The One-Eyed Silent Swordsman
Arc 7: Dungeon Arc
Chapter 24: The Gate
Silence.
The word still echoes.
"…C-rank."
But it doesn't settle.
Not yet.
The evaluator doesn't move.
Doesn't leave.
Just… watches.
"…Something's wrong."
A voice breaks.
"…That wasn't C-rank level…"
"…Not even close…"
The clerk hesitates.
"…Evaluator?"
A pause.
Then—
"…C-rank…"
"…is insufficient."
Silence.
Complete.
"…What?"
"…Insufficient?"
The evaluator steps forward.
"…Subject exceeds measured range."
"…Standard promotion invalid."
"…Re-evaluation approved."
"…Conditional promotion granted."
"…Rank…"
"…B."
The room shatters into noise.
"…B-RANK?!"
No reaction from me.
"…Conditions apply."
"…Temporary status."
"…Assigned mission."
A pause.
"…Dungeon."
Fear spreads instantly.
"…No one comes back…"
The evaluator looks at me.
"…Clear it."
"…Or die."
A dark card slides forward.
I take it.
"…Good."
"…Dungeon…"
"…Finally something worth testing."
—
Afternoon.
The gate stands ahead.
Dark.
Silent.
I step in.
The world shifts.
Cold stone.
[Floor: 1]
[Recommended Monster Level: 3]
A monster crawls forward.
One step.
One strike.
Exp +40
[EXP: 43,540 / 560,000]
More.
Exp +35
[EXP: 43,575 / 560,000]
Exp +50
[EXP: 43,625 / 560,000]
"…Everything attacks."
—
[Floor: 2]
[Recommended Monster Level: 6]
Exp +70
[EXP: 43,695 / 560,000]
—
[Floor: 3]
[Recommended Monster Level: 9]
Exp +110
[EXP: 43,805 / 560,000]
Exp +120
[EXP: 43,925 / 560,000]
—
[Floor: 4]
[Recommended Monster Level: 12]
Exp +150
[EXP: 44,075 / 560,000]
Exp +170
[EXP: 44,245 / 560,000]
—
[Floor: 5]
[Recommended Monster Level: 15]
Exp +200
[EXP: 44,445 / 560,000]
Exp +220
[EXP: 44,665 / 560,000]
—
[Floor: 6]
[Recommended Monster Level: 18]
Exp +260
[EXP: 44,925 / 560,000]
Exp +280
[EXP: 45,205 / 560,000]
"…Too low."
—
Evening.
I exit.
Buy a watch.
Tick.
Tick.
"…Now time won't be lost."
—
Day 1 Ends
Floor: 6
[EXP: 45,205 / 560,000]
—
Day 2
Back inside.
[Floor: 7 → 20]
Everything dies the same way.
Exp +300
[EXP: 45,505 / 560,000]
Exp +420
[EXP: 45,925 / 560,000]
Exp +510
[EXP: 46,435 / 560,000]
Exp +600
[EXP: 47,035 / 560,000]
"…No difference."
—
Day 2 Ends
Floor: 28
[EXP: 48,735 / 560,000]
—
Day 7
[Floor: 37 → 48]
No resistance.
Exp +1,200
[EXP: 50,695 / 560,000]
Exp +1,500
[EXP: 52,195 / 560,000]
Exp +1,800
[EXP: 53,995 / 560,000]
"…Still slow."
—
Day 7 Ends
Floor: 48
[EXP: 53,995 / 560,000]
—
Day 15
[Floor: 68 → 78]
Slight pressure increase.
Still irrelevant.
Exp +2,200
[EXP: 56,195 / 560,000]
Exp +2,600
[EXP: 58,795 / 560,000]
—
Day 15 Ends
Floor: 78
[EXP: 58,795 / 560,000]
—
Day 24
[Floor: 90 → 94]
Awareness increases.
Not danger.
