The BOSS before them was tricky, at least for Bete and his group.
This guy...
It always hid in the mist, making its movement trajectory completely invisible. Only at the instant it attacked could its presence barely be detected.
They couldn't attack proactively; they could only passively defend.
But even so, defending and counterattacking was extremely difficult because this monster called the "Saint Vanguard" was simply too fast—at least Lv.4 or higher.
Tione, whose Level was a bit lower, couldn't even react completely to its sudden raids. She could only rely on experience and intuition accumulated from years of combat to barely predict the opponent's movements.
Although Alicia had the Level of a Lv.4, as a Mage, her [Agility] and [Dexterity] were actually not very high compared to others of the same rank.
Even if she saw the opponent launching a raid, it was hard to keep up with the enemy's speed.
Only Bete could do it.
So, the werewolf youth was currently the most heavily injured—the adventurers of the Loki Familia were surprised to find that the BOSS monster before them was quite intelligent. It would actually probe their strength first, then target high-threat targets, feigning weakness and defeat before launching a surprise counterattack!
At the very beginning.
Gareth hadn't even reacted. He was just watching Bete suppressing the opponent with constant attacks. Subsequently, many short Rabbit Person monsters rushed out from the mist, attracting his gaze.
It was just for a short instant.
By the time the Dwarf uncle realized something was wrong, he found that the werewolf youth had already been counter-killed.
If his reaction hadn't been fast enough, Bete might have been more than half-eaten by this "Saint Vanguard" by now.
At this moment.
The Elixirs were also used up. If Gareth hadn't been there, the situation would have only been worse.
They had already been trapped here for a long time.
"Ugh..."
The werewolf youth had a massive wound on his chest. Even though it was bandaged, fresh blood continued to seep out endlessly. His right hand was almost twisted and deformed, and one foot was also broken, presenting a rather grotesque bend.
That sharp-tongued mouth, usually aggressive and incapable of saying anything nice, could now only constantly cough up bloody foam.
Tsk, tsk, tsk.
Even Tiona felt that this guy was becoming pitiful.
Subsequently, she took out an Elixir and made him drink it. Lefiya also helped by releasing the healing magic she learned from Ryuu-senpai.
However, even so, it could only stabilize his injuries.
Whether it was potions for healing injuries or healing magic, the essence was to accelerate the regeneration of the physical body, and it would produce so-called "drug resistance." Within a certain period, the more treatment one received, the worse the effects of magic and potions would become.
Reality, after all, isn't a game.
It's impossible to cast a single healing spell and have a guy who was gasping for his last breath one second be jumping around participating in battle the next.
Only that "Skill" of Isagi's!
Tiona remembered the gourd the boy often threw to her to drink from. Sometimes it contained bitter medicine, sometimes sweet wine, but as long as one drank it, wounds would be instantly repaired. It was simply ridiculous!
The healing effect was so good it was comparable to Miss Amid, the [Battlefield Saint] of the Dian Cecht Familia!!
So.
It would be great if Isagi were here. However, now was not the time to talk about such things.
In the dense fog, the giant wolf named [Anthropomorphic Saint Vanguard] was still eyeing them covetously. They had to defeat it first.
Vaguely, although they couldn't see exactly where it existed at all, the girls could all sense the intense killing intent projected from the depths of the dense fog.
Regarding this, Gareth didn't have any good methods either.
As a heavy-armored vanguard, if he wanted to leave while facing the monster before him alone, the opponent couldn't stop him.
But to cover Tione and the others behind him, it appeared somewhat troublesome.
The most important thing was, as long as the Saint Vanguard in the mist didn't attack proactively, it was hard for him to proactively find the opponent.
And continuing to stall like this was obviously not an option.
Because an endless stream of other monsters would swarm over. Using the cover of those monsters, the Saint Vanguard would seize the opportunity to launch sneak attacks!
Bete, who was already heavily injured, had been hit hard by several waves just like that, ending up in his current state.
Miserable.
That such a tricky monster would appear in the Upper Floors, and even possess such clever intelligence, was something Gareth had completely failed to anticipate.
Although similar situations would occur with some "Enhanced Species" in the lower or deep floors.
But those were extremely rare events!
Compared to that, why did it feel like every guy in this special Dungeon was ridiculously incredible?
Before coming, as a veteran Lv.6 adventurer, Gareth felt he was cautious enough. Yet, he still led his Familia juniors into such a perilous situation.
