Level Eater-Chapter 226

T/N: There are so many skill upgrades in this chapter, I think the author also made some mistakes regarding some skills. I have corrected the few I noticed. Incoming chapters will give us more information. If you find anything strange. Tell me in the comments.

For now, while staying alert, Leah was researching since they suddenly had time where they truly didn't need to do anything.

The others were taking appropriate breaks while honing their skills.

Although they felt deflated being suddenly caught up in this situation, they found something to be happy about.

Actually, in this place, skill level increases and acquisition were unusually fast for some reason.

Thanks to this, even though Tatsuro wasn't a dragon species, his originally known [Mana Purification] went from Lv.4 to 5. [Mana Regeneration] went from Lv.3 to 6.

[Focus] shot up from Lv.4 to 8.

And furthermore, he acquired four new skills on his own: [Rapid Fire Lv.2], [Mana Density Increase Lv.3], [Mana Generation Increase Lv.3], and [Multiple Thinking Lv.1].

These were all skills that had been difficult to learn in other places, perhaps due to poor compatibility with Tatsuro.

First, Rapid Fire is a skill that can instantly release the number of previous attacks or magic equal to its level.

Mana Density Increase is a skill that boosts power by increasing the density of each magic spell.

Mana Generation Increase is a skill that speeds up magic construction.

Lastly, Multiple Thinking is a skill that allows thinking about multiple things at once.

However, this seemed to be a skill that consumed a lot of magic power, so constant activation appeared difficult.

As a side note, he also trained in operating the automatically protecting slime—named Secom-kun by Ai—which was obtained from the treasure vault.

Next, Cardina raised [Dragon Wing Blade] from Lv.5 to 7.

[Dragon Power Recovery Speed Rise] from Lv.7 to 8.

And after raising [Dragon Flight] by herself to [Dragon Flight Lv.10], she learned the title [Dragon Flying Phoenix Dance].

By the way, this title, when using [Flight] or [Dragon Flight] greatly reduces dragon power consumption, greatly reduces stamina consumption, greatly increases flight control ability.

Furthermore, it was something that significantly increased flight ability with a constant speed boost of +200.

She also learned [Dragon Power Quality Increase Lv.2] along the way.

Jeanne raised [Dragon Horn Spear Blade] from Lv.7 to 9, [Dragon Flight] from Lv.4 to 7, [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Increase] from Lv.7 to 8.

And she newly learned [Dragon Tail Flash Lv.5] and [Mana Generation Increase Lv.6].

Nana raised [Levitation] from Lv.6 to 8, [Dragon Absorption] from Lv.6 to 8, [Dragon Flight] from Lv.5 to 8, both [Poison Magic] and [Antidote Magic] from Lv.6 to 8.

[Bite] from Lv.6 to 9, [Scratch] from Lv.2 to 7.

[Rapid Acceleration] from Lv.2 to 4, [Dragon Power Recovery Speed Increase] from Lv.5 to 8.

And she newly learned [Dragon Claw Attack Lv.6], [Dragon Tail Flash Lv.2], and [Magic Density Increase Lv.5].

Leah raised [Smithing] from Lv.6 to 9 by herself, and since it seemed impossible to go higher in this space, she used 153 of her 261 SP to suddenly raise it to [Smithing Lv.12].

As a result, she learned the title [Master of Smithing], which had the effect of increasing strength and magic power by 150 and improving smithing skill control ability.

Furthermore, she learned [focus Lv.8] and the [Status Effect Bestowal] skill which becomes available when the smithing skill is level 8 or higher, successfully raising it to Lv.3 currently.

By the way, this can apply higher effects to items that originally don't have a specific purpose.

Specifically, from the perspective that swords and spears have the purpose of attacking, shields and armor have the purpose of defending, it's difficult to apply high effects to these unless raised to quite high levels.

Furthermore, for weapons, while it's easy to increase strength, it's difficult to increase magic-related stats.

For armor, it's easy to increase durability but difficult to increase magic-related stats.

For staves, while it's easy to increase magic-related stats, it's difficult to increase combat-related stats.

However, for accessories like necklaces and earrings, decent effects can be bestowed even at low levels.

Athena raised [Dragon Path] from Lv.6 to 9, [All or Nothing Strike] from Lv.3 to 5.

[Dragon Power Recovery Speed Increase] from Lv.5 to 8, [Scythe Art] from Lv.3 to 8.

And she raised [Dragon Armor] by herself from Lv.6 to 10, learning the title: Mysterious Transformation.

This allowed her to partially change the attributes of dragon armor and transform it into somewhat desired shapes.

She also newly learned [Dragon Tail Flash Lv.3].

