Arifureta Shokugyou de Sekai Saikyou (WN) v2c3
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Path of Escape
“d.a.m.n it, there is nothing…”
Three days after killing the bear. Hajime has been searching for an escape to the upper levels. He had already searched about 80% of the level. After eating the bear, his status had risen. There were no longer any wonders here, he had vastly explored the area with a quick pace. However, nothing was found even though he searched so much.
No, saying he didn’t find anything was misleading. Hajime had found stairs two day ago; that led downwards into the higher number floor. A floor should always have a stair that led up towards the surface but this one did not have one it seemed.
Why not make a road to the upper level? This method was ignored after already trying it. Within a certain range, his trans.m.u.tation did not work on the walls. While on the floor he could freely trans.m.u.te, the very top and bottom of the floor had some kind of protection. This “Orcus Dungeon” was created during ancient times and it was full of mysteries. When he encountered anything new, it wasn’t that unexpected.
That is why he was looking for a way up, but he had to make a decision if he did not find it. To venture further down this Dungeon or not.
“…Dead end? At this point I searched all the branchings. I wonder what happened.”
Hajime decided to stop looking for a way up and breathed out a deep sigh at that decision. He proceeded to advance towards the room that contained the stairs leading deeper into the Dungeon.
The stairs looked like it was sloppily made. It would have been more correct to call it an uneven slope, rather than stairs. He looked ahead to the stairs and noticed that it exudes a creepy atmosphere; with its complete darkness where no Green Light Stone was present. Like a mouth of a huge monster swallowing him up. Hajime felt that once he went in, there was no coming out.
“Ha! Bring it on! Anything getting in my way, I’ll kill and devour.”
While thinking about such an idea, Hajime laughed through his nose and smiled. He stepped towards the darkness with no hesitation.
The level was very dark. Although that was expected for an underground dungeon, but all the previous levels he visited had Green Light Stones in them. It wasn’t like he was devoid of all vision. This level really did not have any light source. Hajime choose to rest for a bit to allow his eyes to get used to the darkness. He was expecting to see a little more, but there was no difference. He decided to take out his Green Stone lamp from his improvised back, that was connected to a wire made of out of the bears fur.
It was suicidal to have a light in this darkness if a monster was attracted to it. However, he couldn’t continue if he couldn’t see. Hajime did not want to occupy his only hand to hold this lamp, so he fastened it to his left elbow.
He had a feeling that something was shining in the depths of the pa.s.sage when he walked for a while. That got him to raise his caution to the max. Advancing while hiding as much as possible, he left an unpleasant sign on his left side. He pointed the lamp at that direction. A gray liard approximately 2m in length was sticking on the wall, glaring at Hajime with golden eyes.
The golden eyes were charged with light. In that moment,
“Tsu!?”
Hajime left arm started to give of a strange sound and noticed it was getting petrified. Instantly the lamp that was fastened to his arm was soon petrified completely, and shattered into a million pieces. With the light source lost, darkness ruled the area again. The petrification on his left side was already reaching his shoulder.
Hajime clicked his tongue while he took out some sacred water from his chest holster; which was made from demon fur and wire. As expected, the petrification halted and eventually his left arm returned to normal.
It sure had done it! He cursed inwardly, and took out a flash grenade from his waist pouch. Hajime threw it towards the gold eyed lizard. At the same time, gold eyes started to simmer again in the darkness. Hajime left the area by using “Flicker”, and did not see the gaze. The rock that was behind where Hajime used to be, changed color. Soon the rock crumbled as it weathered. Wicked Eyes of Petrification, was what Hajime linked with the golden eyes. This lizard was like a basilisk often seen in a RPG.
Hajime closed his eyes while he took out Donner and brandished it.
Bang! The surrounding was bathed in intense light as the flash grenade went off.
“Ku-ua!”
For an ent.i.ty that matured in the darkness, this was the first time it had experienced that much light, and it confused it. The figure of that confused basilisk emerged from the darkness. Hajime fired without a thought. He aimed well and soon the bullet found its target in the basilisk’s skull. Brain matter splashed against the wall as the head was blown to pieces. The bullet continued through the head into the wall, and burning rocks could be heard. Since electromagnetic force was used to accelerate the bullet, the places it hit emit a high temperature. It was so intense a heat that, right now, only the Tauru ore could handle it.
Hajime approached the basilisk while he stayed vigilant to his surroundings. Promptly he cleaved the meat off of the corpse and left the area. He did not feel safe eating in an area with so little visibility. Hajime decided to push forward and continue his search for the time being.
He had searched for many hours but he could not find the stairs. A lot of ores were collected and demons killed during this time. Since it was so inconvenient to carry all this, he made a base for himself.
When he found a suitable place, he used his trans.m.u.tation to create the s.p.a.ce. He was able to make his base without any problems. Hajime continued trans.m.u.ting until he had a 6 tatami sized room. Without forgetting, he placed a pale basketball sized ore in the hollow recess of the wall. This ore was G.o.d’s Crystal. Underneath the ore was placed a contained to catch the dripping water.
Hajime had started to call the crystal “Potion Stone” and the sacred water as “Potion.” It really was like the games equivalent, but its effects were much stronger.
“Well, let’s have a meal.”
Hajime retrieved the meat out of his backpack. He used his lightning powers to cook them. Today’s menu was the basilisk meat, an owl that could fire its feathers like a shotgun, and a six legged cat. No seasoning.
“Itadakimasu.”
After a moment of eating, pain started to well in his body. The body was being strengthened. It seemed that these monsters were stronger than the bear. It was certainly true that the environment and darkness made it troublesome. Hajime did not really feel that since Donner could blow any of them away.
Drinking the “Potion”, he continued to eat while ignoring the pain. His phantom limb pain had returned and it was getting stronger.
“Chomp, Fuu–. Gochisousama. Now then, Status…”
He took out his Status Plate as he said that. Hajime’s current state was…
Name
Nagumo Hajime
Age
17 Years Old
Gender
Male
Level
23
Cla.s.s
Trans.m.u.tation Artist (Synergist)
Strength
450
Vitality
550
Resistance
350
Agility
550
Magic
500
Magic Resistance
500
Skills
Trans.m.u.tation
Mineral Appraisal
Precision Trans.m.u.tation
Mineral Enquiry
Mineral Separation
Mineral Fusion
Magic Manipulation
Iron Stomach
Lightning Clad
Divine Step
Air Walk
Flicker
Air Claws
Night Vision
Perception
Petrification Resistance
Language Comprehension