spirits.
The Salamander Wool was blessed by the fire spirit Salamander, offering resistance or even immunity to flames and heat-based attacks.
We wore it to counter a particular monster that appears starting on this floor. That monster is...
"Oh, looks like it's coming now."
Thanks to my night vision, I spotted it first. Tension rippled through the party.
It was a dog-like monster called a Hellhound. Its signature was the flamethrower-like burst of fire it spewed from its mouth.
Unlike monsters on the upper floors that attacked physically by biting or punching, Mid-Floors monsters used ranged attacks. Among them, Hellhounds' flame attacks were the number one cause of party wipeouts on the 13th and 14th floors. That's why we had the Salamander Wool.
By the way, this gear was crazy expensive. Bell and I split the cost, but it still ran into six figures.
"Hey, at this distance, what do you think? Should we close in?"
"The advisor told me not to underestimate the Hellhound's attack range..."
"Their range is about 30 to 40 meters. Starting right at the edge means we risk getting hit on the way in."
"Then let's attack!"
Welf dashed forward with Bell close behind. Two Hellhounds appeared, one lunged at Welf. Bell blocked the charge with his buckler on his left arm. The airborne Hellhound was met with a powerful downward slash from Welf's greatsword. It collapsed.
"Uuuuuugh!"
The second Hellhound stayed put, spreading its limbs and emitting flames from its mouth.
"Shh!"
I threw a knife straight at its left eye, piercing deep and blinding it. Without missing a beat, Welf closed in and sliced through its face.
"Good... that's a promising start."
"Our makeshift coordination is shaping up. This is expected."
"But it felt pretty good, right?"
"Hm? Yeah."
After our first battle in the Mid-Floors, the tension eased. I retrieved my throwing knife and wiped off the blood, staying alert.
"Uh-oh, more incoming."
Welf spotted the new enemies. They were...
"Is that... Bell?"
"No way!"
Three rabbit-like monsters called Almiraj appeared. They walked upright like rabbits but had a single horn protruding from their foreheads.
"Bell as the target... you've got to be kidding me."
"No, I'm totally joking!"
While we joked around, the Almiraj shattered nearby rocks to reveal stone axes, natural weapons they wielded.
"Almiraj... Bell's strengths are agility and teamwork. We'll take them down one by one."
"Toki, are you picking a fight? You just said that, didn't you?"
"Come on, Bell, let's go."
Bell's eyes welled with tears, but he raised his weapon with reckless determination.
Together, we stood as one, ready to face the charging trio.
πβββββββββββββπ
Note: And so, finally, we stepped into the Mid-Floors. Well, with Toki here, it should be a breeze, right? ...Well, don't count on it. We're definitely going to hit some tough spots.
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