If it wasn't for the fact that I don't think that party leader will let news of my existence get out until he reaches my core, I would have already started my second floor by now. If I were somewhere with more traffic, it wouldn't be an issue. As it is though if I ever want to have more than just his party delving me, I'm kinda at his mercy. A weird thought from any angle but there doesn't seem to be anything I can do about it short of relying on the pure dumb luck of other people just finding me on their own. Not likely seeing as according to what I overheard so far, I'm in the middle of the largest desert on this planet. According to them it also takes just over "a third" (whatever that is) to reach me on sand striders. That's if you know where you're going.

Obviously, they measure time differently than people back on earth. I dare not speculate on how differently though. The length of each day is the same at least. Or close enough if the amount of mana I get each day is any indication. That said it still takes them nearly a month earth time to return. Half that because they had to get wherever this other place was before starting to return. Then subtract a few more days because I doubt they headed back out right away. With all that I'm starting to get a general idea of how long a third is but I still dare not assume.

As they begin their delve I can practically feel the excitement in the air. The level 1 rats are barely even a speed bump anymore. After two complete full clears they are all at level 4 now. The last to level up was Darrel since there isn't really a chance to use his water magic. After another four delves there still hadn't been another level up among them. Normally this would be when they made plans to return to wherever they went when they weren't here. From listening to their conversations though it was clear they didn't plan to leave until defeating the boss.

It took another two delves before they started reaching level 5 and another two delves before the last among them finally levelled up. After that they took longer than normal preparing for the next delve. In fact, as they reentered the dungeon, I learned that they had decided to skip the evening delve so they could be well rested for the boss fight tomorrow.

The next days delve was different from the beginning. For starters they didn't do a full clear like normal. Instead, they headed straight for the boss room. If it was me, I would have gotten at least one more level before attempting to fight an unknown boss, but realistically I only need one of them alive. Still, I'd rather not have them shatter the core 'me' out of grief fueled anger. As they enter the boss chamber though I can see that they are all shocked by the size of the boss.

Clyde POV

I'm not sure what I was expecting but a rat the size of Lily is not it. "Stay behind me Lil" I shout while moving to keep myself between her and it. "And here I was gonna walk up and say hi" she retorts sarcastically. "I'm serious" I say. "This things as big as you are." "I'm aware of that" she says as the giant rat starts to charge. Fortunately, Cole had been doing his tanky duty of getting and keeping its attention. It was faster than any of us were expecting which made us finally start taking the fight seriously. As it struck Cole's shield with enough force to cause him to take a few steps backward to regain his balance we suddenly remember how big the gap was between levels 5 and 10.

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It used its superior speed to run around behind Cole. Jumping up on his back it started clawing and biting. Thank the gods he was wearing full plate armor. Fortunately, Darrel didn't waste any time sending a few ice missiles at the giant rat. This did seem to hurt it causing it to let go of Cole. Unfortunately, its new target was Darrel who was much less protected. I Tried to get between them, but I wasn't fast enough. He was able to adjust his body just in time so that it bites his shoulder instead of his neck. The momentum sending them both tumbling to the ground. The sheer amount of blood is alarming and I'm pretty sure I can see bone.

The Thing released his shoulder, and I could already see it was about to try going for his neck again. However, I arrived just in time to force it to dodge instead. Lily despite her earlier sass stayed as close to my back as she could without hindering my movement. Once Cole managed to get its attention, she Immediately began healing Darrel. I was now torn. Do I go help Cole or stay and protect these two. On the one hand the plate armor Cole is wearing is just wood rank. Meaning that it's very mundane, without even the simplest enchantment. On the other hand, the two beside me don't have the luxury of armor at all. Sure, their robes offer some protection but nothing like actual armor. This is made all the more apparent buy the wound in Darrel's shoulder.

I decide to stay put. Waiting for Darrel to be healed enough to at least get back in the fight. It only takes a moment but, in that time, I am treated to a show of Cole desperately trying to fend of the giant rat by himself. At least he isn't letting the thing get behind him anymore. It's lightning quick speed no longer a surprise. This time I stay by Darrel so I can hopefully intercept the rat When it changes Targets again. This time Darrel takes his time I can see him working on something big. Just as the rat lunges at Cole yet again Darrel releases not one but five ice missiles all at once. Being in midair the giant rat has no chance to dodge and is pierced in several places.

Despite the fact that it's now losing blood that last attack seems to have just pissed it off. It once again changes its target. I'm not sure how it knows that Darrel was the one who attacked it, but it definitely knows. Fortunately, I am able to intercept it. At least long enough for Cole to run up behind it. All it cost me was my dignity as the momentum from the giant rat's charge sends me flying backward almost a full meter. It gets ready to charge at me again when a barrage of ice missiles causes it to leap upward to dodge them. It just so happened that this put it within striking distance of Cole with no ability to dodge.

Surprisingly the thing tries to get back up even after it was sent flying by that blow and now has a huge gash in its side. The amount of blood lose has caught up with it though and it soon collapses. Unfortunately, this boss doesn't seem to have any boss loot. At least we're all alive and more or less ok. As I look around it's obvious that nobody is in any real shape to continue. Darrel's shoulder needs to be looked at by someone with more healing magic than what Lily can offer. She tried her best, but her level is just too low. She was able to stop the bleeding at least. Cole is definitely going to need to get his armor repaired. Aside from that I can already feel bruises forming from just tanking a single charge from the giant rat. I shudder to think how Cole looks under that armor having tanked many charges. Sure, that's his job but that rat was also twice his level and as big as a person.

As the doors to the boss chamber open, we're all relieved to see the core sitting in the next room.