It took us barely ten minutes from the point where we entered the dungeon and we already managed to slay over 100 Murlocs. I could see everyone's levels already reaching five and... Eh!?

"Level 5 already!? How? Isn't that too fast even for 100 Level 1 and 2 Murlocs? We are sixty people in this party..."

[Master, remember the notification?](Mia)

"Which one of them..."

[The one about the synergy between the World Tree and the elves. It said that the benefits doubled.](Mia)

"So, you think that means..."

[The experience income has been doubled as well!](Mia)

"It annoys me a great deal since it feels like this was preset to happen exactly as so..."

[What do you mean master?](Mia)

"If the true game only just begun and up until just recently the 'game' we played was under the influence and supervision of a certain useless game God, it means that he planned for me to get the World Tree as an automatic reward since I am the only one that can use Manual Mode. Not only that, but since I was given the Elves as well as a second reward as well... It is too coincidental! It seems that I played right into the hands of that bastard…"

Everyone threw suspicious looks our way seeing the shushed conversation occurring between Mia and me. In the end, I could only grit my teeth and move forward with the wiping of the Murlocs to vent my frustration. I decided on sashimi and fish rolls!

Seeing another wave of even more than their previous numbers advancing in our direction, I couldn't help but ask...

"What the fuck!?"

[Michael, aren’t they way more than the previous times we've attacked this first floor?](Alexandra)

"Thank you love, I can see that as well... What the hell is going on?"

After cleaning them up once more through the use of arrows and magic skills, this time it still reached melee, while our group was advancing through a sea of fish corpses. It felt like a fish market from the smell.

But we didn’t really have time to admire or salivate at the thought of the fresh fish and that was because we were staring wide-eyed at the close to three hundred monsters led by the Boss of the floor our way.

[I think that is the final wave, master!](Decarbia)

"Why do you sound so happy!? They are more than previous and our people should be tired by...now. Huh?"

Looking at my party that did not show signs of exhaustion at all, I could not help but tilt my head in confusion. We have been at it continuously for over half an hour and I wanted to boost our levels, sure, however not at the cost of our lives later on.

"???"

[Everyone leveled up and the fatigue does go away when that happens...](Claudia)

"It does!?"

[It does!](Claudia)

The other also nodded like it was the most obvious thing in the world. What’s up with that!? Why are they looking at me like I am the one lacking common sense!? This stupid Orc-Elves!!!

[Master, I think I can start using stronger spells!](Alexandra)

[Same here, but only enhanced versions of the basic skills...](Decarbia)

"You have enough mana? Actually, you should! You leveled up after all! Status Page!"

Opening my own and looking at the amount of mana that passed 500 points a while back, I could not help but smirk. Even if my level was still only nine, I should already be able to use that.

"Pandemonium, activate! Hehehe! Fire storm!"

Pandemonium successfully activated!

The spell Fire storm has been recreated!

MP used: 500 points

Watching the all too familiar scene where mobs were engulfed by a deadly sea of flames, I could not help but get strangely excited as well. It was back! My OP-ness was back!

With multiple windows showing the absurd damage dealt to the Murlocs, my experience finally bust through the roof and hit level 10, actually stopping at 48% of 12. The Elf Lord Job also appeared imposingly. There still weren't any traces of Khrone's 'gift', but I couldn't exactly be bothered with it right now.

After all, now that not only myself, but Alexandra and Decarbia broke through level 10 and got their Jobs back (Alexandra already had hers by the way, since level 1... such a cheat elf...) it could only mean one thing.

"The floor has been cleared! Everyone let's go out of the dungeon quick!"

With a successful first hunt of the Murlocs and everyone breaking through level 10, we rushed outside where the remaining of our civilization was waiting for a triumphant return. Obviously, they couldn't calm down when they heard that in 40 minutes or so we managed to clear one floor and that our goal was reached with ease, but I couldn't allow this festive mood remain for even a second longer.

"Alright people! Focus and quiet down! We have work to do! Starting from now, we are going to split our groups into three. Leaving aside the initial 60 people there are 140 that have not leveled up yet. Therefore, we are going to split them into three groups of 45+ each and our group into 20 each as well. Alexandra will take one group and keep grinding the water dungeon, Decarbia will take another group and go to the earth dungeon, while I... will take the last with Mia and go to the north dungeon."

[The northern one!? We haven't explored it just yet... Isn't it dangerous to go with so many Level 1 Elves, Michael?](Alexandra)

"Not really... It should be monsters at level 10 max on the first floor, so they do not pose that much of a threat. Plus that I need to determine the attribute of that dungeon."

