Levi had already adjusted his orientation mid-roll. As he stood back up, he knew exactly what was happening: an ambush by other adventurers.
In the Dungeon, powerful monsters were dangerous, but if you asked ten adventurers what the most terrifying thing in Orario was, nine would say: other adventurers. Ambushes, robberies, bullying... there was even the notorious "Monster Train," where someone would lure a mob they couldn't handle toward other adventurers. In the lawless depths of the Dungeon, human greed was magnified to its limit.
Levi's pride as a transmigrator made him look down on bullying others or stealing their hard-earned money. But that didn't mean he would turn the other cheek when it happened to him.
His eyes swept the distance, confirming four enemies. Levi immediately drew his hardwood shortbow and an elemental arrow. His mana surged as he switched his buff from Circle to En (Shroud).
[Mana Burst • 4-Star (Master 25%+):]
Advanced • Ran (Circle): Significantly increases environmental perception.
He sprinted out of the cave like an arrow. The Vision hanging at his neck glowed with a chilling, pale blue light.
Thwip! Thwip! Thwip! Thwip!
Four arrows, coated in Cryo energy, were loosed in a span of two seconds. The adventurers bold enough to rob others on the sixth floor were undoubtedly stronger than the average rookie, and they instinctively dived for cover upon hearing the pursuit.
However, only one was lucky enough to dodge. Of the other three, two were hit directly in the back. The ice energy at the arrowheads detonated, the terrifying frost instantly extinguishing their remaining life force. The third was pierced through the upper right arm; though not fatal, the cold caused his body to seize with tremors, slowing his escape significantly.
Levi had no intention of letting them go. Closing the distance, he ignored his arrow consumption and notched six arrows onto his bow at once.
One found its mark in the head of the shivering adventurer. Of the remaining five, four missed, but one sank deep into the calf of the final runner.
"AAAGH!" the man screamed, collapsing to the ground. He tried to crawl forward, as if that would save him from Levi's hunt.
A second later, the air vibrated. An arrow drilled straight into his skull.
The entire exchange—from the initial ambush to the counterattack and the final kill—had lasted only six seconds. The four adventurers, now on their way to the afterlife, likely never imagined that a combatant with the strength of a top-tier Level 2 would be loitering on the sixth floor instead of heading deeper.
Cautious as ever, Levi didn't rush to the bodies. He notched more arrows and delivered a few insurance "headshots" to each. Only after confirming they were truly dead did he step forward to scavenge.
Those in the business of murder and arson were usually well-equipped. In their bags, Levi found magic stones, recovery potions, and several barbed arrows made of super-hard metal. These were a significant upgrade over his own; they had excellent mana conductivity and were nearly indestructible. They were also expensive, costing 1,000 Valis per arrow.
Deep in the pack of the leader—the one who had dodged the first shot—Levi found a low-grade Magic Sword that had been used once or twice. These retailed for 200,000 to 300,000 Valis. Even second-hand, a pawn shop would likely give him 20,000 to 30,000 for it. Since Levi had his Vision and elemental arrows to replicate the effects of a Magic Sword, he had no reason to keep it.
Calculated harvest complete. Time to wrap it up for today.
Levi stood up and dusted off his hands. This wasn't his first time killing; he had taken out several bandits on the road to Orario. Any psychological discomfort had long since been overcome.
The corridor was silent. Or rather, unnaturally quiet. Other adventurers farming nearby might not have seen the fight, but they had heard the noise and emerged from their caves to see Levi scavenging the bodies. Whether Levi had been the aggressor or the defender didn't matter to them. One thing was clear: any boy with pale-gold hair who could wipe out a team of four alone was a monster they didn't want to provoke.
To avoid being seen as enemies, these experienced veterans abandoned their spots—some ending their day early, others fleeing to different areas of the sixth floor. Consequently, Levi didn't encounter another soul until he reached the fifth floor.
"Here you go." "Thanks."
At the Guild counter, Levi accepted a heavy pouch of coins, ignoring the greedy or surprised looks from those around him. He had already sold the second-hand Magic Sword. Between his loot and his existing savings, he now held over 123,000 Valis.
For a normal Level 1 adventurer, this was enough to upgrade their entire equipment set or live like a king in the Pleasure District for weeks. But for Levi...
In less than forty minutes, his total wealth suffered a massive shrinkage.
[Levi Bright]Level: 1 Strength: C645 / SS1099 Endurance: C663 / SS1099 Dexterity: C645 / SS1099 Agility: C665 / SS1099 Magic: C648 / SS1099
[Recurve Bow • 3-Star]
Indestructible
Effect: Slightly increases Max HP.
Effect: Slightly restores the wielder's vitality upon killing a target.
"So, let me get this straight. Today, you updated your equipment, spent the whole day grinding magic stones on the sixth floor, got ambushed by other adventurers in the afternoon, and ended up wiping them all out?"
At dinner, Hestia asked about the boy's day as they sat across from each other.
Levi nodded.
He and Hestia shared a symbiotic bond as God and Dependent. While she looked young, she was no naive fool. There were many things he simply didn't need to hide from her.