Struggling Floor Clearing
I kept moving ahead sideways using Mana Control.
This area looks like a run of the mill dungeon asides from the high gravity.
It's full of inhuman traps like previous floors but the gravity alone has made it an order of magnitude harder.
I can't fight properly while lying sideways, and staying too long here is gonna knock me out cold from lack of blood circulating to my head.
I did try fighting while hanging upside down in the air to circumvent that downside but it only makes it harder for both me and my opponent.
Watching magic beasts looking at me wonderingly in the middle of combat was indescribable...
Everything is heavy on Floor 19, even my equipment feels like restraining fetters.
I could put them away in Item Screen out of combat and only equip them during but it's quite a hassle.
The attacking magic beasts suffer from the same environment I do as well, they mostly attack with downward swings to avoid going against the gravity pull so their moves are easy to read.
Dodge once and they leave a huge opening to exploit at, unbecoming of high level magic beasts. It makes dealing with them a cinch. With Mana Powered Armor's assistance, I can move faster than those beasts.
Also, this Floor is an excellent opportunity to forge body if only I had time.
Thanks to the constantly high gravity pull, my STR and AGI have been rapidly increasing even though I've only been here for half a day.
I think they're increasing by 1 every two hours. Staying here for even one month would make an incredible difference. Muscle-wise especially.
The loot has been pretty nice too. LUCK-sensei is finally rearing its shiny head.
Got a lot of Attribute-increasing seeds and even potions that work like Support Magic buff.
I got some knives and spears made of Hihiirogane and even Orichalcum gear at last.
I put them away since they're not fit for this Floor. Wonder if they're usable in the creation of a new great hammer.
<<It is estimated that pure Orichalcum cannot withstand a clash between Kajikawa Hikaru and a Demon King-class opponent.>>>
O, ou, okay.
Isn't Orichalcum supposed to be the hardest metal in this world, even that's no good huh... What do then.
No wait? I think Menu-san mentioned something about how to use Orichalcum and stuff at the end of Hunting Fest back then... Well, whatever, I'll think about it later.
Taking all this loot back home would not be possible without Item Screen or Item Bags.
This increased item drop rate is probably another way to entrap greedy adventurers. Wicked.
Now then, I'm done with leveling, working out (not by will), and looting. Next up is the boss room.
I'm Lv 76 right now. Raised my level by 11 in this dungeon alone.
So many in just a few days, why don't other adventurers go here... I guess that's suicidal without Menu.
That's it, I'll recommend Hero this leveling spot once he's gotten over his trial.
『Hi, hi, how you doin'? Found me some real nice leveling spot, wanna give it a spin?』 or something.
I can imagine him going 『Meh, I bet it's a real risky place with deaths abound.』
At the farthest reach of Floor 19, there stood a red crystal enveloped in an enormous body of water.
Externally, it looks like an exquisite object of nature, but Menu tells me it's actually a type of magic beast.
It's called 『★Gravity Crystal』, the name says it all about its ability.
It's also got the Unique Skill 【Gravity Magic】, the high gravity pull on this floor is probably caused by this thing.
『........』
Clink, that sound echoed as the red crystal inside the water started emitting an even brighter red light.
"U, guooo...!!?"
My body became unbelievably heavier than ever.
Even Mana Powered Armor feels like it does nothing. Ordinary humans would have been crushed to death.
It's around 20 times higher pull than normal. I could somehow tell how that crystal made this gravity pull happen due to the sheer strength exerted.
The crystal must have spread mana all around it and intensely pushed it downward.
As the load is added on the space itself, everything including air and all objects within are subjected to it.
Ugugugu...!! T-this can't go on...!
My HP hasn't decreased yet, but I'd likely take damage once my blood flow goes haywire from this gravity pull.
Lying sideways does me no good now. The pull is too strong it's as if all my blood is being pushed downward...! The moment my HP goes zero, my blood veins would pop off, killing me!
Using Energy Control to forcefully move my body consumes an unthinkable amount of stamina.
I'd use it all up in five minutes if I were to move like normal. Can I end this thing in that time frame? Absolutely not.
This thing is a Lv91 Unique Monster, it's pretty much on par with Oni-sensei no?
Oni-sensei can probably move just fine if he used True Beast Release, but me? No way in hell.
What do I do, how do I defeat this thing...!?
<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka .com >
~~~~~~~~~~POV of hero's group currently enjoying school-themed horror~~~~~~~~
The communication device instructors gave me suddenly rang in the middle of a pitch black darkness.
I pushed the accept button and Dukeris-san's voice came out of the speaker.
『Hello. It's me, you guys got time?』
"Yes. We're in the middle of a run, but we can spare time."
"Instructor! Why did you call now of all time! You almost killed me from shock!"
"I-I can't see anything...! Light, light, where's the light switch at...!?"
『...Sure you guys are alright over there? You kinda sound real distressed, is it a bad time right now...?』
"...Please don't worry about it."
