Air whistled in my ears as I plummeted further and further. The only thing I could hear was the rustling of my clothes.

I smashed my boot into the skull of the hound who had his jaw clamped around my right leg. I could see trickles of my blood spill out into the air as the dog only tightened his grip, ready to tear my leg off.

I continued my assault on it, struggling to stay upright as I continued to fall. Every time my body twisted in the air I saw a glimpse of where I was heading. It was still pitch black, with no end in sight.

The twinge of pain from my left arm shoots into my mind, reminding me of the other monster dragged down with me and the hound. I make quick work of the needle rabbit, ripping its horn from my arm and slamming it into the wall. The ash that resulted from the monster's death assaulted my eyes and mouth, making me cough.

It was hard enough to breathe with the air rushing out of me each time I opened my mouth. My eyes began to water, and with no end in sight, I focused on the monster who was threatening to rip one of my limbs off.

"Let Go!" I managed to shout at it as I kicked at it again. The issue I faced was that I was frightened of killing the monster and it turning into dust like the rabbit. I was almost certain that the height I had fallen from was easily enough to kill me, I had fallen for long enough to think of a pitiful solution.

There was no scenario I came out of this uninjured but I knew that if I cushioned my landing with a body twice the size of me, I might stand a chance of survival.

All of sudden, light invaded the hole and in a flash, I could see the floor racing up towards me. I stopped my attack on the monster and lifted my right leg. Just before we slammed into the stone floor, I bundled myself in between the dog's paws and braced for impact, the dog's jaws still firmly around my right leg.

* WHAM!*

The pain was immediate. The little air I had left in my body was thrown out of me in an instant. My head was ringing and I could feel burning pain throughout my body. However, I couldn't complain. If I could feel this stuff, then I was alive.

The grip around my leg had slackened and before I had time to distinguish anything, I was lying in a quagmire of what was once a monster's body. As I opened my eyes, my vision was blurred red due to the monster's blood splashing me completely. I could make out flesh and bits of fur scattered around the small corridor we had landed in. The monster had taken most of the impact but now that left me all alone.

'Stand... up,' I told myself. I could feel myself blacking out. If I fell asleep here, it was game over. I had to stay conscious, no matter what.

I attempted to put some weight on my left leg, knowing my other one was badly injured due to the hound. I crumpled as my leg surged with pain, unable to hold my weight. I manage to stop my head from swinging enough to see why. As soon as my eyes lay on it, I forced my head forward and spewed vomit over the floor.

I could see a bit of white bone sticking out of my shin. My heart was pounding in my chest as sweat dripped down my forehead. I could feel myself begin to cry, my tears mixing in with the red blood that marked my face. I don't know whether it was because of the pain or the hopeless situation I was now in. One leg was bleeding profusely while the other had a bone sticking out of it.

'Calm down. Calm down," I repeated over and over again. I'm not dead yet. Not while I'm still breathing. So that's what I did. I wiped the tears and blood from my eyes, signalling that my left arm was still functioning, all be it with a massive ache. My other arm was a little worse but I could still swing both of them hard enough to deliver a punch. That was something. But that meant nothing if I couldn't move.

I forced myself to check my body once more. A few entrails stuck to my body while most of me was painted in a murky red. From head to toe, I wore my enemy's insides. The smell alone made me want to be sick again.

Apart from my left leg which had the... bone issue, the rest of my body seemed better than I thought, but I couldn't see what the damage was like inside. When I tried to get up even slightly, I could tell some of my ribs had cracked or broken. While both my arms were usable, they still hurt like hell to move. My head was throbbing, doing its best to stay alert and awake. I could wiggle my feet; all be it with incredible difficulty. My right leg, the one the monster had bitten into, I distinguish between my blood and the dog's. I tried to move and surprisingly, it listened to my actions with little pain, compared to the rest of my body.

"Stand... up," I muttered to myself, urging my body to move. This time I put the weight on my right leg, knowing my other one was completely useless.

