Episode 248 The monster leading the pack

In the Mid-boss room on the 10th floor of the Akahoshi Dungeon, there were two groups of preceding visitors. The E-class Team 'Boujakubujin', and the adventurers of the D-class Team 'Atai Senkin'. All were older adventurers.(TN:First one has to do with being arrogant, acting without regards to others. The 2nd one basically means priceless, or an immeasurable value.)

After introducing myself, I participated in the conversation between the two groups of adventurers.

"Just now, we were talking about the 'Wolf Group' who challenged the EarthDragon."

Mizuno, the leader of the Atai Senkin Team, told me. It seemed that Mizuno and the others, who camped here yesterday, met and talked with the 'Wolf Group'.

I was also interested, so I asked in what manner they challenged it. Because I knew that only one person could enter the Mid-boss room on the 30th floor.

"They made a plan to continuously challenge the EarthDragon and accumulate damage to defeat it."

It seemed that the strategy was to repeat the strategy of one person entering the Mid-boss room, attacking the EarthDragon while running around, and escaping with an Escape Ball when their physical strength reached its limit.

The 'Wolf Group' was said to be a Team of adventurers who were talented in both Muscle Magic and Attack Magic. I envied them a little. I didn't know what kind of magic they used to attack, but it was said that there were occasionally teams that challenged the EarthDragon with such a strategy.

It seemed that they would take on the challenge by increasing their speed and defense with magic, but wasn't it scary? Maa, wasn't I, who was trying to challenge the EarthDragon, the same as them.

"Unfortunately, it seemed that the guy who was supposed to finish off the EarthDragon pushed himself too hard. He tried to force it down when he should have given up, and he ended up being defeated."

I would give up if I thought it was impossible. Because I could always just come again.

"Is Sakaki-san also aiming for the EarthDragon?"

Mizuno, knowing that I was a B-class adventurer, politely asked.

"That's right."

"Now is your chance. The EarthDragon should still have the damage done by the 'Wolf Group'."

"Is that so. It's been a few days since the 'Wolf Group' fought, so I thought it would have recovered."

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That night I heard an interesting story. Just before going to bed, everyone was surprised when I pulled Taabou and Tamegorou out of the shadows.

"Are those Shadow Puppets?"

Mizuno asked.

"Yeah, they're Shadow Puppets for being sentries."

"No way, are you suspicious of us?"

"It's not like that. This is a Mid-boss room, so there is a risk of repop."

"Nope, nope, I don't think so."

I laughed.

"Previously, when I was camping in the Mid-boss room, the LivingArmor revived."

"Seriously?"

"I'm serious. It would have been dangerous if Taabou hadn't told me."

The Shadow Puppets were popular here as well. This situation would continue until people could buy Shadow Puppets normally.

The next day, I left the Mid-boss room and headed for the 11th floor.

"Do you think the damage done by the 'Wolf Group' remains on the EarthDragon?"

I asked Metis.

[ Depending on how much damage was done, it will probably recover in a few days. ]

I thought so as well, but was disappointed when Metis told me. In my heart, I thought, it's possible.

I passed from the 11th to the 20th floors without any problems. After spending the night in the Mid-boss room on the 20th floor, I went down to the 21st floor. I passed through the 21st and 22nd floors using 'Wing'.

After descending to the 23rd floor, I started walking. It was a maze here. Moreover, it was a gigantic labyrinth, as if it was built for giants.

The height to the ceiling was 12 meters, and the width was 8 meters. The floor of the passage was covered in moss, and in some places even shrubs were growing.

The ceiling of the maze was emitting light. Dim light, but enough light once you got used to it.

I sent Tamegorou to protect my back. Metis spoke to me when I started walking through the maze.

[ There should be DarkLizardmen here. Please be careful. ]

"Understood."

In this maze there were groups of SoldierRex and DarkLizardmen. I thought I should watch out for shadows, but there didn't seem to be many shadows in the maze here.

I found a group of SoldierRexes as I was about to turn a corner. I retreated quickly, activated 'Auto Shield', and put on the 'Agility Ring'. And then, I invoked 'Flying Blade' and prepared the Slash Strengthened Blade in my hand.

I thought about what to do with Tamegorou, but I thought it would get in the way while swinging the Slash Strengthened Blade, so I returned it to the shadows.

I stuck my head out of the corner again to check on the enemy. It was a pack of fourteen. When I was thinking about using 'Burst Shotgun', the SoldierRex, that seemed to be the leader of the pack, noticed me and let out a howl. As if responding to that cry, the other SoldierRexes unfolded and surrounded me.

At the leader's cry, three SoldierRexes opened their mouths and attacked. I mowed them down with the Slash Strengthened Blade. The leader who saw its comrades go down gave another order.

Two SoldierRexes jumped and attacked from above. I dodged the attack by jumping to the right, and slashed the SoldierRex in the direction I jumped.

The leader let out a dissatisfied cry, and the others SoldierRexes attacked one after another. Thanks to learning Western Swordsmanship, my sword handling had become smooth and quick.

The Slash Strengthened Blade met the attacks of the SoldierRexes and decapitated them. At the same time as I attacked with my sword, I also started using 'Pile Shot'. In the blink of an eye, the number of SoldierRexes decreased, leaving only the leader.

"Fuuh, is this the last one."

The leader attacked while interweaving feints. It feigned a right jump, then jumped left and aimed at my leg. I dodged it by leaping, then pointed my Slash Strengthened Blade at the leader's chest.

The leader jumped back and dodged, so I jumped after it. I stretched the Slash Strengthened Blade to five meters and thrust it in. The tip of the Slash Strengthened Blade was sucked into the leader's chest.

Just as I thought it was over, a DarkLizardman popped out from the leader's shadow. It had a black sword in its hand, and the sword was swung down towards me.

I couldn't handle it myself, but the D-Particle Shield of 'Auto Shield' reacted. It blocked the slashing attack of the sword.

The DarkLizardman bared its teeth and growled. I sent out the blade of the Slash Strengthened Blade towards the DarkLizardman's chest. Its black sword repelled it.

At that moment, 'Pile Shot' was activated with a quintuple activation. The D-Particle Pile penetrated the DarkLizardman's body. I mowed down the staggering monster with the Slash Strengthened Blade.

[ That was dangerous, wasn't it. ]

Metis raised her voice when the matter was settled.

"I didn't think there would be a DarkLizardman lurking in the shadow of the RexSoldier."

[ That surprised me as well. ]

It seemed that even Metis couldn't have predicted that a monster would be lurking in the shadow of another monster. I picked up the Shadow Magic Stone left behind by the DarkLizardman.

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