Is it wrong to be an Elf in a Dungeon?

...

Ember's Pov

Four years and six months, that's how long I have been an adventurer. I could level up anytime I wanted, yet I refrained from doing so, eager to achieve the rank beyond S rank. I toiled day and night, hunting monsters from Level 1 to Level 2, yet without any success my parameters remained at the S999, no matter how hard I tried, no matter what I did, I just couldn't break through the limit.

It was as if I had an invisible wall, which was so sturdy that no matter what I did, it just refused to break. I took a deep breath, I had just finished meditation, however it was half-assed, my mind haunted with thoughts. Is it really the case? Can I never hope to achieve what the other monsters did?

I chuckled, Alfia, Zald and Bell, by the timeline I am in, they are not even born and even if they will be born after my 'Appearance', remains a mystery. I didn't delude myself thinking everything will remain same as the plot dictated or I will have to follow the plot. I just needed to get strong, so whatever might come in my way, I can push through it.

But now that I have remained on S999, unable to push further, I fear if I will be unable to surpass it. I didn't have any typical reincarnator's cheat, neither I had the natural talent of Alfia or the emotions of Zald and Bell which helped them surpass their level. My sister was probably more talented in magic than me, my results must have seen appealing but that's only I was a freaking adult in a child's body!

Having more Mind that what by sister had at her age, or being a good swordsman means nothing in front of true geniuses. Magic Swordsman might be rare, but they were plenty in the entire world. I am nothing special other than having my previous life's memories. I sat on the branch of the tree in pure frustration. 

Am I destined to die as just one of the many geniuses that have appeared throughout the history? I might work hard, and that hard work might let me surpass lazy geniuses, however I can never surpass those with talent and hard work. I looked at the greenery in front of me and took a deep breath. ' I might be able to break through the limit if I am all charged up, but in my situation not a chance ', I thought.

I should take a break, yeah that will be for the best. As for how long? Perhaps till I regain my spirit. Thus, making a decision I jumped from the tree and landed swiftly on the ground. It was time for me to take a break, a much needed one from adventuring.

...

3rd Pov

" I am finally Level 2!", Chad cheered, after six years of being an adventurer he was finally a Level 2! The average time that takes for an adventurer to level up was five to ten years, and that was average, for some it can take several decades to level up. Mostly the adventurers in Orario experienced the average time to level up, outside the Orario, leveling up in 6 years was a decent record.

" Guys! I am a Level 2! Finally, a proud High-Class Adventurer", he bragged as he laughed. Everyone sighed him seeing that. " Still six years huh? Aika and me only took 5 years one and two months respectively", Aika said with a grin. Chad's enthusiasm was calmed down and he couldn't help but complain," Can't you guys have some sympathy for me? I am also giving you a party!"

They nodded," Yeah, Yeah", said Aika, then Bosh said," I also level up three months before Chad and Newton just needs a deed to level as for you Amalda", he looked at the Black-Haired Elf. She wasn't the only female Elf now, Argon Town has become more famous after the news that a Level 4 is here broke out. Many Elves aspiring to be adventurers joined the Oshun, Modi and Aschelois familia.

There are now eleven Elves here, however Amalda remained the most beautiful Elf, garnering attention from both male Elves and other races alike, she had received more than twenty proposals however she had turned all of them down, even the ones from her fellow Elves. One of such proposal was unfortunately of Chad, who was turned down by her.

Chad had to experience a gruesome heartbreak and was down for two months before he finally sobered up. He has recovered from his first love denying him, and now is in relationship with a sweet girl named Anne from a nearby village. Overall, things turned out good for him.

" Well, I am just trying to make my magic parameter reach S before I rank up, I have enough High-Level falna", she replied Mika gasped," S rank? Isn't that too high of a goal? Your magic paramter should already be A and it will be enough ", she asked and Amalda replied with a small but noticeable blush," Tet told me getting better parameters before level up makes a huge difference after level up, so I decided to focus on my dexterity and Magic, my Dexterity is A and it won't reach S any soon, however my magic should", she replied.

" It will still take a lot of time, perhaps several months before you can level up", said Newton as he sipped the beer, Bosh nodded and said," Although it's just my opinion but while ranking up is risky, as you have to fight and kill stronger monsters, it's still easier than to get good parameters, as it is very time consuming and at some point your parameters' growth slow down exponentially."

Others nodded as well and Amalda said," Still I need to increase them as much as I can", then Aika grinned and said," That means our party will be soon a party of High-Level adventurers, Hey Newton better rank up quickly or we will leave you behind", hearing her words the man in question couldn't help but frown, he said with a grumble," Easy to say for you, but I am a scout and fighting stronger monsters isn't easy, though I have some High-rank excelia stored up, just a bit more before I rank up."

