17th Floor

The next morning, Mark woke up in a great mood. After washing up and getting ready, he sat down at his desk, pen in hand, and began to write a letter addressed to the people he cared about most: Agata, the children, and Vincent. The atmosphere in the room was calm, with the morning sun filtering through the curtains, casting a soft light on the blank paper.

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Dear Agata,

I hope you are all doing well and that your new life in Citadel 12 is treating you kindly. I arrived in Orario just yesterday, and I must say it is a unique sight. The journey was longer than expected, but it was worth it. This city is fascinating: the streets are filled with stalls selling all kinds of goods, and the people you meet come from diverse races. And then there's the Tower of Babel, majestic and imposing, dominating the skyline. I'm sure you would all love to visit this place. Once I settle in a bit better, I will make sure to invite you to come here.

I wish you all to enjoy your new life and stay healthy fully.

With affection,

Mark.

P.S. Of course, this invitation is for everyone except Vincent.

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Mark read carefully what he had written, stroking his chin as he reflected. -"Should I add anything else?" He wondered aloud. -"It seems a bit short."

[Isn't there a saying, 'it's the thought that counts'? I'm sure they will appreciate knowing you are well.]

Mark nodded a slight smile on his lips. -"You're right; you're not wrong."

After stretching his arms and checking that he had sealed the letter properly, he got ready to leave. The inn where he was staying was small but cozy and quiet, just what he had been looking for. After a quick breakfast, he set off towards the Guild, firstly to send the letter and secondly, to take on a quest to complete in the Dungeon.

Yesterday had been an adjustment day to the new city, but Mark's period of peace was over. Time was flowing too quickly, and after four months, he only had a fragment in his hands; he could no longer afford to waste more time.

'I wonder what those three are up to.' -The memory of the three girls from yesterday made him smile slightly, imagining how they must have stayed up all night talking.

Mark walked quickly, and it didn't take long for him to reach the Guild and step inside, welcomed by the lively atmosphere of the place.

Other adventurers crowded the large hall, animatedly discussing or waiting their turn to speak with the Guild officials. Mark's eyes wandered among the counters and employees tending to various adventurers. Among them, he noticed a familiar figure: Eina, the kind assistant who had helped him with his registration the day before. As soon as their eyes met, she smiled and gestured for him to come closer.

"Mister Mark, it's a pleasure to see you again. How was your first day in Orario?" -Eina asked in her usual warm yet professional tone.

"Fascinating, I would say." -Mark replied with an equally kind smile. -"The city is full of life and opportunities, but I imagine the real charm lies beneath the surface... in the Dungeon."

Eina nodded, showing a hint of concern in her green eyes. -"The Dungeon is fascinating, yes, but it's also dangerous. I recommend you be careful, especially at first. It's easy to underestimate the risks when you're new in town."

Mark appreciated her concern, but he couldn't help but notice a subtle sense of urgency growing inside him. Time was against him, and although caution was important, he needed results. -"I'll keep that in mind." -He replied with apparent calm. -"But I'm here to test myself after all."

Eina sighed slightly. She didn't know much about Mark, but he didn't seem like someone reckless, yet he also didn't seem like someone who would slow down.

"I understand. Then let me give you a practical piece of advice: start with simple missions. Here," she said, handing him a sheet, "are some requests suitable for first-time Dungeon explorers. Gathering magic crystals, eliminating a few goblins or kobolds on the Upper Floors... nothing too dangerous."

Mark took the sheet and quickly scanned it. -"Thanks, this seems exactly what I need to start."

Even though he said that, Mark's goal was to reach the 18th floor. According to the Guide, he had more than enough strength to get there. Of course, for inexperienced adventurers, thinking about reaching the 18th floor was suicide, considering how complicated and labyrinthine the floors from the 13th to the 17th were, but with the Guide's help, Mark had no problem.

"Ah, and one more thing." -Eina added. -"There's a team of adventurers descending to the Upper Floors today. You could join them, at least for the first exploration. It would help you get familiar with the Dungeon without taking too many risks alone."

Mark considered the offer for a moment. His experience told him that working in a team could be a double-edged sword: useful for getting support but risky if others were not up to par. However, he recognized the common sense in Eina's advice.

"It could be an interesting option." -He finally replied. -"But I would still prefer to explore on my own for now, at least to see what I'm capable of."

Eina sighed, sensing his response. But in the end, Mark was a level 2, so he must have enough strength to handle some dangers. That thought reassured Eina.

"Alright, here are two missions for you. Collect ten goblin ears and ten kobold claws. The reward isn't much considering your level, but it's good training."

Mark smiled gratefully at her. -"Thank you."

"It's my job." -Eina smiled. -"Can I do anything else for you?"

"Actually, yes, I would like to send this letter to this address, to Citadel 12."

"No problem. With our service, the letter will arrive in a couple of days; it just requires payment." -Eina replied.

"Perfect, then I would also like to pay for any potential reply they send." -Mark said.

