Chapter 20: Ryota's First Experience with Genjutsu
An "Irregular Occurrence" referred to unexpected anomalies within the Dungeon—phenomena that defied common sense and went beyond known information.
The most common type of Irregular involved monsters exhibiting abilities they shouldn't have, or appearing on floors where they didn't belong.
Right now, the large, silver-furred ape monster—known as a Silverback—that had appeared before Ryota was precisely such a case.
This creature normally appeared only on much deeper floors, yet for some unknown reason, it had emerged prematurely here on the Sixth Floor.
Ryota narrowed his eyes, observing carefully.
Unlike ordinary monsters that attacked instinctively, this Silverback didn't immediately rush forward. Instead, it stopped about twenty meters away.
"Boom, boom, boom—"
Heavy footsteps echoed through the cavern.
The Silverback paced slowly back and forth, its blood-red eyes locked intently onto Ryota. Like a seasoned hunter, its movements were cautious and calculating.
Clearly, this big fellow wasn't the typical monster with brawn but no brains. It possessed a certain degree of intelligence. Its methodical pacing meant it was carefully observing, attempting to find an opening in Ryota's stance.
Facing this "veteran hunter" attitude, Ryota simply smiled.
Perfect.
He'd been wanting to test out the new techniques he'd just acquired.
Whoosh— His hands rapidly formed seals.
As the hand seals finished, a puff of white smoke erupted beside him. When it cleared, another figure identical to Ryota stood there.
This was the Clone Jutsu—one of the Three Basic Jutsu.
Wearing the same clothes, identical in appearance, it was impossible at first glance to discern which was real and which was fake.
Without hesitation, the clone immediately rushed toward the Silverback!
The Silverback paused, visibly confused.
Though it had some intelligence, it couldn't comprehend why its prey had suddenly multiplied into two identical figures. However, it clearly recognized the threat of the figure charging toward it.
"ROOOAARRR—!!"
With a thunderous roar, the Silverback pounded its chest and charged forward. Its massive frame created gusts of wind, a fist as huge as a sandbag raised high.
BANG—!
A dull impact echoed through the cavern.
In the instant its fist struck, the seemingly-real "human" dissipated into a puff of white smoke, vanishing completely!
The Silverback froze.
But it quickly regained its composure, beating its chest excitedly once again, its crimson eyes filled with triumph.
"ROARRR!!"
In its mind, the human was nothing special. Just a single punch was enough to make him vanish into thin air!
However, the Silverback didn't know that the Clone Jutsu—one of the Three Basic Jutsu—was merely an illusory afterimage created by Chakra, possessing no physical form or offensive capability.
Its primary purpose was to confuse enemies and disrupt their perception.
The true Shadow Clone Jutsu, capable of independent combat, was something Ryota hadn't yet mastered.
Still, seeing the smug, excited expression on the giant ape's face, Ryota couldn't help but chuckle softly:
"You have intelligence, but not much."
As his voice faded, the three tomoe in his Sharingan spun rapidly!
"Demonic Illusions: Shackle Stakes!"
In the very next second—
The Silverback's movements suddenly froze!
The giant ape, which had just been roaring and pounding its chest, seemed as if an invisible hand had grasped its throat, rendering it completely motionless. Its eyes rolled upward slightly, its body rigid as stone.
Within the illusionary space:
The Silverback was pinned down upon a vast, blood-red wasteland. Thick, illusory stakes pierced through its limbs, binding it tightly to the ground. It struggled desperately, yet was utterly powerless to move.
Standing before it, Ryota folded his arms calmly, his Sharingan gazing steadily at the enormous beast as he quickly calculated in his mind.
According to the system's information, under the Sharingan's enhancement, the "Demonic Illusions: Shackle Stakes" could immobilize enemies for approximately three to six seconds.
Three seconds was the limit for ordinary fodder. Six seconds was enough to trap most mid-to-low tier powerhouses.
This Silverback, though an Irregular Occurrence on the Sixth Floor, was essentially equivalent to an elite monster from the Middle Floors around the eleventh or twelfth floor—roughly the strength of an inexperienced Level 2 adventurer.
Thus…
Ryota narrowed his eyes slightly.
"Let's see how long you can last."
He silently counted the seconds.
One second.
Two seconds.
Three seconds—
Before he could continue counting, the blood-red illusion shattered like glass, breaking apart instantly with a sharp "crack!"
Pop!
As the genjutsu space collapsed, the real-world Silverback trembled violently, knees buckling immediately afterward. Foam spilled from its mouth, and it collapsed onto the ground, unconscious and twitching.
Ryota scratched his head thoughtfully.
The outcome was clearly beyond his expectations. He'd assumed it would at least endure four or five seconds, yet this big guy couldn't even survive three seconds before completely breaking down.
"That's surprisingly fragile."
Though, thinking about it, this outcome was probably normal.
Even as an Irregular Occurrence, this Silverback was fundamentally just a Level 2 monster. Facing a high-level genjutsu specialized in mental suppression, holding out for three seconds was already impressive enough.
After all, even Raul Nord—a Level 4 "Vanargand" of the Loki Familia—had fainted instantly just by making eye contact with Ryota.
Ryota shook his head lightly, dismissing his thoughts.
He swiftly formed hand seals again, activating his ninjutsu:
"Fire Style: Great Fireball Jutsu!"
A massive, roaring fireball erupted from his mouth.
With a muffled boom, the Silverback was engulfed entirely by flames, reduced to a pile of charred ashes. All that remained was a crystal-clear Magic Stone lying quietly on the ground.
Ryota stepped forward, casually picking up the Magic Stone and placing it into his bag.
Having finished, he continued onward.
His goal—the Seventh Floor.
Today, his plan was simple. Now that he'd completed his side quest and claimed the rewards, his next objective was summed up neatly in four simple words:
"Earn some extra money."