Dungeon Sherpa: Chapter 22

　Even though the temperature and humidity in the labyrinth was supposed to remain constant, they felt as though a chill was sweeping through the air that stood the hairs on their bodies.

　Just as high-level adventurers radiate Divine Spirit, high-level monsters are also clad in Demonic Spirit that overwhelm their opponents.

　However, Rowe had never experienced such a disgusting Demonic Spirit. 

　The primitive terror of all living creatures — rational thought was being supressed by his fear of death, it felt like his sanity was being forcibly scrapped away. His body tensed, his mind withered, his thoughts went blank. 

　If it was me before I became an Adventurer, I wouldn’t even be able to move my body, I might have just ended up crying and screaming like a kid.

“…Ugal, Dragon.”

　To Yuika’s mutter, Rowe recalled memories about their labyrinth clearance the previous year. 

　That Labyrinth Boss should have been an undead-type monster known as a Lich. It was first registered in the Monster Book about 50 years ago, and the ones that updated its entry with new information was none other than “Twilight’s Sword”.

　This is the third time it has been witnessed so far. 

　For the cases of successful defeats, there was only 1. 

　The lowest floor of the Tyros Labyrinth is expected to be the 52nd or 53rd Floor. This is the result calculated from the concentration of magic particles. As the layers get deeper, the concentration of magic particles also goes up, but the rate of increase is not constant. If represented as a graph, it would show a distinctive curve. 

　According to what I’ve heard from Yuika, the lowest floor has a unique atmosphere that you can recognize as soon as you set foot in it. 

　Therefore, the 50th Floor that we are currently at is not the lowest floor. 

　If so, the Lich in front of our eyes is likely not the Labyrinth Boss of the Tyros Labyrinth, the “Tyros Dragon”.

　Rather than the Labyrinth Boss, this was probably the Floor Boss, Rowe conjectured. 

　As for the level of this monster, it should be below that of the “Ugal Dragon”.

　””Light Blade” –Hoi!”

　While everyone else was stiffened in caution, the one who had sneakily drawn a magic formation was Magikan. 

　Light-type intermediate attack magic.

　A huge bow-shaped blade of light headed for the 6 arms of the Lich. 

　Or so it would have, however–

“[Counter Clock]…”

　In front of the Lich appeared an invisible wall, and the “Light Blade” was sent in a different direction. 

　That signalled the start of the battle.

“’Minorin 1’ and ‘Minorin 2’, defeat enemy Skeleton Soldiers. ‘Slimy 1’ to ‘Slimy 7’, surround the Lich, medium range tentacle attacks. You don’t have to aim to defeat it. Don’t let it cast magic!”

　The Lich appeared to have an active Gift that could summon Skeleton Soldiers. 

　The fortunate thing was that the summoned Skeleton Soldiers did not wear weapons or armour, but to begin with, their bones were sharp and hard. 

　Besides that, there was also a high possibility of additional summons. 

　Their opponents were, wielding gigantic battle axes, possessing thick muscle armour and knowing no fatigue, the competent Minotaurs. 

“’Winds Lull’.”

　Berry cast support magic on both feet to raise her explosive power, hugging a Salamander in front of her chest, she jumped out. 

　This was the strategy they had used to defeat the Blind Serpent Ophions, but Berii seemed to have secretly taken a liking to it. 

　Even in the battles prior to this, by using quick movements to harass the enemy and seizing opportunities to wash the opponent down with [Artillery], she had shown great results in battle.

“Nuuk, ‘Knight Skelley’, let’s go!”

“Haa!”

　The only one that verbally responded to Yuika’s command was Nuuk. 

　”Knight Skelly” was the Skeleton Knight she gained control of on the 50th Floor, its body was adorned in full plate, wielding a broadsword, and carrying a heater shield, it was a monster balanced in both attack and defence. Moreover, it held the active Gift called [Bombing]. On this floor, it could be said to have become the cornerstone of their party’s offence and defence. 　

　The front line was Berii holding the Salamander.

“[Buried Leaf Prayer]…”

　–Papapaaan.

　3 pairs of white skeletal hands met, and a shockwave emanated in all directions. 

“–Guu”

　Targetting Berii who, after receiving damage to her eardrums, was staggered into a crouch, the Lich’s arm attacked. 

“[Withering Hand]…”

　Although it didn’t have enough reach, a black claw-shaped shadow extended from the tip of its hand.

