I Became My Healer Elf Character - Chapter 16

Chapter 16: First Upper Floors
It didn’t take the two long to see fighting as they entered the first floor. A group of adventurers were battling it out with a group of [Gnolls]. These were some relatively small, lower level hyena monsters that reached up to about Hikari’s height. As for the group, they seemed to be winning as a small party of four.

The guild did have some rules about combat engagement in dungeon environments. First of all, all monsters in dungeons had drops. Inside of them, their bodies would vanish into magic particles, feeding into the dungeon. The rules were that adventurers couldn’t take other people’s bounties. Depending on the situation, there could be penalties, unless the other party appeared to be in a tough spot. As for how the guild would get proof, that was less understood, but the burden fell on the ones making accusations. Basically, it was innocent until proven guilty.

As for the first floor, the make up was a forest containing many of the monsters you’d find in those regions otherwise. It was said that the first 10 floors were a forest region.

When the adventurer’s eventually defeated the small pack of [Gnolls], the monsters disappeared into glowing particles that floated up towards the ceiling. As for that aspect, it was like a skybox, currently depicting the same time of day as outside the dungeon. Left on the ground from their defeat were some torn pelts of the hyena monsters.

Hikari watched the adventurers place the pelts into their large backpacks before continuing on into the small forest. The feeling of rejection she got came in waves, but it didn’t do anything other than give her a small prod. Almost like telling her “you shouldn’t be here.”

As they passed under the canopy of trees, the first group of monsters charged—another small pack of [Gnolls]. They seemed to laugh and snarl with one charging at the front. Hikari carefully inspected it.

[Dungeon Gnoll]

Level: 7

Title: [Leader]

Effect: [Pack Boosted]

Strength: 38 + 5

Agility: 31 + 5

Intelligence: 3 + 5

Wisdom: 5 + 5

Faith: 10 + 5

Health: 74 + 5

Mana: 0

Stamina: 80 + 5

It seemed like the [Pack Boosted] effect worked for only the leader, giving him a stat gain in almost everything. The others were also lower level. The highest one only reached to level 5. This group of six [Gnolls] didn’t even pose a threat, though. It would be more akin to slapping away an insect.

Hikari looked towards her dragon. “Go easy on them.”

The dragon stood in front of her master, and the group of monsters charged head on with their low intelligence stat, laughing like they just found an easy prey.

Kurayami put her palm towards the monsters. “You should really realize when you’re outmatched. [Despair].”

Dark magic spread forward from the dragon, engulfing the monsters entirely. Before they could scream or continue laughing, their life was sucked out of them. The shock on their faces was evident as they vanished into particles, leaving behind two tattered pelts.

Kurayami often served as a front liner. However, as a dragon of darkness, she’d mastered the spells under the domains of dark and death. The spell she just used—[Despair]—was actually a debuff, striking fear into the hearts of enemies. Typically, it would never be enough to kill anything, but there was an initial amount of dark damage a unit would take. It just so happened that 79 health was definitely not enough to withstand.

Hikari sucked the pelts into her inventory. Theoretically, there was nothing against her leaving them. After a while, drops would also be absorbed by the dungeon, becoming potential for new loot in treasure chests. In a way, a dungeon was environmentally friendly, recycling dead monsters, adventurers, or drops.

Either way, they continued on into the forest, easily defeating the few [Gnolls] or [Forest Sprites] they crossed. Each time, it was a single [Despair] spell that did them in. As for the [Forest Sprites], they dropped something called [Sprite Dust] an element commonly used in alchemy as a foundation for potions.

By the time they reached the steps to the second floor, Hikari was glad. She was getting bored of the same monsters over and over. Her initial excitement to explore was slowly being drained.

However, she couldn’t be happy. The second floor was much of the same with the addition of [Trappers]. These plants were solitary creatures, appearing much like a regular plant until you got close. Then they would try to lash out with green limbs, attempting to suck you into their large maws.

There was a more rare variant called [Poisonous Trapper], and this one would release spores that could dull your senses. The drops for the normal variant was called [Asparagus Vines], and it was a common ingredient in spices, usually crushed into a powder. The rare variant would drop the same, but you could also get a vial of [Trapper Poison].

Hikari didn’t miss a single drop, storing them all in her unlimited space. The floors continued like this with the introduction of a few different monsters like [Goblins] and [Forest Trolls]. The [Goblins] also received a bonus similar to the pack effect. However, it was called [Tribe Boost], and it gave them all a buff. The trolls were more solitary, and they were a rare occurrence across all of the floors, but they proved to be some of the stronger monsters. However, for Hikari they also weren’t a problem.

Accompanying each floor were small increases in level. For example, Floor 10 had [Gnoll] leaders who were up to level 21. Incidentally, Hikari hadn’t even found a single treasure chest—most of them plundered by the low level adventurers. It didn’t take them long to reach the boss door.

Two flaming braziers signaled the change, and the large stone door opened for adventurers in a line. As soon as one group crossed the threshold, the door would close and wait for their battle.

When it became Hikari’s turn, she hoped the boss would at least prove interesting.