They all laughed while Chad who was ignored as they talked with each other about level up couldn't help but feel awkward. ' It was supposed to be my congratulations party for my ranking up! ', he thought and sighed. As they were partying suddenly, Mika asked," Tet hasn't arrived yet?", her words drew everyone's attention on her.

" Yes, about Tet, something is going wrong with him", Aika said as she recalled their previous meetings. " Maybe it's about ranking up? Well, it might sound surprising but with how talented and powerful he is, coupled with his hard-working nature I thought he will be first to rank up, but he still hasn't", said Bosh. " Not that surprising", Aika commented, and others nodded.

" Now Bosh you say that hasn't Tet killed like several level 2's and even injured Level 3's? He should have enough High quality excelia shouldn't he?", asked Chad with a frown on his face, " Hey Amalda do you know anything about it?", Mika asked her, although the males didn't know, but Aika and Mika knew it very well that Amalda has a crush on Tithonus, and she was even ready to propose him.

So, she had worked hard secretly to know about his likes and dislikes, and also know about his circumstances. So, she ought to know the best, and as Mika thought it was correct. " Well... What to say? I have talked with Goddess Aurora, she had told me he wanted all his parameters perfect, so he was refraining from ranking up", she said.

" Perfect parameters, isn't that like S999 in all of his parameters?!", gasped Aika, and looked at Amalda who nodded. " Thi-This is... crazy! It is very hard to reach S999 in one parameter much less in all of them! Something like that, I doubt only the prodigies of Hera and Zeus familia can achieve something like that!", said Bosh.

" It might take him decades for him to do so", said Newton, " Indeed! Shouldn't he just level up?", said Chad finishing his cup of beer. "That bastard didn't come for the party either, Tch", Chad said and everyone couldn't help but feel troubled. " Tet is sure troubling, do you remember two years ago? How he returned to his village and didn't return to Argon town for eight months? ", said Aika.

" Indeed, we all went to village just to make sure he is fine, only then he returned", Mika said recalling her headache, everyone that time was really worried for him, especially Amalda who despite being an Elf was the most worried. " Then it's decided, lets meet up with him!", said Chad smashing the table.

" Chad! If the table breaks you need to pay!", he heard the voice of the granny and froze, and awkwardly looked at the table and seeing a dent, he nervously started rubbing it with a cloth. Everyone erupted in laughter. Their Chad was like always he was, never a Chad.

...

Ember's Pov

" Guys, I thank you for your words, I- I will be honest I was feeling down, and hearing your words make me feel better", I said emotionally as I looked at them. I was feeling embarrassed, I made them feel worried, and even forgot about Chad's party! Damn, and here I thought I had matured a bit. I couldn't help but chuckle awkwardly.

" Damn man! You forgot about my party *Sigh* Anyway, take care of yourself", Chad patted my shoulder earning a glare for Amalda, and akwardly said," Fine, fine, no touching Elves, you Elf supremacist", Bosh teased him," And here I thought you had a crush on her", Chad grunted and said," That's a thing of past Bosh! Now I love my sweet Anne! So don't go on telling that I had a crush on her."

" Tet, please take care of yourself, and I wish you a safe journey", Amalda said to me with a slight blush on her face, I nodded and said," Thank you, Miss Amalda", I wasn't dark about her crush. It was subtle, unlike the one Chad had on her, but she most probably has a crush on her, which kinda puts me in a pretty awkward position. I guess I will reject her if she proposes, or If I show disinterest in her she will give up, hopefully.

" Anyway, guys see you later, and definitely I will inform you if I was to stay there for a longer time", I said, and Aika joked," Indeed, don't repeat the same thing you did two years ago", and everyone chuckled. After saying my goodbye, I sat on my horse and left for the Shawn village. The path should be relatively safe, I haven't encountered any bandits again so far, though the signs of beast tide were troubling.

I continued travelling for a day and half, when I encountered a horde of Orcs, being skilled adventurer I am, I easily dispatched them all, however, never have I thought that I would encounter this during my journey. It was a huge-ass beetle, but that wasn't the problem! It was a monster found in the middle floors, usually monsters outside dungeon are weaker, but monsters which cause beast hordes are usually stronger than their dungeon counterpart.

I took a deep breath, and I quickly tied my horse taking my most important stuff and got on top of a tree and put it there. ' That thing could probably fly, and it will sense me If I try to run, sneaking away is not an option, I need to kill it ', I thought gravely. It was a Level 3 monster with how big it looked, the only way I could kill was using my magic, but I needed to pour at least 90% of my mind and hit a perfect shot to kill it.

