Chương 1177: [1100.2] - Y05.100.2 - The Realms Beyond II

PART TWO'Man, it feels like my first year in Red Oak,' Adam thought as he finished writing the paper, who probably wouldn't pass the general lore of the world, but he had done his best with what the trio had taught him since they had arrived. However, the numbers section, which dealt mostly with questions about taxes, fees, and expenses, was reminiscent of his questions from when he was a boy.

"You know, there really are people out there buying fifty seven oranges, and then replacing them with apples, at a price of three pence more for each apple, but using a budget of a tenner, and then calculating the leftover amount." Jaygak panted for air as she dropped the stone, gasping before staring at the half elf, who slowly placed down his own stone.

"What?"

"This is why I'm Churot's favourite cousin."

"You're not even Churot's tenth favourite."

"Who comes before me?"

"Gurot and all the others."

"Of course, since our Churot is so smart."

"I hadn't expected you fresh sheaths to be so good," the adventurer said, wearing a simple breastplate, as well as lighter chain, a blade at his side. He was slightly tan, from working outdoors, and across his cheek was a long scar, from a dagger that had almost killed him, but he had caught between his now chipped teeth.

"I'll test to see if you're any good with your weapons, or if they're just for show." He eyed up Jaygak, who was probably just some noble lass who had a wealthy family, while the rest were her retainers.

"I'll start with you first, big man in the chain."

"Sure," Adam said. Battle Order D20 + 1 = 7 (6) Health: 112 -> 90 Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2 Health: 90 -> 95 Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage) D20 + 8 = 12 (4) D20 + 8 = 12 (4) Miss! Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage) D20 + 8 = 20 (12) D20 + 8 = 23 (15) Hit! 1D6 + 1D3 + 7 = 12 (4)(1) 12 damage! Onward Soar: 1 -> 0 Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage) D20 + 8 = 9 (1) D20 + 8 = 16 (8) Miss! Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage) D20 + 8 = 20 (12) D20 + 8 = 26 (18) Hit! 1D6 + 1D3 + 7 = 14 (5)(2) 14 damage!

Adam winced as his opponent managed to press him back, striking against his pit, though thankfully his armour bore most of the brunt. He inhaled sharply, swiping his axe wildly, and pushed himself past his limits, managing to strike two well placed blows.

"Oh!" Barry's eyes grew wide, taking a moment to gather himself.

"I didn't realise you…"

"Yeah?" Adam asked.

"You're C Rank already?"

"Am I?" Adam asked.

'Just what kind of place do they come from?'

"You're at least as strong as I am." Barry didn't want to admit that Adam was certainly much stronger than himself.

'Does that mean we're B Rank?' Adam thought, having held back to not embarrass Barry, since he had treated them politely so far.

"Jurot, was it? Come on up."

"Okay." Barry began to sweat, feeling the throbbing within his axe, not realising Jurot was equally as strong as Adam.

'Ah, he's a Barb? I should have expected.'

"I need to call Tim." Tim appeared, the dust haired fellow with pale skin, and eyes that were dark, not quite black, but a dark grey.

"These guys are C Rank at least," Barry whispered.

"B Rank, probably."

"Seriously? They look like kids."

"They're twenty three."

"Babes."

"I'm telling ya, they're not nobodies. I think they're some nobles from a distant land, probably spend all their time in war. Test out the girls, I need to put some ice on my arm."

"That bad?"

"That bad." Tim eyed up the pair.

"Alright, you, with the staff." He motioned Kitool closer with his sword. It was only after coming face to face with the terror known as Kitool that Tim understood what Barry was talking about.

'Save me some ice.'

"It was my honour," Kitool said, retreating beside Jurot. She frowned, annoyed she had only managed to strike only one good blow with her four attacks, but they had all promised to hold back now that they were in the larger city.

'Oops,' Jaygak through, having struck true, and pushed through her limits temporarily to strike him thrice with heavy blows.

"Well done," Tim said, flexing his muscles, wincing slightly.

"You've definitely earned the E Rank title, but we'll see what we can do for you to earn the D Rank title quickly."

"Thank you so much!" Adam beamed towards the adventurer, whose heart grew weary from having to deal with mysterious foreigners who completely shocked the entire land.

'I'd only have two coppers, but it's weird it's happened twice…' Tim went to go put some ice on his side, where both Kitool and Jaygak had struck, as though his side had offended them somehow. Barry quickly signed them tasks to deal with their quests. They needed to complete seven to become official adventurers. It started with rats in a basement, which the figure in chain was particularly excited about.

'Classic!' Adam had exclaimed. Then wolves, bears, and other such beasts nearby that had been giving them trouble. They should have completed menial tasks, but Barry understood they were much better utilised actually fighting.

"What's this?" Adam asked, surprised at the large pouch before them.

"We're not meant to pay you for these quests, but…" Barry smiled politely.

"Since you helped the merchant out with a bind, she decided to add some gold and silver, and…"

'And I don't want to die if you feel offended.' Adam stared down at his name, etched within the slab of iron, as well as the ranking on the opposite side, a giant E.

