Solo Dungeon Runner-Chapter 36: [ Level Up! ]

Alexander sat against the wall while Fae walked around the hallway, collecting the dungeon cores and items.

He read the offline documentation, giving his body some time to rest.

He leveled up, and his stats increased. It meant he was stronger, faster, and much more. He felt slightly rejuvenated from the levels, but not healed at all.

Profiles didn't show any stats, but archetypes had tendencies.

Fighters tended to get stronger after gaining a level, while mages usually gained more mana or magic proficiency. It wasn't possible to visualize it, but the Adventurer's Guild guide detailed a dozen of suspected stats with details on which class benefits from which.

As a specialist, his stats were likely evenly distributed, he just couldn't see it. The only way for him to see how much stronger he had gotten, was to face more enemies.

The next thing he looked at was the looting system.

He knew about cores, they fetched a high price depending on their sizes. So many dropped from the statues that Fae had her pockets full.

I'll have to invest in a bottomless bag... he thought.

Most valuable items were usually found through the dungeon. In chests, worn by enemies and so on.

Yet, spontaneous drops happened as well, Alexander witnessing it himself.

Some items lay on the floor amidst the stone chunks and debris, appearing out of thin air.

It was mentioned that inner paths didn't have item or core drop the same way dungeons did, something his own experience confirmed—his Will Breaker's set taken off the corpse of an enemy.

Fae was coming back from the entrance of the dungeon, after looting everything she could find around.

Her hands were full of small items, which she carefully laid on the ground before Alexander before sitting on her knees.

He had her take every core, while looking at the rest himself.

A potion?

He grabbed it with both hands, turning it around in his hands while looking at its content.

The bottle looked fancy, crafted with expertise and attention to detail. The way the glass was encased in an intricately detailed metal exterior with repeating patterns caught the eye.

He looked through the documentation once more, with not much information about potions. The only mention seemed to be a warning about testing potions without having them appraised by a professional first.

"It could be a poison," he said, in thought.

Fae watched him open the bottle, looking at the content inside before dropping a single drop on his finger.

They waited a short moment.

"No pain, tingling, or anything..." he said.

He then rubbed his finger against another to lower the amount of liquid even further.

He brought it to the tip of his tongue. He touched it briefly and then waited.

He could see how intensely Fae gazed at him, awaiting an update.

"I don't feel any pain, strain, tingling, burn... It feels fine, honestly."

After about five minutes, he tried again, this time with more liquid coming into contact.

It felt and tasted like water, with a sweet fruity after-taste.

"I doubt it's a poison."

Alexander could feel the disapproval in her gaze.

He brought the potion to his lips, taking several sips—emptying the bottle.

He put it back down next to him, looking at his fingers and legs awaiting any reaction.

The way she asked 'ARE YOU OKAY?' with her eyes beyond her mask was loud and clear.

"I feel fine. Honestly. No difference at all. I hoped it would've been a healing potion."

He then looked at the other items that dropped. A ring, thread, an incense stick...

"It's all useless..."

He then grabbed the ring, and looked up at Fae.

She remained still, watching him.

"Your hand," he said.

She raised it, Alexander pulling it closer. Her skin was smooth, as perfect as the day he found her, despite everything she had been through.

He slid the ring on her index finger, nodding.

"It probably gives a stat boost. It'll be more useful on you."

She got her hand closer to her face, inspecting the ring up close. He tried understanding her thoughts but couldn't figure it out.

"You like it?" he asked.

She nodded, before dropping her hand.

He didn't feel it until her nod, how much a yes meant a lot.

Moving on, he then grabbed everything, shoving the thread and incense stick in his pockets.

Thread would certainly be easy to sell, the incense stick he honestly had no idea.

"We'll sell everything we don't need. Hopefully we'll have enough for a bottomless bag that has a high capacity."

She nodded, while grabbing his hand as he leaned forward to stand up.

The path ahead was now lit again, holding onto her shoulder, he started walking further in.

He walked around the archmonster, broken in small pieces.

Through the debris he could see the red color standing out, slightly reflecting the torches' light despite the thin layer of dust covering it.

Two red gemstones that served as its eyes.

They walked around a big chunk of rock, Alexander fully relying on Fae for balance.

"Want to grab it?" he asked.

She nodded, letting him lean against the wall while she grabbed both stones.

She then extended her arm, palm up with the two stones in the middle. freёwebnoѵel.com

With [ Witness Of All Paths ] activated, its every detail was an open book.

"I can feel it," he said.

He grabbed her fingers, pulling her hand closer while inspecting the rocks.

"I can feel its mana," he said.

It was a new feeling, something he couldn't feel before.

"The first day, when I found you... I opened my inner path in the middle of the street, everyone sensed it yet I couldn't. It seems sensing mana is one of those 'ghost stats' gained upon leveling up."

He couldn't tell how much it had, and what purpose it could serve at all. With his current stats, its mana was a yes or no question he could answer, that's it.

He grabbed the stones, shoving them in his pockets with the rest of their findings.

He leaned on her shoulder once more, as they walked past the archmonster's remains.

He turned to her, meeting her gaze.

His balance was slightly better, his legs stronger and his breathing easier.

"I think it was a healing potion after all. Its effects just take a long time," he said.

He felt relief, deep down, which she seemed to share.

Because his mind was made—he wouldn't leave until he exploited every level he could gain out of the dungeon.