"Not an issue."

After handing over the letter and the money, Mark said goodbye to Eina and then left.

Stareee

As Mark walked away, Eina could feel Misha's gaze on her.

"You didn't ask him." -She said sulkily.

Eina sighed as she shook her head, then ignored her and moved on to the next adventurer, further irritating Misha.

As Mark left the Guild, he felt a slight weight lift from his shoulders. The first part of the day had gone as planned: he had taken on a simple quest and sent his letter. Now, it was just a matter of entering the Dungeon and testing his skills.

The sunlight illuminated the streets of Orario, but his mind was already focused on the darkness waiting for him beneath the city. "Ten goblin ears and ten kobold claws," he repeated to himself, considering that, given his strength, it was a trivial challenge. But he needed to start from the basics, get accustomed to the Dungeon, and test his strength and skills before facing greater dangers.

He walked towards the tower and had to admit that the closer he got, the more imposing and massive it appeared.

As he approached the entrance to the Dungeon, he crossed paths with groups of adventurers heading there as well. Many looked at him, especially women, who didn't even seem to hide how they were undressing him with their eyes; some had even tried to flirt with him.

'I'm starting to understand the stress that the stars of my world must feel, being constantly watched and photographed.'

Of course, Mark ignored them and arrived at the entrance of the tower, which was also the entrance to the Dungeon. He could see a break in the ground with a stone spiral staircase leading into the dark depths of the Dungeon.

"Let's go, I'd say."

He and the other adventurers began to descend the stairs. Now and then, Mark looked over the edge, barely able to see the bottom.

After several minutes of descent, Mark finally reached the first floor of the Dungeon. It was not much different from being inside a fairly spacious cave, but what fascinated Mark was the blue glow radiating from the walls, which also illuminated the area.

As the Guide had explained, the first twelve floors were called Upper Floors, an area mainly for level 1 adventurers.

"It's quite crowded." -Mark thought, looking at the various adventurers around.

[It's normal if you think about it. There are many more level 1 adventurers than level 2, who in turn outnumber level 3, and so on. Moreover, these areas aren't very large, so it's quite normal for them to get congested with adventurers.]

Mark understood the Guide's words, and in the meantime, he completed his two quests in no time, then quickened his pace to reach more interesting areas.

The floors from the 5th to the 9th were larger, and the walls no longer had that blue glow but rather emanated particular green lights. Stronger monsters began to appear there, such as war shadows and killer ants, but Mark quickly killed them with his dagger.

Finally, the situation changed on the 10th floor. The ceiling was much higher, and it no longer presented a maze-like terrain but rather a vast plain shrouded in mist.

"You can't see much..." -Mark said to himself.

"KRYAAA!"

Swish! 

A monster jumped from the mist and attacked him, but in less than a second, Mark drew his dagger and stabbed it.

"Damn, how noisy it was! Is this the imp monster you were talking about?" -Mark asked.

[Exactly, they are among the weakest monsters in this area, which is also known for the appearance of large-sized monsters.]

As if they had heard the Guide's words, a group of orcs approached him menacingly.

"Haaaa... let's finish this quickly."

Drawing his claymore, Mark charged at an incredible speed. The first three orcs didn't even know what had happened before being cut in half. Others tried to attack him while he was busy, but Mark agilely dodged every attack and countered with precision.

Even though he hadn't faced any real dangers during his journey, he had constantly trained his technique and precision, which, combined with the increase in his ring, had turned him into a war machine.

"Nothing yet?"

[I still don't sense anything.]

"Damn it, we're already on the tenth floor." -Mark said, annoyed.

Throughout his descent, the Guide had activated to pick up the signal of some fragment, but still nothing. Mark had even started wasting time exploring each floor carefully, which was also why he was losing so much time, but there were still no results.

Mark continued his descent into the Dungeon, and besides not finding any fragments, he also didn't encounter any monsters strong enough to challenge him, reaching the 13th floor known as the beginning of the Middle Floors or The First Line. Here, beginner adventurers were distinguished from competent ones.

Starting from the 13th floor, the walls, ground, and ceiling were made of fresh rock. While the upper floors were simply a flat circular maze, the intermediate floors had a more complex layout that included the intertwining of upper and lower tunnels. The light became dimmer, and the air felt humid. Vertical holes leading to deeper floors appeared randomly.

Due to the high speed at which monsters formed and the appearance of level 2 monsters, it was advised that level 2 adventurers should not venture there alone. Of course, Mark was an exception, as his strength was already equivalent to that of a level 3 adventurer.

"This is more interesting." -Mark thought, feeling a slight excitement grow within him.

The Guide in his mind remained vigilant, searching for fragments or signs indicating the presence of what he was looking for. Despite meticulous exploration and constant searching, no signal had arrived yet, and Mark could do nothing but suppress his frustration.

