The moment Ying Ping stepped onto the tenth floor, he sensed something was off.
Thick white mist enveloped the entire space, making visibility extremely low.
The air was filled with a decaying scent, and the ground beneath his feet was soft and damp, as if he were treading on rotting moss.
The surrounding plants had long since withered, leaving only twisted, decaying wood, their branches reaching towards the sky like shriveled arms.
"Master..."
Kokoloo instinctively moved closer to Ying Ping, her small hand clutching his clothes tightly. "It's so eerie here, Kokoloo can't see anything..."
"Don't be afraid, I'll protect you."
Ying Ping narrowed his eyes; his Eagle Eye skill could still discern some distant sights through the mist.
[Tenth Floor Quest Triggered]
[Kill Pigmen (0 / 200)]
[Kill Imps (0 / 200)]
[Kill Bat-type Monsters (0 / 200)]
[Upon completion of all, a special boss will appear: Cyclops]
[Reward: Level Up by 2]
"I can level up by 2 again after taking care of the Cyclops..."
Ying Ping's lips curved into an excited smile. "It looks like I'll reach LV10 today!"
He gripped Hestia's Sword tightly, the divine script on its blade flickering slightly, as if responding to his fighting spirit.
As Ying Ping's level reached LV8, the experience required for each subsequent level increased, meaning it would become progressively harder to level up!
But now he could level up by 2 again, how could Ying Ping not be excited!
"Kokoloo, stay close to me."
"Yes, Master!"
The slaughter began!
In the mist, the first monster appeared—
It was a Pigman, easily two meters tall.
It was stronger than a Gnoll, covered in coarse black bristles, with exposed tusks, and wielding a rusty great axe.
[Encountered Pigman, Level LV2+]
[Traits: Brute Strength, Frenzy]
"Roar!"
The Pigman spotted Ying Ping, immediately let out a deafening roar, and charged forward, swinging its great axe!
"Full of openings."
Ying Ping sneered, his figure flashing—
"Swish!"
Disdaining to even use a skill, the sword light flashed, and the Pigman's head flew high into the air, blood gushing out!
[Killed Pigman (1 / 200)]
[Gained 40 experience points]
However, the sound of battle attracted more monsters.
"Squeak, squeak, squeak!"
Several palm-sized imps flew out of the mist.
Their skin was crimson, with bat wings on their backs, and their sharp claws glowed with poison.
[Encountered Imps, Level LV2]
[Traits: Poison Claws, Group Action]
At the same time, a dense flapping sound came from above—
Dozens of bat-type monsters swooped down from the mist.
They were eagle-sized, with exposed fangs, and their crimson eyes glinted menacingly in the fog.
[Encountered Bloodwing Bats, Level LV2]
[Traits: Lifesteal, Poison Claws, Sonic Attack]
"Haha, do I have some kind of magical constitution that attracts monsters?"
"Why is it that every time I arrive on a new floor, so many monsters rush at me like crazy?"
Ying Ping laughed out loud, then fiercely activated Lightning Enchantment!
"Chidori Blade!"
"Zzzzzzt—!"
Purple-blue lightning wrapped around the sword, and Ying Ping leaped up, his longsword tracing a brilliant arc!
"Blade Storm!"
"Boom!"
A violent lightning tornado instantly formed, engulfing all the surrounding imps and bloodwing bats!
"Pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft, pfft..."
The sound of flesh being shredded was so melodious.
[Killed Imps (12 / 200)]
[Killed Bloodwing Bats (15 / 200)]
The battle fully erupted!
Ying Ping moved through the mist like the god of death, each sword stroke claiming the lives of several monsters.
The Pigmen's great axes, the Imps' poison claws, the Bloodwing Bats' sonic attacks—
No attack could breach his defenses, or even reach him.
[Killed Pigmen (56 / 200)]
[Killed Imps (78 / 200)]
[Killed Bloodwing Bats (82 / 200)]
Kokoloo followed closely behind him, continuously casting 'Song of Courage' and 'Elf's Blessing' to ensure Ying Ping remained in peak condition.
Time passed, and Ying Ping's kill count rapidly increased.
[Killed Pigmen (200 / 200)]
[Killed Imps (200 / 200)]
[Killed Bloodwing Bats (200 / 200)]
[Condition Met, Special Boss Appears]
"Rumble—"
The entire tenth floor suddenly vibrated violently, and the mist was blown away by a furious gust of air!
The ground ahead collapsed with a crash, and a giant hand emerged from beneath the earth—
It was a Cyclops, a full five meters tall!
Its skin was grayish-white like rock, its single eye dominated half its face, its mouth filled with interlocking tusks, and it exuded a suffocating sense of oppression!