[Attribute? Why?](Decarbia)

[Master probably wants to know what sort of monsters will attack our camp later on. Given that all four dungeons have an attribute by default, by checking with the northern one he will be able to reach a conclusion.](Mia)

[I see...](Decarbia)

"Also, I am already at level 12 and I can use big AOE skills such as Firestorm at least a couple of times in succession as long as I level up even once. Given the remaining two attributes, the dungeon should be either air or fire. If it is air, there will be flying avian type monsters, while if it will be fire, there should be ground units I can easily drown using Alexandra's Great Flood. By the way, I am still against that name since it feels that someone (Noe) will have some complaints about it..."

[Michael sir! Reporting!](Laurence)

"Hmm? What's up? I told you people to relax and take it easy for a bit while we wait for the refresh of the dungeon. It hasn't even been one minute. There's a limit to your mental energy even if you level up and your body..."

[No, sir! The dungeon was refreshed!](Laurence)

"Was what now!?"

[Refreshed! We can enter the first floor at any moment's notice!](Laurence)

I turned my head and looked at Mia for an answer only to see her shrugging and sighing.

[Maybe it is because of the upgrade of the World Tree?](Mia)

"???"

[Didn't the number of floors on each dungeon increase?](Mia)

"So you're saying that because the number of floors grew, the mana concentration is the same and can refresh the monsters faster?"

[Probably?](Mia)

I placed my head in my hands and took a couple of deep breaths. Winging it, it is!

"Well... it doesn't really matter does it? What we need to do right now is more grinding!"

The groups split and each went their own way, trying to make the most of the time we had left. I reminded everyone that they must return to the camp by the time the countdown reaches one hour left, so we can have everyone relax their nerves slightly and have a proper warm meal.

Listening to the continuous chatter among my group, I realized that most of them were talking about the Jobs received upon hitting Level 10 and what skills they have. Feeling as if I just woke up from a deep and stupid sleep, I meekly asked Mia.

"Uhm, love? Can you show me your Status Page?"

[Hmm? Yes master!](Mia)

Seeing her all smiles, I couldn't help but feel awkward and ashamed that I didn't ask anything about it up to this point. After all, D and Alexandra already told me previously how much she wanted to join us in dungeon diving. Now that, she has the capabilities, of course she would be this happy.

"But, like a moron I couldn't see the forest because of the trees. What is the point of surviving, if everyone would be unhappy? Haaah... it seems that I still have much to learn..."

"I am glad you can come with us from now on Mia." - I honestly said while patting her head

[Mhm! Me too master!](Mia) - she answered with a resplendent smile

Name

Mia Greenwood

Name

Value

Name

Value

Job Name

Level

Progress

Race

Elf

STR

36

Magic

91

Elven Bard

12

48%

Sex

Female

DEX

38

Charm

60

Age

1 day

AGI

39

Luck

50

World

Midgard

END

33

HP

811/811 (+6.82/sec)

INT

108

Free Attribute Points +55

MP

1476/1476(+18.15/sec)

WIS

111

Skill List Name Level Proficiency Beloved by mana (Passive) 1 0% Songs of blessing (Active) 1 0% Will of the Guardian (Passive) 1 0% Blessings Improved Blessing of the World Tree

Bard, huh? This child's desire to help was up to the point where she got a class that plays a secondary role in parties and focuses on buffing the remaining people. How truly fitting for someone as helpful as her…

"But aren't her specs a bit high!? Why I'm I the one left behind again!? Is this a joke? I'm trying my best you know!?" – I asked myself with twitching brows

Resolving myself to wipe the dungeon clear of any monsters I find and vent my frustration on them, while praising the pretty AI for her OP specs, we successfully reached the Northern Dungeon after about 15 minutes’ worth of walk at marching speed.

"Fire or wind, huh? If it's wind, then it's good because we won't have avian type monsters attacking our camp. Given that we do not have aerial defenses except for the archers and mages, we will be put at a horrible disadvantage. On the other hand, if the dungeon is indeed wind though and the monsters attacking are fire attributed... the fight will 100% reach melee and it will become at least 50% more probable for serious injuries or even death to occur. Our walls also, aren't fortified enough to sustain a continuous siege, especially if the enemy uses fire magic against the wood we have posing as fortifications... Fuck! We're in a serious bind in both scenarios..."

[Don't worry master! I can use my songs to make everyone more powerful!](Mia)

"That, I really don't doubt. With you around and Alice, our survivability shot up at least three times higher than it was before. Screw it! If it came to this, we will do what we can! Everyone, let's enter!"

[[[Yes, sir!]]]

Unknowingly, a sigh of relief escaped my lips at the point where I saw the layout of the first floor. A 'forest', although due the rarity of the trees it couldn't exactly be called that, filled with impressively tall and thin ones that even our World Tree loses to. At the top of each, huge round nests could be seen occupying more than half of the entire crown.

