John reached the third floor, only to find himself facing fifty goblins. Armed with clubs and axes, their emaciated forms hinted at a dire hunger, one that might drive them to consider John as their next meal. Yet, John remained undeterred. He proclaimed, "This floor seems like the perfect opportunity to test my strength, rather than the power of my fly-rod." With those words, the rod disappeared. Max's voice resonated in John's thoughts, "Are you sure you want to fight such a crowd by hand?" John's reply, though hesitant, was firm, "Not really, but it's essential to test my limits." He ordered, "Max, play some music to set the mood." Suddenly, the dungeon reverberated with the invigorating rhythm of 'Faith' by Limp Bizkit. John, caught up in the moment, sang along with the music until the buzzer rang out.

As John unleashed the opening line of his song of death, he launched into battle. He moved with a fluid grace, dodging a club by a hair's breadth with a deft sidestep. Spinning on his heel, he seized the wrist of an attacker, turning the momentum against them. With each movement, John's rhythm intensified, and with it, the number of foes he dispatched. Not one goblin laid a finger on him. The skirmish was over in two minutes. Unbeknownst to John, his 'little test' had caused quite the stir. To the many who had never experienced the thrill of modern music, he was akin to a rock star brought to life, striding through a horde of goblins like a veritable god of death. His cold green eyes, encircled by a ring of blue, captivated all who saw them. The lyrics of his song, an anthem of self-belief, resonated with every onlooker. The warriors around him felt their blood surge with fervor. John's decision to sheathe his weapon and rely on his own prowess, his song of self-faith, and the elegant display of destruction he orchestrated were sights unprecedented in this world or any other.

Will had just completed the sound transmission after John's second attempt. As the message was sent, a chilling voice, akin to a whisper, responded, "How fast was the second floor?" Will answered truthfully, "One second, the same as the first level." Suddenly, outside the dungeon, dark clouds amassed, obscuring the sun as if night had descended. A dense power permeated the air. Beside Will, a very young-looking girl materialized. He had anticipated her arrival; her presence always gave the impression of summoning a demon. Yet, in this realm where life and death hung in balance, Will accepted his role as an agent of death. Seraphina, a half-vampire with long white hair and silver eyes, clad entirely in black, stood before him. As she manifested, John commenced the third round. Her powerful aura, juxtaposed with John's melodic combat, made it seem to some onlookers as though his performance was a serenade for her.

The instant her gaze fell upon John, she was taken aback by his captivating presence. Emotions, long dormant, began to stir within her; a bewildering sensation she couldn't quite place. As his voice carried words of faith, she wondered if this unfamiliar feeling was tied to her vampiric nature. Could he be one of her kind? She pondered, oblivious to the fact that her reaction was a natural human response to attractiveness. Despite being a woman whose heart had grown cold over time—or so she believed—she found herself drawn to him. While observing the unfolding scene, she confided in Will, "You're right; he's the one I desire." As the fight concluded, she knew she had to return to the 10th floor to prepare. Anya and Alana, having overheard her declaration, were left in contemplation. Once she departed, Anya voiced her uncertainty, "What should we do?" To which Alana resolutely responded, "Train!"

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John was on a high, feeling invincible in his rejuvenated body, a sensation that inflated his ego for the first time in ages. He addressed the dungeon with a casual bravado, reminiscent of conversations with his friend Max. "Hey, dungeon, let's skip the achievements for now. They don't really count until I'm done fighting, right? How about you just throw one boss at me? Let's make a deal." To his astonishment, a female voice echoed through the dungeon, sealing the deal and sending shivers down John's spine. He had been jesting, never expecting the dungeon to respond. Suddenly, a troll materialized before him. "Crap," John muttered, recalling that trolls could regenerate unless burned to prevent their healing. With no magic at his disposal on his first foray into the dungeon, John had to think quickly on his feet.

An idea sparked in John's mind, igniting a burst of laughter. With a flick of his wrist, his fly-rod materialized. "Max, activate augmented reality mode," he commanded. Time slowed to a trickle around John, his eyes shimmering as the blue and green hues swapped. He charged, diving through the trolls' legs, and as he landed, he spun, severing both limbs with a swift cut. John retrieved a tube of fire-starting gel and hastily applied it to the troll's head, which began to howl in agony. With a solemn gesture, he pressed his palms together and bowed to the creature's cries. "May the fire of my passion purify your soul," John declared. As the words left his lips, flames erupted, consuming the troll in a fiery blaze. The battle concluded, and the air filled with the sound of fireworks and triumphant trumpets. New titles appeared: "Wolf in Sheep's Clothing," "Silver Tongue," though their bonuses remained veiled until level 20. Frustration gnawed at John for not knowing his rewards, feeling shortchanged. Unbeknownst to him, the dungeon harbored the same sentiment. "I've been cheated," they both thought simultaneously.

Will was in shock; the dungeon had spoken. This revelation upended all that the academy had known. The pressing questions were how and why the dungeon had responded, especially since John had not engaged in any spirit cultivation. The source of John's ability to conjure fire seemed to be his prayer, his song of faith. Will knew he had to inform Seraphina. Shortly after, a cold voice echoed in Will's mind, tinged with concern. Will pondered the worry in her tone. "He communicated with the dungeon, and it responded," he explained. "Can you recount exactly what happened?" Seraphina pressed. As Will relayed the events, another surprise emerged. "He's on his way to the 10th floor already?" Will confirmed, "Yes, he should be there any moment." Then, as quickly as she had appeared, Seraphina's presence vanished. Will was left to wonder, torn between pity and envy, at John's extraordinary fortune.