??

  Lyra had activated the hardening rune from the start of the battle. It was also the rune she'd luckily maxed out in this run.

  The Harpy Queen’s claw scratches were more bearable, but the Bleeding status persisted, creating a dilemma. If she stayed still, she’d be attacked. If she moved, the Bleeding would drain her.

  This strategy with ?? isn't working.

  She thought as she was teleported back to the first dungeon.

  Each defeat reset her, returning her to the first dungeon, all accumulated runes gone. Restarting through twelve dungeons, acquiring random runes and upgrades, she still couldn’t defeat the Harpy Queen in the thirteenth room.

  It is frustrating, yet strangely addictive.

  “The rune acquisition provides a sense of progression,” AI explained the allure of Roguelike, “while the randomness of runes and combos is akin to gambling.”

  After ten runs, she was still stuck. The Harpy Queen’s razor-sharp claws, inflicting Bleeding, guaranteed her defeat with a single touch. And the Queen’s speed made them impossible to avoid.

  I was hoping high-level ?? would prevent Bleeding.

  The tale has been illicitly lifted; should you spot it on Amazon, report the violation.

  But her last run, where ?? reached level five, confirmed it only granted high defense, not Bleeding immunity.

  The best strategy at the moment was high-level ?? and ??, for speed and slowing the Queen.

  Lyra prepared for her next run, noticing something different.

  I can hum ?? now?

  “Through repeated use, you’ve become fluent with ??. You can now use its first level at the start.” The mirage explained. “Fluency increases the starting level.”

  This reflects my real-life fluency?

  “Correct,” AI affirmed. “Later, spells and possibly your Spirit Magic will be unlocked. But the fights will be harder.”

  Lyra ran the dungeon, prioritizing ?? and ??. She learned the Queen’s attack patterns. Her battles lasted longer.

  But it wasn’t enough.

  Lyra reset for the 30th time. She now started with ?? and ?? at level three. She hoped to defeat the Queen or gain high fluency before sunrise.

  By the sixth room, she maxed ?? and ??. After the seventh, a new rune appeared.

  [????]

  [Dance of Love - Curse: Leaps mesmerize enemies. 25% chance to stun for 1s]

  “Good job acquiring a Duo Rune,” the mirage congratulated. “It appears when you max ?? and ??.”

  The rune’s description was promising. Unlike ??, it stunned, a significant combat advantage.

  No wonder it’s hard to get. Lyra thought.

  The next rooms were easier. Leaping and maintaining distance was simpler, with enemies stunned. From a safe distance, she eliminated them without a scratch.

  This strategy and the Duo Rune worked perfectly against the lone Harpy Queen. Its claws couldn’t reach her, and after a prolonged battle, the Queen collapsed in defeat.