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Spirits are a race deeply attuned to magic, much like Elves. However, unlike Elves, true Spirits are incredibly rare and shrouded in mystery. They are said to command the wind and rain, transmute stone into gold, and perform other seemingly miraculous feats.
Just as Beastmen are divided into various races, Spirits are also classified into types, such as Fire Spirits, Earth Spirits, Water Spirits, Light Spirits, and more. Among them, Earth Spirits are especially skilled in handling precious metals and gemstones, making them the most adept at integrating into human society.
Fire Spirits, which include beings like Salamanders and Fire Dragons (also referred to as Salamanders), are known for crafting protective garments that offer high resistance to fire and extreme heat. Interestingly, these garments also provide a degree of cold resistance.
Likewise, garments created by Water Spirits are waterproof and excellent at dispersing heat, making them ideal for cooling in harsh environments.
While the protective gear crafted by Spirits, known as "Avatars of God", may not be versatile across all attributes, they provide immense protection within a single element or affinity.
At that moment, Line and Lefiya were deep in discussion. As a Spirit-kin Elf, Lefiya naturally held Spirits in the highest regard.
Ryoji said nothing.
He simply nodded along, feigning understanding.
In truth, he was completely out of his depth here, he iis like a country bumpkin with almost no knowledge of this world. In situations like this, all he could do was keep quiet and pretend to know what was going on.
"You ready?"
Ryoji tightened the straps of the Fire Dragon protective garment he'd just put on. Everything was in place as he looked toward the other two.
"No problem," Line replied, already suited up.
"Ah, wait a sec!" Lefiya exclaimed, hastily pulling her undershirt over her head. She'd gotten too excited and forgotten to change.
--Two minutes later,
"Stay close to me. Don't wander."
The trio were clad in vivid red protective cloaks, their fabrics glowing faintly with a phosphorescent shimmer. Ryoji held up the mid-level dungeon map he'd bought from the Guild. After glancing at it, he folded it away and looked toward his companions. They exchanged quick glances and nodded in unison.
"Let's go!"
...
Everywhere he looked, gray rocks surrounded them. The walls, floor, and ceiling were all solid stone, and the air was damp and heavy.
Unlike the misty grasslands of the 12th Floor, this area was entirely subterranean, like they'd stepped into the belly of the mountain itself.
As they exited the passageway linking the two floors, they were greeted by an endless rocky corridor. It was eerily straight, with no visible turns or forks. The stone walls, ceiling, and floor pressed in closely, leaving little breathing room.
Strangely, there were well-like holes carved into the corners of the walls. They looked like traps, dark and foreboding. Best not to get close.
"The main feature of the 13th Floor is that the paths connecting rock chambers are long and narrow," Ryoji explained. "To stay safe, we need to reach the next chamber as fast as possible."
He gave the map one final glance, then stowed it and gripped his katana tightly.
"Let's move!"
The two behind him said nothing. They knew just how dangerous this floor could be. One wrong move, and it was over. They kept close, nerves taut, as the three of them broke into a sprint down the dim stone passageway.
Although the passage was long and narrow, that also meant there were fewer forks or side paths. As long as they kept moving straight, they could safely reach the next floor, so long as they were careful not to fall into the vertical holes lurking in the corners. That was the key.
But in the Dungeon, danger was never in short supply.
"Huff... Huff..."
Two shadows suddenly appeared in the misty corridor ahead, halting the group in their tracks.
With rough, pitch-black skin and hulking bodies that resembled monstrous dogs, the creatures stood about half a person's height. They prowled low to the ground, their eyes gleaming with a blood-red glow.
"Hellhounds!" Line's expression hardened as she instinctively reached for the short blade at her waist.
Hellhounds were monsters that only began to appear on the 13th Floor. The Guild rated them as a Level 2 threat.
"Should we close the distance a little?" She glanced at Ryoji, who was at the head of their formation.
Deciding when and how far to engage was the vanguard's job, a role Ryoji was still getting used to.
The two Hellhounds snarled menacingly, their lips curled in savage grins. Then, without warning, both crouched low to the ground, hind legs tensing, while heat began to surge within their throats.
Flames swirled in their maws, growing brighter and hotter as fireballs began to take shape.
"Bang!"
In a flash, Ryoji launched forward without warning, body blurring like a streaking arrow.
"At least give a heads-up, jeez!" Lefiya groaned, but she quickly dashed after him.
Straight ahead.
Dozens of meters vanished in an instant. Ever since receiving his Falna, Ryoji's speed had skyrocketed. He crossed the distance with ease and closed in on the beasts.
"Shhhkkk!"
His katana sang through the air. The first Hellhound barely had time to react before its jaw was cleaved in half, the forming fireball snuffed out along with its life.
"Boom!"
The second Hellhound had already finished charging its fireball. It launched the blazing sphere directly at Ryoji.
Ryoji quickly raised his cloak and crouched low, letting the Fire Dragon protective garment absorb the brunt of the impact.
The searing heat crashed into him like a wave. Though the cloak dulled most of it, a sharp sting still licked at his skin. Pain flared, but he remained largely unscathed.
"RRAAARGH!"
The second Hellhound lunged, jaws wide to rip him apart.
"CRACK!"
Ryoji didn't back down. He thrust his katana straight into the creature's mouth. But the Hellhound bit down hard, clamping its jaws onto the blade. No matter how much force Ryoji applied, the monster's teeth wouldn't give.
"Thud!"
Without hesitation, Ryoji let go with one hand and drew a short sword from behind his waist. With a swift, decisive motion, he drove the blade into the Hellhound's exposed throat.
The beast let out a final gurgle, and collapsed.
"Whoa... You took out two Hellhounds on your own?" Lefiya's eyes sparkled with awe as she approached, clearly impressed.
"Stay sharp! More incoming!" Line shouted from behind, her voice tense.
"Chirp! Chirp!"
From deeper down the passage, just past the Hellhounds' corpses, three rabbit-like monsters bounded into view.
Each stood about as tall as a small child, their fur a mottled mix of yellow and white, fluffy tails swishing as they hopped on hind legs. But the sharp horns on their foreheads gave away their true nature.
Almiraj.
While individually weaker than Hellhounds, Almiraj were no less dangerous. The Guild also classed them as Level 2 threats, not because of their raw power, but because they often attacked in packs.
And more importantly...
"Bang!"
The three Almiraj smashed their way through nearby rock walls, retrieving natural weapons, stone axes, from within the labyrinth itself.
These monsters had a notorious habit of scavenging and wielding crude tools from the environment. In coordinated attacks, their strength was not to be underestimated.
"There are more behind us!" Line spun around, voice rising in alarm.
Back down the corridor they'd come from, two more Hellhounds emerged. Their mouths were already glowing, magic coalescing into deadly flame.
This was the 13th Floor.
And things were only just getting started.
(End of Chapter)