part1 · 055-ep55

Episode 55: Growth

Since learning magic manipulation, the way Ren fought had changed.

Before, he'd pushed magic through his whole body. Not anymore.

Into his arms when attacking. Into his legs when stepping in. Magic to the places it was needed, in exactly the amounts needed.

"...This way's easier."

His magic consumption was visibly lower, too. Ren kept on through the fourth floor.

Run into a monster. Fight. Kill. Run into another.

With every fight, Ren grew a little more used to magic manipulation. Partial strengthening he could hold for only an instant at first, he could now sustain for a while.

Combined with body strengthening, he moved faster than ever before.

"If it's like this..."

The next monster pounced. Ren dropped low.

Magic focused into his legs. He stepped in at a burst.

He slipped past the monster's side. Whirling, he thrust out the spear.

The monster fell.

"...Getting pretty good with this."

Ren kept going after that. Killed monster after monster. His movements sharpened with every fight.

Then, a while on, Ren stopped.

"Come to think of it..."

He hadn't checked his own condition in a while.

"Appraisal."

The display appeared before him.

《Name: Kurose Ren》

《Race: Human》

《Level: 7》

《HP: 162/162》

《MP: 160/160》

《Skills》

《《Appraisal Lv.3》》

《《Survival Adaptation》》

《《Infinite Growth》》

《《Body Strengthening Lv.2》》

《《Magic Manipulation Lv.1》》

《《Item Box Lv.1》》

"...Level seven already, huh."

Without noticing, it had climbed quite a way. He'd killed a fair number of monsters since entering the fourth floor.

"HP and MP are both up, too."

He looked over his body. He was clearly stronger than before.

And there were changes in his skills, too.

"Body Strengthening's at level two... Magic Manipulation's still level one, huh."

Magic Manipulation, only just learned, naturally wasn't mastered yet. But fighting as he went, he was getting a feel for it.

"If I use it more, will it go up too?"

Ren dismissed the display. Then looked at the spear in his hand.

"I want to be able to do this one, too."

He flowed magic into the spear. Tried it just like before.

This time—

For just an instant, magic clung to the spear's head.

"...!"

It vanished at once. But this was different from before.

"It worked..."

Only the briefest moment. Even so, he had — truly — flowed magic into his spear.

"A little more practice, and I might be able to use it."

Ren re-gripped his spear. The fourth floor wasn't done with him yet. Push deeper, and stronger monsters had to be waiting.

"Let's go."

Ren set off. Using his newly gained power, pressing on into even deeper places.

The exploration of the fourth floor went on.