While I try to stand up, I feel my back begin to burn. This time though, it's not out of pain. I slump back down, trying to focus on it but as I fall back down to the floor it fades.

"w-what... is t-that," I think through heavy breathing. So once more, I attempt to stand up. As the pain increases in my right leg, my back burns once more. So I continue to stand up and as my back begins to burn hotter, the pain in my right leg slowly diminishes. While still present, I can stand on my leg with it only slightly shaking.

I just stand there, breathing heavily as I focus on my back. Barely staying balanced while standing on one foot, my left leg stranded in the air, I realise something.

'It's my falna. That burning is right where my falna is.'

Pain tolerance. My new skill. It only unlocked after a certain amount of pain. I can't imagine feeling any more pain so that is having an effect now to help alleviate some of the pain as well.

I have never been more grateful for Penia's blessing than I am now. I'm now able to stand/hop upright with both my arms being able to at least block attacks. The throbbing in my head has calmed somewhat but I'm still in no condition to fight.

Just as I thought that I heard growling in the distance. I spin my head, causing my vision to go blurry. The sound of a large monster is approaching my landing zone. I could feel the vibration of the monster's footsteps in the ground. I begin to panic again, knowing I stood no chance of fighting monsters this far down.

'If I can use my pain tolerance, I can use my other skill too.'

The thought gives me enough drive to begin to hop towards the nearest wall. I'm fighting back tears as the pain is still horrific, even with all the help from my blessing. I hear the monster get closer. I stumble in my attempt to go faster and begin to crawl, not wanting to waste time getting back up. However, my left shin slammed into the ground, forcing bile up my throat. I force it back down as I continue to crawl, leaving a smear of blood on the ground as I do so.

I reach forward with my arms, pulling myself forward with any small crack I manage to dig my fingers in. Every inch was a matter of life or death at this point. I could feel the presence of the monster begin to enter the room. With one last push, fuelled by desperation, I lurch forward and grab the wall, pulling myself around the corner. I flatten myself to the wall as much as I can, dragging my left leg into the shadow just as the monster entered the room.

My eyes are tightly shut, not wanting to show anything that could give away my position. I hear a loud snort as the thunderous footsteps stop as the floor stops shaking. I can feel my whole body quivering. This was similar to when I hid from the Warlord.

'He didn't spot me so maybe the monster won't either.'

The thought gives me enough support to calm me down. I slow my breathing down and focus on my heart to quieten the rapid beating. I lurch myself upwards into a more comfortable position, careful not to disturb my leg or make a noise.

At first, the silence was comforting as it meant the monster had stopped progressing towards me. Now, the silence had dragged on for too long. I slowly open my eyes and begin to peek my head around the corner, careful not to expose myself. I feel my blood run cold at the sight.

The monster stood easily four times the size of me. It would even dwarf Ottar. Pure muscles toned around its brown skin. Its fists alone would crush my entire body if it grabbed me. The most haunting part of the monster wasn't its physique but its appearance.

The bottom half was two legs that were similar to a person's. The body widened but the arms and torso remained human. But the head. Two twisted black horns spiralled out of them as its ears drooped by its side. Deep red eyes and a giant nose. I know what this monster is. It appears in many hero stories.

A Minotaur.

I almost faint at the sight. I'd heard adventurers mention this monster when coming up from the middle floors. If I'm on a floor with them then I've passed the 15th floor at least. That thought alone made me clench in terror. I thanked the heavens for blessing me with pain nullification for allowing me to crawl away.

The monster seemed to be inspecting the room I'd fallen in. I hadn't gotten a good look at it, too busy focusing on hiding and surviving. I see the hole in which me, the dog monster and the needle rabbit fell through. However, the Minotaur is focused on something else.

I stifle a gasp as I see it bend down and begin to sniff the blood trail I'd left behind. The blood trail that led to my position. I can see the monster's nose flare as it takes in my scent. Somewhat fortunately, a lot of that is the hound's blood when it exploded on impact, the blood that covered me head to toe.

