Volume 5 Chapter 13 Goddess Holy Church Seven Heaven Apostles 'ugly' Balthazar ④ - Dantalion
Gambo and his team were making good progress through the dungeon.
Of course, there were many monsters. Gambo got bitten on the arm by a Gita Spider, but he barely managed to activate 'Steel Form' in time and came out unscathed. Karera praised Gambo.
"Nice job. Using your skill in a split second like that."
"I still got hit, though."
"But you're unharmed. The Gita Spider's camouflage ability is top-level in this dungeon. Getting close and getting bitten without taking damage is something I've never heard of."
"..."
"Oh, Gambo is blushing~."
"Shut up!!"
The other 3 were laughing too.
Gambo chased after Fine, but Fine dodged while giggling.
There was no tension. However, Karera was also smiling.
Sometimes, this kind of thing isn't so bad.
"Hahaha... huh?"
*Thud, thud, thud...*
Something was coming toward them.
They could hear crunching and squelching sounds.
Karera drew her sword.
Gambo and the others noticed too.
"T-Teacher, something's coming... a monster?"
"Looks like it. A big one."
"A big one... seriously?"
Fine and Gambo got into position.
The other 3 also readied their weapons. Having fought insect-type monsters a few times before helped; they weren't trembling and could act.
But─── Karera's instincts were warning her.
"It knows we're here. Sometimes, it's better to assess the situation before making a move rather than running away blindly... running away carelessly can provoke it."
Even in times like this, combat guidance.
But, Karera is a very reliable adventurer.
Gambo transforms both of his arms into 'Steel Form.'
And what appeared was───...an unknown 'pill bug.'
"...What the heck is that?"
"──Meat, meat... I'm hungry."
"Did it... did it just talk!? Teacher, can monsters talk!?"
Fine gets excited.
Karera calmly replies.
"I've heard stories about talking to intelligent monsters, but... this is the first time with an insect type."
"──Meat, meat, meat..."
"But... it doesn't seem like we can have a proper conversation with it."
The humanoid pill bug, Dantalion, is holding human flesh.
It's already unrecognizable.
His mouth is stained with blood. How many adventurers has it eaten?
Karera gives instructions to everyone.
"If there's even a slight opening, we'll escape."
"...Aren't we going to fight?"
"No. Right now, escaping is the best option."
Karera, Bob, and Miles chose to run away.
The reason is simple. It's not that they don't want to fight; they can't fight.
After all, this is a dungeon practice. It's impossible to face an unknown monster with 'kids' who don't even have proper combat experience.
This is a decision made because they are high-ranking adventurers.
If they were adventurers who just moved from F rank to E rank, they might have foolishly challenged it.
Kaya and Yato are not at F rank level either. But, it's impossible to fight while protecting other kids.
This is the judgment of high-ranking adventurers. Fighting would be the height of foolishness.
"Gwooooor!!"
"It's coming!!"
"I'll go in front!!"
"Wha──."
Gambo transforms his whole body into 'Steel Form' and charges forward.
Then── Dantalion curled up into a ball.
Like a pill bug. And then, Dantalion spun rapidly and charged forward.
"This is awesome!! GGGHH!!"
Gambo crouched down and took Dantalion head-on.
Whirl, whirl, whirl, whirl!! Dantalion spun, tearing into Gambo's body. If he released 'Steel Form,' Gambo would be minced meat in an instant.
Then, to Gambo's left. A flying kick from Fine, using 'Accel,' struck Dantalion right in the side, sending him flying.
And then, as a finishing blow, a punch from Karera's strong arm sent Dantalion flying even further.
Karera shouted.
"Let's get out of here!!"
Gambo released 'Steel Form.' Without checking on Dantalion, he ran away.
Dantalion got back up and let out a roar.
And then... he started walking again, looking for prey.
...
......
.........
"...Seriously, we keep running into big bugs."
"Pill bugs... they're huge."
"They look kind of human. Hey, could it be that we're going deeper into the dungeon? We hardly saw monsters like this before."
"Maybe. Hey, we might find some treasure or something."
When Dantalion turned around, there were... Elk and Soara.
"Meat, meat, meat... MEAT!!"
"Meat?"
"Is he hungry? Well, I don't plan on being eaten."
"GROOOOAAAH!!"
Dantalion curled up and charged forward, spinning rapidly.
Elk pointed both hands at Dantalion, then changed his trajectory with Telekinesis, sending him crashing into a nearby wall.
Elk unfolded his blade. He stabbed it into the gaps of the curled-up Dantalion's shell.
"Gyugaaa!?"
"Take this!!"
Elk's kick sent Dantalion flying. The kick, wrapped in telekinesis, could even crush rocks. Pipina had taught him not to rely too much on telekinesis, so Elk tried to defeat any opponent using martial arts instead.
Of course, that was different in urgent or troublesome situations. Elk readied his fist, pulled Dantalion closer with telekinesis, and punched hard.
"Bugaaa!?"
"One more time!!"
"Bugyuu!?"
Dantalion's face was smashed in, and he sank into the floor. Elk unfolded the blade in his right hand and stabbed it straight into Dantalion's throat.
"Ugh."
"Alright, it's over."
"Oh, Elk, that was cool!"
"Well, I can't compete with someone who has martial arts skills."
When he pulled out the blade, Dantalion's body started to melt away.
All that was left was a large yellow magic stone. He picked it up and put it into his item box.
"Okay, let's go."
"Yeah."
Elk and Soara moved deeper into the dungeon again.
Even though they were supposed to be looking for a way back, for some reason, they were heading toward the deepest part of the dungeon.
* * *
"...Everyone is dead."
All the 'Insect Men' created by Balthazar had been defeated.
They were supposed to be stronger than ten A-rank adventurers. Yet, they were easily taken down within just a few hours of being born.
Were there really that many strong adventurers?
"...No, it's him. The one everyone was talking about."
Balthazar bit his nails nervously.
And then, he stood up... and opened the huge treasure chest behind him.
Inside was a green gem.
It was a palm-sized gem with strange letters carved on it.
"Ah~~~~n!"
Balthazar swallowed it.
It was the 'secret treasure' of the dungeon.
Not just any treasure. This was the only secret treasure in the 'Nest of Insect Poison.'
The secret treasure of the insect-themed dungeon 'Nest of Insect Poison,' the 'Magic Insect Stone.'
A gem that could control all insects, enhancing and manipulating them at will.
It was truly a gem made just for Balthazar.
"Hehehe, heh... just watch. I will defeat them. Goddess, oh Goddess... for you, for everyone!"
With a thud, thud, thud... several 'tentacles' sprouted from Balthazar's back.
Please bookmark this series and rate ☆☆☆☆☆ on here!
Donate me
Support Me with USDC
(ERC20)
Support Me with XLM
(Stellar Lumens)