Volume 11: The Red Zone
Prologue
"Tomorrow, We'll challenge seventh layer boss."
I told everyone at the dinner table.
"Is that so. but, It's a little early. There are still some maps left to conquer."
Serina said.
"Yeah. But our level is getting higher. So it shouldn't be that difficult."
The enemies of the seventh layer are as strong as bosses, even the small fish, and the experience value is extremely high. Our average level has risen to 34. If we beat the bosses, our level will go up another level or two, and we'll be able to see the 40 level mark.
We don't see many people over level 40 around here, so that means we're catching up with the top class.
Now, if we could just use our skills to gain an advantage, We should be able to beat most of them.
"Did the king say something to you by any chance?"
Serina is very perceptive when it comes to things like this. However, since the king asked me for a favor as a fellow adventurer, it would be better to keep quiet here. If people become aware of the fact that this is a request from the king, it will distract everyone. That's what happens when Serina starts to get unnecessarily worked up.
So I'll deny it.
"No. The soldier just asked me who Murphy was. I told them that he was a bluffing, impatient bastard who would never kill anyone."
"That's fine, but ......"
"Well, that's good, isn't it? The leader said he would do it, and I think we can do it now, aren't we? Luka's party also challenged the boss with a level of 30, right?"
Saki asks Luka. Luka was the only one in the party who had experience with the seventh layer boss. It looks like they didn't win, though.
"Yes, but, well, to put it bluntly, everyone here is stronger than my previous party. Especially, if you hit with Serina's special move, you can defeat them in one hit, so I think she's one of the best in A rank."
"Top? Do you think we're better than Sarah and the others?"
I named a specific A-ranked party and asked about the party's strength.
Luka ponders.
"I wonder? I've never seen Sarah fight properly. I was too busy fighting the Spectre Overlord to do anything about it."
In the fourth layer of the log cabin project, Sarah also played an active role as a hired hand. She was so agile that it was hard to believe she was human, running and slashing through the snow, but honestly, I wouldn't want to fight against that thing.
However, speed is not the only strength.
If Serina can land a blow while Sarah slashes ten times, then Serina is won.
Well, the fight is against the boss of the seventh layer, the Red Dragon, and not against Sarah.
Of course, I'm not going to proceed with the capture for some vague reason like "we seem stronger".
I've thought of a few countermeasures.
"I see. So, I guess there are no objections to the eighth layer. We'll leave in the afternoon, so make sure everyone is equipped."
If you're going to buy custom-made armor, you're going to need a lot of time, but most of us have armor that can be ordered in stores, and it's best not to do any major updates before the big day.
It's like going on a field trip with shoes you're not used to walking in.
So we go with our normal stance.
Two days later, we were in the area of cave where lave flows.
It was the deepest part of the seventh layer. There is a single path here. To the left and right are cliffs, and underneath them is sludgy lava. If you fall in, you're dead.
"There are no more enemies."
"It's about time."
Luka said, and we pulled our swords.
The single path widened and we came to a fairly large area.
In the middle of it, a huge red dragon was staring at us, waiting.
It was big.
With its thick, rock-like scales and sharp, shiny black claws, it looked very strong.
It looked like a mountain.
"What the heck is that? It's so big. ...... That's a dragon?"
"That's right. ...... Anyway, let's get rid of that thing first."
"Oh, God, protect us."
"Gufufu, I've been waiting for you, you little bastards."
"No, Nene-chan, I really don't need that kind of prelude right now. Aahh, what should I do! I'm getting a little nervous! I'm not very good at the real thing. ...... Alec, make sure I don't miss anything. The spell is a cold air spell, and when the breath comes, use wind magic to protect us, and, uh, ......"
I'm sure everyone is starting to get nervous.
It's okay to fight a dragon to gain experience, but we're aiming for the eighth layer.
It would be a pain in the ass to have to go back up again if someone got seriously injured here.
Our level would probably go up if we beat it here anyway.
So we'll use our inner strength from the beginning and get serious, okay?
"Serina, get ready."
"Yeah."
I took her in my arms and used [Instantaneous Movement] to go a little below the cliff and disappear from the dragon's sight.
I also used [Levitate] to move through the air and get behind the dragon.
Once again, I use [Instantaneous Movement] to get closer to it.
"Now, do it, Serina!"
"I'm on it! Starlight Attack!"
Stars spill out from her sword, and the effect goes straight into the Red Dragon's back.
"GoOOOO―――!"
The dragon probably didn't even know what had happened to it.
Within seconds of Serina's sword hitting it, it turned into red smoke and the dragon disappeared.
