"Thunder Hammer Master! Smash the rock walls!"
After sealing the passage, Sora immediately ordered Dekomori to destroy the surrounding rock faces putting the dungeon into repair mode to prevent new monsters from spawning and avoid being flanked. Once everything was set, everyone took their positions, eyes fixed on the blocked tunnel.
Bang bang bang bang.
On the other side, dozens of Minotaurs were trapped. Their immense strength and tough bodies meant the rocks wouldn't hold them long they were only meant to narrow an already tight passage even further.
The black cat stepped forward, her cursed aura seeping through cracks to afflict the horde beyond. Monsters screamed and roared as debuffs stacked up:
[Corrosion, Paralysis, Poisoning, Weakness, Incurable...]
Dekomori stood at the front, giant hammer ready.
Crack! Boom!
The rocks were smashed apart with brute force. A Minotaur with festering skin emerged and was immediately flattened by Dekomori's hammer, like a game of whack-a-mole.
Once.
Twice.
Three times!
Its already corroded body crumbled under the blows, brains splattering everywhere. The corpse became a new barrier blocking the cave entrance.
What followed was like a glitch in a game monsters were stuck trying to spawn, status messages flashing nonstop above their heads:
[Poisoning] Health -100
[Poisoning] Health -100...
The few that broke through were hit with pepper and chili powder from Sora, leaving them confused and blind before being cut down.
Seconds ticked by.
Suddenly, Miko who was helping Dekomori spear a saber-toothed tiger froze. She saw a vision of the entire team wiped out, blood covering everything, with no way to tell where the danger would come from.
"Oh no..run!" Miko screamed.
Sora glanced at her, knowing she wouldn't shout without cause.
"The dungeon is alive! Exploiting the bug have activated its defenses mechanism. Evacuate now!"
He slung his backpack over his shoulder, stowing away all his "tricky tools" before organizing the retreat.
They moved quickly toward the passage's other exit...
"Where are we…" Sora didn't dare pause, observing his surroundings as he ran.
Unlike the middle levels' chaotic maze, this was a square hall with rough stone walls on three sides. The left wall was different—
"A perfectly polished surface... This is the Great Wall of Sighs!"
The Great Wall of Sighs the hatchery of Goliath, the "Lone King of the Labyrinth," also called the Lord's Room. Most adventurers knew of it, though few had seen it firsthand.
"Intelligence says the boss respawns in two days. But common sense is just statistics…" Sora looked at Shiro.
"Probability isn't 100%."
Miko's ability could act as scouting magic predicting where Monster Feasts might erupt, or how death could occur if they stayed. This time was no different!
"Can Dead Eye see any details?" the black cat asked as they ran.
The cave stretched 200 meters they'd need over ten seconds to cross it.
Miko was drenched in cold sweat: "I only saw a giant hand nothing else!"
Sora was certain: "That matches the mythical giant Goliath! It must have respawned early!"
Lily burst into tears, running faster: "Then what do we do?!"
"Retreat, of course!"
"Ah--"
"You didn't actually think I planned to fight it, did you?"
"Didn't you?!" Dekomori gasped in shock.
Click, click...
As if in response to his words, the Wall of Sighs began to crack. Something was forcing its way out.
"Aaaaaah! We're too late!" Lily sobbed, sprinting at full speed.
"How can this be happening?!"
"Hahaha what a worthy opponent! I'll take its nape as a trophy!"
They were almost at the floor entrance but the monster was about to hatch...
5 seconds later...
BOOM...
The massive wall shattered, crystal-like rock fragments blasting outward like cannon fire. The gray giant let out a deafening roar, dark eyes locking onto the safe passage below.
The group dove to avoid the debris, only to see a colossal hand reaching for them...
"We're done for!"
Heavy footsteps thundered from behind.
"Don't panic." Sora sprinted faster than the wind, counting down: "3, 2, 1!"
Nothing.
As Lily felt the rush of air behind her and sank into despair...
"I hold sun and moon in my grasp, pluck stars from the sky! None can match me under heaven!"
A familiar voice rang out behind them.
"That, that's..."
Lily turned to see a sword-wielding figure with his back to them, speaking over his shoulder.
"Hahahaha the final bells toll! Weep before my blade!"
A 50-meter flash of dark light sliced through the air, followed by a spray of blood. Goliath clutched its severed arm, howling in agony.
Sora smiled: "Perfect timing."
Shiro didn't turn around: "This was all part of the plan..."
Blank: "[No failure!]"
While the two remained calm, the black cat was stunned. She knew her apprentice was capable but this was far beyond what she'd imagined.
With Hogni's intervention, the team safely reached the lower floor.
At the cave entrance...
Dekomori wiped his nose, full of frustration: "Just wait! I'll defeat it next time!"
Before she could rush back, the black cat pulled her back with a chokehold.
"I'll be back death awaits!"
Inside the cave, Hogni stood with sword in hand. Alone, his combat power soared.
"Indeed... I prefer the night and solitude."
He gripped his demonic sword, blade aimed at Goliath's heart as if ready to end the monster that terrified all novice adventurers.
"What are you doing, Hogni..."
A familiar voice called out. A young cat-man carrying a silver spear approached steadily.
Swish...
Hogni immediately turned his back, presenting only the back of his head to the newcomer:
"The pinnacle of swordsmanship..."
"Shut up..." the cat-man cut him off.
"With hands joined..."
"Shut up."
"..."
"What do you want?"
The cat-man's forehead twitched in irritation, unable to contain his temper: "Why won't you look at me when we speak?!"
Hogni remained unfazed, lifting his chin: "You're not worthy!"
"Damn you..." Allen Fromel's anger flared. Since when did Hogni have the right to look down on him!
He charged forward with his silver spear, aiming for Hogni's back.
A flash of dark light Hogni thrust his demonic sword backward without turning around. The [Cursed Abyss] expanded and contracted rapidly 100 times, completely blocking Allen's path. Even his attempts to circle around failed.
[Goddess's Chariot]Allen Fromel like Hogni, a Level 6 first-tier adventurer of the Freya Familia, and known as the fastest in Orario.
Yet at this moment, he couldn't get past Hogni!
"You bastard..."