Songs in the Void

ICDS World, Earth, Japan, Tokyo. 

Sitting in the master bedroom of the apartment, which he had turned into a makeshift workshop, Tatsuo looked over his creations. Lying on the floor in front of him where a pair of black, bladed knuckle dusters and a body suit. 

While the body suit did not look any different outwardly, Tatsuo managed to reinforce the defense of its vital areas, such as the heart, lungs, head, and neck with the pieces of Bee Carapace he obtained on the Second Floor. Whereas the pair of black daggers were made completely from Bee Stingers. 

"*Sigh* Upgrading my Kevlar suit wasn't all that difficult." Tatsuo muttered while shifting his gaze back and forth between his creations. "But… Those daggers were something else. I mean, I had to basically carve the two biggest stingers into their blade parts. Then, I had to carve out the holes for my fingers before adhering them all together. Still, they came out good." 

{Honey Bee Stingers 

Rank: E+ 

Durability: 60/60 

-A pair of bladed knuckle dusters created from Giant Honey Bee Stingers. Stronger than any metal or alloy not containing Energy, the chances of them breaking due to pure physical force is next to impossible. All in all, they are quite good considering they are the smith's first attempt at using monster materials in crafting.} 

Not only were the Honey Bee Stingers higher rank than the bladed knuckle dusters he received from DOATECH, but as they were created to be a pair, they only took up one slot in his [Inventory], as well. 

The defensive suit had been upgraded, too. Like the Honey Bee Stingers, it was E+ Rank. However, each part still took up their own space in the [Inventory]. Tatsuo figured that no matter what he did, defensive gear like armor would always be that way. Unless he could create an armor that could transform into a bracelet or a ring in the future. 

"Alright, now that I'm done with that, I'll get some sleep." Tatsuo said as he stretched in satisfaction. Then, while putting his new gear into his [Inventory], he continued. "When I wake up, I'll get back to the grind." 

And just as he said, after cleaning up the master bedroom, Tatsuo returned to his own bedroom, took a shower, and climbed into bed. Then, as soon as he woke up in the morning, he equipped his body suit and entered the Dungeon. 

ICDS World, 1st Dungeon, 2nd Floor Shop. 

"Welcome back, Customer-Sama." Loretta said with her usual, professional smile after Tatsuo returned to the Dungeon. Then, she looked him up and down before continuing. "Looks like you were able to upgrade your defensive equipment properly. Congratulations." 

"Thank you, Miss. It's all thanks to the items you recommended to me" Tatsuo replied with a smile. Then, he put on an awkward expression as he continued. "Actually, I don't mean to be rude, but are you the same person I saw on the First Floor's Shop, too? Because you look exactly the same." 

In response, Loretta covered her mouth with a hand as she giggled. 

"There's no need to wear an expression like that, Customer-Sama." Loretta said with a smile. "As a Floor Shop Keeper that was assigned to your Dungeon run, it's only natural that I have a way of climbing the Dungeon faster than you. Also, I have a device that alerts me to your return to the Dungeon , as well." 

"I see." Tatsuo replied with a nod. "Well then, since we'll be seeing each other quite often, it would seem, you can call me Tatsuo. Customer-Sama seems too stiff to me." 

"If that's what you prefer, Tatsuo-Sama." Loretta replied, a hint of a genuine smile making its way onto her lips. "Then, you can call me Loretta, as well." 

"Sure thing." Tatsuo said with a smile of his own. "Well then, let me see what you have in the Shop, Loretta-San." 

With that, Loretta handed over the list of items available for sale on the Second Floor's Shop. And just as he was expecting to see, there was a Paralysis Recovery Potion that not only recovered the Paralysis status effect, but prevented it for an hour, as well. And it only cost 100 Gold. 

'Damn it, I'm gonna be broke again at this rate.' Tatsuo thought to himself as he reached into his [Inventory] to retrieve 400 Gold. 'Well, I should be able to recoup my losses on the next floor. If the pattern holds, I should get an average of five to six Gold for every three goblins I kill.' 

"I'll take four Paralysis Recovery Potions, please." Tatsuo said with a forced smile. 

"That will be 400 Gold, Tatsuo-Sama." Loretta replied happily. Then, after taking the Gold from Tatsuo, she handed him the four potions as she continued. "Once again, it has been a pleasure doing business with you, Tatsuo-Sama." 