　Not physical damage. Instead, an attack that reduced mental strength. 

　According to the information from the Monster Book, even a scratch would send you into despair, and if you ate the full brunt of the attack, you would go insane. 

　Berii rolled to dodge the attack. 

　Taking her place at the front were Yuika, Nuuk, and the Skeleton Knight.

“First, one arm.”

　While observing from a slightly distant position, Rowe thought. 

　Shockwaves followed by a mental attack. This attack pattern is dangerous. 

　Having said that, if you fight from a distance, that terrible dark-type attack magic will come. 

　The only countermeasure is to keep continuously attacking in close quarters.

　If that shockwave-releasing active Gift requires the activation condition of putting its three pairs of hands together, it seems that the first priority would be, as Yuika said, to break one arm. 

　Effective weapons will be Nuuk’s flail and “Knight Skelly”’s broad sword. 

“[Throwing].”

“[Counter Clock]…”

　The iron ball released by Nuuk was obstructed by an invisible wall and sent flying in a different direction. An attack Gift that repelled not only magic, but even physical attacks. With such a powerful Gift, the cooldown period should not be short. Continuous attacks using a Clutch would probably be effective. 

　With Nuuk’s flail lost, he retrieved small iron balls from the pouch attached to his waist. It looked like he was going to switch to a harassment tactic using finger bullets. 

　–When.

　Sometime along the way, Berii had circled around to fire, no, the Salamander being carried had fired an [Artillery], lighting up the back of the Lich. 

“Fooooooururuuu.”

　To search for something as comparison, it sounded like the tortured screams of a woman twisted in despair. A scream that made you want to shut your eyes and plug your ears reverberated through the room. 

“Now, ‘Skelly Knight’!”

　Yuika’s command flew.

　It had been silently moving forward, but the Skeleton Knight ended up stopping right before the Lich, and with clumsy movements, started bending. 

　While creaking, its full plate was shaking. 

　It appeared like a will to move forward and a will to kneel were in conflict. 

“What’s wrong, ‘Skelly Knight’. Attack!”

　Yuika should have had absolute control. It looked like the Skeleton Knight was attempting to respond to her order.

　However, as it tried somehow to get up, the Lich that had endured the [Artillery] ordered.

“Obey me, my kin…”

　The Skeleton Knight let its broadsword fall, and grabbed its horned helmet with both hands. It got down on both knees, touched its forehead to the ground and writhed in agony. 

　The Lich was an undead king that could summon Skeleton Soldiers. It probably had a passive Gift that made lower-ranked undead submit to it. 

　The question was which master “Knight Skelley” would choose…

　This decision would not come easy. 

“Ku – no way around it!”

　Yuika needed to eliminate this potential risk. However, with her weapon, she couldn’t quickly defeat a high-level monster wearing full plate. Time would not be given to her by the Lich. 

“’Slimy 7’, restrain ‘Knight Skelly’!”

　Without even a second thought, she gave the command, and resumed focus on the Lich. 

　The slow Slime Men had finally arrived at the front. Stretching out tentacles that imitated human hands, they tried to entangle the Lich. 

　The Lich glided back in retreat. It spread its 6 arms wide like wings. 

“’[Hidden World Door]…”

　6 soldiers appeared as if to protect a lonely king. The ally Minotaurs had still yet to defeat the previously summoned Skeleton Soldiers. 

　The 6 Skeleton Soldiers formed a line, and earned time that translated into despair for “Twilight’s Sword”. The Lich likely wouldn’t hesitate to involve its Skeleton Soldiers in its own attack magic. 

　However, at this point, from the ground emerged a magic formation–

“’Mine’!”

　Magikan’s magic burst.

　Earth-type ranged attack magic. The ground enscribed by the magic formation fractured, exploded, and scattered. The armourless 6 Skeleton Soldiers were crushed by clusters of rock, shattered and blown away. 

“Huu, evaded it.”

　Magikan muttered regretfully.

　Because the Lich had just retreated, Magikan was unable to inflict damage on his actual target. 

　He was mounted on the shoulder of the Minotaur called “Minorin 3”, and was grabbing onto a horn for balance. This was the so-called shoulder-ride style. Magikan used “Minorin 3” as a means of transport, and used magic while observing the battle situation from a high ground. 

“This battle might drag on.”

　The one who murmured this was the one surrounded by the 4 Garrison that were staying back as a reserve force, Rowe. 

“However, victory will be decided by a single moment.”

–

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