Morning in Orario broke with golden sunlight, but Noah didn't bother waiting for breakfast.
By the time Hestia yawned her way out of bed, hair a tangled mess, he was already lacing up his boots.
"Wait—what? You're going again?" she asked, rubbing her eyes.
He nodded. "Heading to the Dungeon. I barely touched my limits yesterday."
"But you just got back!" Hestia protested, hurrying to his side. "Don't you want to rest a little? I was thinking we could… you know, go shopping or walk around the plaza…"
He gave her a small smile and gently tapped her forehead. "Later. Right now, I need to grow stronger. Fast."
"…You're serious about this," she murmured.
"I have to be."
She looked up at him, her voice quiet. "Then at least promise you'll be careful."
"I'll come back in one piece," he said. "Maybe two."
Hestia narrowed her eyes. "Not funny."
He leaned closer and winked. "Then give me something to look forward to when I get back."
Her face flushed. "Wha—?!"
"Just a smile would do."
Hestia covered her cheeks. "You're such a flirt…"
"And you're cute when you're mad."
"Noah!"
But he was already laughing and stepping out the door, leaving behind a red-faced goddess clutching her chest like it might burst.
---
By midday, Noah had made it through the second, third, and fourth floors of the Dungeon without breaking a sweat.
Monsters dropped like flies. Goblins, kobolds, and needle rabbits—he moved through them like a storm. His sword work had sharpened, his instincts honed. More importantly, the system kept rewarding him.
[Skill Acquired: Rapid Step (Lv1)]
+25% movement speed after dodging.
[Stat Increase: Strength +30 | Dexterity +20]
His body wasn't just adapting. It was evolving.
Fusion Warrior and Human Chimera were a terrifying combo—and he was only beginning to realize how overpowered it could get.
By the time he reached the fifth floor, the air was different. He could feel it—thicker, heavier.
It was darker here. Narrower tunnels. Rougher stone. He paused to catch his breath and sip from his canteen.
Then he heard it.
A sound that didn't belong.
CRACK. CRUNCH.
Followed by something deep… guttural.
"Hrrraaaaaaauuugh!"
A roar echoed through the halls—raw and animalistic.
Noah's eyes narrowed.
"That didn't sound like a kobold."
He ran toward the noise.
As he rounded a corner, several adventurers bolted past him in a panic.
"Run!" one of them screamed. "It's a Minotaur! A f*cking Minotaur on floor five!"
"What the hell is it doing here?!"
"We're dead! It's over!"
Noah skidded to a stop, heart thudding.
Minotaur. Already?
It shouldn't be here. Floor five was too early. This thing belonged on floor ten or deeper.
But that meant…
His gaze sharpened. This is my chance.
And then it stepped into view.
Ten feet tall. Muscles like boulders. Red eyes glowing with rage.
Its horns scraped the ceiling.
Its nostrils flared.
And it saw him.
"RRAAAAAUUUGH!!"
The beast charged.
Noah grinned.
"Come on then, big guy. Let's see what you're made of."
He dashed forward, blade ready. Their bodies collided like thunder.
The Minotaur's hammer-sized fist smashed down—Noah sidestepped, felt the wind shear past his ear. He rolled under the beast's arm and slashed upward.
Steel bit muscle—but not deep.
"Thick hide," he muttered, leaping back.
CRASH!
The Minotaur slammed both fists down where he'd just stood, cracking the stone floor.
Noah's mind raced.
Can't win in a contest of strength. Have to outpace it.
[Rapid Step] activated.
He blurred sideways and struck again—this time at the back of the knee.
The beast roared in pain and staggered.
[Ding! Critical Strike landed. Bleed effect triggered.]
Nice.
Then, for a moment, everything slowed.
The Minotaur's red eyes locked onto his.
And a new alert flashed across Noah's vision:
[Quest Triggered: Defeat a Level 2 Monster]
Reward: Heavenly Fire – Dual Pistols: Heaven's Judgement
He stopped.
Wait—Heaven's Judgement?
That was Kevin Kaslana's signature weapon.
Noah's grin widened.
"So that's what's waiting for me, huh?"
The Minotaur roared again and rushed, even faster than before.
Noah didn't flinch.
He danced around the creature's strikes, blade flashing in arcs of silver. Blood sprayed the walls. Each strike built toward something. A rhythm. A flow.
He was improvising—but he was learning. Fast.
Every dodge, every step… he was adapting.
And then—an opening.
The Minotaur stumbled. Just one step off-balance.
Noah leapt.
He drove his blade into the beast's throat.
CRACK.
It gurgled.
Staggered.
And collapsed with a thunderous boom.
The Dungeon was silent.
Noah stood there, panting, covered in blood.
Then the system chimed again.
[Minotaur Defeated. Quest Complete.]
[Reward Unlocked: Weapon—Heaven's Judgement (Twin Pistols, Sealed)]
[Skill Unlocked: Flame Core Resonance Lv1]
He stared at his hand as a faint red glow shimmered across his palm.
"…Holy hell."
He'd done it.
He'd soloed a Minotaur—as a level one.
And now… he had Kevin's guns.
---
When Noah returned to the surface, the Guild was buzzing with rumors.
"A rookie took down a Minotaur on the fifth floor!"
"Solo! With a basic sword!"
"People say he didn't even get hit!"
Inside the Guild, Eina stared at him in disbelief.
"You… that was you?!"
Noah placed a pouch of blood-soaked magic stones on her desk.
"Surprised?"
Her mouth opened. Closed. Then opened again.
"You're a monster."
He smirked. "I've been called worse."
As he turned to leave, her voice followed.
"Wait—Noah."
He looked back.
"…Just be careful, okay?"
He gave her a genuine smile.
"I'll try. But I'm kind of allergic to dying."
---
Back at the chapel, Hestia launched herself at him the moment he walked through the door.
"You're okay!"
"Oof—yep. Definitely alive."
She clung to him tightly. "You smell like blood and dirt."
"I smell like victory."
She pulled back slightly, eyes searching his face.
"You fought something strong, didn't you?"
He nodded. "Minotaur."
Her mouth dropped open. "On floor five?!"
"Wrong place, wrong time. Or maybe… right time."
He gently unwrapped a cloth bundle from his belt and revealed the two sleek black pistols now hanging at his waist—glowing faintly with energy.
Hestia stared.
"Noah… what are you?"
He looked at her, eyes calm and full of fire.
"I'm just getting started."