After all, Igris was already level 13; a few more levels and he would probably unlock a new skill.
Second, advancing with the Shadow Legion was far more efficient than fighting alone.
There were still a hundred floors of the Demon Castle to conquer, so efficiency was paramount.
No matter how strong he was, clearing out so many demons by himself would take a considerable amount of time.
"Third, and most importantly, I need to conserve some strength. These are just mobs; there will definitely be stronger enemies later. If I exhaust my stamina now, I'll be in danger when I encounter a truly powerful foe," Natsuki Subaru thought to himself as he watched the steadily advancing battle line of his Shadow Soldiers.
"However, at this rate of killing, I should be able to level up again soon."
Natsuki Subaru looked at the stream of system notifications for experience points gained on his status panel, calculating silently.
"The goal of one hundred thousand souls seems daunting, but at this rate, it might be much faster than I imagined."
Natsuki Subaru stood at the rear of the battlefield, his gaze calmly observing the situation.
Under the will of their Shadow Monarch, the Shadow Legion operated with the efficiency of a precision killing machine.
Wherever they went, demons fell in swathes like wheat.
Watching the demon army retreat in disarray before his Shadow Soldiers, a confident arc formed on Natsuki Subaru's lips:
"Keep this up and just steamroll our way to the hundredth floor! Let these demons see what true legion warfare is."
After all, the Shadow Soldiers knew no fear. They had no self-awareness and would only faithfully execute their master's orders.
The Shadow Knights in the front rank formed a wall of bronze and iron with their bodies. Even when torn by demonic claws, they stood firm, and new Shadow Soldiers would quickly emerge from the shadows to fill any gaps.
The Shadow Mages maintained a continuous barrage from the rear, black energy orbs raining down on the demon hordes, each explosion claiming the lives of dozens of demons.
Occasionally, a demon would break through the defensive line, only to be immediately dispatched by a Shadow Assassin lurking in the shadows.
"That's it, hold the formation! Don't give them any chance to breathe."
Under Natsuki Subaru's precise command, the Shadow Legion surged forward like a black tide, overwhelming the red sea of demons.
The Shadow Soldiers were tireless and fearless, knowing only to advance, and advance again.
Before long, all the demons in the city had been completely wiped out.
The battlefield was littered with demon corpses, surrounded by漆black Shadow Soldiers standing silently, awaiting their next command.
"So many demon corpses, but it's a shame I can't extract their shadows." Natsuki Subaru looked at the demon-strewn ground, shook his head, and said with a hint of regret, "If I could extract their shadows, I could have added at least several thousand more Shadow Soldiers."
"But, on the other hand, my level has gone up again. I'm already at level 67, and many of the Shadow Soldiers have also been upgraded. Igris has even reached level 14."
"The gains are pretty good…" Natsuki Subaru checked the system's information panel, nodding with satisfaction. His level was rising, and his Shadow Soldiers were getting stronger. At this rate, conquering the Demon Castle was only a matter of time.
Just then, the system's notification sound echoed timely in Natsuki Subaru's mind, breaking his contemplation:
[Notification: Item Acquired: Entry Permit.]
[Description: A pass to enter the second floor of the Demon Castle, usually held by the demon lord of each floor. This is a single-use item. Using it will open a portal to the next floor.]
"I see, so this is how I get to the next floor."
Natsuki Subaru carefully examined the dark red scroll that had suddenly appeared in his hand, a flash of understanding in his eyes.
"It seems that after clearing each floor, you automatically get the qualification to enter the next…" Natsuki Subaru stared at the Entry Permit in his hand, murmuring thoughtfully, "This setup is quite user-friendly. I don't have to waste time looking for hidden mechanisms or solving puzzles. It saves a lot of time."
"However…" Natsuki Subaru's tone then shifted, becoming more cautious.
"This also means that the difficulty of each floor will increase accordingly. The system won't let me clear it too easily, after all."
The easier it is to qualify for the next floor, the more difficult the next challenge will be."
Recalling the few Instant Dungeons he had cleared before and the difficult Job Change Quest he had completed, Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but feel a wave of emotion.
"Every single time, I had to go through hell and back to clear them, sometimes even coming close to death…"
"Thankfully, I always keep an ace up my sleeve. The full status recovery from the daily quest rewards can bring me back to full health in an instant at critical moments."
Natsuki Subaru subconsciously glanced at the unclaimed daily rewards in the system and continued to think, "Although this life-saving skill can only be used once a day, it can often turn the tide of battle at the most crucial moment, snatching victory from the jaws of defeat."
