With Pascal having obtained an appraisal skill, we return to discussing how we will continue. Both Pascal and Maribelle are injured and can't fight at full force. Killing themselves off to respawn all healed up is also out of the question since Clink said we need to clear the dungeon without dying.
Normally, this would be where Clink removes that restriction while telling us that we better have learned our lesson. But when I look at Clink… Well, her body is and armor possessing an undead. Neither of those is particularly expressive. But I get the feeling that she's giving us all a mirthful smile.
"Seems like you are in some serious trouble, aren't you. Now just think, what would an adventurer do in your situation?"
We all look at each other and kind of come up empty. I only ever accompany low level grunts so don't ask me. Maribelle, Pascal and even Peter all seem to have lived lives that didn't involve adventuring.
"Hmm, there must have been a hint when we started…"
Maribelle is right. Clink definitely gave us a hint along the way, probably at the beginning. What did she say again? Ah, yes.
"Clink did say something along the lines of her having a bunch of things commonly used during a dungeon dive-"
"Potions!"
Pascal burst into fanfare as if she's made the discovery of a century. Well, she kind of did. I never thought of that but I did hear that most adventure that reach a certain level buy potions. But how come I've never seen them use one?
So they are just inconvenient to use, huh.
"I'm sure you all enjoyed Navi's summary so here. Two health potions, one for each of our two wounded friends. And to make sure you grasp what you are about to chug like common water. These are potions usually available for adventurers above level 200 and they would still be considered pricey."
Maribelle needs to get the potion fed to her by Clink while Pascal downs it herself. The effect is… instantaneous and leaves them with no wounds. It's a bit exaggerated, I couldn't even see the wounds heal! Only my combat medic assessment tells me they were just fully healed.
"I did say it was instantaneous. The ones that heal wounds at a visible speed are also usable in combat but the feeling of your wounds being healed can be quite distracting. So make sure to capitalize on such opportunities in future fights against an enemy."
"That's all well and good but we have to talk strategy here. We got this beat up on just the tenth floor. Sure we were exhausted from rushing through a few floors without a proper break but if things get harder we'll end up just the same."
"Can't we just use more potions?"
"I'll give you as many as you need but from now on you'll only get the ones that heal at a visible speed. It will be good for you to experience them."
So, no instant healing and twenty floors to go. Strategy doesn't really have much of an effect with how few of us there are. The open terrain and the massive number of enemies are the main factors that make things difficult.
"I have an idea. Clink, can we get mana potions too?"
"Sure but they'll be basic ones so beware of horrible taste, slow restoration over time and potentially a slightly upset stomach."
"That will work. Here's my idea. I use both earth and ice magic. Each can be used for crowd control and allows me to make terrain changes. We will use the large entrance area to create a killing corridor. I reshape the terrain and slow them down with ice. Peter will also use his new skills to crowd control while the two of you start culling the ones that are let through."
"I suppose we can try. Without us being exhausted and adding in the two of you, we should be able to take the eleventh floor even if things go wrong."
Only one problem, the eleventh floor is a boss floor. The entire floor consists of just one big circular cave with lots of natural rock pillars.
"Well that changes things."
Pascal remarks in a rather perfunctory tone as we all forget about the plan and scurry aside when a giant scorpion with a condor head comes charging at us. The scorpion's tail shoots out like a vicious snake but fails to hit since the monster chose to target Maribelle who has a crazy evasion ability.
Rocks fly as the attack leaves a deep pit right next to the stairs. The stinger… is not a stinger. It's a second condor head.
Who designed this abomination? And why?
Experimental giant branti lv. 45 (105)
Skills:
Vicious peck lv. 9; weaponized body lv. 5; chitin armor lv. 7; explosive sting lv. 9; pincer snap lv. 3; mind synchronization lv. 4; carrion cry lv. 1
Good to know but what does it do? I should be able to-
Suddenly the experimental branti stands still and raises its tail up high with the condor head replacing its stinger tipping its head back, opening its beak so wide it almost snaps at the seams. Then, a dreadful cry filled with want for rotting flesh and cadavers booms through the room. Incredibly violence and greed for corpses to be defiled spreads almost like visible black ripples in the air and then, something answers.