Sweat dripped from Joe's brow as he sprinted naked through the dungeon corridor like a gazelle running from a pack of wild hyenas. In one hand was a half-broken shield and, in the other, a chipped cutlass sword that had seen better days.

Behind him, over 100 kobolds shrieked and hissed with eyes full of ferocity and hate. Most were armed with spears, while others carried an assortment of weapons, including swords, shields, and bows, giving the kobolds the look of an experienced army. Joe glanced back to ensure none had caught up when his eyes went wide with dread.

He spotted an archer with its bow drawn and nocked. It released an arrow, sending it whistling towards him like a bolt from a ballista. Joe quickly stepped to the side, narrowly avoiding the shot by the smallest of margins. The kobold stamped its foot with disappointment before pulling out another. However, Joe didn't wait around. He bolted away with a burst of speed, leaving the stampede of kobolds in the dust.

It had been over six hours since Joe arrived on the floor, and he had already been running for over 5 hours nonstop. He was tired, and his bare feet were blistered and sore from grinding against the rough stone. Just how had things escalated so quickly?

At first, progress through the dungeon had gone smoothly. High agility and vitality allowed Joe to travel further and faster than any normal human, letting him breeze through the dungeon effortlessly.

He was like an Olympic sprinter, running a whole marathon between each wave. Joe had defeated the fourth wave against eight kobolds with only minor wounds to show for it. He even gained a sword and shield from one of the burlier kobolds.

Unfortunately, the number confirmed his worst fears about each wave doubling. He may have been a cashier back on Earth, but he knew how exponential growth worked. If things continue as is, he will face hundreds of enemies by the tenth wave.

From then on, Joe had given up on fighting the kobolds. His only thought was to flee. After all, the quest to defeat the tenth wave was optional, meaning there was no requirement to fight.

Hence, Joe blasted past each wave, dodging and weaving his way through without stopping. The size of the corridor limited maneuverability but was still big enough to allow him to slip through each group without getting surrounded. However, the situation took a turn for the worse on the 7th wave.

Sixty-four kobolds had spawned along the corridor, almost blocking off the path entirely. Joe had nearly died trying to break through the mass of kobolds. Only a last-second burst of speed allowed him to smash through before they had time to react. Now he had nearly 100 kobolds on his tail.

Turning back would only lead to certain death, and this time, there was no respawn to save him.

Joe continued running for another hour until finally, hope appeared on the horizon. A glowing portal, signifying the exit, hummed in the distance. Joe smiled in jubilation. He had made it. The kobolds behind him shrieked in outrage but were too far behind to catch up. Joe looked forward with eyes fixated on his goal. He was so close.

There were only a hundred feet left between him and the portal, when abruptly, the air shimmered, and light enveloped the corridor. Joe’s eyes widened in horror as the eighth wave arrived. The timing couldn't have been worse, making him curse his bad luck.

With no time to waste, Joe squeezed out everything he had, ignoring his burning muscles. He made it another twenty feet before the light faded and the kobolds appeared. Over a hundred kobolds spawned in front and behind him, trapping him in a sea of enemies. With kobolds surrounding him and no way out, Joe had no choice but to raise his shield and charge through with one final roar of defiance.

Joe ducked and weaved in between the rows of enemies, avoiding confrontations wherever possible while using his shield to shove opponents backward. He couldn’t lose momentum. The minute he stopped moving would be certain death. Luckily, most of the kobolds were still looking around with confused expressions while adjusting to the new environment.

There was always a delay for the enemies to gather their bearings after spawning. A weakness he was more than happy to use to his advantage. Joe made it halfway to the portal before the kobolds put up any coordinated resistance, but by then, only ten enemies stood between him and the exit.

However, these kobolds were different. They wore intricate-looking robes containing patterns and sigils, and each held wooden staves with glowing red orbs that hummed with power. They began to whisper incantations, causing balls of red fire to materialize and hover in front of them.

