Infinite Competitive Dungeon Society

Chapter 27. I Can Hear Your Voice (4)

She did not cry. Even when her country fell to ruin, even when her continent collapsed, even when her sister was dragged away by the Demon Lord, even when the emperor and empress committed suicide.

As the crown princess and the last surviving member of the Empire, she stood tall until the end.

[I"ll come back to reclaim what is mine!]

[My lovely Crown Princess, what a shame it is to have you leave. I will await the day I see you again.]

The Demon Lord whispered to the girl in my embrace with a sly expression, then faced me and said.

[Savior, Hero. For what reason have you arrived at this fallen world?]

[Agh, you have a severe case of eighth-grade syndrome. I"m just here to save my friend.]

[… The reason I will not kill you now is-]

[Because you can"t, idiot. I"m leaving. Next time I see you, the first thing I"ll do is punch you in the face. Return!]

[How arrogant, Human.]

At my shout, my surroundings shone with a brilliant light and a door appeared in midair. I opened the door and stuck my middle finger out at the Demon Lord who was trying to look cool until the end.

[If you don"t like it, why don"t you come over to my world!?]

"… Again."

It was another unpleasant morning. Was it because I only said I"d go easy and really didn"t?

My entire body felt out of sorts and I had a splitting headache. I sat down cross-legged on my bed and initiated Peruta Circuit. Whenever my body felt out of balance, Peruta told me to use the Peruta Circuit to rebalance it.

Mana, which circulated with my body as the center, was extremely intense, but at the same time, extremely pure and dynamic in movement. Once I began to circulate it, it moved mostly by itself.

Circulating the mana inside of me and accepting the outside mana, I spit out the impurities that had acc.u.mulated inside of me.

[Kyaa, cool prince!]
[The mana is so bright. I"m being sucked in~]
[Someone hold him!]

I knocked on my ear a few times and stretched. Today was the weekend, so I headed to the dungeon right after breakfast. It was the day I would challenge the Dark Ratman with just two people. My partner was none other than Shina.

"Are you sure? You left your party members behind. Plus, it"s dangerous."

"It"s fine. We"re only making small progress on the 17th floor. Plus, all the party members are busy today."

Shina answered as if she had it prepared beforehand. On one hand, she held a round shield, and a longsword on the other. As expected of a party leader, her equipment looked good.

She would be my tank for today. She was stable and had the sense to dodge the Dark Ratman"s skill. She was the best choice for a partner.

"To be honest, I"m slightly worried, but I know I"ll be fine with you, oppa!"

"Yep. Like I said, you just have to delay the Dark Ratman for a little."

"Got it. Take good care of me!"

Exchanging messages with her from time to time, we became close enough for her to call me oppa. She was usually mature, but she also knew how to spoil herself and act affectionately. She was overall a very likable girl. Though, of course, she wasn"t a match for my Yua!

With the boss fight in front of us, she put on her Lightning Resistant Robe. I had my Wraith Queen Set on as well.

Although Orc Lord"s Warcry was a fantastic skill, even if I could ignore the Dark Ratman"s attack, just a single dark lightning would kill me. As such, it wasn"t particularly useful in the 15th Floor Master fight.

Wraith Queen Set"s Vengeful Spirit"s Wail had the effect of inflicting confusion and fear on surrounding enemies. With it, I could take care of all the ratmen minions while the Dark Ratman was stupefied.

Thus, whenever I fought the Dark Ratman, I took off the Orc Lord Set I liked and wore the Wraith Queen Set which I still felt awkward in. I also couldn"t help but shiver at the lightness of this armor set.

However, Shina seemed to be paying attention to another side of the Wraith Queen Set.

"Wow, you look so cool, oppa."

"M-Mm?"

"Huhu, it goes well with your handsome face. Like royalty."

"R-Royalty… you"re flattering me too much."

With how much I was being called Crown Prince, it would be bad if I confused myself for an actual royalty. With a bitter smile, I held up the Orc Lord"s Glaive.