"E Rank…" Adam looked to Jurot.

"This feels so cool."

"It is like Iron Rank from the Guild."

"Yeah, but… it's like those…" Adam shook his head.

"I read a lot about these kinds of stories."

'These guys, they really killed a cave bear like it was nothing!' Barry's sweat dripped down the side of his forehead, not realising just what kind of monsters he was dealing with.

"So you're the newcomers everyone has been shouting about," she called. She wore full plate, with a greatsword upon her back. Her hair, sun kissed, her eyes like the ocean, and the scars across her face faint, like forgotten memories.

"Are you the Guild Master?" Adam asked.

"I'm Zephrine, the Guild Master of this city."

"I hear you're A Rank," Adam said.

"I am."

"Jurot, you want to face her, right?" Adam asked.

"Yes," Jurot said, flexing his muscles.

"Will you fight?"

"…" Zephrine glanced aside to Barry, who nodded his head, and the woman led Jurot to the field outside the building, the stone wall keeping prying eyes away from them.

"Hey," Adam called.

"Ten gold on my brother."

"Sure," Barry replied.

'Vicious Sword, you need to teach these kids the terror that is the world.' Jurot inhaled deeply, feeling the pressure from the woman.

'She is at least a Master.' They remained silent and still. Jurot had taken a few blows earlier in the day, but he had regained his strength after a rest. He had still danced once, but he had another ready, so he could still fight at full strength against her. The clash of steel rang through the air. Barry watched in amazement as the young man held his own against Vicious Sword, who was A Rank. If she had continued a decade ago, she would have been an S Rank for certain.

Yet, somehow, the A Rank adventurer, who continued taking quests now and again, to slay all manner of unimaginable creatures, was being matched by the young man whose body was red as fire. She could see it again, the explosion of blood. It replayed within her mind as she saw them fight. Kitool closed her eyes, recalling the way her grandaunt stood above the Platinum Shield. It was the way of the Ool family, the pinnacle of their ability, just like the Fev family. However, she could no longer carry such a torch.

She, who had given herself to the Iyr in a particular way. Now, her fists were full of Baktu's will. When she had fought against the soldiers, she had felt it. Baktu's sweet affection after beating a creature down, the strength that filled her body, the taste of iron upon her tongue. It was different. Jurot, however, fought in the way of the Rot family. He would always fight in the way of the Rot family.

Even if it was more beneficial to fight in the way of the Jin or Kan families, Jurot could not let go of the path that his father had followed. So even now, even as the warrior before Jurot rained down steel upon him, and the Rot family way had no special ability to assist him against his opponent, Jurot fought with the pride of his family upon his chest.

'Should I have followed my family's way?' Kitool thought, though she could no longer regret it.

"You're strong," Vicious Sword finally said, stepping back, her forearms burning, her blade shaking slightly.

"Thank you," Jurot replied, feeling the burn in his body, before his body turned tan, and he cooled off into the air.

'Who is this kid?' Victory! XP Gained: +500 XP: 22 500 -> 23 000"Ten gold," Adam whispered.

"…" Barry didn't want to say that technically Jurot didn't win, slipping the half elf ten gold pieces.

"You all must be… B Rank, maybe A." Barry raised his brows in alarm, the gold dropping out of his hands, clinking upon the floor.

'A?'

"B is good enough for me," Jaygak said, smiling.

"You are slightly weaker than the Guild Master," Jurot said.

"B Rank," Jaygak confirmed.

"I feel bad if you compare yourselves to me…" Zephrine frowned.

"Don't feel bad," Adam reassured.

"These three were raised to become monsters."

"I don't want to hear that from your mouth, Adam!" Adam cackled lightly, just like his twins, smirking wide at their horny kako.

"I will upgrade you all to C Rank, but that's as much as I can do," Zephrine said, still feeling the ache within her arms.

"You should head to Pitcastle. This place, it's way too small for you." Quest Complete XP Gained: +300 XP: 23 000 -> 23 300 Adam stared down at the new plaque, forged of similar iron, but this time with bits of silver, the giant C far more detailed than the E.

'What a nice plaque.'

"Are you sure you should increase their rank so quickly?" Barry asked in the late evening, noting how tired the Guild Master was after all that paperwork.

"Once they reach the capital, they'll understand how big the world truly is. They probably have never met anyone that's S Rank." Zephrine wondered if she should have stopped at A Rank.

'The gap between A and S is so wide…' The group left the next day, after procuring a set of saddlebags, and a saddle, heading along the Emperor's Road. The capital of Pitcastle was along the road, though they heard the journey was going to take at least a month.

'We should farm some more XP.' As they travelled, they came across many beasts they dispatched, and many travellers. A scream had alerted Adam, who had managed to save the child who had dropped down the cliff with his Feather Fall spell. Once he had seen the cliffs along the road, he had changed into the spell, but believed he wouldn't need it.

'Seriously? Saving a kid using a spell that I just switched to? It's like it was written just for me.' It was half way through their journey, overlooking from the mountain to the forest all around them, that Kitool sat beside the half elf.

