Blinded on one side, the beetle thrashes in frustration, attempting to crush me with its bulk. But I'm quicker now, more confident. I step to the side, keeping out of its reach until finally, I see my opening. The beetle, weakened and desperate, exposes its underbelly as it rears back to deliver a final, wild charge.
I spring forward, driving my spear deep into the soft flesh beneath its armored exterior. The creature convulses, its death throes echoing off the chamber walls before collapsing with a resounding crash, defeated.
I withdraw my spear, wiping it clean as I step back, a sense of triumph surging through me. Ayame approaches, a proud smile on her face and she begins clapping happily.
"I can't believe that you actually soloed a boss monster after only five days of becoming a combatant- scratch that, after coming to this world… It might've been level one, but a boss monster is magnitudes stronger than its common equivalent. Incredible job, Quinlan."
I accept her congratulatory words with an elegant bow. "Thank you, my fair lady."
She dismisses my antics with a cute sigh and walks towards the exit after picking up the boss's drop. "Every floor has monsters on the same level as the floor's number, so now we will be facing level 2 monsters. What's more, in each monster chamber there can be up to as many monsters as the floor's number, thus we can face 2 level 2 monsters, or just 1 on floor 2.
Furthermore, Each floor introduces up to three monster types, but we can meet monsters from the previous five floors on rare occasions, and, yes, their levels will be elevated to the floor number's equivalent." Ayame narrates the labyrinth's rules.
"I assume the chambers will be expanded accordingly? Otherwise the higher floors will be incredibly cramped…"
"Yes, that's right."
"Alright, then let's get going. Are you only going to watch me again?"
"Yeah. I see no reason for you to struggle on floor 2, I will begin to participate on floor 3."
[New Class Unlocked: Explorer]
[Explorer: Basic Class]
[Effect: Minor VIT Increase]
[Base Skill: Mapmaker's Insight]
Oh? Looks like stepping into the 2nd floor was the unlock requirement for this class. I'm rather on the fence about becoming an Explorer long term, but for now I have class slots to level it up, so I swap Thief out.
[Mapmaker's Insight: Create a map in your mind as you explore labyrinths.]
Perhaps this is the most useful innate skill I've unlocked for a class as of yet. If the labyrinth really does get more intricate with each floor we go up, or rather down since the stairway leads downstairs, soon it will be harder and harder to navigate our way through. Mapmaker's Insight should help us not get lost in the many similar looking corridors.
And, it turns out that she is, in fact, absolutely right. I demolish my way through the new monsters, namely Acidic Slimes, Elder Cranes and Fungi Hyenas. Fungi Hyenas were the most straightforward of the three, they just kept lunging at me and I impaled them on my spear. I don't know why they had fungi grow on their skin but it didn't seem to elevate their abilities or assist them in their battles.
Elder Cranes were only more difficult due to their ability to fly, but they had no ranged attacks, so they had to dive down to strike, which resulted in swift victories. Acidic Slimes were the most difficult, I had to find their single weak spot- their core in their jelly bodies while they were hurling toxins spells at me. ⱤÁŊȮ𝔟Ëṥ
Ayame told me that we might have to throw the newly bought armor out if I get hit, which served as the greatest motivational tool to make me give it my all.
The fact that I often had to fight two monsters at the same time introduced another difficulty layer. My least favorite combo had to be an Acidic Slime and A Fungi Hyena. The beast was smart enough to wait for the slime to throw me off balance and then strike using its swiftness. If not for my [Lesser Evasion] and high Agility score I would've been bitten a few times for sure.
We got to the boss room, this time only about 70% as many people were waiting in line compared to the first floor. It shows just how many newbies wish to become explorers or adventurers, farmers and laborers who throw away their sickles and spades for the life of sword and shield. According to Ayame, these people can spend years stuck on the first floor.
We step into the chamber and the boss on this floor appears to be a King Crane. I must admit that it's the most majestic monster I've seen up to this point. Towering over four and a half meters (fifteen feet) tall, its elongated neck and slender legs make it seem almost graceful, but I know better.
Its feathers shimmer in the dim light, a mesmerizing blend of white with iridescent hues of blue and gold, giving it an aura of regality.
Its razor-sharp beak glints ominously, capable of slicing through armor like paper. The powerful wings spread wide, and I can almost feel the gusts of wind they could create, enough to knock down even the most steadfast warriors.
I wonder how I'm going to go about this fight. My level is higher but a boss monster's level is misleading. It is meant to face a team of explorers in its lonesome, after all. I will have to be extra smart and careful this time around.
"If you manage to beat this boss monster without needing my interference then I'm going to sleep in your embrace tonight!" My thus-far silent companion unexpectedly speaks up just before I move to engage my opponent. I snap my head the fastest it has ever been snapped since its inception, even straining my neck muscles in the process, but I can't give a damn about that right now.
I thought I misheard my cute samurai's words but seeing her crimson red cheeks that can't be the case.
She really uttered that uncharacteristically lewd sentence with her thin, delicate lips.