Should I use the cheat route? Erik questioned himself as he began walking upward on the steep path leading to the origin of the waterfall.

Jumping directly into the waterfall with some type of barrier magic or physical enhancement magic was a method a few high-ranking adventurers used to commute between the 7th and 15th floors.

Though rumors had it that the same method had been used by many adventurers to end their lives. The cold water was said to numb the body instantly, while the waterfall's rapid pace did the rest of the work.

On the way to the waterfall, a fishman emerged from the water. These fishmen lived in the waterfall and in the huge water pockets in other floors as well.

"A fishman," Erik mumbled as he observed the creature carrying a trident with a brown stick and a green, emerald-like blade. It had a fish-like face but the body of a man. Its light blue skin was covered in dark blue, pointy scales on the lower abdomen and back. Its green eyes looked far from human, appearing as simple green balls or marbles.

Erik spoke the words "Lance" softly, not wanting to attract more fishmen.

A sword made of light projected in the air. Erik raised his right hand and pointed it at the fishman.

The fishman, blinded by the bright light, tried to cover its eyes. With a flick of Erik's wrist, the blade followed its path and pierced the fishman's abdomen completely, leaving it crying in pain.

Erik walked past the fishman, not even bothering to take the crystal from its body.

"Some other adventurers might see it as a treat," he thought to himself.

"I mean, I sure would have liked that when I was a lower-ranking adventurer," he added with a smile.

Erik continued toward the waterfall, where he spotted a group of adventurers sitting on the ground and eating food. They had set up a barrier made of light magic to keep the fishmen, who were highly sensitive to light, at bay.

"Wherever I go, I see food," Erik thought, eyeing the delicious meals they were enjoying with excitement.

Erik walked and stopped in front of the waterfall, admiring its beauty and depth all at once.

“It’s not like this is the first time I’m taking this route,” Erik reassured himself.

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Previously, he and Seras had used this method to travel. The spell Seras had used was called Death Tomb, which essentially separated the inner region from the outer region, creating a perfect cushion. However, she had used an incomplete version of the spell, as the complete one would have killed them.

In Erik’s background, one of the adventurers from the party wore a purple dress paired with a witch-like purple hat over her black hair. She glanced at Erik, noticing how he had been staring at the waterfall for quite some time.

She narrowed her black eyes and turned toward the man sitting beside her.

“Hey, Karus,” she said, grabbing and shaking the hand of the adventurer clad in silver knight-like armor.

“What’s going on, Vanessa?” the male adventurer asked, his curiosity piqued as he glanced at her.

Vanessa raised a trembling hand, pointing toward Erik, who stood motionless near the cascading waterfall.

“He’s been staring at the waterfall for the past two minutes,” she said in a voice laced with fear.

“Shouldn’t we do something?” she added hesitantly, only to be cut off by the party's dwarf, Thrag.

“That’s nothing but a legend,” Thrag scoffed, chuckling at vanessa.“In all my years, I’ve never seen anyone actually use the waterfall the way those old tales say,” he added with a hearty laugh, thumping his chest.

“Probably just lost in thought,” Karus chimed in. “He’s within our barrier, so there’s no danger from monsters. Maybe he’s just taking a break—”

Karus’s words faltered, his eyes widening in shock as Erik’s body began to radiate a bright, otherworldly light.

Erik focused his mana, forming a protective layer of light magic around himself. The translucent membrane shimmered, casting a faint glow and giving him an unobstructed view of his surroundings.

“This should keep me safe during the fall,” he thought, steeling himself. He peered over the edge of the waterfall, his throat dry, a bead of sweat rolling down his cheek.

“I’ll make it. I can slow myself if needed. The water’s deep, and the 15th floor is supposed to be a safe floor—no monsters inside its barrier,” he reassured himself silently.

With a final breath, Erik stepped forward, leaned into the void, and jumped.

The other adventurers, startled, abandoned their meal and rushed to the edge, desperate to see what the adventurer standing in front of them had just done.

Vanessa began to cry in shock. Thrag looked visibly shocked.

“I’ve never seen anything like this before,” he admitted, his voice trembling.

The male adventurer, Karus, appeared confused. “I don’t think he used it as, you know… a suicide spot,” he said with a sense of certainty.

“Just stop it, idiot! We could have saved him!” Vanessa shouted at Karus, sorrow evident on her face.

“His body was engulfed in light,” Karus explained in a serious tone. “It was probably a light spell he used to protect himself from the fall, or maybe for something else.”

He gave a neutral look, staring down the waterfall. “And I don’t think he would’ve used a spell if what he wanted was to, you know…” He left the sentence unfinished, but it was enough for everyone to understand his point.

Vanessa looked down at the waterfall. “Maybe you’re right,” she admitted. “The water might act as a cushion. If someone could slow their pace with air magic or use another spell to take the damage, they could survive.”

“But he’s an idiot,” she added, annoyed. “Scaring us like this! That adventurer should’ve said something if he was going to pull a stunt like that,” she said, her voice bewildered and angry.