"You have not spoken of your children in some time."

"Yeah."

"Are you okay?"

"It's fine."

"They are safe in the Iyr."

"I don't know much, but I know at least that much," Adam replied, smirking towards Kitool. Kitool bowed her head, though she knew Adam only pretended to be stupid.

"Hey, Kitool?"

"Yes?"

"If anything happens to me, will you watch over them too? If Jurot watches over them, they'll grow up tough. If Jaygak watches over them, they'll grow up with a proper sense of humour. Vonda, she'll make sure they're wise. You? You'll make sure they're bad ass."

"Bad ass?"

"Cool." Kitool slowly bowed her head.

"You did not need to ask."

"I know, but…" Adam smiled.

"Will you treat my children like how you treat Jurot's?"

"If you want me to."

"I do not know how to show such affection."

"I've seen you with Katool. You can."

"Jurot finds it difficult, but so do I."

"Firstly, how can we even say that it's difficult for Jurot? Damrot was born, and the first thing he said to me was let's go win a tournament. If that isn't affection, what is?"

"I am unable to do the same."

"You can, you do, and they see it. Everyone has their own way of showing it, but they all can see it."

"I wish to give myself to the Iyr," Kitool stated, staring down at the bowl.

"I will not have much time for them."

"Ah." Adam sighed.

"Right."

"Will you play with them?"

"Always. Though, they're not allowed to grow up. I can't believe your sister betrayed me by growing up."

"I cannot promise that."

"You certainly are Katool's sister, bullying me like this…" Kitool smiled.

"I'm going to tell Jirot."

"She will say you deserve it."

"I'll tell Jarot."

"Jirot will tell him you deserve it."

"Okay, if they learn from you, they'll be too scary." Thus the days passed by.

"Oh my, oh my," Adam whistled, eyeing up the guards, his eyes then falling upon the large keep overlooking the city.

"Now this is a city." Pitcastle was smaller than Red Oak, in some ways, but it held the bustle of a city. The guards each wore breastplate over chain, thick helmets, and carried longswords and shortswords at their sides, while walking with spears in hand. After paying the fee, they stepped within, no comment made to their weaponry or equipment. As they made their way inside, Adam could smell it, the city scents, that of the grime and dirt only a city could hold. As they approached the Guild, Adam stopped.

He blinked.

"Jurot, why is there a massive hole in the middle of the city?" Adam asked.

"It is the dungeon."

"The what?"

"The dungeon." Adam furrowed his brows.

'A dungeon?'

"I guess…"

'We haven't really explored many dungeons.' They made their way to the large Guild, ignoring the large gaping hole that had been fenced for safety. As they stepped within the guild, the large wooden building housing dozens of different parties. Adam noted the tokens they wore, noting most were C Rank. He made his way to the job board to one side, eyeing it up. There was one thing he noted upon each of the requests.

"Step aside, kid." Adam stepped to the side, glancing up at the figure in his breastplate, before returning back to the group when he couldn't handle the stench of the adventurer. If you encounter this story on Amazon, note that it's taken without permission from the author. Report it.

"So what's this about dungeons and floors?"

"There are many floors within the dungeon, with every ten or so holding a creature of great power." Adam blinked.

"Jurot?"

"Yes?"

"Are you telling me… that these dungeons have multiple floors, and every ten floors there are boss monsters, and every floor after is a safe floor, and each set of ten floors has a theme to it, and some of them have weaker boss monsters now and again, and there are treasure chests we get to loot that sometimes hold great items, but also the monsters themselves drop loot and disappear, and then every so often the dungeon resets?" Jurot blinked, his eyes holding Adam's.

"Yes." Jaygak raised her brows in alarm.

"How did you know?" Adam glanced aside towards Jaygak, then to Kitool, then finally to Jurot.

"I mean… that's just how it works, right? So either you're all going to betray me and leave me at the bottom and then I get a special unique power that lets me get revenge, and maybe I'll have a Goddess companion that will help me on my journey, or I'll stay here and live a sweet slice of life kind of life, but since that's impossible, and you betraying me is even more impossible…"

Adam thought deeply, trying to recall the tropes of these kinds of stories, but he could only recall those two types of stories, and the typical tropes assigned to them.

"I guess we need to clear certain floors to get our ranks up?"

"Yes," Jurot said, and instead of thinking too deeply on how Adam knew, he kept the thought in his mind to inform the Great Elders.

"Alright," Adam stretched out his neck.

"Let's aim for A Rank and call it a day there."

"You kids aiming for A Rank?" the young adventurer, who was perhaps in his thirties, asked. He wore a breastplate made of dark scales, and carried at his side a blade was that seemingly made of pure silver.

"You shouldn't underestimate the dungeon. It's a vicious place, and even if you have full chain or plate, you need to take it slow."

"Thank you for your advice," Adam said, smiling lightly.

"We'll take it seriously, I assure you."

