Judas barely had time to think before another attack came flying at him.
A dagger, thrown with deadly precision.
He twisted his body mid-step, the blade grazing past his cheek, leaving a thin, stinging cut.
'Tsk, fast.'
Realizing the severity of the situation, Judas boosted himself and cast his strengthening spells all at once, matching the status of a Level 4 in terms of physicality.
Covered in several layers of light, his speed multiplied several times, leaving behind a trail of dust clouds in his wake as he ran.
'I've got to leave this dungeon and head to the surface. Hiding in Rivira isn't an option, and heading deeper into the dungeon is too dangerous.'
He could see the stairway that led all the way up to the 17th floor.
"You think you can get away?"
Before he could reach it, the Cat Person was already behind him, his spear shimmering with a faint glow.
'This is bad.'
Judas bent his knees and dropped low, barely dodging a stab aimed at his shoulder.
He planted his hands on the ground and kicked backward.
His heel smashing into the Cat Person's ribs, sending him skidding back a few meters.
Yet, the moment Judas stood upright, two Pallums rushed in from the sides and swung their weapons toward him in perfect synchronization.
'They're very coordinated.'
Judas didn't hesitate and cast a spell.
『Permeation』
His figure became transparent, turning into mist.
The attacks passed through empty air, leaving the Pallums confused.
『Stealth』
『Erase Presence』
In front of their eyes, his figure completely vanished.
"A stealth spell?"
The Cat Person said with a frown.
"Where did he go?"
One of the Pallums questioned as he swung his hammer around, hoping to land a lucky hit.
Hiding behind a nearby tree, Judas glanced over before turning his head toward the stairway and making a run for it.
"Caelus Hildr!"
A voice resounded.
The sound of electricity crackled in the air.
Judas looked up and saw hundreds of lightning arrows raining down.
There was no clear target, but it was clearly a massive bombardment blindly aimed at the 17th floor's entrance.
Unfortunately, Judas happened to be in the center of it.
But he knew this was not the result of bad luck.
'They predicted where I would go... I got completely read like a book.'
Knowing that any normal barrier couldn't save him from this bombardment, he cast an element-based protection spell instead.
『Wind Shield』
A giant dome made of wind surrounded him.
In an instant, dozens of lightning arrows crashed into his barrier—but thankfully, it was able to withstand them.
Unfortunately, even though he managed to block the attack, the electric shock generated still damaged him.
"It still got me."
Judas grimaced as he felt his movements turn sluggish, small bands of electricity dancing around his body.
The dome of wind dispersed, and the mage who had launched the lightning attack appeared in front of him.
"Stealth magic, detection magic, attack magic, defense magic, and even enhancement magic that boosts your stats to match a Level 4... all without a chant and cast in an instant."
The man looked him up and down, staring at him like a teacher assessing his student.
"Indeed, an adventurer with an arsenal as deep as yours would be a terrifying foe to face on the battlefield and a great asset as an ally."
"As a mage, you are already complete."
"However! I can see from this short exchange that in some areas, you are still severely lacking. If you wish to become worthy of my goddess, then you have much work to do."
The man lectured him before raising his staff.
"Now... go to sleep."
The staff swung toward Judas' head, intending to knock him out.
But Judas was a beat faster.
『Solar Flare』
A blinding light erupted without warning.
It felt as if the sun itself had appeared right in front of them, burning their eyes.
"Urgh!"
Even with a mask, it did not help... the attackers had no choice but to cover their eyes.
Using the opportunity, Judas did not hesitate to run.
After successfully stepping onto the 17th floor, he immediately made his way toward the stairway leading to the floor above.
He had already memorized the pathway and took the shortest route he knew.
"What the? What was that?"
His figure was like a flashing shadow.
On the way, he passed other parties of adventurers, even members of the Apollo Familia.
But Judas didn't stop to look at them for even a second.
After finding the stairway to the 16th floor, he continued upward—15th floor, 14th floor, 13th, 12th, 11th.
It took him less than a minute to return to the 10th floor.
ROAR
The dungeon walls cracked, and monsters spawned to block his path.
But Judas didn't slow down one bit, charging through the wall of monsters like a battering ram.
With the strength of a Level 4, the monsters felt as though they had been hit by a speeding truck, blown to pieces as chunks of flesh splattered in every direction.
Now covered in blood, Judas didn't have the luxury to stop and clean himself.
He could feel several presences closing in behind him.
'They already caught up?'
'These guys are relentless.'
Just as he was about to step onto the stairway to the 9th floor, a shadow flashed past him.
The Cat Person stood in his way, arms crossed.
"This is as far as you go, you piece of shit."
Seeing this, Judas was about to cast a spell... when danger flared from his side.
"The one who has tainted my lady, feel my wrath."
He turned his head and saw another masked Elf wielding a black longsword.
Judas moved his body, trying to evade the slash aimed at his torso.
With his sharp eyesight, he was confident he dodged it in time.
But the masked Elf smirked.
Judas' eyes widened as the blade extended invisibly, a massive diagonal gash ripping across him.
It tore through his armor, clothes, and flesh in one devastating strike.
Blood splattered everywhere.
"Argh!"
Judas fell to one knee, clutching the wound with his hand... his palm slick with his own blood.
"A cursed weapon?"
Reforming a few meters away, Judas barely had a moment to breathe before the masked Elf began chanting under his breath.
'Magic.'
His instincts screamed danger.
He dashed forward before the spell could activate, his fist rearing back.
But just as he was about to land the hit...
A massive force slammed into his side.
He stared at the spear-wielding Cat Person, whose legs were outstretched.
Judas felt the impact ripple through his bones as he was sent crashing into a wall.
Dust and debris exploded from the collision.
'Crap... that really hurt.'
He barely had time to recover before the rest of the group arrived, closing in on him again.
Their movements were efficient... too efficient for mere thugs.
Judas exhaled sharply, wiping the blood trickling from his mouth.
"Alright."
He muttered, straightening his stance.
His eyes glowed faintly.
"You want a fight? Fine."
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