Chương 88: Chapter 86 – Finishing The Preparations.

"Quick, I saw him run through here!"

"After him, don't let that bastard escape!" A thunder of footsteps echoed through the dimly lit corridor. The thick walls, marred with scratches, belonged to the local E-rank dungeon. Inside, a group of six men were chasing a hoodlum who had dared to steal from adventurers. After more than a week of this cat-and-mouse chase, they had finally cornered him, and today, they were determined to catch this menace once and for all.

"..."

"I don't see him... Are you sure he went this way?" The leader of the group, a broad-shouldered man with small bear-like ears, barked at his companions, his breath heavy from the chase. The corridor funneled into what seemed like a dead-end chamber, the only light coming from the faint glow of dungeon crystals embedded in the walls. His axe gleamed under the eerie blue light as he scanned the area, his patience wearing thin.

"I swear, I saw him!" One of the younger adventurers spoke up, panting heavily as he wiped the sweat from his brow.

"He went this way. He couldn't have just vanished!" The chamber they found themselves in was closed off, with four large columns placed in the center. It was dimly lit - an area designed as a trap. If anyone moved too close to the center, a mechanism would trigger, sealing the entrance behind them. Monsters from the dungeon would then be funneled in through hidden compartments above and below. It was a danger the group hoped to avoid.

"Could he be hiding behind one of those pillars?"

"Are you stupid? Look at the width of them. No grown man in armor could fit behind those." The leader, maddened by his companions' bickering, took a deep breath, his sharp ears twitching as he listened intently. The corridor was deathly silent, save for the quiet hum of dungeon magic coursing through the walls. No footsteps, no shuffling. It was as if the hoodlum had disappeared into thin air.

"Unless this guy's some kind of master at hiding, there's no reason to assume he's still here... And if he was that skilled, he wouldn't need to hide from us in the first place." The leader scratched his chin, scanning the room while listening to one of his men talk. There were no signs of anyone having been there, nor any indication that someone was hiding behind the pillars. His men spread out, moving to the left and right to check behind them, but still, they found no one.

It crossed his mind that a high-level skill might be in play, but if that were the case, the person using it could easily kill them all before they even realized what was happening. Only high-level assassins could blend so perfectly into the shadows, and someone of that caliber wouldn't bother robbing low-level adventurers.

"You're right, no point in wasting any more time here." He signaled his men to back away, their irritation clear. They had been chasing the same elusive target for days, only to be tricked time and time again. The perpetrator wore armor similar to dungeon monsters from the lesser F-rank dungeon. Everyone knew that it was a disguise to avoid detection but each time he managed to somehow evade their pursuits.

With nothing left here for them they decided to retreat back to the dungeon's entrance, eager to regroup and plan their next move. Little did they know, their elusive target was right under their noses the entire time. Rusty, cloaked in shadows, had been using his Basic Elemental Meld ability to blend seamlessly into the chamber's dark crevices.

There wasn't much shadow to work with, so he had reduced his form to just a helmet, but luckily, his pursuers were focused on the pillars in the center of the room, ignoring the dark corners where he could hide.

'That was close. If they'd stayed a few moments longer, my mana would've run out… I think, this might be a good time to stop before they catch me…' Rusty thought, switching his loadout to return to his Albert form for now. He wasn't sure if his pursuers were still waiting for him outside, so it was safer to use his official disguise. Everyone was searching for someone resembling a living armor, and thanks to his system, he could switch between various armored forms to keep hiding.

'But will it be enough?' Three days had passed since the auction announcement, and he had less than two days to gather everything. The sum his guide had instructed him to collect was almost in his inventory, and with all the loot from his recent robberies, he just needed to sell it off to reach his goal. It was good news, but Rusty had lived long enough not to be fooled by temporary victories. Just like in the past, there were always factors beyond his control.

He knew better than to celebrate before succeeding in his mission to save Gleam.

