"[Will-o'-Wisp]"
Thanks to Welf's magic, the Hellhound's mana overload triggered an Ignis Fatuus explosion. Multiple blasts shook our hair and clothes.
We were all breathing heavily. Since we ran out of the 'Stench Sack Morble,' the air felt even heavier. We hadn't had a proper rest, so our minds were slowing down.
"Welf, drink a Magic Potion to restore your willpower. You're about to collapse."
"Y-yeah."
Still, I didn't stop thinking. I kept an eye on everyone's condition and stayed alert to the surroundings, acting like I had some strength left.
If I showed any sign of hitting my limit, the mood would get even heavier. As long as at least one of us looked composed, everyone could believe we were still okay. That's why I kept up this act.
Welf downed the Magic Potion. That used up our last one. I still had a High Magic Potion hidden in my shadow, but if another monster horde appeared, Bell and I would need those skills. I wanted to avoid using it if possible.
Looking back, Lili was about to break down too.
"Lili, drink this."
I pulled out a homemade healing potion, my last one.
"I'm... okay..."
"If you're okay, then the rest of us are even more so. Besides, if you collapse here, it'll only make things worse. I'm sorry if it sounds harsh, but that's how desperate we are. And we've got plenty of these potions."
After a brief hesitation, Lili took the potion and gulped it down.
"Let's move."
"Yeah."
When we don't talk, the invisible pressure almost crushes us. We weave words to distract ourselves a little.
I glanced at Bell. I'd given him a healing potion and a Magic Potion each, but he still looked exhausted. Still, he gritted his teeth and kept moving forward.
I can't afford to lose.
I put one painful foot in front of the other. The pain sharpened my senses and pushed my will to keep fighting.
"...Ah."
Bell gasped. There it was, the long-awaited vertical shaft.
Looking down, it clearly continued to the lower layer. We exchanged looks, nodded, and jumped.
Just like when we descended to the 16th floor, we used shadows as cushions to soften the landing.
Looking around, I suddenly realized,
"We're lucky. We landed on the official route to the 18th floor."
"Then,"
"Yeah, it's close."
Everyone's faces brightened. We looked ahead and started walking again.
Here, the dungeon's pressure reached its peak. The invisible weight threatened to crush us.
"Don't... screw this up...!!"
Welf muttered, fighting his body's urge to give up.
"We're all going to make it back alive...!!"
At Bell's determined whisper, everyone nodded. We'd come this far. We'd live and make it back.
The quiet dungeon echoed with multiple footsteps. Then we realized,
"Why is it..."
"Too quiet..."
Bell's and my whispers faded into the emptiness. It was unnervingly silent.
We'd sensed monsters nearby for a while, but none were coming at us, like they were afraid of whatever lay ahead.
Our pace quickened. Breaths grew ragged, sweat poured down. I fought fear with sheer willpower.
Finally, we arrived.
A huge room, 100 meters wide, 200 meters deep, and 20 meters tall, perfectly rectangular. The left wall stood apart, almost shining like it was sanded smooth to perfection. It even felt like a work of art.
"The 'Great Wall of Grief'...!"
"That must be..."
We stopped for a moment, overwhelmed. No wonder. If I had the time, I'd want to stare at it forever.
Turning my gaze forward, I saw a wide opening at the far end, the passage leading to the 18th floor. If we moved now, there was still a chance.
"Let's go."
We hurried toward the opening, hearts pounding like drums. No more pretending we had energy left.
We were about a third through the room when,
Crack!
A loud sound.
I whipped my head around and saw a huge crack running down the Great Wall.
Goosebumps ran all over me.
"Run!!"
Welf sprinted full speed, Bell lending him a shoulder. I pushed myself to run too, ignoring the pain in my legs.
Crack, crack.
The wall, and something inside me, began to fracture.
Then the wall collapsed. Huge rocks tumbled across the room, and something landed inside.
It was humanoid, but over 7 meters tall. Just its presence exuded overwhelming intimidation.
The unique monster that only appears in the final room of the 17th floor. The Labyrinth's Lone King Monster Rex, 'Goliath.'
The beast fixed its gaze on us and roared,
"OOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOHHH!!"
We ran with all our might. Halfway through the room, I thought if we kept going, we'd reach the cave to the 18th floor before Goliath could attack.
Then,
Thud.
I heard something fall behind me.
Turning sharply, I saw Lili had fallen.
More accurately, she had tripped and was desperately trying to stand.
She was the weakest in the party by race and stats, and she'd reached her limit.
Goliath's massive left arm was closing in on her.
No good. I realized instantly I couldn't make it in time.
Still, without hesitation, I ran toward her.
I heard Bell's shout. My legs ached again. Ignoring the pain, I ran the opposite way from the cave leading to the 18th floor.
Reaching Lili, I grabbed her neck like a cat. Goliath's arm was nearly on her.
Shaking off the fear, I shouted with all my strength,
"Bell, catch her, NOW!!"
I threw Lili forward toward Bell with all my might. Thanks to my status-enhanced throw, she flew like an arrow, just as Goliath's huge arm swung past.
Instinctively, I blocked with my shadow.
I was blasted away.
I barely made a sound, a silent scream, as I was hurled fast and slammed into the room's wall.
I lost consciousness there.
A sharp, immense killing intent awakened me.
"Hah!!"
A huge fist was right in front of me. Reflexively, I dodged to the right and was blasted by the punch's force.
Pain in my legs hit next. I looked around, trying to grasp the situation.
That punch had thrown me about 10 meters, but that didn't matter. The problem was Goliath was between me and the hole leading to the 18th floor.
In other words, I had to get past Goliath to jump into that hole.
Behind me, I sensed multiple hostile auras. Turning around, I saw a number of monsters.
Still small in number, but they were all classified as Lv.2 monsters, like me.
Goliath in front, monsters behind, a pseudo-monster party. I laughed bitterly at the ridiculousness.
I tried to stand but found I had no strength.
The grueling march and Goliath's blow had drained me completely.
"...This is it."
Strangely, I felt no fear. I'd known a day like this would come, since before I became an adventurer, back when I was an assassin.
Bell and the others weren't around. They had apparently made it safely to the 18th floor. That was enough for me.
I'd given it my all. I had regrets, but no regrets. I closed my eyes quietly.
"We're all going to make it back alive...!!"
Suddenly, I snapped my eyes open. Dodged the incoming fist with a leap.
Then I punched myself hard on the right cheek.
Given it all up? Screw that! I'm still standing!
I'm going to take down this giant!
Heat surged through my back as my skill Challenger Flux activated.
Goliath's official estimated Lv.4. Facing such a superior monster triggered my skill.
Challenger Flux requires a brave resolve to challenge the strong. Foolhardy, reckless adventurer's courage.
The skill restored my stamina. Strength returned.
The situation was still grim. I couldn't reach the upper floor alone, and if I tried to sneak past Goliath, the skill would cancel as I fled.
Only one choice remained, defeat Goliath.
My stamina was low. My weapons probably wouldn't work. But thanks to the vast mental energy given to me by that man, my mind was still sharp!!
My body felt unrealistically light. My mind is clearer than ever. The thrill of facing the unknown flooded me.
Bell, did you ever feel like this? No way, you're probably not pumped up.
I wiped the smile off my face and glared at my target, Goliath.
"...Let's go!!"
I shouted to fire myself up and charged into the monster horde.
𓂀═════════════𓂀
End of excerpt. Next up is the Goliath fight with new magic spells, as promised a while back. Wonder how many got caught by that tease?
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