"Well, it's finally the last of the desert floors, but looking at this... you’d never think we were in a desert."
"Guruuu."
Rei muttered as he gazed out at the oasis stretching across B15F of the dungeon. Beside him, Seto cooed in agreement.
It was the day after the incident with Sky Bell at the guild. As was their custom, the two men and one beast—Rei, Elena, and Seto—had returned to dive into the depths once more.
"It certainly doesn't look like a desert. However..."
Listening to Rei’s words, Elena lowered the hood of her mantle.
The moment she did, the intense, characteristic heat of the desert surged against her face, prompting her to immediately pull the hood back up.
"The temperature is pure desert. If anything, it might be even hotter than the floors above. Fortunately, thanks to the oasis, water shouldn't be an issue."
Elena cast a brief glance toward the watering hole.
While portable canteens had been essential on the previous floors, there was no need to worry about the weight of carrying water on B15F, given how close they were to a source.
(Though that likely only applies to those with skill or extraordinary luck,) she thought privately.
She noted the bloodstains scattered near the water's edge.
"At any rate, with all these trees, it would be difficult for Seto to perform scouting from the air. Considering that, I think it’s better if we move together on the ground this time. Would you mind, Seto?"
In response to Rei’s question, Seto cooed to signal that it was no problem.
The gryphon seemed fascinated by the floor, which was vast enough that the water felt more like a lake than a simple oasis, but it hadn't forgotten their objective of reaching the bottom of the dungeon.
"But Rei, with a watering hole this large, we should assume there are many monsters on this floor. I heard as much from Pleiades. That means there should be plenty of Magic Stones—your primary objective."
"True. Personally, I'd be happy for the chance, but... are you okay with that, Elena?"
"I don't mind. Diving into this dungeon has become something of a hobby for me anyway. There’s no need to rush."
While their official dungeon exploration was meant to find a magic item for long-distance communication, they were technically here on their day off. For Elena, spending more time in Exil meant spending more time with Rei.
Rei might not have fully grasped the depth of her feelings, but he certainly didn't mind the extra time together. In fact, he found the prospect quite pleasing.
"I see. In that case, I'll take you up on that. Right, Seto?"
"Gurulululu!"
Seto cooed happily, thrilled by the idea of unknown Magic Stones for self-improvement and, perhaps more importantly, the chance to eat unknown monster meat.
Elena watched them with a fond smile before suddenly recalling the events of the previous day. She turned her gaze back to Rei.
"Rei, aren't you going to perform a Magic Stone absorption with the Cyclops stone? Even though we're in the desert floors, there are plenty of places to hide around the oasis. I doubt other adventurers would spot us."
"That's a good point."
With the trees surrounding the small room and the lush foliage encircling the lake-like oasis, there were plenty of shadows to hide in. The risk of being seen by others was minimal.
"It’s a Cyclops Magic Stone, so it’s almost guaranteed to provide an immediate boost to our combat strength. The only issue is that we only have one... but let's move for now."
Elena and Seto nodded, following Rei as he headed toward the shade of a particularly large tree.
Finding a suitable spot was easy. Once they were settled in the shadows, Rei immediately withdrew the Cyclops Magic Stone from the Misty Ring.
"The question is whether the Death Scythe or Seto should absorb it. Normally, I’d say Seto."
"Guruuu?"
Seto cooed, tilting its head as if asking why.
From Rei’s perspective, having witnessed the battle between the Cyclops and Vihera, he suspected that if the Death Scythe absorbed the stone, it would likely grant a level in Power Slash.
While Rei could use his Level 2 Power Slash reasonably well, the skill—which specialized in the raw power of a single strike—wasn't particularly versatile for him. It delivered a massive blow, but it also left him momentarily stationary and vulnerable. Furthermore, the shock of the impact was significant.
He judged that it would be better for Seto, whose physical capabilities far exceeded his own, to acquire that type of technique.
Rei explained his reasoning and held the stone out to the gryphon.
"Seto, you have the Bracelet of Herculean Strength and your natural physical ability. I think you can acquire a skill that utilizes that power even more effectively. Will you take this one?"
"Guruuu... Gurulululu."
Seto met Rei’s gaze, let out a soft cry, and gently took the Magic Stone from his hand with its beak before swallowing it whole.
A moment later...
[Seto has learned the skill 'Magic Eye of Shock Lv.1']
The announcement message echoed in the minds of both Rei and Seto.
"...Huh?"
"Guruuu?"
The acquisition of such an unexpected skill left them both sounding dumbfounded. However, Rei quickly grasped the nature of the ability and nodded.
"Magic Eye of Shock... Oh, that’s right. The Cyclops had that ability to fire shockwaves of magic power from its single eye. I completely expected a skill related to its physical strength, but..."
Elena seemed to understand what kind of skill it was from Rei’s reaction. A look of surprise crossed her face, followed by a soft smile. Her expression suggested that this might actually be better than the strength-based skill Rei had anticipated.
"Seto already possesses a powerful physical strike. I understand why you wanted to strengthen that, Rei, but a shockwave of magic power is likely similar to what the Jewel Sniper used. Being able to fire invisible shockwaves sounds like a very practical skill, doesn't it?"
"True. Though Seto already has Wind Arrow for long-range attacks that are hard to see. Well, that’s only at Level 1 and doesn't have much power, so it’s mostly just a distraction."
As Rei muttered pensively, Elena lightly patted his shoulder.
"I can say this because wind magic is my specialty: while wind magic like Wind Arrow is difficult to see, it isn't truly invisible. Besides, if my hunch is correct... Seto, try using your new skill on a target."
