Everyone's status window popped up automatically with a new message.
[Congratulations, you have defeated a Rank C+ Monster! You have gained experience.]
[Level has risen to Level 5.]
Hayato looked at his status window, his face proud of what they had achieved.
Takumi, completely exhausted, stood near the cave wall with one hand pressed against it, his legs shaking from running and dodging the Minotaur's attacks. With a tired expression and a shaky voice, he muttered, "Nope. I ain't doing that again."
Reina and Miyu glanced at each other and smiled proudly.
Suddenly, Yuna screamed, her voice shaking with panic. "GUYS! Please help! Souta's badly injured, he won't wake up!"
Everyone turned toward Yuna at the same time, their faces filled with fear and concern.
Hayato and Reina rushed toward them, with Miyu following behind. Takumi stayed where he was, his legs still shaking, and said, "You go ahead. My legs won't move."
Yuna held Souta, her face full of worry and her eyes about to tear up. "Help him! Hurry."
Hayato turned to Miyu. "Miyu, heal him!"
Miyu nodded, her face full of concern. She kneeled, raised her trembling hand and muttered, her voice shaking, "Heal."
Miyu's healing spell wasn't enough to fully heal Souta, but it stopped him from losing any more blood. She tried again. This time, it mended his broken bones, from his arms to his ribs, but it still wasn't enough. Determined, she tried a third time. His bones were fully restored, but Souta still had wounds and bruises, and Miyu's mana was nearly depleted. She looked more exhausted than ever, but she pushed through, ready to cast Heal again.
Reina noticed how tired Miyu was and how close her mana was to running out. She paused and suddenly remembered a spell: Grow.
Grow: Accelerates plant growth and can help living creatures recover faster.
Worried, Reina spoke to Miyu. "Miyu, I'll assist you."
Miyu cast Heal on Souta again, this time with Reina's help.
Both cast their spells simultaneously.
Reina also kneeled and raised both her hands and cast "Grow,"
While Miyu softly muttered, "Heal."
Reina's Grow spell was slower at healing compared to Miyu's Heal spell.
When Miyu finished healing Souta, she suddenly fainted. Hayato quickly caught her before she could fall. Meanwhile, Reina was still holding up her hand, her spell continuing to activate.
After five minutes, Souta's condition stabilized. His wounds closed, and even his broken bones healed.
Reina looked exhausted as well. Takumi stepped forward, concern clear on his face. "Reina, you should rest. You look really tired too."
Reina nodded and slowly stood up, but she felt dizzy.
Takumi gently guided her to where Miyu was sleeping and said, "Get some rest."
Hayato then examined the other dead monster, the one the Minotaur had defeated. It was a C rank monster called the Giant Amber Boar. It was identified as a blazing giant boar.
Not long after, everyone looked drained from the battle. They decided to rest, while Hayato and Takumi took turns keeping watch, switching shifts to stay alert.
Ninety-six hours had passed (four days). They continued exploring the cave, making strategies on how to defeat monsters and searching for an exit. Along the way, they fought more E rank monsters such as Kobolds, Slimes, and Skeletons, as well as D rank monsters like different types of Goblins (Normal, Shaman, and Hobgoblins) and Dire Wolves.
They eventually reached Level 9. After that, they continued exploring the cave.
After about two more hours of walking, Takumi groaned tiredly. "Ugh, does this cave even have an end?" he complained. "How long have we been doing this? It feels like it's never-ending." His eyes watered in an exaggerated, joke-like way.
Yuna shot him an annoyed look. "Tsk, could you just shut up? Everyone's tired, you know."
The two glared at each other fiercely again, like they were about to start another argument.
Suddenly, they heard a sound coming from up ahead.
Hayato immediately signaled with his hand, telling everyone to stay in combat formation. Then he nodded at Souta, signaling him to check what was ahead.
Souta nodded back and slowly moved forward, stepping as quietly as possible.
Souta looked and found a monster sleeping in front of the door. Then he identify it then status shows a terrifying description.
[Monster Identified: Ogre]
Type: Humanoid Beast / Brute
Rank: B-
Description: A massive humanoid monster with thick muscles and rough, greenish sometimes reddish skin. known for their overwhelming physical strength and durability. They often wield large clubs or tree trunks as weapons. Though not very intelligent, they are extremely aggressive and dangerous in close combat.
He was very terrified and return back at his group quietly.
He warned the group he spoke calmy but a little frighten. "It was an ogre, it was sleeping. this monster is much stronger than that of a minotaur."
