Chapter 10 - Growth of the Heroes 2 (1/2)
Chapter 10 - Growth of the Heroes (2)
Maetel had been the one to finish off the Skeleton Warrior, but in reality, Artpe had basically killed it on his own.Of course, the act of running from the 6th floor to the 1st floor counted towards the Battle Contribution, but there was no doubt that Artpe would be getting the higher portion of the EXP.
Artpe’s level went up by 6 thanks to the EXP.He climbed to level 30.Maetel’s level rose by 3, so she was now level 32.The large level gap between them had closed somewhat
“How’s your wound, Maetel?”
“My wound has gotten better after I leveled up.If we don’t get into a fierce battle, I’m confident it won’t overtax me.”
“What about the grass you used before?”
“I still have some.”
Artpe created an emergency medicine with the help of Maetel.After taking off her armor, he treated her remaining wounds.When Maetel exposed her bare skin, her cheeks had turned red.However, Artpe didn’t say anything as he had a serious light in his eyes.
“All right.Let’s put on some bandages then you can put your clothes back on.”
“Those bandages been left inside the wooden chest for a very long time, so why is it new?”
“This is just the way of the universe.Just accept it.”
“Yes!”
The first aid was done, and the only thing left was the most enjoyable part of a battle.It was time for him to check the loot.Artpe cautiously reached out towards the red bone gauntlet.He read it with his Read All Creation ability, and words started to take shape.
[Crimson Rage Bone Gauntlet]
[The Undead had been in existence for numerous years, and a good amount of magical energy had been distilled into the bones of the Undead.A powerful rage felt right before its death formed differentiated an artifact.The item is very hard, and when the wearer is able to control one’s emotions, one’s power will be boosted by 20%.As a price, a fixed portion of one’s magical energy will be consumed.]
“Mmmmm.”
“What’s wrong, Artpe?”
This drop item pretty much held the essence of the Skeleton Warrior.Artpe let out a sigh of regret as he looked at it.It had the basic requirements of a defensive gear.It had sheer solidity, and while it did consume magical energy, it could increase one’s strength by 20%.It was a hard to acquire artifact of this quality when one considered their level.
However….
‘I hoped an artifact that would be of help to me would show up.However, this was a warrior type Elite, so it can’t be helped.’
Maetel had already acquired the bastard sword used by the Skeleton Warrior.He checked it with his Read All ability, but the bastard sword didn't have a special option.Still, it was able to absorb magical energy pretty well.It’s strength, durability and energy was that of a unique artifact.At the very least, one wouldn’t need to change this equipment until level 100.
In this context, the gauntlet would now be in the possession of Maetel.It was hard to do such simplistic comparisons, but it wouldn’t be an exaggeration to say that she would become twice as strong with this item equipped.
It was good news for him that she would become more powerful.On the other hand, he couldn’t help, but feel like crap.The curse he had possessed in his previous profession as one of the Four Heavenly King had followed him here!It stubbornly stuck to him!
“Tsk.It can't be helped.You should wear this, Maetel.”
“What about Artpe….?”
“If something I need appears, it won’t matter if you beg or cry.I’ll ruthlessly push you away to keep that item.So don’t worry about taking this item.”
“Yes!”
Maetel equipped the bone gauntlet. It was made out of bones, but it was an artifact infused with power magical energy.It reduced in size to fit her limbs.It wrapped tightly around her wrists and fingers.
Of course, if Maetel was unable to handle Mana, she wouldn’t have been able to equip this artifact. However, she was a character, who had been able to bring out fire from the wooden branch at level 1.The worries about such a requirement could be omitted.
“Wow.This feels incredibly sturdy!I can feel it protecting me!”
“In truth, the bones are filled with resentment.However, if you feel such a sentiment coming from it, who am I to say otherwise?”
It looked a bit terrifying, but it was something befitting a warrior.Artpe smirked when he saw the animated Maetel, who was excited to have a new equipment.Then he gathered the other red bone fragments.There were a lot of magical energy stored within the bone fragments, so he could probably create something with them.
“Next is…Ah.It’s the shield.”
When the Skeleton Warrior held it in its hand, it looked like a one handed bastard sword.However, when the 12 year old Maetel held it up, it looked like a claymore.The sword looked enormous in her hands.Naturally, she couldn’t afford to hold the shield alongside the sword.
“I don’t want a shield!”
“This is an artifact too.If you attack an enemy with the corner edge of the shield, it inflicts a weakening curse….”
