"Are you ready, Kanae?"
The plush Bombu suddenly spoke, hopping to her back.
"Relax. The monsters on the first floor shouldn't pose any threat to you. Think of this as a warm-up to get used to the combat style of this world."
"Yes, Lord Phaethon!"
Kanae took a deep breath, her gaze sharpening.
She gripped her sword hilt with a steady hand and assumed the opening stance of Breath of Flowers.
Before long, strange rustling noises echoed from the shadows ahead in the corridor.
With a shrill, harsh screech, a small, ugly creature with dirty green skin leapt out.
It was barely half as tall as a human, with a disproportionately large head.
Its ears were long and pointed, and it clutched a jagged stone in its hand—a familiar sight from the Dungeon's upper levels: a goblin.
"Screech!"
The goblin spotted Kanae, and a flash of greed and malice lit its eyes as it hurled the stone at her.
The stone cut through the air with a faint whistle, flying straight for her face.
But to Kanae, the attack seemed so slow it was practically still.
She didn't even have to dodge deliberately—just a slight sidestep, and the stone skimmed past her hair, slamming into the wall behind her with a dull thud.
"Too slow."
Kanae made a calm judgment. Compared to the demons she once faced, this goblin's speed and strength were laughable.
As the goblin froze, startled by its failed throw, Kanae moved.
Her figure became a pale pink blur, gliding with flower-like grace as if carried by the breeze.
Without using any Breath of Flowers techniques, and relying solely on her newly enhanced physical stats from Phaethon's Falna, she instantly closed the distance.
A flash of steel—
"Squelch—"
The goblin's grotesque head flew through the air, a spray of dark red blood trailing from its severed neck.
Its body stumbled, collapsed, twitched briefly, then stilled.
Almost immediately, the corpse turned to black ash and crumbled into nothing.
In its place remained a small, faintly glowing purple crystal—the size of a fingernail.
"A… magic stone?"
Kanae stared at the tiny purple gem—just as Miss Eina had mentioned.
The crystallized essence of monsters in the Dungeon, and the primary source of income for adventurers.
At that moment, Phaethon—still in Bombu form—trotted over with his stubby legs.
He extended a plush paw and picked up the crystal.
Then, patting his round belly, a hidden compartment opened up like a magic pouch, and he slipped the stone inside.
"Mm, as designed—Bombu's belly functions as a spatial backpack. Leave all the loot to me."
Phaethon's voice came from Bombu, relaxed and casual.
Kanae chuckled at the sight, all nervousness fading, replaced by growing curiosity and excitement for this wondrous world.
She scooped Bombu back into her arms, relishing the soft, plush feel, and couldn't help but ask:
"Lord Phaethon, just now… I felt so light. My speed and power are nothing like before."
"Oh? Can you compare it to how you felt when using your breathing techniques in your old world?"
Phaethon asked with interest—curious about how the Falna's effects translated across different world systems.
Kanae focused, evaluating her new state, and a joyful smile bloomed on her face.
"It's completely different!
Just with my body's strength and speed now, I'm already way beyond what I could reach using Total Concentration Constant in my old world!
At least… several times stronger!"
She flexed her wrist, marveling at the strength coursing through her, and the lightning-fast reflexes she now possessed.
"Before, reaching that state meant constant breathing control—it was exhausting on both body and mind.
But now, thanks to your blessing, this strength feels innate—as natural as breathing itself!
Honestly, if I faced Dōma now…"
Kanae's voice dipped slightly at the mention of her mortal enemy, but her eyes blazed with conviction.
"I might still not be strong enough to defeat him… but I would never lose to him like before!"
"Indeed. That is the miracle of the divine blessing."
Phaethon nodded. "It draws out your potential, transforming what once required grueling training into foundational stats.
As you accumulate experience and grow, your strength will soon surpass imagination."
He didn't linger on the topic and urged her forward.
"All right, now that you're used to things, let's press on.
The first floor is too easy. The real gains lie deeper—get more experience points quickly."
"Yes!"
Kanae gathered herself, hugged Bombu tightly, and confidently stepped further into the Dungeon.