Level-up Maniac, Level up in Modern Dungeons - Episode 61

“–!?”

　Relying on his reflexes, he crouched on the spot and somehow managed to avoid the incoming slash.

　Immediately afterwards, the slash passed over my head and collided with the wall of the monster room.

　Boom!!

　There was a roar and a shockwave that shook the entire room.

“…Seriously?”

　I took a quick look behind me and saw faint traces of a slash on the wall.

　This may go without saying, but the structures inside the dungeon are extremely strong. Even if they look like simple stone walls, their strength is far superior to ordinary stone. Destroying them even slightly takes an extraordinary force.

　To be honest, even I have never unleashed a slash with this much power before.

　And――

“Wait?! Wait?! You’re kidding!”

There is a sense of “danger perception.”

　I feel a chill run down my spine as the numerous lines cut my body in half.

　To escape the danger, he leapt sideways from where he was and started running as soon as he landed.

　Numerous slashes were aimed at me, one after the other. I was desperately trying to avoid them, but even with 《Danger Sense》, it wasn’t easy to avoid them. Because the moment I sensed the attack in advance through a chill, the slashes were already close by.

　Goblin…um, what is it? What’s the name of that monster?

　I don’t know, so I guess I’ll just be a Holy Knight.

　Anyway, all I could do was dodge the attacks of the Holy Knight (tentative). I couldn’t even close the distance, let alone counterattack. If I closed the distance even a little, the time it would take for the slash to reach me would be shorter, and I wouldn’t be able to dodge it.

　Anyway avoid! avoid! avoid!!

　While desperately trying to avoid it, I rack my brains to think of a way out of this situation.

　First of all, what’s scary is the attack method it uses.

　A slash with a pale blue aura. That was proof that it was a flying blade of the 《Sword Spirit》 skill.

　As I will explain here, monsters generally have a lower number and level of skills than explorers of the same level.

　However, that doesn’t mean they’re weaker than investigators of the same level, because monsters tend to have higher base ability scores than investigators of the same level.

　For example, Goblin Wolf Riders. The lowest level they appear at is 17, and their agility is 70, and their strength and dexterity are both 65.

　If you think back to when I was around level 17, you’ll understand that it’s nearly impossible for an explorer to reach those ability scores at level 17 (although it’s not impossible depending on the skill distribution).

　In other words, monsters can gain fewer skill points by leveling up than investigators, but can gain more status points with each level up.

　This is a rule that is said to be common to all monsters.

　Let’s think about this while taking this rule into account.

The condition for acquiring the “Sword Spirit” skill is to raise the “Fighting Spirit” skill to the maximum level.

　The condition for acquiring the “Fighting Spirit” skill is to have the “Increased damage when equipped” skill reach maximum level.

　In addition, judging from his goblin knight-like appearance, it’s likely he has some defensive skills. I’d be surprised if he didn’t.

　But more than anything, there’s something dangerous happening at this point.

　Yes, you’re talking about “Fighting Spirit.”

　If the conditions for monsters to acquire skills are the same as those for investigators…I have a really bad feeling about this.

“–As expected!?”

　The next moment, my bad feeling became reality.

　Perhaps growing impatient with his attacks not hitting, the Holy Knight (provisional)’s entire body was enveloped in a red aura.

　Without a doubt, it was the familiar effect of 《Fighting Spirit》 skill activation.

　Immediately afterwards, the Holy Knight began to sprint with an almost invisible speed, closing the distance in an instant and bringing me within sword range.

　–That’s too fast!?

　Although monsters generally have higher stats, this movement is too fast!! Even I have already strengthened my stats with Goblin Genocider!!

　And yet the movement was so difficult to even see that it sent chills down my spine.

“――――”

　At close range, the Holy Knight swung his sword, enveloped in a pale blue aura.

「Zuu――!?」

《Danger Perception》― No, following what could be called intuition, he instantly activated his 《Fighting Spirit》, and it worked.

　At the last moment, I timed my sword strike and blocked it.

　Howeverーー,

“Whaaaaat!?”

　The impact of the sword penetrated his entire body. His entire body was sent flying by the incredible strength.

　He lands quickly without losing his balance, but cold sweat still pours out of his whole body.

　Oh no.

　I opened my status to grasp my HP and quickly checked the numbers.

　I know this because I was constantly checking my HP numbers during the quest, but… I just defended with my sword, and yet my HP went down?

　Before the battle with the Holy Knight, his HP was “74/155.” He activated his “Fighting Spirit,” and his current HP should have been “69.” However, when he checked, the number was “65.”