And finally, Ai, who had the most changes, changed as follows:

--------------------------------

Name: Ai Yashiki

Class: Martial King

Level: 52

Spirit/Ki: 7736

Mana: 135

Dragon Power: 910

Strength: 2452

Durability: 2400

Agility: 2203

Magic: 135

Magic Resistance: 135+100

Magic Control: 135

|Acquired Skills|

[Valkyrie], [One Shot Multiple Penetration Lv.3], [Cannon Blade Arrow Stone]

[Martial Arts Lv.12], [Staff Arts Lv.10], [Throwing Lv.10]

[Spear Arts Lv.12], [Sword Arts Lv.12], [Shield Arts Lv.10]

[Whip Arts Lv.9], [Axe Arts Lv.9], [Archery Lv.9]

[Fan Arts Lv.9], [Hammer Arts Lv.9], [Bite Lv.9]

[Scythe Technique Lv.9], [Dragon Tail Flash Lv.9], [Ki regeneration Lv.8]

[Body Strengthening Lv.10], [Focus Lv.2], [Air Walk Lv.5]

[Far Sight Lv.6], [Parry Lv.4], [Crisis Detection Lv.4]

[Trajectory Correction Lv.2], [Charge Thrust Lv.3], [Iaido Slash Lv.3]

[Reflection Lv.2], [Hardness Break Lv.2], [Rapid Acceleration Lv.2]

[Weight Increase Lv.2], [Universal Language Comprehension]

|System Skills|

[Item Box +7]

Skill Points: 201

|Titles|

[Master of Martial Arts], [Master of Staff Arts], [Master of Throwing]

[Master of Spear Arts], [Master of Sword Arts], [Master of Shield Arts]

[The Strong One], [Destroyer], [Perfect Harmony +1]

[Dragon Slayer], [Dragon Eater], [Amazing!]

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"I changed a lot!"

"Yeah. First, your class changed from War Commander to Martial King... I guess it's like upgrading from general to king"

The moment Ai learned [Scythe Technique], her class changed from War Commander to Martial King, and she learned the skill [Cannon Blade Arrow Stone].

"That's a big promotion! If I remember correctly, this [Cannon Blade Arrow Stone] skill strengthens status more based on the variety of weapons equipped, right?"

"Yeah, that's right!"

"Then there's the spear Arts derivative skill [Charge Thrust], sword Arts [Iaido Slash], Fan Arts [Reflection], hammer Arts [Hardness Break], beast Arts [Rapid Acceleration], axe Arts [Weight Increase]... getting all these alone is just incomprehensible."

"And what's left is whip Arts [Visual Illusion] and Scythe Arts [Stealth Camouflage] huh?"

"Those two are supposedly particularly difficult to learn. I'm trying to learn Scythe technique's [Stealth Camouflage] too, but I just can't get it."

"Yeah, I don't even really understand the training method."

[Visual Illusion] is a skill that shows illusions to make whip trajectories appear displaced, and the training method is to develop eyes that can discern the truth.

[Stealth Camouflage] is a skill that makes the scythe appear invisible, and the training method is to become one with nature.

The explanations were somewhat vague, and the specific methods were all rather unclear.

"Still though. Even considering the mysterious space's boost, going up to level 12 while completely ignoring the limit… The effect of the [Valkyrie] skill is really incredible."

"Hehe, and dragon techniques were applied too!"

Leah modified Ai's whip to increase its spirit capacity limit, using dragon materials in the process.

And when Ai infused it with dragon power instead of spirit power, she became able to release the 'Dragon Tail Flash] that was seen during the magic dragon battle.

Then when Jeanne, Nana, and Athena (when in dragon Armor form), who could use tails, imitated it, all three became able to use it.

And including Ai, after four days of everyone else also benefiting from the skill acquisition rate-boosting space and becoming stronger.

Finally, a point to proceed to the next floor appeared in the space where Tatsuro and others were.

And since the skill acquisition rate returned to normal at the same time, Tatsuro and the others jumped in there, deciding there was no need to stay longer.

What they saw after jumping in was the same huge raft as before.

The scenery was the same, with the same beautiful horizon stretching endlessly without a single piece of garbage.

And as usual, the raft moved on its own despite no water flow.

It would be harder to spot any differences.

"...Hasn't anything changed? Is this cutting corners?"

"Ah... well, if the format remains, they'd want to reuse it."

"I wonder if the floors got reset?"

"That would be quite troublesome indeed."

"...No, it seems this counts as the twenty-fourth floor."

While saying this, Leah pointed to the raft floor around the belly area of Jeanne in her [Adult Form], and when everyone's gaze turned there, "24th Floor" was written in small letters.

"When did they slip in such a subtle detail..."

"Hmm~ Then when going from level 7 to level 8, how many floors do we need to go through?"

"When it was level 7, it was from floor twenty-two to twenty-nine, right?"

"Yeah. ...Wait a moment~ Let's see, for level 8 dungeons... found it. Apparently, the boss room door appears somewhere between floors twenty-six and thirty-four. So at worst, it's floor thirty-four."