[Did I still underestimate the Dungeon?]
The Dwarf uncle muttered.
Come to think of it.
In the future, he must speculate about this Dungeon, which had changed so uniquely because of the boy, with the worst possible malice...
"Sister, you guys are too useless. Leave it to us!"
"Eh?!"
" Isn't it just a guy hiding in the mist and not coming out? Let's go, Lefiya!!"
The clamoring Amazon girl was always full of energy.
The most important thing was.
Even a blockhead like her had already thought of it. The monster before them that only knew how to hide might be troublesome for her sister and the others, but for her side, it was—
"Un!"
The Elf girl nodded, then raised her magic staff.
A lightless pitch-black domain spread out from beneath her feet.
In an instant, in Lefiya's eyes, everything disappeared. Only massive swathes of darkness remained, along with the "stick figures" surrounding her.
As well as.
The gigantic guy in the distance whose lines appeared somewhat twisted, looking neither like a human nor a dog.
She found the opponent with ease. Even dense fog couldn't block the power of "Lightless." Immediately following, the Elf girl began to chant her magic.
"Frozen sky, high heaven's rain. The white ice that embellishes the forest, please drive away the shallow barbarians—"
"Freeze them, Winter's Fetter!"
What Lefiya chanted was Alicia's magic, [Hailstorm Crystal Dust].
But unlike the Elf big sister, the sharp ice crystals that condensed beside the girl, after exploding outwards, turned in unison in mid-air. Guided by the traction of "Mental Power Hands," they headed straight towards a certain direction in the dense fog.
"?"
Alicia, standing to the side, was dumbfounded watching this, thinking: Is this even my magic?!
Countless ice crystals, like a magnificent river of ice and snow, swarmed over and hit the giant wolf hiding in the mist.
And not only that.
Simultaneously, Tiona and Ryuu also followed the guidance of the ice crystals, pouncing towards the place where the opponent was.
"Eat my punch!"
The Amazon girl's hands were instantly surrounded by blood-red light, and she blasted a punch down!
In the dense fog.
Although they couldn't see anything.
The ice crystals circling nearby constantly guided the girls' direction, informing them exactly where the Saint Vanguard was at this moment.
It was completely a tacit cooperation achieved in an instant.
The magic Lefiya released at this moment wasn't mindlessly dumped towards the enemy all at once.
Rather, it was continuous.
Like some kind of guidance, the fragmented ice crystals turned into countless arrows of ice and snow, firmly tracking the location of that BOSS hiding within the dense fog the entire time.
In one go, the opponent's greatest reliance was thoroughly breached!
"???"
Tione and Alicia were dumbfounded watching from the side.
Thinking: You can even do that?
How exactly did she do it? Utilizing mental power to control the flight trajectory of magic—this was indeed something that could be done, but...
Although they had participated in adventures with Isagi and the others before.
At that time, the one who left the biggest impression on Alicia was the boy himself. As for the others, although they were also a bit "ridiculous," the Elf big sister felt it was still okay—at least within an understandable range.
But now...
Looking at Lefiya to the side with incredulous eyes, the power the girl displayed now gave her a feeling of being "inconceivable."
And on the other side, Tione watched her own sister whose whole body was wrapped in blood-red light.
Every time she swung her fist.
The blood qi erupting like deep crimson magma was also vibrating constantly, giving her the illusion that up, down, left, right, and all directions were violently thumping with a "Dong, dong, dong" sound.
And if one listened carefully, they would discover that it was actually the sound of a heart beating.
Terror?
Fear?
Tione didn't know, but she felt that her sister at this moment had become so unfamiliar.
Clearly, she wasn't like this just a short while ago!
Isn't it just partying with the boy for a period of time? How did she get tuned like this?!
Although she knew her sister had become much stronger, how could—
Unbelievable!
Following Tiona roaring again, unknown if she was high on adrenaline or what, the Amazon girl abruptly—actually just without thinking about anything—raised both fists high, then smashed them down violently.
Bang!
The pulsating white mist was wrapped together by that deep crimson blood qi, and then abruptly exploded upwards layer by layer, erupting like a volcano!
"Awoo, awoo, awoo!!!"
From inside the gray mist came the monster's cries of pain.
Unknowingly.
Tiona seemed to have completed a brand new Special Technique again.
