Episode 18.3-4 (1/2)
The group warped to floor 35, passed through the floor while engaging in a few fights, and went in the stairway to the floor below.
”From floor 36 on, the mid variant of Octocular Great Spiders (Gienur Hadr) will spawn. They're quite troublesome with their <Sleep>, <Deadly Venom>, <Dissolving Liquid>,
and xplosive Flame> attacks.”
Heles began explaining like usual.
”Their color is the only truly different thing from other spiders up until here, their abilities and size don't see a radical change. Their <Sleep>, <Deadly Venom>, and <Dissolving Liquid> attacks are practically the same as other spiders. The problems are
and xplosive Flame>. These two make up the huge leap in difficulty.”
”You mean the spiders' size, hardness and basic ability are the same as on floor 35 then?”
”No, that's not it. From floor 31 to 35, those spiders get stronger even though they share the same ability. The gaps are roughly the same as that.”
”I got it.”
”They spray white breath-like thing when they attack with
. It poses no problem if you dodge it or parry it with a shield. Because
only works on the flesh.”
”Is
a type of curse abnormal status?”
”Indeed. Thus you can resist it with anti-curse equipment. Or rather, you cannot fight them without one.”
”Or equipment that prevents abnormal status.”
”Hahaha. Would be nice if something like that truly exists.”
”They don't?”
”I have never heard of equipment that can defend against all abnormal status as a whole. Arios-dono, do you know one?”
”There is none, is how I would answer that.”
”If that doesn't have some hidden meaning behind it. Well anyway.
can be blocked with the right equipment, however getting your eyes bathed in the white breath will make them temporarily blinded. This cannot be blocked even with anti-curse equipment.”
”Hou.”
”xplosive Flame> comes in the form of sticky saliva they spit out, it will burst out in flames if it hits your body or falls on the ground. It's burning, hot and hinders your vision. You'll get blown away if one explodes near you. A direct hit won't leave you unscathed.”
”How often do they use
and xplosive Flame>?”
”They shoot
the moment they see an intruder. There's no clear answer on its frequency of usage. Some individuals employ only
some only xplosive Flame>. However, since xplosive Flame> can only reach about a dozen steps away, they won't shoot it unless you get closer.”
”They can be shot successively then?”
”Both
and xplosive Flame> can be rapidly fired. However, they will run out of ammo after about ten shots, they won't shoot another for awhile once that happens.”
”Heles.”
”Yes, what is it.”
”Don't you use a shield.”
”I originally did. However, I have opted to use this sword in this dungeon expedition, for its offensive power. I cannot lift a sword of this weight with one hand. Hence, I left my shield behind.”
A total excuse.
But, it's clear now.
Lecan could sense a hint of crudeness in Heles's movements.
She puts it all in her attacks, but her evasion is a bit lacking.
It was due to her body being used to fighting with a shield.
(She made the decision herself, so long as she's fine with it.)
Is it really fine.
That line gnawed on Lecan.
(Hold it.)
(How about me myself?)
If someone asked if Lecan has unleashed his full strength during this dungeon expedition, the answer is a resounding no, not even once.
He's fighting while attending to other people around him.
Is that really fine, this way of fighting?
Of course not.
Fighting this way against a powerful foe will mean certain death.
(Who's this powerful foe.)
(Who's my foe.)
Obviously.
It's the dungeon boss.
The strongest magic beast that eternally waits for a challenger, alone on the lowest floor.
With reaching there as the goal, one polishes themselves on every floor they tread on.
Arios can just learn from his fight then.
Heles can re-train herself.
Eda can learn what she should learn in the heat of combat.
They themselves each will dictate what they learn.
First, the one thing that needs to be done is for Lecan, as a challenger of the dungeon boss, to show them fights he can be proud of.
Whether he would really challenge the boss or if he could even get to the lowest floor in time is another matter.