'The smell will lead it to me,' I think in a panic. I have to escape. But I look back at my left leg, the shin bone sticking out. I'm not getting anywhere with that like that.

I turn back again and see the giant cow monster start heading my way. It seems I have no other choice. I feel for my knife on my belt, sighing in relief that it was still attached unlike my bag of stones that had broken in the fall. I put the handle of the knife in my mouth, knowing that I'd scream from the pain, so I made sure I couldn't make noise to alert the monster.

I then slowly straighten my leg, sucking on the handle as I did so. Not even my skill seemed to help with my leg. With my leg finally straightened out, I can see the top bit of the bone sticking out just below my knee, at least that was still in place.

The footsteps of the monster started to get louder, so without wasting a moment I bit down on my knife and pushed the bone back into place.

The pain was numbing and burning at the same time. I felt myself almost fall unconscious as my head spun. I covered my mouth but vomit still made it through and dripped to the floor. I gave a shaky look at my leg. I'd seemed to have at least done an alright job. The bone wasn't visible but the pain was still there.

The Minotaur was only a couple of metres away, sniffing at my back. I had to get up and move. I clung to the wall and yanked myself up, ignoring the screams of agony racking my body.

I put some weight again on my right leg, my skill had helped with that injury inflicted by the razor-sharp teeth. I then attempt to put some weight on my left leg and my vision went blurry. I had just hidden the injury but it was still there.

I hear the Minotaur grab the wall next to me, bits of rubble fall to the floor. I see its head slowly peer around the corner, its blood-red eyes slowly come into view.

I can't help but shake, frozen in place as it looks directly at me.

"UUUUURRRRRRRRRRRRRRAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

I instinctively pull the knife out of my mouth and plunge it into the monster's eye. It staggers back in agony, letting out a blood-curdling roar. I don't stand by and watch as I begin to hobble away as fast as I can. Anywhere, as long as it's away from that monster that is defiantly angry at me.

I've made it about five seconds up the tunnel before I hear my knife clatter to the floor followed by a roar that promised to kill me. I speed up, even if it meant more pain.

Saliva, vomit and snot fill my mouth and nose as I struggle to get away. The pounding in my leg is only matched by the rapid beating of my heart, I can even feel it in my head. My body wants to desperately shut down but that would mean death. The thunderous sound behind only proves my point. I push further on.

Around tight bends, sharp stone walls and jagged rocks tear at my exposed skin while the Minotaur closes the gap to me. I must've gotten a 100-metre head start but that would be closed in under a minute. I have to look for an escape route. A hiding spot where I can use my stealth skill. But I'm still coated in blood head to toe which is leaving a constant trail to my location.

If I want to escape, I've got to get clean and then hide. All in under a minute. I can't help but begin to cry at the helplessness I'm beginning to feel. This isn't like last time when I had a plan and knew where I was. Where there were other people to help. I'm completely on my own.

'I'm so stupid!' I yell at myself. I had wanted to remain solo, to get stronger. Was it all just talk? Did I just want to make myself feel better?

I'm scared. I want Brant to come save me. Reg, Penia. I want to run to the orphanage and hug Maria. All the images fly into my head as the Bull monster closes the gap. I can feel it snorting. If I was fully healthy, I might be able to take down the monster. But my screwed-up leg, battered arms and loss of blood meant that I was just as weak as when I was a level one.

I turn another corner, the Minotaur taking a swipe at me just after I turn, the wall turning to rubble as it crashes through the stone. I race ahead. A small crawl space was in front of me, with no other option to my left or right. That meant I only had one choice.

I get down on my stomach and crawl forehead, crying out in pain as I force my left leg into action. The Minotaur charges at me, grabbing at my legs. I feel its thick fingers graze my boots but I just manage to get free.

"URRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!"

It screams at me in frustration. I glance back at the blood-red eye filled with hatred at me as the other has swollen up from my attack. I look forward and continue to crawl. But I only get another couple of metres before the crawl space ends and I stand up

My blood runs cold at what faces me.

'Oh no.'

