[Leather greaves]

[Leather boots]

[ You have a complete set of leather armor]

“Hm? What does a full set do?”

[Equipping a full set of armor will confer additional stats and sometimes skill. For leather armor, you will obtain a +10 to your dexterity.]

The armor was light, like it had become part of James’ body. But that was it. James didn’t feel like he suddenly got a superpower or the like. After checking that he had nothing left, he continued into the dark path.

James’ new mana core provided immense power. However, no matter how big of a tank he had, he could still run out of mana. After more than four hours of expelling mana, James finally ran out of it. However, he got something out of it.

[New Skill unlocked: Mana sonar]

“How long should I rest to recover my mana?” James asked as he dropped down and sat on the corner of an empty room. Mana sonar was incredibly inefficient in mana cost. James regretted that he had thrown away the goblin’s core a little bit. A fire would do him better here.

[You would need about 2 hours to recover your mana to full]

James was tired, but he wasn’t sleepy. He merely chewed on some lizard’s meat he had gathered earlier while remembering his past. Being alone in a death game made him reflect on a lot of things.

James was attentive but passive. He remembered when his coworkers had been fired before him, he knew the boss was the one at fault. That boss swindled the company’s money and tried to put the blame on the poor worker, but James didn’t lift a finger for fear that he would be next on the chopping block. The next year, James was the one that was fired.

James now regretted it. He should do something that day. However, the old James would never. He was afraid to be jobless. He didn’t have the courage to do what’s right.

“That boss must have been rich now. It doesn’t matter whether that boss was fired. He would be able to live the rest of his life with that swindled money. I should be more like him…” James thought. However, James couldn’t be so heartless. He realized he was a hypocrite. He turned. A Blind eye to those who needed his help.

[Name: James

Age: 35

Sex: male

Levels: 24

Coins: 270

Stats:

STR: 92 (up 2)

Dex: 88 (up 3)

Magic: 35 (up 3)

Mana: 540 (up 20)

Skills:

* Novice Axe mastery level 1 (Powerstrike, V-slash)

* Beginner Sword mastery level 6 (hurricane)

* Beginner Bow Mastery level 6 (Quickshot)

Magic:

* Mind flay

* Mana sonar

Unique Skill:

* Chimera:

* Goblin stomach (Iron guts) (stomach slot)

* Mana core (Water Spell: ice spear, water manipulation, Magic +60, Mana +1000)(Extra slot)

* Orc’s left arm (STR+10%) (Arm slot)

* Eyes of Mana (mana sense) (Right eye slot)

* Sahuagin’s webbed hands(+10% dexterity in water) (right arm slot)

* Sahuagin’s webbed feet(+10% dexterity in water) (leg slot)

* Sahuagin’s lungs (Underwater breathing) (lung slot)

* Orc’s torso (torso slot)

* Orc’s head (Head slot)

* Shadow snake fang (intermediate life leeching)(mouth slot)(new)

* Jumping Spiders spinneret (Thread creation)(Extra slot 2)

* Lightning Wolf’s fur (physical resistance +5%)(skin slot)

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Equipment:

* Leather armor set +10 dex

* War axe

* Longsword

* Crossbow

* Leather pouch(damaged)

* Waterspout dagger

* Leather bag(damaged)]

James woke up a few moments later and continued his journey. The cave ended up in another pool of lava, with its trademarked winding narrow path in the middle of flaming hell.

Thanks to his new boots, James’ legs no longer felt hot, like they were burning. However, sweat continued to pour out of his furry body, making it feel gross. The fur that he thought had been protecting him on the third floor turned out to be a hindrance.

The path narrowed, and James sighed as he went to another dark cave. Thankfully, this path was straightforward. A red light at the end of the tunnel revealed a clearing full of lava pools again. James walked toward the light, ready for anything.

James already knew that there were other survivors here, however, he didn’t know who they were. He didn’t trust them, He didn’t want to meet with them, and he didn’t care about them.

Fate, however, says otherwise.

Kouki was a boy in his puberty. Games were his livelihood, and thus, when he got invited to a dungeon trial, he accepted it with glee. He quickly carried his survival backpack and marched on to the trial.

The trial was hellish.

Unlike James, who was transferred alone, Kouki was transferred with a group; most of them looked like a group of bandits or yakuza except Kaina. Seeing the supplies Kouki had, they decided to steal them. But Kouki managed to recover it from their corpse after they died an unfortunate death by Goblin Lord.

After killing his first goblin, Kouki received his first status. He was given a unique skill, swordmaster. He then went on a killing spree, not unlike James on the first floor.

Kouki understood that there were very important resources later on the second and third floors. And that is exp points.

Monsters were scarce. They won’t spawn back, and once they are killed, the exp goes to the killer.

On the third floor, they met up with another bunch of survivors; all of them were weak, below level 10. He thought he would have his chance on the third floor, but his levels were stunted at 19. Just as he was about to face the third-floor bosses, the notification said another survivor had cleared it.

That means this survivor went solo and beat the boss by himself, just like him on the second floor. Kouki realized he had lost a massive amount of exp.

The third floor was a floor of lava. Kouki desperately killed Golems by slashing it with his sword skill. After exposing its core, a final stab punched it through. Leveling Kouki to level 20.

Unlike James, who diversified his skills, Kouki put everything into his sword skill. So, his sword mastery was novice level 9. He didn’t save coins for magic.

“System, can we transfer coins between survivors?”

[No. You need a unique skill for that.]

