Chapter 42

“That’s it?” I asked.

Tori shrugged. “What did you expect?”

“That it would be harder.”

The skeleton’s skull began to dissolve, as if melting, until it turned into black slime that slowly seeped into the dungeon floor. The same happened to the pile of bones and the monster’s sword, until no trace of it remained.

“If it was going to be hard, I would not take amateurs with me,” Tori replied.

“So you can kill every monster this easily?” I asked. Perhaps it wasn't the most exciting, but safety was more important, so I hoped that she really could.

“Yeah. Skeletons are the weakest here. Demons are faster and can take more hits, but I can kill them too. Wraiths attack by surprise and can do a lot of damage, but they are easy to kill.”

“What happened to its body?” I asked.

“The dungeon is cleaning itself. It happens to every killed monster here.”

I nodded. Neither Zoe nor I leveled up. I didn't expect it to happen after the first killed monster, but I had no idea how much it would actually take to see some progress.

“Will you need to kill a lot of them before we get any level-ups?” I asked Tori, as she should know more about it than I did.

“A few. It’s hard to tell. Different classes need different amounts of experience points to level up, so there’s no standard number before you reach the next level.”

“Does it matter who kills the monster? Do you get more points if you land the last blow?”

“No, it splits between all of us equally.”

So it didn't make sense for me to try and kill monsters. Even if I would prefer to be at the front and fight myself, it was better to just stand back and watch Tori in action, as I had no experience fighting with a spear, and it was better to practice first on something that didn't want to kill me.

We headed through the labyrinth in front of us. Every wall was a black smooth surface, every turn looked the same, but Tori led us through the winding corridors with confidence, as if she knew exactly where she was going.

It didn't take much time, just a few minutes, before Azura growled, and Tori signaled that there was another skeleton in front of us. This one looked almost the same as the previous one but was missing its whole left arm and wielded an axe rather than a sword.

Tori rushed at it and ended the fight just seconds after it started. She dodged its attack and, with one slash, separated the monster’s head from its body.

The skull, bones, and axe dissolved into black slime that was absorbed by the ground, leaving nothing behind.

“Shouldn't we get loot from it?” I asked.

“Chances are low because the monsters are weak.”

“Maybe we should look for something stronger?” I suggested. Not only would we have better chances for items, but we would gain more experience points.

“We could go to a lower level, but I won’t take you there when you have no idea how to use your weapons,” Tori said. “I wouldn’t be able to guarantee your safety at all, and I don’t want to have your deaths on my conscience. You wanted to gain levels? You’ll gain them here, and the risk is really minimal.”

Patience — that was what we needed right now. It would be nice to gain levels faster and start earning more, but for now, it was better to wait. Wait until we leveled up, until I learned how to fight with a weapon, and until Mari joined us.

She already had some dungeon experience, which should help us a lot. Hopefully, she would still be at the inn when we returned and would be in a better mood to talk.

“It was just a suggestion. You’re the one with dungeon experience, and if you think it’s too risky down there, we stay here,” I said.

We moved down the corridor again, waiting for the next enemy. Tori effortlessly killed three more skeletons before a notification finally appeared before my eyes.

[Level up!]
[Demon: Zoe Drazantis]
[Class: Succubus (Level 3)]
[Stat Points Gained: 1]
[Unlocked new skill: Succubus’ Touch (Level 1)]

I didn't even have a chance to close this announcement before something brushed my forearm.

A pleasant shiver suddenly went through my body, spreading from my forearm to my member, which twitched in my pants as I gasped softly.

Zoe, who stood next to me, grinned while still brushing her finger on my forearm.

[Succubus’ Touch Level 1 (Active) — A gentle caress from the user stirs pleasant sensations in the target’s body, sending tingles that heighten arousal. The effect is subtle but noticeable, making the target more susceptible to further seduction or distraction.]

“We will test this skill when we get back from the dungeon,” I said, looking at Zoe. “I have better ideas where we could test it than my forearm,” I added, imagining how it would feel if she touched my cock directly.

Zoe grinned widely, her tail flicking quickly behind her. “I’m looking forward to it, Master. I’m starting to like exploring dungeons.”

“Level up?” Tori asked.

“For Zoe,” I replied.

“She must’ve already gained experience some other way earlier,” Tori said.

“Oh, she’s been gaining experience all the time,” I answered. “Satisfying all my needs,” I added with a grin. She’d reached level two back in her cave, and since then, we’d been having sex constantly, so she was probably close to leveling up before we came to the dungeon.

