Though Renjiro had only just become an adventurer, and even possessed the unique ability to "Return to Town", he had still made sure to thoroughly study all available information on the Dungeon before setting foot inside.
He knew the first nine floors held relatively few monster types, and their strength was on the weaker side. Otherwise, they wouldn't have been able to sustain the sheer number of Lv.1 slackers who spent years loitering in Orario.
In general, the monsters included:
"Goblins, Kobolds, War Shadows, Spittongue Lizards, Purple Moths, Needle Rabbits, Big Frogs, Killer Ants… yeah, about those."
================
Dungeon, Fifth Floor,
Renjiro (Aether) and Lumine moved cautiously through the tunnel.
Beside them floated a tiny figure holding up a "lamp", Paimon, smartphone in hand.
She now acted as their support role, fulfilling the tasks Renjiro had planned out beforehand:
using the phone's flashlight to light the way, and navigating with maps and photos stored on her device, aided by a compass app.
By now, the routes of the Dungeon's Upper Floors had been thoroughly mapped by generations of adventurers.
Especially the first nine floors, they resembled old, over-mined caverns. Their roads forming wide U-shaped paths about three to four meters tall and wide.
The ground was flat, and in larger chambers, even steps had formed to ease movement,
perfectly suited for combat.
It was practically a "newbie zone."
Unless a major cave-in occurred,
the maps were almost never wrong.
The Guild had even organized the data into "Official Routes."
For example, the First Floor alone was divided into five sectors, A through E, each with multiple sub-routes numbered 01 to 09.
Just ten minutes earlier, Renjiro had passed through A-01,
a path that led straight to the Second Floor entrance.
And as noted before, the deeper the floor, the larger its size.
So by the Fifth Floor, there were already nine sectors, A through I, with sub-routes increasing dramatically.
For now,
"We're on the 'D-13' official route. This area often spawns Kobolds."
Kobolds were wolf-like creatures, though smaller and scrawnier, more akin to dog-headed humanoids.
They attacked adventurers with sharp claws and fangs.
On the Upper Floors, they were among the more dangerous foes.
Newbies typically avoided them, choosing goblins instead for practice.
But Renjiro thought otherwise:
The first three floors are too crowded, the fourth isn't much better, there's no point hoping to find enough goblins. Purple Moths are poisonous. Needle Rabbits are too fast and small, bad for beginners. Spittongue Lizards and Big Frogs have absurdly long tongues, reaching several meters, too troublesome once they entangle you. Killer Ants are armored and swarm easily, more pain than it's worth. War Shadows? Deadly. Most of their body ignores physical damage. Only a headshot will kill them.
His reasoning was clear:
Which means Kobolds are the best punching bags for me to train on right now. Of course, in the Dungeon, you never know what might happen. Even on the Upper Floors, letting your guard down is suicide.
Both Renjiro (Aether) and Lumine gripped their blunt practice swords, advancing slowly. He intended to linger on the Fifth Floor, to at least grow used to the feel of real combat before venturing deeper.
After all, before crossing into this world, he'd grown up in a modern city, and had never killed anything bigger than a mosquito.
He knew that the first time a person killed, the body instinctively resisted, a natural biological response. He'd need time, even just a few minutes, to push through that resistance.
What worried him most was,
Kobolds fight about as well as wild wolves back on Earth. Not as smart, though… In fact, the Upper Floor monsters are all pretty brainless. They just charge head-on. Unlike the Middle and Lower Floors, where monsters ambush, or even cross floors to hunt you.
He reviewed this knowledge in his head, the benefit of having a clone body.
Honestly, if he were alone, he would have stayed safe on the First Floor, grinding goblins, even if it meant going home empty-handed on day one.
But now,
"When we meet monsters, I'll go first. You cover me."
Renjiro (Aether) turned his head and spoke to Lumine.
In truth, all three of them, including Paimon, could communicate telepathically, regardless of distance. But Renjiro wasn't yet used to such advanced powers, so he spoke aloud.
"No problem."
Lumine's response was calm, her soul a copy of Renjiro's own essence.
Just then,
Crack… crack…
The rocky wall nearby began to split open. From the seemingly solid earth, three wolf-like creatures clawed their way out.
Their glowing red eyes immediately locked onto Renjiro's group, their gaze dripping with feral bloodlust. A low, guttural growl filled the air.
Renjiro (Aether) instinctively took half a step back, his body moving on reflex. A rookie's reaction.
But,
Just three Kobolds? Perfect.
He drew a deep breath, forcing himself to calm down. Even so, his arms and legs trembled slightly. The blunt sword, light enough for one hand, was now gripped tightly in both.
Exactly as he had expected, he needed to adapt to the act of killing.
Many raised in peaceful times would shake all over, not just at their first sight of blood, but even during their first real fight.
Still, once they gained experience, once they had their first,
Hoo…
Renjiro believed he could overcome this weakness born of a life of comfort.
The next moment,
ROAR!
The three freshly-spawned Kobolds lunged like wolves onto prey, charging straight for him.
Renjiro's response?
"Like hell I'm doing this the hard way!"
Instead of swinging his sword, he dropped his left hand from the hilt, spreading his fingers like claws, and shifted his right foot back as a pivot.
Then, without hesitation, he unleashed his Anemo technique.
Gale Vortex Blade
Gale Vortex Blade
Gale Vortex Blade
Harnessing the power of wind, the user creates a vacuum vortex in their palm, dealing continuous Anemo damage to enemies in front. When the skill ends, the vortex explodes, inflicting a larger, more powerful burst of Anemo damage.
The technique was strikingly similar to the one wielded by the Anemo Archon's vessel, Jean, a pulling force combined with defensive power. In fact, Renjiro had once used it in Teyvat to block Childe's deadly blades.
Now,
Thrum! Thrum! Thrum!
The Kobolds' charge was abruptly halted, their bodies dragged into the swirling vacuum. Wind blades tore at their flesh, blood spraying in thin lines.
And then,
Boom!
Their bodies burst apart into black mist, leaving only glowing magic stones.
Crack!
The delayed explosion of the Gale Vortex went off, shattering the freshly dropped stones into worthless dust.
"Damn it!" Renjiro cursed.
==========
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