Ronan stepped out into the main corridor. Even though he was back on the main path, he did not relax. He stayed very alert.
This was a strict rule learned from the people who came before him. Every rule in the adventurer's manual had been written through painful lessons. Because of that, it was trusted. Most people who ignored it did not live long enough to complain.
However, Ronan knew he could not follow it blindly. He had to stay flexible. As the saying went, the cruelty of the Dungeon always found new ways to surprise people. That was how abnormal situations happened.
Whoosh—
Suddenly, a sharp gust came from above.
Ronan's heart jumped. He quickly rolled across the ground.
Crash!
Stone chips flew everywhere. The spot where he had been standing was torn apart by sharp claws. Ronan spat out the dust and looked up.
He did not wait to get a full look at the attacker. He was not the type to just take a hit. He threw back his cloak and raised his right arm. Magic surged!
"Burn!"
It came out in an instant.
Boom—!
Screech—
Flames wrapped around the body of a lizard monster. The smell of burned flesh filled the air.
"Damn it..." Ronan muttered. He brushed the dust off his clothes and stood up.
Among the monsters in the Upper Floors, that kind of lizard monster was one of the most hated by adventurers. Tea-colored and about as long as a person was tall, they spent all day clinging silently to walls and ceilings, hiding like hunters. They waited for the exact moment their prey let its guard down before striking.
Many beginners were injured by them. Ronan was no exception. When he first ran into one, he had learned that lesson the hard way. He had rolled on the ground and fled in a panic. That was the first time he truly felt how much the Dungeon hated adventurers.
"That damn thing was still following me," he muttered.
He quickly dug out the magic stone and complained to himself.
It would be great if I had a skill that sharpened my senses. At least then my high Magic stat would be even more useful.
He checked his gear and killed a few Goblins and Kobolds along the way. Soon, he reached the stairs leading to the 6th floor.
The stone steps led downward. The path was wide enough for several people to walk side by side. Ronan took a short break and opened his monster book. He carefully checked the features and weaknesses of the new monsters on the 6th floor. He drank some water, took a deep breath, and stepped into the deeper area.
The 6th floor was part of the Upper Floors.
According to the Guild:
Floors 1–4 are for beginners who have just started and have Status scores in the I to H range.
Floors 5–7 are for those with scores in the G to F range. Reaching this point proves that an adventurer has enough skill to survive.
Ronan's scores were already good enough. He had stayed on the 4th and 5th floors before just to be safe. He only had one life, and he did not want to lose it. But now that he had long-range magic like Burn, he was much safer. He could finally start pushing himself.
As he stepped out of the passage, the view changed. A colder light replaced the yellow glow of the floors above. The passages and rooms on the 6th floor were much wider. The overall area was larger too. The Dungeon was shaped like a pyramid. The deeper you went, the bigger the space became.
"Time to explore."
Ronan gripped his short sword and moved forward carefully. As he went deeper, the Dungeon seemed to notice him. It decided to "celebrate" his arrival.
Gurgle...
Ronan stopped. He watched as the walls cracked open. A large number of new monsters were born right in front of him.
"One, two, three..."
"Seven of them. All War Shadows." Ronan's mouth twitched. "What a welcome."
He gripped his weapon and took his stance. His right hand was ready to cast.
War Shadows. Just like the book described. They were completely black humanoid shadows, about as tall as a person, with two arms and two legs. Their heads had a cross-shaped center with a round part that looked like a mirror.
Their biggest threat was the three sharp claws on each wrist. They fought at close range, but those claws gave them extra reach.
A War Shadow was fast. Keeping more than five meters between them was best. If they got too close, he would end up spending money on potions and repairs.
Ronan made his decision. "I'll strike first!"
Before the War Shadows could move, Ronan attacked.
"Burn!"
Boom—
The first War Shadow was engulfed in flames and staggered back.
So the direct damage still isn't enough, Ronan thought.
"Burn!"
After two War Shadows were set ablaze, the others grew furious. The mirrors on their heads flashed red. Their claws let out metallic sounds as they rushed at Ronan like arrows.
"This speed?"
The War Shadows were faster than Ronan expected. He retreated without hesitation. While moving, he kept his rhythm.
Run, cast, run, cast—
"Burn! Burn! Burn!"
Flames struck the charging shadows one after another. In a few seconds, several were already collapsing under the stacked burn damage, and only two were still able to keep moving.
Crackle...
Boom—
Another burst of flames swallowed one of them. The heat reflected off Ronan's calm face as the monster finally broke apart into ash.
"The last one. Let's test your strength."
Ronan stepped forward with his short sword.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
Sword and claws crashed together. The sound of metal echoed through the passage.
Strength is average. Faster than me. But low durability, and the weak point is still the magic stone.
The claws were dangerous. No wonder they were called beginner killers.
After a few exchanges, Ronan was forced to admit it. The claws were sharp and fast. If he got careless, he could be badly hurt.
"No wonder a War Shadow's Finger Blade sells well. These claws are trouble."
He blocked a fierce swipe and stepped back. His right arm rose again.
"Game over—"
"Burn!"
Crack—
His boots stepped over the ash scattered across the ground. After collecting the magic stones, Ronan drank some water and thought.
"Seven War Shadows went down this easily. If I didn't have Burn, that would have turned into a hard fight. I would have used potions, damaged my gear, and probably lost money on the trip."
He smiled.
"Being a mage is great!"