We continued moving through the dungeon, and after another dozen minutes or so, Tori again heard a skeleton moving in the distance. Just like before, she led us toward it, charged at it, and easily cut off its head while I stayed back, admiring her graceful body as she moved with confidence and agility.

Earlier, I’d been hoping I might get to see her transform into a tiger and fight in her beast form, but it seemed that with how easily she was cutting down these monsters, she didn’t plan on transforming at all.

The monster’s body melted away, but this time, one of its bones remained. I stared at it for a moment, but nothing happened.

“Is that loot?” I asked, stepping closer along with Tori, who nudged the bone with her boot, shaking off the last of the slime clinging to it.

“Yeah,” Tori replied. “It’s not worth much, but it’s still better than getting one of those rusty weapons they carry. I can probably sell it for two ryns.”

“Why would anyone want this?” Zoe asked.

“They grind it up and use it for alchemy,” Tori answered. “And before you ask — no, I have no idea what exactly they use it for.”

Tori picked up the bone and tucked it into the backpack on my back before we continued walking through the dungeon. It was more than ten minutes before Tori heard something again.

“Demon,” she said. “Be careful, they’re fast,” she added, picking up her pace down the corridor.

The demon that rushed out from around one of the bends was maybe a meter tall, barely reaching above Azura’s head while she was in her wolf form. It ran toward us on short but muscular legs. Its whole body was well-built, with dark purple skin stretched over defined muscles and a chiseled six-pack visible on its bare torso.

It had long, protruding, pointed ears and a wide jaw filled with rows of sharp teeth, grinning maniacally as it approached. Two long horns curved inward from its head, ending in sharp tips.

Around its waist was a tattered green loincloth, leaving its upper body exposed. In its hand, it gripped a short spear tipped with three sharp blades, a weapon in much better condition than the ones the skeletons had been using.

When they were close enough, the demon thrust the spear upward, aiming for Tori’s chest. She deflected the attack mid-run with her sword, then lunged into the demon, raising her knee to slam it hard into its face.

Tori landed gracefully on her feet as the demon crashed backward to the ground, but it immediately rolled and sprang back up, standing ready to fight again.

Tori lunged forward, aiming for its head. The demon blocked her sword, catching the blade between the prongs of its trident. It tried to twist its weapon, but Tori instantly pulled her sword back and thrust it forward again.

The demon couldn’t block in time, and her sword drove deep into its exposed chest, high up near its throat.

When Tori pulled the blade free, it was covered in dark purple, nearly black blood that began to pour from the demon’s wound. The demon made one last attempt to strike, swinging its trident from the side, but Tori kicked the weapon’s shaft, stopping the attack. Then she raised her sword and brought it down from above, between the demon's horns, driving the blade straight into its skull. A sickening crack echoed through the dungeon corridor.

Tori kicked the demon in the chest as she yanked her sword free. The creature’s body collapsed to the ground, almost immediately beginning to dissolve into thick, black slime.

[Level up!]
[Class: Sex Mage (Level 5)]
[Stat Points Gained: 1]
[Unlocked new skill: Seductive Scent (Level 1)]
[Unlocked new skill: Custom Fit (Level 1)]

“I leveled up,” I said.

“What skill did you get?” Zoe asked immediately, her voice excited as she hopped over to stand in front of me.

[Seductive Scent Level 1 (Passive) — The Sex Mage naturally exudes a pleasant, enticing aroma. This fragrance affects the senses, increasing the mage’s attractiveness and making it easier to flirt, seduce, or charm others.]

“I got two,” I explained. “The first one is passive, and it makes me smell better.” I wasn’t entirely convinced about its usefulness, but after all, my Sex Mage class was meant to help me seduce women, and this could probably contribute in some way. Still, I would’ve preferred an active skill with a more specific effect.

Zoe pressed up against me, burying her face against my chest and sniffing loudly.

“Hmm…” Zoe murmured. “I don’t smell a big difference,” she said. “Well, maybe it’s a little better,” she added, sniffing me again and scrunching her cute little nose.

Something nudged my leg, and I looked down to see Azura sniffing at my knee.

I laughed and glanced at Tori. “Want to test it too?”

“I’ll pass,” Tori replied.

“And the second skill?” Zoe asked, still hugging me.

[Custom Fit Level 1 (Active) — The Sex Mage can temporarily slightly adjust the size of his member.]

This time, at least, it was an active skill that fit perfectly with my Sex Mage class. Maybe that was exactly what I should expect from this class — skills meant to help me seduce and satisfy women. In the end, that was what I wanted. But unfortunately, nothing in life was ever that simple, and between seducing and fucking women, I still had to find a way to survive.

