Episode 31.16 (1/2)

The following day was another break, then on the 16th they broke through floor 103.

Another break on the 17th.

Then on the 18th, when they initially entered a normal variant room on floor 104.

Lecan was going to shoot <Flame Spear> a moment after he stepped inside. They had gone back to employing this tactic since floor 101.

Yet this particular <Armored> shot magic faster than Lecan.

Of course the magic got nullified by <Necklace of Intuador>. Lecan shot a <Flame Spear> afterward, but the magic beast easily dodged it.

Meanwhile, Arios had run past Lecan and closed in on his target. A different beast from the one shooting magic.

Lecan also broke out running after a slight lag, but he got shot by magic again midway through his running. The second shot got blocked by <Necklace of Intuador> once again, Lecan went to eliminate his target.

”These <Armored> shoot magic so quick now.”

”Yes they really do.”

Lecan usually kneaded his mana before entering a room and shot immediately after he got in.

These <Armored> must have done their eerie groan before Lecan and Arios entered the room.

Both sides are pretty much equal in this regard.

However, Lecan's <Flame Spear> requires a recitation of activation spell to be shot. Then he's got to discharge his mana along with the spell recitation.

On the other hand, these <Armored> can shoot out magic right away without activation spell.

Lecan was still faster than them up until floor 104 where the <Armored> shoot their magic earlier than Lecan.

Lecan and Arios might be able to close the distance by adopting the tactic they used on floor 100, immediately walking toward the enemies without attacking first.

But there's no guarantee the enemies will stay still in the process. That tactic is like handing the opponent an opportunity to attack first.

It already takes Lecan all he's got just to maintain <Flame Spear> in a pre-release state as he walks in a room, he can't even afford to walk ahead afterward.

”Arios. We're done with <Flame Spear> first strike starting with the next one.”

”Yes. I understand.”

They got in a normal variant room on floor 104 once again.

That was when something unexpected occurred.

The entrance to the room from the inner passage is about as big as two adventurers standing side by side, when Lecan was attempting to go in the room, Arios slipped past him into the room.

Lecan ran after him into the room. But Arios was already three steps ahead.

Arios is a faster short-distance runner. Lecan can't possibly catch up to him.

(He's gonna get hit by their magic at this rate.)

(What was this guy thinking?)

<TLN: Catch the latest updates and edits at Sousetsuka.com >

The mana rich <Armored> cast some kind of magic.

Then some kind of silver snow like matter manifested, enclosing Arios. It's got enough range to even reach Lecan.

(Damn!)

A moment later, all the snowflakes vanished while emitting dazzling lights, summoning an intense storm of destruction.

His eye couldn't see anything. But Lecan's sharp senses managed to grasp it. How a magical barrier produced around Arios deflected the magic. Lecan's <3D Perception> itself displayed Arios rushing ahead without slowing down, reaching an <Armored> and lopping its head off with a quick draw.

Lecan who was safe thanks to <Necklace of Intuador> also got to the magic casting <Armored> a bit later and reaped its neck.