"You should pick up a map. The Guild has some, but if you wait in line on the fifteenth, there will be some vendors. Look for Little Charles, he's a boy with one eye. Make sure you pick up a map from him. It's best to buy them from the vendors, they usually have maps with more updates, and the Guild doesn't like handing out their free maps much."

"I appreciate that, mister…"

"John." Adam smiled.

"Thank you, John. Mind if we buy you a drink?"

"I don't," John replied, flashing a smile, as Adam ordered a drink for the adventurer, who sipped away at it with joy in his heart.

"Fifteenth?" Adam whispered.

"It may be the day the dungeons are renewed."

"Ah! Should I make us some potions then?"

"It may be best," Jurot agreed. Adam spent the next day crafting a potion for the group, though since they only had the day, he crafted a basic potion. Soon the bustle of adventurers filled the air, as the various parties began to queue. The S Rank parties got to queue up in the morning, a little after dawn, while the A Rank parties were allowed to queue up a couple of hours later, and so on.

It was early afternoon before the C Rank parties could line up, and as John had advised, Adam picked up a brochure for the first ten levels for ten gold pieces. The group descended the steps to the first floor, the cold air pressing upon them. The first floor was large, extremely so, with a stair case heading down in the centre. There were dozens upon dozens of adventuring parties who had already formed their tents, almost all C Rank, the adventurers formulating strategies to tackle their floors.

"Should we go down?" Adam asked.

"Okay," Jurot replied. The first floor was colder, the stone around them rough, though certainly shaped intentionally. As they bypassed the various traps upon their map, the Iyrmen noting small details which they called out, they came across the sounds of rattling bones in the distance.

"Oh, how original," Adam said, clasping his axe in hand.

"A minotaur skeleton. A skeletal minotaur?" The creature loomed over the group, its shadow swallowing them whole. Unfortunately, this wasn't the first skeletal minotaur Adam had ever faced. Battle Order: D20 + 1 = 8 (7) Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2 Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage) D20 + 8 = 16 (8) D20 + 8 = 28 (20) Critical hit! Mana: 25 -> 24 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved! 2D6 + 2D3 + 6D6 + 7 = 38 (9)(4)(18) 38 damage! Attack: Battleaxe (Advantage) D20 + 8 = 10 (2) D20 + 8 = 27 (19) Critical hit!

Mana: 24 -> 23 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved! 2D6 + 2D3 + 6D6 + 7 = 49 (10)(2)(30) 49 damage!

"Ah!" Adam said as the bones crumbled to the floor.

"My bad. I crit twice." Jurot nodded, while the bones disappeared into dust, and floated into the wind, the creature leaving behind its large axe. Adam picked it up.

"Huh. I mean, it's an okay axe, but…"

"It may be required in the future," the Iyrman said, while his eyes fell upon another group of adventurers who stepped into view, the two groups eyeing one another up, before they continued on their way.

"Yeah." Adam strapped it onto his back. The group continued, making their way down the steps to the third floor, where they came upon more skeletal creatures, from small groups of warriors, to groups with archers, and more skeletal minotaurs or skeletal beasts. Unfortunately for them, Kitool's staff and fist could make short work of them. When they came upon the fifth floor, they found a safe room, one of the many marked upon their brochure. XP: 25 000"This place is great for farming XP."

Adam scratched his cheek lightly.

'I could probably hit Level 9, but if we don't need to yet, might as well save it, in case we need it?'

"Adam, are you able to summon your tower?" Jurot asked.

"Yeah, want me to?"

"Please." Mana: 7 -> 4 Spell: Tower of Adam Jurot cooked the meat the skeletons had dropped, not questioning the logic, for it was magic. There was a warning about eating green meat, but there was no green within this meat that wasn't the herbs the half elf had bought.

The next day they continued to clear the floors, finding the treasure rooms had already been scavenged, before they continued their way further down, until they came across a mini boss room, denoted by the lighter skull icon, with only a single sword behind it.

"How come no one's beaten it yet?" Adam asked.

"Some may not have found it, but other times, it regenerates in a different section of the floor," Jurot explained.

"How do you know so much?"

"We were briefed."

"Oh."

"It will gift us much loot." Jurot began to stretch, readying himself. Adam had already taken a short break, regaining most of his martial abilities, and with his conservative use of Mana, he still had enough to tackle the first mini boss.

"Since we get a bonus if we solo it, mind if I take a swing at him first?" Adam asked.

"Okay," Jaygak said, donning her shield, just in case Adam somehow does the impossible again and ends up losing.

"Oh," Adam said, stepping into the cold room, filled with mist.

"A bigger minotaur, and an even bigger axe?" The creature was larger than the previous minotaur skeleton by almost an entire human height, its greataxe about two Adam's tall in length. Adam cared little for any of its details, readying himself to fight. Wisdom Save D20 + 4 = 11 (7) Status: Frightened Health: 112 -> 91 Strength Save D20 + 9 = 25 (16) Fighting Spirit: 2 -> 1 Attack: Battleaxe D20 + 8 = 21 (13) Hit! Mana: 18 -> 17 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved!

