Considering I had already fought against a Level 20 monster back on the trade road, even if I had been part of a group at the time, this encounter wasn't exactly a world-shattering ordeal. However, it was undeniably the most challenging and complex fight I had faced so far within the confines of the dungeon. Compared to the previous floor bosses, the difficulty had taken a sudden, jagged jump. This creature hadn't been a mere "Floor Boss"; it was a "Mini Boss," and I resolved to accept that distinction as the reason for the spike in lethality.
As the massive, broken body of the Predator Serpent began to disintegrate into dark vapor, the room’s interior followed suit. The jagged stalactites hanging from the ceiling and the sharp rock protrusions erupting from the floor—features that had been entirely absent in the clinical, dome-shaped arenas of the first four floors—began to dissolve into nothingness. The cave-like predator’s lair was reverting into the standard empty, spherical chamber characteristic of the labyrinth’s milestones.
When the serpent was completely gone and the room had returned to its vacant state, I could finally inspect the rewards. In the center of the floor sat a small pile of currency: one silver Obscura coin and fifty copper coins. I noted the ratio immediately. It was exactly ten times the amount dropped by the regular monsters on this floor. The economic scaling between the boss and the rank-and-file remained consistent, even with the shift from Floor Boss to Mini Boss.
It would have felt unfair if the creature had only dropped coins at the standard rate, given the risk involved. Fortunately, there was a physical object resting amidst the copper. It was a long, curved tooth, nearly the length of my forearm and cold to the touch. I focused my mind and used the ‘Identify’ skill to ascertain its utility.
***
Iron Fang
Iron Fang of the Predator Serpent. It can be melted to create iron equipment.
10kg
***
I wasn't entirely certain of its market value yet, but I knew that high-grade iron was always in demand for the city’s many smithies. If this fang could be processed into equipment, it was likely worth more than the coins themselves.
I began to gather the drops, but as I scanned the floor, I realized the room was not as empty as it should have been. A few meters away from where the serpent had manifested, there were two distinct heaps of discarded items. One was a larger pile consisting of seven pieces of gear; the other was a smaller cluster of three. I walked over and poked through the remains. They were all basic copper swords, worn leather footwear, and simple shoulder protectors. While none of them were particularly valuable on their own, the sheer volume meant I could likely secure a respectable amount of silver by selling them to a second-hand merchant.
Initially, I assumed these were a secondary drop from the boss, but the logic didn't hold up. Ten pieces of equipment was an absurdly high yield for a Level 5 encounter. Then, I remembered the state of the room when I entered. The boss had already manifested before I stepped through the doors—a break from the usual pattern where the monster coalesces only after the raider arrives.
Wait, the realization hit me with the force of a shield bash. What happens if a party fails to kill the boss and dies instead?
Looking at the three pieces of equipment in the smaller heap—exactly one sword and two boots—I couldn't help but think of the party that had entered just before me. The arrogant blonde leader, his fawning lackey, and the quiet girl. Had they really attempted to challenge a five-meter-long Predator Serpent with nothing but basic copper blades? After calling me an arrogant idiot, they had been wiped out in under five minutes.
I felt a brief flash of pity, specifically for the girl who had been tied to those two fools, but the sentiment was quickly replaced by my cold, isekai pragmatism. They were strangers to me, and their carelessness had provided me with a unexpected windfall. I wasn't going to let the ghosts of three idiots ruin my long-dreamed-of fantasy journey. I gathered their gear and added it to my haul.
I was already carrying a significant load, and these new items pushed me toward my limit. I decided to merge my copper coins first to lighten the physical burden. I had forty copper coins left over from yesterday, and I had collected another 450 on the way to the boss room. Combined with the fifty from the serpent, I had a total of 540 copper. I kept fifteen as loose change and merged the remaining 525.
Because of the 5% mana tax, the 525 copper yielded five silver Obscura coins. My total take for the day so far was six silver coins and fifteen copper pieces. Combined with my existing funds of fourteen Targonia gold and two Targonia silver, I was making steady progress toward my goal. I needed at least sixteen gold to purchase that Catkin slave from Zaydanov, plus a buffer of fifty silver for emergencies.
I utilized my Raider’s Sack skill to organize the loot. My Dungeon Raider job had reached Level 8, granting me eight functional inventory slots. I filled them methodically: fangs, swords, footwear, copper, and gold. The 10kg Iron Fang barely fit into a single slot, but the system accepted it.
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I didn't leave the room immediately. A dull, rhythmic throb had started in my temples—a nagging headache that made it difficult to focus. I was also feeling an unusual level of physical lethality. I decided to sit on the floor and consume some provisions while I rested. While I chewed the bland bread, I opened my status window to investigate the cause of my discomfort.
