"Also, the Springwater of the Echoing Forest that dropped this time is a key material for crafting the Holy Water of Life."
Natsuki Subaru took out a crystal-clear vial containing pristine springwater. The water emitted a faint glow, flowing within the bottle as if it were alive.
[Material: Springwater of the Echoing Forest.]
[Description: Water from the sacred spring of the mysterious Echoing Forest, containing powerful life energy. It is one of the three core materials for crafting the Holy Water of Life and has the effect of restoring vitality and purifying curses.]
"With this..." Natsuki Subaru's thoughts turned to the items he had previously acquired, a sense of anticipation rising in his heart.
"I've collected two of the materials for the Holy Water, just one more to go."
"Let's see, the Fragment of the World Tree from the Ruler of the Lower Floors, the Flame God of Greed on the 50th floor, plus the Springwater of the Echoing Forest from Metus, the Ferryman of the Dead on the 75th floor..."
A glint of excitement flashed in Natsuki Subaru's eyes.
"I've collected two of the three rare materials for the Holy Water of Life. I just need the last one, the blood of the Demon King Baran from the 100th floor, to craft the legendary Holy Water of Life that can resurrect the dead."
"In short, I have to clear all 100 floors to get the last material, the Demon King's blood."
At this thought, Natsuki Subaru's gaze grew resolute, his hands clenching unconsciously.
"A real man challenges 100 floors! I've come this far, I can't give up halfway. It's not just about clearing the dungeon, but also about getting that holy water that can bring back the dead."
"I'm at the seventy-fifth floor now, with twenty-five left. I have to push through and rush to the top in one go."
Natsuki Subaru felt the power surging within him, his eyes filled with fighting spirit.
"With my newly upgraded skills and equipment, the upcoming battles should be a bit smoother."
According to the System's time display, he had been in the Demon Castle for nearly forty hours, which, at a 1-to-10 time ratio, was equivalent to about four hours in the outside world. Although time passed more slowly outside, he still had to pick up the pace.
"If I take too long, Emilia, Rem, and the others will definitely worry about me."
The faces of the girls at the mansion who cared for him appeared in Natsuki Subaru's mind.
"When I left, I only said I'd be back in half a day. If I'm delayed too long, they might think something happened to me."
"So I have to clear the Demon Castle as fast as possible. I'm already level 90 now, countless times stronger than when I first entered."
But at this moment, Natsuki Subaru's brow gradually furrowed, a hint of vigilance flashing in his eyes.
"Something's not right... Starting from the seventy-eighth floor, the gatekeepers' fighting style has clearly changed."
"If the enemy can learn, then we'll just have to learn faster than them."
Natsuki Subaru turned and said to Igris, who was standing beside him.
Natsuki Subaru tightened his grip on Kasaka's Venom Fang, feeling the searing power within him.
"With every floor I clear, my power increases, and the Shadow Legion is also constantly getting stronger. Igris is now level 45, the average level of the Shadow Soldiers has risen by 3, and my Monarch's Domain skill just leveled up, expanding its range to 1500 meters."
"Just like this, let's push onward in one fell swoop!"
Natsuki Subaru made up his mind, his gaze fixed on the entrance to the seventy-sixth floor, his eyes shining with a determined light.
"No matter what challenges lie ahead, I will clear this Demon Castle and get the Holy Water of Life."
"Cancel Summon."
Natsuki Subaru gave the dismissal command to the Shadow Soldiers waiting quietly by his side. In the next second, all the Shadow Soldiers vanished into black shadows.
"Seventy-sixth floor, let's see what kind of challenge you have waiting for me."
Natsuki Subaru took a deep breath, gripped his Kasaka's Venom Fang, and strode with firm steps toward the entrance to the next floor.
As Natsuki Subaru stepped through the portal to the seventy-sixth floor, a wave of moist air washed over him. The scene before him made him pause for a moment—it was a fantastical world completely submerged in water.
Crystal-clear seawater enveloped him like a giant sapphire, with sunlight filtering through the surface, casting mottled patterns of light. Amazingly, despite being underwater, he could breathe freely, as if an invisible barrier separated the water from the air.
Vibrant coral reefs bloomed like an underwater garden, through which various sea creatures exuding demonic energy swam. There were fanged demon sharks, giant jellyfish with glowing tentacles, and schools of small demon fish.
In the distance, the silhouette of a sunken city loomed, its ruined towers and palaces speaking of a past glory.