A smooth stone wall stands ahead of me. There is no branching tunnel to the left, or to the right. There is no continuing crawl space. It's a dead end.

I'm trapped.

I turn back around as the monster roars once more. Maybe I can wait it out. Maybe it will give up and turn around. I don't mind. It'll give me a chance to rest. Maybe the world will give me a chance for once.

But this was the dungeon and the world hated me. I heard a sickening thud. Then another. And another.

I felt the walls and ceiling begin to close on me as they shook. I felt my breathing become erratic. I felt so trapped and confined.

I hear bits of rubble fall to the ground, then a few chunks of stone, followed by a large chunk of stone being thrown away. My eyes widen in terror. The Minotaur is smashing through the wall to reach me. Just to kill me.

Tears start to form in my eyes. I'm done for. I'd thought I was a goner a few times but this really was it. I was badly injured, tired and faced with a monster feared by Level 2 adventurers. What am I meant to do? There was no escape. There was only death.

I wanted to curl up into a ball and just cry. To accept my fate that I was going to die in a cold, dark, random tunnel of the dungeon. I had barely even got that far down. I wasn't even a fraction of the strength I wanted to obtain. How could I be so stupid?

Another large chunk of rock was shattered as the Minotaur got within 5 metres of me now.

I'm not Odysseus, or Theseus or the Argonaut. I'm a scared child who just wants to go home.

I clench my fists in frustration. Why? Why do I have to die like this? It's not fair. But then again, life had never been fair to me.

"But I still managed to pull through," I mutter to myself. That's right. I've always pushed past whatever Life has thrown at me so far. So what if I'm not like those great adventurers from the books? I'm me.

The Minotaur was almost within a metre of shattering the wall now, bits of dust began to fill my enclosed space.

I'm the fastest and youngest person to level up in history. I'm able to beat any monster I fight. I look at my Galva-knuckles and armour. Even after all the beatings, they were still solid. I still had my weapons. I had my mind.

Brant. Reg. Penia. Maria. I had people waiting for me to get back. They weren't coming to save me. No, I couldn't keep relying on them. I have to stand up on my own two feet.

I wince in pain as I force myself to get up. I close my fingers into a fist, my Galva-Knuckles sliding across my Knuckles. The Minotaur is only a few punches away from me. I can hear it's breathing. It's tired from all the work it's done to get to me. It's also a lot bigger than me, too big. This room will force it to fight differently. If it was cramped for me, it would be really cramped for the monster.

I get into a fighting stance, prepared. I envision my first move. I wipe my tears from my eyes and focus. There was another option I saw. I couldn't run away nor was I going to lay down and die. If that was my fate, screw it. Screw fate. I'm going to fight and win!

I felt my back burn once more, right where my development ability slot was. Warrior ignited on my back as I felt a burst of strength course through my blood.

I'm Perseus. I'm going to be my own hero.

The Minotaur broke through the stone wall I had crawled under. I dodged under the flying debris and before the dust settled, I pushed off my right leg and smashed my left gauntlet into the monster's abdomen.

I was slightly stunned at how much force I put in as the monster went flying backwards, getting launched off its feet. It fell to the ground with a large force and choked out a roar. But I remained. I had a plan that was vital on staying still.

I watched with bated breath as the Minotaur stood back up with a slight stumble. It wasn't expecting to be hit so hard by its prey.

"I'm not your prey."

"HHHHHHHRRRRRRRRRRRRROOOOOOOOOAAAAAAAAAAA"

I saw it get down on all fours as it roared at me. I crouched down low, almost matching its position. It scraped the floor before hurtling towards me. If it had chased me at this speed, it would've caught up long before I made it to the crawl space.

The wall of muscle and flesh flew towards me but I kept my cool. I blew some air at some blood-stained hair that had got in my vision and anticipated. Just as the Minotaur reached me, I leapt into the air at the last moment. My small height allowed me to make a vertical leap so my entire body covered the charging bull.

