Chapter 116: Until the Martial Arts Tournament
Right, I was a bit tired yesterday thanks to Ulgul. I don’t know what happened to him after that, but well, he reaped what he sowed.
More importantly, it’s about the Martial Arts Tournament. Yesterday, I formally received a request from the Guild Master to participate. I’d forgotten I was supposed to be called in after the promotion exam, but thankfully the receptionist lady reminded me. That lady’s name was… I’ve forgotten it.
Well, anyway, I was able to hear the details then.
The Martial Arts Tournament will be held one month from now, over three days from Friday to Sunday. The location is apparently the Verdelin Kingdom. Since I can get to the Kingdom instantly with Teleportation, maybe I’ll hole up in a Dungeon on days the shop isn’t open and grind levels until the last minute. However, my current level is 105. I wonder if there’s a good place somewhere.
Ah, speaking of which, Zmey mentioned there’s a Dungeon called Devil’s Gate in Demonize, the Demon Kingdom, right? If I recall correctly, he said there was a guardian stronger than him there. Alright, let’s try going there. If I go now, I’ll be able to rush over instantly via Teleportation if anything related to the Evil God happens.
Having made my decision, I took on Fog’s form, checked for necessary items, and teleported to the Holy Kingdom. The Demon Kingdom is apparently on an island floating on the sea about 300-400km south of the Holy Kingdom, so I decided to fly there from the Holy Kingdom.
After flying for several hours from the Holy Kingdom, I finally saw a large island. As I approached it, I saw a large castle in the center, surrounded by a surprisingly neat townscape. Even though they’re demons, they live normal lives, huh? I was slightly impressed.
Well, I have no business in Demonize itself this time, so I searched for the Dungeon, Devil’s Gate, located to the west of the island.
Soon enough, I found a strangely artificial entrance in the middle of a wasteland. It was a stone entrance, opening into a gaping square hole that likely led underground. Landing on the ground and peering inside, it seemed to immediately become stairs, and I couldn’t see much further beyond them.
I produced light with magic and descended the stairs. After descending for a while, I seemed to have reached the first floor, and a cave-type Dungeon spread out before me.
“First, let’s look for the stairs leading down to the next floor.”
The inside of the Dungeon was bright enough not to hinder movement, so I extinguished the light I had created with magic. Still, it’s incredibly convenient that my evolved magic manifests exactly as I imagine it. If Monsters appear, I’ll try out other spells too.
That being said, the Monsters that appeared on the first floor were low-level ones like slimes and imps, and what’s more, they scurried away the moment they saw me. I had no intention of chasing them down just to defeat them, so I ignored them and searched for the stairs.
Before long, I found the stairs leading down to the second floor.
Continuing down like that, I managed to reach the tenth floor by nightfall that day. It’s not as wide as Heaven’s Door, but I have a feeling it has more floors to compensate.
At night, I teleported back home, ate a proper dinner, and slept comfortably in my bed. Thank goodness for Teleportation.
The next day, after eating breakfast, I immediately teleported to the tenth floor of Devil’s Gate. It’s helpful that I don’t see any Adventurers at all in this Dungeon, so I can teleport without worrying about being seen.
After that, I continued progressing at a pace of ten floors per day, reaching the fortieth floor after four days. I temporarily halted my exploration there and spent the remaining three days diligently selling materials. Sales are strong, despite setting prices higher than the Guild’s. Perhaps it’s because quite a few renowned artisans, starting with Gouda-san, are buying the expensive materials.
Just the other day, an elf calling herself Sylphy bought things like a Cockatrice’s petrification sac and a Wyvern Variant’s heart, saying she’d use them for alchemy. I wonder what on earth she plans to create. She also asked if I had any Divine Water, so I told her ‘no’. I thought she might make a specific request, but she just smiled faintly and backed down easily, saying ‘Understood’. That felt a little suspicious.
Well, one way or another, I managed to earn quite a bit over those three days. Specifically, enough to buy about 100 houses like this one… Of course, you’d make a killing if you could gather the materials yourself.
And so, after finishing three days of business, I resumed my conquest of Devil’s Gate.
This time I started from the fortieth floor, but the Monsters’ levels are still low, and my own level hasn’t increased even once. Well, they’re over level 80, so they aren’t low by normal standards, but my level is 105. I really want Monsters over level 100 to start appearing soon.
From around here, the structure of the Dungeon started getting a bit more complex, and I could only advance five floors in a day.
And so, after advancing fifteen floors in three days, on the fourth day, Thursday, I stepped onto the fifty-fifth floor. Incidentally, Monsters exceeding level 100 began appearing from this floor.