The Skeleton Warrior hadn’t had the chance to use its shield, but this artifact was much better than the bastard sword!The Skeleton Warrior probably blew a fuse when it wasn't able to use the shield.On top of that, a crack had even formed on the shield.Of course, that wasn’t Artpe’s problem.
Since she couldn’t carry it around with her hands, he proposed an idea where he would strap the shield to her back.However, Maetel hated that idea.It would slow her down if the heavy shield was strapped to her back.It would be better for her to preserve her speed, so she could evade the enemy’s attack.Still, it was a waste to just throw away the shield….
“Tsk.It can’t be helped.It’ll be a worse option than you using it, but….I’ll use it.”
In the end, Artpe equipped the shield on his back.He had gathered strips of leather as he went through the Dungeon, and he had infused Mana to strengthen them.He created a hole on each side of the shield, and he threaded the strip of leather through the holes.One end of the strap was brought over his left shoulder and the other end was brought underneath his right armpit.He tied it off.Artpe looked like a turtle.
Maetel gently screwed up her eyes as she looked at Artpe move around.
“You are usually slow, but now you became much slower.”
“There is a reason why I’m carrying it like this.I’ll move around slowly, but at the most crucial moment, I’ll unravel the straps.Boom!The heavy shield will let out a loud sound as it falls to the floor.It will startle our opponent.”
“Aht!That’s amazing!It’ll look very cool!”
“If I drop it on a surface that breaks into fragments like marble slabs, the visual effect would be twice as more effective.You should remember this.”
“Yes!”
He had gathered everything that needed to be gathered.They had to once again travel from the 1st floor to the 6th floor.On the way down, they had to defeat the losers, who had given up on chasing them.These were the Skeletons, who broke away from the Skeleton Warrior.It would be easy to crush them, and the two of them tried to do just that.
They tried.
“Huh.”
“Something has changed, Artpe.”
“You are right.Something has clearly changed.”
Everything was the same until the 5th floor.It was the Dungeon they remembered.The staircases were still broken, and the Skeletons were heaped up in a pile like pieces of trash to bridge the floors.The poor Skeletons were barely alive.
As an act of mercy and a way to increase the party’s level, they killed all the Skeletons in the pile as they descended each floor.However, when they stood in front of the staircase leading towards the 6th floor, the two heroes finally realized something was wrong.
“This….It is made out of marble.”
Artpe mumbled in an agitated manner.Artpe took in the sight of a long and wide staircase.He was sure he had destroyed this staircase before when he went up to the 5th floor.Moreover, the staircase had evolved!?It was now made out of marble.Then there was the large hallway that was absent from his memories!
“Marble?So Artpe is going to drop your shield here?”
“I’ve only been carrying this for an hour.”
The Skeleton Warrior, who was basically the ruler of the 6th floor, had been killed.It seemed the Dungeon had gone through a fundamental change.He regretted the fact that he hadn’t been able to use his Read All Creation ability on the Skeleton Warrior before it died.
“I’m looking at it with my Read All Creation ability, but….That’s to be expected.”
His Read All Creation ability was able to reveal all secrets, but he was just observing the marbles that made up the Dungeon.He couldn’t gain all information regarding the Dungeon through this method.It might be possible if he went into the deepest part of the Dungeon to observe the Dungeon's Core.Maetel carefully asked a question as she looked at Artpe’s dismayed expression.
“What shall we do, Artpe?”
“We’ve already decided what we’ll do.We are moving forward.”
“......yes!”
“However, you shouldn’t relax too much.The traps are now gone, but that might actually mean….”
He was now afraid of the monsters that’ll appear inside the Dungeon from now on.The traps weren’t being deployed to whittle down the adventurers anymore.It meant that there would be numerous monsters powerful enough to take down the adventurers without the help of traps.
“I don't care what comes out.I’ll most definitely protect Artpe.”
“You don’t need to put on such a grim expression...Whatever.”
They hardened their resolves as they descended down the marble staircase.They entered a completely different 6th floor, and there weren’t any monsters in the front.It was the same in the middle part.They kept checking their surrounding as they nervously went down the hallway.After an indeterminate amount of time, they had reached the location where they had met the Elite Skeleton Warrior.
Up until now, the marble floor held nothing.However, four white skulled Skeletons popped up from the floor.They were colored the same as the marble floor.
[Do you want to go forward?]
[Do you want to retreat?]
[Do you want to protect?]
[Do you want to cut?]