They were only the size of a small tennis ball, yet each blazed like a miniature sun, slowly growing until they became the size of basketballs. The air became dry, turning Joe’s exposed skin slightly red from the smoldering heat. Joe knew this was it. The next few seconds would decide his fate.

The kobolds finished their spell and released their attacks with simultaneous precision. The balls of fire exploded outwards, flying through the air at blistering speeds. Joe was running full tilt straight into the path of the flames but used his right foot to stop abruptly and sharply pivot to the side.

The sudden maneuver almost caused him to break his ankle from the force, but he gritted his teeth and held on as he scrambled to the side at high speed, crashing into the wall while using his shield as a brace.

Behind him, the balls of fire shot by like bullets, smashing into the pursuing kobolds. Dozens of kobolds burst into flame, causing a mass of screams and wails to fill the air while dozens were burnt alive. Joe didn’t stop to watch the horror unfold. He pushed off the wall directly into the line of shamans. They hissed and swung their staffs, attempting to stop him, but their attacks were slow and clumsy. Joe effortlessly avoided their strikes while sidestepping around them.

Not taking a chance, Joe jumped into the shimmering portal without a moment to lose.

The world went dark for a brief moment until Joe appeared on the other side of the portal, rolling across the hard ground with steam still coming from his bare skin. He looked back at the gate with bated breath, ready to react if anything came through.

Only when the portal shimmered and disappeared did Joe finally exhale a pent-up breath and collapse on the ground in exhaustion. His skin was raw and bleeding from various cuts, but all in all, he had come away with no fatal wounds.

“Quests,” Joe said.

Floor Quests:

Rise: Travel the corridor of Contrition. Reward: 15,000 exp, 25,000 DP (COMPLETE) Solo Champion: Complete the challenge solo. Reward 45,000 exp, 75,000 DP (COMPLETE) Absolute Carnage: Defeat all 10 waves. Reward 60,000 exp, 80,000 DP (INCOMPLETE)

Joe clenched his hand in the air in celebration, glad to have completed both the first and second quests, gaining 60,000 exp and 100,000 DP respectively. It was a shame he couldn’t complete the third quest as the Exp alone would have catapulted him several levels ahead, but he couldn’t complain.

The fact he had survived at all was a miracle, and facing all ten waves would have been suicide. Besides, the quest rewards given for the black floors were already 3x more than what he received from the blue floors. He had just earned 100,000 DP, obliterating his prior gains. Now the silver-tier skills prices no longer looked so out of reach.

In addition to DP, the earned Exp had pushed him up two levels to level 19, giving him 10 free points to spend. Joe briefly pondered where to place them before putting them into Spirit. One or two attributes in Strength or Agility wouldn’t do much at this juncture, and his priority right now was to enhance his soul to avoid a repeat of what had happened the last time he respawned. After confirming his choice, Joe closed the screen and closed his eyes in solace.

‘Ding’

“Congratulations on reaching the second floor - Hone your skills and build your foundation. Pass through the Five Halls of Temperance to reach the third floor.’

Floor Quest received:

Temper Thyself: Pass through the halls of Temperance. Reward: 30,000 exp, 50,000 DP Solo Champion: Complete the challenge solo. Reward 90,000 exp, 150,000 DP Speed Runner: Complete the quest in one week. Reward 120,000 exp, 200,000 DP

The chimes of a bell brought Joe out of his stupor. He looked at the screen and gasped.

“A full 240,000 Exp!” Joe mentally shouted out.

The quests were getting significantly more generous, vastly surpassing the rewards from the Blue floors. Joe had only received 40,000 Exp for completing the Forest of Penance. Yet here, he would get triple that amount for just passing the floor solo.

It was clear from the quests that the heavens wanted people to push beyond their limits by rewarding those willing to take risks. It was as if they wanted to create powerhouses that could fight armies alone.

While Heaven's desire for strong warriors made sense, the realization was also disconcerting. The gap between each floor would lead to considerable strength disparities, creating an elite class that would monopolize the rewards.

