Magic.
As for whether it could be activated using a wand from the DanMachi world, Ron truly did not know. The main reason was that he had never previously had the opportunity to obtain such a method.
After killing the Staff-Wielding Watchdog, the most unexpected gains were none other than the "Shattering Crystal," as well as the Glintstone pried from the Floor Boss's staff—directly resolving all of his problems.
'If I remember correctly…'
'The magic system in the DanMachi world seems to be modeled after DND spell slots. Each adventurer can have at most… only three types of magic.'
In Elden Ring, such a restriction does not exist. It is only that certain high-tier spells have relatively stringent learning requirements.
At present, the Tarnished Character Save Slot already possesses the "Heal" spell. If he were to additionally master the crystallian group's magic, "Shattering Crystal," would it affect the acquisition of other magic?
'That's a bit troublesome.'
'Still, at least it's a new combat method.'
Ron chose to stop thinking about it.
After all, the Falna system of DanMachi merely concretizes the effects of the "Tarnished." If he were truly to break through the limitations, that would stem from the special nature of his golden finger.
Considering future exploration into deeper Floors of the Dungeon, where flying monsters that are scarce in the shallow layers would gradually become more abundant, mastering magic would undoubtedly provide convenience.
After confirming that no rewards had been overlooked in the surroundings, his gaze swept across the Boss room. After eliminating the two Watchdogs, no other chain reactions had occurred; the atmosphere around him was remarkably silent.
Of course, that was excluding the inherently distorted environment itself.
'There's no point in staying here any longer.'
Ron turned to look at the kimono-clad girl not far behind him, who had once again readied herself to depart. As for Mikoto's expression of guilt, as though she had "messed something up," it was understandable.
Having joined the "Hestia" Familia did not mean she was to be treated as mere decoration, left to struggle and scrape within the brutal ecosystem of a Soulslike Dungeon.
As a seasoned Soulslike expert, he had to provide proper guidance.
"Mm, these monsters are indeed very different from the ones you encountered before. You can understand them as possessing more advanced intelligence."
"Having combat techniques is merely the most basic common knowledge."
At this point, he recalled the "Mimic War Shadow" he had encountered on the previous Floors. It fused with adventurers' techniques, and after being killed, the Dungeon would even stack its stats.
Facing the girl's eager, knowledge-seeking gaze, Ron added: "Even…"
"Monsters that die, within the Dungeon's continuous cycle of reincarnation, will also absorb the experience of being defeated, and their strength will grow even stronger."
"These are all things you need to pay attention to."
"…"
No wonder Ron had been able to grow so rapidly to this extent.
When she had previously formed a temporary party with him, she had only noticed that the monsters were powerful, believing that as long as she fought them, her ability values would increase.
But now it seemed, so-called rapid improvement required paying a price!
Mikoto firmly engraved these matters in her heart. She understood that all of this was experience Ron had summarized only after enduring repeated injuries and severe wounds.
"Thank you."
"When we formed temporary parties before, you weren't this polite. How is it that after becoming Familia companions, Senior Mikoto has suddenly become so courteous…"
Faced with the handsome boy's mockery delivered with feigned seriousness, Mikoto's originally heavy mood quietly relaxed. She smiled brightly and, in rare fashion, retorted stubbornly, "But I just want to say it. What can you do about that?"
"I can't just keep it bottled up…"
"Then I've got no solution."
Compared to before, when she bore the economic pressure of the orphanage and had to mature prematurely, at least during this brief time together now, in Mikoto, Ron finally felt a long-lost vitality.
He lightly shrugged his shoulders and made a decision once more: "The Floor Boss here has already been dealt with. Next, let's return to the Floor 10 area first."
"We may have to explore deeper."
...
After completing the conquest of the Watchdog Boss, the fog gate that had disappeared behind them reappeared. Without any hesitation, he decisively stepped inside.
When he opened his eyes again, the air no longer carried the stench of decay, and even the surroundings had become the familiar Dungeon Floor. If Ron had to describe it, it would probably be…
It feels as familiar as coming home.
Before he could even adjust to the dim environment, he noticed several figures standing in front of the fog gate. Among them was the icy girl draped in a grayish-brown cloak.
He did not even need to approach.
Ron could already sense from that stunningly beautiful face the aura of "keep strangers away." As for why Ryuu had arrived here so quickly, he could not think of a reason.
That did not prevent him from feeling a full sense of security.
Immediately after, just as Ron was about to greet Ryuu, his gaze fell on the other two unfamiliar faces present. The words that had reached his lips were forcibly swallowed back down.
Were they familiar?
Of course.
The white, form-fitting hip-hugging dress perfectly outlined the figure of the red-haired girl with short hair, while the black over-the-knee stockings accentuated the graceful lines of her legs.
As for the other gloomy girl, whose blue hair covered the corner of her eye, she was equally good-looking.
But Ron's true focus was on the Familia emblem beside their shoulders—the overlapping "Golden Bow and Sun." As for their specific identities—the Apollo Familia.
Commander Daphne, and Cassandra, who possessed the special ability of prophetic dreams.
If he had encountered them in Orario, he could have chosen to ignore them directly.
But this meeting had taken place in the Dungeon, where an "abnormal situation" was occurring, and most crucially, they had witnessed with their own eyes his return from the other side of the fog gate.
'That's a bit troublesome…'
There was nothing more vexing than this sort of situation.
Originally, upon encountering that hopeless elf, Ron's mood had been quite good. But now only helplessness remained. Even though he had prepared himself for the possibility of the Apollo Familia causing trouble, he had never expected matters to develop to this extent.
"…"
The atmosphere subtly shifted.
The resulting chain reaction was that in Ryuu Lion's gaze toward Daphne and Cassandra, there seemed to emerge a trace of scrutiny.
They had not even begun speaking.
Yet the suddenly congealed atmosphere still made Daphne sense a feeling of crisis. Perhaps because of her identity as a member of the Apollo Familia, she was just about to explain that they had not intentionally tracked him, but merely wanted to find an opportunity to speak with Ron.
Before Daphne could open her mouth, Cassandra, standing behind her, timidly tugged at her. Confused, Daphne turned her head, just about to tell her best friend that she knew what she was doing—only to see—in the girl's innocent eyes, naked fear.
"He…"
Forcing herself to endure the fear in her body, Cassandra leaned close to Daphne's ear and whispered in a trembling voice audible only to them: "He… looks just like in the nightmare I had last night…"
"That adventurer with flames above his head!"
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