The two continued to wander the second floor for an hour, killing many goblins and acquiring many magic stone fragments.
Ying Ping also gave Kokoluo opportunities to practice and level up.
After they felt this floor no longer presented a challenge, they finally decided to explore the third floor.
Ying Ping slung his spear behind his back and drew the green-glowing steel longsword.
The quality of this weapon was much higher than the spear, and it was also very comfortable to use.
"Third floor now, we need to be careful and not let our guard down."
He reminded Kokoluo in a low voice, "The monsters here will definitely be completely different from before."
[Third Floor Quest Updated]
Kill 25 Long-Tongued Lizards (0/25)
[Reward: Passive Skill - Eagle Eye]
As soon as they stepped onto the third floor, a damp, musty smell assailed them.
The walls were covered in sticky liquid, and strange fibrous strands hung from the ceiling.
"Master..."
Kokoluo suddenly tugged on Ying Ping's sleeve, pointing warily at objects ahead and saying, "Those aren't rocks, they're lizard monsters..."
Ying Ping focused his gaze and instantly felt his scalp tingle.
The entire passage's walls and ceiling were densely covered with brownish-grey long-tongued lizards.
Their rough skin blended perfectly with the environment; only their occasionally rotating yellow vertical pupils and extended tongues revealed their positions.
"One, two..."
Ying Ping gave up counting at the seventh, "There are too many. Let's advance slowly."
Suddenly, a lizard attacked the two of them.
It had been lurking on the ceiling, and upon seeing them, it extended its meter-long tongue, whipping it like a lash.
"Clang!"
Ying Ping raised his shield to block, and the sticky tongue wrapped around the shield.
"Come here!"
He yanked hard, using his astonishing strength to pull the lizard above him towards himself, while simultaneously activating Crippling Strike.
"Pfft!!!"
The blade flashed red, and the lizard's head fell in response.
[Killed Long-Tongued Lizard (1/25)]
[Gained 10 experience points]
"Kokoluo, their weakness is..."
Before Ying Ping could finish, three lizards lunged simultaneously from different angles.
"Blessing of Holy Light!"
Kokoluo's staff-spear glowed green.
Under the buff of the auxiliary magic, Ying Ping felt his body become lighter.
He dodged the attack with a sideways flip, his longsword tracing a perfect arc in the air.
"Charged Strike!"
A white sword light flashed, and three lizards were simultaneously cut in half, turning into dust and dropping magic stone fragments.
The subsequent battle became even more efficient.
Ying Ping used Shadow Step to move quickly, singling out isolated lizards.
Kokoluo was responsible for vigilance and support, occasionally using her elven control over the environment to tell Ying Ping the positions of other lizards.
With their cooperation, when the twenty-fifth lizard fell, a system prompt appeared:
[Quest Completed]
[Obtained Passive Skill: Eagle Eye]
[Effect: Enables night vision, enhances dynamic vision and environmental observation]
[Experience full]
[Level Up to LV3]
[Shadow Monarch System]
[Level]: LV3
[Strength]: 41 → 46
[Agility]: 24 → 29
[Stamina]: 20 → 25
[Intelligence]: 10 → 15
[Magic Power]: 6 → 11
[HP]: 115 / 115
[MP]: 11 / 11
[Skills]: Shadow Step LV1, Crippling Strike LV1, Charged Strike LV1, Eagle Eye LV1
[Free Attribute Points]: 0
Ying Ping closed his eyes, having already allocated the 10 attribute points to Strength and Agility.
When he opened his eyes again, the world became clearer than ever before—
In the dim environment, he could even clearly see the tiny barbs on a lizard's tongue fifty meters away.
This visual effect was truly astonishing.
"Master, your eyes..."
Kokoluo pointed at his pupils in surprise, "They've turned red!"
Ying Ping touched the corner of his eye: "Ah, it's nothing. It's the effect of a new skill. I leveled up again."
"Is that so?"
"Congratulations, Master, on becoming even stronger. This is truly cause for celebration."
Kokoluo immediately showed a genuinely joyful smile.
Looking at the adorable and well-behaved loli elf in front of him, Ying Ping's heart stirred.
A different kind of emotion quietly grew within him.
He crouched down, stroked her silver-white hair, and gently asked Kokoluo, "Kokoluo, you are my attendant, right?"
Kokoluo froze, a hint of confusion flashing in her clear, ruby-like eyes, but it quickly returned to determination.
She straightened her slender back, her small face full of resolve as she said, "Yes, Master."
"As long as it is your command, no matter what enemies lie ahead, Kokoluo will not flinch."
"Even if it means death, Kokoluo will stand before you until the very last moment."
"Is that so? Thank you, Kokoluo."
Ying Ping's heart warmed, and a gentle current flowed within him.
He could no longer suppress the impulse within him, and immediately stepped forward, gently embracing Kokoluo.
Kokoluo's body instantly stiffened, and her small face turned crimson.
Ying Ping chuckled softly in her ear: "Kokoluo, I like you. As your master, may I kiss you?"
Kokkoro instantly blushed crimson, her ear tips turning bright red. She nervously clutched the corners of her clothes, fidgeting as she stammered, "Ah... ah... this... this kind of thing..."
Her voice grew softer and softer, almost inaudible.
Ying Ping stared intently at her ruby-like eyes and asked again, "Of course it's okay, right?"
Kokkoro's face was already flushed with a deep blush, like a ripe apple.
She hesitated for a moment, then finally nodded shyly, her voice as faint as a mosquito's buzz: "It's okay."
Ying Ping's lips curved slightly upward, and he slowly lowered his head and kissed her.
Kokkoro felt a sudden 'buzz' in her head, becoming dizzy, and her body went soft and weak.
After a long while, Ying Ping finally released her, satisfied.
Looking at Kokkoro's shy yet adorable expression, he couldn't help but say with a smile, "This is a secret between the two of us. Don't tell Hestia, or she'll definitely get angry."
Kokkoro quickly nodded, saying very shyly, "Mm, I understand, Master."
Then, Ying Ping took Kokkoro's small hand and said, "This trip was very fruitful. Come on, let's go back."
Kokkoro nodded obediently and followed behind Ying Ping.
The two returned along the path they came from. Kokkoro kept her head down the whole way, occasionally stealing a glance at Ying Ping before quickly looking away.
When they reached the second floor, she suddenly asked in a small voice, "Master... that... did I perform well enough?"
Ying Ping stopped and looked at her seriously: "Of course, you did very well. Without your support, I wouldn't have been so smooth."
He paused, then showed an ambiguous smile, "And... that kiss just now was great too. It tasted as delicious as milk-flavored jelly."
"W-waah..."
Kokkoro immediately covered her burning face.
Ying Ping laughed heartily, took her hand, and turned to walk back.