Chapter 309
Of course, I didn’t go back to the dungeon immediately . I learned some tricks from the succubi and practiced how to control my charm more efficiently .
The whole process took a few hours, and while I was at it, I also mastered using Crimson Hell’s power . Since I was back in Earth, I looked over Revival members’ Peruta Circuits and trained Sumire on spearmanship while I was at it . As Sumire was still focusing on concentrating her power into a single point, I showed her how to do it a few times .
“Uuu, I can’t do it well . ”
“Don’t worry, I’m not perfect yet either . ”
“There’s something Shin-nim can’t do?”
Sumire gave me a doubtful look and I flicked her forehead with a smile .
“Didn’t you see it just now? I’m still training in this technique . ”
“Ah…”
Sumire rubbed her forehead .
“Oh, sorry . Did it hurt? I meant it to be a light flick . ”
“N-No, not at all . Huhu… Just show me one more time! Not the forehead flick, but the spear thrust!”
“Gladly . ”
After coaching Sumire, I also coached Ciara as I hadn’t given her much attention for a while . H ability was growing at a monstrous pace after awakening her Evil Eyes, but it was important that she knew how to control her mana if she wanted to display her ability to its fullest extent . At the very least, I wanted to know when and where the Demon Lord would descend .
“This Peruta Circuit is such an odd technique, Hero-nim . ”
“If you’re not talented enough, it’s hard to even realize that it’s odd . So focus and do your best . ”
“Yes, Hero-nim!”
I already knew this, but she really was quite talented . Of the ones learning Peruta Circuit from me, Ciara was the most outstanding . In terms of skill levels, her Peruta Circuit would already be level 4 .
“Ah, Hero-nim, A precognition…”
“Is it important?”
“Yes, very . ”
I gulped . Did I jinx myself? Did she just see when the Demon Lord would descend? I asked nervously .
“I’m ready . Tell me . ”
“Yes, Hero-nim . It seems… In three years, Hero-nim will take in your 17th wife . Ah, I’m one of the seventeen too! This is great!”
“There’s no dinner for you tonight . ”
“But I’m just telling you what I saw!?”
In truth, Ciara’s precognition carried an important meaning . No, not the part about the number of my wives (though I’ll try to avoid this future as much as I can), but rather the fact that she saw an event three years in the future .
Until now, she couldn’t see the future beyond a certain point . The furthest she could see was the Demon Lord’s descent . But today, for the first time, she saw three years into the future where everything would have been resolved .
Of course, her precognition wasn’t absolute . However, the possibility definitely existed . This meant that we could successfully defeat the Demon Lord and the existence that was controlling the Five Kings . However, I decided not to tell this uplifting news to anyone else . It was most certainly not because I was afraid of their happiness or anger about me having 17 wives .
Since I was here, I wanted to see Kain’s face before I went back to the dungeon, but surprisingly, he seemed to be in the dungeon . Apparently, he was challenging the 92nd floor after not having done so for a long time . His ability probably had little to do with why he wasn’t climbing the dungeon, but the 92nd floor couldn’t be that easy . Thinking that it would be hard to see his face for a little while, I finally went back to the dungeon . I considered visiting Lin and Leon but decided against it since I couldn’t be of much help .
“So you’re back after two days?”
“Yeah, I wish I had three bodies . ”
Loretta, who was waiting for me at the 85th Floor Shop, seemed to have her sanity straight thanks to me controlling my charm .
“Shin-nim, I know I say this all the time, but rushing things is the key to making mistakes . You have to make time to rest . ”
“If I’m tired, I’ll come find Loretta to get another massage . ”
Loretta’s ears flapped . She spoke with a face full of anticipation .
“Should I do it now?”
“Not today . I have to go fight . ”
“If all explorers were like Shin-nim, someone would have conquered the dungeon already . ”
“Haha, I doubt diligence is enough to conquer the dungeon . ”
“It’s good that Shin-nim realizes Shin-nim’s specialness . ”
She grinned and nodded . Then, she gestured at me to come forward .
“Then come receive my blessing before you go . Quickly . ”
“Just a blessing, right?”
“I’ll make it the highest grade blessing I can give!”
“Just high-rank blessing is fine . ”
If anything, I could really learn from Loretta’s tenacity . Of course, that didn’t mean I would let things go her way .
“But the highest grade blessing is reaaaaaally good! I’ve never done it before too!”
“I’ll just go . ”
“Ehew, you don’t have to be so strict… Shin-nim, could it be…”
“There’s nothing wrong with me . ”
Getting Loretta’s blessing ended up being more work than necessary but, in the end, I stepped into the First Dungeon’s 86th floor with high-rank Queen Elf’s Blessing . As always, a message tickled my ear .
[You entered the 86th floor . Yell ‘commence exploration’ to start exploring . ]
“Now the environment just openly changes, huh . ”
Behind me was the stairway down to the 85th floor, but when I looked back around the 86th floor, all I could see was a vast wilderness .
“What am I supposed to do here…?”
Should I have brought Lotte? No, Lotte was influenced by Licorice and went off to train somewhere on Earth . Although I could call her whenever I wanted, if she decided on her path, I didn’t want to bother her .
Moreover, I knew that breaking through the dungeon alone (with the help of my elementals) would be more beneficial to my growth .
“Alright, let’s go . Commence exploration!”