His timing is the worst in a way, but it doesn't seem like anything is coming for us, nor do I feel any suspicious presence.
I can spare time to take a call. In fact, I'd rather have someone to talk with in this situation.
『How's the trial going? Apparently some past heroes spent a month to clear their trials.』
"Ah, we've finally got a breakthrough. I believe we should reach the deepest area in five days at our current pace."
『Oh, smooth sailing I see. Sounds like you didn't hit a big snag.』
"...Well, I did die over 100 times to get this far though."
『O, oh I see. Sounds rough... That's always been your thing anyhow, keep at it. Uh, I guess dying is a weird thing to get used to.』
Tell me again. Death feels so near and close, it's like part of my daily life now. What is this carnage.
"What about your side, instructor? Any issue?"
『Well, I'm ashamed to admit, I've hit a dead end. Truly a shameful display especially when Radia-kun and Alan-kun quickly learned the knack.』
"Ah, please don't fret over it too much. I mean it's Kajikawa-san's directive after all. Can't expect anything ordinary out of it."
『Umu... So, do you have any news on that Kajikawa-san, aka Hikaru-kun?』
"Err, I'm sorry. I can't use Menu in these ruins so I haven't heard a pep from him."
Well, Menu seems usable at his side so our situation must be crystal clear to him.
He's probably counting how many time I die in a day. Kinda embarrassing.
『I still find it hard to believe he is aiming for the Floor 21 of that dungeon. I would have gone and stopped him if it weren't for the situation.』
"Please be sure to keep it from Alma and the girls. They might go after him if you slipped up."
『Yeah, I got it under control. Lunati and I have experienced first hand just how dreadful that dungeon is.』
"Oh, the both of you have conquered Floor 21 then?"
『Umu, well, it wasn't much problem up until Floor 19, but Floor 20...』
"Floor 20? Isn't Floor 21 the most dangerous?"
『Well yeah. Floor 21 houses so many bizarre phenomenon you would think the very laws of the world themselves are distorted there. We got jumped every time we opened a door. The return is worth it though.』
"But you mentioned Floor 20."
『Yeah. The reason we never set foot there again ever since... or, I personally, is more due to the thing awaiting for you on Floor 20 than the horror of Floor 21. I cannot face that the second time.』
"...Just what's on Floor 20?"
『It's--』
"Byaaaaaaaaa!! Aaaa!! There, at the windows, the windooooooows!!"
"Haa, haa, haahi, hahyu, hyu, hyuu...!!"
Levia let out a shrill shriek while I was chatting.
Meanwhile, Olivie was barely breathing she almost sounded like she was laughing.
"O-oy! Levia, it's okay! There's nothing on the windows! Olivie, you too, calm down! Take a deep breath!"
『W-what's happening over there!?』
"O, oh, it's just that the Floor we're tackling on is a real eerie place. So any stimulation garners overreactions..."
『O, oh OK.... Wait, are you scared even though you get revived if you die?』
"No you see, the eeriness here is nothing like the terror of dying. It's like we've been transported to a horror work of fiction as its protagonists... Honestly, I'm super scared myself..."
"Uu, sniffle, sniffle...!"
"...Help... Mom... Dad...!"
Oh no. I got too absorbed with the phone call I didn't catch what came out, but the two's SANity gauges are running dangerously low.
Olivie in particular. Your mom isn't here.
"D-don't cry, Levia. Olivie you too, calm down. Don't get infantile now. Everything is gonna be okay, you hear me?"
『...Things seem to be in chaos over there. Should I hang up?』
"E, err, I know I'm asking a lot but can't you keep the connection for the time being? Just talking with someone like this helps calm my nerve. Or rather, please don't cut me off. Please keep me company for a while...!"
『Y-you're really at your wit's end huh... I don't mind, but the people here get to hear all your screams, that okay with you?』
"Eh? ...By people, you mean Alma and the rest?"
『No, Alma and Reina-kun aren't here... Hey now, Hyula-kun, don't laugh that hard, don't you feel sorry for them. You too Alan-kun, you can't hide your grin by looking away.』
『Ahahahahaha lolololol pfft cough lololol, sorry 'bout that.』
『....Kuku...』
Why are they even there!? Can't you keep your call discrete!?
Heck, what are you guys laughing at! Don't act like haunted house staff you!
Hyumlassa aside, I won't forgive that Aizawa brat laughing at me. I'm gonna get back at h---
*Boof*, that weird sound accompanied a giant faceless head suddenly appearing ahead of me.
Oh
『Uvyaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!』
"Higyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!?"
"Iyaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaaa!!!"
"I don't wanna do this anymoreeeeee!! I wanna go hooooooome!!"
『N-Neora-kun! What happened!? Oy!』
『Buhahahaha lololol what's with that scream lololol my sides I can't lololol.』
『Bufu, kukuku...!』
『Quit your laughter! They're seriously frightened! Hello! Hello, give me a response!』
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