We finally reached the depths of the dungeon. Waiting for us in a place like an arena, over a hundred meters in diameter, were three grotesque Minotaurs.
【Blue Ox】【Minotaur Brute】【Monster Species Rank 5】
【Mana Capacity: 180/180】【HP: 730/730】
【Overall Combat Strength: 1587 (Body Enhancement in progress: 1890)】
【Shugyu】【Minotaur Brute】【Monster Species Rank 5】
【Mana Capacity: 200/200】【HP: 690/690】
【Overall Combat Strength: 1694 (Body Enhancement in progress: 2037)】
【Black Ox】【Minotaur Murderer】【Monster Species Rank 6】
【Mana Capacity: 250/250】【HP: 800/800】
【Overall Combat Strength: 3240 (Body Enhancement in progress: 3960)】
Rank 6…! I had heard from my master that they existed, but I didn’t expect to face one here.
It’s said that the highest rank a normal creature can reach is 5. Even among humans, Rank 5 is considered the level of masters and heroes, but to rise further, something beyond the realm of species is required.
I could hear gasps of horror from the appraisers behind me. Seeing Elena-san’s face turn pale among them, I remembered what I had to do, deeply suppressed my emotions, and began analyzing the enemy’s strength.
The Minotaur Murderer, tentatively named “Black Ox,” was a jet-black giant over three meters tall, with twisted horns, effortlessly wielding a massive black iron Two-Handed Axe that would be difficult for a human to even lift.
Judging from its Mana Capacity, HP, physique, and combat strength, all three seem to be close-combat types, but this Black Ox, in particular, seems to have a good balance of offense and defense.
The two beside it might seem less intimidating in comparison to the Black Ox, but they are not to be underestimated. Rank 5… powerful individuals with about the same combat strength as the Orc General Golgol I fought before.
Moreover, these monsters in the dungeon are in perfect condition. I can’t afford to spend a month gradually whittling down their HP like I did with Golgol.
The individual tentatively named “Blue Ox” is a massive blue giant over two and a half meters tall with abnormally bulging arm muscles, a power type. I might be able to handle it with speed now, but if it swings around a two-meter-long black iron Greatsword, even approaching it would be difficult.
“Shugyu” wielded two steel Halberds like those used by humans. Its red body was no less imposing than Blue Ox, and the Halberds it held in each hand looked like Hand Axes.
But what’s terrifying about this one is that despite being slimmer than Blue Ox, its combat strength is higher. It’s probably a speed-oriented type, and all of its Statuses should surpass mine.
“BumoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
As if impatient with us not moving from the entrance, Black Ox let out a roar that shook the entire arena, and the knights, who should have been trained, trembled as if intimidated by its “Intimidation.”
Seeing us like that, Blue Ox and Shugyu distorted their mouths as if mocking humans and slowly stepped forward.
“Can we… defeat them?”
Elena-san asked Dolton from behind in a voice that couldn’t hide her trembling, and Dolton turned his gaze to her as if assessing her.
“If it were just the Murderer, I think we could handle it with the Rainbow Sword… but with three of them, it’s impossible for us alone. Do you want to turn back here? Not everyone can receive the ‘Blessing.’ If you’re going to risk your lives, it doesn’t have to be here.”
“No…”
Elena-san quietly shook her head in response to Dolton’s words, which asked what she truly sought.
“It’s true that we royals came here seeking ‘power.’ But at the same time, we are here to show our resolve for the sake of the country and its people. I will not back down.”
The Crown Prince and Clara-san gasped at Elena-san’s firm declaration, and Amor-sama shook his head slightly with a frantic expression.
“We will fight!”
The knight I first met and helped stepped forward with a tense face. He glanced at me for a moment, nodded slightly, and then the other knights also stepped forward with determined faces.
“We would like your instructions! We, the fifteen Royal Knights, may not be as capable as you, but we, the shield of the nation, will stop the enemy!”
“Alright, I understand!”
Dolton, judging that there was no time to spare with their resolve and the two approaching, began giving instructions to us and the knights.
“Royal family members, can you see the ‘Altar’ behind the Murderer? That’s probably where your ‘objective’ is. If there’s an opening, I’ll give you the signal, so head towards it.”
Elena-san and the others found something like an altar on the wall farthest away and nodded to Dolton, trembling slightly.
“We’ll take on the red one. Knights, attract the blue one. If the Murderer comes out before we defeat the red one, no one but me and Feld-san should approach it. Mira, support us. If the red one is still alive at that time…”
Dolton paused there and turned to me and Viro.
“You two hold it down and buy time. Can you do it?”
“I guess I have no choice!”
Viro slapped his cheeks as if to pump himself up, and I nodded silently. Then—
“At that time, I will assist Aria-san.”
A voice that seemed to ooze out flowed, and the knights cleared a path as if overwhelmed by something. A girl with a sickly appearance and a smile like a poisonous flower slowly stepped forward.
“…Carla.”
Perhaps Carla-san heard my muttered words, as she turned a faint smile towards me.
Normally, no matter how skilled she may be, it would not be permissible for her, as the Crown Prince’s fiancée and a person to be protected, to fight. Her attendants and Elvan-sama, her fiancé, who should have stopped her, couldn’t even speak due to the overflowing eerie atmosphere, and even Sera-san, one of the security supervisors, couldn’t stop Carla-san.
“Are you dissatisfied with me…?”
Far from dissatisfied, I’m anxious. But, putting aside her personality, I have no complaints or concerns about her abilities. Dolton seemed to have noticed Carla-san’s danger, but he also needed combat power in this situation, and seeing that her Mana was comparable to Samantha-san’s, Dolton reluctantly gave his permission.
“Then, let’s go!”
“BumoOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!!!”
Seeing us start to move, the two Minotaur Brutes that had been slowly approaching also began to move. As planned, the knights lured Blue Ox, and we stepped forward to intercept Shugyu.
“Water! Imprison him!”
Mira-san preemptively tried to bind it with Water Spirit Magic, but Shugyu dodged the magic as if jumping away with movements that belied its massive size, and then lunged at Mira-san, the magician.
But Mira-san isn’t an ordinary magician either. She used Level 3 Body Enhancement and Martial Arts to distance herself as if jumping away,
“Haaaaah!”
“BuoOOOOOO!”
At the same time, Feld-san’s Greatsword and Shugyu’s Halberd collided violently, scattering sparks as if illuminating the dim dungeon.
Gatsun!
“Buo!?”
At that moment, the Ball-Shaped Pendulum I released exploded on the side of Shugyu’s head, and Mira-san’s arrow, which she had instantly switched to a bow and aimed at the head, grazed Shugyu’s head.
However, neither attack was very effective, as they were blocked by its sturdy horns. Shugyu glared at me and Mira-san, but Feld-san couldn’t afford to deal with his opponent while looking away.
“Uooooooo!”
“BumoOOOOOO!”
Shugyu could only use both hands to block Feld-san, who was striking with all his might, and that man would never let that opening go.
“—Dark Mist—”
“BuoOOO!?”
The Dark Mist released by Viro accurately covered Shugyu’s head. As if waiting for that perfect timing, Dolton swung his massive war hammer at Shugyu.
But—
“GaaaaaAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!”
At that moment, an intense “Intimidation” and roar were released from the “Black Ox,” which had been watching silently, and the movements of all of us were stopped for a moment.
Trying to defeat Shugyu in a short battle backfired. Black Ox, judging that Shugyu couldn’t handle our onslaught, took up its massive battle axe and headed towards us.
The knights and Blue Ox were also evenly matched, but because the knights’ movements were stopped, the front line was broken by Blue Ox’s attack.
Just a slight movement from Black Ox and this happens… But, unnecessary emotions are not needed. I have no choice but to do my job.
“Viro!”
“Understood, Dolton, go!”
“Leave it to me! Let’s go, Feld, Mira!”
“Roger!”
“Yes!”
We immediately reformed our battle line, and Dolton, Mira, and Feld rushed out to meet the approaching Black Ox.
“BUMOOOOOO!”
The Shugyu, having shaken off the Dark Mist, noticed Dolton and the others heading towards the Black Ox and gave chase. But at that moment, Viro’s throwing knife grazed the Shugyu’s nose, and in the instant it stopped, my Ball-Shaped Pendulum collided with the Shugyu’s horn, making a metallic sound.
“I won’t let you go anywhere.”
“That’s right.”
Viro and I brandished our knives, blocking the Shugyu’s path. It would be difficult to even stall it alone, but with Viro, we could buy time even if we couldn’t defeat it.
“Bumoo…”
Unlike armor, the horns, connected to the skull, transmitted the force of the impact directly to the brain. The Shugyu shook its head as if to shake off the damage, glaring at us resentfully while brandishing the halberds in its hands.
“Let’s go!”
Seeing Viro jump out to harass it with his footwork, I noticed “it” and instinctively swept his legs, causing him to fall.
“Aria!?”
As Viro was about to complain to me, a large amount of flames rushed over our heads as we lay prone, even slightly scorching the Shugyu’s arm as it hurriedly evaded.
Turning around, Carla, pointing her finger at us, wore a sickly cheerful smile.
“Carla will try to kill you right away, so be careful.”
“What a scary little lady!”
Even so, in this situation, Carla’s power would be necessary. I glanced sideways at the current state of the battle…
“NUOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
“BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
Dolton in plate mail acted as a shield, enduring the Black Ox’s attacks and retreating several meters. Feld and Mira were attacking, but there was no decisive blow.
Originally, it was an opponent that even the Rainbow Sword could barely handle. Dolton wouldn’t be able to withstand so many attacks.
But the worst thing was the knights. Their ranks were broken by the Black Ox’s roar, and although there seemed to be no deaths yet, some had been struck down by the Blue Ox.
With a combat ability of around 400, they couldn’t withstand the Blue Ox’s fierce attacks individually. At this rate, the battle line would collapse from the knights’ side.
But if the three of us, including Carla, could defeat the Shugyu, it should open a breakthrough… or so it should have.
“Well then, I’ll see you again, Aria.”
Carla, having provided only one instance of support, said that, jumped into the “path” created by that attack, and ran straight into the depths of the Arena.
Carla… is your aim the Divine Protection?
“Lord Elvan, let’s go too!”
“Eh… okay.”
“You two mustn’t!”
Seeing Carla heading towards the Altar, Clara, who seemed to be mentally cornered, grabbed the Crown Prince’s hand as if to lead him and rushed towards the Altar.
Sera, who had been guarding Elena, couldn’t stop them, and Clara’s attendants hurriedly followed after them.
“BUMOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
The Shugyu, thrown into a state of excitement by the sudden movement of so many people, ignored us who were lying down and suddenly began chasing after Carla and Clara.
“Damn it!”
Seeing that, Viro, still on the ground, patted my back as if to give me instructions, directing me, who had speed.
“Go, Aria! Don’t let the Prince and Princess die!”
Carla… I kicked off the ground and ran towards them and the Shugyu chasing after them.
Carla heads alone to obtain the Divine Protection. Clara and Elvan chase after her.
Can Aria stop the Shugyu?
Next time, the battle with the Shugyu. And the whereabouts of the Spirit’s Divine Protection.
Next update is scheduled for Friday.
Part 1, 3-4 chapters remaining.