"My opinion is that we should stay in the previous room a little longer."
Eiji held the opposite opinion.
With their current three-person lineup, defeating Udaeus was nearly impossible.
The white room they had been in earlier continuously spawned monsters. Given his Level 3 strength, spending ten days to half a month there should be enough to reach Level 4.
If food ran out, they could gather fruit on the 28th floor, just as they did during expeditions.
"I think so too."
Riveria agreed. Without a doubt, this was the safer approach.
"You once taught that only by fighting an opponent far stronger than yourself can you surpass your limits."
But Ais did not reply. Instead, she fixed her gaze on Eiji, eyes full of determination.
"Oh?"
Riveria narrowed her sharp eyes.
Her gaze toward Eiji gradually turned dangerous.
So it was you who planted this idea in her head?
"Uh, well..."
Eiji was montarily at a loss.
"But fighting a floor boss at Level 6 is too dangerous."
"Didn't you co this far the sa way?"
Ais stared at him, unwilling to back down, her eyes burning with resolve. "You allow yourself to fight strong enemies, but you won't let challenge a floor boss?"
"...Fine, you've convinced ."
Eiji took a deep breath and let out a helpless smile.
Indeed.
He had no standing to stop Ais.
All the opponents he had faced so far had rarely been weaker than him. He had always sought out stronger adversaries, pushing himself beyond his limits to grow.
That was how he had co this far, so he had no reason to stop Ais from doing the sa.
Her desire to beco stronger was just like his.
"Hey."
Riveria couldn't help but speak up.
"It's not a bad idea. We just have to be careful."
Eiji suddenly changed his tone and laughed, trying to convince Riveria instead.
"Ais and I are both good at running away. At worst, we can escape from Udaeus. Our lives won't be in danger, and besides, aren't you here too, Riveria?"
Ais gave Eiji a grateful look.
Eiji sneakily made an "OK" gesture toward her.
"...I understand how Finn feels now."
Riveria rubbed her forehead, showing the sa headache-filled expression as Finn often did.
"Riveria, I'm counting on you too."
"...If you say it like that, I have no choice."
Faced with Ais's pleading eyes, Riveria couldn't help but relent.
Ais had always been a strong-willed child.
From a young age, she rarely expressed her desires outright, rarely said "I want sothing." That made it especially hard for Riveria to refuse when she did.
Besides, the floor boss might not spawn right away. Checking it out wouldn't hurt.
With their plan set, the three resud their journey deeper inside.
...
...
...
The deeper they went, the fewer monsters they encountered.
The monsters that had been everywhere before were now nowhere to be seen. They could walk a full kiloter without encountering a single one.
But the air was thick with a heavy sense of foreboding.
This made Riveria's expression turn grave, her tension laced with faint concern.
This situation was not good.
There was only one likely explanation—the monsters were instinctively avoiding this area.
***
At the center of the 37th floor.
A dark and ominous hall lood before them.
The usual roars of monsters were absent, and none dared approach this chamber. A deathly silence filled the space around them.
The air around them was unnaturally cold. The ceiling stretched dozens of ters high, and without phosphorescent light, the room exuded a dangerous aura, sending chills through their bodies.
Ais stopped in her tracks.
Eiji imdiately sensed sothing dangerous approaching.
Riveria raised her staff, which was embedded with nine magic stones, and began chanting softly.
"O spirits of the woods, heed my call. O veil of the forest, I am Alf—"
"—!"
A faint tremor rippled through their boots.
As they held their breath and waited, the trembling grew stronger. Then, suddenly, the ground at the center of the room heaved unnaturally, emitting a cracking sound.
"OOOOOOOOOOH—!!"
With a wail like shattered rock, the earth split open. A massive figure erged from the depths, spilling stone and dust like a landslide.
Amidst the ear-splitting roar, a giant skeleton—resembling an enlarged Dragontooth Warrior—rose before them. Its entire skeletal structure was pitch black, radiating an ominous presence.
The lower half of its body remained buried underground, yet even from the waist up, it was over ten ters tall. Countless black bones wriggled as if alive, and its skull bore two sharp horns, with crimson ghostfire flickering silently within its empty eye sockets.
At the center of its massive torso, beneath layers of thick, heavy ribs, a magic stone as large as a person glowed ominously.
"...I feel like it's looking down on ."
Eiji's expression tensed, but he forced a grin.
"That magic stone is way too obvious. With my acceleration magic, I could take it out in one hit."
Indeed.
Udaeus's body was made purely of bones. With no flesh to block his attack, Eiji felt confident that a single flying sword strike at full power could shatter the magic stone.
"Don't be careless."
Ais's fighting spirit only grew stronger.
She looked like she could barely hold herself back from charging in, but hearing Eiji's words, she still gave him a warning.
"Udaeus isn't that simple. Last ti, our entire Familia had to join forces to defeat it."
Eiji understood, of course.
The warning signals in his mind were blaring like an alarm. He had only joked to lighten the tense atmosphere.
"—Holy Veil!"
With a firm voice, Riveria completed her chant.
Brilliant magical light radiated from the gemstones on her staff, transforming into a green veil that covered the three of them.
"You're buffing too?"
Eiji was a little surprised.
"You'll understand soon."
Riveria finished her spell and cast him a sly, knowing smile.
Her gaze seed to say, "That's what you get for encouraging Ais."
A look of satisfaction crossed her face, like she had just gotten sweet revenge.
Boom!
As the veil enveloped them, Ais stomped on the ground.
The earth shattered beneath her, and in the sa instant, she burst forward at high speed, charging directly toward Udaeus.
"ROOOOOOOOAR!!"
The massive skeletal monster let out a furious roar.
And then, as if responding to a silent command, lesser minions tore through the ground, erging into the open.
"Hiss—!"
Eiji sucked in a sharp breath.
Ard skeleton warriors, Dragontooth Soldiers—just like the ones in the white room!
Each one was Level 4!
Twenty in total!
No wonder even Loki Familia had to mobilize their full strength to defeat this thing—so the floor boss had this trick up its sleeve!
"Good luck."
Riveria waved at him with a playful smile as she stepped backward.
"I'm just a fragile mage, so I'll be counting on you for protection."
***
Hey readers!
Want to read ahead? 📖 Join my Patreon for early access to 30 advance chapters! Your support helps write more and bring the story to you faster.
🔹patreon/aarvan🔹
Reviews
All reviews (0)