"I'm sure it has." Tatsuo grumbled as he looked at the 69 Gold left in his [Inventory]. Then, he shook his head as he turned away from the counter. "Anyway, I'm gonna get climbing. See you on the next floor, Loretta-San." 

"Good luck and be careful, Tatsuo-Sama." Loretta said while waving her hand. 

ICDS World, 1st Dungeon, 3rd Floor. 

As soon as he shouted "commence exploration," Tatsuo immediately concealed himself as much has he could in the shadows as he moved forward. Not long after he started moving, he came across his first enemy. And just as previously mentioned, it was a goblin. 

The goblin was about 5' tall with wrinkled green skin, a long, sharp nose, beady eyes, and long black nails on both its hands and feet wearing a loin cloth made of tattered cloth. On top of that he wore a leather strap diagonally across his torso with darts hanging from it while a blow gun was held in his hands. 

'And those little ugly bastards are the reason Kang Shin got kicked out of the Dungeon several times at the beginning of his journey.' Tatsuo thought to himself. 'Luckily, there's only one of them. So, killing it without being hit by any of those darts shouldn't be a problem.' 

And just like he said, Tatsuo was able to kill a lone goblin without getting hit by its darts. In fact, he managed to kill it by slitting its throat from behind without even being seen. Because of that, he was able to save the first of his four Paralysis Recovery potions a little bit longer. 

{You obtained: Gold x 6} 

{You Obtained: Goblin Ear x 1} 

'Is this some kind of proof of subjugation?' Tatsuo thought to himself while looking at the Goblin Ear in his [Inventory]. Eventually, he shook his head and kept moving. 'I just hope the Floor Shop buys miscellaneous loot.' 

Now that he thought about it, Tatsuo had never sold any of the Slime Pieces he received on the first floor, either. So, he made a mental note to ask about it when he reached the next Floor Shop. 

The next few goblins were taken care of in a fashion similar to the first.. However, things changed when Tatsuo came across a group of goblins. With the one at the center of the group carrying a blow gun, the two accompanying it carried melee weapons, a wooden club and a rusted dagger. On top of that, the two with the melee weapons looked as if they were there to guard the one with the blow gun, specifically. 

'Looks like stealth killing the one with the blow gun is out of the question.' Tatsuo thought to himself. 'I guess I finally have to drink one.' 

{You have consumed a Paralysis Recovery Potion 

-The Paralysis Status Effect will be cleansed while you will be immune to Paralysis for the next hour.} 

After drinking the potion, Tatsuo silently dashed towards the closest goblin, the one holding the rusty dagger. However, he chose a perfect time, as the goblin was looking to make sure nothing snuck up on the one with the blow gun. 

Then, as soon as Tatsuo was in range, he stabbed the dagger in his left hand through the goblin's heart from behind. 

*Clatter!* 

Unfortunately, when the goblin dropped his rusty dagger, that alerted the other two goblins that something was wrong. Immediately, the club-wielding goblin charged forward while the one with the blow gun fell back while raising the blow gun to its mouth. 

In response, Tatsuo wanted to kick the dead goblin towards its charging comrade. Unfortunately, before he could, the corpse turned into motes of mana before it vanished. As a result of poor timing, Tatsuo ended up slightly off balance with his leg off the ground. 

Smiling maliciously, the club-wielding goblin raised its club, intending to bring it down on Tatsuo's head. At the same time, the one with the blow gun had finally lined up its shot. Then, it blew a dart from its blow gun, aiming at Tatsuo's shoulder. 

With his high perception, Tatsuo naturally noticed what the goblins were planning. So, instead of lowering his leg, he raised it higher, using his heel to deflect the goblin's club into the flight path of the poison dart. 

*Thunk! 

And just as Tatsuo planned, the dart ended up stuck in the club. Then, he continued by quickly pivoting on the foot he just returned to the ground before throwing a spinning heel kick into the club-wielding goblins chest. 

*Crack!* 

As a result of the powerful impact, the sound of breaking bones echoed through the corridor while the club-wielding goblin flew backwards, eventually crashing onto the floor. Unfortunately, all that did was free up a line of sight for the goblin with the blow gun to line up his shots. 