1D6 + 1D3 + 3D6 + 7 = 27 (6)(1)(13) 27 damage! Attack: Battleaxe D20 + 8 = 27 (19) Critical hit! Mana: 17 -> 13 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved! 2D6 + 2D3 + 10D6 + 7 = 59 (8)(5)(39) 59 damage! Onward Soar: 1 -> 0 Attack: Battleaxe D20 + 8 = 28 (20) Critical hit! Mana: 13 -> 9 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved! 2D6 + 2D3 + 10D6 + 7 = 51 (8)(4)(32) 51 damage! Attack: Battleaxe D20 + 8 = 23 (15) Critical hit! Mana: 9 -> 8 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved!

1D6 + 1D3 + 3D6 + 7 = 24 (4)(2)(11) 24 damage! Adam felt the air grow colder as it roared, but no sound entered his ears. He gasped as the giant axe dented his shield, and his entire body began to drip with sweat. He hadn't even noticed it appearing before him, the half elf swallowed by a blackness.

'Fear?' Adam dropped to a knee as it struck deeply into his shield, the blow rumbling through his bones, causing his body to shudder.

'You think you can make me scared?'

"That really hurt," Adam said, inhaling sharply, flexing his muscles, before rolled to the side, his axe clearing through bone with ease, flashing white hot with holy magic. As his axe carved through the creature, it fell, Adam clearing its entire Health in a single round. Victory! XP Gained: +600 XP: 26 200 -> 26 800 The bones turned to dust, save one, the axe also remaining behind, while a chest emerged from the floor towards the back of the empty room.

"Who do they think is going to be able to wield an axe that bi-," Adam stopped upon seeing the axe glow, turning smaller and smaller, until it formed a battleaxe, but not just any battleaxe, but one that was made of metal which curved, the axe blade itself smooth, as though the axe had been forged by elves.

"Damn, that's a nice axe."

"Hmm," Jurot said, feeling the heft of the original minotaur axe, which had also taken the form of a battleaxe.

"It feels good in the hand."

"I'll use this one then," Adam said, holding the axe in hand, feeling how easy it was to cut through the air. He didn't feel the tingle of magic, but he was fairly certain it was magical.

'I wonder what it does. Ah, damn. I forgot my pearl!'

"It's a cloak," Jaygak said, holding up the long deep blue cloak, the hood of which was a deep purple.

"It must be magical."

"There are potions," Jurot said, opening up one of the two smaller chests, while Kitool opened the others.

"Gold."

"Alright. Let's split the four potions. Jaygak, you can keep the extra one."

"Jurot, you should have the extra potion, since you want to fight the most," Jaygak said, offering him the cloak. Jurot nodded, though refused the cloak, allowing Jaygak to don it. As swiftly as the minotaur was defeated, so swiftly was the loot parted between them. After the boss was dealt with, there was a half floor in which people could relax within, allowing them a moment of respite. Many other groups glanced towards the C Rank party which had blown through so many floors in just a couple of days.

"Which small boss did you face?" an adventurer asked.

"Big skeleton minotaur," Adam replied.

"Ah! That's really lucky, they say he's the easiest."

"Oh?" Adam rubbed his chin.

"He did feel easy."

"Did you try him solo?"

"We did. I managed it."

"You did?" the adventurer eyed up Adam and the others, before noting their axes, and the cloak.

"That cloak, did you get it from the small boss?"

"Yes," Jaygak replied.

"How come she's the one wearing it?"

"What do you mean?" Adam asked.

"I thought you slew it?"

"I did."

"You should at least get all the magical items, at least, the treasures it gave to you anyway."

"I already have the magical axe, so she can have the cloak."

"You…" The adventurer glances between the others.

"Alright. If that's the way your party handles it. Be careful, there's still undead going to the tenth floor, and they're much tougher."

"Yeah."

"Jim, what's up?" one of his companions called as he returned.

"Poor guy. His party claimed his rewards."

"Damn," the companion said, shaking his head as he tossed a nut into his mouth.

"Poor guy."

"Should we keep going?" Adam asked.

"We could find a safe place right before the boss."

"Okay."

"Also…" Adam began, following Jurot out.

"I jut realised. Shouldn't I use my fists?"

"Against skeletons, it is a good idea."

"How come you don't use your fists?"

"I still like using my axe."

"Let's use our fists against skeletons, since that's manly."

"It is…" Jurot was ready to argue against it, until he heard Adam's rationale.

'Manly?' Victory! XP Gained: +50 XP: 27 050 -> 27 100'Damn. I can do more than sixteen damage with my fists with each hit. Why was I fighting with an axe?' Adam's fists cleared each skeleton with ease, matching the might of Kitool's staff. Jurot's fists, while raging, also did the same. Even Jaygak's fists were able to bash the skeletons with ease, though not quite as harshly as her companions. As the group rested for the night, Adam checked his XP. XP: 28 000'Should I keep saving up more, or…'

Adam thought about the next day, in which they were expected to face a proper boss.

'I shouldn't get too greedy.'

