[level 3 of Black madness]
Cloud's eyes widened as the darkness cleared and he found himself standing at the end of a valley, facing tall hills covered with burnt trees and bearing brown leaves.
"This is the third floor," Cloud whispered in his head, immediately unsheathing his blade, his eyes vividly scanning for danger.
Despite having only ever visited the first floor of the dungeon, Cloud knew what the other floors entailed, the terrain and the beasts.
The first floor had beasts from level 1 to 8, the second floor from level 7 to 14, and the third from level 14 to 20.
"How did I get here."
Of course, Cloud knew that his presence on the third floor was his own doing, but it didn't make sense because it should not have been possible. One could never skip a level when going through a dungeon; all previous floors had to be cleared.
He had simply locked onto the sensation in his head and suddenly knew what to do.
Like the most basic knowledge, he understood what he was dealing with and had moved his mana on instinct.
Threats on level three were not for beginners. They were what the villagers organised dungeon parties for.
Even captains and elders moved in groups when they came to this floor, and here was Cloud—alone.
As Cloud stood still, he searched for the sensation through which he had arrived on the floor, his ticket out lying faintly before him.
The process for exit was clear, but Cloud hesitated.
"Doesn't this solve my point issue."
Going to level two would see Cloud making kills that brought him meagre points, but if he stayed here…
An excited shiver ran through him as he thought of the possible windfall.
"Craaaaaar!!"
A cry echoed from ahead.
A beast with a grey furry body emerged, its front arms shaped like those of a bat, bearing long claws, and hind legs resembling those of a cat.
The beast had jagged teeth, its bite promising pain, and it stood at about five feet tall, nearly matching Cloud in height while on all fours.
[Black Dog Level 15]
My luck to skip a level.
[You are locked in combat]
Immediately, the second message appeared. Cloud's exit ticket vanished, the sensation in his head gone.
The beast didn't give him time to ponder his situation. It suddenly accelerated, reaching him in record time and forcing him to jump out of the way.
Landing, Cloud raised his left hand, conjuring a fireball—but as he turned, his eyes widened when he saw the beast already on him.
"No time."
Abandoning his spell, Cloud gripped his Katana with both hands and clashed with the beast, stopping its claws just before they could reach him, though he still suffered a graze across his forehead.
Using the momentum from the beast's attack, Cloud pushed himself backward, sliding across the ground before quickly making for the trees to the side.
"It's fast."
The thought had barely registered in Cloud's head when his instinct flared. Without hesitation, he jumped aside, avoiding a wide shadow that passed over his previous position.
[Fireball (level 1): 4 KP to level up]
[Level up]
[Level up]
Cloud's mind worked rapidly. Spending nearly all his kill points, he pushed the fireball spell to level 5.
As he rose from his roll, he stabbed his Katana into the ground and within seconds had two fireballs speeding toward the enemy.
Boom!!
Following the explosion, the Black Dog's entire form was engulfed in flames, its fur and flesh searing as Cloud was already moving.
With the fire keeping the beast occupied, he advanced, arriving in front of it just as the flames dispersed.
Seeing him, the beast immediately swiped with its right claw, but Cloud dropped to the ground, sliding beneath the attack.
As he moved, the underside of the beast's belly came into view. Cloud slashed at the front of its hind leg, pleased by the cry that followed, then quickly rose and used both hands to deliver another blow to the back of the same limb.
Craaaaar!!
Cloud's goal had been to completely sever the beast's leg, and he could only snort when it still remained in one piece.
Twisting its body in madness, the pain from Cloud's attacks clear, the beast lashed out wildly with its claws, seeking to tear him apart. Cloud dodged and used his Katana to block its strikes.
For several seconds, the sound of claws and steel clashing rang through the valley, sparks flying through the air.
Then Cloud jumped back, smiling inwardly as the beast collapsed halfway while trying to pursue him, its damaged leg finally giving out.
Cloud didn't hesitate. He rained fireballs upon the beast, explosions ripping across its body and pinning it down until the notification appeared.
[You have killed level 15 beast, +400 KP]
[You have levelled up]