The stone bridge was narrow.
At most, only two or three people could pass side by side.
Now, it was completely packed.
Uni-rabbits.
Hellhounds.
Hard-Armored Rats.
Imp Bats.
Minotaurs.
They surged forward without pause, crowding the bridge until it became a living tide of monsters.
On the opposite end-
Shirou stood alone.
Two greatswords were held firmly in his hands.
Swing.
Swing again.
The blades moved without pause, overlapping into a continuous blur. Each strike was precise. Each arc was deliberate. Monsters that stepped into range were cut down instantly.
Blood splattered.
Howls echoed.
The stone bridge had become a meat grinder.
A place that devoured monsters endlessly.
Stone axes thrown by Uni-rabbits were deflected one after another.
Flames spat by Hellhounds were dodged cleanly, barely grazing past him.
Beside Shirou, projected weapons appeared one after another, thrown with ruthless accuracy.
At this moment, conserving magical energy was not even a consideration.
This was not a situation where he could afford to wear them down slowly.
This was the moment to go all out.
Magical energy surged through his body.
Fighting at full power, Shirou moved like a war god, carving a path through the monster horde in a storm of steel and blood.
"Amazing..."
The Loki Familia, who had been advancing steadily behind him, stopped without realizing it.
All eyes were drawn forward.
What they were witnessing looked like something straight out of a legend.
Their surprise wasn't rooted in Shirou's strength alone.
It was his status.
Everyone present was an executive of the Loki Familia. Veterans. Elites.
With a single glance, they could roughly gauge Shirou's ability values.
LV.2-level stats.
At most.
Under normal circumstances, with that level of physical ability, surviving alone on the Thirteenth Floor would already be pushing it.
Yet this person had reached the Sixteenth Floor.
Alone.
And judging by the direction he was heading-
He wasn't stopping.
What kind of resolve allowed someone like that to keep going?
"What the hell is this guy thinking?!"
Bete shouted sharply, his voice filled with irritation.
"He's that weak, and he's diving into the middle floors instead of staying on the upper floors where it's safe?! Is he trying to get himself killed?"
But his eyes never left Shirou's back.
Not for a second.
"So strong..."
Ais tightened her grip on her sword.
She forced herself to stay still, suppressing the urge to rush forward and cut down everything in sight.
Reaching this depth alone with such base abilities was something she herself had never done.
"Hey, kid!"
Finn raised his voice and shouted across the bridge.
"Do you need help?"
Even he couldn't tell whether Shirou had run into this monster group by accident-or whether he had deliberately chosen this route.
Logically, someone at this level shouldn't be seeking out this kind of situation.
But the fighting spirit.
The clarity of movement.
The unwavering direction.
They all suggested otherwise.
Hearing the voice from behind, Shirou answered without turning his head.
"No need."
"This is my adventure."
It wasn't the first time.
Other adventurers exploring the middle floors had seen the scene and asked similar questions.
Every time, Shirou gave the same answer.
Because it was true.
This was his path.
Difficult, yes.
But compared to the wars of myth he had inherited-
It was nothing.
Shirou crossed his arms.
The two greatswords swept outward in a wide arc, clearing the space in front of him. He leapt backward in the same motion.
Midair-
The greatswords dissolved.
Reforming instantly.
A pitch-black longbow appeared in his hands.
"Projection, begin."
A peculiar longsword manifested.
Fake • Caladbolg.
With practiced ease, Shirou converted it into an arrow and nocked it onto the bowstring. He drew the bow fully, magical energy roaring as it condensed.
Then he released.
"Broken Phantasm."
The arrow tore through the air.
A violent explosion erupted on the far end of the stone bridge. Flames and shockwaves burst outward, swallowing the monster mass in an instant.
Heat and wind rushed back toward Shirou, whipping his hair and cloak violently.
The image burned itself into the eyes of the Loki Familia.
But Shirou didn't stop.
Magical energy surged again.
Another Fake • Caladbolg formed in his grasp.
He remembered clearly-
Beyond the bridge, the passage ahead was also packed with monsters.
Even as the firelight hadn't fully faded, Shirou pinpointed the entrance through the smoke and released another arrow.
Another explosion.
The path was cleared.
Without hesitation, Shirou re-projected his twin swords, bit down on a potion, and continued forward.
The Loki Familia remained behind him.
Unacknowledged.
Not even glanced at.
"He's incredible...!"
Tiona clung to Tione's arm, shaking her excitedly.
"He's really, really strong!!"
Tione, however, was still fuming.
The fact that Shirou had refused the Captain's offer burned in her chest.
Anyone who questioned Finn's authority was unforgivable.
Ais stared silently at the passage where Shirou had disappeared.
Riveria stood beside her, gripping her shoulder firmly, preventing her from charging off without thinking.
"What an impressive young man."
Finn let out a quiet sigh.
"It seems Orario is about to gain another future star."
Riveria nodded in agreement.
With power like that, as long as he survived, his name was bound to spread.
"Alright."
Finn turned forward.
"We've seen enough. Let's move."
With that, the Loki Familia resumed their advance.
-
Combat.
Movement.
Combat again.
Run.
Fight.
Run.
Shirou pushed forward without stopping, breaking through every obstacle in his path.
After the intense battle upon first entering the Sixteenth Floor, large-scale monster groups became rare.
Attacks never ceased, but nothing like that opening wave appeared again.
The monsters grew stronger.
Their numbers increased.
Their refresh rate climbed steadily.
But none of it slowed him down.
At this level, as long as he stayed calm, Kanshou and Bakuya were more than sufficient.
At lower floors, weapon quality mattered immensely.
A good weapon could decide everything.
But deeper down, that advantage began to diminish.
At that point, both the weapon and the adventurer needed to be strong.
Of course-
Superior weapons still held an edge.
The Seventeenth Floor.
As he drew closer to his destination, Shirou's spirit sharpened.
His momentum rose.
Under the endless assault, Kanshou and Bakuya once again transformed into greatswords, swinging relentlessly.
Projected weapons flew continuously.
For a time, no enemy could withstand him.
"Here it is."
"The destination is just ahead."
The passage widened.
The space opened.
Shirou broke into a sprint.
Moments later, he entered a massive hall.
Unlike the irregular chambers of the Dungeon, this place was unnervingly flat.
Clean.
Silent.
No monsters followed him inside.
Walking alone through the hall, Shirou felt his mind settle completely.
On the left side, a smooth, polished wall caught his attention.
The Wall of Lamentation.
The birthplace of Floor Bosses.
He didn't linger.
Crossing the length of the hall, Shirou entered the passage leading downward.
Darkness swallowed him-
Then light burst forth.
A forest.
Bright.
Lush.
Unreal.
The Eighteenth Floor.
The safe floor.
Shirou stopped immediately.
He leaned back against the wall, removed his backpack, and focused on recovering his stamina and mental energy.
Above him, luminous crystals glowed softly, illuminating the forest.
Shirou looked up.
"Half an hour," he murmured.
"After half an hour..."
"I'll head back."
--------More Bonus Chapters!!!!
Every 300 power stones = 1 Bonus Chapter