It's been a few days (don't know how many. I lost count at one point) since I was reborn, but things have been going... smoothly, I guess.

I've been staying on the top of the walls all this while. I used small caves as my bed while I wandered around in search of the exit. None of the monsters seem too keen on climbing up the walls, except for some rat-looking monsters that flee the second they lay their eyes on me.

Not that I think I could win against something that lives down here. In places like this, at least in games, the stronger guys would be at the bottom layers, while the weaker guys should be closer to the entrance.

Maybe there's someone weak enough for me to farm EXP on! It's still better than being here with boulders trying to make a snack outta you or snakes stalking you.

While living out my attic life, I've taken a look at the monsters living down below as part of training my Scout-related skills. From what I've gathered, it seems that the "boulders" are a species of tortoises. There are both two-headed and single-headed variants of them.

In addition, some cobra-looking monsters are also patrolling the labyrinth corridors. Some are exceptionally big. Big enough to eat me in one bite. They don't seem like they're related to the black snake that tried to attack me. The reason is that I've seen the cobras preying on the black snakes multiple times already.

Other than that, some random rats and bats are walking around. Oh, and the fish-people that were turned to confetti. They're sometimes walking around, getting killed, then getting killed, then...you get the idea.

Meaning this ecosystem, Dungeon or not, is divided into three groups: the tortoise/cobra group, the fish-people group that seems to antagonize the tortoise/cobra group, and the neutral group of wild monsters. I'd be in the last group, I guess.

SYSTEM MESSAGE:

Skill: [Identification] has reached Lv.10.

You have earned 0.1 Aether Points.

Due to "Champion of Alvatria", an additional 0.1 Aether Points were earned.

Main Class: Scout has reached Lv.10.

You have earned 0.1 Aether Points.

Due to "Champion of Alvatria", an additional 0.1 Aether Points were earned.

Through reaching Lv.10 in the Scout class, you have acquired the skill: [Stamina Lv.1].

Oh? Here I was "Identifying" some stuff while taking my daily trip around the place, and I finally reached Lv.10 with it. Hmm, this constant *ping*-ing is sorta annoying.

I accessed the "system options menu", something that's like the Skill Shop, and had the notification for skill levels be restricted to when they reach Lv.50, its highest possible level.

But with this, I've obtained my 4th skill at Lv.10+. The first one was [Nightvision], for no surprising reason. I even bet it's close to Lv.20 even. Number 2 was [Magic Eye of Sight]. It's surprisingly easy to gain proficiency with, despite its fancy name. It helps that there's lots of mana in the air here. And the third skill was [Lurk]. I've been hiding from all those monsters this whole time. No wonder it got proficiency like a madman.

I can see better now thanks to [Nightvision], it's possible to differentiate the mana-readings seen with the Magic Eye, and I think [Lurk] has become better as well. Not that I wanna test it out.

As for [Identification], I should now be able to see a target's species, levels, name, and stats. But skills and titles aren't possible just yet. Not that I can complain about the current development.

And this new [Stamina] skill, would it increase my SP by 1 point per skill level? Let's look it up in the Kigal-Note...yup. I was right.

It is not a difficult guess anyway.

Look who's back. Finished with that training program you talked about before? Should I get some more skills? Those are fun to train with~.

Rejected. Instead, try to locate the entrance to the 8th floor and try to reach the exit of the Dungeon.

That sounds damn nice and all, but how? I've already tried while you were in sleep mode, but walking on top of the walls is too limited, especially when I'm trying to evade the monsters' attentions.

No problem. A quest has been initiated to assist with the escape.

Quest? Ah, something popped up.

Quest: Investigation of the Unknown Dungeon Quest giver: World System Administration Quest Description:

The hidden Dungeon that refuses to follow the rules of the World System is a potential threat to this world.

Try to investigate the Dungeon and discover a way to allow it to be observed by the World System.

Quest Content: Investigate the Unknown Dungeon. Disable whatever system, power, or whatever it is that prevents the World System from observing this Dungeon. Rewards: TBA

Huh...HUH!? Hey, K-N! Is this your work?

Incorrect. The current location does not follow the specifications of the World System, so this unit continuously tried to call the World System Administrators in an attempt of connecting with them and having them repair this system mistake.

Then this cavern is a huge bug?

Correct. That is the closest comparison to the current situation.

Then leave it to this troubleshooter Garami to fix it!

*rumble, rumble, rumble!*

Whoa!? What's going on!? Who ordered the earthquake!? Hey! That coward K-N retreated to the shadows! You heartless tome!

"SHAAAAA!!!" - ???

And what made that... A snake!? It's gigantic!

From its shape, I'd say it resembles a cobra. It's sorta like the cobras that I've seen down below, just bigger and more regal-looking. It's so big, its head touches the fog-banks in the ceiling! Its scales look more like sapphires than snake scales, and on its head, there is some sort of crown? Horns? It just looks like he has some crown on top of his head.

