As Noah was collecting his spoils, a sudden round of applause came from his blind spot.
Clap. clap. clap.
'Someone's here?'
Noah instinctively straightened up instantly, simultaneously retreating while facing the direction of the sound, his hand decisively gripping the Crimson Guardian.
While retreating, he remained vigilant against potential surprise attacks like projectile weapons.
Yet nothing happened.
Gazing at the suspicious figure shrouded in black robes who had appeared unnoticed, Noah narrowed his eyes slightly, focusing his vision on the person—primarily on the black robe.
"A magic tool with concealment effects?" Noah analyzed.
Before the other party made a sound, it had completely evaded his perception.
With extensive adventurer experience, his alertness to his surroundings had become almost instinctual—though that only amounted to Level 2.
In other words, if not for that, this suddenly appearing individual would have a level higher than his.
He hadn't detected him at all, so why did he deliberately reveal himself?
Are they having no ill intentions towards him?
If there were, why not take advantage of that perfect opportunity just now?
'Or perhaps—because it wasn't necessary?' Noah quickly pondered the matter of this uninvited guest.
The applause stopped after a few brief seconds.
A male voice emanated from beneath the black robe.
"Very impressive movements. You're just a Level 2, yet you could so easily defeat a group of ogres."
Though the words sounded like praise, Noah could only detect mockery.
The robed man pointed at the sword hilt in his hand.
"However, that clean and efficient swordsmanship must be thanks to that sword." The man laughed maniacally.
"Kid, where did you get that? I've never heard of such an incredible sword before."
Noah remained vigilant of his actions, not daring to miss any detail.
Recalling over a year ago when facing the enhanced species, he had lost his ability to resist in the blink of an eye.
Now, it was a similar situation.
"I have no obligation to answer you." Noah didn't lower his guard.
This is how adventurers communicate—kindness and consideration only make others see you as weak, while courtesy is a privilege the strong grant the weak.
"Haha."
The robed man seemed irritated by his attitude.
"Brat, it seems you haven't grasped the situation. When I ask you a question, I'm not requesting—if you don't speak up, things will get ugly!"
Facing him directly, Noah now sensed clear killing intent emanating from him.
'What's wrong with this guy? How dare he openly kill and plunder in the upper levels?'
'Appraise!'
...
"Jura"
Level: ?
Race : Cat Person
Affiliation : Rudra Familia
The man—or rather, the male cat person's name—didn't ring any bells for Noah, but his Familia was actually displayed as Rudra?
Speaking of Rudra, that's the notorious evilus familia within Orario!
They once participated in the "Great War" that nearly destroyed all of Orario and even the entire lower world.
At that time, because over 30,000 adventurers and mortals died within just seven days, it was called the "Seven Days of Death."
"Vicious and ruthless" isn't enough to describe these psychologically twisted individuals.
The so-called evilus are simply like this—they commit numerous crimes purely for the thrill of killing and destruction.
One could say he was completely enslaved by his own desires, a true slave to his impulses.
'These sewer rats actually appeared inside the Dungeon?' Noah's foot shifted slightly.
"Hahaha, I can sense it—you're shaken, aren't you? Seems you've figured out who I am!" The dark figure covered his face and burst into maniacal laughter.
"Though I never planned to let you go from the start, now I really can't hold back."
Noah clenched his fists as he listened to the taunts.
Was this the sewer rats' unique intuition? he was far too sharp.
'Damn it.'
From frequent use, Noah understood.
With only eye contact or scent as the level of interaction, the highest level he could appraise was equal to his own.
In other words, he could appraise up to Level 2 or below.
To appraise beyond Level 2, he needed deeper contact—like fighting the opponent, clashing blades, physical touch, or obtaining a part of their dna.
The one before him was at least Level 3, possibly even a Level 4 powerhouse.
'Tch.'
Should he run? If he stacked all his buffs, there might be a chance, but there was no time for that now.
'Then fight head-on?'
True, the lethality of his Crimson Guardian could pierce even the endurance of a Level 5 or Level 6 adventurer, but the gap in agility between them was far too wide.
If it was Level 3, there might be a possibility of winning, but if it was Level 4, his movements would likely seem almost stationary to the opponent.
To fight across levels, only the most absurd of cheaters could pull it off.
Like the city's strongest, the "King" Ottar.
Or the monster from the Zeus Familia who grew stronger by eating—"Gluttony"—and the super monster from the Hera Familia, Bell Cranel's aunt, the "Silent," Alfia.
Though both of them were already dead.
Aside from them, there were others slightly inferior, like Ais and the rest.
Noah was aware that he had his own cheats, but he also knew the limits of his abilities.
Overwhelming an opponent with more experience and a higher level across tiers?
Impossible...
He wasn't the same as before, he had a deeper understanding of what life-and-death battles truly meant.
For instance, a fifty-fifty chance might sound plausible, but the reality was that once the fight began, there was at least a 50% probability of death!
Facing such a ruthless killer, he had to be fully prepared.
Sluurp—
The cat-person licked his lips and then launched his attack.
His figure closed in rapidly.
Noah could see it clearly, but his body felt incredibly heavy.
Even straining to keep up with the movements, his speed had already hit its limit.
Drawing from hundreds, thousands of near-death experiences, he managed a dangerously angled backward lean just as the attack reached him.
(The near death experience come from other adventurers)
Immediately after, sharp claws tore through the air right before his eyes.
Noah hurriedly steadied himself and belatedly reached for the side of his face.
The stinging pain and the blood covering his hand made him grit his teeth.
'Fucking bastard...'
His gaze quickly turned cold.
In Noah's eyes, the dark figure's smirk slowly overlapped with the infuriating face of that damned god!
"What's with that face of yours..."
Beneath the seemingly calm voice, undercurrents of emotion were faintly perceptible.
"What are you muttering about, brat?"
"You want to fight, huh?"
Whoosh—
The long-suppressed fury burned ever fiercer, making Noah feel as though his head was about to explode.
'What?'
'He's Level 4? Goddamn it.'
'But.... fuck it!'
"Your smiling face makes me sick enough to vomit, but no need to apologize." Noah activated crimson guardian, the magic sword in his hand erupting with a crimson blade as fiery plumes encircled him.
"Just be more careful in your next life!"
"As for now..."
"I'll kill you!"