Chapter 22: Grinding: unedited

Chapter 22: Grinding

After his first experience,Lyle's journey into the dungeon floors was much smoother and faster, taking less than half the time it did previously. However, he didn't bother to deal with many of the monsters he encountered along the way. After all, they were just minor minions, and killing them wouldn't yield satisfactory rewards. It would only consume his energy and time, making it not worth the effort.

Indeed, "rewards" and "cost-effectiveness" were his considerations, much like determining the best leveling method in a game. Although Lyle had just been stimulated to become stronger, it didn't make him recklessly attack every monster he saw. Instead, it made his thinking more rational and calm.

If there's something that sets Lyle apart from the protagonist of the original story, "Bell Cranel," and most people in the world, it's this: the more stimulated he is, the calmer he becomes. Normally, it should be the opposite, becoming more excited or nervous.

Perhaps this is why he was given the unique skill "Wisdom" in the simulated Holy Grail War as a Servant.

Understanding his real strength and remaining stamina, and the pressure each floor of the dungeon brings,Lyle gradually delved into the dungeon floors, reaching his current limit area— the sixteenth floor.

Unlike the eighth floor he reached yesterday, this is a middle floor (the floors after the thirteenth). The survival environment here is much harsher than the upper floors. Whether it's the quality of the monsters or their frequency and quantity of appearance, it's several times higher than the upper floors.

No wonder the guild's standard for entering the middle floors is "a team of lv2 adventurers." Althoug hLyle estimated his level to be around lv3, he was alone and had to face various ferocious monsters— 

The obese cannibal tribe;

The agile rabbit-type monster, Needle Rabbit;

The hellhound that spews fire magic from its mouth;

And... the Minotaur, a special monster that appears after the fifteenth floor.

The Minotaur, even among the monsters in the middle floor, is unique. It has both enhanced strength and defense, making it a representative monster that leaves a deep impression on many adventurers.

That being said, whether it's the Minotaur or other monsters, they are not a big deal for Lyle in a one-on-one fight.

Of course, one-on-one scenarios, which only occur in arenas, naturally won't happen in this dungeon. Monsters will appear in groups.

Therefore, dealing with the continuous attacks from monsters coming from all directions and killing them is quite strenuous for Lyle.

However, it's just strenuous.

Although it's hard to fight against multiple opponents, there is a fundamental gap in basic abilities. These monsters can cause him trouble, but to truly threaten him, they are still far from enough.

In fact,Lyle just treats these monsters as his experience packs to grind. Even if multiple monsters surround him from various directions, it's hard to call it a desperate situation.

From a certain perspective, the sixteenth floor where Lyle is now, even though it does put some pressure on him, it's not his limit.

But—"Let's go to the next floor and increase the difficulty"—if he thinks like this, it would be very dangerous.

It's not that going there would bring extreme pressure and be dangerous... Well, maybe for ordinary people, it would be quite dangerous, but Lyle is different. He is confident that he can survive and level up by killing monsters in such an environment.

The reason why it's dangerous is that the next floor, the seventeenth floor, is not as simple as you think.

Compared to other floors, this one is very special. Because a "Floor Boss" will appear there.

It's a powerful and huge unique monster, officially named "Labyrinth's Lonely King." As the name suggests, no other monsters will spawn in the floor where it appears. It can be understood as a big boss.

Therefore, although the seventeenth floor is only one floor away from the sixteenth floor, the difficulty between the two floors is vastly different. It's not an exaggeration to say it's a world of difference.

Of course,Lyle, who already knows the settings and plot, knows what it is.

The Floor Boss of the seventeenth floor, Goliath, is a super-large giant monster, and its normal strength is probably around lv4.

It's not an opponent that Lyle can handle now. After all, he just fought with a lv4, Ryu Leon, who easily suppressed him even without using his full strength. So, how could he defeat the lv4 Floor Boss Goliath?

...Actually, there is a way.

This is Lyle's inner thought. After all, monsters are different from humans. They have no tactics to speak of. The huge body equals huge power, but it also means they can't make too clever moves.

With his eyesight and brain power, he is absolutely capable of easily predicting Goliath's next move in a fight.Lyle is quite sure about this.

If he uses all his strength to attack, all his footwork to dodge, and some strategies, even if it's a solo kill against Goliath, it's not impossible. But—

Lyle still doesn't plan to challenge Goliath.

Even though he is fully confident in his heart, there is still an unshakeable reason that prevents him from making this decision.

That is: he has no weapon.

Yes, his weapon was destroyed in the fight with Ryuu. The battles from the first floor of the dungeon to the sixteenth floor were all fought barehanded.

If it's against these ordinary monsters or elite monsters, it's fine. After all, he can barely cope with his strong power.

But, if he wants to challenge the Floor Boss Goliath without a weapon, it's a bit too arrogant, not just for Lyle, but even for a master like Ryuu.

So, let's forget about the seventeenth floor.

While thinking this,Lyle continued his monster-killing and leveling journey on the sixteenth floor.

Grinding, it's not bad.Lyle said that once he has enough attributes, he will directly go and kill Goliath