Re: Turning
The Thing

Shinnichi walked down the faint hallway. In his left hand, a small book. In his right hand, he carried a large pouch. Contains objects from Schwarz's room that he deems necessary. Every now and then, he would stop and draw the path he took. Making maps is not easy if you have no experience.

Twelve days had passed since he defeated Wolfsdamon. His body had already healed as before, or even better, thanks to Emphiria's healing crystal. And at the moment, he was on the 94th level.

Not much different from the other floors, the 94th floor consists of cave passageways illuminated by a faint green light. In fact, all floors from floors 84-94 have the same interior. It's a little boring if Shinnichi is honest. The monsters that appeared were also not much different from the other floors and he also found the oasis every five floors so it was not entirely boring. At least he has made drastic progress.

Shinnichi stopped on the rocks. Use one of them as a place to write. Using bird feathers and blood as his ink really made it difficult for him. At a time like this, he realized how valuable a bullet is.

“Hei, Schwarz.” Shinnichi called Schwarz. Sounds a little overwhelmed. “I'm a little confused. Actually we turn right or left in the previous fork.”

“Hmm? Didn't you turn left? Remember, passing two light crystals that cross each other?”

“Really? I thought it was flattening before this T-junction.” Shinnichi scratched his head.

Nearby, the earth began to tremble. An earthquake? No, the nearby boulders started moving. Gathered together like there was a magnet in the middle. Crackling and rolling and joining. Until finally, it had a slightly humanoid form. That was one of the Dungeon's strongest monsters, the Golem.

“---!!” The golem let out a loud sound similar to a roar. Shaking the air around. He starts running after Shinnichi.

Shinnichi lifts the Dominator. And without looking, shoot it.

DUM! The golem exploded violently. Crushed, the pieces rained down on the dungeon floor.

“Whisper once.” Shinnichi grumbling. Put the blood bottle back in the bag.

After fighting Wolfsdamon, his level and ability increased drastically. His status had already surpassed that of heroes. Allowing him to defeat almost the entire monster within the dungeon with a single punch. hence, he became calmer while exploring the labyrinth. Even so, he should remain vigilant. The labyrinth is a dangerous place. One wrong step, death will wait.

Increasing his guard, Shinnichi continues the journey.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

“Hoam.” Shinnichi. A little bored looking at the stone walls of the labyrinth. He has been walking for three hours. Trying to find a way to the next floor. After a while, he reached a dead end.

“Hei, Black. You sure this is where it is?” ask Shinnichi. Little skeptical.

“I'm sure,” replied Schwarz steady. “There's a magic circle on that wall. Try search.”

“Hmm.” Shinnichi just nodded. He touched the gray wall. It was cold, dusty, and a little mysterious.

“Hmm?”

Shinnichi noticed something on the wall. A white nicks, forming an arch. The rest is covered with dust. Shinnichi rubbed dust on the surface of the wall. Clean it up and reveal what is written underneath. It didn't take long, a magic circle unfolded.

“Heh, what I said.” Schwarz's arrogant voice echoed in his head. A little annoying, but Shinnichi chooses to ignore it.

He touched the circle and drained the Mananya. Yellow light started to come out from the lines and symbols that formed a circle. In an instant, the walls of the dungeon began to tremble. Split into two. Open a path and open a ladder at its end.

“Dudududundu~udun” Shinnichi echoed the distinctive tone of a certain RPG that rotates after completing a puzzle.  “The 95th floor, I'm coming.”

Shinnichi went down the stairs Behind him, the walls of the dungeon closed again. The rest of the light that illuminates the path. The descending passageway turned dark. Shinnichi touches the wall, keeping himself from falling.

“You've been here?”

“No, I know it from my brother's words. I almost never browse this Dungeon.”

“So, you just stay in the room? Basic Hikkikomori,” muttered Shinnichi, slightly mocking him. Schwarz chose to ignore it, because technically he was not wrong.

After 300 steps, Shinnichi reached the 86th floor. Unlike the previous floor, there were no magic crystals to light his way. He should be more vigilant here. Shinnichi reminded himself. He took out his magic stone. Turning it into a necklace, he drained the mana. The stone gave a precious little light.

