Reincarnated With The Degenerate System

I patted her head, and she practically melted, cheeks flushing pink. I had no idea whether that was pure admiration to me or… something else.

Honestly? Didn't really matter. I might be a jerk to most women, but having her at my side felt a bit like having a cute little sister around. Even the most wicked degenerates deserved a break from doing questionable stuff every now and then.

"Sir, we found the magic circle!" Adam called out.

I nodded, and we headed toward a platform five steps high, sprawling wide enough to fit twenty people.

At its center stood a short metal table, ornate, runes carved deep into its surface. One look, and I knew exactly what it was for.

"Give me the main core."

One of the Seekers handed me a circular object. Polished like marble, about the size of a basketball, and heavier than it looked. I walked toward the center and set it onto the middle.

The moment it settled, the core floated and lit up—soft at first, then bright enough to make the whole chamber hum.

Only when it fully stabilized did it dim, rotating in the air like a planet. I couldn't tear my eyes away—there was something mesmerizing about the way it hovered, the runes on its surface pulsing faintly, as if the core itself were aware of our presence.

zzzzz!

The stone walls groaned and shifted. Slowly, a hidden section split open—revealing a colossal hallway carved in perfect symmetry.

"Everyone, pack up all the loot you can carry. Leave the rest—it's not like anyone's going to steal it."

They hesitated, but there was no way to carry all the boss's materials. That's why a special team—called the Cleaners—always handles this stuff. They're normal humans, but equipped with state-of-the-art gear powered by cores, designed to slice and dice giant monsters.

Unfortunately, we didn't have the luxury of hiring one this time. If we didn't grab our share , there was a good chance the rescue party would take it later.

"Once we find a safe spot, we'll set up camp, then slowly scavenge the boss for materials."

They looked at each other and nodded in agreement; it was by far the best solution.

We stepped through the giant corridor. Five minutes later, the passage opened onto a cliff, overlooking most of the floor. Even my eyes couldn't make out the boundary of this place.

"What a view"

Forest spread out in every direction, calm and steady, the leaves shifting gently in the breeze. Sunlight settled on us, warm enough to ease the tension in my shoulders, while a cool draft slipped past the trees and brushed against our faces.

"We actually made it!" Adam roared, and the whole group burst into cheers.

If before, survival had only been a possibility, now it felt real. With our current lineup—and the fact that we already cleared this floor—our chances of staying here for an indefinite amount of time were pretty damn high.

Sure, monsters would still lurk around, but weaker, and a lot less eager to chew our faces off.

From our position, I squinted my eyes, spotting a small opening by the river, wide enough to set up a decent camp.

"Follow me." I took the lead down the sloped path, boots crushing damp leaves that squished like the tower's attempt at pretending it had real weather.

The forest swallowed us fast—thick branches overhead, a green ceiling filtering the sunlight into soft patches along the trail.

For once, it didn't feel hostile. Just… quiet.

As we pushed deeper, I caught movement in the corner of my eye—something small perched on a branch. I paused, hand already drifting toward my spear.

A monkey stared back at me.

Not the flame-spitting, ego-inflated variants from the floor above. These guys looked like their chill, forest-cousin versions.

Dark green fur that blended perfectly with the foliage, limbs long and springy like they were built for parkour, and eyes a sharp jade that scanned us with actual caution instead of arrogance.

One of them tilted its head, sniffed the air, and made a low chirping sound. Then—poof—they scattered.

They moved like arrows fired from too many bows at once. A blur of green streaked past tree trunks, and by the time I blinked, they were halfway across the clearing.

"Sir… those were… fast," Adam mumbled.

"Yeah," I muttered, watching the last one vanish into the canopy. "Faster than the one upstairs."

It was a reminder that this floor might be peaceful, but it wasn't completely "safe."

"Amanda, do you know those variants?"

She nodded, certain in her knowledge. "Verdant monkeys. Fast, agile, and deadly thanks to their claws and small frame that allow faster acceleration."

My mind raced as I covered us both in shadow, making sure no one could eavesdrop.

"Amanda, your knowledge about this monkey variants… where exactly did you get it? Which tower?"

It didn't take her long to respond.

"Boss, it's not unusual for towers to have multiple beast species, like I mentioned. But now that you bring it up… it's weird that we've only seen one type so far. This tower feels different."

I nodded, agreeing with her. Although there were other insects and animals around—birds, for example—they couldn't be called beasts, since their purpose here was mainly to maintain the ecosystem.

Another species would be something like an orc or a goblin, if we happened to encounter one.

More and more, I felt inclined to climb this tower all the way to the top and see that legacy for myself.

'That's it. Once I get out of here, I'm putting together a raid team strong enough to make history—and we'll be the first humans to conquer a tower.'

My shadow veil dispersed, and we kept walking, the air growing cooler as the sound of running water threaded through the trees.

A few minutes later, the path opened up into the campsite I spotted earlier—an open patch of ground hugged by the riverbank, wide enough for all of us to spread out without stepping on each other's personal space.

The river itself ran clear and steady, sunlight catching the surface in bright ripples.

"All of you rest first—you earned it."

Some of them claimed the shade behind a thick trunk, sliding down its bark like melting wax.

Others wandered to the river, splashing their faces first, then sipping cautiously, as if the water might be poisonous.

A few climbed the trees and grabbed fruit—mostly a variant of apple, slightly larger than usual. I bit into one, and it was sweet and juicy.

Thirty minutes later, boredom had set in, so I stood to finally start the next part of my plan.

"Listen up. There are only 51 of us now, so attempting another boss raid is out of the question. We'll make this place our base until rescue arrives." I paused, letting my words sink in.

"We don't know how long we'll be here, so our priority is building a wall for safety. After that, we'll start constructing shelters, in case we have to stay longer."

They all nodded in agreement. Exactly what I wanted to see.

"Listen up. Remember this—we all have to pull our weight, and we need to be efficient. Any questions or ideas?"

There was none, so I skipped the other formalities and went straight to the point.