Path of Escape

"Damn it, why isn't it there...?"

It had been three days since Hajime killed the Talon Bear. He'd already explored over eighty percent of the current level in search of a route to the upper floors. The battle had drastically boosted his stats, and there was now nothing left on this floor that could threaten him. That alone allowed him to search faster—but despite his efforts, the path forward refused to reveal itself.

More accurately, the way up remained hidden. He had discovered a staircase leading down two days ago, but as for going up? Nothing.

He even tried brute-forcing it. Using transmutation to create a path directly upward—just as he did downward—proved futile. After a certain depth, the walls became immune to his efforts. As if some ancient magic sealed the vertical movement. It made sense—this was the Orcus Great Dungeon, a relic from an ancient age, full of secrets.

So, with no other option, Hajime made a decision: if he couldn't go up, then he'd go deeper.

"...Dead end, huh? I've checked every damn branch. What the hell is this?"

Letting out a long sigh, Hajime turned and headed toward the staircase he found earlier. The way down looked more like a jagged hill trail than stairs. No Green Light Stones illuminated the descent—only a suffocating blackness, like the gaping maw of a beast ready to consume anything that dared enter.

The aura whispered: You're not coming back from this.

"Hah! Bring it on. If it stands in my way... I'll kill and devour it."

With a scoff and a fearless smirk, Hajime stepped into the dark.

The new level was pitch black—no light, no comfort. Previous levels had Green Light Stones providing faint illumination. Not here. Hajime paused, expecting his vision to adapt—but even after several minutes, it was like staring into a void.

With no other choice, he pulled a Green Light Stone from his makeshift backpack—woven from the Talon Bear's fur—and strapped it to his left elbow, where his forearm used to be.

Walking with a light source was dangerous—any magic beast nearby would spot him instantly. But without it, progress was impossible.

After some time, something shimmered in the shadows. Hajime froze, senses sharp. From his left—an ominous presence.

He turned and shined his light.

A gray lizard, two meters long, clung to the wall, golden eyes locked onto him.

Those eyes flashed—

Crack!

"—!?"

His left arm began to petrify. The stone spread like wildfire, engulfing the Green Light Stone, which shattered seconds later. Darkness returned. The petrification was creeping toward his shoulder.

Clicking his tongue, Hajime grabbed a bottle from his wire-woven holster and chugged it—Sacred Water. In seconds, his arm returned to normal.

"How dare you..."

Gritting his teeth, he threw a [Flash Grenade] and retreated using [Ground Shrink].

The basilisk's golden eyes gleamed again—and the boulder where he once stood crumbled into dust. Petrification. No doubt.

Drawing Donner, he aimed blindly and shielded his eyes.

Bang!

Light exploded. The basilisk writhed, disoriented. Hajime didn't hesitate—he fired. The bullet ripped through its head, burrowed into the wall, and left molten rock hissing in its wake.

High-temperature aftermath—a side effect of Tauru Ore bullets. Lethal.

Keeping alert, Hajime tore flesh from the fallen basilisk and retreated. No time to feast now.

For hours—or maybe days—Hajime wandered in darkness. He defeated monsters, collected rare ores, and finally decided to construct a temporary base.

He carved a six-tatami-sized shelter into the wall using transmutation. At the center, he embedded a bluish-white God Crystal—the Potion Stone. Below it, a container collected its restorative Sacred Water—Potion.

"Well, time to eat."

From his transmuted container, he pulled out meat. Today's menu: Basilisk, Shotgun-Feathered Owl, and a six-legged Cat. No seasoning. Just raw power.

He cooked the meat with [Lightning Clad] and began to eat.

"Itadakimasu~"

Pain coursed through his body—evidence of another stat boost. These beasts were tougher than the Talon Bear. Hajime smirked. As long as Donner landed a shot, he could win.

After eating and gulping down Sacred Water, he checked his status.

Nagumo Hajime – 17 / MaleClass: Synergist – Level 23Stats:

Strength: 450

Vitality: 550

Resistance: 350

Agility: 550

Magic Power: 500

Magic Resistance: 500

Skills:Transmutation [+Mineral Appraisal] [+Precise Transmutation] [+Mineral Investigation] [+Mineral Separation] [+Mineral Fusion] • Magic Manipulation • Iron Stomach • Lightning Clad • Divine Step [+Aerodynamic] [+Ground Shrink] • Air Claw • Night Vision • Presence Perception • Petrification Resistance • Language Comprehension

New skills, stronger senses. [Night Vision] let him pierce the darkness. [Presence Perception] picked up on faint life signs. And though he didn't get the Basilisk's signature [Petrify], [Resistance] was solid enough.

He spent hours forging bullets. Precision was key—Donner required exact dimensions. One bullet took nearly thirty minutes to make. Tedious, but necessary.

Hajime kept moving—deeper into the abyss. Then, finally, he found the next staircase down.

This level was a swamp of tar.

Every step stuck like glue. Movement became agony. He used [Aerodynamic] to glide across the terrain.

Then he found it—Flame Ore.

Flame Ore – A black ore that liquefies at 50°C and ignites at 100°C. Burns at 3000°C.

"...No way."

He looked down. The entire level was coated in this stuff.

"Firearms are out."

No Donner. No [Lightning Clad]. One spark, and the whole place would erupt.

Still, he grinned.

"Doesn't change a thing. Kill and devour."

While scouting a forked path, a shark made of muscle and teeth launched from the tar.

Gachin!

Its bite missed, barely. Hajime dodged—barely.

([Presence Perception] didn't react?!)

The beast vanished back into the tar.

More jumps. More close calls. He fired—Donner's bullet bounced off like rubber. Its skin negated physical impact.

Then it attacked again. Hajime twisted mid-air, but took a hit—light, but enough to knock him into the tar.

Covered in black goo, he leapt back out with [Aerodynamic].

Bakun! The shark bit down where he'd just been.

Smirking through the sweat, Hajime danced through the air, thinking.

(If I can't sense it, I'll bait it.)

Pretending to stumble, he exposed his back. The shark lunged—perfect.

He spun mid-air and struck with Donner, now cloaked in [Air Claw].

Slash! Blood sprayed as the beast screamed.

He ended it with a clean, brutal strike to the skull.

"Now, let's figure out why you could hide from me…"

After harvesting the meat, he continued deeper and found the next staircase down.

Nagumo Hajime – 17 / MaleClass: Synergist – Level 24Stats:

Strength: 450

Vitality: 550

Resistance: 400

Agility: 550

Magic Power: 500

Magic Resistance: 500

Skills:Transmutation [+Mineral Appraisal] [+Precise Transmutation] [+Mineral Investigation] [+Mineral Separation] [+Mineral Fusion] • Magic Manipulation • Iron Stomach • Lightning Clad • Divine Step [+Aerodynamic] [+Ground Shrink] • Air Claw • Night Vision • Presence Perception • Hide Presence • Petrification Resistance • Language Comprehension