Within a cavern on the twelfth floor of the dungeon, Lixuman leaned against the cold stone wall, poring over his spellbook while carefully inscribing magic circles upon his arm. It was a rare moment of respite. Beyond the tenth floor, the terrain grew labyrinthine, and monsters exponentially stronger. Progress required far more time. Whereas an adventuring party could alternate their strongest members for swifter descent, he alone relied on his skill and strategy.
"Connect here… this part can be removed…"
He murmured as he traced a pale blue magic circle along his left arm, experimenting with modifications. The spells in the book were cumbersome, clumsy even, and the raw manipulation of elements proved inefficient. He focused on refining the first-level spell Water Wall.
"First-level magic… Water Shield!"
The circle glowed with a serene azure, water coalescing into a swirling vortex along his left arm. Slowly, a circular water shield solidified before his forearm. Its currents rotated like crystalline liquid, graceful and translucent. He waved his arm experimentally; the shield followed with uncanny precision, as if he truly wielded a solid, tangible defense.
Ding! Mastery threshold reached. Skill acquired: Magic Analysis Lv1.
A shiver ran through him. In that instant, the world seemed sharper, clearer. He observed the flow of mana within the water shield with perfect clarity.
"This was wrong before… why did I not notice?"
Adjusting the magic circle subconsciously, he watched ripples dance across the shield. The vortex stabilized, solidifying further, while the mana required to maintain it subtly decreased. Even the previously intricate circles in the spellbook now seemed simpler, more intuitive.
"What a useful skill!"
Dismissing the water shield, he replicated the concept for the other elements.
"First-Level Magic: Earth Shield.""First-Level Magic: Fire Shield—whoa, it's actually burning!""First-Level Magic: Wind Shield."
The four elemental shields were complete. The earth shield mimicked a traditional physical shield; the wind shield could deflect or divert attacks; the fire shield was flashy but effective against incoming arrows. Confident with his new designs and nearly fully restored in mana, Lixuman departed the cavern, heading toward the thirteenth floor.
Upon entering, a poisoned arrow streaked toward him.
He raised his staff; sparks flew as the projectile deflected harmlessly.
"Lucky—a mage!""That staff looks valuable. This should be profitable!""Stop wasting words! Don't let him cast magic!"
Four warriors confronted him: two heavily armored, one swordsman, one archer. Levels ranged from 14 to 16. The armored warriors surged forward, attempting to disrupt him, while the swordsman flitted behind, poised for a lethal strike. The archer, at range, loosed two shadowy arrows.
"Earth Shield!"
A circular, ochre shield formed upon his left arm, deflecting the arrows.
"Kid, don't blame us when you die—you just had bad luck."
One armored warrior charged, while the other swung a greatsword, chanting "Keen Edge!" as the blade gleamed with a cold light. Lixuman retreated, the earth shield absorbing the blow.
"Sliding Step!"
The swordsman vanished into a blur, striking from behind. Lixuman pivoted, colliding his shield against the greatsword, etching a deep groove.
"Not broken!?"
The warrior cried out in disbelief. Lixuman twisted his staff, intercepting the swordsman's technique, only to be shoved by the second armored foe. The archer fired three more arrows, forming a deadly pattern as Lixuman soared through the air. The swordsman's strike pierced what should have been lethal points, yet—
"Mine, big guy!" shouted the archer, rushing forward to claim the body.
In that instant, the corpse twitched.
"First-Level Magic: Mud Orb!"
The transformed Earth Orb erupted, blinding the swordsman instantly.
"Feigning death! Retreat!"
The armored warriors attempted to shield him, but Lixuman was relentless.
"First-Level Magic: Quagmire!"
The ground liquefied into mud. One armored warrior sank halfway; the other leapt clear, but the blinded swordsman fell helplessly into the mire, unable to execute even Sliding Step.
"First-Level Magic…"
A crimson circle blossomed atop his staff.
"Not today!"
The swordsman's last sound was a shouted warning from his companions.
"Fireball!"
The spell struck true, obliterating his head.
Ding! Swordsman Lv15 defeated. Experience +350.
"Die!"
Arrows rained again, but Lixuman dodged with precision, charging the trapped armored warrior.
"First-Level Magic: Fireball!""Immovable Fortress!"
The warrior raised his shield, encased in golden light, yet the fireball shattered against it, leaving cracks and a smoking ruin. Enraged, he charged, freed from the quagmire by the explosion.
Lixuman unleashed multiple fireballs, all blocked.
"Very well."
With [Mighty Force], he swung his staff with devastating power. The armored warrior's shield, once sturdy, crumpled under the impact, ejecting from his grasp.
"Immovable F…"
Before he could react, the staff—reinforced with wind magic—struck his helmeted head. Bone fractured audibly, the warrior staggered into Stun. Another crushing blow followed, reducing his skull to pulp.
Ding! Armored Warrior Lv15 defeated. Experience +350.
Blood coated the staff; Lixuman wiped it clean on the corpse, shouldering his weapon.
"I don't believe we've met. I am merely one skeleton.""And now, you will obediently meet your end at the hands of the skeleton."