In the next instant, Tatsuo dashed forward Along the way, and he managed to deflect the incoming darts with the Honey Bee Stingers, before killing the wounded goblin by stabbing it through the head. Then, it was just a matter of closing the distance with the blow gun-wielding goblin to end its life. 

However, when he got close, the goblin did something Tatsuo did not expect. With the last of his darts, instead of loading it into his blow gun, he stabbed Tatsuo with it just as he landed the killing blow. And if judging by the malicious smile the goblin wore as it broke down into motes of mana, you would know that he thought his comrades would get revenge for him in the future now that his killer was hit with the Paralysis Poison. 

{You obtained: Gold x 6} 

{You obtained: Goblin Ear x 2} 

"It's a good thing I bought those potions." Tatsuo murmured to himself as he watched the last goblin fade into motes of mana. Meanwhile, he pulled out the dart stuck in his abdomen as he continued. "Otherwise, I would d have been in trouble. To think I managed to defend against all the darts the goblin shot at me, but I was hit by an unexpected attack at the end." 

Shaking his head at his mistake, Tatsuo vowed to be even more careful going forward. Then, after making his vow, he continued exploring the Third Floor, killing all the goblins he came across. Although he was hit by a few more of the goblins' darts along the way, that was unavoidable. Some of the groups of goblins he came across had more than one blow gun-wielding goblin. And he simply was not fast enough to deflect them all. 

{You have become Level 4. You have the qualifications to challenge the Fourth Floor. 

You have 5 Stat Points.} 

By the end of the Third Floor, Tatsuo had gained a little over 500 Gold. Satisfied with his gains, he pushed open the door leading to the Floor Shop and walked through. 

Upon reaching the Third Floor Shop, Tatsuo added two points int Dexterity while adding one point each into Strength, Constitution, and Intelligence. Then, after a little small talk with Loretta and checking out what the Shop was selling, Tatsuo continued onto the Fourth Floor. 

ICDS World, 1st Dungeon, 4th Floor. 

On this floor, Tatsuo was truly going in blind. As previously mentioned, there was no information about the monsters he would face on this Floor in the novel. So, he moved cautiously. However, when he saw the monster he would be facing for the next few hours, he was not surprised. 

The monsters on the Fourth Floor were about as tall as the goblins on the last Floor and bipedal. They had canine heads, powerful jaws, sharp fangs, and claws adorning their hands with rust brown-colored fur covering their whole bodies. On top of that, they would occasionally stop to sniff the air before returning to their designated patrol routes. 

"Kobolds, huh? Tatsuo muttered to himself from the shadows. "Why am I not surprised? Well, goblins and kobolds are pretty much staples of the fantasy genre. Anyway, unless I can constantly stay downwind from these things, I guess Stealth is out of the window on this floor, too." 

With that, Tatsuo began his attack. And because the kobolds did not have ranged weapons or any gimmicks like poison, they were much easier to deal with than the goblins. Even if they gathered in larger groups than the goblins did. 

But naturally, nothing could be that simple. After killing kobolds, who dropped 8 Gold for every three he killed, Kobald fangs, Kobald Claws, and Kobald pelts, Tatsuo eventually came across a larger Kobald standing in the middle of the hallway. However, the fact that it was larger than the other kobolds, about 6' tall, was not the only thing different about it. It also wore simple leather armor and carried a pair of large kukri knives in its hands. 

"Well, damn… That's a big bastard." Tatsuo muttered as he watched the large kobold sniff around. "That's either a Named Monster or a Bug. Probably a Named Monster. Either way, this might be a tough fight." 

The terms Named Monster and Bug referred to monsters that were stronger than the average monsters that could be found on a specific Floor. While Named Monsters were exactly what the term suggested, monsters wit names, they were usually much stronger than average monsters and fought differently, as well. Bugs, on the other hand, might look exactly like a normal monster. But they would be faster, stronger, and all around more powerful than their counterparts. 

Either way, they usually dropped much better rewards than the rest of the monsters on the Floor. So, Tatsuo was actually looking forward to fighting it. 

"Human… come out…" The kobold said in broken human speech. "Illfang know you here… Illfang Kill you… Illfang eat you." 

'Seriously? Of course the bigger and stronger kobold would be named Illfang!' Tatsuo exclaimed internally as he left his hiding place. 'I feel like this is some kind of copyright infringement. Then again, he didn't call himself the kobold lord. So maybe he can get away with hit.' 