Can't understand. Can't understand at all.
Gareth not only felt the Dungeon before him was unfamiliar and the monsters were unfamiliar, but even the girls teaming up with the boy to explore here—including Tiona who was still from his own Familia—the combat power they displayed at this moment had become incomparably unfamiliar.
[Are these guys also from another world?]
For a split second.
The adventurers of the Loki Familia all had such a thought pop up in their hearts.
Compared to that.
Ryuu, who was currently launching attacks on the monster together with Tiona and using the newly obtained magic [Astrea Record] to borrow the power of her deceased companions, wrapping her body in brilliant red flames, actually seemed somewhat "ordinary" instead.
Although.
She was also completely not ordinary.
"[Scarlet Flower of the Prosperous Tower]?"
That was the signature ability of the former Captain of the Astrea Familia, [Scarlet Flower of Justice] Alise Lovell. It was an enchantment magic that could constantly switch forms through multiple chants, wrapping weapons and armor in flames.
Why can [Gale] use it now?
Gareth was puzzled.
Everything happening before his eyes greatly exceeded his imagination.
Thus.
Under the girls' continuous pursuit, the BOSS monster that had been in a stalemate with his side for who knows how long, against which they had no method, was defeated by their combined hands.
The gap is so big.
Gareth couldn't help but sigh with emotion.
Although, in terms of Level, there wasn't actually a big gap between Bete's group and the other side, the combat power displayed at this moment differed by more than just a little bit.
Is this the new Astrea Familia?
No...
This should all be because of that boy.
The changes occurring around him caused himself, including the teammates beside him, to undergo unimaginable changes and growth.
[This is what a Hero is.]
Inexplicably, such a thought even popped up in Gareth's heart.
Very good!
It is precisely like this; the arrival of a brand new challenge is what makes one's blood boil with excitement!!
The Dwarf uncle, who was originally just acting as a "guardian."
At this moment, he also seemed to understand why that silly, blockheaded girl (Ais) in the Familia looked forward to going to the Dungeon with the boy so much.
Don't mention her.
At this moment, even he couldn't help thinking: if he constantly grew and fought in a place like this...
[What kind of appearance will the future me turn into?]
For a time.
The Dwarf, like a steel fortress, couldn't help but want to drink good wine heartily, laugh out loud, and look forward to it—
With the death of the BOSS.
Lefiya ran to collect the opponent's Magic Stone and dropped materials immediately.
The crisis was temporarily relieved. Next, Gareth planned to return to the surface.
Bete had completely lost combat capability, and the squad was exhausted; they couldn't continue exploring any further.
It was just...
"Sister, how did you guys come here?!"
"Uh..."
Facing her own sister's question, Tione began to speak of the things that happened previously, as if recalling.
Originally.
They were at the [Kingdom Core].
They hadn't planned to run over to the [Central Tower] side to explore either. However, after wandering around everywhere in that ruin-like city these past few days.
They discovered that actually, some houses in the city could be entered.
Most houses didn't have anything strange inside. The only thing that was comparatively surprising was that there were clean and tidy bedrooms and beds—
It was simply unbelievable!
What is this for?
For people to rest and sleep in the middle of an adventure?
In that city where flames of war flew everywhere, full of ruins and burning raging fire, the sudden appearance of such a scene was truly very suspicious!
All in all.
Tione and the others didn't have the chance to try what would happen if they really slept and rested on them. After all, their exploration time in the Dungeon each time previously was only about a few hours.
However, because they discovered some houses could be entered, very quickly, they discovered again that some houses actually had "Secret Areas."
Which were so-called basements.
"Just now, we found another basement."
And it was different from the ones discovered before.
As soon as they entered, they saw many corpses of Goblin Rebels on the ground, making Tione and the others nervous, thinking there was some special monster inside again.
As a result.
After exploring for a while, in the depths of the basement, they found another old Goblin that had been besieged and killed.
It wore pale armor, guarding beside a female Kobold who had also already died.
Only.
The Kobold, wearing a magnificent pure white long dress, sat on a chair, but her hands and feet were bound by iron chains and ropes. It was quite strange.
Tione quickly thought that this was the story of that "Glimmer Knight" and "Saintess" her sister had mentioned before, right?
Just looking at them, both the Goblin and the Kobold were very old.
Alicia even recognized at a glance that this dead old Goblin wearing knight armor was the guy who ate bugs in the [Management Layer] before!
