Antagonist Protection Service

The Fifteenth Floor was, contrary to the claustrophobic, tight and twisting tunnels of the previous Floor, a tremendously expansive, surprisingly open cavern.

With giant quartz-like crystals jutting from every surface and every direction, some of the sloping rocks seemed to form natural paths leading both upwards towards the surface, and downwards towards a deeper, darker section with a probability of hidden loot.

Needless to say, I wasn't sure about the others with me, but I was only here for one thing.

Beginning my trek to the closest of the crystal pathways leading up, I quickly began to hear the muttered exclamations and rapid footsteps of my two temporary party companions following closely behind.

Dismissing their presences, we walked closer towards the center of the cavern, or at least, as far as the platform we had been led to by the spider tunnel on the last Floor would let us.

See, the center of the cavern was not much more than a giant pit, connected all throughout with a mesh of criss-crossing giant crystals that functioned as walkways.

The place we had arrived at following the Broodmother route was a comparatively small area on the rim of the cavern, overlooking it like a balcony. There were a number of other holes at various levels that the other routes would lead to, and as we already knew, this was one of the highest starting points.

Including it all from top to bottom, I wouldn't be surprised if the whole thing spanned a few kilometres vertically, or perhaps even more, but so long as we maintained a steady pace that shouldn't matter much.

Stepping onto the first walkway that was connected to the platform we started at, I gave it a few firm stomps under my boot to make sure it was properly sturdy before entrusting my full weight.

I thought I would be fine either way thanks to the sheer size and density of the thing, as well as the Draconic Shadow's Weight Reduction Enhancement, but it was just a precaution.

'You never know with these types of things... It's also kinda slippery. Will have to be careful of that.'

It was fortunate the crystals were so massive, as even if you slipped while walking it probably wouldn't result in much, but naturally, there was no guarantee of safety.

And, glancing down at what would happen to you if you did happen to fall...

"..."

"Ugh... Sorry, I'm not good with heights..."

Hearing Cassano groan behind me, I gave a quick peep to see Nina roll her eyes at him with her hands on her hips.

"Seriously? How did you even get past the Eighth and Ninth Floors?"

"O-hh, well... For the Eighth, I was too scared to get on those clouds, so I stayed sitting on the pillar until it was over... As for the Ninth, I actually did almost pass out during the fall..."

Following his explanation, she simply gave a huff, her expression one of disbelief.

'I don't think it'd be that bad, at least for me. Well, it'd certainly be quite the fall, but there's plenty of walkways I might be able to hurriedly grab onto on the way down...'

Recalling my time going through the Tutorial Floors at their discussion, I naturally came to wonder how it was that there were so many people who had passed them now.

'When I was climbing before, I'm pretty sure it was just John Pierce and one or two others who could compete... Well, I'm sure they figured out a consistent plan and distributed it for money like everything else.'

That's not to mention that most other Challengers climbing the Tower were also doing so in parties just like the three of us currently were doing.

If I had challenged the Fifth Floor in a group back then for example, assuming we all had prepared in advance having obtained information online or in the Hub about the Floor, each going over the same plan and having our own roles assigned, I'm pretty sure I would have cleared it in a fraction of the time as I did.

'It's kinda like cheating, isn't it...?'

Thinking of it that way, I once again found myself internally praying that John Pierce wasn't someone who climbed the Tower in a party.

If he wasn't alone, it really would make my goal that much harder...

'...Whatever. I'll deal with it when I get there.'

Pushing those worries aside, my head naturally craned up as we advanced across the walkway, the frankly glamorous sight of countless radiant crystals stretching all across the "sky" above like an intricate latticework of nature.

Of course, things weren't only beautiful, and in the distance I could indeed spot new kinds of monsters I hadn't encountered thus far.

Flying around in the empty space between the crystal pathways above, colossal moth or butterfly-like creatures floated about, their wings emitting subtle glows of iridescence.

They appeared mostly harmless at a glance, but if I honed my gaze and looked far above, there seemed to be a clash going on between one of those mystical creatures and something unknown concealed behind the crystal pathway it stood atop.

'Probably another party of Challengers...'

My gaze lingered on that skirmish for a few moments before I suddenly sensed something.

'―Hm?

A presence on the underside of this walkway, it swiftly climbed up and emerged in the blink of an eye to block our path.

Sharp crystals blanketing the whole of its back hide from the tip of its head to the end of its thick tail, it was a giant lizard, vastly smaller when compared to something like the butterflies up above or the Broodmother from before, but still about the size of a car or a large bear.

Regardless, I didn't give it the opportunity to attack.

Shiing~!

Unsheathing the Villainous Blade to strike the enemy in a single, smooth motion, the edge of the blade was met with a fair amount of resistance thanks to the armour of the hard crystals on its hide.

Nevertheless, it still wasn't enough to halt the Indestructible weapon, which in the end cleaved through crystal, hide, and bone to slice the lizard in two, the momentum of the blow causing both halves of its body to be propelled off the walkway entirely, sending them to fall down into the deep dark of the cavern below.

'Easy enough.'

Not paying any attention to the two party members behind me, who seemed to have both gone silent at some point, I continued forward.