“Kouki! Let me kill a monster, please!”

“Yeah! We want some action, too. We can’t just leave everything to you, boss.”

“Yeah. If you can parry one of its strikes, no… that’s too dangerous. Try to stab it from behind. You might kill it.” Kouki said. He honestly didn’t think they could do it. They were too low-level for that. Kouki was troubled. He couldn’t afford to spare the kill for these low-ranking members, but making Kaina a mage for his party was enticing.

Kouki wanted to go solo, but being a hero was his dream. He wanted to be acknowledged, So he couldn’t let them die.

“But they are scary. Immobilize one for me, Kouki!”

“Nah, impossible. I barely beat them, either. Just look at this cloak of night against that golem. It was burned and full of holes. I think I have some burns on my back, too. Gonna have you rubbed my back with health potion later.”

“Ugh! Kouki is an idiot!!” Kaina whined, She then marched ahead. Her voice echoed through the wide floor dungeon. Kaina pouted. Kouki had been acting like her mother lately, always telling her what to do. She wanted to be free and do as she liked. She knew it was dangerous, but she didn’t want to be useless. So, she went ahead. It was just a few meters. She thought it would be safe. However, as she approached a cave, a monster came out of it.

Leather armor encased its bulky body like seasoned warriors of ancient times. Gauntlets, vambraces, helmets, and even boots and greaves completely covered this monster. He was unlike any monster Kouki had ever seen. A mismatched arm stretched from his shoulder. One was obviously bigger, while the other hand was smaller. One has to wonder why it has such mismatched arms and legs.

However, Kouki’s heart leaped when he realized that the monster had a two-handed longsword on his bigger left arm and a war axe on his smaller right arm. Kouki instinctively knew that this monster was strong. It probably was the boss of this dungeon.

“WATCH OUT!” Kouki leaped as he drew his sword. He didn’t think Kaina would make it. The monster was too close, and he had his weapon at the ready. Kaina was only level one. Any monster here could kill her. The memory of losing many of his comrades on the second floor haunted him. Kaina was no warrior; she was just a normal high schooler girl. Kouki was supposed to protect her. Will he fail again? Such thoughts haunted him.

Fortunately, the monster seemed as surprised as he was. Kouki immediately launched into the offensive. The monster turned his gaze to Kouki, and in a split-second decision, he knew Kouki was the biggest threat.

“Sharp thrust!” Kouki shouted. He didn’t need to say a skill name to activate it. However, saying it helped him focus. While others might mock him for being stupid, his unique skill, sword master, could change the posture and the sword skill he used as long as the number of hits didn’t change.

As usual, Kouki began with a lunge. The monster responded in kind, his left hand lowered, signaling for a sword skill [hurricane.] Kouki understood that a skill clash was about to happen.

Skill clashes rarely happened on the lower floor. However, Kouki had experienced it when facing Sahuagin on the third floor. In that instance, Kouki understood that the monster before him had known about skill clashes.

A thunderous explosion rang out as shockwaves spread out from the clash. Of course, Kouki was flown back. James had outleveled him. Moreover, James had used his orc’s arm for the skill clash.

James expected Kouki to fall to the ground after the skill clash. However, he didn’t. James suddenly remembered how he was pushed back and forth underwater. He thought this man who attacked him had also grown accustomed to skill clashes and could keep his balance even when he lost a skill clash.

Another golden glow grew from Kouki’s sword. “Avalanche!” he screamed as he made another lunge. James responded with his new skill, [V-slash]. Two meteors clashed,

“You are finished!” Kouki grinned. [Avalanche] was a two-strike hit. Moreover, since Kouki knew he would lose in power, he angled his sword upward.

The axe and the sword clashed; as Kouki had expected, the axe slid his sword upwards. The two combatants passed on each other. Cold sweat poured out of James’ furry skin as he realized this was a double strike.

Please make it! I have to be faster! James thought as his axe drew a v line after it slid upward, approaching Kouki’s neck.

He has a two hit skill too? Kouki heard his heart leap as the axe drew a v-line toward his neck. Time seemed to stand still, and Kouki realized the monster had the upper hand. If he wanted to stay alive, he had to risk another skill clash.

The golden glow that was aimed at James’ body was forcefully turned, and the axe was met head-on. The golden glow fizzled but was still active. The posture was barely safe to continue. However, it was not enough. After another flash of exchange that seemed to last for an eternity, another explosion and shock wave rang, sending Kouki flying.

That was fuckin dangerous. James thought. He let his instinct take over and chased after the boy. James couldn’t let the boy live. If he did, the boy would surely kill him. James knew he had almost lost that exchange. The only thing that made that skill clash his win and not mutual death was the boy had less guts than him.

The boy barreled down on the floor. His body was thrown and bounced like a ragdoll.

“Kouki!!” Kaina, who was pushed aside earlier, together with the three stooges (one had died on the third floor), screamed.

James leaped. His axe skill, [powerstrike], was ready. Kouki saw his life flash before his eyes as the golden axe came barreling down on him.

Instinctively, Kouki shielded himself with his sword.

Bad move! James snickered. This is a lava zone, not an aquarium, like on the third floor. As long as James could push him back toward the lava, he would win.

The golden meteor clashed with Kouki’s black sword with another deafening clash. Kouki’s legs buckled under the pressure. James’ axe was too strong, and he was flown away. The clash reminded James of the first skill clash he had with an orc boss on the first floor.

James smirked as he saw Kouki fly toward the lava.

“Kouki!!!”