"An underwater combat environment... This is definitely a bit tricky."
Natsuki Subaru muttered to himself and immediately summoned the Shadow Legion. Their black figures stood out starkly against the azure seawater. To his delight, the Shadow Soldiers could still move in the water, though the currents clearly slowed their speed.
The gatekeeper of this floor was a giant deep-sea octopus demon. When it emerged from the shadows of the sunken city, its massive body nearly blotted out the light from above.
Not only could it spew thick ink to obscure vision, but its eight sucker-covered tentacles were also incredibly agile, each swing stirring up powerful currents.
"Igris, you pin it down from below!"
Natsuki Subaru issued the command to his Shadow Soldier as he personally dove into the deep sea.
The underwater battle was exceptionally difficult. Every sword strike had to overcome the resistance of the water, while the octopus demon was completely in its element.
After a struggle lasting over half an hour, Natsuki Subaru finally found an opening and, with Igris's support, pierced the octopus demon's core with a single strike.
After the battle, he obtained a strange piece of equipment: the Pearl of the Deep Sea. It was a pearl that glowed with a faint blue light, and holding it, he could feel the water-attribute power contained within.
After equipping it, Natsuki Subaru's movement speed in the water increased significantly, and the resistance he felt when striking with his sword was greatly reduced.
"Demon Castle, every floor is a new challenge."
Natsuki Subaru said thoughtfully.
Indeed, this octopus demon was not only powerful but also knew how to use the underwater environment for ambushes, a stark contrast to the brutish demons of the lower floors.
The seventy-seventh floor was another scene entirely. A blast of scorching air hit him as he faced a boundless lava zone.
Rivers of molten magma flowed slowly like the earth's blood vessels, with bursting bubbles occasionally splashing droplets of intense fire. The air was thick with the pungent smell of sulfur, and even breathing carried a hint of burning heat.
"Avoid the lava zones!"
Natsuki Subaru commanded his Shadow Soldiers.
The high-temperature environment severely restricted the Shadow Legion's movements, forcing them to advance along relatively safe rock ridges.
Notably, the gatekeeper of this floor was a Lava Troll that could manipulate lava for ranged attacks and summon Lava Golems.
"Attack!"
Seeing the Lava Troll before him, Natsuki Subaru immediately gave the order.
After a few probing attacks from the Shadow Soldiers, Natsuki Subaru discovered that the Lava Troll's weakness was its slow movement.
Using this to his advantage, he adopted guerilla tactics and, with Igris's help, ultimately beheaded the troll with a single slash.
Scorching blood erupted from the severed neck, quickly cooling into black rock.
The seventy-eighth floor, a labyrinthine city, was a real headache.
Towering stone walls formed a complex network of passages, with dead ends appearing frequently. To make matters worse, these walls would periodically move and reconfigure, changing the path he had just taken in the blink of an eye.
"This floor's gatekeeper is good at using the terrain."
After wandering the maze for nearly three hours, Natsuki Subaru had to admit he was in trouble. The numerical advantage of the Shadow Soldiers was completely useless here, as the narrow corridors only allowed a few soldiers to pass at a time.
After careful consideration, Natsuki Subaru devised a new strategy. He dispatched agile shadow assassins to scout and map the area, had shadow mages leave magical markers at key locations, and ordered Igris to lead the main force on standby in a central area.
This coordinated plan proved effective, and they soon located the gatekeeper hidden in the center of the labyrinth. It was a Gargoyle that could control the movement of the walls.
"As expected, intelligent enemies are much harder to deal with."
After defeating the Gargoyle, Natsuki Subaru thought to himself. If he hadn't adjusted his tactics in time, he likely would have spent much more time on this floor.
The seventy-ninth floor, an enchanted forest, was equally challenging.
Towering ancient trees blotted out the sky, and eerie fluorescent spores drifted through the air. The Forest Demon gatekeeper was extremely skilled at concealment, constantly launching sneak attacks from within the dense vegetation.
"Found you!"
After more than an hour of cat-and-mouse, Natsuki Subaru finally caught the moment the demon revealed itself. With a flash of his sword, the demon fell.
Four consecutive floors of fighting had taught Natsuki Subaru a deep lesson: the higher he climbed, the stronger and smarter the enemies became. The demons on the lower floors fought mostly on instinct, whereas the enemies on the upper floors already understood how to use tactics and intelligence.
