The third floor was similar in design to the second, only more massive and quite a bit more deadly. The roaming bands of satyrs were now filled with an Elite and at least two rabid satyrs, or a group of four Rabids. They were only the basic enemies on the outskirts of the floor. Further in, the squads grow significantly in power, with multiple elites or dozens of Rabids in one band. It would take quite a bit more skill to work through.

I didn't expect to go through this level without taking a few bruises. Still, I was more than confident to take on all the enemies that would appear on this floor, so I wasn't too worried about this floor's outcome. Plus, I still had all the enchanted gear I bought just sitting in my storage ring, ready to be used.

With those in play, I was sure I would be able to reach even level 10. Nevertheless, I didn't want to rely on that false power until totally necessary. I still believe in the cause of becoming a mighty neutral mage. It would only take a lot of research. Luckily, I had gotten pretty good at that in my past life, so I was sure I would be able to quickly come up with something.

With a little spring in my step, I came across my first opponents of the new level.

A simple group of five Rabids, the second they saw me out in the open, they began sprinting towards me. Deciding to keep the attacks simple, an empowered blade ripped through the legs of the beasts. Causing them to be out for the count. All it took was a mana bolt to rip through their heads to finish the fight.

It was undoubtedly overkill for the enemies that I was facing. I should be focusing on the foundation and my spells being perfect. Yet I couldn't help but enjoy myself a little more when using such basic tactics to fight them off.

It was sorely tempting to use the few elemental spells that I had learned, but reminding myself that they were just a short-term crutch, once I got to a useful knowledge repository, things would be different.

I decided to keep it simpler for the next few encounters, who were also larger Rabbids groups. I had yet to come across an elite, even though they should be pretty commonplace throughout this floor.

There must be someone else on this floor hunting Elites but leaving the standard Satyrs alone. At the same time, it was true that the Elites would drop better gear than the Rabbids. I didn't think they would drop anything special on this floor that wouldn't have a higher chance of getting further down.

I was looking forward to meeting this phantom adventurer. Maybe this might become my first delve with another person. I hadn't expected that till the second year in the academy, where you are expected to delve down to the 15th floor. The end of year assessment was fierce.

If they had the strength to take out the elites and hide from the other roving bands, then maybe they might just be useful after all.

Moving further in would be the only thing to do, time to face the even stronger bands and see just how I stack up.

Not very well, it turned out. It was easy to take out the roving bands. Still, the stronger elites mixed with some of the Rabbid satyrs who had ranged abilities managed to keep my busy long enough for another group to barrel into us.

The reed pipes of the Satyrs were truly dangerous, I didn't want to be hit with one of their hypnotic darts. That would make my day much worse.

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The third-floor movements were a lot more erratic than the second, so there was no map of the beasts' movements.

So running away was the only option.

I slowly kited them while moving further and further back out, managing to take a few out with my attacks.

That, unfortunately, led me on a path with two elites in one group, they were infrequent out this far from the center, so I could only curse my luck.

I had to turn further into the center, allowing the elites to join the small army gathering behind my back.

I had some semblance of a plan and led them towards a useful chokepoint that would slow down the elites.

I was only happy that none of them had used an ability yet, obviously not seeing me as a threat when they were backed up by such a force. If they were to use their ability, Charge, they would be on me in seconds.

I was charging up quite a few spells to retaliate on the move. It would only take a few more seconds to reach the narrower tunnels to the right.

That was when I hit something I couldn't see, losing my concentration as I fell to the ground.

The spells were let loose in any direction. I got lucky that many of the bolts struck the charging beasts. Slowing them down considerably still wouldn't be enough to stop them, however.

Now I would just have to figure out what I had run into.

As I was scrambling up, I saw a flash of blue cloth, but just like that, it was gone.

Quickly employing mana sense, I saw a figure begin to run the opposite way, unseen to my mortal eyes. Looks like I had found the other adventure, and they were far more potent than I had imagined.

An invisibility spell wasn't something I was expecting to see this high in the dungeon. Such a spell was demanding for even full-fledged mages to pull off. Anyone of which would be more than powerful enough to reach the fifteenth floor.

It seemed that the rogue in question was more likely to be using an artifact that allowed him to blend in with his surroundings. That would certainly be a useful item to add to my arsenal.

It would be quite some time before I would have the resources and the practice to make something comparable in any way to the performance of their gear.

Nevertheless, I had greater issues to deal with at the moment. It wouldn't do to be killed so quickly by some simple satyrs, angry as they may be.

Their charge had been halted somewhat with magic, but they soon got over that.

They began to assault me once again. This time they were taking me a little more seriously.

I had to make a quick decision, whether to try chase after the fleeing rogue and possibly lose him forever or face the approaching army in the chokepoint like I had previously planned.

They would be far angrier and more liable to use abilities, which would make them significantly more difficult.

It didn't seem like a choice at all as I got to my feet. Pumping my mana sense to the max, I ran the same way the invisible assailant shot off. My extra senses revealed nothing as I sped up. Not a trace of them existed.

My new plan soon began to fall apart. The satyrs were hot on my trail. Yet, my quarry was nowhere in sight.

Running further and further towards the center of the floor, my heart grew heavy. I didn't want to have to face any more elites, yet there was no other path for quite a distance that would take me further out into the floor and back towards groups that I would be able to deal with.

Shooting more spells backward, I managed to take out a few of the Rabbids, the elites shrugging off those desperate attacks. I would need to pull out all the spells I had managed to learn within the past few days. Multiple earthen walls shot up in many places along the floor and the walls of the dungeon, causing many of the satyrs to falter, tunneling them into one single file line, a prime area for a barrage of mana bolts, the last few hitting with a softer oomph as my mana began to wain. I would have to be careful in the next few minutes as any misstep would put me in a bad situation.

I was loath to use earth magic. Any more earth mana used could affect my core in the long term.

I also didn't want to be left vulnerable with an invisible assailant still somewhere within the dungeon. Every move would have to be calculated with precision. I didn't want to fall back to my trump cards so soon.

It turned out I may not have a choice in the matter as turning a corner, I came across another patrol, this one quite a bit more deadly. Two elites and four Rabbids turned to face me as I came barreling around the corner.

I was going to have to pull out the big guns.