Solo Dungeon Streamer-I Am Overpowered

Chapter 127: Echoes in the Dark

The stone door closed behind us with a heavy, echoing thud. I felt the cool air rush through the passage, swirling with an odd, metallic scent that made my skin prickle. Kijin and Raijuu, my two most trusted Shikigami, flanked me as we moved forward. Neither of them made a sound, their usual quiet confidence replaced by an alert wariness that I hadn't seen in them before.

The deeper we went, the more oppressive the silence became. I couldn't even hear the usual distant growl or faint tremor of other creatures roaming nearby floors. Here, it was as if the air itself had been stilled, waiting. The only sound was the soft pad of my steps and the light crackle of Raijuu's fur.

As we walked, the walls seemed to close in, their surfaces shimmering with a faint, unnatural glow. I glanced at Kijin, whose keen eyes swept every inch of our surroundings, and he met my gaze with a flicker of concern. Even Raijuu's usually playful, fearless demeanor had shifted to something more subdued.

"Whatever's down here," I whispered, "isn't going to make this easy for us."

My Shikigami stayed silent, but their tension said everything. They knew as well as I did that we were far past the normal realm of dungeons. These floors—Makoto called them the "Forbidden Floors"—felt less like they were part of the dungeon ecosystem and more like an entirely separate world.

We came upon an open chamber, dimly lit by crystals embedded in the walls, casting an eerie, greenish glow. The faint light revealed the skeletal remains of some unknown creature sprawled across the floor, its bones twisted and broken as if from a long-ago battle. A chill prickled along my spine.

"What happened here?" I muttered, crouching down to examine the remains. The skeleton was massive, much larger than any typical dungeon monster. Its rib cage was crushed, and a few jagged bones jutted out like broken spears. Whatever had killed it was powerful—strong enough to shatter bone with a single strike.

Kijin prowled forward, his nose close to the ground, sniffing cautiously. After a moment, he looked up at me, his gaze troubled. He'd caught the scent of something, but I didn't need him to tell me what it was. The stale, metallic tang of blood still lingered, ancient but sharp.

I straightened, glancing around the chamber. "Let's keep moving. Whatever did this… it might still be around."

We slipped into the next passage, the walls becoming narrower, pressing in on us. Shadows twisted and stretched across the floor, flickering in the dim light like they had a life of their own. Raijuu's fur bristled, tiny sparks dancing along his coat, a sure sign that he sensed something amiss.

Then, ahead, I saw it—a massive figure, hulking and misshapen, blocking the passageway. It stood motionless, its head bowed as if in slumber. My heart skipped a beat. The creature was like nothing I'd ever seen.

It was an amalgamation of different animals—part bear, part lizard, with wings that looked more skeletal than functional. Its skin was cracked and flaking, exposing patches of raw, dark flesh beneath. Its mouth hung open, revealing rows of jagged teeth, and a faint mist rose from its maw.

I took a step back, signaling for Kijin and Raijuu to stay close. The creature didn't move, but I could feel the oppressive energy radiating from it, seeping into the walls and floor.

"Kijin," I whispered, "can you take a look without waking it?"

He gave a slight nod, his eyes narrowing as he slinked forward, moving as silently as a shadow. I held my breath, watching his every move, tense with anticipation. Kijin had scouted countless monsters before, but even he seemed wary of this one.

Raijuu and I waited in silence, our eyes trained on Kijin as he circled the creature, his gaze sharp and unblinking. For a moment, I thought we might be able to slip past it undetected. But then, with a low, guttural snarl, the creature's eyes snapped open, a sickly yellow glow illuminating the darkness.

I froze, my mind racing. It hadn't made a move yet, just staring at us with those unblinking eyes, but I knew the next moment would decide everything.

Without a word, I signaled to Kijin and Raijuu. Raijuu darted forward, his body crackling with energy as he aimed a lightning bolt straight at the creature's face, hoping to catch it off guard. The bolt struck true, but instead of staggering back, the creature absorbed the energy, the glow in its eyes intensifying.

This thing was no ordinary monster. It was as if the very rules of magic didn't apply here.

"Raijuu, keep moving!" I called out, watching as he circled around, his movements a blur of electricity. Kijin launched a volley of shadow attacks, aiming for the creature's joints, trying to slow it down, but the attacks seemed to pass through it as if it were made of smoke.

Realizing we were getting nowhere, I clenched my fists. I didn't like stepping in personally unless absolutely necessary, but this might be one of those times.

"Fine," I muttered, drawing my weapon. "Let's see if we can at least slow it down."

I advanced cautiously, staying just out of reach as Raijuu and Kijin continued their barrage. The creature's gaze flickered to me, its maw widening in what almost looked like a grin. I swallowed, forcing myself to stay focused. This was no time to hesitate.

I closed in, my blade flashing as I aimed for its neck, hoping to catch it off guard. But as my blade made contact, the creature's form shifted, and my strike passed through it as if it were nothing but mist. My eyes widened, and I pulled back, barely avoiding a swipe from its claws.

"This is... different," I breathed, glancing at Kijin and Raijuu. They were just as puzzled as I was.

Before I could regroup, the creature lunged, moving faster than something its size should be able to. Kijin and Raijuu leapt back, but the creature's claws grazed Kijin, leaving a deep gash along his side. A low growl escaped him, but he steadied himself, his eyes filled with determination.

"Kijin, Raijuu—let's try something different." I felt a surge of focus, calling on the bond I shared with them. "Let's merge attacks."

Raijuu circled the creature, his body crackling with an intensity I hadn't seen in a long time, while Kijin summoned shadows, shrouding the entire chamber in darkness. In the dim light, only the creature's yellow eyes glowed, a beacon in the murky depths.

I gathered my energy, channeling it through my bond with Raijuu. "Now!"

Raijuu unleashed a powerful surge of electricity, the lightning coursing through the shadows Kijin had created, amplifying their power. The combination struck the creature dead-on, and this time, it recoiled, its body flickering and distorting as if its form couldn't hold.

I tightened my grip on my blade, preparing for a final strike, but just as I moved, the creature let out a deafening roar, its body collapsing into a swirling cloud of mist. The sound reverberated through the chamber, rattling the walls and sending a shiver down my spine.

When the mist cleared, the creature was gone, leaving nothing behind but a faint, acrid smell.

Kijin limped back to me, his wound still raw, but he stood tall, his gaze steady. Raijuu trotted over, his usual energy dampened by exhaustion. I knelt beside them, murmuring words of reassurance, feeling a mix of pride and relief.

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But my relief was short-lived. Ahead, in the center of the chamber, something began to shimmer—a large, circular doorway, inscribed with the same symbols I'd seen on the stone door before.

I stared at it, my heart pounding. This was no ordinary floor, no ordinary dungeon. Whatever lay beyond that door was something... ancient. Something that felt as if it had been waiting for someone like me to arrive.

"Come on," I whispered to my Shikigami, moving toward the door, my senses on high alert. "Let's see what's next."

Kijin and Raijuu fell into step beside me, their eyes watchful, their bodies tense. I reached out, touching the door, and felt a pulse of energy, a feeling almost like... recognition.

The door slid open, and I stepped forward, feeling the weight of the unknown pressing down on me.