***
HP: 146
MP: 11/50
SP: 30/81
***
The data told the whole story. My health was perfectly full, which made sense given that I hadn't taken a single direct hit from the serpent. However, my Stamina had dropped by more than half, and my Mana was nearly depleted.
The pieces of the puzzle fell into place. I had used two skills back-to-back: Survival Instinct and Sword Dance. Each skill consumed twenty points of MP. I had started with fifty, used forty, and apparently regained one point during the rest period, leaving me at eleven. In many of the stories I remembered, overdrawing one's mana pool was said to cause mental strain or even a breakdown. The headache was clearly my body's warning that I was flirting with mana exhaustion.
As for my Stamina, the Warrior skill had boosted my Agility by siphoning off my Endurance. The physical exertion of moving at 1.5x speed while fighting a five-meter snake had burned through forty points of SP in a matter of seconds. I resolved to be more mindful of these resources in the future; having high stats was meaningless if I lacked the energy to use the skills that made me truly dangerous.
After finishing my water and resting until the room had shrunk to half its size, I felt refreshed enough to continue. I decided it was best to call it a day, but I wanted to at least secure the entrance to the next level first. I walked through the exit door and stepped onto the sixth floor.
The moment I crossed the threshold, I noticed a subtle but distinct change. The corridors were identical in shape, and the same glowing lines covered the stone, but the color had shifted. On floors one through five, the veins had been a dull, neutral gray. Here, they were a pale, sickly green.
It didn't necessarily mean a massive jump in difficulty, but the change in aesthetic suggested a new "zone." I felt a tingle of anticipation. Whatever awaited me on the sixth floor would be a different experience entirely. Since I had officially registered my presence on the new level, I turned back and exited the dungeon through the main gate.
I had originally planned to use Warp to return to the inn, but I remembered that both the Dungeon Raiders Guild and the equipment shops were located on this side of the city. It was more efficient to handle my business now while I was already here. Since the evening rush hadn't yet begun, the streets were relatively quiet.
I visited the Guild first to sell the Iron Fang. The receptionist inspected the heavy tooth and offered me fifty silver coins for it. She mentioned that a skilled smith could use it to forge five high-quality one-handed iron swords or two heavy shields. I realized then that the raw materials were just the beginning; the labor and expertise of the blacksmith added exponentially to the final price. I took the fifty silver, satisfied that a single drop had earned me more than three times what I’d made from the actual boss encounter.
Next, I crossed the street to an equipment shop. I laid out the scavenged copper swords and leather gear from the dead party. I wasn't a master negotiator like Malikstein, and I didn't have the energy for a long bargain. In the end, the shopkeeper offered me one gold and fifty silver coins for the lot. I accepted immediately. It was a significant sum for "trash" gear, and it pushed my daily earnings into the territory of true profit.
***
Current Funds
Gold Coins: 15
Silver Coins: 108
Copper Coins: 15
***
With the extra jobs completed, I finally headed back to the inn. I requested my hot water and a towel before dinner, wanting to wash away the grime of the serpent's lair before I ate. I cleaned myself slowly, savoring the warmth of the water as the mental fog of my mana depletion finally began to lift.
I changed into my sleeping clothes and sat by the window, reflecting on the day. The fifth floor had been dangerous, far more so than the ones above it. If I didn't continue to improve my raw fighting prowess, I might find myself in a real predicament once I reached the double-digit floors. My cheat skills were powerful, but I was still an amateur in a world of veterans.
However, the financial gains were undeniable. I had earned more today than in the previous two days combined. I checked my progress one last time.
***
Equipped Jobs:
Swordsman Level 17
Warrior Level 8
Dungeon Raider Level 8
Hunter Level 21
Villager Level 21
***
My Hunter and Villager jobs had both surpassed Level 20. I briefly considered unequipping the Villager job to focus all my experience gain on my combat roles, but I decided against it. It had been the prerequisite for almost everything I had unlocked so far, and I didn't want to risk missing out on a high-tier unlock because I grew impatient.
I had now amassed more than the sixteen gold coins required for the slave purchase. I could visit Zaydanov tomorrow if I wished. However, I decided I would first take a quick look at the sixth floor. I needed to know exactly what kind of challenge I would be facing before I decided which type of companion would best serve my needs.
With my coins safely stored in my invisible inventory and my mind at peace, I climbed into bed. The room grew dark as the last embers in the hearth died out, and I fell into a deep, well-earned sleep.
[Edited]
