The trip was about five minutes long, as predicted. We eliminated any monsters that attacked and reached the boss room without casualties. Once there, Yagami-san ushered everyone inside.
“Hurry, oniichan!” Hana shouted. Everyone but me was huddled inside.
“Coming!”
I cut down one final monster and made a break for the boss room as the giant door groaned to life. I squeaked in just a second before it slammed shut behind me. I took a breath, but my relief was short-lived as I took in the room itself.
My eyes widened. “What in the world…?”
A starry sky stretched above us, complete with a glittering full moon. A garden full of flowers—heck, a pond too—stretched all around us. I couldn’t believe what I was seeing, but what astonished me most stood behind the garden.
“Seriously…a palace?” I wondered aloud.
It was enormous. The flowers and pond I could get past. Dungeons often had unique fields for their monsters, sure, but why was a bona fide palace inside a dungeon? This was totally unprecedented, far as I knew. After all, monsters didn’t live in palaces.
There was one more thing. Ten balls of fire formed a ring that floated high above the palace, illuminating it.
“What’s going on?” someone shouted.
“I don’t know! I’ve never heard of anything like this!”
Everyone was baffled, and most watched in silent horror. I couldn’t form words either. I knew I should move, but I was stuck trembling as the fire danced and spun toward us. It started to coalesce into something as it descended. Instinct told me to avoid touching it at all costs.
“Don’t tell me that’s the boss.”
As I spoke, the fire formed the outline of a body. More murmurs, hushed by terror, rose from the group.
“No way…”
“Is this even possible…?”
In simple terms, it was a creature of pure flame. Its expansive, carmine body was at least ten meters tall—taller than a three-story house—and made entirely of crackling, scorching fire. It radiated searing heat upon its surroundings.
My gut screamed that we needed to run and run now. Heck, I had the highest level in the room and that was what I would do. The creature’s aura alone was beginning to knock the civilians unconscious.
It hit me then…our failure. We should’ve stayed out there and taken our chances with the horde. There was no going back now. If we didn’t beat this thing, we’d all die.
I used Appraisal. Searing, honest misery flooded my vision.
Ifrit
Level: 100,000
Dungeon Boss: [Unknown] Dungeon
“An ifrit…!”
The name of an S-rank monster—the very first one I’d ever faced in battle.
Amane Rin
Level: 39,852 SP: 34,910
Titles: Dungeon Traveler (10/10), Nameless Swordsman, Endbringer (ERROR), Wiser Wise Man
HP: 312,830/312,830 MP: 59,340/85,690
Attack: 73,810 Defense: 62,480 Speed: 77,770
Intelligence: 61,550 Resistance: 61,840 Luck: 61,070
Skills: Dungeon Teleportation LV 29, Enhanced Strength LV MAX, Herculean Strength LV MAX, Superhuman Strength LV MAX, Endurance LV MAX, Adamantine LV MAX, High-speed Movement LV MAX, Gale Wind LV MAX, Enhanced Spirit LV MAX, Tenacity LV MAX, Revitalize LV 1, Purification Magic LV 1, Mana Boost LV MAX, Mana Recovery LV 2, Enemy Detection LV 4, Evasion LV 4, Status Condition Resistance LV 4, Appraisal, Item Box LV 8, Conceal LV 1, Battle Barrier LV 5, Plunderer LV 1
Sword of the Nameless Knight
A sword used by the Nameless Knight.
Recommended equip level: 10,000 (MAX)
Attack +100%
When an enemy (human or monster) is of a higher level than the wielder, all parameters except HP and MP increase by 100% each.
Magic-stealing Short Sword, Greed
A reward given to those who defeat the Remote Magic Tower.
Recommended equip level: 33,000
Attack +72%
When magic strikes this blade, the wielder may pay MP equivalent to the cost to cast the magic and absorb it. The absorbed magic may be activated at no cost.
Storage capacity: Maximum seven types.