"Alright, you can flatter me after the fight."

"Got it! Let"s go!"

We stood side by side and kicked the door open. Inside, there were 40 ratmen and the Dark Ratman. It was the same as always.

I shouted at the top of my lungs.

"COME FIGHT ME!"

[You used the skill "Provoke"! You gained the attention of nearby enemies!]

"Kigik!"
"Kugagak! Kill him!"
"Human male!"

From above, it would give anyone watching the unpleasant feeling of a bunch of rats running. While I gripped my spear tightly and prepared to use Heroic Strike, I yelled toward Shina.

"Take care of the Dark Ratman!"

"Yes!"

The Dark Ratman was among the ratmen running toward me, and Shina rushed toward it to take the aggro. Sure enough, the Dark Ratman changed target, swiping at her with its claws.

For some strange reason, the ratmen had low defense compared to their high attack. Their mental defense was even weaker. It was clear to see by how they were so easily provoked by a low-rank skill. Modifying the trajectory of my spear as I went, I included as many ratmen as possible in my attack.

"Heroic Strike!"

Clad in white light, my spear thrust forward and slaughtered about a dozen ratmen in its path. I then wrapped mana around the spear and began to pierce the other ratmen"s throats.

"Kueek!"
"Human!"

"Haaap!"

I continually used Provoke, making sure none of them went toward Shina. By piercing the ratmen"s throats one by one, I made sure that they were dead.

"Kyak! It"s using its skill!"

"Vengeful Spirit"s Wail!"

[Kiyaaaaaa!]

Although I wanted to save it since I could only use it once a day, Shina had already been hit by the lightning. She would be able to dodge the follow up attacks if she dodged the initial lightning, but she had no choice but to die if she was. .h.i.t. Not unless I used Vengeful Spirit"s Wail.

[You used Vengeful Spirit"s Wail! All enemies have become confused! All enemies have become feared!]

"Kigigik! Human, too many humans!"
"Scary, dark scary!"

The surroundings had become chaotic. Some of the ratmen began to fight each other, while others fell and trembled in fear. The Dark Ratman had also canceled his skill and was fighting the nearby ratmen with reddened eyes.

"We don"t have much time. Deal as much damage as you can!" I shouted as I took care of several Ratmen with Tempest. Shina seemed to have recovered from the paralysis thanks to the Lightning Resistant Robe, as she gasped for air and concentrated mana on her sword. Her mana was the same color as her eyes.

"Take this! Hornet Pierce!"

"Kueeek!"

While Shina was attacking the confused Dark Ratman, I continued to take care of the ratmen minions. With them fighting by themselves or trembling in fear, they were completely defenseless. When I killed the last ratmen, the effect of Vengeful Spirit"s Wail wore off, and the Dark Ratman once again used his skill.

"Kigigik, I will cook you until you"re charred black!"

"I think you mean burn, idiot!"

[Dark Ratman uses Dark Thunder Explosion!]

It was here! The moment black lightning began to explode out from his body, Shina and I jumped back. Alright, we dodged it!

"Kugagaga!"

The Dark Ratman continuously shot out lighting in madness. Of course, we weren"t just watching from the side. I drank a Mana Potion and prepared my Heroic Strike, while Shina drank a Health Potion.

"Whew, this is hard. You"ve always been fighting like this?"

"Yeah, well… It"s coming!"

"Kugagagak! Humans!"

"Eat this!"

Seeing the Dark Ratman charge toward us the moment his skill ended, I threw my spear forward. When I felt the condensed energy on the spear, I felt an unprecedented feeling of satisfaction. At the same time, I had a feeling that my spear would hit exactly where I aimed it.

[Critical Hit!]

"Kugagagak!"

The Orc Lord"s Glaive completely pierced the Dark Ratman"s chest, coming out of his back and nailing him to the wall. Blood spurted out from the Dark Ratman"s chest as he collapsed on the ground. He was either dead or was on the verge of dying.

"A-Amazing. To pierce through a Floor Master"s defense. Ah…"

"Shina! Hurry up!"

