Floor 67th
Dungeon of Chaos
Forgotten Island
…
Standing in front of the statue placed in the centre of the room, I observed it carefully. So, basically I should just keep defeating the statue one by one until I get to the 99th floor, where I would meet 'her' again.
I sighed as I looked at the statue in front of me. It was a human with scales on its back, more like lizard scales or perhaps dragon scales? In any case, the way to clear the dungeon was to move towards the door on the other side of the room and the statue will start attacking you, preventing you from entering it.
Though, this time I just stood there for a few moments as I looked at those statues. Usually, the whole dungeon had a purpose, but this one required simple fighting. I mean, I did learn various ways to wield different weapons for each of these statues… but.
I touched that statue in front of me and I wondered if I…
"Rejection Fragment: I reject all the curses placed on this statue," I spoke and about 5 percent of my energy was lost again. Because I waited a little before using the Rejection Fragment again, my power was full again.
And just like I imagined, the statue started shaking before it started gaining back its colours. It took about 5 minutes but the statue was no longer stony, but instead a man with red scales on its back came in front of my eyes.
It had an old style of clothes and there was a red band that matched its red-colored eyes.
"Awaah… so it's finally time, huh?" spoke that man as he stretched his back before observing me and then speaking.
"So, what are we going to do next?"
I looked at him, a bit confused, as I tilted my head. It was as if he was asking me to command him and I asked back,"Excuse me sir… what do you mean by that?"
" 'Sir?' you are calling me sir… wait! Wait! Wait! Oh… I totally forgot… oh! Yeah… I might really die… but I didn't… so it's fine. Safe! Safe! Safe? Well, whatever…" he started mumbling then he realised something before nodding to himself as he spoke,
"Well… why was I here again… yeah! Take out your spear, young man! I will bestow my skills upon you."
Confused even more, I looked at him as I asked,"I don't mind getting your teaching but can I ask why you are doing it?" Though I took out my spear, anyway.
"Because I have been tasked to do that… anyway, just do it," he mumbles silently before looking at me energetically and taking out his own spear.
"First thing about the spear is…" he then started teaching me about spearmanship. At first, it was basic teaching but… as I listened more, I got more profound knowledge in that art and then he asked me to spar with him.
While I was easily defeated on the first try, as I sparred more and more, I started to understand his skill and after an unknown amount of time,"Alright… I guess this much is enough. You already knew many things, so it took less time. Try to use it properly. You may move to the next floor now."
I looked at him for a moment before I bowed to him as I spoke,"thank you sir."
"Leave, I suppose. You bowing to me… it kind of feels awkward now… take care Zero, hope you achieve what you want too buddy," he spoke with a warm smile before he started turning to dust and then completely vanishing from there.
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Though I looked at him a bit confused as I tried recalling if I had told him my name or not… but,"I don't think I had told him my name… and the way he was talking with me… did he know me?"
This was getting more and more confusing now… first that old man and now this…
However, this was only the beginning of strange things, from here onwards…
Floor 68th
"HO! My god you look so handsome now?! Did you get a new haircut or something?" an old woman spoke before she taught me how to make some potions that had no side effects whatsoever.
Floor 69th
"Hehe! So it really happened, huh? Looks like I will get my time to shine as well… Zero, let's learn how to use knives properly, shall we?" spoke a young kid as he smiled proudly before beginning to teach me how to use them.
Floor 70th
"Kid, you should work on your posture more."
Floor 71st
"Been a while, Zero."
Floor 72nd
Floor 73rd
Floor 74th
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Floor 97th
"You look quite pathetic, as usual. Let me tell you what it is to be a man," spoke a robust man as he smiled at me from ear to ear.
Floor 98th
"Hey, how are you? You look quite tired, huh? Must be rough around the edges with everything going on… well, I don't have much skills to give you since you already have everything… but…" a young girl moved closer to me and kissed me on my lips. I felt a warm energy in my body and feeling embarrassed, she stepped back as she smiled brightly and spoke,
"Save us Zero… we will meet again… see you soon."
Then she vanished too, as I saw her turning to dust.
It was odd… every time I tried asking about them or if they knew me or anything, they wouldn't answer. They simply focus on teaching me and if I try to reject their teaching, they get angry… like really, really angry… until they succeed in teaching me.
Just what was going on here?
It took me about two and a half months to reach here, which was significantly faster than last time, where it took me more than a year to get here.
Though things were completely different from last time… it felt like… I visited my hometown or something? Did they really know me? Who exactly were they?
All the thoughts were confusing me, and with those confused thoughts in my mind, I soon entered the next floor… Floor 99th.