Turns out the opponent was also a formidable knight?
Amidst their doubts, they quickly found a map nearby again.
It was just that they couldn't understand it at all. After studying it for a long time, they barely followed the guidance of one corner of the map and found a place that looked like a "Secret Path" in a certain corner of the basement.
That was a dung pit.
It was a dung pit in the literal sense. The interior emitted an indescribable stench, and there were many mosquitoes and flies flying around nearby.
But.
The reason they said this place looked like a secret path was that on the ground in front of it, there was a line of pure white text written in Common—
[Hidden Path Ahead.]
"?"
What kind of hidden path is this! Could it be one has to jump down?!
Unacceptable.
Among the guys present at the time, aside from Bete, Tione and Alicia obviously didn't intend to go explore exactly what happened.
Until, it was still Gareth who discovered the hidden "Secret."
The Dwarf uncle, who was once a miner and also a Dwarf naturally gifted with "Tunnels" and "Excavation," quickly discovered that there were traces left by "Construction" around the dung pit.
Thus.
After chiseling open the wall ahead, they discovered that the true hidden path was hidden behind the dung pit, not under it.
That was a small hidden space.
After everyone walked in, they discovered that it was actually an elevator. And inexplicably, it started directly, taking them just like that to this deeper [Management Layer].
Furthermore, that thing was one-time use. After arriving, it broke directly, and they couldn't use it to go back at all!
"?!!"
They were trolled!
No matter how you look at it, they were trolled!!
On the other side.
Lefiya, however, quickly began to analyze.
"That old Goblin eating bugs was not only a Glimmer Knight but also an engineer. Before, it was the one who helped repair the broken elevator!"
"So, it dug a secret path in the basement of its own home, wanting to take its old lover, the Saintess, to the [Central Tower] side for refuge! But unexpectedly, before they could set off, they were discovered by the rebel army and killed."
That's right, that's right, the plot is just like that!
Only, Tione quickly leaned over and voiced her doubt.
"If that's the case, why did that Saintess have to be tied up?"
"Hmm..."
That remains unknown.
Maybe there are some hidden circumstances. Just like why did the Glimmer Knights and Saintesses from before always have to go to the Upper Floors for "Pilgrimage"?
Was it something they absolutely had to do?
If so, then it makes sense. The old Goblin imprisoned his own Saintess in the basement just to prevent her from going to the Upper Floors. This way, the "Ritual" that required killing the other party wouldn't be held either!
Ah, this is also a pair of bitter fate...
"Let's not talk about this."
During the conversation, Ryuu had already obtained the map they just got from the basement from Gareth.
Subsequently.
The Elf girl took out the [Goblin Kingdom] map drawn by Isagi and began to compare it with the other one, quickly discovering the key point.
This was a complete map of the [Central Tower].
And the "Circle" marked in its center was the elevator shortcut everyone had been using before, leading all the way down from the [Border Fortress].
"You guys still remember, right?"
In that tunnel outside the city of the [Kingdom Core], located in the elevator room within, there was also a circular stone door on the ground.
According to previous experience.
After opening that stone door, it would open the shortcut to the [Central Tower].
"Through here, we can return to the surface in one breath."
The map also marked the location of the "Hidden Elevator" Gareth and the others used to come here previously. As long as they used that as the center, they could quickly find the position of the shortcut.
Just right.
Because they were attacked by the BOSS just after arriving here, that hidden elevator was actually not far away.
"Let's go."
Having confirmed the next objective, as long as they could return to the top first, it was better than running around like headless flies here.
Moreover, if Isagi couldn't find their group, he would eventually choose to leave the Dungeon and return to the city. In that case, the altered Dungeon would also restore to its original state. The boy would definitely think that, in this way, even if they were still trapped in the Dungeon, they would become safe.
And at the same time, on the other side...
...
Falling, falling, falling—
Isagi fell continuously in the darkness. His thoughts couldn't focus, and in his somewhat numb mind, the scene that just happened still echoed...
"There are no shortcuts to wanting to become strong. You can only constantly accept the pouring of iron and fire, tempering yourself in battles hovering on the brink of death time and time again."
In the huge, empty plaza.
In the distance.
The giant statue of the [Pale King] appeared intermittently in the thin misty color.
Subsequently, as expected, the Goblin Pal, who had always walked a bit in front of him, suddenly turned his head and launched an attack on him.
