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Over the Infinite Chapter 20 Part 4

 

『Dungeon Master requested it, it’s a request. We can’t refuse him, no matter what. 』

I recall the old man saying this when we started the dungeon dwelling.

The old man doesn’t share much, but how much does he owe the Dungeon Master?

I probably won’t find out during this training.

「There are quite a few shields we were looking for. 」

「We’ll have to pack them in the ((Item Box)) to the limit. It’s a priority. I hope we don’t have to use them. 」

I don’t have the skill to handle shields. Probably not much aptitude either.

Even though I have the gift of ((One-Handed Weapon)), my combat style usually involves using both hands, but the plan this time is to pull out a shield using ((Instant Equip)) in an emergency.

It should be doable just to hold it.

However, there’s one problem: the ((Item Box)) has a limit, and it can’t store card-state items or switch ((Instant Equip)) targets.

So, we have to cleverly pack the actual items into the limited space of the ((Item Box)). Shields are bulky, not as much as armor, but still.

We were told we could sell what we don’t use and keep the money, but that feels a bit… no, quite awkward.

I’m sure the old man would stubbornly refuse if I tried to return it. If not him, I could give it to Pelshe-san or Topopo-san.

Either way, this is a big debt. Not repaying it would be against my code of honor. I might not have much pride, but I have to repay this.

Even if the old man wants to throw poop at Yuki, I’d accept it. Maybe even help him.

Sarges, too, seems to be quite straightforward about such debts, feeling the need to repay any kindness.

Aside from his perverted nature, he is a man of character, unfortunately.

「What about you? The ‘third hand’? 」

「Still no good. Probably because my mental image isn’t clear enough. Maybe I need to take some kind of magic course… I’ll manage it somehow. 」

「It’s a unique skill without precedent, so it’s not going to be easy. 」

If it were an existing skill like my ((Instant Equip)), Yuki could learn it quickly, but he seems to want his own original power, no matter the difficulty.

「My ((Immoral Boost)) is also a unique skill, it seems. 」

「We don’t need your input, Sarges! 」

Yuki is desperate not to be associated with that. Well, ((Immoral Boost)) is a passive skill, and its system is completely different.

「It may not be a direct reference, but how did you learn your skill? 」

「I’m sorry, I learned it before coming to the labyrinth city, so I don’t remember the exact conditions… probably during various masochistic experiments. 」

My ((Starving Beast)) should be the same, but I don’t want to be grouped with him.

「How about joining the weekly masochism lessons I hold with Yuki-san…?」

「No way!! 」

Rejected, as expected. Why do you look so disappointed?

 

 

-5-

 

< Infinite Corridor, 30th Floor >

The boss of the 30th floor, marking the end of our current dungeon dwelling, is the Grand Golem. The boss, a gigantic stone figure, lives up to the impression that most bosses are huge. It’s roughly the size of the Huge Lizard standing upright.

Despite being considered a lower floor, it’s baffling why such a colossal boss appears here. In old RPGs, this would have been a fitting final boss.

But it wasn’t a match we couldn’t handle.

The arms swinging around are a threat, and being stepped on by its massive body would easily crush us.

The occasional strange light beams it emits from its eye-like spots are also dangerous. Being made of stone, its defense is solid.

However, with our enhanced levels and skill performances, we could push through.

 

――――Action Skill ((Rock Carving Strike)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Explosive Shatter Strike)) ――

 

Wielding a two-handed hammer, I release specialized anti-mineral skills, significantly chipping away at the golem’s legs.

It might not feel pain, but it loses balance.

Swinging this huge hammer reminds me of the time I fought an orc with a log.

 

――――Action Skill ((Rock Cutting Blade)) ――

 

Yuki runs up the arm of the golem and releases an anti-mineral skill from his dual swords.

These skills we used were acquired through skill orbs found in the dungeon.

They are limited by the weapon used and are tricky to use effectively but are highly effective against opponents with such vulnerabilities.

This ability to select weapons based on an opponent’s weakness is a feature of my ((Instant Equip)).

However, as the Dungeon Master mentioned in that 1K room, fighting this with guns might be tough.

It would probably require an anti-material gun to inflict significant damage.

 

――――Action Skill ((Boost Jump)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Flying Dragon Leap) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Dragon Stamp)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Dynamite Impact)) ――

 

After jumping with a skill, Sarges rises above the giant golem with kicking techniques, stomps down, and then delivers a punch that literally shatters rock.

I can’t help but think that Sarges’ performance is somewhat absurd. While we’re attacking from below and along the body, why is he the only one flying?

We’re close to depleting the golem’s HP. Unlike with the Huge Lizard, we’ve taken damage, but it’s minor.

This alone shows how much we’ve strengthened.

As a finishing move, Sarges’ ((Tornado Kick)) explodes.

Though he remained clothed due to Yuki’s vehement protest, the excitement from the protest enhanced his ((Immoral Boost)), and his kick shattered the golem’s head.

By the way, I wonder if ((Tornado Kick)) makes one dizzy.

 

[ Infinite Corridor, 30th Floor, Floor Boss Grand Golem Defeated ]

 

After the golem’s head was destroyed by Sarges’ ((Tornado Kick)), its body crumbled, and the system message of dungeon conquest appeared.

This marks the end of our dungeon dwelling. It was our first time, but it felt incredibly long.

「Can’t we go beyond the 31st floor after this? 」

Yuki asks as we regroup with the old men. Indeed, like the 10th floor, there’s only a warp gate. It seems this is the end.

「Beyond this, you need a mid-level license. This is the deepest you can go for now. 」

So that’s why this was our target.

I hear that the 30th floor is the deepest a beginner adventurer can go.

Beyond this, you need at least a D rank. We’ve conquered enough to be guaranteed an E rank after processing the necessary paperwork.

We haven’t even finished upgrading to F rank yet…

To advance to D rank, one must earn a special E+ rank by accumulating enough GP and then complete an upgrade quest issued by the automatic quest generation system. These quests are notoriously difficult, tailored trials for each adventurer.

It’s virtually impossible to complete this and advance to mid-level before our next dungeon dwelling. So, we’ll follow the same route next week.

「So, next time, we’ll train from the 11th to here again? 」

「Looks like it. If we could go to the 31st floor, this kind of support would be impossible.

Even if we could handle it, there would be no room for error. With this team, we’d barely scrape by.

Considering the enhancement for the rookie match, this is more efficient. 」

The difficulty seems to leap abruptly.

「Next time, the focus will be on training your second classes. Since the monsters won’t change, there’s a limit to how much we can level up. Sarges, sorry to ask again, but please join us. 」

「No problem. I am also being strengthened, albeit not as much as you two, and it’s a great help to have Gwuar-san as a sparring partner. 」

It seems the condition to acquire a second class from the same tree is having a base level above 20 and a first class level above 20.

We’ve met both criteria in this dungeon dwelling. We’ll acquire new classes at the guild and dive back in.

Sarges, already with two classes, won’t see dramatic effects, but as he’s still not mid-level, we’ll need his assistance.

Hopefully, his willingness isn’t just because he enjoys the pain from the old man’s attacks.

「Yuki, make sure you develop your unique skill. It won’t do if you’re still unable to acquire it next time. 」

「Uh… understood. 」

Yuki still hasn’t acquired his bonus skill.

He says he lacks the right image, but he needs to learn it as soon as possible.

Though fruitful, this first dungeon dwelling left us with tasks to complete.