“That’ll be a surprise for tonight,” I said, kissing Zoe.

“Let’s keep moving,” Tori cut in almost immediately. We followed her down the maze’s corridor as I allocated the stat point I’d gained from leveling up into Strength. I wasn’t sure how long we had already spent in the dungeon. Most of the time, we simply walked in silence while Tori listened carefully for monsters.

The next four monsters were all skeletons, which Tori took down effortlessly. We picked up another small bone from one of them, but no new level-ups.

“Skeleton ahead,” Tori said after a moment of waiting at a crossroads where a corridor opened up to the right. We moved forward, and after a few seconds, a skeleton wielding a rusty sword appeared from around the next bend.

Zoe, Azura, and I stood behind Tori, waiting for her to deal with yet another monster.

Azura’s growl made me frown, glancing at her — but before I could ask anything, a sudden piercing screech erupted all around us, so loud and inhuman that my ears instantly ached from the pain.

I turned toward where Azura was glaring — at the black wall, from which a figure shot out.

A monstrous silhouette, vaguely resembling a woman but stripped of any humanity. Her black and gray, semi-transparent body flew straight at me. The tattered remnants of a gown floated around her like drifting shreds of mist.

A hollow face, twisted in an eternal, silent scream, stared forward with empty eye sockets. Claws — long, sharp, grotesque — stretched out toward me. In that moment, the air around us seemed to freeze with pure, icy dread.

I thrust my spear forward, aiming at her body, but she shifted in the air so that my blade missed. Instinctively, I raised my shield, blocking the claws of one hand, but with the other, she tried to reach over the shield’s edge, pressing her weight against me.

Thankfully, her long claws missed my face, and I shoved her back with the shield, pushing the monster away. When she tried to come at me again, still letting out that terrifying scream, I didn’t try to thrust — instead, I swung the spear sideways. I didn’t wound her, but when the shaft struck her, I pushed her back, halting her attack.

I focused on the mana inside me, summoning it into this world almost instantly. I hurled the gathered orb straight at the monster. It struck her body and pushed her back further, but it didn’t seem to cause any real harm.

The wraith darted toward me again — but then suddenly stopped as a blade pierced through her body from behind. Her scream cut off abruptly, and when the blade withdrew, her dress and form collapsed to the ground, leaving Zoe standing where she’d struck from behind.

The air around us immediately felt warmer, and at the same moment, notifications appeared before my eyes.

[Level up!]
[Class: Mage (Level 3)]
[Stat Points Gained: 1]
[Unlocked a skill choice.]

“Master!” Zoe shouted, running at me. I hugged her, looking around. Azura was standing behind me, still showing her teeth at the remnants of the monster. And Tori was fighting against a skeleton. Why was it taking her so long? But as I wondered about it, I noticed a pile of bones on the ground behind her that was already dissolving.

Tori dodged the attack of the second skeleton and, with a single thrust, pierced through its spine.

The monster’s body crumbled apart, and Tori turned toward us, scanning the battlefield. She visibly relaxed, lowering her sword when she saw that everything was fine and there were no more monsters.

“Everyone okay?” Tori asked as she approached us, glancing down at the wraith’s remains.

“Yeah,” I answered. Zoe pulled back from my chest, and I gave her a quick kiss. “Good job, sweetheart,” I said softly. Zoe blushed, turning her gaze away.

“This is exactly why I can’t take you to the lower levels,” Tori said. “If the monsters came at us one by one, it’d be fine. But if something like this happens, we’d be in trouble.”

I just nodded, my attention more focused on the unusual notification. I focused on my status screen.

---

Name: Tobias Nerton
Age: 55
Race: Human

Classes:
Sex Mage Level 5
Mage Level 3
Demon Master Level 2

Stats (1 point to assign):
Health: 50/50
Strength: 10
Dexterity: 9
Endurance: 12
Vitality: 11
Charisma: 13
Luck: 4
Arcane Power: 4
Mana: 812/1000

Sex Mage Skills:
Increased Endurance Level 2
Increased Regeneration Level 2
Increased Charm Level 1
Fertility Control Level 1
Achievement System Level 1
Sensitive Observation Level 1
Enchanted Flavor Level 1
Photographic Memory Level 1
Custom Fit Level 1
Seductive Scent Level 1

Mage Skills:
Mana Control Level 1
Mana Detection Level 1
Skill Choice (Level 3) - Choose a skill out of three options.

Demon Master Skills:
Tame a Demon Level 1
Demon’s Status Level 1

Demon Master’s Slaves:
Zoe Drazathis

---

I immediately added a free stat point to Dexterity, and then focused on the new thing in my status. The information showed up in front of my eyes.