The distance is narrow and small. Even with his eyes accustomed to darkness, he could see no more than five meters. He walks with caution. Later,

Squash. Shinnichi stepped on something soft. He lifted his feet, sticky and wet. He could feel it from behind his shoes. Under his feet, he could see a pink surface. Like chewing gum finished. Equally disgusting.

‘Ugh.” Shinnichi wiped his feet on the ground. Trying to clean it from that spit-like mucus. “What is this place?”

Shinnichi endured his urge to vomit then walked to surround the pink blob. Trying not to step on it. The sensation is really nauseating.

Shortly after, Shinnichi begins to hear something. Something moved in the pink blob. He prepared the Abyssal Mist.

The darkness hid something that made that wet sound. But, Shinnichi was sure, something was in front of him. In a few steps, Shinnichi saw it.

A monster that resembles a mole. Trapped, or rather, trapped in that pink blob. The pink blob moved around him. Crawling at a painful pace, each movement released a disgusting green slime. A hissing sound came out every time the slime touched the monster's body. Dissolving his flesh into a liquid that squeezes the stomach.

“Crazy...” Shinnichi did not believe his eyes.

“Shinnichi, use [Soul Eye].” Schwarz gave his opinion.

Shinnichi closed his right eye. Activating his left eye skill. A bright light greeted him, almost filling the room. There are several other lights, different colors and somewhat dimmer.

“So, this is a monster? Almost the entire floor was covered by it.” Shinnichi did not believe his own eyes. “How can it?”

“Dungeon has its own way of taking lives. It's no use if you keep thinking about it.” Schwarz commented. Although he had lived for centuries, his knowledge was not absolute. He also first saw this kind of thing. “Better you find a way to pass this floor.”

Shinnichi agrees. He kicked the lump several times. Mucus flows out because of it. He turned his hand into a Dominator and fired it.

Dor's! Dor's!

“---!!?” The pink blob let out a disgusting voice.The voice was unrecognizable, sounding foreign in the ears. Strategy Shinnichi succeeded.

The clump suddenly shriveled. Retreat with unexpected speed and movement. Like a daughter of shame. Revealing hundreds if not thousands of bones underneath, came from different monsters. I don't know when they've been together, Shinnichi doesn't know.

“Good,” praise Schwarz. “Do not let your guard down. You don't want to be trapped.”

“Oh, of course. I don't want to get close to that thing.”

Shinnichi shuddered in horror. He didn't want to meet Emphiria so soon. Especially if it is like an insect. He continued his steps. Trying to hold back the crackling sound from the broken bone he stepped on. Be careful not to fall. For some reason, the feeling was not good.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

The 95th floor was a relatively small floor for Dungeon sizes. Shinnichi can walk from one side to the other in no time. And there are only a few turns, and overall it is quite easy to explore if one has lighting.  However, a pink blob continuously covered his path.  It was a little annoying, but it could be overcome with two or one Mana Bullets from Dominators.

He's been here for two hours. However, there were no signs of life. He began to think that the blob had eaten all the monsters that were here. But, if that was the case, he was astonished. Why did the blob live until now?

Well, her curiosity is now fulfilled.

“What the heck..” Shinnichi stared at the Dungeon wall before him.. Half curious, half surprised. There was a large bulge on its surface. It is oval in shape, like an egg shell.

A moment later, the bulge cracked. Take out a brown figure. A land rat monster that he had seen before. It fell like it had just been born. As a baby, his face was really hard to see. Instead of his absent eyes, a large red nose shaped like a star became his main sense. He groped the ground beneath him, his first instinct as a living being.

Shinnichi's stomach was a little churned. However, he held it. He activated a skill that he had not used for a long time:[Appraisal].

『Species : Moguramon

Level 1: 1

Stats

Agi 102

Atk 152

Int : 9

Vits :178

Skill

[Digging Proficiency] [Acute Sensory] [Claw Spin lvl.1]]』

Seeing Moguramon's status, Shinnichi somehow felt a little envious. A newborn monster had a higher status than him back then. The world is unfair.

Dor's! Shinnichi shot the monster dead. “Basic Cheater.”

“.... He's a Great Dungeon monster know?”

“No comment.”

Shinnichi continued his journey. He now knows how the blob is still alive. It was fed by the Dungeon. A good lifestyle for a monster.

“I have to raise my level,” muttered Shinnichi. Determined to continue to be strong. Killing monsters is a quick way, Shinnichi prepares the Dominator. Ready to quell all sorts of monsters that appeared before him.