'What's my current level at…' Name: Rusty Classification: Twilight Iron Armor [E] L7 Type: Magical/Inorganic Hit Points [HP] 253/253 Magic Points [MP] 32/210 Special Points [SP] 50/50 Strength 99 [E] Agility 73 [E] Dexterity 72 [E] Constitution 103 [E+] Intelligence 78 [E] This content has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road; report any instances of this story if found elsewhere. Wisdom 80 [E] Willpower 79 [E] Durability D'Close to half way, but will not be able to get to E+ or D- before the auction.'

Rusty glanced at his experience bar, which was more than half full, and realized he could expect at most one more level-up before the auction date. His leveling drive was starting to slow down, but he was still making steady progress toward the next big change. Additionally, he had successfully gained new skills from the green-skinned monsters that were compatible with his absorption skill. Not only those monsters, but also the adventurers he robbed had become his targets.

He had hoped to acquire a mana manipulation skill to begin his journey as a caster, but there weren't any orc shamans or mages with such skills nearby. Instead, he had learned some other tricks that might come in handy. Provoking Shout Active Skills Forces enemies within range to attack the person performing this skill. The skill can be resisted by individuals with high willpower. One of the skills he took belonged to the more advanced fighter class.

It was one that the temporary adventurer party had asked him about and he lacked. While it wasn't great when he was fighting alone, once Gleam joined him on his adventures it would probably prove available for her survival. Lesser Fury Active Skills For a short amount of time, it enhances all physical stats, and can't be used repeatedly. This skill was one he had acquired from one of the orcs.

They had two similar skills; the other was called Lesser Berserk, but for some reason, it wasn't compatible with Rusty's physiology. This one was a downgraded variant with fewer side effects and could be triggered at any time at the expense of mana. The other skill required the user to amass some damage before activation, vastly enhancing their stats but at the cost of their sanity. At least, that was how Alexander had explained it when Rusty had asked for clarification.

The orc monsters seemed to use skills to enhance their muscular bodies to the extreme but he was a suit of armor, lacking any adrenaline glands or hormones to induce rage and bloodlust. However, his leveling up had also granted him some of his own skills that were achieved only by living-armor monsters. Fortify Armor Active Skills Temporarily increases defense by hardening the armor's material, reducing damage taken for a short period.

Can be activated to negate damage from heavy attacks but also lowers agility when used. It was a useful skill that allowed him to temporarily raise his durability. Once activated, he would be almost impervious to physical damage. Even the large orcs with their hammers and axes wouldn't be able to scratch his body while this skill was in effect. With these three new additions, he had become even stronger than before, and perhaps it was time to use the next two days to pursue an even greater boost.

'I can't rob anyone anymore but I still have two days left, I should be able to advance further down the labyrinth.' Rusty had now spent more than a week exploring the first large floor of this dungeon. With Aburdon's help, he had never felt lost, and hunting monsters was becoming increasingly easy. This place was much larger than the F-rank dungeon he had originated from, but it also felt more constraining. Many adventurers wandered these halls, but the further he ventured in, the fewer people he encountered.

The people of this world were different from him and had varying motivations. Rusty's two main goals were to become stronger and save his friend. He didn't hunt enemies for wealth or fame, but those adventurers did. Their reasoning for being there felt somewhat shallow, and they were limited by their own motivations. Fear was a powerful emotion, and with little more than the desire to earn money while putting themselves in danger, they often faltered, stifling their progress.

Fear was not something Rusty truly understood, though he was aware of its existence. He still wanted to live, and now that he was no longer bound to the old dungeon, defeat meant his body wouldn't be restored. He had taken his freedom, but that also made him like everyone else - mortal. Still, he didn't have time to dwell on such grand ideas. Instead, he focused on his mission, wandering through the corridors until he reached the stairs leading to the lower labyrinth floor.

'This is different from the last dungeon…'

"Potions! Get your potions!"

"Ropes, fresh clothes, rations - we've got everything!" The area before the stairs was much larger here. It was a safe zone, where no monsters could wander in, and the Adventurers' Guild made full use of it to their advantage. They created a safe zone for people to rest and resupply. Small stalls dotted the area, run by merchants peddling essential goods like potions, weapons, and food.