"Jurot, Kitool, Jaygak…" Adam called, catching their eyes.

"Do you want to become Masters?"

"…"

"…"

"Yes?" Jaygak replied.

"Then I'll Level Up."

"Level…" Jaygak blinked.

"Jurot?"

"Yes?"

"Can I learn Fifth Gate spells?" Adam asked.

"Okay." XP: 28 000 -> 9 000 Level Up! Level: 8 -> 9 HP: 112 -> 126 Mana: 25 -> 34 Gained access to Fifth Gate spells! Gained two spells!

"We're going to need diamonds worth five hundred gold from now on," Adam said.

'Adam!' Jaygak thought, reaching up to rub her forehead. Kitool understood why a moment later. She almost thought to doubt Adam's audacity, but after this year, could she truly blame him?

"What is your other spell?"

"Steel Wind Strike." Jurot raised his brows in alarm, suddenly unsure if he was able to face his brother with any certainly any longer.

"Don't worry, I can only cast it seven times," Adam said with a straight face, but the twinkle in his eyes revealed his true thoughts, though there were tempered by his apprehension.

'Seriously…' Adam glanced aside to his spells.

'Seriously! At least give me my Forge spells too! Didn't I pay for them enough already?' […] Gained two spells!

'Ah! You want me to spend XP for my Trained Bonus too? This is a scam!' XP: 9 000 -> 7 000 Trained Bonus: 3 -> 4 Adam remained annoyed even the next day, up until they came across the boss room, which held a skull with two blades pointing out like ears.

"Are you sure you're ready?" Jaygak asked, rolling her shoulders as she prepared herself, before drawing her blade.

"Yeah," Adam replied, swaying his upper body, stretching out his hips and his thighs, trying to warm up his hamstrings to make sure he didn't pull a muscle. He could still feel a slight twinge from having faced the minotaur. As the doors opened, it revealed the large room, one which even Kitool would find difficult to clear in a single round. Near the end of the room was a slim figure, adorned in robes as black as death.

The room here was cold, like the rest of the floors, but the cold here set deep within their bones. The bones scattered all across the floor began to shift, but as they did, Adam bolted forward, while the being begin to chant words of an ancient language, holding out its boney hands.

"I'll deal with the mage." Battle Order D20 + 1 = 18 (17) Action: Dash Dexterity Save D20 + 1 = 4 (3) Omen: 15, 19 -> 19 15 + 1 = 16 16! Success! Health: 126 -> 109 Dexterity Save D20 + 1 = 15 (14) Success! Health: 116 -> 110 Dexterity Save D20 + 1 = 15 (14) Success! Health: 110 -> 104 Dexterity Save D20 + 1 = 13 (12) Failure! Health: 104 -> 90 The flash of blue engulfed Adam, who raised his shield ahead as he charged forward, but as he stepped upon the ground, it glowed and flames exploded across him.

As the heat of the lightning and fire filled him, feeling like a thousand needles jabbing at his skin, he continued forward, only to find more flames exploding across him. As the bones rattled behind him, meeting the fists and heel of his companions, it spoke in an ancient language as the smoke filled its sight. It brought up its hands to call forth greater magic, but it jolted in shock as the shadow emerged from the smoke.

"That really hurt," Adam said, gritting his teeth as he swung his axe in front of him. Thankfully, he was a Forge Priest, rather than a true Death Priest, so the flames, while vicious, did not strike him quite as harshly. Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2 Health: 90 -> 95 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 18 (7) D20 + 11 = 18 (7) Miss! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 20 (9) D20 + 11 = 23 (12) Hit! Mana: 31 -> 30 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved! 2D6 + 3D6 + 9 = 31 (10)(12) 31 damage!

Onward Soar: 1 -> 0 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 16 (5) D20 + 11 = 28 (17) Hit! Mana: 30 -> 29 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved! 2D6 + 3D6 + 9 = 21 (2)(12) 21 damage! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 18 (7) D20 + 11 = 26 (15) Hit! Mana: 29 -> 28 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved! 2D6 + 3D6 + 9 = 32 (7)(16) 32 damage! Adam's axe, Lightaxe as Adam had dubbed it, tore through the creature viciously, even with the magic trying to deflect his heavy blows.

He didn't mind that the axe was like Hope, in that his weapon dealt as much as a typical greatsword, rather than a battleaxe, and held a Greater bonus, for it reminded him of home. Adam panted lightly as the bones fell before him, the cloak hiding the bones, before the creature began to reform in front of him. Tough Spirit: 1 -> 0 2D6 + 11 = 22 (11) Health: 95 -> 117"The sheer audacity of getting back up in front of me." Constitution Save D20 + 8 = 12 (5) Failure!

Health: 117 -> 84 Fighting Spirit: 2 -> 1 Health: 84 -> 89 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 15 (4) D20 + 11 = 18 (7) Miss! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 20 (12) D20 + 11 = 23 (16) Hit! Mana: 28 -> 27 Ability: Divine Smite Divine Smite improved! 2D6 + 3D6 + 9 = 22 (3)(10) 22 damage! The cold blasted Adam, almost threatening to force him way. Due to the flash of heat moments ago, the cold was like a dagger as it jabbed away at Adam.