Then, almost like sensing our presence as intruders, the nests started shaking and from within, one after another, birds with large wingspan headed our way. I stared at them using my Level 3 Identify.

Name

-

Name

Value

Name

Value

Job Name

Level

Progress

Race

Wind Roc

STR

43

Magic

23

Roc Soldier

10

23%

Sex

Female

DEX

93

Charm

30

Age

50 years

AGI

89

Luck

15

World

Midgard

END

50

HP

1260/1260 (+16.82/sec)

INT

30

MP

530/530(+4.15/sec)

WIS

36

Skill List Name Level Proficiency Wind rider (Passive) ??? ??? Aerial Dive (Active) ??? ??? Blessings Dungeon's Blessing

"What's a Boss level creature doing as a starting mob for the first level!? Wouldn't I find a freaking dragon or something similar if I reach the last floor!?" - I couldn't help but retorting

However, in all honesty, level 10 monsters were good grinding materials for our current predicament. The problem is that I can't use any big AOE skills unless more of them gather. Decarbia's Thunderstorm would be incredibly useful, but the range I can cast it on doesn't even take care of half of the monsters.

"That means that I need to whittle down their numbers then, right? Imaginarium activate! Hehehe! Machine gun!"

Imaginarium realized!

Machine gun V1.0 has been successfully created!

"Now for the finishing touches... Pandemonium activate! Imbue water attributed mana in the weapons!"

Pandemonium activated successfully!

Imbuing of water-attributed mana has been recreated!

MP used: 100!

Warning!

Each bullet will use and additional 5MP!

"Hmm? Was there a setting like that?"

Looking at my current mana pool and the number of enemies though, I couldn't help but think that it's to be expected. Then, grinning and grabbing the two machine guns...

"Say hello to my little fri..."

[MASTER! We'll get sued for that one as well!!!](Mia)

"Well... then... Go croak you feathery bastards!"

[I'd rather be sued than hear that every time as a battle shout...](Mia)

Leaving the truly hard to please lass, I emptied over half of my total mana clearing out the first wave of Wind Rocs that assaulted us. Yes, more than 75% of the bullets I shot didn't hit anything but air, but... it is what it is! Since I can use the fact that each time I level up the HP and MP replenishes, it doesn't actually matter now that I reached 13 easily...

[Master... because you wanted to show off, some of your bullets hit the nests... It seems like all the monsters on this floor are coming our way...](Mia)

"A...and? L...let them come! They will fall like the others!"

[Master... you knees are trembling...](Mia)

Seeing the entire sky of the dungeon bloated by the sight of the birds, I panicked quite a bit and...

"P...Pandemonium activate! Thunderstorm!"

Pandemonium successfully activated!

The spell Thunderstorm has been recreated!

MP used: 750 points!

Using an additional 250MP to further increase and amplify the effect of the lightning and the moisture in the atmosphere!

"Moisture?"

While I was still wondering about the moisture of the atmosphere in a dungeon, thunderclouds gathered above 80% of the entire dungeon, glistening with a black color ominously.

With a loud roar that signaled the start, lightning without any rain blasted the birds into nothing but experience points.

Seeing my unnatural expression, Mia could not help but giggle and explain.

[Due to the water imbued bullets master fired recklessly, the microclimate inside the floor changed to a very humid one. So at the point where master used that skill, it was probably twice as effective in both the covered area and the damage dealt.](Mia)

"Because of the bullets I shot? I only fired them with water because I wanted to weaken them and then use the electricity to deal more damage... what an unexpected bonus! So, all in all..."

"... it went as expected!"

[Master is becoming more and more shameless...](Mia)

"W-Well, the more important question, is why did the flight of stairs for the second level appear already? Just how many did I killed just now?"

[Probably all of them?](Mia)

"Thank you for the brilliant deduction Sherlock... But where's the boss?"

[Wasn't the bigger one among them the boss?](Mia)

"Dunno... they all look like K*C to me..."

[Master...](Mia)

Leaving all jokes aside, it took me 20 minutes to clear this floor. 15 to cross of my list re-enacting one of my all times favorites scenes in Scarf*ce and the remaining five to sniff the scent of roasted chicken meat...

"Isn't this the perfect place for grinding!?"

[I knew you were going to say that master...](Mia)

Judging from the level 16 I reached with ease and the level 11 for the ones supposed to be power-leveled, a vicious cycle of mass murdering the chickens, gathering the loot and exiting the dungeon only to re-enter it 30 seconds later began.

And then, after almost four more hours...

"Looks like we have 1 hour and 15 minutes until the attack... we shouldn't worry the others so let's just leave."

[But master... there's too much loot....](Mia)

"Hmm... true. Let's send D and Alexandra to collect it later when we return to camp. Alright people, grab everything you can and let's go. Leave the meat for the girls with the inventory to handle!"