.Usually, when Mark entered the first floor, he wouldn't keep his Multi-Sense active. It was a habit, as the area around the gate on the first floor was a monster-free zone. Consequently, he had inadvertently let his guard down. He was in such a good mood, as if saying, "Hello, second floor, I'm new here—please show me your beauty." However, the dungeon's welcome was more akin to a blunt "Welcome, motherfucker."
Mark lunged to the side, narrowly evading the lethal threat aimed at his head, and instantly activated Multi-Sense. Within the monochromatic world of Blind Sense, he identified his assailant. It was a two-meter-tall creature, heavily muscled with broad shoulders, its waist wrapped in animal hide. Two tusks protruded from its mouth, and in its grip was a massive axe—the same axe that had just slammed into the spot where Mark had been standing. The System's appraisal flickered:
Type: Orc
Mana: D-
Ki: None
"Alright, this Orc isn't exactly weak," Mark thought. Even as the thought crossed his mind, the Orc raised its axe again and charged. Mark met the attack head-on with his Blind Staff. As the axe and staff collided, Mark found himself at a physical disadvantage, struggling against the brute's strength. Yet, his mind remained sharp, recalling a principle he had once formulated: "If your opponent is taller and you don't hold the strength advantage, instead of trying to end the fight instantly, you should first strike their legs to immobilize them."
Following this logic, he freed his left hand and aimed his palm at the Orc's right leg. He then unleashed his new magic: Air Blade. To an outside observer, it was invisible—a mere distortion in the air that looked like a ripple. The Air Blade sliced forward, carving a deep gash into the Orc's knee.
Simultaneously, Mark leaped back to create distance, his left hand shaped like a pistol pointing toward the ground. A conical stone manifested at his fingertips, spinning at a blurring speed. Once he gained enough distance, he aimed his hand and the conical stone at the Orc, releasing Stone Bullet 2.0. The bullet tore through the air and slammed into the Orc's chest, gouging a massive hole. The Orc, still reeling from the pain in its leg, barely registered the impact before the world around it faded into darkness.
Air Blade was, in essence, a modified version of Air Repulsion. Normally, Air Repulsion consisted of compressing air and abruptly releasing it to create a physical force. However, Air Blade was created by maintaining that compression during the release, further sharpening and directing the airflow into a localized edge. Its effective combat range was limited to 3 meters, completely dissipating once it reached the 5-meter mark.
Despite the sudden ambush, Mark felt a surge of grim satisfaction. He had finally managed to successfully execute Stone Bullet 2.0 in a high-stakes, real-time combat situation. He had begun practicing this specific spell long before the goblin shaman had managed to lure him into that nearly fatal trap, but back then, he had been unable to utilize it effectively. Now, at long last, he was witnessing the tangible results of his relentless labor.Despite the outcome, this Orc had been far from weak. In terms of raw physical strength, it could have easily overpowered Mark. Had the circumstances allowed, he might have prolonged the fight or tested his own physical limits against it. However, he now had "guests" to attend to. He noticed several bite marks on the Orc's arms and legs before quickly storing the carcass and the axe into his inventory.
Through Earth Sense, he could hear a multitude of approaching footsteps from a distance. As they entered his Multi-Sense radius, Mark used the System's appraisal to identify them: twenty Dire Wolves. Excluding the alpha, the average shoulder height of these beasts was 1.8 meters, with an average body length of 2.2 meters. Their mean mana level was E. The largest among them—likely the pack leader—stood approximately 2.5 meters at the shoulder and was 3.5 meters long, with a mana level of D.
If Mark hadn't been so close to the gate, or if he hadn't been confident in his ability to retreat at any moment, he wouldn't have taken such a risk. Although Dire Wolves possessed mana and monster cores, their true strengths lay in their speed, biting force, keen sense of smell, acute hearing, and pack coordination. Their defense, however, was relatively weak, and their lack of magic was a distinct vulnerability.
As the wolves closed in, Mark planted his Blind Staff into the ground. Instantly, an Earth Wall—10 meters long, 2 meters high, and 20 centimeters thick—rose from the earth. While traditionally a defensive spell, Mark had modified it. The Dire Wolves charged, intending to either leap over or smash through the barrier. Just as they reached it, Mark aimed his staff at the wall and unleashed Air Burst. A high-pressure blast of air erupted from the staff, shattering the intentionally brittle, sand-filled wall and propelling the jagged fragments toward the wolves like shrapnel. A thick cloud of dust erupted, veiling the entire area.
Air Burst was an intensified version of Air Repulsion, requiring more mana and greater compression. The deafening roar of the wall shattering, combined with the flying debris and blinding dust, left the Dire Wolves momentarily stunned. Mark seized the opportunity. Under the cover of the dust screen, he closed the 4-meter gap to the Alpha. Aiming the tip of his staff, he invoked a new spell: Air Spear. Though invisible to the naked eye, a rippling distortion in the air betrayed its trajectory. The Air Spear pierced the Alpha's skull, and the massive carcass slumped to the ground. Mark moved swiftly, storing the leader's body into his inventory.
He then stored the Blind Staff as well; he had two more techniques to test today. Realizing their leader had fallen, the pack erupted in fury and lunged at him from all sides. Mark didn't retreat. He dropped into a classic boxing stance, then vanished with eye-blurring speed, reappearing before the nearest wolf to deliver a punch. Upon closer inspection, the fist never made physical contact; instead, a pressurized pocket of air struck the beast. He began taking down the wolves one by one, experimenting not just with punches, but with elbows, knees, and various kicks. Once the last wolf fell, Mark didn't linger. He hurriedly gathered the nearby carcasses into his inventory and rushed toward the gate. Through Earth Sense, he knew the sounds of battle and the scent of blood were attracting more monsters. With his mana depleted and exhaustion setting in, he retreated through the gate back into the Safe Zone.