Kaito's heart was still pounding from the intense battle on the first floor, but the thrill of victory was short-lived. He had passed the first test, but he knew the challenges would only get tougher from here. With a final glance at the massive door that had just closed behind him, he turned to face the second floor.
Before he could step forward, the system's interface appeared before him, showing the reward he had just obtained.
System Notification:
Floor 1 Reward:
Star Rank 3 Equipment: Ring of Eternal Mana
100,000 Gold1,000 EXP
Kaito blinked in surprise. A ring? It was an unexpected reward, but there was no time to waste on speculation. He examined the ring in his hand, a sleek silver band with intricate runes carved along its surface. The ring seemed to hum with a faint energy, pulsing in sync with his heartbeat.
System Notification:
Ring of Eternal Mana:
Mana Boost: +500
Mana Regeneration: +10%
Cooldown Reduction: 15% (for all Mana-based skills)
Special Effect: When equipped, grants an aura that boosts the wearer's Mana by 20% for 10 minutes after defeating an enemy.
Durability: Infinite
Kaito's eyes widened. This was far beyond a simple ring. The bonuses to his Mana and Cooldown Reduction were significant, but it was the special effect that caught his attention. A 20% Mana boost after every kill? That could be a game-changer, especially in the Rift where enemies only got stronger.
"Definitely a keeper," Kaito muttered to himself, slipping the ring onto his finger.
The moment the ring settled in place, a surge of energy coursed through him. It was subtle, almost imperceptible at first, but Kaito could feel it—his Mana reserves had increased, and there was a newfound sense of clarity in his mind. The faint hum of power seemed to reverberate in his chest, resonating with the ring's magic.
"Perfect," Kaito said with a grin, feeling the renewed power. "This is going to help."
He rested for five minutes, sitting down on a nearby rock to let his body and mind recover. The Celestial Fox sat by his side, watching the surroundings with keen, alert eyes. The battlefield might have been cleared, but Kaito knew that more danger awaited him.
As the final minute of rest passed, Kaito stood up, ready to face whatever the second floor had in store. He turned to Haruto, who was observing quietly from the sidelines.
"I'm ready for the next challenge," Kaito said, determination in his voice.
Haruto nodded, his face calm but impressed. "Good. The second floor will test both your strength and your mind. Be careful."
With those words, Kaito stepped forward, the Celestial Fox trotting beside him.
The second floor was different from the first. The sky was a deep, twilight blue, and the terrain was more varied—there were patches of lush green grass and dense forests, but also towering cliffs and deep ravines. It was a strange mix of beauty and danger, and Kaito could sense the shift in the atmosphere immediately. The air felt heavier, charged with a latent energy.
Just as Kaito began to walk forward, a low growl echoed from the trees.
"More enemies?" Kaito muttered, his hand instinctively reaching for his sword. The Celestial Fox also tensed, her fur rippling with the anticipation of another fight.
From the shadows of the trees, massive, four-legged creatures emerged—beasts covered in jagged spines and sharp claws. Their eyes were glowing with a crimson hue, and their movements were quick and erratic. Kaito had seen beasts like these before, but never quite this size or ferocity.
System Notification:
Floor 2: Challenge Initiated
Beasts: Crimson Spiked Behemoths
Objective: Defeat all enemies.
"Crimson Spiked Behemoths…" Kaito muttered, his eyes narrowing. "These are tough, but I've faced harder."
Taro, who had been observing from a distance, spoke up. "These beasts are more dangerous than they appear. They're fast, and their spikes can pierce through most defenses. Be careful of their charge."
Kaito nodded. He couldn't afford to underestimate them. The beasts began to charge, their powerful legs propelling them forward with terrifying speed. They were fast, faster than he anticipated, and before he could react, one of the Behemoths lunged at him, its spiked tail slashing through the air.
The blow was just inches from Kaito's body, but the Celestial Fox was faster. He leapt in front of him, his body glowing with radiant energy. The spike glanced off his Celestial Shield, but the force of the attack still sent him sliding back a few feet.
"Starfall!" Kaito shouted, his sword glowing with fiery light. He swung his weapon down, sending a stream of flame toward the nearest Behemoth. The flames engulfed the creature, and it howled in pain, thrashing wildly to escape the fire.
However, the Behemoth's skin was tougher than expected, and the flames barely left a mark.
"Damn it…" Kaito cursed under his breath, quickly retreating as the Behemoth retaliated. Its spiked tail whipped around, aiming for Kaito's midsection. He jumped backward, narrowly avoiding the deadly strike.