"Guruuu?"
Seto looked to Rei for permission. When Rei nodded, Seto turned toward a nearby tree and activated the Magic Eye of Shock.
"Gurululuu!"
The instant Seto let out a sharp cry, the bark of the tree trunk burst apart. It was only a surface-level impact—scraps of bark flew into the air and fell to the ground—but the power was roughly equivalent to several Wind Arrows.
What truly surprised Rei and brought a triumphant smile to Elena’s face was the speed of the activation.
When using Wind Arrow, an arrow of wind would manifest behind Seto before being launched. The same applied to other long-range skills like Water Ball or Ice Arrow. The Magic Eye, however, generated a shock at the exact point of focus the very moment it was activated.
The difference was only a matter of seconds, but in a real fight, those seconds were worth their weight in gold.
"This is... actually incredible. I heard the name 'Magic Eye of Shock' and assumed it was just a projectile attack like the Jewel Sniper’s."
"I thought the same at first," Elena replied. "But then I realized it wouldn't be called a 'Magic Eye' if that were the case. I’m glad we tested it."
"Guruuu?"
Seto tilted its head, asking if it had done well. Rei smiled and stroked its head.
"Yeah, you did great. The power is still low since it's only Level 1, but it’s more than enough for a distraction. The next question is range. Seto, try using the Magic Eye on that tree over there."
Rei pointed to a tree about ten meters away.
"Guruuu!"
Seto instantly activated the eye again. The shock manifested immediately, but the power was significantly reduced. Where it had burst the bark of the closer tree, this time it only left a faint mark—little more than a scratch.
Rei walked over to the tree to inspect the damage and let out a small sigh. At this level of power, it wasn't viable as a long-range weapon.
"So the power drops off in proportion to the distance. It’ll be great for close combat, but... I still wish Seto had picked up something like Power Slash."
"Guru, Gurulululuu..."
Seeing Seto hang its head apologetically, Rei quickly shook his head and gave the gryphon a comforting scratch.
"It's not your fault, so don't be depressed. The skill you get is mostly down to luck."
"Guruuu?"
Rei nodded as Seto looked up at him with wide, pleading eyes.
Elena watched the pair, adding a comment of her own.
"It might be difficult to use at a distance, but the fact remains that it creates an instantaneous shock. Wouldn't it be perfect for catching an opponent off guard?"
"You're right. I might have been focusing too much on pure raw power. Skills aren't just for dealing damage."
Accepting Elena's perspective, Rei decided the Magic Stone absorption was a success and stepped out from the shade of the tree.
"Oh, that reminds me. I heard back at the inn that B15F has areas where a certain fruit grows—one that sells for quite a high price. Apparently, it's also delicious."
At Elena's words, the slightly heavy atmosphere between Rei and Seto evaporated. They both began scanning their surroundings with renewed interest. In Seto’s case, it was likely pure curiosity about the fruit; in Rei’s, he was taking the opportunity to follow Elena’s lead. He cast a look of quiet gratitude toward her as they moved.
"Gurululuu?"
Seto looked around for the fruit, but there was nothing of the sort in sight.
"I suppose they wouldn't be right near the entrance. If they grew where adventurers pass by frequently, they’d be picked immediately."
"Guruuu..."
Seto cooed with disappointment, but it quickly decided that they simply had to go deeper into the oasis. It used its beak to tug on the hem of the dragon robe, urging Rei to hurry.
"Right, let's see if we can find some."
Led by Seto, Rei and Elena walked along the edge of the oasis, peering into the canopy of the surrounding trees.
"So, what does this fruit look like? Any identifying features?"
"I heard it's roughly the size of a human head."
"That's... surprisingly large."
Rei had been picturing something like an apple. He frowned slightly at the harsh desert sun. Thanks to the Dragon Robe and the magic item mantle, neither he nor Elena felt the heat directly. Elena’s mantle wasn't as effective as the Dragon Robe, but her inheritance of the Ancient Dragon Magic Stone likely provided her with significant natural resistance.
(Is it like a coconut? Though coconuts feel more tropical than desert-like.)
They spent about an hour searching the oasis. Despite the watering hole being a prime spot for monsters, they hadn't encountered a single one.
"Gurululuu!"
Seto suddenly let out a sharp cry.
Following its gaze, Rei and Elena saw a tree a short distance away. Nestled among the branches about five meters up was a fruit the size of a human head. Its surface was mottled with patterns of green and blue, making it look almost inedible at first glance.
Rei turned an uncertain look toward Elena.
"Is that it?"
"Yes. At least, it matches the description I was given."
"Are you sure... that's it?"
He asked again, but Elena only gave a firm nod.
"Gurulululu!"
Seto let out a sharp cry as it activated its Magic Eye of Shock. The stem connecting the fruit to the branch instantly burst, sending the prize tumbling toward the ground.
"Whoops!"
Rei kicked off the earth, rushing beneath the tree just in time to catch the heavy fruit.
[Seto] 'Water Ball Lv.3' 'Fire Breath Lv.3' 'Wind Arrow Lv.1' 'King's Intimidation Lv.1' 'Poison Claw Lv.4' 'Size Change Lv.1' 'Tornado Lv.1' 'Ice Arrow Lv.1' 'Optical Camouflage Lv.2' 'Magic Eye of Shock Lv.1' (New)
Magic Eye of Shock: Inflicts shock damage at the point of focus the moment it is activated. The power varies based on the distance between Seto and the target; the further away the target, the weaker the impact. At Lv.1, its maximum power is only enough to flick away the surface of a tree. However, it possesses the advantage of being instantaneous, with virtually no delay between activation and impact.