Chapter 83

After a sound sleep, I lightly moved my body to check my condition.

"Yep, not bad. My HP and MP are almost fully recovered. I should be able to head to the next floor with this."

So, I decided to immediately challenge the second floor.

However, one problem arose.

"How do I get to the second floor? There are still no stairs leading up..."

As I was thinking about this, a system sound rang out in my head as if on cue.

"You can now choose to either challenge the next floor or retire. Please declare one of the options."

Hmm. It seems that if I say it out loud, it will respond.

I immediately declared it.

"I will challenge the second floor."

"Your intention has been confirmed. Transfer will commence."

As usual, a faint light enveloped my body.

Then, the transfer magic activated, and when I came to, I was standing in a different place.

"Where am I exactly..."

This was the complete opposite of the vast, endless grassland of the first floor.

I was standing in a space about 200 meters square, entirely tiled.

I couldn't help but be surprised by the change.

"Sure enough, this dungeon is different from ordinary ones. It's hard to believe this is still inside the same tower... Maybe each floor really is in a different location."

I couldn't help but think such an outlandish thought.

But, I didn't have the luxury to keep thinking about it.

"What's the quest for the second floor? I don't see any monsters around..."

The system sound, as always, answered my question.

"The quest for the second floor is [The Knight of Projection]. Please defeat the one knight that is the target."

The system sound ended there.

The quest name: The Knight of Projection. The target is one knight.

Compared to the first floor's quest, it sounds much easier, but it might also mean the enemy is that much stronger.

"Here it comes."

Then, as if he had arrived by transfer magic, a knight clad in silver armor appeared.

He was quite similar to the Nameless Knight, though with some differences.

As usual, I used the appraisal skill on the knight.

"Wh-what!?"

I widened my eyes when I saw the text written there.

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[The Knight of Projection]

- Recommended Level for Defeat: 6604

- A knight created by reflecting the stats of Amami Rin.

- Some skill reflections failed.

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[The Sword of Projection]

- A sword created by reflecting the sword of the Nameless Knight.

- Recommended Level for Equipment: 6000

- Attack Power +6000

- If the enemy's level (recommended level for defeat) is higher than yours, all stats except HP and MP increase by 56%.

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"A copy of my stats and the Nameless Sword!? I see, it's because my stats were inputted back then...!"

When I finished the tenth dungeon, a system sound indeed rang out.

"I didn't expect it to be used like this, though."

Still, there was no choice but to do it.

I readied the Nameless Sword and faced the Knight of Projection.

"Come at me from any direction---!"

I couldn't finish that sentence.

Before I knew it, the Knight of Projection was right in front of me, much faster than I had anticipated!

"Damn it!"

I narrowly avoided the Knight of Projection's blade and put some distance between us.

I wiped the sweat from my forehead and smiled wryly as I looked at the enemy again.

"I see, no wonder you move beyond my expectations... After all, you have that sword."

I was looking at the Sword of Projection—the sword that copied the Nameless Sword's performance.

In other words, its stats drastically increase against higher-level opponents.

The Knight of Projection's level is 6604, and my current level is 6900.

—The conditions are met.

"I considered this possibility even when the Nameless Knight had it, but it seems the same effect applies even when a monster has it. Seriously, this is going to be tough."

I had always excelled at hunting higher-level enemies.

By being on the receiving end of this, I fully understood the cheat-like nature of the Nameless Sword.

"Considering the original stats and the increase, the recommended level for defeat is 10000? A difference of about 3000 levels. I'm at a significant disadvantage—"

Understanding this fact, I smiled sardonically.

"—But that's why it's worth challenging. I'll make you my nourishment, Knight of Projection!"

And so, the battle began.

A common scenario of fighting an enemy with the same performance as myself.

Rin has grown since she was copied, so it should have been an easy win.

But now, I'll receive the consequences of overusing the Nameless Sword.