Tatsuro relayed the information he got from the dungeon book he took out from the [Infinite Item Field].

"We'll be in range in two more floors. Well then, shall we do our best?"

"Yeah, but before that, Tatsuro-san. I'll return this."

"Oh, it's become slimmer than before."

Leah had been borrowing the staff again, but this time the square box that had been attached like a nut was removed, and something like a pencil cap was fitted instead.

"It's still a prototype so I just put it over the existing one, but it should take shape soon. When that happens, I'll try making a completely new staff."

"Yeah, I'm looking forward to it."

Tatsuro is providing all sorts of materials he's obtained for Leah's research.

But he deliberately doesn't ask what kind of things can be made, and like a child waiting for Christmas presents, he looks forward to seeing what can be made with what materials.

Feeling such childlike emotions next to him, Ai thought he was cute and patted Tatsuro's head.

--And that's when it happened.

Ai's Far Sight caught something that looked like a black mist.

"Hey, Tatsuro. I wonder what that mist-like thing appearing over there is?"

"Huh? Where?"

"Straight ahead"

"Hmm?"

With Ai's far-seeing skill having improved from before, she could now see further than Tatsuro and Cardina's search range in open areas without obstacles.

Because of this, Tatsuro and Cardina switched their underwater and surrounding area magical detection from a large spherical shape to a rod shape extending in a straight line from small spheres, allowing them to search further.

"Found it. -- This isn't just mist..."

"Then what is it?"

"It's a collection of small... well, they're probably about 10 centimeters, but around that size of small monsters"

"Ugh. Those are all monsters!?"

If that was true, what Ai could see before her eyes far exceeded a thousand or two thousand in number.

"And they're all fairly strong"

"How strong is 'fairly'?"

"They're still far and seem to have high magic resistance so I can't tell the details, but from their reaction, they all seem to be over level 50"

"A mass of monsters over level 50? That sounds dangerous"

"You mentioned high magic resistance, is it at a level where even you can't take it easy, Tatsuro?"

"At least, it would be difficult to take them down with a half-hearted strike.

It would be safer to annihilate them with high-powered wide-range magic"

However, defeating them doesn't necessarily mean this floor would end.

And because the dungeon level had increased, the enemy's caliber seemed to have increased as well.

So there was also a desire to conserve energy if possible.

But thinking it was better than someone getting hurt, Tatsuro was about to start preparing combination magic with Cardina and the others.

However, Ai stopped him.

"Can I try something? If I can reduce their numbers, we can use smaller-scale magic, right?"

"Sure, but what are you planning to do?"

"Hehe. I was thinking of doing something like this"

Ai transmitted the image in her head to Tatsuro through mental communication.

"Is this without any Ai-enhancement exaggeration?"

"There's absolutely no Ai-chan enhancement included... I think!"

"You're not sure!? Hmm. But if you can really do this, we can go easier on our side too. Give it a try"

"Aye aye!"

So with Tatsuro touching her back from behind, Ai summoned the Dragon's Spirit Beast martial arts skill and began gathering white spirit energy in her right hand and black spirit energy in her left hand.

Then the spirit energy in Ai's right and left fists began taking the form of white and black dragon heads, and the surrounding space began to distort from the sheer amount of energy.

"That's incredible power from just one hand. Normal people couldn't produce even a tenth of that"

"Hehe. It recovers as fast as I use it, so I can still keep going. And I'm not done adding yet!"

Ai pulled back both elbows and activated the normally spear-only skill [Charge Thrust] to continue charging.

As she charged, more energy accumulated in the white and black dragon heads.

And as the raft continued flowing with the water, the black mist composed of small monsters became visible to the naked eye.

"Alright, here I go!"

"Yeah! Get 'em!"

"Yashiki-style Ultimate Technique! Rocket Dragon Puuuunch!!"

While activating [One Shot Multiple Penetration Lv.3], Ai first swung her right fist toward the monster army.

Then four white dragon heads residing in her right fist flew straight in that direction.

Then she swung her left fist while activating [One Shot Multiple Penetration Lv.3] on the black dragon as well, and four black dragon heads flew out.

And when those eight dragon spirit heads plunged into the mist, they tore through and blasted away the monsters that existed in that space, creating holes.

"Not done yet!"

She activated the normal throwing skill [Trajectory Correction Lv.2] and changed the paths of the eight dragon spirit heads to scatter them in eight directions, creating more holes in the mist.

And just as the eight dragon spirit heads were about to exit the mist, she activated trajectory correction a second time, blasting away even more monsters.

As a result of reducing the monster numbers, the mist made up of small monsters visibly thinned.

"Great. Thanks to Ai, they've decreased quite a bit. Let's finish off the rest in one go!"

"Oh!"

"Peewee!"

"Neigh!"

"Indeed!"

"Yes!"

"Let's do it~!"

And so Tatsuro and the others charged toward the monster mist as the raft continued forward.