The probability that probabilistic retaliation would work was about 10%. For reference, this probability did not increase just because you had Transcendence. This was because the 1.5x performance increase was applied to reflective damage.
I mean, but, still.
[You have been hit with Asura's kick.]
Just when I started genuinely worrying about being scammed and taking on a strange essence, the bottom activated almost 100 kicks.
[Luck inhabiting the character has blocked damage.]
The Probabilistic Retaliation was activated and a transparent veil sprouted over the damaged area as if to protect me.
[Powerful luck reflects 150% of the damage taken to the enemy.]
The skeleton summoned right next to me exactly imitated the kicking stance and kicked Amelia as she let out a roar, even though she had no vocal cords.
«¡Gahhcha!»
Hey, this is the sound that comes out when there's a big hit. Wait a minute, then that can really hurt her.
I hurriedly thought about that, but it was too late.
Hit!
Surprised by the sudden attack, Amelia could not dodge the blow that was flying towards her and received it with her shoulder.
Shaaaaa.
The skeleton disappeared like a halo of light exactly after kicking.
«Puaj...»
«Are you okay?!»
When I ran towards her surprised, Amelia removed her hand from her shoulder and pushed me. «Don't be dramatic. It just surprised me a little».
Surprised? Your shoulder is totally destroyed.
«Erwen, bring me splints and bandages».
«Ah be…!»
Giving Amelia a potion was useless because of her Fountain of Youth, so I adjusted the bone with my hand and then bandaged it with a splint.
«I told you to dodge once the ability came out. If you can't dodge it, at least kick gently».
«… Pateé gently.»
Yes, sure. Great success meant 100% of the original damage.
Ah... it would be 150% due to Transcendence.
For reference, the original reflection damage was only 10%. Even if you calculated it with Transcendence, that was 15%. Since this ability summoned a skeleton to send the attack, it was possible to dodge it, so the skill value was not that high.
«Anyway, Amelia, take a break».
«Yes! I can help you now, sir! I'm good at dodging. And blocking too!»
«...Okay.»
When Erwen summoned a spirit again, Amelia went to sit on the couch, looking dejected.
[You have taken fire damage.]
[You have taken fire damage.]
[You have taken fire damage.]
This time, the ability activated after ten attempts.
[The luck that inhabits the character has blocked the damage. Normal luck reflects 15% of the damage taken to the enemy.]
A cute little skeleton was summoned once again to my side and shot flames. Since it wasn't a huge success, it didn't have a unique sound.
Burst!
As Erwen dodged the flames to the side, sparks hit the wall and flew everywhere.
«Oh, fire».
«E-Erwen! Spirit of water!»
«¡Ah, si!»
That day we almost lost our house under warranty.
After experiencing a nearby fire, we went out into the yard at night to test my skill and obtained a significant statistic.
For starters, it seems that probability doesn't have much room for error...
Unlike the first case, in which success occurred after a hundred attempts, after that, the skill was used an average of fifteen times. The problem was that statistics were just statistics. There were many cases where it suddenly stopped activating even though it was working normally, and in those cases, I really had to take a beating for a long time. I think the highest record was 198 times.
How is this possible?
Even if the probability was 1%, the figure would be meaningless. Even with a stack like that, it didn't end up being a huge success.
Well, although it seems to come out more often.
Anyway, after testing the liability followed by the asset, the three of us spent each day planning the exploration. The number one objective of said plan was money. We took out a six-month short-term loan to make up for our insufficient budget. Interest rates were high and if we didn't return the money on time, the bank would keep the house. Was that because?
«Sir, I'm fine... You don't have to overdo it...» Erwen seemed to have given up on getting this house back from the moment it was used as collateral for the loan. He probably thought it would be difficult to raise the money in six months.
«I told you. I'm going to try everything I can».
I also had a conscience. Since Erwen really liked this house, the right thing to do was to try to protect it no matter what was necessary.
«But to raise so much money in such a short time... I guess there is no other option than war».
«Rainwales is right. None of us have boats. That means we can't go to the sixth floor and we have to stay on the fifth floor at most...»
«You don't have to look at me like that. I think it's better to join the war too. Although I may be notable, as long as I don't use Gigantization, no one will think of me when they see me». now.»
Without much discussion, we decided to join the war. If we joined the royal troops, we could travel to the seventh floor on a sailboat immediately.
At our level, a seventh floor monster is not a problem either.
The three of us were also strong in interpersonal combat, so we should have been able to perform well in war and collect rewards. No, the reward wasn't the problem in the first place. The enemies would also be above the mid-floor scouts, so if we took their equipment and sold it, the revenue would be huge.
Not only that... If all goes well, it might be possible to catch seventh floor monsters and reach level 7 as well.
Originally, the XP would have only been filled by cleaning more than 60% of the sixth floor. This made it a little easier.
Once I reach level 7, I can obtain a Burrow Island essence.
After that, he could erase the essence of the Gachabone and go on to defeat Bellarios.
