My Goddess is a Tsundere

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

[Level Up]

Text boxes assaulted Bane as he swung his sword with inefficiency. Since he had come to the dungeon that morning, he had been staking out the first floor and fighting the slimes that came his way.

He knelt and grabbed an energy crystal from a green slime he had just slain. Reaching around his head, he placed it in a small sack that hung on his back. That morning, he had met Winter, and she had given him the sack.

The small sack now housed a few dozen crystals on Bane's back. He pulled up his status and was satisfied with what he saw.

[Bane of the Slums]: LV 5 (10/740)

[Title]: Slimey Slayer LV 1 (63/100)

[Strength]: LV 3

[Dexterity]: LV 2

[Mind]: LV 1

[Agility]: LV 2

[Fortitude]: LV 1

[Magic]: LV 1

[Skills]: Appraisal LV 1, Threat Analysis LV 1

Bane hadn't learned any new skills so far during this adventure into the dungeon, but he was still leveling up nonetheless. He decided to start diversifying his attributes. After taking the time to look over each of his attributes, he deemed strength, dexterity, and agility the most important. Defensive attributes and magic, like fortitude and mind, seemed unnecessary for now.

Bane had yet to notice a major effect from the attributes. If anything, the biggest advantage he had was his experience from the previous day fighting the slimes. With that awareness, he had made quick work of almost fifty slimes so far.

Another thing he noticed when entering the dungeon that morning was that Luna was gone. The mercenary cat girl Winter had warned Bane to avoid. That mysterious girl lingered in his mind even now as he was slaying slimes.

As he continued walking, he felt eyes on his back. He swallowed. Crossing paths with adventurers was rare, especially in the morning. Most would head straight for the lower floors, ignoring the slimes on the first level. And yet, someone was here with Bane. He just knew it.

[Skill Acquired!]

[Danger Sense LV 1]

Bane hid his surprise as two text boxes flashed before him. A new skill? At a time like this, it can't be a coincidence. Bane usually acquired skills while experiencing something—he had gained Appraisal while examining his sword and Threat Analysis while sizing up his first slime.

It seemed this skill was given to him because he was being watched. He closed the text boxes and opened the skill's description:

Danger Sense:

A passive skill that grants the user heightened senses at all times. Can be used offensively and defensively when dealing with an unknown opponent.

Simple enough, Bane thought, trying to home in on the watchful eyes behind him. The presence was coming from someone close behind. As he turned a corner in the dungeon's maze, the presence followed a moment later.

Bane continued walking, hoping the presence would disappear, but it only became more pronounced, culminating in a sharp feeling in his head.

Murderous intent! Bane thought, turning on his heel. He was met with a familiar-looking cat girl charging at him, her sword in hand.

Bane rolled to the side, some of the crystals spilling out of the sack. He stood quickly and grabbed his sword, unsheathing the white blade with a shing.

"What do you want!?" Bane shouted at Luna, who now stood where he had been moments ago, a thin black blade in her hand at her side.

"Wow. You dodged my attack. You're better than you let on," Luna spoke in a cold tone, ignoring Bane's question.

"Tch." Bane clicked his tongue, trying to mask his fear. He attempted to use Threat Analysis, though it seemed it could only be used on monsters in the dungeon.

Without warning, the cat girl's agility was put on full display. Luna lunged at full speed toward Bane. If you blinked, you could have missed it. However, thanks to his skills, his sword met hers with a loud clash, sending sparks in multiple directions.

Bane successfully blocked another of her attacks, though he was clearly on the back foot. Luna quickly recovered and lunged in one last time. Bane barely managed to raise his sword and deflect her attack. The clash sent sparks flying once more.

"My, my, you're pretty good," Luna said, giving Bane unwanted praise.

"Why are you doing this?" Bane asked. Is all of this worth a few thousand Shill to her? That was Bane's only guess—money. The sack on his back carried a few thousand Shill, and Luna wanted it—or so he thought.