"Ah! Yes!"

Shina and I both charged toward the Dark Ratman. Although he twitched its body, unwilling to die, Shina"s and my attack easily finished him off.

"Haaap! Die!"
"Eit!"

"K-Kiiii!"

Hearing the last bloodcurdling shriek of his dying breath, Shina and I high-fived. We had succeeded.

"Oh."

I finished consuming Thunder Crystals to their limit much earlier than I antic.i.p.ated. It was also unexpected that it would increase my magic by 5. As I was checking my status with satisfaction, Shina, who obtained the Dark Ratman"s Leather Boots, looked at me with an apologetic expression.

"Is it really okay, oppa? I hear the Leather Boots are a rare part."

"I already have it. I only need two more to complete my set."

"A-Amazing."

One of them would come from hunting the Dark Ratman alone, so I really only had one more to go. Once I had that one piece… I would solo the Dark Ratman. I still wasn"t confident, but I had no choice.

"Good luck, oppa! Although I"m not sure what you"re doing, I know oppa can do anything!"

"Haha, are you trying to cheer me up? Thanks."

"Call me if you ever need me again. I will always be available!"

"Alright, see you again later."

I said my goodbye to Shina who was acting cutesy with sparkling eyes.

"Alright, I"ll obtain the last piece of the Dark Ratman Set by the end of the day. Then, I"ll challenge him solo tomorrow." I murmured, trying to ease my anxiety.

Chapter 28. I Can Hear Your Voice (5)

The sky was dyed black. Under the artificial sky where not even a stream of light shone through, the dungeon, having swallowed all challengers, opened its mouth as if to seek more prey. From it, the screams of the dead and the smell of blood were still leaking out.

[Son, are you ready?]

Holding a spear over 3 meters long, he looked back at me. He was a veteran Hero, a Hero of the human race. Not just him, but all those who gathered to clear the dungeon were the same.

[Yes.]

Answering him lightly, I checked my equipment before entering the dungeon. An armor made from five-colored metal, a strange gauntlet emanating otherworldly aura, and plate boots that wouldn"t melt even in lava. Finally, in my hand, a spear of pure white that rejected all darkness.

Finally.

[Sharana, Ruyue, Peika, Dortu.]

[I"m ready!]
[What? Let"s just go in already. I"m ready to rampage.]
[Let"s get this boring dungeon over with! Then we can go play.]
[I"m Dortu. I will follow Master"s command.]

With them by my side, I would not be afraid no matter who I was up against. I gave the girls a big smile, and they also smiled back. I could do this. I was filled with confidence.

I raised the pure white spear in my hand and pointed it at the entrance to the dungeon.

[We’re going in!]

I woke up. I calmly raised my hand. It was my hand, the one I had seen for 19 years. I then touched my body. It was the same, wearing the same shirt I always wore as pajamas.

"Huu… Huu…"

I felt like vomiting from a splitting headache. How many times had I now seen dreams like this? I could remember at least three… five… twenty…

I could not remember the faces of people that appeared in my dreams, but I vaguely remembered our conversations or the scenery. Were the dreams from my future? No, it could be from a ruined…

[Prince-nim!]
[Ce-le-bri-ty-!]
[He smells nice.]
[Kyaa! He looked this way!]

By the slightly open windowsill, I saw the air swirling. A few ma.s.ses of blue light were frolicking about. They must be the owners of the voices I"d been hearing recently and trying to ignore. These small and rowdy existences held incomprehensible powers. Elementals.

I became certain at this moment. I had awakened.

Spirit Mastery and Deific Manifestation. Was it really coincidence that I learned these two skills? I remained doubtful. At first, I thought Deific Manifestation was a skill that would allow me to learn a mana cultivation method, and I thought Spirit Mastery would only make Deific Manifestation stronger.

Now that I had awoken to my ability, these two skills had entirely different purposes. Was this by someone"s design? If so, who was this someone? Was it the one who created the dungeon? Would that existence even be a person?

