Compared to my earlier growth, this past month has been damn slow.

Yes, I've been working on Skills and Crafting beside Alicia, producing dozens of Forged items including a new shield and breastplate for me, and a full set of armor for the girls.

But despite murdering my way down to Floor 26 and back 30 times, my Level only grew by 2 and my Chi by 1. Pitiful, really.

Without the new Potions my stats would have frozen in place.

Am I hitting a limit here? Or perhaps my enemies are too weak to give enough exp?

Possibly the latter. But I also know my Chi won't be enough to kill that Water Dragon on Floor 27.

Alicia and Lisa have both reached Level 31, which is quite decent, but also not enough. Do we need to wait and farm the Bosses in our reach, like the Goliath, Cerberus and Green Dragon for a year or two?

I mean, if there isn't any other way, I could use some free points and boost my Chi over 50. A bit of a waste, but perhaps also worth it. It would open up the way up to Floor 37, and thus plenty more loot, vials and whatnot.

Hmmm. Not yet, but soon. At least one more Chi point via natural growth. I figured out the basic of Stabilization, which allows me to hold a stance in dubious, physics-defying way, like climbing a wall without hands or standing on one foot while on a floating icesheet in the middle of a raging river.

And then I get to explore the new Skills I got, called Deflection and Sending.

Sending was actually pretty simple, just channel the Chi to send a mental message, like Lisa can. Not much range and garbled words, but I'll get better with practice. I always talk mentally with my wife after all, mostly to annoy the spying Dungeon. But now I can send words to Alicia as well.

Deflection is still at none, because I don't know how it works, or what it does. It should deflect, right?

Yeah, nothing happens.

Healing has reached High instead, because I get injured a lot, and then heal myself with Chi. I can even heal others with Chi, but not fast or efficiently. My Chant heal works 100 times better and faster. Costs me some Mind, which healing with Chi doesn't.

And thus I stepped on Floor 27 for the first time, alone.

Kelpie and Mermen are easy enough to kill. Then a Lamia monster appears, which is more difficult. Still dies to my Chi sword, and my Chi climbs to 47. Excellent!

If you discover this tale on Amazon, be aware that it has been unlawfully taken from Royal Road. Please report it.

I might have been a bit too worried about my growth. So I turn around towards Floor 26 to start again, and a wall of roots locks me in, followed by a loud howl from two Dragon heads. Uh.

Amphisbaena is huge, even if partly submerged under water. I am not ready, my Chi has not reached 50 yet.

Damn it, Dungeon! I am so dead.

Except I can't really die. Fine!

A bitter battle to the death it is.

I am not locked in here with you, stupid Dragon! You're locked in here with me.

And only one of us is immortal.

I store my armor and shield, presenting my naked front to the Dragon, with only an anime collar around my neck.

Mystic snorts at me, as he's probably invulnerable and amused at my situation.

Then the Dragon dives underwater, and becomes 100 times faster and more dangerous. I sigh inward and die, not even seeing what killed me.

Stupid Dungeon.

My head rolls to the shore and regrows into a new naked body.

So I summon my two Black Ghosts, then Lighten myself and jump, close enough to punch a Dragon head in the nose before I die again.

Almost there, Pef!

As durable as Amphisbaena is, it's still softer on the inside.

I dive into the lake while my ghosts maneuver for an oral inspection.

Amphisbaena is only a monster, and dives underwater to chase me. One Black Ghost manages to rip one head from the inside, while the frayed ghost gets chewed and spat out.

No matter. I reform another ghost, and charge again. And this time, I scream just as the Dragon opens its mouth to cast its magic breath.

Like entering a whale, I slid down the Dragon's mouth and ride its throat like a waterslide. My Spirit Weapon slices into the side of the Dragon's neck, slowing me down before I reach the stomach. Getting dissolved in acid would be a nasty death.

Then my ghosts start gouging deeper into the Dragon's flesh, until they reach the exterior and a green cat jumps inside. "Growl!"

"Free food?" I offer in a generous voice.

My cat glares at me and starts eating. This flesh must be quite nutritious, as the cat grows in stats, level and size, while I barely keep up with slicing off edible segments of Dragon flesh.

Much later, the Water Dragon shudders and dies, giving me 3 whole levels and another point in Chi.

Mystic is now level 44, while I am only level 39.

On the other hand, the loot was worth the pain.

A full set of Dragon scales and claws, plus a liver and two vials of blood.

*Amphisbaena's blood. Rare item. Deepens Magic connection.

I stared for a minute at the description, trying to figure out what it meant.

What the hell, game? What is Deep Magic?

How does it work?

Will I grow Elf ears if I drink this?

Mystic purrs and head-butts my elbow, obviously enchanted by the Dragon blood.

One for you and one for me? Really?

You just ate an all-you-can-eat buffet! And are bigger than a bobcat now...

Damn it. I open the vial and let the green bobcat lap the magic blood, curious what might happen.

Meanwhile I open the stats screen.

Pef - Level 39

Title: High Commissioner

Strength: 39

Speed: 39

Mind: 28

Magic: 33

Chi: 48

Endurance: 52

Free points: 34

Class: Cultivator

Job: Dungeoneer

Cultivation rank: Aura-high

Cultivation Skills:

Guiding: medium

Honing: medium

Reinforcement: high

Lightening: medium

Amplification: early

Stabilization: early

Healing: high

Sending: early

Deflection: none

Tamed Beasts: Mystic Carbuncle