"From here on, we're on the Second Floor. We're still only in the shallows, but the monsters here are generally a whole tier stronger than those on the First Floor. Their aggression, defenses, and special abilities all make them considerably harder to deal with."
After passing through a long stone tunnel that sloped downward, Greg was the first to step into a more expansive underground space.
He stopped and turned sideways to warn Vivian as she followed him in. His tone held its usual admonition, but less of the casualness he showed on the surface and more of the caution peculiar to the Dungeon.
"So from now on, you need to be even more careful with every step. There aren't any professors here to call a halt in time, or medics who can rush over to help."
Vivian nodded, then quietly surveyed this completely unfamiliar realm, her ice-blue eyes filled with pure curiosity.
Unlike the First Floor, which consisted entirely of natural caverns, the Second Floor contained the remains of ancient ruins and felt more oppressive.
Ahead, ancient stone pillars, broken by some unknown cause, lay askew like the bones of giants, some still propping things up and others half-buried in rubble and dust.
The ground was uneven, scattered with stones of all sizes and unidentifiable fragments.
Because the Eight-Legged Lady had previously occupied the entrance to the Second Floor, students undergoing their trials had been restricted to the depths of the First Floor at most.
Thus, even for Vivian, the Student Council President, this was her first time truly setting foot in the unknown territory called the Second Floor.
The wild yet strangely alluring sight before her quietly rekindled her long-dormant desire to explore.
"Let's keep moving."
Greg's voice interrupted Vivian's observations.
"The shallow areas around here have pretty