Things I had never thought about flooded my mind. However…

Clap!

"Alright"

As I rubbed my swollen cheeks, I returned to reality. Even if I tried to remember, I couldn"t remember what I couldn"t remember. I just had to do the things within my power. Then what were they?

It was to form a contract.

"There are many elementals on Earth, but I can"t just go around searching for my partner."

I realized from hearing the voices of many elementals in the past few days. Earth was full of elementals. Though, I did not know whether they were always there, or whether they appeared after Two Moon.

I slowly recalled my ability. Elementalist. If I were to call it something, that would be it. I could feel elementals, see them, and use their powers by forming contracts with them.

Contracts.

The language for it was already prepared. Almost as if I had known it my entire life, it was ingrained into my mind. Although I felt unfamiliar with myself, I soon became numb to the feeling. I had to acknowledge what I had to acknowledge. However, I was curious as to whether all Awakened experienced the same feeling.

Of course, just because I could hear the voices of elementals and form contracts with them, it did not mean I could form a contract with any random elemental. An Elementalist could only see and form contracts with elementals on the same wavelength as the Elementalist"s soul.

As the quality of the Elementalist"s soul increased, he would be able to see more elementals. However, I was still a rookie Elementalist who had not formed a contract with a single elemental. The first thing I had to do was to find an elemental on the same wavelength as me.

How could I go about doing that? I, of course, couldn"t travel the world searching for the right elemental. That was why the contract circle existed. It was something ingrained into my mind when I awakened as an Elementalist. It was a magic circle that connected me to the elemental whose wavelength matched mine.

First, I pushed my bed to the side, then began to draw the magic circle on the ground. I bit down on my finger, tracing the outer perimeter of the circle with blood. Then, I engraved the inside of the circle with symbols that popped up in my head. At the same time, I imbued my mana into the symbols, giving them power.

[Look! It"s a contract circle!]
[Really?]
[It"s an Elementalist!]
[I"ve never seen one in this world before.]
[I want him to contract me! Then, I"ll ask him to embrace me snugly.]
[Dream on, weakling.]

The nearby elementals seemed to have noticed what I was doing as they made circles around me. However, I ignored them completely. Although I could hear their voices, I could not clearly see their forms. It meant their wavelengths did not match mine.

I used over three hours to draw the circle. Of course, I had my door locked. I did not want to be disturbed. It was Sunday, so I did not have to worry about much.

After I finished drawing the circle, I imbued my mana into it to check that it worked properly. There was no problem.

I got down on one knee and chanted as I placed my left hand on the contract circle.

"I, Kang Shin, request the world"s help. Draw a connection between me and the one who will become my friend and strength. Let us come together like we were in the beginning of the world."

Ooong.

As soon as I finished, the contract circle began to vibrate, radiating light. It not only sucked in my own mana, but it began to absorb the mana in the atmosphere.

[Kyaa, run! We"re being sucked in!]
[As I expected, he"s a-ma-zing-!]
[It"s the birth of an Elementalist!]
[You stupid elementals! I said run!]

Even as the elementals near me ran away in a hurry, the contract circle sucked in more and more mana. This continued for a while before it began to calm down. Then, after radiating out with a final burst of light, it calmed down completely. At the same time, I confirmed that a connection had been made between me and someone beyond the contract circle.

I whispered softly.

"Can you hear me?"

[Who… are you? This strong and familiar feeling of lightning…]

I consumed Thunder Crystals to the limit. Since my affinity to lightning increased, it was obvious that I would be connected to a lightning elemental. I continued.

"I"m Kang Shin. Who are you?"

[I am a lightning elemental, Peika. I"ve been sleeping in a place where no one could find me.]

"I found you. I want you to become my strength."

[I am the same. I also want you who holds the power of lightning. I want the outside world.]

"Then form a contract with me."

[Okay.]

In the next moment, the contract circle let out a resplendent light. It was so bright that I could not help but close my eyes. When I opened them, an adorable girl, whose height did not seem to reach 20cm, was floating above the contract circle. She wore a delicate black silk dress and silk gloves, and had straight black hairs that curled at the ends.

