Noah sat alone in the old chapel's side room, staring at the candlelight flickering across the cracked walls. The air was still, but his mind wasn't.
He opened his status screen again.
> [Noah – Level 1]
Strength: C
Agility: C
Endurance: C
Dexterity: D
Magic: H
Skills:
– Fusion Warrior
– Human Chimera
– Flame Core Resonance (Lv3)
– Strength Boost
– Rapid Step
– Serpent Reflex
– Crushing Force
Magic: Locked
Equipment: Heaven's Judgement (Sealed – 35%)
He was ready.
The middle floors of the Dungeon began around floor 13—and they weren't just harder.
They were different.
New monster types. Stronger packs. Less room for error.
But Noah felt it—an instinct carved into his bones by his system.
He couldn't wait anymore.
He stood, grabbed his pistols, and walked into the living room where Hestia was sketching on an old napkin with a stubby pencil.
She looked up. "You're heading out again?"
"To floor thirteen."
Her expression shifted instantly. "That's the middle layer. Most adventurers wait until they're level two before they even consider that."
"I'm not most adventurers."
She narrowed her eyes. "Don't get cocky."
He stepped forward and knelt before her.
"I'm not being cocky. I'm being confident. There's something down there. I can feel it. Something I need to find."
Her expression softened. "Then promise me one thing."
He tilted his head. "What's that?"
She held up a tiny hand. "Come back before sunset. We're having dinner together tonight. I bought meat."
He chuckled. "Now that's real motivation."
---
The descent was immediate.
Floor 10 was a long maze of stone caverns filled with hard-shelled monsters and dark corners. But Noah didn't stop.
He fought only when necessary, conserving ammo, using precision over brute force. His movements were sharper now, his energy more efficient. Every burst of flame from his pistols curved just right, his footwork glided over stone without a sound.
By floor 12, he was moving like a shadow.
And then… he reached it.
Floor 13.
The middle floor.
The walls changed. No longer rough stone, but smooth black glass—shimmering faintly with pale runes.
The air was cold. Almost too cold.
He drew both pistols, senses sharp.
Then he heard it.
Footsteps.
Someone else was here.
He rounded a corner and came face-to-face with—
A girl.
Red cloak. Short silver-white hair. Eyes like ice.
She didn't flinch. She simply looked at him.
Noah blinked. "…You lost?"
"No," she said flatly.
"Then you're just reckless?"
"You're not the only one allowed to dive deep alone."
He tilted his head. "Fair enough. Name?"
She hesitated. "…Ais."
Noah blinked again. "Wait. Ais Wallenstein?"
"Mm."
He couldn't believe it. The Sword Princess. Already this strong? This early?
"You're from Loki Familia?"
She nodded.
He whistled low. "So… the prodigy herself."
Ais looked at him, unreadable. "You've been in the rumors."
"Only the flattering ones, I hope."
"I heard you soloed a Minotaur."
He smirked. "Heard it screamed too?"
A ghost of a smile flickered on her lips. Just barely.
Then she looked past him. "We're not alone."
He turned.
Growling.
Multiple growls.
From the shadows, six silver-furred war wolves stepped into view, lips curled back over fangs, red eyes gleaming.
Ais reached for her rapier.
Noah clicked his pistols once.
"Want to race?" he asked.
She nodded. "Winner buys dinner."
He blinked, surprised—but grinned. "Deal."
Then they moved.
Ais shot forward in a blur of steel and grace, her rapier striking like lightning.
Noah weaved through the chaos, his pistols blazing flame in controlled bursts, downing two wolves before they even got close.
One lunged at his blind spot—but his new skill [Serpent Reflex] kicked in.
He dropped low, pivoted, and shot through the beast's open mouth.
It fell instantly.
[New Skill Acquired: Predatory Aura (Lv1)] – Causes minor fear in weaker monsters.
[Flame Core Resonance increased to Lv4]
[Fusion Threshold Approaching: 40% Template Sync]
He froze.
Wait—Fusion Threshold?
His screen blinked again.
> Template Sync: Kevin Kaslana – 40%
New Combat Technique Available: Flame Step – Afterimage Dash (Lv1)
He barely had time to process before the last two wolves turned to flee.
Ais caught one with a spinning slash.
Noah raised his pistol, angled his shot—
BOOM.
Clean kill.
The room fell silent.
Ais turned and met his eyes. "Tie?"
"Let's call it a draw," he said, lowering his weapons.
She wiped blood from her blade. "You fight with fire."
"You fight like a ghost."
"You don't talk like an adventurer."
"You don't either."
Another ghost of a smile.
They stood there for a moment, warriors measuring each other—not with suspicion, but respect.
Then Ais turned to go.
Noah called out, "You owe me that dinner, though."
She paused.
"You're funny."
Then she vanished into the corridor shadows.
---
Later, Noah returned to the surface—coat burned, a scratch on his cheek, but otherwise untouched.
When he opened the chapel door, the smell hit him immediately.
Hestia had cooked.
Poorly.
"Hey," she said brightly, wiping her hands. "You're alive."
"Barely survived your cooking."
"Sit down and shut up."
He laughed and took a seat.
As they ate, she glanced at him.
"Something happened," she said. "I can tell."
He paused… then smiled.
"I met someone strong."
"Friend?"
"…Maybe."
"Cute?"
He raised a brow.
"Don't give me that look," she said. "I know the way you flirt."
He just grinned and kept eating.
But inside, he was still thinking about the message from earlier.
Fusion Threshold Reached.
New Techniques Unlocking.
His power was no longer rising.
It was awakening.
And the middle floors?
They were just the beginning.