"What the hell!?"
"Fuee!?"
"W-what it is?"
"Well done!"
"The D-dragon is gone!?"
"All right, Meena and Ione, watch out the surrounding. Lily, pick up the rare drops."
"U-understand."
"No, that's strange, you know!"
"What are you complaining about, Letty?"
I see a pointy hat complaining.
"I don't get it, because I've been working on a lot of things to deal with the Red Dragon without sleeping, and you're just going to end it with a single blow from that cowardly blow from Serina!"
You're a fussy girl.
"I smells like a coward. ......"
Serina also looked subtle as she was badgered about her own special move.
"No, you're wrong, that was Alec using "Levitation" and "Instantaneous movement" that smells like cowardice. I'm not."
"Shut up, Serina, are you going to tell me that you didn't know about that method after following me without telling me? Don't act like you're a straight-up hero now."
"Ugh, I wanted to slay the Red Dragon in style at least: ......"
I don't care. I don't think I have the nerve to put my friends in danger just to look good.
The only thing that really matters is that all my friends are safe.
Let's get rid of all the coolness.
"Alec, I got the red crystal ball, the scales, and the claws!"
"Alright, let's take on the boss of this layer. Everyone, brace yourselves."
"Ehh? Isn't that the boss?"
Luka raises a question, but I'm sure you've seen that one too.
"After the Red Dragon, something flaming came out, didn't it?"
"Ah, that reminds me, ......!"
As Luka looked around left and right in panic, something strange happened.
The ground was ablaze, and it gradually took the shape of a person.
"It's a monster!"
"Letty, it's time for the show you've been waiting for!"
This time, using Serina's Starlight Attack would be difficult.
After all, It's a fire spirit type, it can change its shape at will, and it'll be able to avoid swords with wind pressure.
"Ehhh!? Wait a minute! I need to prepare myself."
"You idiot! Just use the same fighting style as the Red Dragon, and chant it quickly!"
I'm in a bit of a hurry myself.
This thing is dangerous enough to have decimated the "Silver Scorpion".
I can't afford to be complacent.
"HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!"
As if to ridicule our dismay, the spirit of fire laughed and instantly materialized into solid form.
It became a red, muscular man with a demon god-like appearance and immediately rushed at us.
"Kkhhh, come on, baby!"
"No, Jouga, dodge it!"
I said this to Jouga, who held his broadsword and aimed to counter, but Jouga just swung his sword down.
"Guehh!"
"" Jouga! ""
Jouga was easily blown up into the air by the collision, but it's got a lot of power.
I thought it was going to attack us with flames, but I missed my guess.
"Serina, you can hit it now."
"I know, but!"
But Serina doesn't go after it right away.
Is this guy freaking out?
No, I'm wrong. She's decided that she can't catch up with it with her speed, and is trying to figure out the direction of the next guy.
If that's the case.
"Letty!"
"Don't rush me! I'm in the middle of casting a spell! ――It's like when you make a wet gag in front of a crowd of people and the scene goes down, there is no wit, there is only cold silence, that feeling of wanting to go in if there is a hole, it's a cold-blooded punishment of the heart like the ice queen of the underworld, I want to seek kindness at least, no, I want to forget, the name of the place is Absolute Zero."
The spell looked like a monologue poem, but the blue light drifted through the space, and the magic seemed to be completed properly.
The aura of fire on the puffed-up man who was taken in by it disappeared.
"Alright!"
"Did you do it!?"
"AH, HA, HA, HA, HA, HA!"
Just as I thought the ice crystal had formed, the puffed-up man forcefully broke through it with its power and came out.
This guy is more troublesome than I thought.
I guess I'll just go with the straightforward [Appraisal] here.
【Name】 Efreet
【 L ｖ】 72
【 H P 】 87263/88000
【 M P 】 9999/9999
【Status】 Burning
【Description】
A demon of fire.
Its personality is mysterious.
It is active against the chosen ones.
Its body is made of fire, and its appearance is changeable.
It has infinite magic power.
Its always wears fire.
It nullifies almost all cold magic.
Tsk, ice doesn't work, huh?
"Letty! Change the magic attribute. Don't use ice magic."
"Even if you say that, I don't know what I'm supposed to attack with then!?"
That's where you are, the magician, think yourself.
"Try anything you like. But don't use fire."
"I know, but!"
Now then, Fianna is recovering the fallen Jouga, while the other members' HP is――
"Look out, master! Behind you!"
"What!?"
I quickly turned around at the sound of Meena's voice, but there was an Efreet leaning forward and charging at me.
You were just running into the other side earlier. Why did you appear there?
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