As he walked, a series of muffled growls and heavy footsteps made their way through the silence. He stopped suddenly, sharpening his senses. A few seconds later, a pack of hellhounds emerged from the side tunnels, their eyes glowing with a menacing red light, and their hot breath condensed in the humid air. They were hungry and ready to attack.

"We meet again, bastards." -Mark's lips curled into a vengeful smile.

He remembered how that tide of monsters had chased him in the canyon, and let's say that memory was not a pleasant one.

Several flames were hurled at him, but none managed to graze Mark. One of the hellhounds tried to shoot again, but before it could succeed, Mark threw his dagger accurately into the monster's mouth, causing the flame it had created to go out of control, resulting in an explosion that also affected the others.

"Do you have any idea how many of you I've already killed?!"

With the monsters still reeling from the explosion, Mark lunged at them, denying them any opportunity to counterattack, unleashing all the pent-up rage he had towards them.

"I feel refreshed." - Mark said with satisfaction.

[...]

The vengeful smile he had painted on his face soon faded as his expression grew serious again. That was just a small victory in a larger battle, and the true goal was still far from being reached. His mind quickly returned to focus on the main task: finding the fragments.

[Host, you need to stay calm. The Dungeon is vast, and the fragments could be anywhere. Don't let frustration distract you.]

Mark nodded mentally, aware that losing his cool in that place could be dangerous.

Hours passed, and Mark's exploration continued at full speed, amidst inevitable encounters that were increasing more and more. In terms of strength, he might have been superior, but as the number of monsters began to rise, it became difficult even for him to manage, often forcing him to flee.

Mark leaned against one of the damp stone walls, his breath heavy and uneven. Fatigue was setting in, and even though his strength surpassed that of most adventurers at his level, the Dungeon made no distinctions. The constant pressure from the monsters, the relentless descent into increasingly dangerous floors, and the lack of concrete signs of the fragment were starting to wear him down.

"I hate this place." - He muttered under his breath, wiping the sweat from his forehead with the back of his hand.

The Guide, always present in his mind, remained silent for a moment, perhaps waiting for Mark to catch his breath.

[Host, I understand your frustration, but you need to be patient. This Dungeon is designed to test every single adventurer, and facing it alone is even more challenging. You need to find a balance between fighting and endurance. You can't afford to exhaust all your energy so soon.]

Mark nodded, even though he knew the Guide was right; the reality of the Dungeon was relentless. He had already pushed himself beyond the point where many adventurers would have turned back. The Middle Floors were notoriously dangerous for anyone unprepared, and he was only on the 17th floor. He knew well that with each floor he descended, the density and strength of the monsters increased exponentially.

"GRUAAAH!"

"Not again…"

Since he had passed the 14th floor, he had become far too accustomed to that roar, the minotaurs, known as the strongest monster of the Middle Floors.

Mark gripped his claymore and stood up, his heart racing in sync with the echo of the minotaur's roar. He had already faced a few, always avoiding the situation where he could be outnumbered by them.

The monster, with its imposing stature and bulging muscles, moved forward, its blazing gaze fixed on him, wielding a stone mace.

When the minotaur charged, Mark darted forward, dodging the brutal blow with a quick spin. With a fluid motion, he brought the claymore forward, aiming for the monster's leg. The hit was precise, and the minotaur let out a grunt of pain, staggering but not falling, swinging its mace.

Mark bent backward to dodge and took a step back to regain his guard and prepare to attack.

The monster blocked the blow with the mace, but Mark didn't care, as he kicked fiercely at the wound on the monster's leg.

"GRUAH!"

The monster screamed in pain and could no longer keep its footing, losing balance.

Mark seized the opportunity and with a swift movement managed to disarm the monster, then spun around, decapitating it in a single swing.

Mark stood still for a couple of seconds, opening and closing his hands in contemplation. - "It just went up."

After several days of stagnation, his ring had grown slightly, reaching 91%.

[As I told you before, to increase your strength, you need to continually challenge yourself; there's a limit to how much breathing technique can make you grow.]

Mark nodded and continued his exploration of the 17th floor, arriving in an area known to practically all adventurers of Orario, the Great Wall of Pain. The reason that room was called that was due to the particular crystal wall present there, where a massive figure seemed to be slowly forming.

[The monster Rex of the 17th floor, Goliath. It's a monster at the pinnacle of level 4, and every time it is killed, it is reborn after a week. It is said that for an exploration Familia to be truly recognized, it must face it at least once.]

"I see."

Mark looked around and crossed the strange membrane that enveloped the room. He had no worries about the monster since it was clear that it was not fully formed. He intended to pass through the area and descend to the 18th floor, but the Guide stopped him.

[Host, stop for a second.]

"Is something wrong?" - Mark asked, confused.

[I sense a fragment.]

Mark's eyes widened. - "Where?!" - He asked, looking around.

[This is the strange part; it's present but not in the way it should be.]

"For heaven's sake, Guide, get to the point!" - Mark said impatiently.

[It's there.]

Mark turned toward where it pointed, only to gasp. - "Tell me you're joking."