We were walking down a path of the 4th floor, mostly in silence as it did seem that Raza was sleepy. I was holding the naginata which thankfully I was strong enough to wield now, while my knives were in Raza's bag. I was still was a bit short, but I wanted to get practice in it.
'Great Sage, how does you updating my status work exactly?'
[Excelia is the achievements a person has accomplished throughout their life. A god uses falna so as to transform this experience into tangible values, which come when they update your status. Since I was able to analyze a god's Falna, I can also update your status in real time, along with any skills, development abilities or magic you were to gain in the future because of said excelia.]
I was a bit flabbergasted at this reveal, after all I always thought that the stats upgraded by themselves and the gods 'updates' were just there to show how much a character had grown. Guess I was wrong. Not that it mattered in my case, but it did give me another reason as to why Great Sage was so overpowered for this world.
'Great Sage, why didn't Ganesha question my status yesterday night when I got it updated then.'
[I showed the values you had at the beginning of the day and then the ones at the end.]
'You're awesome Great Sage.'
[Thank you.]
'Let's get back to excelia though, if they are my life experiences, then the harder the task, the more excelia I gain, right?'
[That is correct]
'Which is probably why I got so much excelia yesterday from defeating the kobolds and goblins. Wait doesn't this mean I can abuse this by putting myself in precarious environments of my own design, for example I'd gain a lot more excelia if I fought hundred of the same enemy at the same time, than fighting them throughout the day.'
[Affirmative]
A plan began forming in my mind, one that was probably more reckless than anything I should be attempting at my current level. But the potential payoff was enormous. If I could engineer situations where I was genuinely overwhelmed, genuinely in danger, the excelia gains would be astronomical. It was the same principle that made Bell's growth so explosive in the original story - constant mortal peril translated to rapid advancement.
The key difference was that Bell stumbled into those situations through a combination of bad luck and heroic stupidity. I could and would create them deliberately.
'Great Sage, what's the theoretical maximum number of monsters that could spawn on a single floor at one time?'
[Based on dungeon mechanics from your memories, there is no hard cap, though practical limitations exist. For example lower floors have a lower spawn rate, while there are more adventurers at lower levels, leading to less monsters.]
'But since we are hear very, very early in the morning, there aren't a ton of adventurers while the monsters have had the entire night to spawn right?'
[Affirmative.]
Perfect. The dungeon's own mechanics would work in my favor.
I glanced over at Raza, who was indeed struggling to stay awake. Her eyelids drooped heavily, and she occasionally stumbled slightly as we walked. T
"You know," I said conversationally, "you could probably take a nap. I'll keep watch."
She snorted, though it came out more like a yawn. "Right, because an eight-year-old is going to protect a Level 4. That makes perfect sense."
"I'm a very mature eight-year-old."
"You're a very psychotic eight-year-old," she corrected, but there was fondness in her voice. "And besides, what if something spawns while I'm sleeping? You'd get yourself killed trying to fight it alone."
That was exactly what I was hoping for, though I couldn't say that out loud.
At that moment, four kobolds appeared from the walls, emerging with the characteristic shimmer that marked monster spawning. The sight of them sent a familiar thrill through my system, that anticipation of violence and pain that had become my primary source of emotional stimulation.
Humanoid like monsters, basically human extremities, but with a wolf head that was constantly salivating, wanting to tear flesh. Their eyes were like those of a wild beast, wanting to shed blood and a certain someone could relate to the latter part.
I swung the naginata in front of me, feeling the weapon's balance as I shifted into what I hoped was a combat stance. The blade was silent as a crypt in my grasp, I mean what were you expecting for it to hum or something? It was steel not an out of tune man in his thirties listening to the radio while in the car.
Raza's eyes which were on the verge of closing, opened wide if only for a moment before I told her.
"You can close your eyes just stand back."
She nodded her head, though I could see concern flickering across her features. "I was planning to."
With that a wicked grin spread across my face, the same expression that had earned me the 'little sociopath' nickname. I could feel that familiar transformation beginning, the shift from emotionless child to something more primal and alive.
'Great Sage, if I remember correctly, a weakened kobold is able to call out to all other kobolds in a floor right? Just like the crimson ants in lower floors?'
[Affirmative. Kobolds possess a pack mentality and will summon reinforcements when in distress. The wounded kobold's howl will attract every kobold within auditory range, potentially dozens depending on the floor's current population.]
'Perfect then let's flood this bitch.'
This was it. This was how I'd abuse the excelia system. For as long as I could that is.
I opened my free hand, the one that wasn't holding the naginata, as black fire began to swirl over my palm. The dark flames reached out to my fingers almost as if wanting to caress them. I sadly didn't allow them that pleasure as I shot it out.
BANG
It hit one of the kobolds dead center. The creature didn't even have time to scream before it was consumed entirely, its body turning to ash in seconds. The black fire burned hotter and faster than normal flames, leaving nothing behind but a magic stone that clattered to the ground.
[Status Updated: Magic I (38) → I (39)]
Then I shot two more in rapid succession, my mind already calculating trajectories and timing, thanks thought acceleration.
BANG
BANG
Black fire crackled as each blast found its mark, two more kobolds reduced to nothing in the span of heartbeats. The remaining monster, now alone and facing an opponent who had just obliterated three of its packmates, should have fled. Instead, it snarled and prepared to charge.
But I had other plans.
I began to walk over to the remaining kobold, my steps echoing almost creepily so in the cave like floor. The creature backed away slightly, some survival instinct warning it that something was very wrong with this situation.
Its hackles were raised, and I could hear a low growling emanating from its throat.
In a dash, I closed the distance, swung my naginata fast, the blade slicing through the air leaving a distinct noise behind. The weapon cleaved cleanly through the kobold's arm, separating the limb from its body in a spray of thick dark red blood. The creature howled in pain but I wasn't finished.
The tearing of flesh resounded as I swung two more times in quick succession. Both of the kobold's legs came away in pieces, blood pooling on the dungeon floor as the creature collapsed.
It fell to the ground head first, its remaining arm flailing desperately as it tried to crawl away from me. The sight should have been horrifying, a child systematically dismembering a living creature, but all I felt was that familiar rush of exhilaration.
I looked down at it, my free hand itching just a bit closer to the wounded monster. The kobold's eyes were wide with pain and terror, and I could see the exact moment when it realized what I intended to do. Its remaining arm lunged forward at me in a desperate final attack.
Black flame appeared in my hand, darker yet calmer than before, almost as if it were being controlled, then -
BANG
Its only remaining extremity was blown off as dark fire began to crawl over what remained of the monster's torso. The flames moved slowly, almost deliberately, ensuring maximum pain before the final dissolution, careful not to damage the magical shard in the monster. I drew my naginata closer and closer to its burning body, laying the blade upon its neck.
Then I said, not sure if it would understand me but hoping the intent would carry through.
"Howl."
And howl it did.
Power stones, reviews, comments are appreciated as they help the story. Thanks for reading and author out, I'm going to bed