She had snow-white skin, eyes that shone with n.o.ble gold, and appearance like a porcelain doll. It was a shame. If she were human, she would have been a girl of incomparable beauty.

She closed the folding fan in her hand with a thwack, then pointed it toward me.

[I"m here to form a contract.]

"My name is Kang Shin. In exchange for my mana, I wish to form a master-servant contract with you."

[My name is Peika. Until the day I perish, I solemnly swear my loyalty to thee.]

In that instant, the connection between me and Peika transformed to an inseparable bond. An indescribable pleasure swept through my body. At the same time, I heard messages that I could only see in the dungeon.

[You formed a contract with the lightning elemental Peika! Your affinity with the lightning element greatly increases!]

[You obtained the cla.s.s, "Elementalist!" Successful 1st cla.s.s advancement increases your magic and charm by 10.]

[You obtained the active skill, "Spirit Aura." By infusing a weapon with one"s elemental, you can increase the weapon"s strength. The strength increase depends on your mana and your affinity with the elemental.]

[You obtained the pa.s.sive skill, "Elemental Contract." As the skill levels increase, the number and quality of elementals you can form contracts with also increases. At the same time, it has a positive effect on already contracted elementals. Summoning elementals and maintaining them increases skill proficiency. Currently available number of contracts: 1]

[You obtained the cla.s.s pa.s.sive skill, "Elemental Control." You can further control your contracted elemental. You can temporarily call upon ownerless elementals in nature in exchange for your mana. As the skill level increases, you can use less mana to more strongly control more elementals. Commanding and communicating with elementals increases skill proficiency.]

[List of Contracted Elementals
1. Peika - lightning elemental. Unique elemental. Locked. Locked. Unawakened.]

[Low-rank Spirit Mastery becomes level 4! Your affinity to all souls and spirits increase, allowing you to wield even stronger power.]

"Huu."

I finally obtained a cla.s.s. Although I had lingering attachment to the Spearman cla.s.s, it was easy to see that Elementalist was a much rarer cla.s.s. No, setting aside the matter of its rarity, I knew I could not be anything else but an Elementalist. I was certain that it was coded within my soul"s essence. Was this what awakening was? Was this what becoming an ability user was? I did not know how the dungeon managed to find out and turn my ability into skills, but at this moment, I was too enraptured to care.

Elemental Contract. It allowed me to feel an existence completely different than my own, and the feeling of being able to control it allowed me to experience a drug-like ecstasy. I felt her powerful existence, and even as it scared me, I smiled. Peika floated up and came right in front me. Then, using the hand not holding the folding fan, she touched my left eye.

[I will engrave the contract symbol in Master"s eye. It"s going to hurt a bit, Master.]

"Kuk."

It was a pain like stabbing one"s eyes with a needle. However, the pain only lasted for an instant. When I picked up a mirror to check my eye, I was startled. The center of my iris was radiating with a golden light.

[You won"t notice it unless you look closely.]

Peika grinned and spoke. I could see the symbol of our contract on her as well. A black dragon symbol was tattooed on her cheek.

"What"s that, a dragon?"

[It"s the creature closest to the essence of Master"s soul. That"s what a contract symbol is.]

"I see… Well, it"s nice to meet you, Peika."

[Nice to meet you too, Master. I don"t know why, but Master has a very nostalgic scent. It"s very fragrant, I like it. I hope Master can continue summoning me.]

"Yeah, that"s what I plan on doing."

If I summon an elemental and maintain the summoning, I would increase my proficiency in Elemental Contract, Spirit Mastery, and Elemental Control. This applied not only inside the dungeon, but also outside in the real world.

Although my mana would be drained continuously, that was an issue I could easily solve by periodically initiating Peruta Circuit. Peika made a happy smile and sat on my shoulder.

I put my bed back in place so that the contract circle was covered, then stepped out of my room.

The world looked different. It was full of elementals.