Chapter 12 - Growth of the Heroes 4 (2/2)

She didn’t know how to retreat, and she had no fear.Instead of shying away from the large number, she harassed them.She restricted the movement of the Skeletons.

It was as if she had been trained in personal and group battles for several dozen years.She was adept at it.The fact that she was doing all of this on instinct was the most startling fact in all of this.

“I won’t back away….I won’t forgive you guys….!”

[Koo-ahhhhhhk!]

[We need more!There aren’t enough of us!]

Above all, her sword strikes were slowly getting sharper and heavier.

Aside from the need to maintain the Berserk and the Bone Gauntlet, she wasn’t using any Mana. She was able to lightly dodge the Skeletons' swords, which were infused with their Mana.Each of her sword swing were able to crush the bones of opponents, who were 20 levels higher.

She made a lie of the common phrase that said a difference in level meant a difference in battle capability.Currently, a hero had been born on this continent, and she was easily jumping over her limits.It was as if she was mocking those who had to live within the restriction of levels.

Even if the Skeletons increased in number, they couldn’t overcome against a single slender girl.They grudgingly had to acknowledge her growth, and they despaired.

[Strong······ She shouldn’t bethis strong, yet she is too powerful.In a situation where she should be retreating, she chose to charge straight ahead!]

[She shouldn’t be allowed to grow right now, so why is she growing stronger!]

[Maetel]

[Level - 32]

[Swordsmanship Lv7]

[Battle Step Lv6]

[Perception Lv8]

“Why?Her skills have increased.”

He was genius, who learned the Berserk skill after getting a taste of the Bone Gauntlet’s buff effect.She was in the early level 30s, yet she had achieved level 7 on a weapon skill.Achievements such as these were no longer surprising.

Artpe checked and confirmed that Maetel was barely receiving any wounds.He determined he didn’t need to monitor her constantly.

“For a little while, you should hold them off by yourself, Maetel.I think I’ll be able to change our situation by a little bit.”

“I believe in Artpe.Artpe can do it.”

Even if he hadn’t received her encouragement, he was confident he could do this…

Still, he felt a surge of energy from somewhere, and he wondered if the Link magic was the cause.

“Alright.Trust in me.”

Artpe lifted the corner of his mouth.As he laughed, he raised both his hands.The shield connected to the Mana strap rose into the air, and it started revolving around his body.

Even if he wasn’t able to inflict the curse unto the Skeletons, it was still possible for him to defend again their attacks.

“If a powerful magic spell was the only thing important about a mage, he would be called by the name of his strongest magic.However, there was a reason why mages don’t use that naming convention.The distinct name of a mage and their various talent they possess has importance…..”

A mage’s true worth didn’t come out when facing a single enemy using fire or ice.

A single gesture could change the tide of battle.A mage was only recorded in history when one could change the direction of the battle by oneself.

“I see it.I can see everything.I know where I’ll have to tweak…..”

The Dungeon was trying to compensate for the fact that there were two heroes.The standard requirement for this Dungeon was for one challenger, so the Dungeon was merging into a single floor to contend with them.

These Skeletons were only at level 50, but the ones afterwards would be higher in level.Moreover, they would also be connected through the Record Link.

It would be the end if he let that happen.Even if Maetel was a genius who could ignore level differences, there was a limit.

What should he do?He had sufficiently strengthened the abilities of Maetel.It would also be impossible for Artpe to personally grow right now.

This was why he had to turn the enemies and the battlefield on its head.

“If this was a regular structure, this should be impossible to do.However, the entire Dungeon is being controlled by a spell, so this is a different situation.”

Artpe’s purple eyes shone as they started to let out an odd luminescence.He could see all the Mana flowing from the Dungeon’s wall, hallway and ceiling.

He could see where they met, and he saw how it curved to change the structure of the Dungeon.He also could see how the Mana was being used over the monsters!

“Good.”

He had found it.Mana threads shot out from the tips of Artpe’s ten fingers.The Skeletons knew he was up to no good, but they also knew that they were lacking in ability to be able to touch the boy.

It was the damnedest thing.Before Artpe stepped forward, he had made thorough preparations.No one would be able to interfere with him.

This was the result of the struggle of trying to escape the fact of being the weakest amongst the Four Heavenly Kings!He had always been sacrificed first before.However, he had had transitioned into being a hero now.The results he had gained from before was bearing fruit in a brilliant manner!

“This is easier than establishing the Mana Link.The fact that I can see your magic should be a terrifying reality for you guys….I’ll show it to you now.”

The 10 strands of Mana Threads from his fingers extended out towards the surrounding.The Mana Threads reached specific locations on the Dungeon’s hallway, ceiling and floor.Then the sharp ends of the Mana Thread started to bore in.

The vibration that was shaking the Dungeon became worse.

“Here, here and there…...”

[W...what are you doing!?]

[Do you really think such a weak move could sever our connection!? Impossible!That is impossible!]

“You are right.It is impossible.I’ve barely reached level 30, and it isn’t as if I can cancel such a fucking old and large magic spell.”

However, there was one thing he could do.

Artpe let out an evil smile as he swung his two hands.The 10 Mana Threads undulated as they surged towards the wall, hallway and ceiling.They were absorbed into various locations.

[······?]

[There was a change...No, there wasn’t any change….?]

The Dungeon stopped shaking.The ever-expanding hallway stopped expanding, and no new Skeletons appeared..

The Dungeon walls, which had disappeared, started to slowly grow back.The out of control Mana within the Dungeon calmed a little bit.

“Artpe…Nothing has changed?”

“Yes, Maetel.You made the correct observation.”

Artpe waved his hand at his surrounding.The protective shield, which had been revolving around him, shot out towards a group of Skeletons.

Until a moment ago, new Skeletons had appeared every time when a group went down.It was an attempt to tire out the two heroes.However, one could no longer see the reinforcements.

“Ah.This is….!”

[Can it be….]

[Our connection to our comrades on the other side was severed.Our magic was reduced by the Dungeon’s power!This means he manipulated the magic spell….My god.How could such a young child do this!]

Maetel quickly realized what had occurred.The Skeletons were a step late in realizing it, and they started to talk noisily amongst themselves.

Artpe had expanded his magical senses, and he had encased the current hallway and the several hundred Skeletons within it.He spoke in a confident manner.

“Nothing will change from now on.Your reinforcements won’t be coming.”

It was as if the reinforcement were gone.It wasn’t an easy task to erase one’s enemies from the face of this world using pure Mana.

Yes, they were still alive. Even now they were probably stamping their feet as they waited for their turn to come.

However, they would be waiting on the Dungeon’s next floor, which won’t open until all the Skeletons here were killed.