With a thunderous crash, the Minotaur smacked into the wall, its twin horns jammed into the stone wall. I gave it no time to get out. With a war cry, I brought both my fists down as one right on the monster's skull.

I heard bone shatter as the body slumped. I stood on the monster's back and continued to slam my fists into the monster's head. It was similar to when I killed my first Goblin, I was making sure this beast would not stand back up again.

I kept going until my fists finally caved through the bull's head, my Galva-Knuckles as bloody as my skin. My body lurched forward as the giant body evaporated to ash. I heard the clink of a magic stone fall to the floor.

I stood there, listening to my own heartbeat coupled with my large gasps for air. I remained there for a minute before my mind caught back up.

"I am... alive," I whispered to myself. My body crumpled as the pain in my left leg flooded back into my mind. I leaned back against the wall, my head tapping on something. I lean forward and look back up.

I see a black horn sticking out of the wall. I reach up to grab it, twisting it out. The Minotaur had gone deep into the wall. I must've snapped it off when I punched it. As the horn finally got free, I placed it in my lap.

I had held out for so long but this time there was no stopping it. I was in a backroom somewhere in the middle floors, covered in monster blood and ash. I was in a tiny area of space, well, it was before the Minotaur made a giant hole through it. I look back at where we both came from.

I breathe a sigh of relief. The large chunks of stone had caved in on itself when the Minotaur had charged through it. There were still gaps at the top that I could easily slip through but perhaps, coupled with my stealth skill, I might not be disturbed.

I hoped that was the case as I felt my eyelids begin to close. I had no strength left to stop it. I could only hope that maybe, for once, the world would give me a chance.

With the Horn nestled in his lap, his weapons settled in passive mode, Perseus allowed sleep to overcome him as he slumped on the wall.

The middle floors are truly showing why they are a force to be reckoned with, but our boy has and will continue to overcome them.

This chapter is shorter than normal as I've decided to filter the middle floors tiny arc into smaller but more frequent chapters. I had started it out with the intention of Perseus getting close to escaping in this one but I got carried away with the Minotaur and I thought what I did was really cool and scary, show casing the brutal nature of the dungeon.

This was Perseus' first match with a Minotaur, similar to Bell's. Covered in blood, running for his life. But Perseus ain't Bell, he won't have someone come help him. That doesn't mean he is alone, a lesson our MC seems to be learning.

Tell my what you thought of it as the middle floors has more to offer.

Review time:

calderoneric758 - Perseus' main weapon going forward will be his Galva-Knuckles until a major change in the story, but he did just get a monster drop, so who knows what his secondary or third weapons could be.

Roland Tepes - We don't see enough Solo exploration of someone who is not an OP Bell or OP OC. Solo in the dungeon is terrifying and I really want to flesh it out. But he won't be solo all the time. Astrea Familia aren't going to be too happy to hear about Perseus' little expedition.

cloudman3011 - Perseus and his magic are still in talking it out at the moment but this was just the first encounter in the middle floors, if he wants to escape he might need to come to terms with it.

Jose Blas - Thank you and for Persues x Ais. No, sorry. Perseus X Amid, though he will have interactions with Ais in the future.

Guest(1) - He will be with Penia, he won't be leaving Penia. As for his title, while the broken prince is nice, I have a story called The Cursed Prince (go check it out recent new chapter posted yesterday) and it is way to similar. As for the screws lose, to be an adventurer you need a few loose screws.

Brendan1479 - Great to hear, thx.

Guest(2) - No problem, glad you enjoyed it.

Sora Stream -Gald you liked the heaven and other POVs and don't worry, they won't be a frequent occurance. It isn't like Naruto or One piece with the recaps every episode. It is like the One piece manga where it shows the worlds and the people we've met along the way their thoughts every couple hundred chaps or so (every time something significatn happens in this).

Anyway, that's everything. The next chapter shouldn't take too long, depending on how much I write. Also, The Cursed Prince has got a new chapter, it is hitting the Freya War Arc and its setting up to good. Thanks for reading, I'll see ya next time, Peace!