"Wow."
The crystal cave seemed to swallow Roland's exclamation. Surrounded by deep darkness, a gentle slope wound its way down into the unknown depths.
A cool breeze blew from the depths, rustling his hair—a refreshing airflow never felt in the "Giant Tree Labyrinth." It beckoned him toward the next chapter of his adventure. Roland snapped his fingers, and a ball of fire appeared to float before him, illuminating walls and ceilings that looked like a smooth ice cave.
As he descended, the sound of water grew louder. The blue light from the exit became visible, and the roar of crashing water became distinct.
When Roland stepped out, the sight took his breath away. "I definitely came to the right place."
Seeing a fantasy landscape like this makes being pulled into this world worth it.
A magnificent Great Waterfall played a deafening symphony. Crystal peaks formed majestic valleys and cliffs. Harpies and Sirens soared through the sky, their high-pitched cries echoing as feathers drifted gracefully through the air.
This was the "Water Capital," also known as the "New World" by Orario's adventurers. And before him was the "Great Blue Falls," which rivaled any famous waterfall in his original world.
It was a massive waterfall originating from the ceiling of the 25th floor. Its width was roughly 400 meters, and its height was nearly double that. Due to the light reflecting off the crystals, the water flowed in a stunning emerald blue. It was a natural wonder that made one temporarily forget the dangers of the underground.
But along with the awe came a shiver of dread—the fear of the unknown.
Across from the falls, beneath the crystal cliff Roland stood on, lay a massive plunge pool. A fall from here meant certain death even for high-level adventurers. More incredibly, the waterfall didn't end there; it continued downward, as if leading to another world.
Indeed, the waterfall acted like a stairway, piercing through the 25th, 26th, and 27th floors.
Of course, you didn't have to jump to reach the next floor. There were safer ways—labyrinth paths and winding ramps that led to the bottom of the 25th floor and the cave entrance to the 26th.
Roland stood on a steep cliff. To his right and front were sheer drops. To his left was a massive circular void with a winding path leading away. These paths had no railings; one slip would send you plummeting into the deep pool below.
The path to the left led to a cave and the usual labyrinth. But Roland didn't want to spend hours wandering through mazes just to reach the bottom.
After finishing his lunch while enjoying the view, Roland stood at the edge of the cliff, eyeing the entrance to the 26th floor far below.
Although Roland had experience sniping the Black Wyvern from high altitude, that was an act born of desperation; he hadn't had time to worry about acrophobia. Now, standing alone and looking down into the abyss, he felt a genuine pang of fear. Even knowing he wouldn't die if he fell, the sensation of vertigo still surged in his chest.
Taking a deep breath, he stared at the bottomless waterfall. "I'm already here. If I don't try this now, how am I ever going to pull off a Rider Kick from ten thousand meters in the sky?"
With a sudden thrust off the cliff's edge, Roland leaped resolutely toward the distant entrance below.
In an instant, his adrenaline spiked. His breath grew ragged, and his heart hammered against his ribs—an intense mix of terror and exhilaration. In this state of weightlessness, time seemed to freeze. The scenery around him shrank rapidly, granting him a wondrous sensation of being detached from gravity.
Roland flipped his body mid-air, feeling the crisp wind rushing against his back. Watching the ledge he had just occupied recede into the distance, the entire world turned upside down. Surprisingly, he found himself enjoying it—a sense of spiritual liberation that forced a hearty laugh from his throat.
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Danmachi : Mage's Infinite Journey (168 Chapters – Ongoing)
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As he neared his target, he quickly switched to his Swift Master form. Wind swirled around him, stabilizing his posture and allowing him to descend as lightly as a feather.
Tap. His footsteps echoed in the silent cavern.
Roland looked back up at the now-blurry cliffs. A profound sense of achievement and satisfaction filled him. "Falling from that height was actually a blast," he mused. "I should definitely try it from ten thousand meters if I get the chance."
Scanning his surroundings, he noticed clusters of coral growing near the stream. Roland remembered that this specific coral was quite valuable, especially the pearls inside. A single bag was worth roughly 3 million Valis—3.5 million if one knew how to haggle.
Transforming into a whirlwind, Roland began harvesting the coral. He carefully sliced the trunks rather than uprooting them entirely, ensuring they could regenerate. He stuffed two bags of coral into his [Inventory].
Come to think of it, Roland thought to himself, lately, it feels like I'm the only one in the Familia actually adventuring. The Guild provides subsidies for patrolling Orario, but that's pocket change. If I look at it that way, am I the one supporting everyone?
After all, every time Roland returned from an adventure, he handed over his loot and materials to Lyra—the craftiest member of the Familia—to handle the sales.
The entrance to the 26th-floor cave was right before him. Roland planned to scout it briefly before returning to the surface. Suddenly, a fish-like monster, about 1.6 meters long, lunged from the stream, its jagged teeth aimed at his head.
An Icy White Sword instantly manifested in Roland's hand. With a fluid twist of his body, he sliced through the monster from bottom to top as easily as a knife through butter, cleaving it in two.
But it wasn't over. A swarm of giant blue crabs began crawling out of the cave, moving in straight lines.
Different worlds really are something, Roland thought. Even the crabs walk straight here.
These were Blue Crabs, classified as metal-type monsters. One of their claws was abnormally developed, making them a lethal threat in combat. They could charge forward with defense higher than that of a Death Wasp.
A Blue Crab raised its claw to parry Roland's ice blade, while others nearby lunged with their pincer-like claws, forcing Roland to jump back several paces. Looking at his ice sword and the metallic shells of the crabs, he knew he could win with the blade, but it would take too long.
Roland dissipated the sword and switched to Blood Mage.
Crimson blood flowed from his palms. Roland flicked his hands, and the blood lashed out like steel whips, effortlessly slicing through the crabs and leaving deep gashes in the cavern walls.
After collecting the Magic Stones and the crab shells, Roland descended further into a wide area where the stream flowed alongside him. Suddenly, two blue spherical monsters covered in sharp spines leaped from the water.
They had no visible eyes, yet they seemed to sense Roland perfectly. They spun at high speeds, hurtling toward him like projectiles. Through the blur, Roland could see their disgusting circular mouths filled with sharp teeth. The spines tore up the ground as they rolled.
Facing these Crystal Sea Urchins, Roland aimed his hand at them. Blood energy condensed in his palm, and with a sharp hiss, a blood-red spear impaled both urchins, skewering them together.
Shortly after, attracted by the noise, a large swarm of Blue Crabs came rushing in. Roland manipulated the blood energy lingering from the dead monsters and unleashed Crimson Hunt. A blood mist enveloped the monsters, manifesting into dozens of spears that impaled the crabs and suspended them in mid-air.
He dissipated the energy, let the bodies fall, and began harvesting materials with his knife. A moment later, he found a cave with a small waterfall. As he entered, a dark red projectile, sharp as a needle, grazed his arm and shattered against the wall behind him in a mist of blood.
Roland looked up just as a volley of "needles" sped toward him. He quickly turned into blood mist to teleport away. Memories of Kaguya's teachings surfaced—he finally had information on this monster.
It was the Flash Swallow, a crimson bird known as the "Invisible Monster." Its speed was the fastest in the lower floors, but because it moved so fast, it often died on impact.