Volume 1 Chapter 52 Aquaflow Cavern Upper Layer
After hearing the story from Sierra, the receptionist, we used Chester's magic to teleport back into the forest and enter Aquaflow Cavern.
We didn't have any information about the current state of the dungeon, so we didn't know what to expect.
But still, we all decided to search for the key together.
Chester, who had exhausted his magic power with the Teleportation Magic, quickly opened a potion bottle and drank its contents.
"...Well, shall we go?"
"Yeah, let's do it."
With his words as a signal, the four of us headed back to Aquaflow Cavern.
After walking for a while, we arrived at the entrance.
We didn't see any other adventurers around.
They probably considered it dangerous after the appearance of the wraith. As Ryuin had said, being an adventurer means valuing your life.
"From here on, there will probably be no distinction between upper layer and middle layer. Monsters will come out beyond their usual habitat. Is that really okay?"
"Well, we were prepared from the start."
"Yes, let's do our best!"
"Let's proceed with caution."
Just to be sure, I checked, but none of them seem to be particularly scared. The three of them, since we talked in the town, their determination hasn't wavered. There was no longer any hesitation in their expressions.
Now, we stepped into Aquaflow Cavern once again.
Fatina and I went ahead, with Mel and Chester following behind.
The atmosphere inside the upper layer was the same as when we last came.
However, we walked even more carefully, in case monsters like wraiths appeared again.
The common sense of this being the upper layer no longer applies.
In the advanced area, we came to a point where there was a small waterfall basin we had seen before.
"...What's this?"
What was different from the last time we visited were the multiple poison toads that had now become motionless.
Most of the poison toads had been cleanly split either vertically or horizontally.
It seems some time has passed since they were defeated, but it's clear that they weren't taken down by Fatina the other day.
So, it seems like──
"It looks like another group of adventurers came through here."
"Yeah, I think so."
Fatina spoke while looking at the marks where the poison toads had been slashed.
It's possible that these adventurers happened to enter the dungeon without knowing about the wraith, but either way, it's certain that someone skilled took them down in one blow.
"Are there other adventurers around here?"
"Yeah, probably. If they're unaware and continue forward, we'll talk to them when we meet."
"Agreed."
Mel nodded, and we started walking again.
After a while, we passed through a path with ponds on both sides.
Then, we arrived at the place where the wraith was── a path with water flowing from the wall.
"Ark-sama, I can hear a lot of sounds from ahead."
Fatina said, her wolf-like ears moving constantly.
"Understood."
With that said, I pull out the mithril sword from its sheath.
We slowly walked down the winding path we had never taken before.
And there, in front of us, was a group of lizardmen, each the size of a big man walking on two legs.
There were about forty or fifty of them, enough to fill the not-so-wide passage.
Near them, several lizardmen lay motionless, likely defeated by adventurers who had also taken down the poison toads.
Lizardmen are strong monsters even among the D-Rank category. The reason is that they are covered in light green scales that can defend against mediocre attacks, and they also possess intelligence to handle various weapons.
Because of this, their individual strength surpasses that of orcs, and I hear that they have a large number when they engage in group actions. So, it's not enough to just consider the strength of each individual.
It is said that lizardmen mainly prefer to inhabit water areas.
Therefore, it must have been an environment suitable for them to live in the Aquaflow Cavern.
"Chester, stay back. Mel, protect him and ask for support if anything happens."
"Yes, understood."
Let's keep the two of them from going ahead. Even though they have brought potions, I want to avoid a situation where Mel's magic power runs out.
"I will go ahead first."
Defeat everything at once (Death). That is the best way to fight.
"Ark-sama, I will go with you."
"No, it's okay."
"At a time like this... no, especially at a time like this, I want to raise my level and be helpful, even if just a little."
Fatina is staring at me intently.
Maybe she regrets not being able to do anything during the fight with the wraith. I had a feeling like that, somehow.
"...I see, understood. But don't push yourself too hard."
"Yes!"
Together with Fatina, we rush towards the group of Lizardmen.
'Ssssscrooooaaak!!'
Perhaps noticing our presence as we approach, the group of Lizardmen swings their weapons and runs towards us through the pathway in front of them.