❂❂❂❂❂❂

“Hei, Black. I'm bored,” Shinnichi said moments later. “Tell me about your sister.”

“Maybe, but why my brother?” Schwarz asked, somewhat astonished.

“Well, he's a Dungeon Master. There is a chance that I will have to fight him to leave this Dungeon right?”

“I think you're right.” Schwarz accepts Shinnichi's explanation. He paused a little to think. “But, I don't think big brother will fight you. He thought that his fights were just aimless conflicts.”

“Oh, really? He sounds like a smart guy. Who likes to read books" said Shinnichi. Begins to be interested.

“Like? He loves her.” Schwarz chuckled. “The floor is a library. It was filled with books from every corner of Zelfria. My brother is a man who always thirsts for knowledge.”

“Really?” Shinnichi's eyes sparkled.

Books are her favorite thing. As with his time in the kingdom, if he were not with the Princess, he would almost certainly be in the library. Unfortunately, the collection of books in Schwarz's room could not be read. The book is written in an ancient language that has been forgotten. Even Schwarz himself did not know how to read it. So, he hopes Schwarz's brother Gram has a book he can read.

“After I thought, Big Brother was also created by Veil-sama, Goddess of Knowledge, so it is not too surprising that he likes to gather knowledge.”

Shinnichi heard something strange. Goddess Veil? Who'sis that?

“Hei Schwarz's. What maksu-!?”

Before he could finish his words, Shinnichi felt something darting towards him. He jumped to the side. On-time.

Cssst! A hiss emerged from where he was standing just a moment ago. Dark green slime. Acid, coming from the front.

“Start attacking huh?” Shinnichi clicked his tongue. “Licik also you, damn.”

Shinnichi directed Dominator forward. He started shooting Mana Bullets. This time with greater force, resulting in a recoil effect. Dominator's thumping sound filled the hall followed by the sound of flesh being torn apart.

“----!!!?” The strange voice shouted back. This time over “actif”. A huge pink blob shot out toward him, a sort of disgusting projectile filled with mucus.

Shinnichi slashed it in half with the Abyssal Mist. A wet sound arose as the two pieces touched the ground however, it was not the end.

The two clumps are moving. Forming something strange. A kind of creature with hands and legs that has no head.

“”Crua!””

The two creatures lunged towards Shinnichi. However, with one swing, they were cut into two. They fell to the ground. But again they move. Returning to take the form of a headless little monster. The four monsters are now after him.

“They can split themselves!?” Shinnichi. He should have noticed it when he split the lump in half.

“Strike the parent! Don't let him produce more monsters!” Schwarz gave the order.

Shinnichi nodded. He changed the shape of the Abyssal Mist. From sword to nutmeg flower. He cannot use a sharp weapon.

Unaccustomed to it, Shinnichi swung it with a bit of an amateur. He smashed into the bodies of the four little monsters. Throw them into the darkness behind him. Whether he lives or not is none of his business.

Shinnichi stomped on the ground, running towards the landlady. Avoiding acid shots that are constantly eyeing it. Occasionally hitting a pink blob fired at him was like a disgusting game of baseball.

The light? Shinnichi narrowed his eyes, looking at the glimmer of light that gave the vision. Shortly after, Shinnichi arrived. In front of him, a large room was illuminated by magic crystals. There, he saw it.

Pink blobs filled the room. Wiggling and twitching with evocative movements. Each movement secretes acidic mucus, looks and smells. Dozens of carcasses just lying in the middle. Half undigested, some even out of shape. A foul scent spread in the air. Like a disgusting hell room.

A room made of meat. That was the simplest explanation Shinnichi could give. Leaving behind details that can upset even the strongest person's stomach.

“---!!!”

The room realizes Shinnichi's arrival. It shriveled and gathered into a giant blob that filled half the room. Turned into a jerky blob. A monster squeezing the stomach. Shinnichi did not want to see her but, he could not take his eyes off the enemy.

Shinnichi activated [Appraisal].

『Species : Blob Trapper

Level 98

Stats

Agi 313

Atk 561

Int : 11

Vits :709

Skill

[Acid Slime lvl.9] [Shapeshift lvl.3] [Duplication lvl.7]

Title

[Floor 95 Boss] [Great Trapper] [Repulsive Creature]』

“Floor boss!” shinnichi.

