The Second Floor of the Silver City Dungeon

My first impression after stepping into the pillar of light was my body somehow being twisted around uncomfortably and the sense that I would lose the contents of my stomach. It was an unpleasant feeling and not even the slight pressure of Kei's hand in mine could help me orientate myself.

"That was… unpleasant." Kei said beside me. His hand left mine and I could hear him shuffling beside me. The light that filled the somewhat dense forest was gone. Even the air felt different, more damp, and humid?

I opened my eyes to see tall trees surrounding us. Vines were hanging down, occasionally entangling themselves in the roots below. A jungle? I suppose a jungle may be considered an upgrade to a forest. It was certainly thicker in the sense that shrubs covered the ground and less light broke through the towering tree cover.

"I don't see an exit." Kei muttered next to me. It was almost unnerving how his voice echoed amongst the trees. As if to answer his query water began to drip down from the leaves above.

I pulled out my jacket that had protection against the water. Getting wet would only sap my stamina. Unfortunately, I did not have a spare for Kei, but he didn't seem to mind. "I probably should be more prepared in the future. By the way, is there something special about that backpack?"

"Why do you ask?" I tried to dodge the question. Would he really believe I just received it as loot as a special time prize?

"Well you have been stuffing things into it as we come across and defeat monsters all this time. However, it doesn't seem to get any heavier or bulkier."

I wanted to smack my forehead. How could I be so careless? "Well, you see… I got this from the dungeon for completing a hidden quest."

I sounded insane. Like this dungeon was some kind of video game. Saying it out loud made it seem even more ridiculous.

"Yeah, that makes sense."

What? Is he just accepting that half-baked explanation?

"Do you really believe me?"

Kei gave me a slight smile. "Well that is easier to believe than the teleportation thing anyway. I don't think anything could surprise me anymore."

When he put it like that I couldn't help but agree with him. Even in my past life such convenient features of the system were not available to me.

"Alright, let's find the exit first. I don't like the silence here." I was feeling increasingly unnerved by the lack of noise in the forest.

What was more was it felt like someone or something was watching us. I looked up into the dark branches and felt a shiver down my back once more. It would be easy to imagine a pair of eyes looking down from that high.

"I think that would be wise. We have at least confirmed that there is a second level." Kei nodded to himself and his hand unconsciously went to the sword on his waist. I could sense the anxiety coming off of him.

I took the first step and felt my boot sink into the moss carpet of the jungle floor. It was slightly damp due to the rain dripping through the trees' canopy, making an uncomfortable sound as my boot sank. Eww. This was almost as bad as a swamp dungeon.

For a while the only sound in the jungle was the sound of our boots squeaking and sloshing about. It would normally calm the nerves to go so long without being in imminent danger, but I knew all too well what the dungeon could do to those who became complacent.

A low growl echoed in the area right before me. My heart practically jumped out of my chest and I came to a complete stop. Standing before me was a tiger about three times larger than what I would guess a regular Earth tiger would be.

My throat felt dry as I desperately tried to remember how to draw my knife. Kei reacted immediately and before I could blink was already standing in front of the tiger. Its large teeth dripped with saliva as the low growl turned into an ear shrieking roar.

My hands immediately tried to plug up my ears. Kei shouted in front of me and fell to his knees. I could only imagine how powerful the voice attack was that close to the tiger. It was at this point that I noticed a shining door behind the tiger. It was guarding our way out of the dungeon.

So this floor was a boss type floor. It felt like a sick joke. The easy floor above was nothing like encountering a boss. Cold sweat dripped down my face. The tiger's claw was raised and poised to strike Kei in front of me.

"Kei!" I shouted loudly, my voice cracking slightly. It seemed my voice was able to get through to him as he pulled his sword up in just enough time to block the deadly sharp claws.

A sharp, grating noise hit my ears and I watched as sparks flew up flashing light amongst the darkening trees. I took one step forward, unsure of what I could do to help him. Against such a large enemy, my knife felt like a play toy.

I gulped down my fear and decided to join the fray. My legs simply obeyed my orders and I was already by Kei's side. I aimed for the underside of the tiger's leg that was putting pressure on Kei's blade. The tiger roared once more as it picked up its paw that was several times larger than my face.

I immediately jumped back, but Kei got to his feet and stood firm. The fact he was able to endure the last strike was already amazing. I immediately felt awe as I stared at his brave backside. How would I have reacted to this tiger if I had been alone?

I shook my head and desperately looked for another opening. My knife barely made a scratch on the hide of the tiger. It was frustrating. I had just upgraded my weapons and they were still not effective in the dungeon. Did we try the second level too soon?

I gritted my teeth and moved as soon as I saw the tiger's paw come back down on the sword Kei held up fearlessly. However, this time the tiger was done playing with its prey and the sword broke into several pieces before obliterating Kei underneath.

My whole body went numb as fear settled into my heart. "Kei?!" All I could do was yell his name once more, but no one answered my call. The tiger used its large teeth to bite into my new friend and tear at his flesh.

My stomach contents came out at once as I dispelled them next to a nearby tree. Blood coated its maw and I knew that my friend Kei was dead. I had just met him this morning and his life had already been snuffed out by the dungeon.

You see, I had let my heart forget the pain of losing my friends one by one and eventually forgot the truth about the dungeon. Your life was not guaranteed. Or maybe I did not want to remember that part. I was stronger in this life, but it did not mean that I was invincible.

I moved swiftly while the tiger was distracted by its meal and slipped to its side. This seemed to anger the tiger and the look it gave me gave me the sense that it wanted me to wait my turn. Until today I did not realize that tigers could sneer.

It lowered its haunches and pounced in front of me. I felt my life or lives flash before my eyes. I needed to escape. To survive. How did I get out of this situation?

[Bonus Skill Unlocked!]

A voice appeared in my head. I dodged the heavy strike of the tiger and looked around me. The memory of my first time in the dungeon played in my head like a movie. The skill I was not able to view made me pause.

[Skill of the Returner has been unlocked. When the player faces an unbeatable challenge a way out is revealed to them.]

There wouldn't be such a convenient skill, would there? I shook my head and moved to the next tree. I knew the tiger was playing with me right now and I needed to take advantage of that fact. I felt a sense that I should turn to the left.

The tree I was just hiding behind burst into wood chips. The overpowered strike could bear down on me at any time. Come on skill, where was the chance?