"Haah!"
Fatina quickly dodges the rusty spear thrust by one of the Lizardmen with a small movement to the side, then stabs her sword into its stomach.
'Grrrraaaahhhh!'
The Lizardman hit by Fatina's attack falls to the ground, but immediately after, many others surround her and try to close in.
But Fatina jumped high and broke free, swiftly slicing through the fierce attacks of the Lizardmen with the jet-black slashes from her Shadow Chimera sword. Her swordsmanship was precise and dazzling, almost like a dance.
"Wow, Fatina-san... amazing,"
Mel exclaimed in awe as she watched Fatina's movements.
'Ssssscrooooaaak!!'
Now, a Lizardman charged towards me, swinging its curved sword.
I deflected it with my mithril sword and struck it down with a downward swing.
Without a moment's pause, more than ten monsters rushed towards me, ready to attack.
I aimed the tip of my sword towards the horde and unleashed Instant Death Magic.
"(Death)"
'Grrrraaaahhhh!'
Multiple "Deaths" unleashed from my sword hit the Lizardmen, causing them to collapse to the ground.
When I looked in Fatina's direction, I noticed that the remaining Lizardmen had already been reduced by about half because of her.
'Grooooooaaarrrr!!'
──However, suddenly, a roar that I couldn't believe came from one of the Lizardmen echoed through the corridor.
"What, what happened!?"
Chester looked around in a panic.
What appeared from the depths of the corridor was a Lizardman twice the height of the others.
Its large fangs were exposed on both sides of its mouth, and its scales, instead of being light green, had turned brown.
"What is that!? A mutated monster!?"
Mel exclaimed in surprise.
I had heard about mutated monsters before from the shop owner back in Voltana. They become formidable opponents.
'Grooooooaaarrrr!!'
The mutated Lizardman swung a gigantic club that was as tall as itself, easily knocking down all the nearby Lizardmen as it approached us. It seemed like it no longer recognized its own kind.
"Fatina, be careful. This one is strong."
It's probably quickest for me to defeat him with my Instant Death Magic spell.
"...Don't worry. I'll... defeat it."
Fatina murmured, narrowing her eyes as she stared at the mutated Lizardman.
Then, she kicked away the remaining Lizardmen and ran forward.
"Haaah!"
Fatina's close-range slash hit the foot of the giant Lizardman.
But, its scales were tougher than expected, and although it broke, it didn't reach the skin.
'Ooooooh!'
The Lizardman swung its club at Fatina with an unimaginable speed for its massive body.
"Fatina-san!"
But Fatina not only dodged it, she used the club as a foothold to move up to its head and without hesitation, slashed at its shining golden eyes.
'Grraahhhh!'
The Lizardman, with its tough scales, got attacked in the unprotected eye. It tried to push Fatina away with its hand, but she dodged it.
Then, she deeply stabbed the other eye with her sword.
'Grrrraaaahhhh!'
The Lizardman let out a huge scream and then fell to the ground with a rumble.
"We... we did it..."
Chester let out a sigh of relief as the battle came to an end.
After glancing at the fallen Lizardman, Fatina sheathed her sword and returned.
"Fatina, please don't be reckless."
"No, I'm fine! And it looks like I leveled up too."
"That may be true, but..."
Since we met, Fatina had a stubborn side.
This time was no different.
"Anyway, there were so many... I didn't expect there to be that many Lizardmen."
Chester says that there are a lot of monsters in the upper layer.
And it seems that the adventurers who should have been ahead don't have their belongings nearby... So these lizardmen must have come here after their fellow tribesmen were defeated.
If we continue like this, we won't be able to reach the lower layer just by fighting.
"Let's hurry a bit from here. There are too many monsters."
"Indeed... If we keep fighting like this, we might eventually exhaust ourselves."
According to what I heard from Mel, there is always a guardian who protects the key in the lower layer.
Until we confront them, it would be good to conserve our energy as much as possible.
We started moving again to head towards the lower layer.
"Coffin of the Dead" Activation Condition Not Met
He couldn't retrieve the Mutant Lizardman because the activation condition for "Coffin of the Dead" wasn't met.
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