"The experience gain isn't bad." During a brief lull in the fighting, Natsuki Subaru quickly glanced at the System's notification. "At this rate, I should be able to level up again by the time I clear this floor."
And just like that, with Natsuki Subaru personally leading the charge, the Shadow Legion's advance was more than twice as fast as it had been on the previous floor. The demons fell back in disarray, completely unable to mount an effective resistance.
White-level demons were no match for him, often falling in a single encounter. Even orange-level demons couldn't last more than a few exchanges, quickly crumbling under the fierce assault of Natsuki Subaru and the Shadow Legion.
"No matter how many enemies come, my Shadow Legion will crush them all." Natsuki Subaru said with confidence, Kasaka's Venom Fang in his hand once again precisely claiming the life of another demon.
"I'll conquer it floor by floor, until I reach the one-hundredth and obtain all the materials needed to craft the Holy Water of Life!"
Natsuki Subaru's gaze was firm and resolute, already prepared for a long-term battle. After all, the goal of one hundred thousand souls couldn't be achieved overnight, but he was confident that with his and the Shadow Legion's efficiency, this objective would eventually be met.
The battle raged for about a few more minutes, and more than half of the demons on the second floor had already been cleared. Natsuki Subaru's experience bar had jumped up another notch, and the levels of Igris and the other Shadow Soldiers had also risen. In short, under the personal command of their Shadow Monarch, the Shadow Legion advanced with unstoppable momentum. Wherever they passed, demons were turned into experience points and soul fragments. The conquest of the second floor was proceeding at a speed that exceeded all expectations.
Before long, every demon on the second floor was annihilated. Their corpses lay strewn across the ground, dark purple blood slowly seeping out to form viscous pools on the floor. The air was thick with the heavy stench of blood and the characteristic sulfurous smell of magic beasts.
"All taken care of!" Natsuki Subaru stood in the center of the ravaged battlefield, his foot on the still-twitching corpse of a demon. A dark-red, ancient scroll materialized in his hand—the permit for the next floor.
"I thought I might run into some troublesome boss, but it turns out the average strength of the demons on this floor is only between level 30 and 40."
Natsuki Subaru flicked his wrist, shaking the blood from his blade as he mused to himself, "If this trend continues, the first twenty floors will likely have a similar difficulty design, increasing incrementally…"
"If I extrapolate from this pattern, the enemies on the hundredth floor… their strength will probably approach or even exceed level 100. By then, every battle will likely be a life-or-death struggle."
Natsuki Subaru's eyes narrowed slightly. A sense of gravity rose in his heart, yet it was mixed with a hint of eager excitement. "As I go higher, not only will the demons' strength increase, but their numbers will also grow exponentially. However, as long as I can precisely kill the powerful demon guarding the permit on each floor, the pace of my advance won't be too slow."
"Of course, that being said, this Demon Castle is structured like a hundred-story tower. Unexpected challenges could appear on any floor."
Natsuki Subaru looked up at the transfer gate leading to the next level, his eyes flashing with a determined light. "I really wonder, when I finally reach the top, what heights will my power… have reached?"
After clearing the second floor, Natsuki Subaru stepped over the field of demon corpses and entered the golden transfer gate to the third floor. After a dizzying spatial shift, he arrived in a completely different environment.
"Is this a swamp…?"
Natsuki Subaru's brow twitched as he scanned his surroundings warily. Before him lay a corrosive jungle shrouded in a deep purple miasma. Sticky, thread-like substances hung from the branches of twisted trees, quivering slightly like the tentacles of some living creature.
The ground was a marsh dotted with bubbling pools of acid. From time to time, strange bubbles would rise from the depths of the swamp, releasing a pungent sulfurous odor when they burst.
Even more dangerous were the demons lurking everywhere, their forms blurred and well-camouflaged. They blended perfectly with the environment, revealing only a faint outline when they moved.
These demons were clearly more cunning than those on the previous floor. They moved stealthily through the complex terrain, using the miasma as cover to silently change positions, waiting for the right moment to launch a fatal ambush.
However, against the Shadow Legion's seamless defensive formation and its all-seeing network, such tactics had little effect.
"Tch, the demons on this floor are a bit craftier than the last," Natsuki Subaru's sharp gaze swept the area, catching a demon attempting a sneak attack from behind. A cold sneer touched his lips.
