My head hurt so badly it felt like it might split open.
The aftereffects of [Mind] Down were far worse than I had expected.
Along with the crushing fatigue that made it feel as if all the mana in my body had been forcibly squeezed out, a headache like needles stabbing straight into my brain kept tormenting me.
I definitely remembered there not being any side effects this severe in the original story...
Was it just not described in the novel, or had I pushed myself past the limit?
When I opened my eyes, the first thing I saw was Goddess Istarot changing the wet cloth on my forehead, her face full of concern.
“You’re awake, Nia?”
Her voice held relief, along with a faint hint of reproach.
She almost looked a little angry too...
“How long has it been...?”
My voice came out hoarse.
Like someone who hadn’t had a sip of water in days.
“You slept for a full day and half of another. Honestly, do you know how shocked I was when you collapsed in the training ground like that? I thought my heart had stopped.”
She gently stroked my cheek as she spoke.
Her touch was so tender that I couldn’t say anything.
“I’m sorry. I made you worry.”
“As long as you know. Never do something so reckless again. Promise me.”
Her golden eyes looked straight at me with complete seriousness.
Inside them was a deep fear that she might lose me.
I couldn’t bring myself to nod.
If I wanted to grow stronger, there would inevitably be moments when I had to be reckless.
I had already learned that lesson the hard way.
“...I’ll try.”
That was the best answer I could give.
At my reply, she let out a small sigh, then smiled softly.
It was a resigned smile, as if she understood my stubbornness.
“You must be hungry, right? I’ll make you some warm soup. Wait here a moment.”
After eating the warm soup Goddess Istarot prepared for me, I finally felt alive again.
The headache was still there, but strength began to return to my emptied body.
I stepped out into the training ground and quietly looked at Kratos, resting off to one side.
As if yesterday’s scene had not been a dream, the massive greatsword radiated a pitch-black presence.
Its appearance had not changed, but the power dwelling inside it was now clearly connected to me, and I could feel it.
I used my Weapon Master skill to lift Kratos into the air.
My head still throbbed from the aftereffects of [Mind] Down, but controlling the sword was no problem.
In fact, it responded even more smoothly than before, more sensitively to my thoughts.
As if it had become part of my nervous system, the sword’s weight and movement felt as clear as if I were holding it in my hand.
“Time to go.”
I began preparing to head back into the Dungeon.
“Nia! Your body is still in no condition to be going anywhere! Where do you think you’re going!”
Seeing me like that, Goddess Istarot rushed out of the kitchen in alarm.
“I’m fine, Goddess. If anything, I want to test it right away. This thing’s power.”
I said, pointing at Kratos.
When she saw the uncontrollable curiosity and fighting spirit in my eyes, she seemed to realize she could no longer stop me.
“...Honestly, you really are impossible. Fine. But you absolutely must not push yourself. If anything seems dangerous, come right back. Understood?”
“Yes, Goddess.”
After getting her permission, I left the house with my new partner.
This was now my third trip toward the Middle Floors.
Thanks to my Level Up and my new weapon, breaking through to the 12th Floor took less than a few hours.
The Upper Floors monsters fell like autumn leaves before Kratos’s overwhelming power.
The blade, imbued with Sharpness 6, cut through goblins, kobolds, and Dungeon Lizards alike as easily as if they were tofu.
The Shockwave that triggered with every casual swing swept up the monsters around them as well.
Thanks to Absorption 4, I could keep moving while experiencing the bizarre sensation of feeling more and more energized the longer I fought.
At last, I set foot once more on the 13th Floor, the Cavern Labyrinth.
Without hesitation, I headed deeper into the labyrinth.
“Ummooo!”
Before long, a pack of Minotaurs spotted me and charged.
They had once been formidable foes capable of threatening entire parties, but to me now, they were just good test subjects.
I hurled Kratos straight ahead.
The massive greatsword pierced through the center of the Minotaur pack with a thunderous roar.
Crack!
The one in front was torn apart without even leaving a shape behind, and the ones following behind it were caught in the shockwave and sent tumbling in all directions.
I didn’t recall Kratos and instead swung it freely through the air.
The enormous sword, like a living disaster, rampaged through the narrow passage and slaughtered the Minotaurs.
Their battle axes either bounced off or shattered before they could even touch Kratos’s blade.
The battle ended in an instant.
I gathered the Magic Stones with a satisfied smile.
“Heh~ Now this is what I’m talking about.”
This overwhelming destructive power—this was why I used a greatsword.
I pressed deeper.
Another monster of the 13th Floor: Hell Hounds.
“Grrr... Kaaah!”
From the dark passage ahead, a pack of more than ten Hell Hounds spotted me, bared their fangs in unison, and spat flames.
Just as the fire filling the narrow corridor was about to engulf me, I gave Kratos a light swing.
The wind pressure created by the giant sword alone scattered their flame breath uselessly.
Then the following shockwave shattered their formation completely.
The monsters never even got close to me, disappearing one by one along the black trail left behind by Kratos’s passing.
It was less a battle than a one-sided slaughter.
Once again, I collected the Magic Stones, satisfied with my new power.
For several days after that, I swept through the Middle Floors.
Whenever my bag filled with Magic Stones, I would descend to Rivira on the 18th Floor to sell off the loot, then head back out hunting again.
Thanks to that, my name became famous among the adventurers of Rivira.
“Hey, did you hear? That greatsword guy wiped out the west passage on the 14th Floor again.”
“Greatsword guy? Ah, you mean that Pallum Record Holder? Don’t they call him the Middle Floors’ Slaughterer these days?”
“Whatever. Thanks to him, hunting’s been easier lately. The guy practically grinds monster parties into paste on his own.”
“He even helped me out when I was in danger last time!”
Most of the conversations I heard in Rivira’s taverns were about me.
“Record Holder,” “the Pallum of the Greatsword,” “the Middle Floors’ Slaughterer.”
I was followed by all kinds of noisy nicknames, but I didn’t care.
I focused only on hunting and growing stronger.
And at last, it was time to return to the surface.
My backpack was so full of Magic Stones it could hold no more.
I made one final stop at the 17th Floor, the Great Fissure.
Goliath was not there.
I stood in the exact place where, days ago, I had been chased and forced to flee in desperation.
The fear and humiliation from back then surfaced faintly in my mind.
But now things were different.
Beside me was a weapon with the power to crush any enemy.
Gently stroking Kratos as it floated in the air, I quietly declared toward the Great Fissure, “Goliath. See you next time. I’ll make sure I grow strong enough to use you as the sacrifice for my Level 3 promotion.”
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