[Choose one of three skills.]
[Inspect Level 1 (Active) - Allows you to check basic details of item status.]
[Strength Surge Level 1 (Active) - Temporarily boosts the target's physical Strength by three points.]
[Ranged Weapon Mastery Level 1 (Passive) - Increases proficiency with ranged weapons.]

Going through the list from the bottom, the increased proficiency with ranged weapons would’ve been great — if it applied to melee weapons. I wasn’t convinced about the idea of standing in the back during fights, shooting arrows, especially if Zoe was going to be fighting up front.

The Strength Surge seemed more interesting, though three points wasn’t a lot. At higher levels, I might be able to boost it by more, and I could also use it to strengthen someone like Tori during battle — so it definitely seemed useful.

And then there was Inspect, which I wasn’t sure how practically useful it would be. It wouldn’t help in combat, but it might have important applications in other situations.

I read through everything again, thinking about what to choose, before finally closing the list. I didn’t need to make the decision right then — I decided I’d consult with Gemma first.

“Level up?” Tori asked.

“Yeah. I got the option to choose one of three skills.”

“Oh, I remember!” Zoe suddenly called out, lighting up with excitement and bouncing happily while still clinging to me. “When you have a Mage class, you get to choose skills! Based on those choices, after a few levels, the class evolves into something else.”

“So the class will change into another one?” I asked.

“Yes!”

“And what I pick now will affect what it changes into,” I said, thinking it over. It wasn’t just about picking whatever seemed best right now — I also had to consider what might give me the kind of class I ultimately wanted.

“Exactly,” Zoe confirmed. “What are your options?”

“Item inspection, a temporary Strength boost, and increased proficiency with ranged weapons.”

“Hmm…” Zoe murmured, falling into thought as she kept her arms wrapped around my chest.

“I don’t have to decide right now, so let’s hold off on it for later,” I said.

“Not a bad find,” Tori cut in, picking up a small black stone from the ground — the kind I had seen used in many places.

“What does it do?” I asked.

Tori shrugged with a smile. “For that, we’d need the Inspect skill — which I don’t have. I’ll find out back in town, but it probably just stores mana. That was only a wraith from the first level, so we shouldn’t expect anything too amazing.”

“How much could you get for it, if it stores mana?”

“Depends on its capacity, but probably around eight ryns.”

Not a bad amount — enough to cover an inn stay with food for one person for two or three days. Of course, it wasn’t as great when we’d have to split it among the whole party, but if we could gather a few more of these, we might actually come out ahead.

After packing the stone into the backpack, we continued through the dungeon, leaving behind the corridor where I’d fought my first monster.

As we traveled further, we ran into monsters every ten or fifteen minutes. For the rest of our time in the dungeon, we didn’t encounter any more wraiths. Twice, we came across lone demons, which Tori was able to defeat without much trouble — even if they took her longer to deal with than the skeletons, which made up the bulk of our encounters.

From the skeletons, we managed to pick up two more bones and a rusty sword, though Tori tossed the sword aside, leaving it in the dungeon, saying it was worthless and would only weigh us down.

Eventually, we reached a room where a black platform stood in the center, with a crystal rising up from it — identical to the one we’d used to enter the dungeon, though this wasn’t the same room. The room we’d arrived in at the start had three corridors branching out from it, but here there were only two: the one we’d come from and another one directly opposite the platform.

“This is the checkpoint connecting the first level to the second,” Tori said. “Ahead is the second level. If you leave using this platform, next time you’ll be able to enter the dungeon directly here.”

“We’re done for today,” Tori added. “Let’s head back.”

“Already?” I asked. We’d been down here for a few hours and had gained at least one level in some of our classes, but I thought maybe we’d stay longer to gain a bit more experience.

“I’m starting to get tired, and I have something to take care of back in Ortas,” Tori explained, stepping onto the platform.

“All right,” I replied, stepping onto the platform after her, along with Azura and Zoe.

The dungeon run had been… honestly, pretty boring. Most of the time we were just walking through identical-looking corridors or watching Tori cut down skeletons. Only when the wraith attacked me had anything really happened — but in the end, it was better for things to be boring and safe than exciting and risky.

We’d gained levels and picked up some loot, so overall, the trip had been a success.

Tori placed her hand on the crystal, and a dome formed around us, surrounding us in darkness lit only by the faint glow of the crystal. After a moment, the dome lowered again, and we were back in the guild building, standing on the platform we’d stepped onto several hours earlier when we first entered the dungeon.