Adventurers of all shapes and sizes bustled about, some preparing to descend deeper into the labyrinth, while others rested from their battles, recounting tales of the dangers they had faced. It was a lively place, a sharp contrast to the eerie silence of the dungeon halls Rusty had just left behind.

'There is even a sleeping area but also, everything costs twice as much as in the city.' One thing he had noticed about the people of various races was their greed. The dungeon was a deadly place, yet any help provided here always came with conditions. Even if someone was on the brink of death, no aid would be given unless they had something to trade. While money wasn't always necessary, something had to be offered in return - sometimes even just a favor to be called in later.

Rusty scanned the crowd, trying to gauge the strength of the monsters below by observing the adventurers heading down. This was still an E-rank dungeon, and while he was a monster of that level, stronger ones lurked beneath his metallic feet. Fortunately, no one from his old party was around to call out to him, allowing him to head directly for the long staircase leading down. There were a lot of adventurers here, more than he expected but no one seemed to be too interested in him.

Some gave him a few fleeting glances but most of them were still busy discussing the iron bandit, the name that he had garnered after his form had been discovered after a few robberies. Rusty descended the long staircase, each step echoing softly through the stone corridor as the safe zone above faded into the distance. The deeper he went, the more the air grew heavier, saturated with the faint scent of damp earth and something else - something far more dangerous.

Unlike the upper levels, where low-rank iron adventurers casually strolled, the lower labyrinth floors were much more treacherous. At this level it was a possibility to encounter an E+ rank monster and sometimes even a mutated D- rank. The dampness in the air came from the change in the walls' composition, which became saturated from the rising vapors and moisture. Lizardmen and Orcs still roamed this level, but they had their own large chambers, where both monster types were concentrated in high numbers.

Some chambers were said to be filled with shallow swamps and poisonous fog, which explained the heavy, damp air. Rusty didn't have to worry about the poison - only the moisture, which could cause his iron body to rust, was a problem.

'Now then, Aburdon, find me a safe place to test the monsters down here.'

'Ah yes, Aburdon the Lord of Maps, at your service my lord.' Aburdon replied in a mocking tone that Rusty was starting to pick up on. The more he wondered about the world of the intelligent races, the more he learned about their culture. The air grew colder as Rusty ventured further, the sound of dripping water echoing in the passage. He instinctively reached for his weapon, his senses heightened.

The deeper floors of this dungeon were notorious for their tricky layout and stronger monsters, but it was exactly what Rusty needed if he wanted to level up before the auction.

'Keep your guard up, a cluster of creatures should be up ahead, that is if no other adventurers got to them first.' Just as he expected, the first area was a dud. No monster had persisted and the whole place had been looted. This was quite normal as they were close to the safe zone. To find more bounties he needed to go in further and so he would. He ventured into the next corridor with hastened steps, his mind preoccupied with the arrival of his main mission's end.

He eventually encountered a group of orcs that were stronger than the previous ones and engaged them in battle. Their levels were higher, and the danger was greater, but he persisted. With each swing of his sword, time continued to pass, and the battle turned into a test of endurance - something the orcs were lacking. His body absorbed their cleavers, and by fortifying himself, he took no damage at all.

The monsters roared, entering a berserk frenzy, but he didn't buckle under the pressure and continued his onslaught. Eventually, nothing remained but a large piece of damaged iron armor that began restoring itself back into shape. Experience points flowed into him, making him stronger, but it wasn't nearly enough. He needed more, and before the two days were up, he had to advance further and prepare himself for the unknown auction he needed to participate in.

'Don't worry Gleam, in two days, we'll be back together…' Rusty pulled his sword from an Orc's body and turned his attention to a new corridor. He seemed to have triggered some kind of trap, as the chorus of frantic roars reverberated off the dungeon walls and drew closer to his position. He welcomed this; more monsters meant more experience and more parts to sell - something he desperately needed for the culmination of his quest.