Ch 56 - A Quick Dungeon Run (1)

Albion: Time for the 6th floor.

Albion said as he the purple translucent screen in front of him understood. He was doing yet another solo dungeon run. While it was possible to stay on the floor you left on so you didn't have to keep on moving up the tower, Albion liked progressing through all the floors every run. Just like him many people did this as it helped show him how much he was improving. And after completing the 5th floor he was now on the new floor. The 6th floor.

Albion was in an open field again. The previous floor was the race. But this one was far from a race. The open grass lands and blue skies full of a violence. This floor wasn't going to be the best for Albion. Not that he would find it hard. In fact this was going to be an easy floor. However, it would be a floor that made his poor reputation even worse, 100 times worse.

[Kill 20 people.]

[0/20]

Albion gave a deep sighed as he held the bridge of his nose with a barrier around him. Looking at the other people that had already started killing others. Slashing with swords or attacking with magic. Some more elaborate with their attacks, some trying to be elegant and showy and others barbaric as the ones knew to this developed a trauma from everything seeming incredibly realistic. But Albion just watched as he was going to find this floor too easy being Sylvia's disciple.

Albion: I'm so sorry for what I'm about to do.

Albion was going to use a wide area spell Geo Storm. But because of Albions perfect memory he didn't need to have the spells usual large circle appear. No one could see the circle and start running or attacking Albion as it would happen without warning and so suddenly. The sky turned darker as dark grey clouds formed. Lightning booming in between the clouds with blue illuminations. Albion looked at everyone that was fighting as they all stopped. Looking up in a horror of what was happening. Multiple tornados began to form as they swirled around with violent forces. The lightning stuck down rapidly as a student got hit with a pain that surged through their bodies if they were strong then dying or an instant death if they were weak. The tornados that were swirling around ripping the ground to pieces pulled students away and threw them around. The cold frosty air freezing any water magic people were using solid making their magic pointless.

However, Albion watched in interest as some were doing quite well against the Geo Storm. Some formed strong barrier that were enough to block the lightning and fight against of the effects of the terrifyingly strong winds. Others used magic to form strong bonds deep in the floor to prevent themselves from being pulled away. Others ran fast enough or flew far enough away to not be affected. But there was this one person that interested Albion immensely.

A girl with snow white hair. She had a sword similar to Albions. But its sheath was silver and of higher quality. The reason Albions was so interested was because she was extremely fast and elegant, striking lightning and cut a tornado in half. Using a very strong Weapon Mana and Body Mana. She seemed to be able to keep herself grounded somehow.

Albion: {Wow. The noble girl wasn't all shouting and annoyance. She's actually pretty amazing. But I'm exhausting too much mana if I want to continue climbing floors.}

[31/20]

[34/20]

[Do you want to move up to the next floor?]

Albion: Yes.

As Albion disappeared the Geo Storm spell stopped to. Albion was happy he used the spell though. He got to see there were amazing geniuses in this school and not just hot air nobles. It helped in put hierarchy into perspective.

Albion was now on the 7th floor. He looked around as he saw. Nothing. Just vast desserts of golden sand. All around him in flats and mounds. Nothing as far as the eye could see. Not even Albions great eyes could see anything.

[Find the Oasis.]

Albion looked at the clear conditions. Was this even possible for a normal person? Even with Albions skill that enhanced his vision he couldn't see anything. If anyone went in the wrong direction they would almost certainly get lost. Unable to tell any of the landscapes apart unless they had a perfect memory and could tell the difference between each mound of sand from the other. No normal person could do this as there were deserts as far as the eye could see.

Albion: I couldn't see anyone passing this normally. Not unless you heavily prepared for this. A compass, food and water. Though a decent mage could do this or someone that was fast with Body Mana. Maybe a certain skill helps find water. A basic skill among nobles maybe.

Albion used flight. Hovering just off the ground as the sand flew everywhere. Albion looked all around him and understood exactly where he was. But just in case he used a large fireball to glass the ground. Flying far from his starting point and searching in a grid method. Exploring 10 miles from top left of a mental grid to the bottom right. When he didn't find anything he expanded the grid. Further and further until he saw it. The oasis.

