As the party gathered around, I cleared my throat to get everyone’s attention.
“I am sure we can get you guys all the way to rank C just killing rank D monsters on the first layer, but I think that would be a phenomenal waste, don’t you think?”
“…Are you suggesting we delve into the second layer?” Nisos asked nervously.
Jezibel immediately exploded at me.
“That’s a risk we don’t need to take, Kiara! I can’t imagine the parlor tricks we used on the first layer working on the monsters in the jungles of the second layer. The monsters there are rank C behemoths, with a few rank B horrors hidden amongst them!”
“I mean, so what? Now that your evolutions are going to let you gain experience fighting monsters the way you usually do, we don’t need to use traps anymore; even if I do have a new set of ‘parlor tricks’ to employ in the second layer.” I retorted.
“Is there a particular need for us to kill rank C and higher monsters? Rank D monsters are still higher rank than ours, so we should still get good options with low risk.” Ati tried to compromise, but I held my ground.
“Since we’re down here anyway, we might as well take the opportunity to achieve feats that are as difficult as possible; it’ll give you guys better options down the line. Besides, we’ve got our own rank B horror to throw at any serious threat.” I shrugged and turned to the noble with a smug grin, who in turn refused to take the bait.
“I can’t imagine even the rank C monsters being too difficult for the three of you to deal with together. In fact, my worry is that it might not be enough. We can’t count on encountering a rank B creature in the second layer given how rare they are on the second layer.” The noble said, prompting Nisos and Jezibel argued further with her.
Looking back to my memories of the third layer, I immediately disregarded suggesting that we go there to guarantee a rank B monster encounter. Even if all five of us joined in the fight, I can’t guarantee I can protect the under-ranked trio from a monster like the Frost Eagle – not to mention the possibility of encountering something even more powerful and deadly. It’s probably best if we only consider going there when we’re all at least rank C and get decent levels on our classes.
I was shaken out of my thoughts by a loud sigh from Nisos.
“Fine, we’ll go to the second layer. But I insist that we stay close to an exit and be prepared to retreat at a moment’s notice. Also, before we go further, we should go back to the surface and get some camping gear. I’d rather we not waste time going between layers over and over if we’ll be spending this much time so deep in the abyss.”
No one objected, so the five of us temporarily went back to the surface.
***
“I can’t believe you people…” I grumbled as we were going down a tunnel to the second layer.
“Coming here was your idea. I don’t want to hear you complaining about carrying the camping equipment.” Jezibel retorted.
“I am a mighty dragon, a scourge of the gods, a natural sorcerer! And you use me as a pack mule?!” I said in outrage as Jezibel snickered, Nisos scratched his cheek, and Ati cracked a barely visible smile.
The noble simply carried on stoically like she always did.
“Well, you and Lady Sept are the only ones with enough strength to carry everything comfortably and you’re the only one who can have the equipment attached to them and fight unimpeded.” She said as she eyed my draconic form.
When we got far enough into the first layer, the party had me transform into my base dragonoid form. My base humanoid form was just a bipedal dragon the same size as my human form, so I couldn’t go for it either. None of my other forms were as useful for this purpose – even Durreg’s High Earth Dragon form – because I wasn’t too familiar with earth magic yet.
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This form gave me the full range of abilities that I earned with my evolutions; some forms were incompatible with some of my racial traits, such as the rank F human form being unable to summon my magic wings due to missing magic anchors. Although I was upset at having to carry our stuff, nothing beat being in my own scales.
I summoned a mana mirror to take in my appearance again, having not taken this form in quite some time. Since I was still really young, my height only reached Nisos’s shoulders. Otherwise, my form resembled my base humanoid form, except that it was quadrupedal, larger in size, and much more muscular. We also bought a saddle to attach to my back, so that we can attach the equipment on me and allow anyone who needed a ride on. My armor and staff were packed with the equipment in case I needed them.
“I can’t believe we’re casually walking beside a dragon…” Ati said.
“I can’t believe I let you guys talk me into this.” I retorted bitterly, eliciting laughs again as the tunnels began to slowly even out and the second layer entered our sight.
***
As I took in the second layer with my draconic sight, I felt awe as if I’d arrived here for the first time. I was able to see many bugs and animals that were hidden in the shapes of the leaves, the grass, and even branches on treetops. The critters were not the only surprise waiting for me though; The first layer had been saturated with more mana than the outside world, but the mana density was on a different level on the second layer. If the mana in the first layer was like air, then the mana here was like a viscous honey. Mana perception had given me the impression that the mana was higher than normal, but it was a different thing to see it with my own eyes.
“Wow… No wonder rank C and B monsters can be born here.”
We moved around in the vicinity of the entrance, but we didn’t find any good targets nearby. Just as we were about to go deeper, my instincts flared with alarm to a familiar danger.
“Get back, Ati!”
To his credit, the boy rushed back without hesitating. And it was just in time, because hidden in the grass were vines that rushed at the falconman, eager to trap him! Before it could reach his leg and drag him back, Nisos sliced the vines with the edge of his spear, then took his place in front of the archer with his shield up.
[Abyssal Venus Monstertrap Lv. 14]
HP: 1840/1840
…
Feeling a sense of déjà vu, I resisted the urge to fight as I stepped back to let the other three take it from there. I readied a few mana blades as insurance just in case it was needed. The noble noticed that I had their backs covered, so she summoned her mana bow and wings to fly upwards; likely to ensure that nothing else catches us by surprise.
Ati already had an arrow nocked and Jezibel summoned her tiger when the overgrown weed finally appeared.
“HISSSSSSSSSSSSSSSS!” furious at the audacity of the prey that dared to fight back, it charged towards the three as its vines headed straight for Nisos.
Without a word, they all rushed to action.
Ati flew up faster than I’d ever seen him do so before – only to stop as suddenly as he rose. He fired with a wind enchantment that exploded into gale blades, shredding the vines rushing at the hoplite. With no more obstacles in his way, the boy rushed towards the monster and crashed right into it shield first, staggering it for a moment, as the tiger that shadowed him leapt over him and bit deeply into the top of its stem, right beneath its ferocious jaws!
The monster was not about to allow the tiger to kill it so easily, as two much thicker vines covered in wicked thorns rushed at the tiger, ready to tear apart its flesh from its bones. With the wave of a wand, Jezibel cast a spell on her summon that made its hide glimmer with mana. An instant later, the rank D tiger’s hide repelled the rank C monstertrap’s second meanest weapon.
An arrow from the flying archer and a thrust from the hoplite’s spear severed the two vines as the tiger twisted its neck and finally ripped apart the monster’s head off its thick log of a stem.
The forest quieted down as the battle ended and the surrounding critters had long since rushed away in search of shelter; the only sound remaining being that off the collapsing monster’s carcass.
The noble landed next to me and dispelled her bow and wings as I did the same to the mana blades I had prepared.
“…Just like that?” Jezibel said in disbelief, shocked for the umpteenth time this day.
“Yup. No traps, no tricks, not even the initiative to the fight; and to top it all off, the three of you accomplished this by yourselves. In fact, this is probably the part where I should say, ‘I told you so!’”
It was strange to feel vindicated for proving that those three were more capable than they’d thought, but I wasn’t going to pass on any opportunity to be smug. Unfortunately, the noble interrupted my gloating session as she went straight to business.
“How did your new evolutions do in that fight? Anything worth sharing?” The noble asked, and Nisos nodded.
“Plenty, actually. Let’s head back to the entrance so we can discuss it.”