It appeared that the four warriors' bodies and their clothes were glowing. That was caused by the Mass Protective Field Declan casted upon them before arriving at the cave.

Maven’s eyes and ears moved, her head turned around to detect her entire surroundings, looking for the slightest hint of a monster’s presence or the like. So far the only thing she found was a bunch of stalactites and satalgmites that were sticking out irregularly from the cave floors and walls.

Aside from the rumbling voices from inside the cave, the only other sounds were the droplets of water falling from the tip of stalactites. It definitely concerned Declan. “This is weird… This cave is called ‘the Kingdom of Monsters’, but we haven't run into any so far.”

Maven sniffed. “You’re right, Dec, even though their smell is everywhere. Perhaps all of them are currently outside, but without a doubt this is where they live.”

Sophia snorted. “Yeah, sure it's thick, the smell of monster dung. But I’m sure that sooner or later they will…!” Suddenly she screamed and pointed.

Maven quickly turned to the direction she was pointing, and found dozens of winged creatures with dark grey fur. They were giant bats.

“Hold them back, guys, while I’m trying to cast a spell!” Sophia raised her magic staff upright. Her hair was waving, and her eyes glowing in blue light.

Maven shot one, two more bats, while Reyl and Declan cut down any that dove down at them.

One bat almost bit Declan in the arm. Quickly Reyl buried his sword on that monster’s side. Declan retaliated by beating down one that was diving into Reyl’s back.

“The spell is ready! An Jokul’me Fyasch!”

A great Blizzard bursted from Sophia’s magic staff, freezing those giant bats in the air. They fell like blocks of ice.

“Wow, that's awesome magic, Sophia!” Declan sounded and looked truly impressed.

That was a praise one can expect from a man with little fighting experience like Declan, but it was enough to make Sophia smile. “Thank you, but it’s too soon to sigh in relief. Look, another wave of monsters is already coming!”

All eyes turned towards the spot Sophia pointed at. True enough, along with the trampling sounds approaching, there appeared monsters and demons of various appearances numbering in dozens, or maybe even hundreds.

Maven shot down a monster and quickly followed when she saw Declan and Reyl being overwhelmed by enemy horde.

“That’s crazy! They’re sending this much just to stomp on four of us?” Declan complained while swinging his trident.

Reyl who was moving quickly took down five demons in a row. His sword kept slashing in a frenzy with his powerful move, Power Bash, slaying nine more demons before him.

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Maven shot down a crocodile demon which got away from Reyl and Declan’s attack. Then a few moments later six other demons surrounded her and Sophia.

“Gavials, imps and giant evil-eye demons… zerumatas,” mumbled Maven. Quickly she slung her bow over her shoulder and unsheathed her pair of daggers. “And more. Be careful.”

On the contrary, Sophia turned pale. “Aah, what should I do? They’re too close, I can’t cast my spells! Where is Reyl…”

“Look out!” Maven jumped in front of the intimidated girl and slit the throat of an imp who was about to bite Sophia in the neck.

As she screamed in panic, Sophia swung her staff left, right and around, only hitting the air. A zerumata suddenly swept its long claws, scratching the red-haired witch's back.

Instinctively Sophia rotated her staff in line and poked the zerumata’s giant eye.

A moment later the claws of the third monster which looked like a fish with long teeth and wide mouth threatened Sophia's neck, The witch didn’t react to that attack, she didn't even look at it.

Seeing her partner in a vulnerable state, Maven jumped. She stabbed her daggers into the head and nape of the monster, saving Sophia from an early demise.

Looking at Sophia’s deathly pale face, Maven never once saw her this afraid since the first time they hunted monsters together. Of course, all this time she was always hiding behind Reyl, who always protected her with his mastery in sword.

Cast, shoot, cast, shoot, those were all Sophia needed to do. Unlike this time.

The enemies kept coming.

As she bounced herself backwards, Maven shredded the thick skin of a gavial, a demon crocodile with her favorite move Treacherous Stab.

A harpy suddenly stroke down and successfully dug her claws on Maven’s shoulders. Then the monster, with the head and size of a human female with avian body, flapped her big and wide wings, lifting Maven to the air with her amazing power. From the direction the harpy flew, it appeared that she intended to plunge Maven into the nearest sharp stalagmite.

This time, Maven was powerless in her position. She could only swung around so that it would be her legs, not her body to collide with the stalagmite, when suddenly….

“An Jokul’me Shuryv!”

The loosened encirclment upon Sophia enabled her to cast the quickeest spell she knew. The Ice Arrow Rain poured down from the ceiling of the cave, making holes on the harpy’s body and other flying monsters around her.

Maven quickly reacted by rotating her body in the air while deflecting the sharp ice debris with her dagger move, Whirlwind Slash. She slid down straight… onto the stalagmite below her. Very quickly, Maven landed her feet on the peak of the stalagmite, then slid down while directing her daggers right towards Sophia. The witch girl was stunned.

“Bend down!” yelled Maven.

Sophia bowed down in reflex. Maven’s dagger flew right above her head like a giant arrow and pierced right on a monster's big head.

Maven landed smoothly on the ground, finishing her acrobatic action. The next thing coming for her was the pain of her new, fortunately narrow wounds. She saw Sophia stood trembling with a sweaty, pale face.

“Are you okay, Sophia ?” Maven patted her partner’s shoulder, which was replied by a weak nod. She then extended her arm to Sophia and said to her, "Come on, let’s find Reyl together.”

Frowning, Sophia stared at Maven. She was speechless for a while. Only a while later she changed her mimic into that of a rather sweet smile. She grabbed Maven’s hand, answering, “Yes, and Declan as well.”

For the first time, the two rival girls who never got along before began to cooperate.

Tunnel after tunnel they went through. Every monster they ran into they could get rid of with only few scratches on their skin. They kept walking aimlessly with only their hunch as a guide, when suddenly….

“Ayy! Halt, Sophia!" Maven ceased walking.

“What’s the matter, Mave? Why should I…”

Sophia didn’t get to finish her sentence when she noticed what Maven saw. A cliff lied in front of them. The width was not improbable to leap across.

Maven looked down. “It seems that we have to leap across it. This is the only way, since the last fork we’ve passed through is too far behind. What say you, Sophia?”