As the name implies, the floor boss is a monster that rules over a floor. Act as a test for adventurers who want to advance to the next level. His stat and level were at a different level from him. Monsters among monsters.

Shinnichi swallowed his saliva. At least he was lucky, his form-changing ability level was still low. He could not imagine what this monster could do if its level was higher.

“Shinnichi, prepare yourself!” The warning from Schwarz gave him vigilance. He grabbed something from the bag before dropping it. The fight has just begun.

After a while, that monster, the Blob Trapper finished changing shape. A large body that resembled a headless humanoid. Wide mouth with rows of sharp teeth located in the middle of his chest. A pair of tentacles acting as his hands, complete with a hook at the end. And despite having no eyes, Shinnichi could feel the monster staring at him.

“GRUUAA!!” The monster roared from “mouth”. Blow the acid mucus at him. Shinnichi dodged to the side easily. He could hear the sour hissop on the wall behind him.

A FYUSH! The monster swung its tentacle pair. Shinnichi jumped to avoid it. Turn his hands into Dominators. He fired his bullet towards the monster.

“GRRUUAAA!!” In that gigantic form, his defense became even higher. Dominator's bullets became useless at this point.

Blob Trapper ran towards Shinnichi. Lifting both of its tentacles upwards to make it look bigger. Using it like a whip, he continued to attack Shinnichi.

“Ugh!” Shinnichi was hit by one of his lashes. The monster's hook slashed Shinnichi's flesh. Tearing it apart was as easy as a knife cutting tofu. Pain attacked his left shoulder. Blood flowed from his wound, Shinnichi covered his wound.

“GRUAA!” The monster did not stop. He swung his whip back. Stabbed Shinnichi right in his chest.

“Sia-Bugh!” Shinnichi slammed into the back. His body landed on a pile of bones. Not the most comfortable place after being hit by a mound. He could feel some bones stabbing his back.

Blob Trapper didn't want to give his prey a chance. From his mouth, he began to spit out the disgusting green slime of tuda. Once hit, even the bones can't last long.

Shinnichi realized this. He gritted his teeth and forced his body to rise and run. While avoiding the mucus, he reached into the inside of his shirt and took out another necklace, a blue crystal. Draining the Mana into it, water started flowing from the crystal. The water of Emphiria.

Quickly, he swallowed it. And in an instant, the wound he sustained healed instantly. The healing ability of Emphirai crystals is truly amazing. Shinnichi was always surprised whenever he drank that fresh water.

There's no time to relax. Shinnichi stops, facing Blop Trapper. Feeling that his acidic abilities were not very effective, he again sent his tentacle whip. Shinnichi did not dodge, instead, using his right hand, “Hup!” he caught the tentacle. Not expecting it, Blop Trapper sent the other tentacle. Shinnichi catches her with his left hand, more painful than the first, but he manages to catch her.

Playing a tug-of-war game using his tentacles, Shinnichi grasps both tentacles. With all his might, he pulled it. Almost made Blob Trapper lose his balance.

Infuriated, he roared, “GROAAA!!” then pull Shinnichi towards him.

Shinnichi smiled briefly, expecting this. Using that momentum, he shot towards the Blob Trapper with a speed that the eyes could barely follow. He was destroying the Abyssal Mist.

He bent his body and revolved in the air. With the Abyssal Mist unsheathed, it resembled a bladed sphere. Then, he could feel it. The Abyssal Mist cut through his pink flesh. He gave strength to his right hand. Swinging that sword to split the Blob Trapper.

It worked! Shinnichi landed behind him. The body of the Blob Trapper was cut into two, but not apart. Shinnichi was not worried. Hanging on his waist, there was a pair of Methanasian purple fruits.

Shinnichi took the two fruits and threw them into the middle of the open body of the Blob Trapper. Blob Trapper didn't notice. He regenerates his body and faces Shinnichi. Prepare to continue the attack.

However, before it could take even a step.

BUUMS! An explosion shook the room. Coming from within the body of the Blob Trapper, the explosion blasted the monster into pieces. The high temperature of the explosion coupled with the flammable slime, was able to prevent the monster from regenerating.

“Bos 95th floor, Blob Trapper, defeated.”

Shinnichi leaned against the wall. He was breathing heavily, almost falling exhausted. A smile of victory was painted on his face.