My daily routine after dinner at Akeno's shrine returned to the same harsh cycle: training, focusing Qi, and climbing the tower. I don't know who designed that dungeon, but each floor felt like it was made specifically to make sure I couldn't breathe comfortably even for a second.
The difference was noticeable right from the start.
Between floors 1 and 10, the enemies were still just noisy goblin mobs whose racket was worse than the danger they posed. But after passing that number, everything doubled in level—size, strength, and the ways they tried to kill me.
From ordinary rats, to dog-like rats, until floor 20 turned into something that could be called a giant rat with deadly plague magic.
Of course, all of it was aimed at my face.
I got hit with poison and plague debuffs almost every time their attacks passed. And although my Qi grew more refined in suppressing the effects during battle, once the fight was over… yeah, my body demanded all the pain I had been holding back.
Dizziness came, my body shivered, and my vision spun. It felt like my body was loudly protesting my choice of dangerous hobbies.
As a result, in a single day I could gulp down High Potions up to twenty bottles. Twenty.
If my wallet had feelings, it would've strangled me since the fifth bottle and left me unconscious in front of the counter.
But—I survived. And for that day, that was more than enough.
My target now was floor 25, but the journey there began from floor 21. The moment I stepped in, the scenery changed into a dark stone corridor with damp air… and of course, the sound of fast footsteps not even trying to hide.
Kobolds.
Lots of kobolds.
They scattered like a swarm of tiny soldiers who knew how to form a proper formation. Some carried daggers, some short spears, and a few even had round wooden shields—simple but quite effective.
"Hah… so this is a different level again, huh."
They hopped from stone to stone agilely, circling my position like a group of small predators deciding which part of my body they'd bite first. Their movements… quick, rhythmic, and clearly not the sloppy kind like goblins.
And seeing how they moved made me unable to hold back one silly thought:
"These guys… remind me of Tobio Ikuse in his Balance Breaker mode."
Of course the comparison wasn't fair—Tobio Ikuse was a werewolf capable of manipulating shadows and attacking from multiple angles. But the movement pattern… nimble, low, and full of pressure. There was the same nuance when enemies surrounded me from blind spots.
"Good grief… why do I have to deal with a discount version of Tobio at the start of the week…"
One kobold jumped high, swinging a dagger toward my face. I ducked and pushed Qi into my legs, shifting to the side while moving my weight. Three other kobolds followed right after, as if they had rehearsed the choreography beforehand.
Coordinated movements. Fast steps. Clean pressure patterns.
"All right…" I whispered, adjusting my breath.
If they wanted to fight that smart, I'd respond seriously too.
My left hand began trembling softly as Qi gathered in my arm, the slime sword in my right hand vibrating as if it were excited, and the kobold circle tightened, their yellow eyes glowing in the dark.
The hunt on floor 21 had just begun, and before I realized it, I had already broken through floors 22, 23, and 24 without even managing to take a long breath. Kobold archers, kobold mages, kobold warriors—they all came in layers, as if the tower was personally testing me. And the climax awaited me on floor 25.
The moment my body stepped out of the portal, the air changed. Heavier, denser, and filled with the scent of dried blood. The stone arena beneath me was surrounded by tall walls, and in the center stood a massive figure with dark gray fur and two giant axes in each hand.
Werewolf.
Not the usual kind—a commander type, full of muscle and bloodlust.
Around it, two dozen kobolds stood ready for battle.
"Hah… this is the mid-boss? Looks like I've entered a raid without a party."
I leapt down from a small cliff, landing with a thud that made the nearest kobold shriek.
Without giving them time, I moved.
Shadow Step.
One step, one shadow, one head flying. The kobolds tried forming a formation, but my blade was already spinning.
Heavenly Demon Sword Arts – Spiraling Serpent.
Qi flowed in a spiral, slicing through their ranks like sharp wind. Many didn't even scream before their bodies were cleanly split.
But a heavy roar shattered the rhythm of the fight.
GRAAAARRR!
The werewolf jumped. The two axes spun like lethal propellers, cutting through the air and creating a gust that blew my hair back.
I dropped low.
BOOM!
The ground behind me cracked as the axe struck.
"Tsk… you're strong too."
I kicked off the floor and forced Qi to surge wildly through my meridians.
Heavenly Demon Body Arts – Meridian Ignition.
My body felt light—almost like flying. I shot forward and pierced its ribs, but the monster spun too fast. Its claws grabbed my arm—
CRACK!
Pain flashed, then my body was thrown into the air. I landed with ragged breaths.
"Okay… this needs serious mode."
I lowered my stance, channeling black-violet Qi. The air trembled, and the pressure froze.
Heavenly Demon Arts – Profane Killing Intent.
Every kobold stopped moving. Even the werewolf froze, its fur standing as its instincts forced it to retreat.
"Come…"
With one breath, I launched forward.
A black shadow. A burst of Qi. Axes flying.
And the terrified roar of a creature only now realizing who it was fighting.
...
Out there—while Jun was busy grinding kobolds and werewolves in the Tower of Babel—Kuoh Town continued turning as usual. Only, for its supernatural residents, things were a bit… lively.
A day had passed since Akeno had lunch with Jun at her shrine. A perfectly normal day for humans, but for the paranormal student council, that was enough to spark internal rumors.
Rias Gremory, President of the Occult Research Club, sat in her room with a cup of tea. Her red hair flowed softly, but her narrowed eyes showed a curiosity she clearly couldn't hide.
"Akeno," she called softly, "lately you seem… quite radiant."
Akeno, who was pouring tea for Asia, only smiled with her usual elegance.
"Fufufu~ is that so, Rias?"
"Yes. And rumor also says you were seen talking with a man. A human, they say?"
Her tone wasn't angry—more surprised. Rias rarely got surprised, but hearing that Akeno, who usually kept her distance, suddenly grew close to some mysterious man? That was surprising indeed.
Akeno simply covered her lips with a finger. "He's interesting, that's all."
Kiba glanced from the corner, Asia tilted her head full of curiosity, and Issei…
…tried to hide the wound he got just yesterday.
But before Rias could ask further—
A magic circle from a certain devil clan appeared in the middle of the room.
//--//
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