"But fodder is still just fodder… This is all they amount to."
The next moment. Natsuki Subaru shot forward like an arrow released from a bow, mud splashing under his feet as he precisely avoided the corrosive marshland on the ground. The dagger in his hand traced a silver arc, cleanly severing the head of a lurking demon.
His Shadow Soldiers launched their assault at the same time, advancing like a black tide. The battle ignited instantly, the sounds of clashing metal and monstrous shrieks filling the entire space.
"—Ruler's Authority!"
With a mere thought from Natsuki Subaru, the Kasaka's Venom Fang in his hand seemed to be pulled by an invisible force. It flew through the air, carving several deadly arcs as it precisely pierced the throat of a demon in the distance that was attempting to cast a spell.
Pfft!
The stricken demon staggered back, black blood gushing from its throat. It finally collapsed, its corpse quickly swallowed by the corrosive swamp.
The fierce battle lasted for about half an hour. The jungle was littered with the bodies of demons—some hacked apart by Shadow Soldiers, some pierced by the poisoned dagger, and others torn to shreds by Shadow Magic Beasts.
The moment Natsuki Subaru eliminated the last hidden demon leader, the third-floor permit scroll appeared out of thin air in his hand. At the same time, two consecutive system notifications echoed clearly in his mind:
[Notification: Level increased to 68]
[Notification: Skill level increased. Ruler's Authority has been upgraded to Level 2.]
A surge of power, greater than before, welled up from within him, flowing through every limb and bone. Natsuki Subaru could clearly feel that his control over Ruler's Authority had become much more adept. Both its precision and range had improved significantly. He could even sense the subtlest shifts in the surrounding air currents, and his manipulation of objects had become far more fluid and versatile.
"Not bad. Leveled up, and a skill leveled up with me." Natsuki Subaru clenched his fist, feeling the power coursing through him, a satisfied smile gracing his lips.
Upon reaching the fifth floor, the atmosphere grew noticeably more oppressive. Natsuki Subaru began to encounter demons with special abilities. Some could spew corrosive venom from their mouths, while others could condense shadow energy to cast simple offensive spells. Yet, despite their varied abilities, these demons still failed to halt the steady advance of Natsuki Subaru and his Shadow Legion.
"Igris, the caster on the left! Prioritize it!"
Natsuki Subaru sidestepped a spray of venom, reverse-gripping his dagger and plunging it into the throat of an attacking demon while issuing a clear command through his thoughts.
Swish!
Igris's silent figure moved like a phantom, instantly crossing several meters to appear before the chanting demon.
Pfft!
A flash of swordlight, accompanied by a final, choked-off shriek, and the demon was cleaved in two by the razor-sharp sword energy. The magical light gathering in its hands dissipated.
"Nice work," Natsuki Subaru said, looking at Igris with approval in his voice. "Our coordination is getting better and better."
With a powerful and loyal subordinate like Igris covering him, he truly felt much more at ease.
When Natsuki Subaru led his army to the tenth floor of the Demon Castle, he sensed a significant change. The overall strength of the demons here had jumped a level, and the more threatening orange-level elite demons began to appear frequently.
The demon leader guarding this floor was a massive demon made of hard rock. Its fortress-like body was a testament to its astonishing defensive power.
"Heh, this big guy is a little interesting," Natsuki Subaru's eyes flashed with a brief flicker of fighting spirit as he quickly gave his orders.
"Igris, you'll hold it from the front. Shadow Soldiers, clear out all the surrounding mobs. Don't let them interfere with the fight!"
With the command given, Natsuki Subaru personally faced the demon leader. After a few rounds of probing attacks, Natsuki Subaru found that its defense was indeed as formidable as it looked; ordinary attacks could barely scratch it.
Seizing an opportunity, he let out a low shout: "Bloodlust!"
An invisible pressure instantly enveloped the rock demon, causing its movements to become noticeably sluggish.
"Ruler's Authority!"
At the very moment its stats were weakened, Natsuki Subaru's thoughts raced. The Kasaka's Venom Fang transformed into a dark stream of light, circling around the demon's massive body and launching a surprise attack from its blind spot, piercing its only weak point on the back of its neck with perfect accuracy.
"Roar…."
The rock demon let out a final, unwilling roar before collapsing to the ground in pieces.