The tail between her legs moved in excitement as the fight continued. "Let's end this," she said, once more ignoring Bane's questioning pleas. Luna knelt as if at the start line of a race and lunged forward.

Even with his sword in a position to block, Bane couldn't have reacted in time. Even with the system's skills, he just couldn't block such a quick attack.

This is where I die. Thoughts flashed through his mind. It was all he could do—think about life and purpose. Bane didn't want to die; his dream was just starting to become a reality.

That thought was cut short when a fist drilled into his lower stomach, sending him back into the stone wall. His head slammed into the rocky surface, and he immediately blacked out.

Bane's body twitched. He was lying face down on the hard, cold floor of the dungeon. He turned his head, looking up and down the hall he was in. He squinted, trying to make out the light around him. His head ached; his vision was blurry… and there was a new system notification. While the rest was blurry, he lay with his head to the side and read the new system notifications.

[Skill Acquired!]

[Passive Healing]

Bane's thoughts were empty. He simply opened the skill's description:

Passive Healing:

While out of combat, slowly heals the user.

Bane stared blankly. Even in defeat, I just become stronger, he thought. Obtaining such a useful skill after such a glaring defeat made him want to chuckle, but doing so would only accentuate the pain in his lower stomach and back. He had hit the wall with such force that he thought he was dead, though now he was just immensely sore.

Bane turned to the next notification:

[Quests Unlocked!]

What? Bane became slightly confused by this. The guild had a quest board that was updated with slayer quests and fetch quests. What could this be? he thought, opening the new tab labeled Quests. Only one request was available:

Revenge:

Find and defeat Luna the Mercenary.

Time Limit: Infinite

Reward: 10,000 Shill, five skill points

Bane, still out of his wits from his defeat, read the quest description and reward with his mouth open in surprise. He closed the box and smiled. Even as a weakling, this "system" is just asking me to get stronger, he thought, letting the passive healing start taking effect.

Bane lay face down on the stone floor for a moment longer, and soon, breathing and moving became easier. Before long, he pushed himself off the ground and sat with his back against the stone wall. It was then that he realized what was missing.

The energy crystals. It seemed Bane's suspicion was right—she had just wanted the money. But if she's so strong, she could make that in a small amount of time, Bane thought. He heaved a long sigh and stood slowly. To his surprise, it seemed the passive healing had worked.

That was fast, he thought, moving his arms about and squatting to test his legs. They weren't sore. Amazing.

As he got his bearings, Bane received his second quest:

[New Quest!]

Floor 1 Completion:

Slay all enemy types on the first floor of the dungeon:

Green Slime – Complete

Blue Slime – Complete

Red Slime – Incomplete

Rewards: 1000 Shill, one skill point

Gazing upon the quest, a newfound fire burned within Bane. With setbacks, there are equal comebacks, he thought. In reality, he wanted to retreat and back off, but the desire to become stronger—and the Luna quest—made him eager.

An eerie smile crept onto his face. "I will get you, Luna," Bane said aloud, moving to the deepest point he had reached in the dungeon, seeking the red slime.

After traveling and slaying a few lesser slimes, Bane came upon a room—the first one since the open expanse at the dungeon's entrance. The circular room was lit by crystal lamps. Bane assumed this was the arena to fight the red slime.

He had heard through gossip in the slums that there was a floor boss on every floor. It seemed the red slime was just that—the guardian to the next floor.

Just as he came to that conclusion, a red slime, three times the size of the others, fell from the ceiling in an epic display. The slime landed with a thud and let out a loud war cry.

"Eeh!"

It was time for battle.

[Bane of the Slums]: LV 5 (10/740)

[Title]: Slimey Slayer LV 1 (63/100)

[Strength]: LV 3

[Dexterity]: LV 2

[Mind]: LV 1

[Agility]: LV 2

[Fortitude]: LV 1

[Magic]: LV 1

[Skills]: Appraisal LV 1, Threat Analysis LV 1, Danger Sense LV 1, Passive Healing LV 1