...hey, why're you making a motion as if you're gonna spit something? And why's there such a big bulge on your throat!? ...take cover!!

*SPLASH!!*

Just as I feared, the "King Cobra" (tentative name) fired something that could be worthy of being called a "dragon breath". It has enough destructive power to be considered one, at the very, VERY least! Even if the breath was of the Water element. The floor down-below got flooded! Like a literal flood! Where's Noah and his ark when you need them?

Ugh..., the flood water's turned red. Did something the King Cobra didn't like try to enter the floor or something? ...then is the exit over where the King Cobra fired the "water breath"?

Incorrect. By observing the high-ranking snake monster's behavior, it is more likely that it was sleeping and did something akin to a sneeze while using a Breath-based skill by accident. The remains in the water are likely from creatures who could not withstand the water pressure.

...a sneeze? Really?

Correct. High-ranking monsters on Terra Sol all have such a high potential destructive power. Please be aware of that from now on. The snake monster here may be below the A-rank monsters, let alone the great 13 Calamities, to name an example.

G-got it... Those Disasters would be even worse...

Correct, yet incorrect.

Huh?

The 12 Ultimate Disasters are a threat to the world, yes, but that is more due to the World System being unable to contain its powers. That does not, however, mean it is because their powers are too great for the System to keep in check.

Meaning..., there may be a trickster or two among the Disasters?

Correct.

...then what about this place? Don't tell me...

Incorrect. The statistical possibility of this Dungeon being related to a Dungeon is incredibly low. However, we can make that excuse to milk more rewards from the quest regarding the investigation of this Dungeon.

...you asked for this quest so that we could get outta here, AND get rewards for it?

Correct. Is there something wrong with that?

None at all!

In that case, please get a move on. The water is preventing most of the monsters from moving, and by going the opposite way of the water flow, we may discover the stairs to the next floor.

That's brilliant! Good job!

It is my job to do a good job. Please hurry before all the water flows into the lower floor.

Yes, yes. Someone's not flinching from compliments...

---

It took a while, but I found it! The entrance to the next floor! Or should I say the previous one?

It's nothing too impressive. Just a hole in the wall that leads upwards. I'm going up! I'm not staying here!

Why am I so desperate? Because I Identified the stats of a black snake similar to the one that chased me up the walls the first day of my life. This is the result:

Name: none | [...] Race: Scavenger Snake Gender: Male Level: 4/25 HP: 59/62 MP: 32/34 SP: 40/51 STR: 67 VIT: 60 MAG: 25 RES: 37 SPD: 61 DEX: 48 INT: 81 LUC: 99 LP: 10

Yeah, I GOT NO CHANCE IN HELL! What's wrong with this power inflation!? I need to get outta here, post-haste!

That incident also let me learn that creatures will notice you if you use [Identification] on them. Luckily for me, the snake was asleep, and I was using [Lurk] myself.

Which is why I'm going up, up, and up! To the eternity, and something else if that's needed!

The tunnels are damn dark. Worse than the 9th floor, not to mention that gloomy lake. Just being here's gonna give [Nightvision] another level or two. Which is fine by me, but I don't wanna encounter any monsters here. Heck, I wouldn't wanna see them in a park in broad daylight!

Another point I may add is that this place has way more dust compared to the floors below. The big cave floor had lots of cracks that leaked water and such, so the humidity may have played a role there. This tunnel doesn't have those sources of water, which is a fresh change of scenery. It doesn't smell like a snake hole either. ...wait. Did I have a nose that I could smell stuff with?

And after a long hike, I've reached the end of the rope. Or the tunnel, if you wanna be figuratively about it.

SYSTEM MESSAGE:

New Location of Interest found: [The Water-Knot of Glavras], Floor 8

Glad I kept that message option on, but maybe I'll turn it off. It's gonna be annoying having these pop up every time I visit a new place.

This floor is much smaller than Floor 9. It's only the size of a gymnasium, and most of the space is occupied by a huge, illuminating crystal in the center of the room. It's so bright that my poor eyes who've adapted to the low illumination on the lower floors hurt.

Other than that, this place's free from any greenery or water sources, meaning there's nothing I can chow down on here. Meaning it's a floor unfit to live on. Guess I should move on.

Or so I planned, but the Kigal-Note jumped out of my shadow on its own again. What now?

Warning: Identification of this crystal is advised.

...it does look sorta weird, but I don't see the big need to know what it is. But if you...write so.

.........hmm? Nothing's happening? Where's the message window with the results?

SYSTEM MESSAGE:

The quest: [Investigation of the Unknown Dungeon] has been completed.

Please wait while the quest rewards are being decided on.

The quest was done? Just like that? This big crystal-thingie is that important to the place?

I followed the message's advice and found a spot where I could hide in case a monster or three decided to take a trip down to the snake caves. I hope they're fast with the paperwork, whoever's taking care of this quest-stuff. I've got no way to keep food on me. Even a backpack's impossible! Not that I have one!

Ah, I'm living on hell-difficulty...