He grunted in pain, but focused through it, carving through the creature with his axe. A shadow formed over them, and a staff battered the undead mage down, before Kitool finished it off by smashing through its skull with her boot. Victory! XP Gained: +1000 XP: 7 500 -> 8 500"Thanks," Adam panted aloud, shaking his body, trying to warm himself up. Kitool panted too, shaking off the frost from her body.

"It must have been a lich?" Jaygak mused, remembering the last time she was blasted by such a spell.

"Whatever it is, it's dead." Adam slammed his boot through its head again, just in case.

"Dead dead." As the treasure chest emerged, the sound of clapping filled the air. The four turned to find a figure in all red, his hair fiery red, his beard neatly trimmed, also red, his nails red, and his lips, black.

"Oh my, my, my. You can always trust Iyrmen to…" The being then glanced to Adam.

"Is the half elf with you?"

"Yes."

"With… you?" He emphasised.

"He is my brother."

"Ah! You can always trust Iyrmen to exceed expectations. Only C Rank, though? Hmm. I shall watch your descent with great anticipation. Perhaps you'll be able to…" He smiled, clapping his hands, disappearing into nothingness.

"Who was that?"

"A Demigod?" Jurot replied, unsure.

"Alright, well…" Adam turned back to the treasure chest, unimpressed by meeting a Demigod.

"This is bigger than all the other chests." The loot was definitely worth it. Hundreds of copper coins, thousands of silver, over a thousand gold. A cloak, a staff made of bone, a circlet. Three potions, three spell scrolls, and an assortment of rings made of various gems. Jaygak picked up the rings to examine them each.

"Ten gold at least, some more. Fifty? One hundred?"

"Kitool, you can have the cloak and the circlet since you were last to get anything cool," Adam offered.

"I'm not sure you want to use a bone staff, but it might be okay?" Kitool, without a thought they could be cursed, donned the robes, the circlet, and even the staff.

"Do I look imposing?"

"I'm always scared of you," Adam admitted, glancing aside.

"The circlet would feel uncomfortable against my horns," Jaygak said, frowning.

"You look sinisterly regal," Jurot said.

"Ew," Adam said, before blinking.

"Sorry."

"…" Once they were done with their looting, they made their way to the eleventh floor from the boss room, where they found a large town waiting for them, where goblins walked about freely, most tending to the various stalls or building.

"…" Adam exchanged a look with the rest of his companions, but he said nothing, for the forlorn sigh said enough. They dodged the merchants, goblin and human alike, making their way to a nearby inn. The inn charged two gold per head, plus a gold for breakfast, and while Adam thought it was a blatant rip off, he soothed himself by soaping up and enjoying his hot bath.

"Potatoes…" Adam whispered, picking at his food, slowly eating the potatoes, eggs, and fried meat. Though the inn was run by goblins, it was still human sized, though Adam had thought the seats could have been a touch wider.

"We will need to report to the Guild."

"The Guild is here?"

"Yes."

'How does that work?' Adam thought, finishing his meal, before following Jurot to the Guild.

"We faced the Lich," Jurot said.

"You did?" the A Rank Guildmaster, an older man with a bald head, asked.

"How many died?"

"None."

"Tell me what happened," he asked, writing down what Jurot told him.

"You expect me to believe that?"

"I do not expect it, but it is true."

"Even though you're C Rank?"

"I have defeated an A Rank in combat previously."

"…"

"…"

"We're a little stronger than average, due to certain circumstances," Adam said. The Guildmaster eyed the pair up. They were the only C Ranks who had managed their way here so far, and it had been especially rapid. Typically, even the best C Ranks would make their way in three days.

"Do you boys thing it's easy to achieve A Rank?"

"We're already that strong, we just don't have the recognition," Adam said, shrugging his shoulders.

"Do you think you can beat me?"

"Yes," the pair replied.

"Jio will be on duty tomorrow. Why don't you come back and we'll see if you're any good?"

"Sure." Adam smiled.

"We deal with him, we get some recognition, maybe a promotion to B Rank?"

"I'm not sure about that, but I'll make sure to write something down for you."

"Alright, thank you." The next day, with the sun above them, Jio stood tall and strong in his full plate. His horns were ready to skewer whichever young brat thought they were tough enough, while his full plate was ready to deal with any little stick they were going to use. The minotaur grinned wide, revealing his lightly yellowed teeth, and the greenery he was chewing.

"Yer tha boy who thinks 'e can beat me, ay?" Jio rested his maul over his shoulder.

"Aye," Adam replied.

"Go a'ead." Adam nodded his head, throwing a quick nod to Jurot too, who had allowed him to take the fight. Adam grabbed his battleaxe, ready to fight. Jurot allowed his brother to fight, though he was excited to fight the minotaur. However, he had begun to see the cracks within Adam. The annoyance that the half elf held, the sombreness, the darkness that had begun to set within the young man.

