NOVEL NEXT Chapter 50 - Hierarchical Exploration
On the 61st day of reincarnation, today we explored the 7th floor of the dungeon. We immediately used Dungeon Move to teleport to the 7th floor upon entering the dungeon.
While we can move instantly, normal explorers take several days for a round trip. It seems that if at least one person has defeated the boss, they can use a shortcut through the boss room to reach the next floor, but we don’t need that.
“Wow, the 7th floor has lizards.”
Upon detailed appraisal, it was a Fire Lizard, Level 24. It was about 3 meters long, had red skin, and flames leaked from its mouth. It also had six legs.
“Can Rose defeat that?”
It gestured sideways. It seems impossible, perhaps due to insufficient level.
“Hmm, does Rose dislike fire? I see, it’s a plant.”
Rose, who can assert herself properly, is quite obedient. I wonder if spirits grow over time. While contemplating this, let’s continue exploring the dungeon.
Since it would be pitiful to make Rose fight against something it dislikes, let’s defeat it conventionally.
“Rosarina, be careful since you’re unarmed.”
“Yes, sir.”
Wielding a mithril two-handed sword.
“Annelise, use magic for a preemptive strike. Then, Gandarfan, use Anger Lock. After that, beat it up as usual. Be cautious of its fire breath.”
Everyone nodded.
“Here we go. Mana Slash.”
Since fire magic won’t be effective against a fire attribute Fire Lizard, I used Mana Slash, which has no attribute.
Mana Slash hit the Fire Lizard, and the angered creature rushed towards us, utilizing its six legs. Its leg movements were interesting. Rather than moving in parallel, the two front legs and the one rear leg moved in opposite directions.
The Fire Lizard opened its mouth. Is it going to use breath right away?
“Anger Lock!”
*Roar.*
The soldiers managed to dodge the breath behind Gandarfan, but one of them used a spear like a pole vault, leaping over Gandarfan and the Fire Lizard. She was Lyn, a cat beastkin soldier. Agile but not very strong.
Similarly, Rosarina dodged the breath with a jump. Both of them attacked from the vulnerable rear.
Despite Gandarfan and three soldiers using shields to block the breath, it wasn’t completely effective.
“Heal.”
Gandarfan and the three soldiers’ HP recovered. This is the skill “Holy Magic” of the reincarnated hero.
Today, my main job is Enchanter, and the sub-job is Reincarnated Hero. I didn’t intend to raise the Reincarnated Hero’s level, but now that I know there are demons, it’s probably a good idea to level up the Reincarnated Hero.
Outside, the Reincarnated Hero is nothing but a landmine, but inside the dungeon, there are fewer appraisal users, so it should be fine.
“Saint Attack.”
*Clang.* *Parry.*
“What… did you just do?”
“A holy attribute attack.”
“For the training of Jojoku and others, please refrain a bit more.”
Gandarfan looked resigned. Sorry about that.
Putting all my points into INT raises my MATK to over 600. Gandarfan’s Armored Knight, including equipment and skills, has a DEF of about 200. It’s three times the attack power!
Moreover, the consumption of MP for Saint Attack is only 5 points. What incredible efficiency!
“The drop item seems to be a Fire Magic Stone.”
Looking at the magic stone Lyn picked up, Annelise said it was a Fire Magic Stone.
The magic stone is red and looks like it has a fire attribute. Detailed appraisal also revealed it to be a Fire E-rank magic stone. Attribute magic stones are apparently traded at higher prices than regular magic stones.
“Master, as Gandarfan-sama mentioned earlier, please control yourself.”
“Y-yeah, I understand.”
Annelise also had to warn me.
Next, a turquoise lizard appeared. It’s an Aqua Lizard, Level 24. It’s a different color, and water is dripping from its mouth. I hope it’s not drool.
“Is that one okay?”
Rose gestured that it was.
“Then, can you cover its mouth?”
It seems possible.
“Annelise.”
“Yes. Mana Slash.”
Initiating the battle with Annelise’s magic again.
Gandarfan’s Anger Lock.
Rosarina, Jojoku, Bars, Lyn, and Soredia jumped into action.
“Enchant Ice.”
I cast Enchant Ice on Rosarina. Since STP has been reset, it’s just regular damage. Nevertheless, with the Reincarnated Hero as a sub-job, the damage is better than Enchanter alone.
“Sei!”
Lizardman swordsman Jojoku delivered a good blow.
The annoyed Aqua Lizard twisted its body, and its thick tail, like a log, almost hit Rosarina. However, she avoided it as if nothing happened.
“Power Attack!”
