As we descended to the 13th floor, the atmosphere shifted dramatically. We had entered the Cave Labyrinth. The stone walls, ground, and ceiling were now made of solid bedrock, a stark contrast to the upper floors. The layout was no longer a simple circular maze - instead, it was a complex network of intertwining tunnels that branched off in multiple directions, some leading up, others down.
The air had become noticeably more moist, and the light from above had dimmed considerably. I could hear the distant sound of water dripping echoing through the passages, and occasionally glimpsed vertical holes that seemed to lead to even deeper floors.
I think it was around these floors that Bell and his team found a way to go down more easily. I don't remember clearly.
"So these are the middle floors, huh?" I said, mostly to myself. But it seems Ryuu heard me with her sensitive ears.
"Yeah, though the monster strength will be pretty similar to the ones on the 12th floor, at least until we go down to the 15th floor," Ryuu explained as we saw a group of hellhounds emerge from the wall.
And without a second wasted, they started firing fire magic at us.
"Everyone dodges!" Alise commanded even knowing that every one of us was perfectly capable of dodging an attack of this level. It's just her natural instinct as the leader, I suppose.
After the dodge, all of us went to the offensive, cutting or blowing the hellhounds away like paper dolls.
I decapitated 5 of them alone, reducing the number of them by 20 percent. While Ryuu and her familia members took care of the rest.
"That was easy." I thought.
"What do you expect? Each one of us is a level 3 or 4. We have gone to the deeper floor with this party. If these floors alone gave us trouble, then we would long be dead." Kaguya said as she seemed to regain enough energy.
"That's true." I simply agreed. Even if I do not want them see them die.
"Besides, you don't fight like a level 2 Arin. So we don't have to worry about leaving our back to you." Noin said as she picked up the magic stones.
"Yeah, I heard that you even fought a level 5 adventurer, who gained the strength to rival a level 6, as well." Iska, the Amazon's girl, also agreed. She must have heard it from Alise and Ryuu.
"Yeah, I did fought him, but I was only able to destroy the sword he had."
"Which was the crucial thing to do, And Because of which we were able to eliminate Gorran." Alise, as usual, did not shy away from praising anyone.
"I heard that you use some kind of magic to do that, but I have not seen you use it until now." Ryana Lietz, the mage girl, asked.
"There are only two reasons I have not used it yet," I explained as we made our way towards the 14th floor, killing the monster along the way.
"First is that the magic drains my mind at a rapid pace, so there is a danger of me falling unconscious if I use it for too long."
"Ahh, so that's why Lion was clinging to you," Kaguya said with a sly smile, eyes gleaming with mischief.
"I was not clinging!" Ryuu shouted as she tore apart a dungeon worm with her sword.
The scene was brutal. Even Kaguya backed off a little, understanding that she might have gone too far.
"A-And what's the second reason?" She asked quickly.
"The second is simple. We have not encountered a monster that might push me to use it yet."
"That's understandable. Even as a level 1, you were giving the enhanced infant dragon quite the fight." Ryuu stated what she had observed that day. As she once again decapitated an Al-miraj.
"Hmmm…. Then we might get the chance to see that magic when we return." Neze said, which caused me to look at her in doubt. As she punched a hellhound.
"Why is that?* I asked.
"Hm? Because we will fight the Goliath. Did Alise not mention it?"
"Ah, I remembered Alise saying there is a surprise from me. So it was this?" I asked, looking at Alise.
"Hehehe, did you like the surprise, Arin?" A cheeky smile came upon her face.
"Yeah, I did, though I would have appreciated it if you had given me a heads up," I said, since Goliath is a level 4 monster.
While it won't be a problem with this party. But I still would have liked to be made aware of it.
"Eh, but I did inform you now, though, there is still a lot of time. Since we will take a day's rest in Rivira. And start returning to the surface tomorrow." I had known that we were going to stay for a day in Rivira, so it was because of Goliath's spawn time.
.
.
.
We got to the 15th floor. And this floor has that monster, which has bad blood with Bell in the story.
Yup Minotaurs.
"From here on, the real Level 2 monsters start appearing," Alise announced. "Minotaurs are the signature monsters of this floor. They're strong, and they can use weapons as well, though they are very slow."
Almost as if summoned by her words, a deep, rumbling roar echoed through the dungeon path ahead of us. The sound reverberated off the bedrock walls, creating an ominous chorus that seemed to come from all directions.