'He takes great care of his horns,' Jaygak thought, before they were hidden behind his helmet. Battle Order D20 + 1 = 18 (17) 18! Fighting Spirit: 3 -> 2 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 13 (2) D20 + 11 = 26 (15) Hit! Mana: 34 -> 33 Ability: Divine Smite 2D6 + 2D6 + 9 = 26 (9)(8) 26 damage! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 18 (7) D20 + 11 = 31 (20) Critical hit! Mana: 32 -> 29 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 10D6 + 9 = 60 (15)(36) 60 damage!

Onward Soar: 1 -> 0 Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 30 (19) D20 + 11 = 31 (20) Critical hit! Mana: 29 -> 26 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 10D6 + 9 = 53 (17)(27) 53 damage! Attack: Lightaxe (Advantage) D20 + 11 = 30 (17) D20 + 11 = 31 (19) Critical hit! Mana: 26 -> 25 Ability: Divine Smite 4D6 + 4D6 + 9 = 39 (17)(13) 39 damage!

'He has grown more powerful,' Jurot thought, trying to understand how Adam had defeated the minotaur with such great ease. The minotaur was at least a Master, perhaps closer to a Grandmaster, and yet Adam easily dismantled him like he was butchering a goat.

'I probably should have held back,' Adam thought, hearing the gasps of those around who had witnessed the massacre.

'Oops.' Jaygak let out a soft sigh.

'What a monster…'

"Sorry about that," Adam said, dropping down a knee, placing his hand upon the minotaur's neck. Lay on Hands: 45 -> 40 The warmth filled the minotaur who gasped back to life, his eyes darting around, before he sat up, the ache rocking through him.

'What just happened?'

'That should be fine, right?' Adam thought, stepping back, glancing aside to George, the Guildmaster.

"Is that-," A shadow formed over Adam, who quickly raised his shield, as the minotaur's maul dented his shield, forcing him to his knees. Adam inhaled sharply. Fighting Spirit: 2 -> 1 Attack: Fist D20 + 11 = 18 (7) D20 + 11 = (14) Hit! 1D6 + 7 = 12 (5) 12 damage! Adam twisted his body, his fist flying upwards, beating through the plate to strike the minotaur's jewels, before he stood, allowing the minotaur to fall before him. Victory! XP Gained: +500 XP: 8 500 -> 9 000"There was no need for that," George grumbled.

"Weird. Why am I hearing complaints when I showed him mercy? Should I kill him since he tried to attack me from behind?" Adam stared down at the minotaur, reaching down for his axe once more.

"You should stop while you-,""Adam," Jurot called, interrupting the Guildmaster. Adam remained silent.

"Do you wish to kill him?"

"If I do?"

"You cannot."

"Why not?"

"Vonda would not like it." Adam slipped his axe back into its sheath.

"What should I do with him since the Guildmaster doesn't know how to thank me?"

"There is no need to trouble them. If we do, they will trouble us when we reach the lower floors."

"I guess, since that's just how they are," Adam replied, his voice full of exhaustion.

"Alright. I shouldn't disrespect my elders like this anyhow."

'Entitled prick.'

"We have shown you mercy here today," Jurot whispered to George.

"I do not like stopping my brother from killing, but sister would dislike it."

"…" George could see it in the Iyrman's eyes, the depths of disappointment, from not allowing the death to unfold.

'He really believes they're that strong?' George's eyes fell to Jio, who was the strongest across this floor, and was a powerful A Rank adventurer.

'They really are, I guess?'

"We should really figure out what these items do, eh?" Adam said, rubbing his chin.

"Can we buy a pearl?"

"We may be able to buy one here," Jurot said.

"Jaygak, Kitool, will you find one?"

"Okay," Jaygak said, and almost as quickly as she had left, she returned.

"It was one hundred and fifty. They probably did that on purpose." Adam could see it was slightly larger than a typical pearl.

"It'll come out from my share."

"We will all pay for it," Jaygak said, and before Adam could respond, she placed a finger on his forehead.

"You're going to Identify them for everyone, and when you get back, you can hand the pearl to Larot, since you already have a pearl." Adam smiled.

"Alright, alright." Everyone was glad the items were identified. Magical Hefty Axe +2 Deals 2d6 slashing damage. Lightaxe +2 Deals 2d6 slashing damage. Cloak of Bravery Gain +1 to checks against being Frightened. Mage's Cloak +1 to DEF. Gain the ability to cast Chill Touch. You may use your Constitution as your Spellcasting Modifier. Circlet of the Princess +1 to DEF. +1 to all Attributes.

"Holy!" Adam interspersed while informing Kitool of what her circlet did. Jaygak frowned as Kitool passed it to her instantly, but she couldn't refuse, since even with this powerful magical item, she was still weaker than them all. Staff of Sunder Gain Advantage on all attacks against Monstrosities.

"I feel like these magical items are a little too good considering how many floors we've passed through…" Adam said.

"Yes," Jurot agreed.

"You think that Demigod had something to do with it?" Jurot shrugged.

"Perhaps."