　You can’t even block an attack properly?!

　Right now, in addition to “Goblin Genocider”, I also have “Bl00d Vengeance” and “Fighting Spirit” activated!?

　Even though I say it, my status is super strengthened!?

————————————————–

Strength 216 (+136)

Sturdy 203 (+128)

Intelligence 10 (+4)

《Spirit》61 (+25)

《Agility》203 (+128)

Dexterity 128 (+53)

————————————————–

　If he’s defending and taking damage with these stats, what level is he?!

　Even though I was so shocked that I nearly stopped thinking, I somehow managed to avoid the sword strikes of the Holy Knight that continued to approach me. Thanks to 《Danger Sense》, I was able to avoid them just in time, but without it, I probably wouldn’t have been able to avoid them.

　I’m guessing this guy’s agility is almost the same as mine right now.

　In other words, over 200. The skill that uses 《Sword Spirit》should be at its maximum level, so even in its base state, it should be over 100.End fighting 

　And it’s hard to imagine that an enemy wearing full body armor would have a status that focuses on Agility. Agility is likely to be low.

　The highest is 《Constitution》. Next is 《Strength》 or 《Dexterity》?

　Well, no matter what his stats are, it’s certain that he surpasses me in every ability. His 《Durability》 might even be over 300. No, it’s probably easily surpassing mine.

　–What will you do?! Seriously, what will you do?!

　My HP is already below half from the start of the lap, and even if that hadn’t happened, there’s no way I could put up a sustained fight against someone like this.

　Hinata isn’t here, I’ve used all the potions that dropped today, and I don’t have any way to recover HP.

　At first, I thought it would be best to wait for the Holy Knight’s HP to go down since he was randomly using his 《Sword Spirit》 to launch slashes, but… he was not an opponent I could put up with a long-term fight. And even if I could, I would be forced to use my 《Fighting Spirit》, so my HP would run out faster.

　What’s more, this is a monster room, so you can’t escape until you defeat this guy!!

　It was a dire situation, to say the least.

　But if you still see a chance to win…

“(An ultra-short battle… and if possible, we have no choice but to defeat him in one blow!!)”

　Using my agility and Danger Sense skills, which rivaled those of a Holy Knight, I avoided the attacks and fled, making a decision.

　Immediately afterwards, he suddenly changed from dodging to going on the offensive!!

　There was a tiny gap between the Holy Knight’s attacks. He read the timing and habits of the knight’s movements, which could be called breathing, and struck with just one blow, swinging his sword.

　At the same time, I activated Madness, Hard Sword, and then Magic Sword, hoping that his magic defense was low.

His Strength rose to 232, and a red light of fire attribute enveloped the sword. Then, as if to indicate that his Hard Sword skill had been activated, the red light shone brightly!!

“Woooooooooooooooooo!!!!!!”

With “Increased Damage When Equipped with Swords”, “Goblin Genocider”, “Magic Sword”, and “Hard Sword Lv.1”, the attack multiplier is an astounding 38.4x!!!

　Now die!! I beg of you!!

　A blow delivered with the determination to kill.

　In response, the Holy Knight readied his shield.

　It’s not a problem. Well, there is a problem, but that was taken into account from the beginning. I knew from the beginning that with my current skills and ability values, I wouldn’t be able to avoid the shield and land an attack directly on the Holy Knight.

　That’s why.

　I slashed with all my might, intending to slash away the shield as well.

　A loud bang.

　An enormous roar rang out, as if a powerful bomb had exploded close by.

　Without a doubt, it was the strongest blow I had ever used. Even compared to the Holy Knight’s flying blade, it was a far more powerful blow.

　But.

「I, you idiot……!!」

　I couldn’t help but let out a curse.

　My blow, literally with all my might, was unable to even lift the Holy Knight’s feet in the air.

　Just before the sword collided with the shield, the guy’s shield started to shine. It wasn’t a passive skill that was always active, but an active skill that required some kind of resource to be used.

　Defensive skills.

　The Holy Knight who activated it blocked my blow with his shield, and without being blown away or losing his balance, he simply retreated about five meters, leaving a mark on the floor.

　That’s what the result is all about.

　Far from being broken, the shield didn’t even have a scratch on its surface.

　However, it seems that even the Holy Knights were unable to eliminate the damage caused by the attack.

　How did I know?

“Seriously… why would someone like this appear on the fourth floor…!!”

　This isn’t just a case of losing balance!!

　I looked in shock as the Holy Knight’s entire body was enveloped in a white light.

　It was a light that was all too familiar.

　–Healing magic.

　This thing has recovered HP…!!