"There's our welcoming committee," Ryana said, her eyes taking in the surroundings.
About 13 Minotaurs emerge from the wall while 5 of them come from the front, and I had to admit, it was an impressive sight. Standing nearly three meters tall, their muscular, humanoid body was covered in coarse, brown fur, with a massive head resembling that of a bull, complete with sharp horns. In their hands, some of them wielded a crude but effective-looking buster sword.
Their red eyes gleamed with predatory instinct. They started to surround us from all sides.
"Arin, think you can handle three? Alise asked, though her tone suggested she already knew the answer.
"Just three?" I replied with a grin, drawing my sword. "I was hoping for a bit more of a challenge."
The lead Minotaur let out another roar and charged, its massive hooves pounding against the bedrock floor. Its sword was raised high, aiming to cleave me in two with a single devastating blow.
But after my level up and all the training with Ais, the creature's movements seemed almost sluggish. I sidestepped the charge easily, my blade flashing out to score a deep cut across its ribs as it passed. The Minotaur stumbled, as much from surprise as pain, and turned to face me with newfound wariness.
My strength and agility have improved dramatically since my level-up. Where once I might have struggled against three Minotaurs, now I found myself playing around its attacks with ease. Another Minotaurs' sword swings towards me, their sword swings, while powerful, were telegraphed and clumsy compared to Ais's relentless training regimen.
I ducked under a horizontal swing, came up inside its guard, and drove my blade deep into its chest. The Minotaur's eyes widened in shock before it crumbled to ash. Before long, the third one tried to charge towards me, appearing suddenly from the crumbling ashes of its fellow monster.
I simply grabbed his horns, rotating the minotaurs along my body, driving it straight into the wall, and stabbed it with my sword, eliminating the minotaurs. The third one, seeing its fellow monster, tried to run away.
I simply drew a knife and threw it at the monster's knee joint, slowing the monster for a moment, which was enough for me to catch up to it. I stabbed my sword through his back as the tip of my blade came out from its chest, destroying the magic stone in the process.
The other Minotaurs had engaged the rest of the party, but the outcome was never in doubt. Ryuu's wind magic eliminated 5 of them, while Alise's rapier found the weak points in the others' defenses with precision.
"That was easier than I expected," I commented, wiping my blade clean.
Alise warned, though she was smiling. "Of course they were weak, if I have to make an analogy, they were like scouts. The deeper we go, the stronger they get. So do not let your guard down. Though knowing you, I do not have to worry about that. Since you always seem cautious,"
That's because I am cautious. I just do not wish to die so early. Because if I did, then how the heck am I going to help Ryuu and others?
We kept talking as we walked down the dungeon floors. Seeing these holes reminds me of the song.
"I am a dwarf and I'm digging a hole Diggy diggy hole, diggy diggy hole…." (song name: Diggy Diggy hole.)
"You are a High Human, though." Kaguya retorted sharply. As the other gave a soft smile or straight up laughed.
"Your voice is really good, Arin-san." Ryuu complimented me.
"Thank you, Ryuu, I heard that you like to sing as well," I asked, hoping to find an opportunity to sing together with her.
"Um. But I am not that proficient in it."
"That so not true. Your normal voice is already so pretty. I am sure your singing ability is just as good." That was the simple and plain truth.
But I do not know why she turned red? Is it because of my statement?
.
.
.
"Th-Thank you, Arin-san, but can you let go of my hand?" I looked down to see, I do infact was grabbing her hand, and our faces were close too. I quickly backed off and removed my hand.
I was expecting her to reject my hand if I tried in the future, that's why I was avoiding going near her. Because no matter how thick-skinned I am, being rejected like that still would have hurt me.
But now I did it without knowing it. But I am also glad I did. Since now I know she is just embarrassed about it rather than angry. Maybe her holding me at the time of the raid had helped her build up some resistance towards my touch?
"Wow! Arin, are you flirting with our Famila little one?" Lyra jumped in between our act. Both of us ignored her.
"I am sorry about that, Ryuu." I decided to apologize. I do not want her to think I am just some rude brute.
"It is fine, Arin-san, just be careful. Or I might accidentally punch you." Ryuu said worried.
Wait, what? I mean, I remember her being uncomfortable about it. But to attack someone on reflex, that's something.