"Speaking of which, the mobs in these dungeons are relatively easy to deal with," Natsuki Subaru analyzed his past combat experiences, "The hardest to fight are the lord-class bosses. Each one has unique special skills and ridiculously thick health bars, just like that troublesome Cerberus I fought before."
At this thought, Natsuki Subaru's expression grew a bit solemn. "This time, the demon on the hundredth floor of the Demon Castle is Demon Baran. Just hearing the name, I know he won't be an easy lord to deal with. A being that can command the entire Demon Castle must have a strength far beyond imagination."
"Well, it's too early to think about that now," Natsuki Subaru shook his head, pushing these stray thoughts aside. "Better to focus on the challenge at hand and proceed to the next floor."
With that, Natsuki Subaru didn't hesitate and immediately used the Entry Permit.
In an instant, a golden ring of light slowly unfolded before him.
"Oh right, the Shadow Legion. Return."
Natsuki Subaru issued the command while thinking to himself: Although the Shadow Soldiers fought brilliantly, maintaining their summoned state continuously consumes mana.
I don't know what level of challenge I'll face next. I need to maintain my peak condition and not waste unnecessary mana.
Instantly, all the Shadow Soldiers receded into Natsuki Subaru's shadow like a tide, including Igris, who also transformed into a black silhouette and silently merged into the darkness.
"Now then, let's see what kind of monsters are waiting for me on the second floor."
Natsuki Subaru checked his own condition, confirmed that his mana consumption was within an acceptable range, took a deep breath, and stepped toward the golden portal.
The process of teleportation was quite wondrous, like passing through a cool curtain of water. The surrounding scenery changed in an instant, giving a pleasant sensation.
When his vision refocused, Natsuki Subaru was already standing in a completely new environment.
"Arrived."
Natsuki Subaru had reached the second floor of the Demon Castle.
The overall environment here was similar to the previous floor, but there were subtle differences upon closer inspection.
The smell of sulfur in the air was thicker and more pungent, causing a slight discomfort when inhaled. The two blood-red suns in the sky seemed larger, and the light they cast was even more eerie and ominous, dyeing everything in a sickly crimson hue.
The surrounding ruined buildings were even more dilapidated, with many surfaces covered in a strange slime. In some places, eerie, ghostly green flames floated, burning silently and emitting unsettling energy fluctuations.
"It seems the deeper I go, the harsher the environment gets. This is the Demon Castle, after all."
Natsuki Subaru cautiously observed his surroundings. He could clearly feel that the demonic aura on this floor was denser and more violent than the last.
"Clearly, the enemies here will be stronger. I'll have to be careful."
"Come forth, my Shadow Legion!"
As he spoke, a thought flashed through Natsuki Subaru's mind.
The next second.
Countless Shadow Soldiers rose from the surging shadows like an awakening black tide, quickly taking form and silently arranging themselves into neat battle formations.
Igris stood at the forefront of the legion, clad in heavy shadow armor and holding a greatsword.
"They're summoned."
Natsuki Subaru carefully sensed the state of the entire legion and could clearly feel that after the fierce battle on the previous floor, the strength of the Shadow Soldiers had generally improved.
This was especially true for Igris. Not only did he seem taller, but the aura he exuded had become deeper and more dangerous, carrying a murderous air forged through bloody battle.
"It seems combat is the best way to level up," Natsuki Subaru looked at the ranks of Shadow Soldiers with satisfaction, thinking, "Not only am I accumulating experience and getting stronger, but the entire Shadow Legion is also constantly growing and evolving through real combat.
At this rate, the overall combat power of the Shadow Legion will become stronger and stronger, and the efficiency of conquering the Demon Castle will also be greatly improved."
Ahead, the figures of new demons began to emerge.
These demons were clearly different from those on the previous floor.
Their bodies were covered in hard bone armor, and they wielded rusty yet still sharp weapons. The red light gleaming in their eyes was even more ferocious and terrifying.
The vast majority of demons had white names floating above their heads, while only a few larger, better-equipped ones had orange names.
"They showed up quick. Looks like I'm a real popular guy around here."
Watching the demons gradually surrounding him, Natsuki Subaru's eyes flashed with fervent battle intent. He flipped his right hand, and the Kasaka's Poison Fang Dagger instantly appeared, its blade glinting with a cold light under the bloody glow.
