Journey to Planar World

Three hours later, the rescue team finally reached Floor 13, the entrance to the Middle Floors.

The recommended level for adventurers in the Middle Floors was Level 2, as these floors were significantly more challenging than the Upper Floors.

The topography of the Middle Floors was also harder to navigate. The corridors were narrower and more winding, with sharp, irregular rock formations. The air grew stuffier, and the oppressive weight of the Dungeon’s depths became palpable.

Monsters in the Middle Floors were slightly stronger than those in the Upper Floors, making survival more difficult for adventurers. Creatures like Minotaurs and Hellhounds began appearing on these floors, and they spawned with greater frequency.

In short, Charlie and Asfi could no longer remain spectators. They had to join the battle.

Although the Takemikazuchi Familia members technically qualified to explore the Middle Floors as Level 2 adventurers, this was only the minimum requirement, not a guarantee of invincibility.

Their use of Bell’s party as bait to escape a monster horde, triggering a Pass Parade, was clear evidence of their struggle to survive in the Middle Floors.

With Charlie and Asfi taking the lead, the Takemikazuchi Familia members took over their role of protecting Hermes and Hestia. Despite the gods’ omnipotent power, their Arcanum was sealed, rendering them no different from ordinary people in the Dungeon.

*SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!* *SWOOSH!*

The air hissed as it was sliced by a platinum sword, leaving invisible vacuum cracks in its wake. If someone were accidentally caught in these cracks, they would suffer slash wounds even through thick armor.

*PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!* *PU-CHI!*

The one tearing through space with mere swordsmanship was none other than Charlie.

His movements were so swift that he shifted to his next target before the sound of the first strike echoed. Occasionally, his sky-blue eyes scanned the surroundings, alert for any unexpected situations.

Despite being surrounded by over twenty monsters at once, Charlie dispatched them with each silent swing of his sword.

”Kyii?!”

An Al-Miraj was pierced through the chest when it was too slow to react. Charlie sliced it in half with one of his blades, his momentum carrying him past a fifth Al-Miraj.

All five Al-Miraj fell in less than a second!

The monsters’ formation was useless. They weren’t fast enough to protect themselves from Charlie, who possessed Six Eyes and Mind’s Eye.

”Roar!”

A Hellhound leaped at Charlie’s suddenly exposed back, saliva dripping from its bared fangs. But Charlie spun like a top, slashing the Hellhound’s jaw from below with his sword.

*BAM!*

The Hellhound’s head was severed, and its body dissolved into black smoke, dropping a magic stone.

”Kyuuaa!”

Five more Al-Miraj joined the fray. Screeching at full volume, they wielded stone tomahawks.

”If you’re going to attempt a sneak attack, try not to scream and announce your arrival.”

Without a hint of panic, Charlie eyed the weapons hurled directly at him.

*CLANG!* *CLANG!* *CLANG!*

Charlie parried four with his swift sword and caught the last one with his bare hand. Then, without hesitation, he threw it back.

*SWISH!*

The Al-Miraj’s red eyes widened as the tomahawk hurtled toward its face. The force of the impact sent it sprawling backward.

”…?!?”

The remaining Al-Miraj stood frozen in shock at their ally’s sudden demise before a dark shadow loomed over them. They looked up just in time to see a sword descending toward their heads.

”Kyu?!”

A final scream rang out as their eyes nearly popped from their sockets, and the four remaining Al-Miraj fell silent.

”So strong…”

”To face so many of them alone like that.”

”Whoa…”

Mikoto, Ouka, Chigusa, and the other Takemikazuchi Familia members watched the battle unfold before them with bewildered eyes. They expressed it differently, but all were stunned by the display of dominant strength and skill.

(Such extraordinary swordsmanship! Even the Sword Princess of Loki Familia might pale in comparison. Truly, Charlie’s rapid power progression is absurd. Hera, I’m jealous of you for finding the most talented human in history.)

Unlike the Takemikazuchi Familia members, who had never seen a First-Class Adventurer fight, and Hestia, who had only recently founded her Familia, Hermes had a broader perspective.

He had witnessed the true power of core members of Hera Familia and Zeus Familia, like Empress Level 9, Maxim Level 8, Zald Level 7, and Alfia Level 7. Even Ottar of Freya Familia, hailed as Orario’s ultimate weapon, was nothing compared to the late adventurers of the former top two Familias.

Thus, Hermes swore that in terms of swordsmanship alone, Charlie surpassed them. After all, sword slashes that caused vacuum cracks were unheard of.

Hermes wasn’t the only one shocked—Asfi, fighting alongside Charlie, couldn’t help but marvel. She witnessed swordsmanship so exceptional that, in some aspects, it rivaled or even surpassed magic.

(This man’s swordsmanship is terrifying. He’s the bane of all mages. With his speed, Charlie could defeat a mage before they could complete their chant.)

Asfi was convinced that Charlie was the strongest Level 5 adventurer in the world. Of course, this was just her opinion, as she didn’t know whether Charlie was using his full strength.

”It’s so dark down here.” Hestia muttered, frantically swinging the lamp in her right hand left and right. Her breathing was shallow, her wide eyes filled with fear.

(Do kids really come down here all the time?)

For adventurers, their five senses were enhanced by Falna, making dim light sufficient. But for Hestia, whose Arcanum was sealed, the Dungeon’s tunnels were pitch black. She could barely see, an experience that unnerved her.

Hestia had to muster all her courage to put one foot in front of the other. Fortunately, Charlie’s extraordinary display of strength earlier had eased her fear.

”Calm down, Hestia.” Hermes gently patted her shoulder, trying to reassure her.

”Andromeda, where do we search? We could wander for hours and never find Bell’s party.” Ouka asked in a low voice.

Asfi adjusted her glasses, her mind racing as she analyzed every possibility. ”Their party was only equipped for a day in the Dungeon. Finding a relatively safe spot and staying there indefinitely isn’t an option for them… I’m certain something else happened, something that made retreating impossible.”

”Something else?”

”Yes. Otherwise, their actions don’t make sense. With supplies for only a day, they’d be overwhelmed quickly. Could they have fallen into a pit?”

Mikoto and Chigusa’s eyes widened.

”If they fell too far to return, what choice did they have? I highly doubt they’re wandering in the dark, waiting for monsters to show mercy. Considering their condition… I think they’ve been wiped out.” Asfi paused, stunning everyone with her grim conclusion, but then continued. ”Or perhaps they abandoned hope of returning to the surface and pressed forward to the safe point on Floor 18…”

Ouka couldn’t believe his ears. ”Would they try that? It’d take serious courage.”

Those who had experienced the Dungeon’s terrors firsthand knew how dangerous it was to venture to lower floors without knowing what lay ahead. If Bell’s party had fallen into a pit, they’d be forced into that situation.

Amid the tense discussion, Charlie remained silent. Thanks to his Senrigan, he knew exactly that Bell and his party were on Floor 16. He even saw their pitiful state. But he didn’t reveal this to Hestia or the others.

(Senrigan’s information mustn’t leak. After all, no one likes knowing they can be spied on anytime with no privacy.) Charlie thought to himself, continuing to move forward.

Thus, they meticulously searched Floor 13. Only after finding no trace of their target did they descend to Floor 14.