Racing down through who knows how many floors isn't fun, the amount of debris that gets kicked up is annoying and gets in the way of my eyes, but because of that, different specific senses are enhanced.

My hearing happens to be that specific sense, listening in to monster sounds and their births from the dungeon walls is simple with concentration.

Unfortunately, hearing doesn't allow me to know where I'm going. The deeper I go, the worse my sense of direction becomes, several different rooms and tunnels show up in each path, then a hole will just come out of nowhere. It's taking the best I got to stay focused.

The dungeon is a pain. Even if I'm overpowered beyond imagination, it doesn't make other things easier, such as navigating the dungeon.

I took the time to release my shadows, who were considerably weak because of the floor on which they were born. While avoiding any monsters on each floor, I was continuously losing mana because of the massive amount I had to supply to each shadow every time they died. My mana allows the shadows to be immortal.

Because of this, my mana reserves were being drained drastically, not a good thing if I plan to go deeper in the dungeon than any other Familia, but I really wanted to increase the strength of each shadow in my army.

So far, only 3 shadows were eligible for rank up, but I put that on hold, hoping they'd gather more XP before ranking up a level.

After reaching level 91, I haven't had the chance to reach a higher level. Though that might be a good thing, I want to improve my physical combat skills, they're considerably poor compared to my swordsmanship or my several other skills and abilities.

The deeper down I went, the fewer adventures showed up, I almost lowered my guard a bit but I got a grim reminder from an approaching monster.

"RHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!!!"

My speed was considerably lower than when I started out, not because of stamina, but because of my laziness, so when I heard the roar of a monster, I stopped in my tracks.

After keeping count, I was on floor 44, the monster coming at me, at a pretty slow speed, was shaped like a humanoid, with massive limbs and a small head, at least compared to the rest of its body.

It looked solid as hell, possibly made of rock.

I reached into the air and took out a manual from the system's inventory.

A monster manual.

Using my speed to blitz read it while waiting for the monster to reach me, I noticed a small part on page 55.

"Not much is known about this monster, but its speed is low for floor 44 monsters, in exchange, its physical might is exceedingly stronger than any other monster on this floor. It has the special ability to use fire by causing friction with its limbs. Its name, 'Flame Rock'"

Reading aloud the description put there, the 'Flame Rock' as called, stuck out its right arm, dug its feet in the dirt, and pushed itself to me by using the ground as a jump pad, closing the distance between us.

Two messages blocked my view of the monster.

"Fuck"

I cursed out as I jumped back, my vision skewered by the notifications from the system.

'Return'

I called back all shadows, the monsters on this floor all fled. Probably because this monster was stronger than usual.

In a race-like position, I crouched down before pushing my toes down, giving me momentum as I propelled myself right for the monster. When I did, its eyes started giving off a bright light while it brought both arms together to block my punch.

Only after it was blown back, did I realize that punch was the trigger for its flames. The arms of the monster sprawled on the ground burned orange as flames spread out.

These flames pushed the monster off the ground and propelled it forward, letting out a sloppy punch, aimed at my jaw.

I stood my ground, spread both of my feet into a semi-circular position, twisted my waist to the right, and launched a kick of my own to block the monster's flaming arm.

While I blocked the arm itself, I didn't do that to the flames, they made my pants singe in heat.

But almost immediately, I pulled back my right leg and shot it toward the claves of its left leg.

The friction from the amount of speed I put in my leg actually increased the flames on my leg, but it didn't stop me from connecting, the kick on its calf pushed it down on its leg, almost in a kneeling-like position.

Wasting no time, I jumped back a foot, brought up my leg, and pushed it back down on the skull of the kneeling monster, its rocky head was pressed down to its shoulder, looking extremely unhealthy, the blockhead of the monster was not in its regular position anymore, and was now leveled with its shoulders.

Now dead, it sprawled on the floor, looking like a dead fish.

But I didn't have time to observe as the dead body of the monster released a wave of heat in every direction.

I decided to take the full brunt of it. My clothes were not fireproof, they burned along with almost every physical material on me.

These flames were much stronger than any normal floor 44 monsters.

Unlike in anime, where the guy has at least some form of clothing left, I was naked.

I used said coins to buy myself some new clothes.

After doing so, I found a nearby room and sat down on the ground. The blast killed every monster and the dungeon wasn't in the mood to spawn more so I was clear of danger.

It said it was an irregular but it was much too weak to be one, that or I was too strong for this type of monster.

On the next floors I go to, they'll easily be stronger than this. I don't know about Balor's spawn time, but the system might spawn it, making it stronger than it regularly is.

It's usually around level 7 strength, an irregular version could be low level 8 or high 8. With the restrictions still placed on me, It'll definitely be difficult.

Damn, at this rate, I might not even make it to floor 60 and below.

And I didn't even gain anything for killing the Flame Rock, only some XP. I'm still level 91, whether I like it or not.

"A pain, but nothing I can do about this shit."

Finding a resolution, I stood up and ran out of the room, into one of many mazes on floor 44.

I'm unable to use the shadows for combat, which are their intended purpose, but that doesn't stop me from using them as navigation.

Loki Familia should be below me as of now, possibly still in the twenties because of the number of people they brought along for the expedition.

From all the spoilers I've seen of Sword Oratorio, I know that they go to floor 50 before taking a few people to go down to floor 59, fighting some spirit or something.

The stealth skill I had was removed after I was placed with restrictions. Meaning I have no means to protect y identity.

If I'm correct, I want to beat any monsters I encounter on this floor to floor 59 as quickly as possible and descend to floor 60 without anyone noticing.

Thinking about all the possibilities of what I might face, I've finally reached the floor 48 stairwells.

And like I guessed, that released a massive roar.

"OOOOUHHHHHHHHHHH!!!!"

Balor has been born.

Fuck me.

END