"Alright, just be careful." Umichi replied after getting Paka's message. He had reached where he had ended up before, on the third level of the Labyrinth. Hm... I wonder if there are secret areas and what not here. Pondering as he walked through the floor. The first area he went into was a dead-end. The map was much more complex here. But he managed to reach the 4th floor. Managing to kill about 28 Ruin Kobold Troopers along the way. Checking his experience, it was still rising a bit on the slow side. The congratulations box said something about 52 exp and 85 col. His level was high enough that the exp was fairly reduced.
Moving along, he had helped out a group that got surrounded, finishing off most of the Ruin Kobold Troopers with ease and helping the people out. "Might you be the guy who's been helping people out all over? But your not in black ...." They were asking him. "Nah, different guy. I have been helping people out, but don't wear all black. I am kind of looking for the guy wearing all black."
"But you were able to take out all those Ruin Kobold Troopers with ease! No-one should be able to clear a group like that by themselves."
"So you are surprised I am able to, but if I were the guy wearing all black, you wouldn't be?" Umichi just laughed lightly.
"Well, whatever. You guys should go back to town or to an earlier level. There seems to be larger groups on this floor." he continued.
"Thanks for saving us!" they mentioned leaving to go back to the earlier stages of the Labyrinth.
Finally, it was 1945, and he reached the 5th level. He was lucky that he didn't encounter any dead ends this time. This maze is crazy Umichi thought, looking through the route he took. It seemed subsequent floors were bigger and more complex. Turning right, he found a treasure chest. But it had already been opened it seemed. Looking around, he then heard more screams. Umichi dashed to the area he heard them from. There was a mix of enemies. Some Ruin Kobold Troopers and some Giant Spiders. Typical of a dungeon-like area he thought. The Giant Spiders' indicators were of a darker shade than the Troopers. Striking one through it's abdomen, he was able to kill it in one hit, however, the next one, he didn't get to kill it in one hit, when he hit the thorax. Dealing about 75% of the Giant Spider's health, it looked like he wasn't going to be able to one hit kill them. Finishing it off, he dashed through and killed off the Ruin Kobold Troopers first, and then turned to the Giant Spiders. Some were already approaching the group of people. Suddenly a Giant Spider was lifted, and flung into the group of Giant Spiders. It wasn't enough to kill them, but they were temporarily stunned and the group ran away. Umichi finished off most of the Giant Spiders quickly, knowing that he had come. The exp he gained from them were much more decent, 95 exp and 130 col each to the ones he dealt the full damage to. Still a reduced amount, huh ... He thought to himself.
Turning around, he saw the black figure. The man started to walk away, when Umichi called out to him. "Hey, you use those gloves don't you?" The black figured turned to him, and pointed at Umichi. Swinging his blade up in front of him, Umichi turned around and cut down into a Giant Spider which was behind him, taking a step around and cut again. The black clothed man peered at Umichi, studying him. Then he spoke in his deep voice, "Who knows? Well, I'm sure I'll be seeing you around." His tone seemed happy, as he continued to walk away. It was approaching 2000. Well, I just confirmed it. Someone can actually use that. Satisfactorily, Umichi got his answer, and started to leave.
With all he had done, he was approaching 60% of his exp. He had done a lot, but still, it was tough at the moment. He was approaching what would be the level cap for the first floor it seemed. The exp reduction is starting to get severe, everything that wasn't in the Labyrinth, save the Large Nepents, or Quest Monsters, which were hard to come by, he was getting at most 10 exp by himself and at most 2 exp in the party. Getting out of the Labyrinth, it was 2015. He was rather tired now, from the running he did to reach the entrance in about 15 minutes from the 5th floor of the Labyrinth.
Taking his time to get back to town, he cut down any stray monsters or groups that came at him. Without realizing, he cut into a Little Nepent with a fruit. So a lot more came out. But he just stayed as he was, cutting them away, with ease. There were countlessly many of them, but the exp he got was pretty small, accumulating another about 3-4% meaning he got just past 70%. Walking in this manner, killing off a few more groups of enemies, he reached Tolbana. It was 2050. Later than he planned.
Recovering from his fatigue, Umichi was looking forward to his date with Suki. Sending a message to her, he asked, "Are you free now?" While waiting for a reply, he strolled around a while.