Please choose your opponent:
"The Fully Armed Goblin Knight Order" or "A Hidden Passage Leading Straight to the Deeper Levels of the Dungeon."
In Ron's view, this was nothing more than a single-choice question. Choosing the former would consume uses of Revival, and with Mikoto's cooperation, there was still a chance to return safely to Orario.
As for going deeper—
He did not dare to imagine just how many ghastly things would be waiting for him!
"I think…"
"If we take this passage to make a run for it, there's a high probability we won't be able to go home for dinner tonight."
Mikoto could sense the gravity of the situation. She decisively drew the katana at her waist.
Earlier, when facing the Goblin Knight Order, she had relied purely on swordsmanship and had deliberately held back her most powerful Futsunomitama magic.
Now was the right moment.
After all, when facing alone these monsters—vast in number and comparable to Lv2 adventurers—Mikoto had no confidence in achieving an easy victory.
"If we coordinate properly, dealing with these monsters shouldn't be a problem."
The girl stood on full alert. Still, unable to suppress her inner curiosity, she asked, "I'm actually rather curious—why aren't we heading deeper to explore?"
"Compared to unseen enemies, those Goblin Knights are definitely easier to deal with."
Ron did not hesitate.
Faced with the encirclement by the Goblin Knight Order, in such a short span of time he truly could not think of many special countermeasures. The main issue was that these monsters possessed coordinated combat capabilities.
Launching an attack rashly—the outcome would go without saying.
However...
At this moment, the girl beside him planted her katana into the ground. Her expression was calm as she said, "I can help you stall for a bit. Are you confident you can deal with some of the monsters?"
Futsunomitama.
Ron did not need to think to guess the reason.
This was also the main reason he had agreed to have Mikoto join the party. Because of this magic's capabilities, within the Dungeon it was absolutely overpowered.
According to the original storyline, the gravity magic she wielded could even briefly restrain the mutated Black Goliath, let alone this group of elite Goblin Knights.
But still...
Looking at the nearly thirteen of them present—could they really be killed within a short time?
"All I can say is I'll do my best—there's no need for you to worry about safety. If something really goes wrong, just take care of the remaining Goblin Knights."
Ron did not make any absolute guarantees.
The uses of Revival he had exchanged by consuming Soul Shards were his final reliance in the Dungeon today.
That said, as long as he could return safely to Orario, the gains brought by a Dungeon exploration of this intensity would absolutely exceed his expectations!
After hearing this, the girl gave a light nod, choosing to place her trust in her companion for this team exploration.
She murmured softly: "I respectfully speak to you, my War God that can break through any thing, lead me from the precious heaven."
"Give my petty body divine power of your grand body. Rescue them light of purification, sword of crushing evil. Sweep sword of suppression, sacred sword of conquest. It arrives here now by my order. Descend from heaven, rule the earth - shinbu tousei"
"Futsunomitama."
As the chant came to an end, a deep violet magical power continuously surged forth from the girl's body, eventually converging into a dark purple sphere of light. When it vanished once more,
a gravity field had already taken shape, enveloping the advancing Goblin Knights within it.
In an instant...
The gravity constructed by magic poured down upon the monsters without restraint, causing cracks to continuously spread across the earthen ground.
Let alone the monsters inside the gravity field.
Their already heavy armor and physiques—larger than those of ordinary goblins—had long restricted the movements of the mutated kobolds. Now, as the tremendous weight bore down upon them, even maintaining a standing posture became extremely difficult, their actions completely sealed.
"A perfect opportunity."
This kind of sustained magic placed extremely harsh demands on magical reserves.
Ron, of course, would not miss such an excellent chance. Preparing for a swift engagement, he did not carry the brass heavy shield, but instead drew out his close-combat weapon.
The boy bent his body slightly forward, and the power gathered in his legs erupted in an instant.
However—
The moment he entered the gravity field, he immediately felt an intense pressure. His lungs and internal organs were continuously compressed by the sudden change.
This was not merely a test of physical constitution.
It was an even greater trial of Ron's willpower. Each step he took carried an abnormal sensation transmitted through his bones.
Even so...
He continued charging toward the Goblin Knight Order. He already had experience dealing with them, not to mention that these monsters were now completely suppressed in their movements.
Facing a goblin with blood-red eyes that raised its arm, attempting to counterattack with a broad-headed spear, there was no need to worry about timing or speed at all. He laboriously sidestepped around to its back, lifted his foot to kick the Goblin Knight to the ground, and then drove his thrusting sword down hard.
"Execution."
Under the crushing pressure of the supergravity environment, the blood could no longer bear the load and burst forth from its back.
As for the mutated kobold reduced to a mount, after Ron finished dealing with the Goblin Knight, he once again raised his blade and brought it down, completely severing the head from the neck.
"This is what a truly high-pressure combat environment looks like!"
Complaints aside,
he still forced himself to take heavy steps forward, launching his own mowing operation against the Goblin Knight Order slowly advancing from all directions.
He repeated the same method as before.
One…
Two…
Three…
However, as his physical stamina was rapidly consumed and dizziness from oxygen deprivation set in, Ron no longer had the capacity to think much while fighting.
He was acting purely on the body's most basic instincts.
He had already forgotten just how many monsters he had dealt with—until a warning shout from the girl rang out behind him. When he once again turned his head with great effort, he saw a Goblin Knight standing on the ground, holding a broad-headed spear.
Those hatred-filled, crimson eyes, the right hand raised high, thrusting with full force toward his chest—and the armor already riddled with countless holes…
There was simply no way to block it effectively.
Pff!
"Even giving it everything, I still couldn't win."
Ron felt his consciousness gradually slipping away. Along with it, the spear that had pierced through his chest crashed heavily to the ground. At the edge of his fading vision, he caught sight of the girl rushing forward,
as well as the monsters on the field—now reduced by half in number.
From here on, he could safely leave the rest to Mikoto!
Youth was truly a blessing—fall asleep the moment you hit the ground.
Yet once the uses of Revival were fully consumed, the fatal injuries his body had suffered were instantly healed, and Ron's drifting consciousness returned once more.
Unlike before.
Consecutive bouts of high-intensity Dungeon exploration had brought overwhelming exhaustion to his body.
He did not forget his current situation. Propping himself up with a short sword planted against the ground, he slowly sat up—only to see the girl lying beside him as well, completely spent.
There were no monsters around.
Ron looked at Mikoto, her kimono dyed a deep purple by blood. A sense of foreboding rose in his heart, and he hurriedly took out the medicine kit hanging at his side.
He pulled out a glass bottle filled with green liquid.
Panacea.
It was said to be able to instantly heal—all non-fatal injuries. Using it on Mikoto right now was perfectly appropriate. Thanks to Miss Airmid's help.
Ron reflected inwardly.
However, just as he reached her side, before he could even open the bottle of panacea, he noticed the girl's pale, exhausted face—her eyes now filled with complex emotions.
She spoke with helpless resignation: "Honestly, the kind of Dungeon routine you go through—
it's far more intense than what those Lv2 adventurers in Orario experience. I can't even imagine it."
"After enduring this kind of tempering, just how absurdly high will your ability values rise?"
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