A whole 180 miles away from his starting location. Taking him a whole 7 hours to find as he was getting bored and took breaks. Resting and sun bathing in the hot, bright heat. Though as an elf he couldn't really tan being as pale as he was.

Instantly on landing in the beautiful oasis. One with perfect clear water and amazing palm trees. Beautiful birds that gently tweeted. Albion was teleported to the next floor without being able to fully absorb and enjoy the nature he was surrounded by.

Albion: {That's just cruel.}

Albion sighed as he looked down at the new screen. Ignoring his surroundings. It wasn't anything special. It was just a regular cave that went one direction. The tunnel curved and circular.

[Travel through the cave.]

Albion took another sigh. Another easy floor. Another boring design. Albion drew his sword out as he used his Activate skill. The sword shining brightly as it lit the cave up. Behind Albion there was no other direction. Boulders blocking what ever was there. He didn't even try to see what was on the other side. Slowly walking through the cave.

But then something gained his interest. His magic sense detected something slowly walking towards him. He took a step forward as he felt his foot sink down. Immediately backing up as darts hit the rock wall.

Albion: Ok. Not so easy.

"Kikikiki"

The sound echoed throughout the cave. Not just from one. But many. What Albion thought was going to be an easy floor like the others was a dungeon filled with goblins and traps. All waiting to kill him.

Albion used his mana sense but couldn't see an end to the goblins within the cave. The traps he could sense but he knew it wouldn't be enough easy with the goblins trying to kill him in an enclosed place. And in such a tight space he wouldn't be able to use such wide area magic he was doing before.

Albion: *Sigh* I could really do with a different challenge. These goblins I can't even understand. I don't even know if they're saying anything or just making sounds.

Albion drew his dagger from his belt. A magic sphere forming next to him.

Albion: Ok guy. Let's get started already.

Phoenix Lance was cast as the spiked drill span violently, fire spewing from it as it shot forward. Albion running behind it.

Scene change

Veldris was standing over a table, stone walls around him as he took deep breaths as if calming himself down. Blood on his hands and scratches on his face. You could tell he was in a fight recently. A heart a bit larger than a human one on ice with small purple crystals on the table. He felt his own heart beating faster and faster. Taking more deep breaths as he tried to calm down.

Veldris: I've already done the research. I know how to do this without dying. I killed that half dragon bitch in the village just for this. All I needed was her heart, who cares if the village saw me as a hero. I just needed this. I have the heart, the energy concentrated into crystals. The necessary magic so I don't die and this all perfectly integrates into me. It's going to work.

Veldris said trying to make himself calm down, yet he continued to shake as he thought about what he was about to do. What he was planning to do. Something that would permanently change his life forever. Something that would change everything.

Veldris: Is this the right thing?

Veldris thought as he couldn't get Sylvia out of his head. Ever since he first saw her, her power, her magic. It all ingrained itself into his mind and he had to make it his. But with his thoughts of Sylvia he could now see Albion. And a rage grew inside of him. A hate and anger that spiralled and warped inside of him. His mind filling with thoughts of what he would do to Albion. What he wanted to do to Sylvia in front of Albion. A sick smile on his face.

Veldris: OF COURSE IT IS! THIS EXACTLY WHAT SYLVIA WANTS FROM ME! THIS SOLVES ALL MY PROBLEMS! I'LL BE BETTER THAN EVER BEFORE! Then… THEN I KILL THAT COMMONER ALBION!

Veldris said gripping the table as magic circles appeared around him. The heart floating in a faint blue glow as a hot firery mana from the heart leached into the mana around it. The heart beating even outside of the body. The small purple crystals floating and small blades made of magic, slowly moving as Veldris took of his clothes, jewels and magic items. Revealing a his old bruised, skinny, weak body. The blade of pure mana slowly pushing into his chest and cutting it.