Race: Pazuzu
Name: None
Rank: SS
Level: 102
HP: 1522/1522
MP: 1765/1765
Attack Power: 1183
Defense Power: 1044
Magic Attack Power: 1749
Magic Defense Power: 1721
Agility: 731
Skills:
Telepathy
Fist Arts Lv18
Dark Magic Lv22
Fire Magic Lv19
Water Magic Lv19
Dark Resistance Lv22
Fire Resistance Lv19
Water Resistance Lv19
Wind Resistance Lv19
Confusion Resistance Lv19
Poison Resistance Lv19
Charm Resistance Lv19
Flight Lv22
The first to appear was a Pazuzu, a high-ranking species among demons. It had a body like a pitch-black ape with black wings, a face like a ferocious gorilla, and large, pointed ears. Its sharp claws, combined with its Fist Arts skill, could likely pose a considerable threat. Furthermore, its true strength lies in magical attacks. It wields Dark Magic, Fire Magic, and Water Magic, and its resistances are quite substantial.
Upon spotting me, the Pazuzu let out a high-pitched ‘Kii kii!’ and approached gleefully. Its grinning mouth revealed rows of sharp fangs. I definitely don’t want to get bitten by those.
However, although its level is almost the same as mine, its stats are only about half of mine. Whether in close combat or a magical duel, there’s no reason for me to lose. I readied the single-handed sword I had just received from Gouda, crafted from a Crystal Dragon Claw, and faced the Pazuzu. As I channeled mana into the sword, the Crystal Sword shone beautifully. It wasn’t just shining; its hardness and sharpness had also increased.
As a starting move, the Pazuzu unleashed the second-tier Dark Magic spell, “Dark Whip”. Dozens of dark whips lunged at me as if each had a will of its own.
“Shining Wall!”
I activated the fourth-tier Light Magic spell, “Shining Wall”. A wall of light appeared before me, and the whips hitting it were utterly annihilated.
“And while I’m at it, Shining Rain!”
This time, conversely, the rain of light I unleashed assaulted the Pazuzu. The Pazuzu deployed a “Dark Wall” above its head, but the rain of light easily pierced the dark barrier and continued to chip away at the fleeing Pazuzu’s body.
When the rain of light stopped, the Pazuzu was covered in blood.
“UGYAAAAaaaaaaa!”
The bloodied Pazuzu let out a Roar of fury.
“Noisy.”
I teleported behind it and decapitated the Pazuzu before it could react.
Simultaneously, I erected a Barrier behind me.
GAKIIIIIIIN!
A trident held by a new enemy struck my Barrier and was repelled.
“Impatient fellow.”
This new enemy had a giant purple body and a face… like a cow? It had two horns on its head and, again, purple wings on its back. Seriously, can that huge body fly?!
Race: Belial
Name: None
Rank: SS
Level: 110
HP: 2062/2062
MP: 982/982
Attack Power: 2187
Defense Power: 2095
Magic Attack Power: 954
Magic Defense Power: 1678
Agility: 680
Skills:
Telepathy
Life Detection Lv20
Spear Arts Lv23
Dark Magic Lv24
Wind Magic Lv19
Earth Magic Lv23
Dark Resistance Lv24
Wind Resistance Lv19
Earth Resistance Lv23
Lightning Resistance Lv23
Confusion Resistance Lv22
Poison Resistance Lv22
Charm Resistance Lv22
Flight Lv23
Ooh, a Monster finally appeared that exceeds level 105. Hmm, Belial, huh. This one also seems like a high-ranking demon. Its Attack Power is over 2000? Normal attacks should be fine, but if it uses a skill, I might get scratched? Well, not that I’ll let it hit me.
However, compared to its physical stats, its magical stats are low. Maybe I should try out another new spell here.
Above Belial, who was still vigorously banging on the Barrier as usual, I lined up a Water Dragon, an Earth Dragon, a Thunder Dragon, and a Wind Dragon.
Upon seeing the four dragons made of magic, Belial stopped hitting the Barrier and, with a faint smirk, quietly began to back away. This guy, he’s trying to escape.
I controlled the four dragons and surrounded Belial.
“Get him!”
At my command, the four dragons lunged at Belial all at once. The four dragons simultaneously crashed into Belial, whose face was etched with despair, and exploded.
They exploded on an unbelievable scale. Even I couldn’t get my Barrier up in time and was blown away. I didn’t take any damage thanks to my various resistances, but since hitting the cave wall looked painful, I used Harden for the first time in a while. Yeah, my body was unharmed, but I ended up embedded in the cave wall. Just how powerful was that explosion?
Afterwards, I continued onward, defeating the high-ranking demons that appeared one after another. By the end of the day, I had reached the 60th floor, and my level had risen to 111.