As soon as Tatsuo revealed himself, Illfang charged at him immediately. And he was fast. Faster than anything Tatsuo had seen since he came to the world. Even a little faster than Tatsuo himself. 

When Illfang was in range, he swung the dagger in his right hand vertically, which Tatsuo avoided by turning his body to the side. 

**Bang!* 

As a result, the dagger slammed into the stone floor, leaving a shallow line in the stones below. 

'Damn, he's strong, too.' Tatsuo thought to himself as he continued to dodge Illfang's powerful slashes. 'But he's got no technique to speak of… at all.' 

Just as Tatsuo thought, Illfang was only swinging his daggers around randomly. There were no techniques, no feints, nothing to show that he was a skilled warrior. The only thing he did was use his overwhelming strength and speed, for a Fourth Floor monster, as he continued to press forward. 

After a few minutes spent dodging and observing his opponent, Tatsuo could tell that Illfang was getting frustrated. As a result, his swings were getting more powerful, but even more sloppy. So, when Tatsuo noticed that Illfang was about to make a much bigger swing than usual, leaving a much bigger opening than usual, he made his move. 

With Illfang overextending on one of his downward slashes, Tatsuo once again turned his body sideways to avoid it. At the same time, he punched out with the Honey Bee Stinger in his right hand. 

*Clang!* 

Tatsuo's punch, which caused the blades on his knuckles to collide with Illfang's dagger, caused the kobold's arm to veer greatly to the side. Then, while Illfang was trying to bring his arm back under control, Tatsuo swung his arm outward, driving the dagger end of his bladed knuckle duster into Illfang's throat. 

"*Gurgle*" Illfang made a strange sound as his wind pipe was pierced and beginning to fill with blood. 

*Clatter!* x 2 

Then, the named kobold dropped his daggers and went limp after a few moments. 

{You have defeated the Named Monster, Illfang.} 

{You obtained: Gold x 50} 

{You obtained? Power Potion} 

{You obtained: Heavy Kukri Knives} 

Unfortunately, the special drops of Named Monsers could not be identified by the Dungeon's system without the use of an Appraisal Scroll that could be bought at the Floor Shop. Luckily, Tatsuo was not only in possession of the Dungeon's system. And after putting the daggers, which only took one slot, into his [Inventory], he was able to see their stats. 

{[Heavy Kukri Knives – D-] 

Durability: 80/80 

Bonus 

-Increases wielders [Strength] 

-Increases wielder's [Dexterity] 

Requirements 

-[Strength]: D- 

-[Dexterity]: E+ 

A pair of daggers carved from the densest manaless stone on the world from which the kobold's originated. As a result, one would have to be much stronger than average to wield these weapons.} 

"Well, I'm definitely gonna have to break these down and make my own weapons from them.' Tatsuo said after reding the weapons' description. "Something with a little extra oomph will come in handy when I fight the Floor master on the next Floor." 

With that, Tatsuo continued his exploration of the Fourth Floor. And after a couple more hours, he reached the end of the Floor. 

{You became Level 5. You have earned the qualifications to challenge the Fifth Floor Master. 

You have gained 5 Stat Points.} 

Like always, after reaching the Floor Shop, Tatsuo distributed his Stat points, once again adding two points to Dexterity and one each to Strength, Constitution, and Intelligence. Then, he called it a day and left the Dungeon. 

ICDS World, 1st Dungeon, 100th Floor. 

Meanwhile, on the top floor of the Dungeon, Sherifina, who had been watching Tatsuo climb the Dungeon, was lost in thought. 

'That boy is definitely stronger than most Explorers without mana when they start their exploration of the Dungeon.' Sherifina thought to herself. 'But from what I can tell, he's nothing special. So, why would that being have such keen interest in him? I'll have to observe him for longer to see if there is anything that I might have missed about him.' 

In fact, though it was not unheard of, Named Monsters very rarely appeared on Floors below the tenth. And the only reason one appeared before Tatsuo was because Sherifina put it there. She wanted to test Tatsuo's abilities. And if she were able to find something special, she might be able to use it to get revenge on the entity that humiliated her almost a week ago. 

Little did Sherifina know, even if Tatsuo's sealed power was released, she would never notice it. As the son of the omniverse's first Void Dragon, she was far too weak to even perceive the vast power he held within him. Unless he wanted her to feel it, that is.