The stone bridge was narrow, ancient, and worn, with just enough space for two or three people to walk side by side. A deep chasm stretched beneath it, hidden by the thick mist that rose from the depths of the Dungeon. And now, it was overflowing with monsters—dozens of them, charging forward like a tide of fury and murderous instinct.
But on the other side of the bridge, standing firm like a wall of unshakable will, was Shirou.
Wielding the twin blades Kanshou and Bakuya, the young man pushed against the tide of creatures with movements both elegant and deadly—almost poetic in their precision. Every strike of his blades was a death sentence. With his feet rooted on the cracked stones, he spun, parried, and thrust in a steady rhythm, as if dancing with death itself.
His swords slashed through flesh, shattered bones, and sparked against the fangs and claws of the tougher beasts. The ground around him was soaked in monster blood, his clothes were stained—but his expression remained unshaken.
"Trace... On."
The command echoed softly from his lips, like a mantra.
Spears, swords, chakrams—dozens of weapons materialized in the air around him, summoned in an instant and fired with terrifying precision.
Shirou didn't care about conserving magical energy. He couldn't afford to—not now.
On the other side of the bridge, the members of the Loki Familia had halted their advance.
With wide eyes, they watched in utter silence, as if witnessing a living legend unfold before them. The scene was so surreal, so powerful, it felt torn from the pages of an ancient epic.
"That idiot..." Bete growled, arms crossed. "Does he have a death wish or what? Why doesn't he stay safe in the middle floors?"
Despite the sharp tone, the werewolf's eyes were fixed on Shirou—analyzing every movement, every breath.
"He's strong..." Ais whispered, her gaze shining with a quiet intensity. She gripped her sword hilt tightly, almost unconsciously, suppressing the urge to run toward him. Not even she could have made it that far alone while still only Level 2...
What truly stunned the Loki Familia was that—even amidst that massacre—Shirou's basic status hadn't surpassed Level 2.
They were all veteran adventurers; they could easily gauge someone's level at a glance. And that was what disturbed them. This youth, clearly limited in status, was on the 16th floor, fighting alone against a swarm of monsters that would've put an entire party on high alert.
"Hey, kid!" Finn shouted, a grin spreading across his face. "Need a hand? We can cross over!"
His voice echoed across the bridge, filled with genuine curiosity. Finn wanted to know—was the boy cornered, or was he there by choice?
Because no sane person would face such an absurd number of enemies—unless they were trying to prove something. To the world... or to themselves.
Shirou barely turned his head. Gasping for breath, blood trickling from a cut on his brow, his breathing heavy—yet the light in his eyes burned brightly, almost fiercely.
"No!" he shouted back with resolve. "This is my adventure!"
It wasn't the first time Shirou had refused help. Several adventurers had made similar offers before—and to all of them, he gave the same answer.
Even when his arms burned with fatigue, even when his feet slipped on blood-soaked stone, Shirou didn't stop. A minotaur charged at him, roaring, swinging a massive club. Shirou barely dodged, spun with expert grace, and plunged Kanshou into its neck. Bakuya tore through its chest a second later, ending the beast.
Two Almirajes leapt at him together—he summoned a spear and hurled it, skewering both in one throw.
Gradually, even Bete fell silent. Ais continued watching, almost entranced. Finn crossed his arms, eyes carefully analyzing Shirou's every move.
---
With the path to the next floor finally open, Shirou moved forward, downing recovery potions the moment he left the battlefield, restoring his strength and healing his wounds.
As for the Loki Familia—they still stood on the other side of the stone bridge. Shirou didn't even glance in their direction as he advanced.
"What an amazing adventurer!" Tiona exclaimed, swaying from side to side, caught up in childlike excitement. She stood beside her sister, Tione, unable to hide her enthusiasm after what she had just witnessed.
Tione, however, wore a grim expression. Anger still simmered within her at how Shirou had rejected the help offered by Finn.
(Hmph. Who does he think he is, turning down our captain like that?) she grumbled, arms crossed.
On the other side, Ais remained silent. Her eyes were locked on the path where Shirou had vanished. Her body looked ready to move, driven by something inside her she couldn't fully understand. But just before she could take a step, Riveria placed her hands firmly on Ais's shoulders.
"Ais, calm down," said the elf, her voice firm yet gentle. "He chose this path on his own."
Ais said nothing. She simply stood there, staring into the void.
"Seems like another star is about to rise in Orario..." Finn murmured, letting out a light sigh, as if acknowledging something rare.
Even Riveria nodded in silent agreement. What they had just witnessed was anything but normal.
Indeed, considering Shirou's current level—still just Level 2—his combat prowess was staggering. As long as he didn't die before his time, his name would undoubtedly be remembered throughout Orario.
"Alright! Let's head back now!" Finn declared, regaining his commanding tone.
With that, he took the lead once more, and the group resumed their march through the Dungeon.
---
Shirou continued his advance.
Since the battle on the 16th floor, he hadn't encountered many enemies in large numbers. While minor monster attacks still occurred sporadically, none were as massive as before.
It was a relief.
His body was worn from the constant use of projection magic. The energy drain wasn't small, and even with recovery potions, there was a limit to how much he could endure without rest. Finally, a moment of respite.
The monsters kept getting stronger, and their appearances more frequent—but nothing seemed able to disrupt Shirou's steady rhythm.
Thanks to the twin swords, Kanshou and Bakuya, he handled most enemies with remarkable ease. His movements were precise, like someone who had fought in hundreds of battles.
Now, on the 17th floor, he could feel his destiny drawing near. With each step, his excitement grew—and with it, his combat focus and instincts sharpened even more.
With simple swings of his blades, Shirou dispatched any monster that got too close.
"Finally..." he murmured with a subtle smile.
The corridor ahead widened, and he knew the next great milestone of his journey was close.
Running lightly despite his accumulated exhaustion, he arrived at a massive chamber. Unlike the twisted, chaotic caverns that made up most of the previous floors, this space was open, symmetrical, and surprisingly flat.
Silence reigned. No monster had followed him in.
Walking through the empty chamber, Shirou felt a strange peace. The tension that had gripped him until now dissolved like morning mist.
To his left, a smooth wall—almost polished like marble—caught his attention. It radiated a subtle, yet powerful presence. Shirou knew instantly what it was.
This was the place where Goliath, the Monster Rex of the 17th floor, would be born.
He stared at the wall for a moment.
Then, after a few seconds, he turned and crossed the corridor on the other side of the chamber. A narrow, dark passage awaited him.
And then, as he stepped through the darkness, his eyes opened to something extraordinary.
A glowing forest spread out before him.
He had reached the 18th floor.
Instead of continuing to explore, Shirou approached a wall and slowly slid to the ground. He removed his backpack with care, sat down, and pulled out another potion—along with a small emergency snack.
Taking a deep breath, he closed his eyes and whispered:
"Half an hour... After half an hour, I'll begin my journey back..."
And with that, he allowed himself to rest—if only for a moment.
---
(End of Chapter)
"Hmph. If you really want to be useful, then entertain me, try to throw those pathetic power stones at me. Let's see if even your insolence can amuse a king."