part1 · 069-ep69

Episode 69: Floor 31 — The Water Area

At the bottom of the stairs down to floor 31, Ren stopped in his tracks.

"...This is..."

What spread out before him was a sight unlike anything he'd seen until now.

A giant lake. Beyond it, a river winding on like a canal. Water stretched across the whole floor.

Though where Ren stood, solid ground still remained.

"A water floor, huh."

Ren looked around. The water's surface was still.

But—

"...Things are out there."

《Presence Detection》 reacted. Several presences were closing in from within the water.

Ren drew his sword.

The next instant—

—Splash!

a monster burst out of the water.

"Appraisal."

《Name: Aqualizard》

《Type: Monster》

《Status: Good》

《Danger Level: Medium》

《Strength: Medium》

《Defense: Medium》

《Agility: High》

《Magic: Medium》

《Attacks: Bites, water shots》

《Weakness: Lightning attribute》

"A water-attribute monster."

The Aqualizard opened its mouth. Magic gathered around it.

"...So this is it."

Ren used 《Magic Perception》. The magic gathered, taking shape.

And—

—Splash!

A mass of water came flying at him. Ren dodged sideways.

The water shot slammed into the ground with a loud crash.

"It's making water out of magic..."

Ren observed the monster. The flow of its magic. Where it gathered the magic. The order it shaped things in.

He felt the same quality of magic as the water-attribute magic crystal he'd gotten on floor 30.

"...It really is water-attribute magic."

The Aqualizard fired off another water shot. Dodging, Ren kept tracking the flow of its magic.

Again and again and again, he watched the monster move.

"...I see."

Ren extended his right hand and gathered magic.

Nothing like fire magic. Instead of forcing a shape, he built a flow.

He pictured it. Water. Flow. Shape.

"...Can I do this?"

Magic gathered in his palm.

But—

nothing happened.

"...Not yet?"

Ren watched the monster. Another water shot came flying.

He dodged, then tried again.

Gather magic. Let it flow. Give it shape.

Failure. Try again. Over and over.

Little by little, the feel of water-attribute magic started to come to him.

"...This might be it."

Ren focused everything on his palm. Magic gathered.

And—

—Plop.

A single drop of water fell.

"...!"

He'd done it. Just one drop. But there was no mistaking it — it was water.

"I did it..."

In surprise, Ren looked at his own palm.

But it wasn't over yet.

The Aqualizard came at him again.

"This time...!"

Ren focused on the flow of water. Gathered magic. Gave it shape.

And—

《Survival Adaptation activated.》

Heat rose from deep within him. The flow of magic grew sharper still.

Water-attribute magic — its nature was being carved into his body as instinct.

The next moment—

《Skill 《Water Magic》 acquired.》

"...!"

Ren's eyes went wide.

"《Water Magic》..."

His first magic outside of fire.

Ren gathered magic in his palm.

"Water Magic."

And—

—Fwish.

A small sphere of water formed above his palm.

"...I did it."

The water sphere floated there, slow and small.

But it was water he had created by his own will, no doubt about it.

"Completely different from fire."

Ren watched the sphere. Fire blazed upward. Water changed shape. Even handling them was different.

"Gotta practice more."

Ren dismissed the sphere, then turned to the Aqualizard before him.

"First things first — take this thing down."

He readied his sword.

He'd only just learned Water Magic. He couldn't fully handle it yet.

Even so—

a new power had been added to Ren's arsenal.

Floor 31. A new floor surrounded by water.

And Ren's way of fighting had widened yet again.