Chapter 27

I woke up bright and early to the sounds of Fortuna vomiting in the bathroom. I rolled out of bed and approached the door to the bathroom. I covered my nose due to the smell, but despite that, I walked into to find Fortuna on her hands and knees before the toilet. She gave me a miserable look as I heard her stomach churn even from across the room. I wasn't sure if it would work, but I pointed a hand at her and cast Heal. She began to look a bit better, but she was clearly still not feeling well.

"I think this should be an indication that you shouldn't drink too much next time," I said as I patted her back.

She just grunted in acknowledgment as she rested her head against the wall. I waited a moment, seeing if she wanted me to stay with her. I had plans to head into the dungeon to set up another magic circle on the 18th floor, but if I were needed here, then I wouldn't go. Fortuna opened one eye and looked at me with a half-open eye before she spoke.

"You don't need to stay, but just get me some bread and lots of water," she said with a groan.

I nodded and quickly headed off to get what she had asked for. It didn't take me long to get to the kitchen of our apartment and grab everything she had asked for. Once I deposited them with her, I headed out and down toward the dungeon. As I walked, I considered what my two main priorities were for today's exploration. Firstly, I just needed one more fire magic spell to be able to merge them all together and get the Extra Skill: Flame Manipulation. Secondly, I would set up the magic circle in Rivira. Also, while completing these tasks, I would also test out my new skill a bit.

It didn't take long for me to make it to the mouth of the dungeon and descent onto the first floor. I looked around as I thought that this will probably be the last time that I walk down these steps. If everything goes well today, then I will be able to teleport straight to the 18th floor instead of having to traverse the upper floors every time I want to enter the dungeon. I cloaked myself in Formhide as per usual, except this time, I didn't rush through the floors. I took my time forming acquiring a spell, Fire Lance. With my experience handling fire magic, it didn't take me long until I was able to use the spell expertly.

Great Sage quickly announced that I had acquired the skill, so I paused. I quickly looked over all five of my fire magic spells before activating Degenerate. I felt as the power of the spells converged and meshed with one another before rebounding and entering my soul, taking root there. It only took a few seconds for the entire process to end. A moment later, I heard Great Sage's voice in my head.

[Extra Skill: Flame Manipulation acquired]

I looked at a nearby Killer Ant that had just spawned from the wall of the dungeon. I extended my hand, and a collum of flame burst from my hand and engulfed the monster. It thrashed at first, but it quickly went still and faded into ash. I used Regulus's power to attract the stone to myself and dropped it in my storage. Then, now that one of my goals was done, I rushed toward the other one. I maintained a quick pace as I rushed through the floors and finally passed the 12th floor.

I stepped into the middle floors of the dungeon with a grin as I dropped my Formhide. I could have simply rushed down to Rivira, but I wanted to at least experience fighting down to the safe floor once. The first thing I did was use my new Fatal Attraction skill. There seemed to be no outward effect, but internally I could feel a hypnotic slow rhythmic pulsing. I didn't use my skill at max power, just activating a small portion of its power, but that skill turned out to be very effective.

Dozens of Hellhounds approached at a run while a few of the rabbit monsters popped out of the walls, having newly spawned right in front of my eyes. I grinned as I saw just how easy this skill would make my life. I let electricity flow from one hand while an inferno built up in my other hand. Once I charged up a bit, I released the electricity in a devastating bolt that leaped from monster to monster, killing dozens with a single shot. Then, I turned and launched a stream of flames that expanded and consumed even more monsters.

I closed my first and cut off the stream of flames, watching as the charred corpses of the monsters faded into mist. Again, I used Regulus's power to collect the stones. Once I was done with that, I looked around at the new layout of these floors. All the walls, floors, and ceilings were made of thick bedrock, and I noticed many tunnels veering in every direction, with some even going up or down slightly. The air also seemed to be damper, and I would assume there is less light, but I couldn't tell with Magic Sense active.

I decided to move on to the deeper floors sooner rather than later, so I picked a tunnel and began walking. The 13th and 14th floors were no trouble whatsoever, but I had to admit that I felt a bit of anticipation as I approached the 15th floor. This is where I would start to encounter Minotaurs and Ligerfangs. I walked onto the 15th floor and started to hear distant sounds of battle, so I approached using Formehide once more and approached the noise. I emerged from the tunnel I was in and overlooked a wide room that slopped down to a few more tunnel entrances. There were a few holes in the room that stretched down into darkness and presumably lower floors.

What caught my attention was the party that was obviously about to get overwhelmed by monsters. Each and every member of the party wore red cloaks, which were made of Salamander Wool. There were four of them in total, but it was clear that there were too many Hellhounds and Minotaurs pressuring them. About three of the massively muscled creatures were fighting the group, supported by the firepower of about half a dozen Hellhounds. I considered if I should step in to help, but I hesitated for a moment. I didn't know if I wanted to involve myself, but I decided to help when one of the minotaurs ripped off one of the party member's arms.

The healer, who wasn't engaged with any monsters, tried to heal him, but that only gained the Minotaur's attention. I sighed as I summoned my spear and filled it with my magical aura and electricity before I took a step forward and threw the spear with everything I had behind it. The spear ripped through the air and ripped through the Minotuars's head, arterial spray from the monster's destroyed neck spraying all over the woman. I followed up by leaping out of my spot and racing toward the group.

One of the fighters, a woman with a katana, got distracted by my approach, with led to her sword getting shattered alongside her bones as I Minotaur grabbed her arm and tossed her into the air and then drove its hardened head and horns into her as she fell down toward it. Her body crumpled to the floor like a child's discarded toy. Before she could be finished off, I leaped forward and punched the Minotaur, sending it stumbling back a step or two.

"Here," The blood-drenched healer called as she tossed me my spear just as the monster charged at me.

I waited for the monster to be right in front of me before I leaped and stabbed down at the same time. My jump carried me over the charge, allowing me to rip my aura-enhanced spear down and through the back of the creature's head, killing it instantly. The last man had managed to down his Minotaur, be he wasn't in great shape. I twirled my spear to get the blood off of it as I simply turned and began to walk away. I paused as the healer called out to me.

"Where are you going?" she called out, the panic and fear in her voice were evident.

"To Rivira," I said honestly, knowing that wasn't what she meant but not caring.

"You're just going to leave us in this condition?" She asked, her fear turning to anger.

"I didn't force you to enter these floors unprepared," I said, turning to face the girl, "I already saved your life, it's not my responsibility to babysit you,"

I knew my words were a bit harsh, but if they weren't prepared to die in the dungeon, then they shouldn't have come down this far. I was about to open my mouth to say more when I sensed a presence enter the room with my Magic Sense. It was faint, almost unnoticeable, but it was there. Someone was invisible and sneaking to get a vantage to watch my interaction with these people. I frowned because being invisible shouldn't have done anything to impede Magic Sense, but this person remained hazy to my senses.

There was only one person who had ever eluded my Magic Sense, most likely with the use of a magic item, Hermes. That probably meant he had given that item to Asfi so that she could spy on me. Unfortunately for her, it seems like leveling up makes my skills a bit stronger too.

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I decided on the FL by a coin toss