A floor shift is one of the many strange phenomena within the void dungeon.
When a floor changes in a way that defies its usual structure, it's called a floor shift.
These shifts can be temporary or, in rare cases, permanent, though the latter almost never occurs.
What changes during a floor shift is unpredictable.
It could alter the terrain, the void creatures inhabiting the floor, or even the floor boss itself, which in some cases may become significantly stronger.
But why does this happen?
Some theorize the void dungeon is a living, sentient void creature, reacting to the intruders who invade it.
Others believe that a floor shift is a sign of the void dungeon's anger, a retaliation for the disturbance.
There have even been instances where a higher-level boss spawns on a lower floor, seemingly to eliminate the humans that have ventured too far.
The floor shift that Azriel and the others encountered was even more irregular.
The first floor had become nearly deserted after a single wave of prowlers, the path to the boss room unnervingly easy.
And now, as they stood before the floor boss...
It was clear this wouldn't be as simple as their journey here.
No—the void dungeon was far from merciful.
The Dark King of Imperion—a title given to the first-floor boss of the void dungeon.
While no footage existed of it, stories passed down by countless survivors and witnesses kept its reputation alive.
A void creature resembling a knight forged from pure darkness, it was classified as a Grade 1 Beast.
At least, it should have been.
Azriel narrowed his eyes, peering into its mana core.
'A Grade 2 Monster...?'
The boss of the first floor was as strong as a third-floor boss, yet it remained unmoving, seated upon a massive obsidian throne that matched its armor.
Thick, rusted silver chains bound its legs, torso, and arms to the throne, like a prisoner shackled to its own dark fate.
A chained dark knight, its presence suffocating.
Yet it was called a king.
'A Grade 2 monster, and that armor...'
A soul armor, or at least it would become one after the creature was slain.
Whoever consumed its mana core would inherit the armor.
But for now, it posed an ominous threat, waiting for the moment to strike.
Azriel's gaze hardened.
Most of the cadets were inexperienced, unprepared to face such a monster.
If it attacked, they would be slaughtered in seconds.
Those who weren't an awakened would have no chance.
'Anyone who isn't an awakened will have to stay back. If not, they'll just die miserably.'
Even as a Grade 1 beast, the Dark King was already one of the most formidable opponents on Earth.
As a Grade 2 monster?
They were walking into a death trap.
Azriel knew why this was happening.
'This is all because of me, isn't it...?'
His survival had changed things—altered the plot.
The world was shifting, and Azriel planned to break it further.
But he hadn't anticipated a floor shift triggered by his very presence.
The void dungeon was reacting to him.
Azriel could feel it in his gut—a sinking sensation, a sense of hostility aimed at him.
The void dungeon didn't like him.
It was preparing, retaliating, adapting to eliminate him.
Since entering the void dungeon, something had felt wrong.
The floor shift wasn't just coincidence.
The void dungeon itself was preparing to kill Azriel.
'The dungeon senses it... my blessing. It knows what I am, but it only wants me.'
The void dungeon knew Azriel was an Apostle—The Apostle of Death.
It didn't react to Lumine or Vergil—only to him.
And it wanted him to know.
A chill ran down Azriel's spine as his heart thumped loudly in his chest, the sounds around him fading.
The crimson orbs of the Dark King were locked onto him.
It was looking straight at Azriel.
'You've got to be kidding me...!'
What had he done to earn this dungeon's hate?
He couldn't recall anything deserving of such wrath.
Yet here it was—an ancient, malevolent force focused entirely on him.
"Azriel... why is it only looking at you?"
Jasmine was the first to notice, of course. Her sharp intuition had already begun piecing things together.
Azriel kept his eyes locked on the Dark King, refusing to break the unsettling gaze.
"I don't know... maybe it's just a coincidence?"
He murmured, his voice low enough for only her to hear.
"Liar. Even in the beginning, the prowlers only had their eyes on you. And a floor shift on the first floor? It never happened until..."
Azriel finished, a wry smile tugging at his lips.
"So, what do you want me to say, dear sister? That the dungeon is rolling out the red carpet for its guest—better yet, me? I genuinely don't know why it's targeting me, but it is. It wants me dead... There's a good chance the other floors have shifted too."
If the void dungeon was gunning for him specifically, it was likely the floors ahead were also distorted.
But what awaited him there?
A demon-ranked creature on the second floor?
'Maybe even a void rift will appear...'
Everything was unknown now, even to Azriel.
His fingers grew cold, his face paler.
That feeling of uncertainty... it both terrified and thrilled him.
"...We should cancel th—"
Azriel cut her off, and Jasmine's eyes widened in surprise.
"We're overreacting," he said, more firmly now. "Even if a Grade 2 monster stands before us, why should we back off? Neither of us, nor the instructors, will need to lift a finger."
Not when Azriel had an ace up his sleeve—a factor the dungeon hadn't accounted for.
All he had to do was let Lumine handle the heavy lifting.
Besides, a demon-ranked void creature wouldn't appear this early.
The dungeon had its limits—it could only shift so much, and only certain void creatures could spawn on specific floors.
At least that is what Azriel believes.
Jasmine sighed, her expression solemn as she looked at his face.
"Fine... but you're staying in my line of sight."
Azriel's lips curled into a soft smile.
She couldn't blame him for wanting to press on, though there was no telling what else could happen.
'I'll stay in your sight... for now.'
Just as he finished that thought, a sudden change occurred.
Four black holes, each the size of a human, appeared on the circular platform.
Black mist began to pour out of them, thick and ominous...
The Dark King was finally making its move.