[Encountered Special Boss Cyclops, Level LV6+]
[Traits: Super Defense and Attack, Earthquake Wave, Berserk]
"Finally, a decent enemy..."
"Kokoloo, buff me!"
Ying Ping gripped his longsword, his eyes burning with fighting spirit.
"Song of Courage! Aurora Bloom!"
Kokoloo's staff-spear glowed with dazzling green light, and powerful energy converged on Ying Ping.
Sensing the threat of the person before it, the Cyclops let out a deafening roar, its massive fist smashing down hard on the ground!
"Boom!"
The ground cracked, and a shockwave spread outwards!
Ying Ping instantly activated Shadow Step, his figure flashing like lightning as he charged towards the giant!
"Crippling Strike!"
"Puff!"
The longsword plunged deep into the giant's ankle, blood gushing out!
"Roar!"
The Cyclops cried out in pain, a flash of fury in its single eye, and its massive hand swatted at Ying Ping!
Ying Ping didn't dodge, a cold light flashing in his eyes—
"Charged Strike!"
"Boom!"
The dark sword light collided with the giant's palm, and the terrifying force directly severed three of the giant's fingers!
[Cyclops enters Berserk state]
The giant's single eye instantly turned blood-red, its body swelled again, and its attack speed and power surged!
"Master, be careful!"
Kokoloo dodged the aftershocks of the battle, exclaiming.
Ying Ping, however, smiled: "Now this is interesting!"
He fiercely activated Hestia's Sword's True Name Release—
"Please, Hestia! Grant me strength!"
"Boom!"
A cerulean light erupted, and Ying Ping's figure instantly transformed into an afterimage!
"Clang—"
A bell-like sound rang out in the mist.
"Swish! Swish! Swish!"
Three sword lights flashed simultaneously, and blood splattered from the Cyclops' chest, throat, and single eye!
"Roar…"
The giant stumbled backward, its single eye filled with disbelief.
Ying Ping landed, his longsword pointing diagonally at the ground, and said coldly, "It's about time this ended."
"Blade Storm!"
"Rumble—!"
A furious hurricane engulfed the Cyclops, and countless sword lights shredded it to pieces!
"I used so much force, how are you still alive?"
Ying Ping grinned, "Then I'll play with you a bit more—"
"Chidori Blade!"
Purple-blue electric arcs coiled around the sword, and Ying Ping leaped up, thrusting directly at the giant's single eye!
"Pfft!"
The blade plunged deep into its eyeball, and the giant let out a deafening roar.
It frantically clutched its profusely bleeding eye, smashing the surrounding rock walls to smithereens.
"Die!"
Ying Ping leaped high, gripping his sword with both hands, bringing it down with the force of splitting a mountain!
"Charged Strike!"
"Boom!"
Finally, the sword light struck down like thunder, splitting the Cyclops in two from head to toe!
"Killed Cyclops"
"Obtained: Giant's Heart X1"
"Obtained: Giant's Blood X1"
"Obtained: Giant's Skin X1"
"Reward: Level increased by 2"
The Shadow Monarch Upgrade System flashed a series of notifications.
"Experience full, level increased to LV9"
"Reward effective, level increased to LV10"
Ying Ping felt the surging power within him and couldn't help but let out a long cry to the sky!
"Finally... LV10!"
He opened the system panel, and his newly upgraded attributes appeared before him—
"Shadow Monarch Upgrade System"
"Level": LV10
"Strength": 116 → 136
"Agility": 97 → 117
"Stamina": 55 → 65+50 (Gargoyle Plate Armor)
"Intelligence": 40 → 50
"Magic Power": 36 → 46
"HP": 155 / 155
"MP": 36 / 46
"Magic": Lightning Enchantment
"Skills": Shadow Step, Crippling Strike, Charged Strike, Eagle Eye, Blade Storm
"Titles": Goblin Slayer, Goddess's Guardian
"Free Attribute Points": 0
"Is it over?"
Seeing the battle conclude, Kokkoro timidly walked over.
Ying Ping smiled and ruffled her hair: "Now, it's time to fulfill my promise."
He took out the [Book of Experience], gently pressed it against Kokkoro's forehead, and then flipped through it.
"Use."
Golden light bloomed, and Kokkoro's aura instantly surged!
"Follower Kokkoro's level has increased to LV10"
"How do you feel?"
Ying Ping asked.
Kokkoro clenched her small fists, looking at her hands in disbelief: "Master, I... I feel full of strength, and it seems I've learned many other skills!"
"Good, very good, but we should go back now."
Ying Ping patted Kokkoro's head again, "We've had enough gains for today. If we don't go back, Hestia will worry about us."
Kokkoro obediently nodded: "Yes, Master!"