[Notification: Permit to enter the eleventh floor has been acquired.]
[Notification: Level increased to 70.]
[Notification: Igris's level increased to 16.]
From the eleventh floor of the Demon Castle onward, Natsuki Subaru felt a marked increase in difficulty. The types of demons became more diverse, and their coordination grew more sophisticated. But he and the Shadow Legion were also constantly growing stronger.
The fifteenth floor was a frozen ruin where the demons specialized in ice magic. "Shadow Mages, counter with fire magic!" Natsuki Subaru promptly adjusted his tactics, commanding, "Shadow Knights, defend against the ice spike attacks!"
Through constant battle, Natsuki Subaru's command of the Shadow Legion grew increasingly masterful. His use of the Sprint and Bloodlust skills also became more refined, allowing him to swiftly turn the tide of battle at critical moments. Sometimes he would even venture deep into enemy lines alone to take the head of the demon leader.
[Notification: Skill 'Sprint' has been upgraded to Level 3.]
[Notification: Skill 'Bloodlust' has been upgraded to Level 3.]
The real test came on the twenty-first floor. The demon lord here was a cunning sorceress. Not only could she cast powerful shadow spells, but what was more vexing was her ability to endlessly summon reinforcements from a twisted void.
"This isn't going to work…" Natsuki Subaru couldn't help but frown. "Igris, with me! We're going straight for the head!"
He immediately activated his Sprint skill, coordinating with Igris to forcibly break through the defensive line and take the demon sorcerer's head. Though it came at a slight cost, they successfully ended the battle.
[Notification: Level increased to 72.]
[Notification: Igris's level increased to 20, unlocking the new skill 'Shadow Shockwave'.]
After entering the thirtieth floor, Natsuki Subaru had fully adapted to this high-intensity combat rhythm. The attribute growth from his level-ups made him increasingly powerful. The improvement in Ruler's Authority was particularly noticeable; Natsuki Subaru could now manipulate objects within a fifty-meter radius.
"This skill is really useful," Natsuki Subaru thought. "Not only does it not consume mana, but it can also attack from unexpected angles."
The thirty-fifth floor was a lava zone, and the demons here had high resistance to physical attacks. "Shadow Mages, full-power assault! Shadow Knights, switch to a defensive formation!"
Natsuki Subaru promptly adjusted the Shadow Legion's tactics while personally using Ruler's Authority to control his dagger for attacks. Before long, he had smoothly cleared the floor.
[Notification: Level increased to 73.]
[Notification: Ruler's Authority has been upgraded to Level 3.]
By the time Natsuki Subaru steadily set foot on the thirty-eighth floor, his level had already climbed to 75. The numbers on his stat panel had surged across the board, bringing with them a significantly enhanced sense of control over his stamina, strength, speed, and shadow energy.
"At this efficiency, the rate of progress is indeed much faster than before…" Natsuki Subaru looked at the level-up information on his system panel, a hint of satisfaction welling up within him. "Clearing each floor takes about half an hour on average. The pace is just right."
The forty-ninth floor presented a completely different scene. It was a desolate ruin of ghosts, with translucent mist drifting through the air and hollow echoes faintly reverberating among the dilapidated buildings. Most of the demons here possessed ethereal properties, allowing them to greatly mitigate damage from physical attacks, forcing Natsuki Subaru to rely more on Ruler's Authority and the magical output of his Shadow Mages.
After a fierce clash, Natsuki Subaru eliminated the final ghost lord of the floor. As his experience bar filled, the familiar system notification sounded once more in his mind:
[Notification: Level increased to 79.]
Come to think of it, from the second, tenth, twentieth, thirtieth, fortieth… all the way to the current forty-ninth floor, Natsuki Subaru had been ascending at a speed akin to a rocket. His level had also grown rapidly, from the initial 64, 66, 68, 72, 74… all the way to his current 79.
Every battle had honed Natsuki Subaru's skills and will. Every level-up not only strengthened him but also boosted the overall power of the entire Shadow Legion.
Slay, Level Up, Clear!
Natsuki Subaru endlessly repeated this cycle in the Demon Castle, charging forward and upward with unwavering courage.
"I've already made it to the fiftieth floor."
Now, Natsuki Subaru finally stood before the entrance to the fiftieth floor. Of the hundred-floored Demon Castle, he had now conquered nearly half.
_____
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