"It's time for me to get in on the action. Just standing at the back and commanding isn't efficient enough. After all, there are a hundred floors of the Demon Castle to get through. I have to speed up the clearing process."
"All forces, advance!"
At Natsuki Subaru's command, the Shadow Legion once again advanced like a tide.
But this time, there was a new figure at the very front of the Shadow Legion: Natsuki Subaru himself.
His speed was astonishing. With over 400 points in Strength, Natsuki Subaru possessed incredible explosive power, instantly rushing to the front of the demon horde.
Shnk! Shnk!
The Kasaka's Poison Fang Dagger drew a precise arc, directly piercing the throat of a white-named demon.
"However…" Natsuki Subaru's tone then shifted, becoming more cautious,
"Too slow!" Natsuki Subaru snorted coldly, sidestepping another demon's attack and stabbing his dagger through its heart in a backhand motion. "At this speed, you can barely even touch me."
ROAR!!!
At that moment, an orange-named demon leader charged forward roaring, its great axe cleaving through the air with a whistling sound.
Natsuki Subaru didn't dodge or evade. A blue light flashed in his eyes:
"Bloodlust!"
The skill activated instantly, an invisible pressure enveloping dozens of demons in front of him.
The targeted demons' movements became noticeably sluggish, their stats dropping significantly.
Even the attack speed of the orange-named demon slowed by more than half.
Shnk! Shnk! Shnk!
Natsuki Subaru's figure weaved through the demon horde. Every step precisely avoided an attack, and every strike decisively claimed a demon's life.
Even the orange-grade demons, weakened by the Bloodlust skill, couldn't last more than three of his attacks.
Inspired by their Shadow Monarch leading the charge, the Shadow Soldiers fought with even greater ferocity.
Although they couldn't respond with words, they expressed their reaction to the Shadow Monarch's personal participation through sharper attacks and tighter coordination, and the legion's rate of advance clearly quickened.
During the battle, Natsuki Subaru continuously assessed the situation: "Speaking of which, Knight Commander Igris has certainly improved a lot. He's handling these elite-grade demons with ease. The Shadow Knights' defense is solid, but their attack power could still use a boost. The Shadow Mages' firepower is intense, but their mana consumption is a bit fast. I'll have to watch the pacing…"
"That said, the strength of these demons is still far below my own…"
Natsuki Subaru noticed that although the demons on this floor were stronger, there were no lord-class enemies.
"Looks like lord-class monsters aren't on every floor. That's good, I can push forward faster."
Natsuki Subaru moved across the battlefield like a phantom, his fighting style efficient and precise, without a single wasted motion.
With the Advanced Dagger Arts passive skill, every one of his strikes was meticulously calculated to achieve the maximum result with minimal effort.
"Sprint!"
The skill activated instantly, and Natsuki Subaru's speed surged once more, transforming him into a blurry black shadow that zipped across the battlefield.
Wherever he passed, demons fell like harvested wheat, unable to even touch the hem of his clothes.
ROAR!!!
Just then, an orange-grade demon attempted to organize a counterattack. It let out a piercing taunt and quickly gathered a dozen white-named demons into a crude defensive formation.
A cold glint flashed in Natsuki Subaru's eyes. He locked onto the target and charged straight in that direction without hesitation.
"—Bloodlust!"
The skill activated again. An invisible pressure enveloped the group of demons, and their movements became incredibly sluggish, as if they were struggling in a swamp.
"Die!"
Natsuki Subaru moved as if through an unguarded land. The Kasaka's Poison Fang Dagger in his hand became a series of deadly silver flashes, wielded with precision and efficiency.
Wherever the blade passed, demons fell one after another. In the blink of an eye, he had wiped out the entire squad, including the orange-named demon.
A series of system notifications chimed in his mind:
[Notification: EXP +649]
[Notification: EXP +484]
[Notification: EXP +520]
[Notification: EXP +513]
[Notification: Demon Soul +1]
[Notification: Demon Soul +1]
_____
We made it! We hit our goal of 55 supporters on P@tre-... Hehe~
And here's my part of the promise! 5 extra chapters for everyone! Yayyy!
New goals:
🔥 Check out the new story releases! 🔥
🪦 A 25% discount is active on my P... support page!
✅ Unlock a 40-chapter backlog for ALL my series.
✅ Receive exclusive content and regular updates!
Help us reach these goals:
🎯 100 Powerstones = +1 universal bonus chapter
🚀 80 MEMBERS = +5 extra chapters for ALL STORIES!
👻 P - Walnutchan