Everyone got also frighten.
Then Hayato asks Souta. "what's it rank?"
"It was B minus." Souta replied.
Riku spoke to Hayato with concern. "This is alarming. We might not be able to defeat it."
Takumi added, "That's right. We barely survived the minotaur, that was already badly hurt, and still we almost died."
Hayato then said, "But the ogre was sleeping behind the door. That might lead to the cave exit."
Everyone was in a dilemma. Then, Reina spoke, offering a plan. "What if we weaken it?"
Yuna asked, "How?"
Reina opened her palm, showing the berry.
The berry was the only food source they had while trapped in the cave. But it wasn't an ordinary berry, it was poisonous if eaten. They would need Miyu's purification to remove the toxin so they could safely eat it.
Hayato spoke eagerly, "That might work. Nice thinking, Reina."
Everyone was still concerned, but they decided it was worth trying. Maybe that door would lead them out of the cave.
They all regrouped and began planning a strategy. Hours passed, and when they were ready, they waited until the ogre fell asleep again.
Once the ogre was asleep, Souta activated his skills, Shadow Cloak and Swift Edge, and sneaked forward rushing, his hands full of the poisonous berries.
When he got close, the ogre's eyes snapped open, sensing his presence.
ROOOAAR!!!
The ogre let out a deafening roar and lunged at Souta.
Souta barely managed dodge the attack. It slammed into the ground with force and the impact sent up a cloud of smoke that covered the area.
Through the smoke, two red eyes glowed, glaring at Souta.
Then the ogre swung its club. The force of the swing cleared the smoke pushing back Souta slightly, while he covers his face with his hands
The Ogre's presence grew even stronger, pressing down on everyone like a suffocating weight. They were all too terrified to move.
Then the ogre dashed toward Souta again.
Hayato shouted, "Souta, watch out! Move!"
Souta snapped back to his senses, saw the ogre, and barely dodging it. The force of the Ogre's dash slammed him into the wall, but he got up quickly.
"Hurry! Open the door while I keep this monster busy!" Souta shouted.
Hayato nodded, and quickly tapped Riku, then the others. Riku regained his senses, and together they rush toward the door.
"Everyone, follow me! Hurry!" Hayato yelled.
Everyone snapped back, regained their senses, and started running faster out of fear, while Souta kept the ogre busy. Even though he activated his skills, they were still weak. Compared to the ogre, he was slower, and his presence was easily detected. Fortunately, he was agile and could read every one of the ogre's attacks, dodging them just in time.
Meanwhile, Riku, Hayato, Takumi, Reina, and Miyu pushed the heavy door together. It was difficult, but slowly, it began to open.
When the door opened, just wide enough for a person.
Hayato told Riku, Yuna, and Miyu, "You three go on first. We'll follow."
Riku and Yuna replied, "Okay," while Miyu simply nodded.
Takumi spoke up, fear in his voice, tears welling in his eyes. "What about me?"
Yuna, irritated, smacked Takumi on the head as she stepped through the door.
Hayato then turned to Takumi (Rubbing his head) and Reina. "We'll wait for Souta. Don't worry, I have a plan."
He shouted toward Souta, "Souta! Now!"
Then he ordered Reina to freeze the ground and Takumi to blind the Ogre. Both of them nodded.
Souta dodged the ogre's attack once more, leapt onto its head, and rushed toward the door where Hayato, Reina, and Takumi were waiting.
Hayato shouted again, "Now, Reina!"
Reina focused and cast her spell. "Icicle Shots!" she shouts, aiming at the ground.
The becomes frozen.
Souta leapt across the icy surface as the Ogre pursued him.
Hayato called to Takumi, "Takumi! Now!"
Takumi activated Precise Shot, aimed carefully at the ogre's eye, and throw a rock with all his strength.
The rock hit the ogre's eye. Blinded and slipping on the frozen ground, the ogre crashed to the floor.
Everyone quickly entered the door and shut it behind them.
Everyone breathed heavily, trying to catch their breath, while Souta leaned against the wall and sat down, completely exhausted.
Then, all of their status windows popped up:
[Congratulations! You have accomplished a hidden mission: Survive the Ogre's Lair.]
[You have gained experience.]
[Level has risen to Level 10.]
[Congratulations! You have obtained a new skill.]
[Congratulations! Your skill has been upgraded.]
Hayato, Riku, Yuna, Reina, Souta, Miyu, and Takumi all checked their status.