"It's taking an average of three to four hours per floor..."
Natsuki Subaru calculated the time, his brow furrowing slightly. At this rate, the remaining twenty floors could take sixty to eighty hours, which equated to six to eight hours in the outside world. This had already exceeded his original expectations.
"I have to speed up!"
Natsuki Subaru clenched his fists, feeling the searing power within his body. The level-ups from clearing four floors had made him palpably stronger, but he was also acutely aware of the pressing time.
"Not only is my own strength growing, but the entire Shadow Legion is also getting steadily stronger."
Natsuki Subaru gazed at the fluctuating data on his system panel, a smile unconsciously touching his lips.
Igris had surpassed level 47, and the average level of the Shadow Soldiers had steadily risen to around 25. Furthermore, under the buff of his Monarch's Domain skill, the strength of every Shadow Soldier was further amplified.
Within the domain's range, the soldiers' movements were sharper and their attacks more coordinated, as if they had been imbued with a unified combat will. With each cleared floor, Natsuki Subaru could feel his bond with the Shadow Legion deepening, making them easier to command.
This feeling of growth filled him with confidence. Even if the enemies ahead grew stronger, he was certain he could lead his legion to break through all obstacles.
"Come to think of it, if these Shadow Soldiers were out in the real world, each one could match an elite knight of the Lugunica Kingdom, or might even be stronger."
Natsuki Subaru murmured, recalling the knights he had seen in the Royal Capital. Back then, they had seemed unattainable, but now his own Shadow Soldiers had reached such a level.
Possessing such a powerful legion should, by all rights, make clearing the dungeon much easier.
But at this moment, Natsuki Subaru's brow gradually furrowed, a hint of vigilance flashing in his eyes.
"Something's not right... Starting from the seventy-eighth floor, the gatekeepers' fighting style has clearly changed."
He clearly remembered how the Gargoyle in the labyrinth had cleverly avoided Igris's pursuit, specifically targeting lone Shadow Soldiers. And on the forest floor, that demon had used the environment to its advantage, constantly striking at the legion's weak points.
"It seems they're learning too. So these demons possess intelligence."
Natsuki Subaru slowly came to this conclusion, his expression grave. The high-level demons were not just powerful; what was more alarming was the tactical wisdom they displayed, which was completely different from the instinct-driven demons of the lower floors.
An enemy that can think is often more dangerous than one that is simply powerful.
"This is getting a bit troublesome..."
Natsuki Subaru closed the system panel, his gaze falling upon the golden portal leading to the next floor. The higher he went, the smarter the enemies became, and the tougher the battles would be.
However, this pressure ignited an unprecedented fighting spirit in Natsuki Subaru's chest.
"If the enemy can learn, then we'll just have to learn faster than them."
Natsuki Subaru turned and said to Igris, who was standing beside him.
"..."
The dark knight stood as still as a statue, with only the flickering flames of his soul reflecting his absolute loyalty.
Standing at the end of the seventy-ninth floor and looking at the portal to the eightieth, Natsuki Subaru felt a mix of emotions. The eightieth floor, as a new milestone, would undoubtedly feature a gatekeeper whose power would represent a quantum leap.
But the thought of the last missing ingredient for the Holy Water of Life, and of the girls waiting for his return at the mansion, sent a warm current surging from the bottom of his heart.
"No matter what, I must press on."
Natsuki Subaru tightened his grip on his Kasaka's Venom Fang and took a determined step forward.
The high-level gatekeepers were becoming more cunning, but with each floor he cleared, he and his Shadow Legion were also growing stronger. This competitive dynamic, in fact, stirred an even stronger fighting spirit within him.
Of course, it wasn't as if every floor allowed him to smoothly find the elite demon gatekeeper and claim the transit permit. The higher he climbed, the stronger and more cunning the gatekeepers became. They knew how to hide themselves, even using lesser demons to set traps.
Natsuki Subaru and his Shadow Soldiers had to spend a great deal of time scouting, clearing, and searching. This was an unavoidable necessity.
After all, each floor of the Demon Castle was as vast as a sprawling city. For Natsuki Subaru and his three thousand-plus Shadow Soldiers, thoroughly scouring every corner was no easy task.
As a result, Natsuki Subaru's clearing speed inevitably slowed, and every step required greater caution.
Finally, after several arduous searches and fierce battles, Natsuki Subaru stepped through the portal to the eightieth floor.
_____
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