"Zzzzt!"
A bolt of lightning streaked across the first floor of the Dungeon. As it passed, every Goblin in its path was instantly reduced to black ash, leaving behind only their Magic Stones and short swords as proof they'd ever existed.
"Clack, clack!"
Strange noises echoed from the walls. Dozens of holes suddenly opened in the once-smooth surface, each containing a curled-up Goblin clutching a short sword. This was how Dungeon monsters were born. Any first-time adventurer witnessing this would feel a deep discomfort—because only in moments like this did they remember that they were inside the belly of a living creature called the "Dungeon." That thought alone was enough to unsettle many.
Dozens of Goblins hit the ground at once—a truly overwhelming sight.
But before any of them could move, the same bolt of lightning flashed through again, instantly turning them all to ash, just like the wave before.
This time, however, the streak of lightning came to a halt, revealing the figure within.
"Phew..."
Bell, having taken lightning form, came to a stop and let out a breath. He had burned through quite a bit of stamina and mana. Over the past fifteen minutes on the first floor, he hadn't paused once, and maintaining that form had drained nearly eighty percent of his mana. If he kept going like that, he'd hit mana depletion and risk passing out in the Dungeon. That was something he couldn't afford—so he stopped.
Listening carefully, Bell noted the walls had quieted, no new monsters emerging. With the lull, it was a good time to gather the Drop Items. Goblin Magic Stones were cheap, but their short swords? Those had value.
After catching his breath, Bell quickly moved to collect everything off the ground.
A quick count revealed 241 Goblin short swords.
In just a matter of minutes, he'd taken down that many Goblins. The first time he'd entered the Dungeon, it had taken him an entire day to do the same. Here, Bell could clearly see how much he had grown. Compared to his first time, he was without a doubt much stronger now. But the fact that magic could push his efficiency to such extremes—that was something else entirely.
'The practical use of Lightning isn't bad. But… isn't the mana consumption a little too low?'
That was what puzzled Bell. The magic he used on himself had drastically reduced mana costs, but still—this spell shouldn't have lasted so long and left him with twenty percent of his mana. Over the past three days, Bell had carefully measured his mana capacity and knew exactly how much Lightning Command used. But today, it had lasted far longer than before.
'There must be a reason. If I can figure it out and use it properly, I could extend how long I stay active.'
With that thought, Bell stored the "Hestia Knife" in his dimensional space and took out Kuji Kanesada. First, he needed to recover his mana. Then, it was time to figure out why he had been able to maintain his magic for so long. This wouldn't be a blitz tactic—it was time for a research battle.
These were the two combat styles Bell used: research battles when things were going smoothly, and blitz battles when under pressure.
The first floor no longer posed a threat to him, so there was no need to keep speed-clearing Goblins. He'd be better off using this time to refine his technique and work toward mastering Tsubame Gaeshi. Besides, something unusual had occurred—something he didn't recognize. And with the unknown always came risk and unpredictability. He needed to understand what was going on.
After a brief rest, Bell felt his mana had recovered by nearly twenty percent—a frighteningly fast rate. But he knew why. "Meditation." As long as he entered a meditative state while resting, he could quickly recover both stamina and mana. On top of that, his five senses were sharpened during meditation, allowing him to stay aware of his surroundings—perfect even for resting in the Dungeon.
Suddenly, the sound of footsteps echoed nearby. Bell tensed, frowning slightly, and slipped into the shadows.
Two sets of footsteps approached. Both were heavy—one dull, the other even heavier. Judging by the weight, they were likely two well-built Adventurers.
"There aren't even any Goblins on the first floor today?"
A gruff voice came from further down the passage, laced with irritation. From the sound of it, Bell could tell the man was annoyed. Normally, only fresh adventurers came to the first floor. On most days, this place was deserted. So why were people here today?
"It's chaos down below, but the first floor's dead quiet. What the hell's going on?"
Chaos?
Bell perked up at that. In the Dungeon, the word "chaos" was never a good sign. If the Dungeon was "chaotic," it meant the monsters were acting up. No Adventurer ever wanted to see a "chaotic" Dungeon.
As the footsteps came closer, Bell finally got a good look at the two.
One had a face covered in stubble, a vicious expression, and sharp, narrow eyes that gave off a cruel, indifferent vibe. He was tall—easily over 180 centimeters—with a burly build. His gear was cheap, and the massive sword on his back had visible chips along the blade. Clearly, it hadn't been maintained in ages.
The other figure caught Bell by surprise. He hadn't expected to see her here.
Dressed in a white trench coat, her face hidden beneath the hood, the only thing visible were eyes filled with numb despair. On her back was a massive pack several times her size, which immediately gave her away—not an Adventurer, but a supporter. Her job was to handle Drop Items, Magic Stones, and baggage.
Liliruca Arde, a supporter from the Soma Familia. Because of her role, and her addiction to Soma's wine, she was treated as the perfect target for exploitation by the Familia's Adventurers.
Bell noticed the hopelessness on Liliruca's face. There wasn't a shred of light in her eyes. Still, he didn't focus on her too much. What really caught his attention was what the other Adventurer had said.
"Hey, aren't you gonna say anything?"
"..."
"Tch, so boring."
Annoyed by her silence, the man clicked his tongue and scowled. But he didn't press the issue. For someone who was constantly exploited, it was only a matter of time before they ended up like this. Talking to someone who had already given up was pointless. As far as he was concerned, this Pallum was only good for that one thing.
After that, the Adventurer said nothing more, leaving Bell with no way of knowing what exactly he meant by "chaos."
'Is it... because of me?'
Whenever he couldn't make sense of a situation, Bell's first instinct was to suspect himself. Maybe the Dungeon's abnormal monster spawns were caused by him. But could his presence really affect the entire Dungeon?
...
(40 Chapters Ahead)
p@treon com / PinkSnake