The stone stairway spiraled down into a tunnel lit by pale-blue crystals.
The air was colder here, sharper, carrying the faint stink of blood and mold.
---
Derrin: "Second floor… this is where the real dungeon begins."
Mera: "What's that supposed to mean?"
Rynor: "It means everything you learned on Floor 1? Forget it. This place changes the rules."
Alyra said nothing, but Kael noticed her eyes scanning every shadow. She moved with predatory patience, each step measured.
---
They emerged into a long corridor. The walls were jagged rock, the ground damp with condensation.
Blue crystals glowed faintly, but in the center of the path lay scattered bones, half-buried in grime.
Kael's brows furrowed. Too obvious.
---
Kael: "Wait. Don't move forward yet."
Rynor: "And why not?"
Kael: "Because if I were setting a trap, I'd..."
His boot nudged a pebble forward.
The moment it rolled past the center, the ground snapped open with a metallic clang, revealing a bed of rusted spears.
Mera gasped. "That's… a lot of spikes."
---
[Floor 2 Environmental Hazard: Pitfall Spear Trap]
Damage: Instant death if fallen in.
Detection: Low (hidden pressure plate).
---
Derrin: "Nice eyes, rookie. You just saved one of us from getting skewered."
Kael: "Or all of us."
They skirted the edge carefully. The traps continued, tripwires releasing dart volleys, collapsing ceilings, hidden spike walls.
Every time, Kael spotted them seconds before they triggered.
---
By the time they reached the central chamber, they were all sweating.
In the center stood their next opponent.
---
[Enemy Identified]
Name: Stonefang Lizard – Floor 2 Guardian
Rank: B- (Mid Tier Boss)
Level: 45
Power Level: 4,980
Health: 8,000 / 8,000
Strength: 140
Agility: 95
Endurance: 130
Skills:
Stonehide (Lv.4) – Reduces incoming physical damage by 40%.
Tail Sweep (Lv.3) – Area attack, knocks enemies back.
Ground Tremor (Lv.2) – Stuns enemies within a 5-meter radius.
Regeneration (Lv.1) – Restores 1% HP per second for 10 seconds when under 20% HP.
---
The lizard's scales shimmered like granite in the crystal light. Its eyes were molten gold, unblinking.
Rynor: "Alright… this one's mine to tank. Kael, stick to soft spots, joints, belly."
Kael: "Got it."
---
Battle Start
Rynor charged, shield raised.
The lizard lunged with terrifying speed, jaws snapping shut inches from his face.
The impact reverberated through the chamber.
Kael darted left, blade flashing toward its hind leg, clink. His strike skittered off the stone-like scales.
Stonehide. So normal strikes won't do it… then I'll just have to make mine abnormal.
---
Kael gripped his weapon tighter, feeling the 100× talent humming in his core.
He focused, not on stats, but on intent. Every point he'd gained from leveling surged into his muscles at once.
---
[100× Talent: Combat Application Activated]
Temporary Bonus: +400% Strength, +250% Agility for 30 seconds.
---
Kael's next strike didn't bounce.
It sank.
The lizard hissed, stumbling as his blade carved into the softer flesh beneath its foreleg.
Alyra: "...That's new."
---
The lizard spun, tail sweeping in a wide arc. Kael ducked, rolling forward, his blade slicing at its exposed underbelly.
Blood sprayed, thick, black, steaming.
Rynor: "Nice hit! Keep it moving!"
Kael: "Working on it!"
---
The lizard roared, slamming its tail into the ground. Ground Tremor erupted, everyone staggered except Kael, who had leapt onto its back.
He drove his sword downward, aiming for the base of the skull.
The blade sank halfway, not enough. The beast thrashed violently.
---
Mera: "Hold it steady!"
Alyra: "On it!"
Shadow chains whipped out, binding its legs. Rynor rammed his shield against its jaw, forcing its head upward.
Kael took the opening, twisting the blade with all his might.
---
Critical Strike!
[Stonefang Lizard Defeated!]
The beast collapsed, shattering crystal formations as it fell.
---
EXP & Rewards
Base EXP: 2,400 (Guardian)
Kael's Talent Bonus: ×100 → 240,000 EXP
[Level Up!]
Kael: Level 19 → 27
+80 Stat Points
Overflow Potential Bonus: +25 STR, +20 AGI, +18 END
---
Other Gains:
Rynor: Level 31 → 32 (+10 STR, +7 END, +5 AGI)
Alyra: Level 44 → 45 (+9 STR, +6 AGI, +5 END)
Derrin: Level 26 → 27 (+8 AGI, +5 STR, +4 END)
Mera: Level 27 → 28 (+7 END, +6 INT, +4 AGI)
---
Derrin: "...Kael. Your level just jumped again. That's not normal."
Alyra: "We'll talk about it later. For now… Floor 3 awaits."
Kael just smiled faintly. Let them wonder.