As soon as I shouted those two words, something flew straight towards me . I immediately used Divine Speed and got out of the way . BOOM! With a crashing sound, a deep crater formed on the ground .
“… Wow . ”
To think I would immediately get attacked from a distance… Ah! Another one!
“Can’t you at least say hello!?”
Still, there was no one here . This time, however, the attack came from a different direction .
“Until the 80th floor, there were individual enemies . Crimson Hell was a colony, but now the enemies don’t even have real bodies… Damn!”
I murmured to myself as I quickly used Divine Speed . Another formed on the ground as a cloud of dust rose up . I had to first find the enemy’s position . I quickly summoned Peika and Dortu .
“Dortu, protect me . Peika, find out where the enemies are . ”
[I am Dortu . Protecting Master . ]
[Huhu, leave it to me!]
I could tell that Dortu was protecting me as my armor changed . Of course, as I couldn’t just leave Dortu and Pure Black Desire to defend, spread my mana out to detect any movements and prepared myself to jump away at any time .
“This one must also be a world’s enemy . ”
[I am Dortu . Dortu can feel a familiar energy . ]
“What?”
At the same time, Peika reported in .
[Master, there’s no one in this place other than us . Is there really an enemy?]
“What do you mean? Weren’t we just attacked? … No, we’re still getting attacked!”
I dodged the third attack with ease and looked up at the sky . I couldn’t even see a ceiling, only a red sky . Would I be able to touch the ceiling if I kept jumping up? I couldn’t be sure even with my current abilities .
In a situation where I couldn’t see the enemy but had to keep defending against attacks, it was best to just run forward . Other explorers wouldn’t choose such a stupid method as it might expose them to more enemies and lead to their deaths . It was unlikely that they could do much against an invisible enemy .
However, I was different . With Divine Speed, I could easily dodge the enemy’s attacks and even if I was hit, the attack didn’t seem strong enough to kill me . Rather than standing still like a fool, running around would probably make the enemy move also . Once they moved, they would surely reveal an opening .
[I am Dortu . An energy is flying this way . It isn’t a life energy . ]
“Then what is it?”
[I am Dortu . That is a metal imbued with mana . ]
A what? Just when I was about to ask Dortu, something flew my way once more . It was almost quick enough to escape my eyes, looking like a laser flying through the sky . That was a metal? I was doubtful, but I also trusted Dortu’s judgment .
Using Divine Speed, I dodged the flying object and continued to run with great speed .
“Peika, you really don’t feel any life?”
[I don’t lie, Master!]
“Then come inside my gauntlet! Dortu, you strengthen my gauntlet too!”
[Un!]
[I am Dortu . Executing Master’s command . ]
I sped up a notch and kicked off the ground . A whirlpool rose up around my body, seemingly pushing me forward .
As soon as another attack flew out, I quickly detected it and used Divine Speed . In the past, I couldn’t use Divine Speed too freely as it took ten percent of my mana, but now that I understood the principle behind it, the Divine Speed I used was different than the skill Divine Speed . Although the speed amplification wasn’t as good, it was much more efficient, only taking a negligible amount of mana .
Thanks to Divine Speed, it felt like the world had slowed down . I could see the flow of air and the movement of the enemy’s attack frame by frame . I focused on the flying object and punched out with my gauntlet .
Dortu’s power made the gauntlet darker and spikier . On the other hand, Peika’s power created fearsome white lightning that seemed capable of ripping apart even a dragon’s scales .
The enemy’s attack flew in a predictable trajectory and clashed with the center of my gauntlet . I widened my eyes . Someone might mistakenly think that I’m using my Evil Eyes, but in reality, nothing happened . Evil Eyes of Petrification never worked against inanimate objects .
At the same time, I couldn’t help but think of a possibility .
If I could properly wield Lilith’s power if I could make the power of my horn completely mine, wouldn’t I be able to petrify inanimate objects as I pleased?
Evil Eyes of Petrification released charm through eyes and petrified its targets . Lilith could affect inanimate objects with her charm, and if she had Evil Eyes of Petrification, she undoubtedly would have been capable of petrifying inanimate objects .
Although Dortu could turn inanimate objects into metal, he needed a varying amount of time depending on the state of the object and its momentum . But if I could petrify inanimate objects, Dortu could take the petrified objects and quickly turn them into metal as they would carry my mana .
If that became possible… Wow .
I put away the thought for now . I focused on the attack that seemed to want to break through my gauntlet and grabbed it . The reason I widened my eyes was to better see the flying attack .
I tightened my grip and fought back against the attack . Peika’s lightning crackled, wearing it down, and Dortu added more pressure in my grip . Soon, I could finally see what the object was .
“… Sherafina, there’s something I need to ask . ”
Seeing the object in my hand, I spoke with a stiffened voice . However, before I could receive a reply, another attack flew in with an extreme speed!
“This is… a bullet!”
[Let me explain . ]
As soon as I realized what it was, Sherafina spoke out .
[The world’s enemy of the 86th floor conquered the world, Elpato, but was defeated by the Hero of the world, Zedar, when they invaded them . ‘Eliminator . ’ This world’s enemy has the ability to control and evolve all weapons with its mana . Although they aren’t too skilled in handling cold weapons, they become extremely terrifying with firearms . ]
I flew up into the air to dodge the incoming barrage of bullets and shouted
“What, Zedar didn’t have firearms!?”
[That is exactly so . ]
Zedar’s Hero, you lucky bastard!
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