Exp +3,200
[EXP: 61,995 / 560,000]
Exp +3,800
[EXP: 65,795 / 560,000]
—
Day 24 Ends
Floor: 94
[EXP: 65,795 / 560,000]
—
Day 27
Final descent.
[Floor: 97]
[Recommended Monster Level: 291]
[Floor: 98]
[Recommended Monster Level: 294]
Silence changes.
—
[Floor: 99]
[Recommended Monster Level: 297]
A presence.
Stronger.
Still not enough.
One step.
One strike.
End.
Exp +12,800
[EXP: 78,595 / 560,000]
—
Day 27 Ends
Floor: 99 Cleared
[EXP: 78,595 / 560,000]
"…Done."
But—
The air changes.
Heavier.
Burning.
"…Floor 100."
—
Morning.
The guild.
Noise.
Normal.
I walk in.
"…Here's today's report."
The card is placed.
Silence.
"…Dungeon Floor Cleared: 99."
Everything stops.
"…This is impossible…"
"…System seal…"
"…It's real…"
"…How is it possible?"
"…Even A-Rank parties didn't cleared to level 50…"
Fear spreads.
"…Rank."
"…Temporary B-rank."
"…What!."
"…You don't care?"
"…It doesn't change anything."
A voice—
"…Then you know what's next."
"…This is Floor 100."
Silence.
"…We heard there is a dragon…"
"…No one survived against him…"
"…Who can kill him?"
"…You're not going back… right?"
"…I am."
Many adventurers asked
"…Can we come to witness that fight?"
More follow.
Not to help.
To watch.
—
The gate again.
Deeper.
Heavier.
—
[Floor: 100]
[Recommended Monster Level: 400]
Silence.
No monsters.
Only space.
Then—
Heat.
Violent.
The ground cracks.
Flames erupt.
A massive shadow forms.
Wings unfold.
Fire spreads.
Eyes open.
Locked on me.
[Appraisal Failed]
"…Dragon…"
Pressure falls.
Crushing.
Others freeze.
"…I can't move…"
The dragon inhales.
Flames gather—
"…Run!!"
"…It will kill us…"
Explosion.
Everything burns.
They scatter.
Barely alive.
I move.
Forward.
The dragon roars.
The ground breaks.
It attacks—
Fast.
I step in.
Forward.
"…Silent Flow."
Everything aligns.
The attack passes.
Missed.
I appear beneath it.
"…Air Slash."
Compressed.
Focused.
A single line.
It hits.
Clean.
The dragon freezes.
A pause.
Then—
It splits.
Silence.
Complete.
The flames vanish.
The pressure disappears.
The watchers stand frozen.
"…What…"
"…That's it?"
"…He killed it… in one hit…"
"…No struggle…"
"…Not even a fight…"
The dungeon calms.
Like nothing happened.
Exp +250,000
[EXP: 328,595 / 560,000]
[Level: 478]
[Skill Evolution]
Silent Flow → Silent Flow: Absolute
[Item Acquired: Fire Dragon Core]
[Skill Unlocked: Heat Resistance Lv.1]
[Skill Learned: Flame Step]
[Title Evolved: Dragon Slayer → Dragon Slayer II]
[Title Acquired: Inferno Slayer]
[Title: Dragon Slayer Slayer II]
I stand still.
Breathing steady.
"Inventory…"
[Item stored: Fire Dragon]
[Item stored: Fire Dragon Core]
No damage.
No effort.
"…So this was Floor 100."
A quiet thought.
"…Not enough."
I turn.
Walk toward the exit.
Behind me—
No one speaks.
They can't.
"…Monster…"
"…No…"
"…Something worse…"
I step out.
Light returns.
The world feels smaller.
Again.
My grip tightens slightly.
"…Next…"
No hesitation.
No doubt.
"…I didn't think that a dragon will die like this…"
"…I go beyond this."
Chapter End
Next Chapter: The Invite From Guild Master
Time: Tuesday, 6 PM GMT +5:30