The Celestial Fox darted forward once again, her glowing tail striking out like a whip. The Behemoth staggered back, but it quickly recovered, its crimson eyes locking onto her. It wasn't done yet.
Kaito activated his Flame Dash++, closing the distance and slashing at the Behemoth's exposed side. His sword carved through the tough hide, but it wasn't enough to take it down. The creature roared, enraged, and charged again.
"Time for something stronger," Kaito muttered. He raised his hand, focusing his Mana into a single point. "Dimensional Blink!"
In an instant, Kaito reappeared behind the Behemoth, his sword already raised. With a swift motion, he drove it into the creature's back, and this time, the blade pierced deep.
The Behemoth let out a final, blood-curdling roar before collapsing to the ground, lifeless.
The other two Behemoths were still fighting fiercely, but with Kaito's focused attacks and the Celestial Fox's support, the tide quickly turned in their favor. After a few minutes of intense combat, the second Behemoth fell. The third was dispatched quickly after.
With the last beast defeated, Kaito took a moment to catch his breath, wiping the sweat from his brow. The battle had been tougher than he expected, but they had made it through.
The system's notification echoed in his mind once more.
Floor 2: Challenge Completed
Reward: Monster Egg (Unidentified)EXP: 1,500 Gold: 200,000
*Ding* Exp boost 15,000 received
System Notification:
Celestial Fox has leveled up!
Level: 14 → 15 EXP: 5000/30,000 (Next Level: 30,000 EXP)
New Stats for Celestial Fox:
Strength: 382 (+120)
Stamina: 403 (+115)
Defense: 374 (+70)
Agility: 382 (+115)
Mana: 1025 (+250)
Skill Upgraded:
Starfall++ (Enhanced): Significantly increased meteor damage and larger AoE
Celestial Shield++ (Enhanced): Grants an increased defensive aura with a healing effect to allies in range
Dimensional Blink++ (Enhanced): Range increased to medium distance, cooldown reduced by 10 seconds
Kaito smiled, feeling a surge of pride for his companion. The Celestial Fox had grown stronger with each battle, and now, with the enhanced abilities, he was becoming more than just an ally—he was evolving into something much more formidable.
Looking down at him, he could see the subtle changes—his fur was more radiant, his eyes brighter with the spark of newfound power. It was like he had stepped into his true potential, and Kaito knew there was no turning back now.
"Good job, boy," Kaito whispered, patting the fox gently. "We're going to need all the power we can get as we move forward."
But just as Kaito was about to take another step, a sudden burst of energy surged through him. He hadn't expected it—his body was already brimming with power, but this new sensation was different. The system's interface appeared again, this time regarding him.
System Notification:
Kaito Yamada has leveled up!
Level: 20 → 21 EXP: 5000/20,000 (Next Level: 30,000 EXP)
New Stats for Kaito Yamada:
Rank: C
HP: 2,800/2,800 (+600 from stat point increases in Endurance and Strength)
Mana: 1,600/1,600 (+400 from stat point increase in Intelligence)
Strength: 435 (+50)
Agility: 385 (+31)
Intelligence: 495 (+38)
Endurance: 326 (+10)
Kaito felt the immediate effects of his level-up. The subtle but significant increase in his Strength, Agility, and Intelligence added a noticeable weight to his presence. He had reached Level 21— he had Ranked up to C just one step closer to becoming the kind of powerhouse he needed to face the dangers ahead. His body felt a little more solid, more resilient, and his mind sharper than ever.
He flexed his fingers, feeling the mana flowing through him, more abundant and more easily controlled than before. He could feel the ring he had equipped pulse faintly with power, enhancing his Mana reserves further.
Kaito's eyes widened at the reward. A monster egg? He bent down to pick it up carefully. The egg was warm to the touch, and as he held it, he could feel a faint pulse of life inside.
"Well, that's definitely interesting…" Kaito mused, inspecting the egg further. "Another potential ally."
Haruto, who had remained quiet during the battle, approached Kaito with a nod of approval. "Good job. You've passed the second floor. The egg you've received is a rare reward. Take good care of it—it could hatch into something powerful."
Kaito glanced down at the egg again, his excitement growing. "Thanks, I will."
With that, the path forward opened, the next door ready to lead him deeper into the Rift.
"On to the next floor," Kaito said with a determined grin. "Let's see what else this place has to throw at me."