Risks were high,' But I have no other choice, it already has smelled me ', I thought as the buzzing sound started getting clearer. I quickly jumped and started moving from one branch to another and started chanting," O'Flames of Legends!... ", and the moment I did the monster started following me with a fast speed. My heart started racing, as my senses screamed danger, but I didn't stop running.

My chant was slow, since I needed to pour most of mind in this single shot. Thankfully, I have practised chanting before, so it should fine. I started jumping from one tree to another, but buzzing sound only became clearer," Burn brighter than thy enemy!... ", I chanted the next verse when my senses went haywire ,' Damn it was too fast! ', I quickly turned myself to see the monster charging at me. I landed on the ground and then-

*Slash*

I slashed using my full strength, but it barely made a dent on the monster's chitinous outer skeleton, and with the force of its horn it threw me back, I crashed on the ground, thankfully my bones didn't break and standing back again I started running away, I quickly got behind the tree and then ran, when I heard the sound of the trunk breaking," Turn them into cinders!... ", I continued chanting as the tree fell.

I avoided the tree falling, however, the next moment the monster was in front of me, and charged with its horn, I tried to deflect it, but my arm snapped by the sheer force, I felt my bone breaking, though I gripped my sword despite the pain of my fingers getting twisted, I knew if I let my sword go, it will be game over for me.

I was blown away backwards, but somehow regaining my balance, I grabbed the sword with my another hand,"...Let their Ashes wash in your blue flames! ", I threw the sword with my entire force hitting it's forehead, making it cry in pain as the sword pierced a bit deep, my chant was almost done, but the beetle appeared in front of me again and tried to attack me.

I managed to dodge it but turned and hit me on my back, making me crash, I felt my ribs crack, gritting in pain I turned and with trembling hands I took my staff and pointed its tip towards the monster which landed in front of me," Cremation!!!!! ", I shouted as the tip glew and the next moment. 

*Boom*

A torrent of bluish flames, far stronger than anything I have witnessed in my life emerged and burned through the monster, through it's flames, the very monster that almost killed me turned into ashes. Trees behind it turned into crisp and once the magic recided, I coughed flood," That's you deserve, bastard!", I said with hatred and relief as the monster died.

I finally examined myself, seeing my hand broken, and pain in my back and chest, thankfully my spine was intact, otherwise it will be end for me. ' What's with my damn luck? ', I thought as I took out a tube of potion and chugged it down, feeling some relief, after resting for a while, I stood up and started walking. 

I drank a dual-potion and took my sword, which was intact. Then walking slowly and stealthily I took back my backpack, and finally drank a valve of High-potion feeling the pain in my back and chest receding. I grabbed my hand and ignoring the pain I straightened it up and attached a log with clothes to keep it straight to make the healing process easier.

I remained on the tree for a while, before securing my horse, which was still alive. Thankfully. Due to High potions, I had healed for most of the part, and thus with slow steps on top of horse I continued my journey.

...

Aurora was terrified to hear of my experience, she almost cried thankfully I soothed her," I am happy! That you are alive", she said as she hugged me gently. After that she brought updating the status herself, knowing well I didn't have the will to ask for. I had almost given up, and I think I should level up when," What?!", Aurora exclaimed.

"Y-Your parameters! They have surpassed S999 and entered SS!", she said with shock evident on her voice, she quickly created a status sheet and handed it over to me.

[Level 1

Strength: S999--->S999

Endurance: S999--->SS1003

Dexterity: S999--->SS1001

Agility: S999--->S999

Magic: S999---> SS1009

Skills:

Decipher: Helps the user Decipher the truth, theorems, and workings of the world through logic, prediction and guess.

Orc Slayer: Grants twenty percent buff in all parameters against pig-like monsters.

Eagle's eye: Enhances the vision.

Magic:

1) Cremation (Chant): " O'Flames of Legends! Burn brighter than thy enemy! Turn them into cinders! Let their Ashes wash in your blue flames! Cremation!"

2) N/A

3) N/A]

Yes, my parameters had surpassed the limit after so long, and something told me, that if I surpass all my parameters, something amazing will happen. It was if my guts were telling, no- a skill that I have been using very less and has been with me from the start. I grinned, I have finally realized the way to surpass my parameters.

All Hope wasn't lost.

To be continued...

(A/N: Alfia surpassed her parameters, even if she was a ridiculous genius it does means that with enough hardwork one can surpass their parameters, however this hardwork means making their High-ranking falna overflow that the limits itself vanish, Ember has achieved that, and many will achieve that in future. However the question is what if all of his parameters are broken by hardwork alone?

You will find it out in the next chapter!)