Knew it!
Isagi knew it would be like this!!
How could the Dungeon be so kind as to arrange a powerful NPC teammate for him?
"Adventurer, this is my final trial."
Dagger and long blade collided, erupting with piercing, dazzling sparks.
Subsequently.
The thin Goblin leaped backward, revealing its Health Bar and Name—
[Last Survivor of the Nameless Legion · Pal]
Isagi remembered that he subsequently unfolded a great battle with the opponent!
Pal's speed was very, very fast.
And he had many tricks. Various messy, wonderful small gadgets were even more countless. Utilizing his short stature, he could always launch various attacks unexpectedly.
This guy was truly fierce, even giving one the illusion of fighting a powerful Lv.4 adventurer.
If not for the fact that he often trained with Anya and Ryuu-senpai, he definitely wouldn't have been able to keep up with this guy's speed for a while!
Until, he was finally defeated by his own myriad martial arts. [Left Bow] and [Cancel] served him repeatedly, beating him until he knelt, opening Phase Two.
However, reaching this point, it became somewhat incomprehensible.
"I acknowledge you, adventurer."
"?"
Still stubborn, huh?
Just as Isagi was thinking this, suddenly, this guy's name changed—
[Pale Double Soul · Pal].
"?"
In this instant.
The originally thin gray mist seemed to condense into substance, completely covering everything around.
Subsequently...
Plot kill!
Isagi was incredibly certain that his subsequent battle with Pal was a damn plot kill!!
Or else Pal turned on hacks!
As the dagger in his hand collided with his own long blade once again.
One, two, three—
Just three strikes.
Isagi discovered his body had fallen into that "Pale" abnormal status like before again, unable to move a single inch.
Not hands or feet, but his whole person couldn't move anymore!
Couldn't breathe, couldn't speak. The operation of everything in his body seemed to have stopped completely at this moment!
Even including his eyes!!
Immediately following.
The sound of ringing bells came inexplicably from the distance.
The ground beneath his feet suddenly cracked open, swallowing him inside. In the end, what was in Isagi's vision was Pal standing in place looking over indifferently, and the Rabbit Person Witch riding a giant wolf who had come to his side.
"Ugh!"
It felt like being forced into some CG plot.
Following the continuous fall.
Finally, his eyes actually went black and he fainted.
So fake!
Isn't the Dungeon's cutscene made a bit too fake? Falling from such a high place, one would at least feel pain, right?!
By the way, won't doing this really just cause a direct death from falling?
Or could it be because of the "Pale" abnormal status, his body was already dead—but that's not right. From this height, the body would fall apart too. It can't just be that adventurers have good bodies so it's fine!
When his thoughts gradually woke up from the trance, besides feeling an incredibly icy chill on his back, there was also the sound of gurgling flowing water.
Right close to his ear.
Isagi, waking up from the coma, immediately discovered that he seemed to be soaking in shallow stream water.
Subsequently, vaguely.
A maiden completely shrouded in a gray robe appeared in his vision, barefoot, coming before him.
She crouched down. Fine deep green long hair hung down from her hood.
At the same time, she also sent forth a pleasant sweet scent. It was a smell of lake water and green woodland mixed together, very fresh and natural, even sweeping away one's originally oppressive thoughts because of it.
"Adventurer~"
The maiden emitted a very immature yet deliberately serious voice.
As if reciting some script.
She muttered, as if suddenly remembering something, and hurriedly put her finger into her mouth—that was skin presenting a dim blue-green color, completely different from humans.
Subsequently.
The finger was bitten, and incomparably bright red blood beads flowed out from it, coagulating and turning into a sparkling diamond.
She slowly touched the finger to his lips.
Thus, accompanied by the sweet breath flowing into his lips and teeth, physical strength and spirit also began to recover rapidly. That trance-like feeling, as well as the "Pale" permeating his body, all vanished rapidly like melting snow.
Having done all this.
The maiden then gave a small "Phew~", and while making a cute sound,
She cleared her throat again, pretending to "sing loudly."
"Adventurer~"
She muttered again, emitting a very melodious crisp voice, like a clear spring ding-donging.
"After slaying the ignorant Pale King, please also thoroughly deny that supreme, unique, and immense miracle."
"Destroy everything the Church worships that has manifested."
"And when that time comes."
"Maron will also meet you again..."
____
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