If I reach level 8 and get another essence, I will also have to clear Waterstorm. The essence I will consume at level 9 is most easily cultivated after working for the Lord of the Floor.
As I organized the future direction of my cultivation, it made me feel strange. I was sure the middle part of the story was definitely over at this point. I couldn't believe I had already come this far.
While I was momentarily in my feelings, Amelia asked Erwen a question. «But Tersia, is that okay with you? I thought the fairies worked with the executive board».
«Oh, that's true. Is it okay, Erwen?»
«Alright. I took a vacation».
«Vacation?»
«Yeah. I told them I won't be entering the maze for a while, and even if I did, I'll work separately. So you don't have to worry about this problem».
«...If you say so.»
After that, I listened to Erwen and Amelia tell how the war had progressed so far and come up with plans. Time passed until dawn on the day of entry to the labyrinth.
***
[You have entered the Crystal Cave on the first floor.]
Inside the crystal cave that glowed soft purple, as soon as we opened our eyes, Amelia led the way from the front. «Come this way.»
«Wait a minute, I'm better at finding directions—»
«Amelia is a guide».
«… ¿Ella es?»
Erwen had received a high-level education from her sister equivalent to that of a professional guide, but she no longer insisted after my explanation. Although she seemed a little hurt in her pride. To be honest, I couldn't understand that. I also had a navigation feature installed, but I wasn't disappointed that I couldn't use it.
It's much easier to just follow it, so why bother?
It was interesting though. There were only three of us on this team, but we all had the ability to guide. Was that what you called the elite?
Spades.
Anyway, I just had to follow Amelia so I kept looking around as I ran. The atmosphere inside the maze I was entering for the first time since my return was very different than what I expected. I expected to see knights with the seals of noble families and clan explorers from all over.
«There are more explorers on the lower floor than I thought».
I could see explorers reeking of rookie vibes here and there. Overall, their faces were positive. They were nervous about being inside the maze, but they did not tremble with fear.
«Oh that? The palace implemented many policies for explorers on the lower floors. After all... many high-ranking explorers died that day».
Listening to it, there was a reason there were more people on the first floor than during my rookie days. Actual politics was one thing, but the main factor was that most of the large clans had disintegrated. Now that there had been a reorganization, the maze had transformed into a land of opportunity where all you had to do was stick a flag on the ground. The notable example was the fifth floor.
«Is no one in charge of the fifth floor?»
«There will be some control, but not as bad as it used to be».
In the case of the Great Demon Realm, it was common for clans to occupy and monopolize fields where monsters appeared, but that was rare these days. Apparently, it was better to join the war. Since the payment to participate was considerable and the palace bestowed the desired essence corresponding to its war achievements, it seemed that this was the trend these days.
«We are one step late».
Although we arrived very early, another explorer has already opened the portal on the first floor. The official time trial was another failure.
[You have entered the Lair of Beasts on the second floor.]
There was no way we could achieve the second floor time trial attack while the first floor failed, so we began to move more calmly. Anyway, our hours were open.
The deadline is the 25th.
The way the palace recruited troops was very simple: reach Laemia, the Island of Beginnings, before the 25th. Although the time frame was tight for a team that had just entered the sixth floor, it was a different story for the three of us as we had a free pass to the sixth floor.
Our speed does not decrease because we do not have a magician.
In the past, this was the time to stop and rest, but no one suggested stopping.
Are we already on the third floor...?
At the end of the first day we reached the third floor. We didn't even run as fast on the second floor as we did on the first.
«Sir, you must be tired. Here, drink this».
Surprisingly, these two were still full of energy after that, so we probably could have moved faster if we had really wanted to. It's true that these guys were agility characters.
«Erwen, I told you not to call me sir in the maze».
«Oh, sure. I'll be careful...» Erwen smiled shyly and nodded.
After that, we set up camp. There was no night guard. Anyway, we were at the beginning of the third floor.
«I can just place my double, so he can sleep peacefully».
Thanks to Amelia's self-replication, there was no need to waste anyone on it.
«Wow, Amelia. It's definitely convenient to have you around».
«Don't be dramatic. This is nothing».
Ha, fighter. I was just saying thank you, because even if it's a double you're the one doing the work.
«Yes it's true. It's nothing.»
«¿Eh?»
«B-well, I can do something similar...» Saying that, Erwen immediately summoned a spirit. It wasn't that difficult to summon him while he slept, unlike before. He also didn't make a dent in his mana consumption. «And if I use the spirit of darkness, I can make it harder for monsters and other people to see us. What do you think? Isn't mine much better? Hmm? Don't you think?»
«Y-yes... yours is better.» I wanted to refrain from comparing my teammates, but a strange intimidation made my head nod on its own.
But was that the answer I wanted? «Then... tell me the same.»
«... Hmm? I tell you what?»
«That. What you said to that woman...» Erwen turned her body from side to side. «T-it's more convenient to have me here...T-it...I'm the best...and-the biggest...»
Um, I never said those things.