Solo Dungeon Streamer-I Am Overpowered

Chapter 126: Whispers of the Forbidden

The message had appeared out of nowhere, bypassing even the Dungeon Association's usual security protocols. Its sender was just a set of initials:

M.K.

"The Shibuya Dungeon is not what it seems. Floors exist far below the Deep Floors, hidden even from EX-ranks. They hold something that may change your understanding of the dungeons themselves. If you wish to know more, meet me at the rendezvous point marked below."

I read it twice, feeling that familiar tug of curiosity—and a touch of caution. Even after all this time, secrets like this still sent a thrill through me, but something about this felt different. The promise of knowledge that could reshape everything I knew about dungeons... it wasn't something I could easily ignore.

Kijin, my loyal Shikigami with his piercing eyes and quiet strength, sat beside me, almost as if he sensed my hesitation. He always seemed to know when something serious was on my mind. His eyes met mine, and I could see the question there: Discover hidden stories at M V L

Are you sure about this?

"Let's go," I murmured, more to him than to myself. He flicked his tail once, a slight indication of his own reluctance, but he followed without hesitation. Kijin had been with me the longest, and out of all my Shikigami, he was the one I trusted most. With him by my side, the pull to go was stronger than the doubt.

When I arrived at the rendezvous—a small, shadowed café on the edge of Hachioji—I half-expected to find no one there. But a lone figure was waiting in the back, his face hidden beneath a wide hat, only his sharp eyes visible as they looked up to meet mine.

"Tsukasa Kisaragi," he greeted, his voice steady, carrying a weight that told me he'd been through his own share of battles. "I'm glad you came."

I nodded, slipping into the booth across from him. "What's this about? Why send me such a cryptic message?"

"Because you're one of the few who might understand," he replied. "I'm Makoto Kai, a retired explorer… though, if you do take this offer, you'll soon realize that the title 'retired' doesn't quite cover what I do."

I raised an eyebrow, waiting for him to continue. He leaned forward, dropping his voice.

"There are floors beneath the Deep Floors in Shibuya. Places that few have seen. I call them the 'Forbidden Floors' because they exist outside the natural order of dungeons. Down there, magic behaves strangely, and creatures of immense power stand guard over... something." He paused, eyes flicking toward me. "I believe these floors hold the secret to why dungeons exist."

A chill ran through me. I'd heard stories, of course—legends whispered among explorers about the deepest levels of dungeons holding unexplainable horrors. But I'd always thought they were just that: stories.

Makoto reached into his coat and handed me a small, leather-bound book. "This journal will guide you. But be warned, the creatures down there are nothing like what you've faced before. They may even disrupt your Shikigami bond."

Kijin's ears twitched at that, and I felt my own heart skip. "Disrupt my Shikigami? How?"

"It's the magic. Something about it interferes with bonds like yours. Be prepared to face challenges like you never have."

With that, he stood, giving me one last searching look before he left me alone in the café, the weight of his warning settling heavily on my mind.

The next day, I found myself at the Shibuya Dungeon's 65th floor, my pulse racing as I traced the symbols on the stone floor just as Makoto's journal instructed. The rune barely glowed, but as soon as I murmured the incantation, the ground beneath me shifted, revealing a winding staircase leading deeper into the unknown.

Kijin and Raijuu, my two closest Shikigami, flanked me as I descended. They moved with the confidence that only came from countless battles by my side, but even I could sense their unease. The air felt different here—thick, like it was pressing down on us, whispering secrets I couldn't quite hear.

The passage finally opened into a massive chamber, its walls shimmering with a strange mineral I'd never seen before, casting eerie shadows across the room. Standing in the center of it was a creature unlike any I'd ever encountered.

It was huge, with the body of a lion but covered in scales that glistened like metal, arcs of energy dancing across its body. Its eyes locked onto me, and for a brief second, I felt something almost... intelligent in its gaze, as if it recognized me as an intruder.

"Kijin, Raijuu," I murmured, stepping back slightly. "This one's all yours."

Kijin let out a low growl, his eyes narrowing as he sized up the creature. Raijuu, crackling with electricity, darted forward, his body a blur as he aimed for the creature's flank.

The beast moved with an agility that defied its massive size, sidestepping Raijuu's attack and swiping at Kijin with claws that seemed to cut through the air itself. Kijin dodged, then retaliated with a burst of shadows, aiming to obscure the creature's vision.

But it didn't work. The creature simply roared, dispelling the shadows with a surge of energy that nearly knocked me off my feet.

"Stay sharp," I muttered, more for myself than for them. This wasn't like the usual fights where I could stand back, letting my Shikigami handle the bulk of the battle. This creature was adapting, countering their moves with frightening precision. I felt a prickling sense of urgency.

As Kijin and Raijuu continued their assault, I noticed something unsettling—the longer the fight went on, the more sluggish their movements became, as if the air itself was sapping their strength.

That's when I remembered Makoto's warning.

"Pull back!" I called out, and they immediately retreated, their breaths heavy, eyes wary as they regrouped around me. I clenched my fists, realizing this was one of those rare times I'd have to step in myself.

I took a deep breath, centering my focus. "All right... let's finish this."

Kijin and Raijuu circled the beast, creating openings that I could exploit. With a quick nod to them, I lunged forward, sliding beneath the creature's claws as it swiped, narrowly dodging. I drove my blade toward its chest, aiming for the heart—but its scales deflected the blow, sending a jarring shock up my arm.

The creature roared, swiping at me, but Kijin leapt in, intercepting the blow with a snarl. Raijuu followed up with a crackling surge of lightning, managing to stagger it just enough to give me another shot.

"Now!" I called out, channeling energy into my blade. This time, I aimed for a gap between its scales, and with a powerful thrust, the blade struck true.

The beast shuddered, its roar fading into a low, guttural growl as it collapsed, its body dissolving into mist.

I exhaled, wiping sweat from my brow. It had been a close call, closer than I'd care to admit. My Shikigami returned to my side, each of them visibly drained but with a glint of satisfaction in their eyes. Even Kijin, usually stoic, let out a soft chuff as he settled next to me.

Before I could fully catch my breath, my gaze fell upon a massive stone door on the far side of the chamber. It was covered in symbols similar to the ones on the rune that had led me here, glowing faintly as if reacting to my presence.

"So this is it," I murmured, more to myself than anyone else.

I reached out, placing a hand on the door. As soon as I touched it, the symbols flared to life, and with a deep, resonant groan, the door began to open, revealing a dark, narrow passage leading further down.

A shiver ran down my spine. This wasn't over. It felt like I'd only scratched the surface of what lay hidden in these forbidden depths.

With a nod to my Shikigami, I stepped forward, ready to face whatever waited in the darkness beyond.