Gandarfan’s skill, Power Attack, with a triple ATK multiplier, is powerful.
“Slash!”
“Splash!”
The skills of swordsman Jojoku and Bars. This is also a triple ATK multiplier.
“Triple Thrust!”
The skills of spearman Lyn and Soredia. This one has a 3.5 times ATK multiplier.
All these skills boast high attack power when proficiency reaches (Medium). However, the ATK values of swordsman and spearman are lower than Gandarfan’s Armored Knight. Even though Gandarfan uses a steel one-handed sword and the swordsman and spearman use two-handed weapons, Gandarfan still has a higher ATK. Even with the same ATK multiplier of 3 or 3.5, Gandarfan’s damage output is higher.
“Lush!”
Rosarina’s skill, which increases ATK by +30 and triples the number of attacks.
“Mana Slash.”
Annelise’s non-attribute magic served as the finishing blow, and the Aqua Lizard disappeared.
This time, it ended easily without any breath attacks. Did they make sure not to let me be attacked? Is that it? Is it harassment?
The drop item is a Water E-rank magic stone.
Next up is a green lizard. It’s an Aero Lizard, Level 25. It seems to be wheezing. Is it asthma?
“Fire Storm.”
A fiery tornado enveloped the Aero Lizard and burned it.
The enraged Aero Lizard charged furiously.
“Anger Lock.”
With hostility directed at Gandarfan, the Aero Lizard opened its mouth. Thorns wrapped around its mouth, blocking it. Moreover, the thorns’ spikes seemed to pierce the tough skin of the Aero Lizard, causing pain.
“We blocked the breath. Now, let’s go all out.”
I also attacked with Saint Attack. This time, I didn’t intend to finish it off instantly. However, just when I thought so, the Aero Lizard’s movements abruptly stopped.
“What happened?”
The Aero Lizard disappeared.
“It seems it petrified.”
Annelise’s words reminded me.
“Could it be the effect of Gargoyle Buster?”
Both swordsmen, Jojoku and Bars, are equipped with Gargoyle Busters. It seems that Jojoku’s attack triggered the petrification.
“When petrification is activated, they stop moving and eventually disappear.”
“It seems so.”
The drop item that Rosarina picked up was an E-rank Wind Magic Stone. So, will Earth be the next one?
And yes, here comes the Sand Lizard, Level 25. It’s not Earth; it’s made of sand. Its body color is yellowish, and sand trickles from its mouth. Despite dropping sand, there is no sand around. Is this one of the dungeon’s mysteries?
We’ll handle it in the same way. The breath will be blocked by Rose. It’s going quite smoothly. Come to think of it, everyone else is only at Level 28. It seems like we are strong, not that attribute Lizards are weak.
The drop item is, strangely, an E-rank Earth Magic Stone. It’s not sand; it’s earth. It feels strange, doesn’t it? (laughs)
Gargoyle Buster’s petrification didn’t activate. It didn’t work against Fire Lizard and Aqua Lizard either, so it might be resisted. Especially Sand Lizard seems to have resistance to petrification.
We progressed smoothly through the 7th floor. Rose is not good against Fire Lizards, so either we block its breath by covering its mouth, or I go all out with Saint Attack in full INT mode, or deal with it using the Item Box. I used the Item Box for the first time in a while, but it could recover anything, including breath attacks. After everyone contributed, we proceeded safely.
Around the 20th defeat, there was a response from the skill Treasure Search.
“Over there.”
There it is, a treasure chest. There are no hidden passages this time, and we found the treasure chest normally.
I checked with Detailed Appraisal, as there is a possibility of a Treasure Box Monster, but it turned out to be a regular treasure chest. However, it has a trap.
“There’s a trap. Wait a moment.”
I changed my main job to Assassin and used the skill Trap to disarm the trap on the treasure chest.
“All right, it’s good now.”
“What’s inside? I’m excited!”
“Shall we let Rosarina open it?”
“Is that okay?”
“Yeah, there’s no trap now, so go ahead.”
I let Rosarina, who was happily expressing her gratitude, open the treasure chest. Her smile is a treasure to me.
“Master, there’s a book inside.”
“A book…?”
Looking into the treasure chest, a grimoire was sitting there.
“Wooow!”
Getting a grimoire is lucky.
The question now is who will use it. We’ll think about it slowly after returning home and store it in the Item Box for now.
Continuing to defeat dozens of lizards, we finally reached the boss room on the 7th floor. Of course, we intend to defeat the boss.
During our break, I checked everyone’s status.
Everyone’s levels have gone up, reaching Level 31. My Enchanter has reached Level 29, and the Reincarnated Hero is now Level 26.