Akira had been grinding on the tenth floor of the Dungeon for quite a while now. In that time, he had grown confident enough to handle groups of up to four orcs with nothing but a one-handed sword.
As long as a massive wave of monsters didn't show up, he could now explore this floor with relative ease.
Having finally made up his mind to pursue the path of a magic swordsman, Akira requested both Kaguya and Ryuu to coach him in swordsmanship.
His mage identity remained his hidden ace—something he would unleash only when enemies lowered their guard, unaware of the storm he could bring.
His training plan was simple but disciplined: sharpen his swordsmanship during dungeon raids, then return to the surface to refine his magic in the evenings. With this dual-pronged approach, he was steadily evolving.
That evening, inside Astraea's room.
Strength: G274 → E442
Endurance: G256 → E467
Dexterity: F322 → D502
He had now been training on the tenth floor for five days straight.
Yet, despite his continuous fighting, the pace at which his stats improved had significantly slowed down—except for Magic, which continued to soar upward at an impressive rate.
Apparently, the monsters on the tenth floor no longer provided him with meaningful growth. If he wanted to increase his growth rate, he would have to challenge the next floor.
Astraea studied his status sheet thoughtfully and said, "You've been pushing yourself lately, Akira. Is something driving you?"
"I just have this gut feeling." Akira replied, taking the parchment back with a steady gaze.
"Something big is coming. And when it does, I want to be strong enough to protect my goddess… and everyone in this family."
"Is that so?" Astraea smiled gently. "Then go on—train well with Kaguya."
Out at the training grounds, wooden swords clashed.
Akira's blade met Kaguya's with a dull thud. As the force of the blow bounced their swords apart, Kaguya moved like a shadow, her blade striking toward him with sharp precision.
Akira instinctively stepped back, narrowly avoiding her swing, and retaliated with a swift downward slash.
Kaguya parried with ease. Leaning in, she swung her sword in an arc, the blade slicing toward his neck like a flash of lightning.
Akira quickly reversed his grip and raised his sword vertically to block the incoming strike. The blades collided and he barely held on.
But just as he exhaled a breath of relief—
A blow landed on his wrist.
Before he could recover, Kaguya's foot snuck in behind his heel, sweeping him off balance.
He stumbled, and the next instant, found himself flat on the ground, a wooden blade hovering in front of his chest.
"You're down." Kaguya declared, squatting beside him.
She ruffled his hair with a faint smile and said, "You lose."
Akira groaned in mock agony. "Ugh… Kaguya-nee, you're amazing."
"Flattery won't earn you mercy." She said bluntly.
"You asked us to teach you, didn't you? Then be ready to suffer. Got it?"
"Crystal clear." Akira nodded.
Kaguya proceeded to point out several flaws in his footwork and blade angles, demonstrating smoother techniques.
"You've heard this before, right?" She said, pausing.
"That combat skills don't matter in the Dungeon if your stats are high enough?"
She gave him a look and said, "Let me tell you now—only fools believe that."
She continued, "Yes, stats are crucial. But don't underestimate technique. Our enemies aren't just monsters. One day, you might face humans, werewolfs, beings far more cunning than Dungeon monsters. When that time comes, your skill might be the only thing standing between victory and death."
Raw strength could indeed overcome technique. Raise your stats, become faster and stronger. Then, one day, you might crush a monster that once made you flee.
But not every foe waits for you to level up. Some enemies will kill you before you get that chance.
That's when you'll realize—strength isn't everything. Skill gives you options. It's the difference between life and death when your power alone isn't enough.
"Take the dwarves." Kaguya said, standing tall.
"They've got an innate disadvantage in agility, but they train relentlessly. They learn every trick, every nuance, until their swordplay becomes perfect. That's how they survive."
She held out her hand and pulled Akira up from the ground.
"You're thinking about heading to the eleventh floor next, right?" She asked, narrowing her eyes.
"Are you sure you're ready for that kind of danger?"
"No problem at all!" Akira puffed out his chest with pride. "I'm a special mage, after all."
[Personal Information]
Affiliation: Astraea Familia
Sharan's Practice Staff
Inherited Staff: Mysterious Water Demon Biling's Staff
Survive "Return of the Gods" and "Seven Days of Death" and fight Against: Evilus
Reward: Artifact – [Infinite God-Chasing Wand]
Upon reaching Level 20, Akira's arsenal had expanded greatly. Included in the Level 20 gift box were 5 large HP potions and 5 large MP potions, all of which he promptly d to the Astraea Familia for emergency use.
When he revealed these unusual potions, no one in the Familia questioned where they came from. Their silent trust made Akira feel warm inside.
Later, Akira sought out Celty, an elf with exceptional magical talent. He handed her a staff with a curious gleam in his eyes.
"Celty, can you try this staff? I want to see if it enhances your magic."
Celty took the staff, walked to the training field, and cast a fireball into the air.
The spell flew faster and struck harder than usual, exploding with a loud boom that lit up the dusk sky.
"It works! The casting speed is faster, and the power's clearly increased." Celty exclaimed, eyes sparkling.
"Where did this staff come from, Akira?"
Akira shrugged with a grin. "It's from the system, so don't worry about that. Is it useful to you?"
"Very much so! But… this must be rare. If you give it to me, what will you use?" Celty asked, visibly concerned.
"It's fine." Akira assured her. "I already have a new staff lined up. Since this one suits you, I want you to have it."
Celty looked at him for a moment, then gripped the staff tightly.
She softly said, "Then I'll accept it. I promise to use it well. Thank you, Akira."