However, it wasn't all positive. The time limit for the speedrunner quest made it obvious this quest wouldn't be a walk in the park if it required more than a week to complete.

Joe closed the quest log and focused on his surroundings. The portal had dropped him in a small square room similar in style to the earlier floor. The walls and ceilings were made from thick stone blocks with wooden torches dotted around, providing a small amount of light. It created an unsettling atmosphere that would put anyone’s nerves on edge.

The only way in or out was a solid wooden door located at the far side of the room. However, the space wasn't empty. A small fountain carved out of stunning white marble sat in the center. It stood about 5ft high and depicted an exquisitely designed Angel with four seraph wings and eyes that portrayed a perfect sense of peace and serenity.

Just looking at the Angel helped to calm Joe's nerves.

In one hand, it held a water jug above its head where crystal clear water slowly poured into the fountain's basin, and in the other, it held a spherical crystal ball that pulsed with bluish light. Joe gulped while smacking his dry lips. Running nonstop for hours had left him parched and dehydrated, making him want to run over and dunk his head into the cool water, but he hesitated. Was the water drinkable? Or was this another trap placed by the Tower?

The idea that the Tower had kindly left a fountain in the room filled Joe with trepidation. Not even the forest floor made it that easy to find a water source, yet now there was one waiting for him right out of the gate.

For now, Joe decided to hold back. There was no need to rush in without taking precautions. Thanks to his improved vitality, he could survive for a few days without water. Plus, he first needed to recharge his skill sigil. Joe moved to the side furthest from the door and sat down. He circulated his energy around his pathways into his respawn Sigil. The energy felt slightly denser thanks to the extra points in Spirit, but the flow was as slow as before. It seemed like the Spirit attribute increased quantity but did nothing for control.

Joe spent the next day recharging his skill. One benefit of a higher spirit stat was that he needed to take fewer breaks to allow his energy to recharge. However, his weakened soul still slowed down the process, requiring twenty hours to complete.

After finishing, Joe sat up to stretch. Sitting for hours was a tedious task, leaving him feeling sore and uncomfortable. He had attempted to practice [Sword Mastery] simultaneously but he lacked the mental fortitude to split his attention between two things at once. However, now he was done, he could finally take stock of the situation.

The room he found himself in was small and cramped, but at least it was safe. Thankfully the Tower didn't make things too difficult for participants by providing some breathing space between floors, giving Joe the time he needed to recover. Having completed his immediate tasks, Joe walked over to the fountain and gently dipped the tip of his finger into the cool water. He had expected an adverse effect or hidden trap to activate, but fortunately, nothing happened.

Deciding to take a gamble, Joe cupped some of the water falling from the jug into his hands and took a small sip. He hadn’t eaten or drunk anything for over a day, and there was only so long he could go before collapsing from dehydration. The water was chilly yet refreshing, helping to parch his dry throat.

For the next few hours, Joe sat down and focused on digesting the experience and battles he had undergone using [Sword Mastery] while waiting to see if the water was poisonous. He reviewed his mistakes and technique, finding better ways to respond to each situation he had encountered.

Thanks to higher Willpower, the mental image he could create in his mind was becoming quite realistic, allowing him to see in finer detail where his technique needed improvement. Of course, this form of mental training had its limitations. It was impossible to know how opponents would respond in real life, making it useless as a means to test ideas or use as a fighting simulator.

After half a day passed, Joe checked his body and found nothing amiss. With nothing holding him back, Joe dunked his head into the basin and drank his fill. He could feel his thirst and exhaustion ebb away like a forgotten memory. Even his hunger faded, replaced with a comfortable sense of satiation.

Afterward, he took time to clean off the dirt, blood, and grime that layered his entire body and made him look like a naked murder hobo. Miraculously, once the water touched his wounds, his skin fizzled and began to heal, causing Joe to stare with wide-eyed wonder.

It wasn't just any regular fountain. It was a healing fountain!