Chapter 253

Chapter 256: The Twilight Falls – Artemis (Please Subscribe!)

The expedition’s camp was actually quite close to the entrance of Floor 51, as the massive rock platform used for camping was located right near the entrance.

At the edge of the rock platform, monsters with their sticky multitude of legs climbed upward, spraying corrosive poison at the members of Loki Familia defending on the rock platform.

The defenders at the cliff’s edge discarded shields that dissolved almost immediately upon contact.

Whether it be bow and arrow, magic, or even the mighty magic sword, nothing could drive them back.

Like puppets without intellect, blindly following their master’s will, they showed no fear.

A comrade dies?

No matter, just keep coming!

These monsters gave off the vibe of reckless fools.

If they could trade their lives for the adventurers’, then dying would be worth it!

“Anqi, Alisia, keep firing!”

“But Lady Riviria, this is our last batch of arrows!”

“It doesn’t matter, shoot!”

Even Riviria, who remained behind, was troubled by these monsters.

Hours ago, the camp was suddenly attacked by such monsters. Before anyone could even process the fact that unknown monsters had appeared on a supposedly safe floor, some were already heavily injured by the undefendable poison.

Though adventurers reacted quickly, using magic swords and other ranged attacks to temporarily repel them…

The biggest problem was that many members had never encountered such an undefendable “poison” before and were severely wounded. The strategy of guarding the camp became more harmful than helpful.

Because of the rapid chaos caused by the toxin, Riviria could only focus on commanding, maintaining the camp’s defenses, and stabilizing the battle lines.

As for using magic?

In the current situation, it was the least favorable option.

Riviria, as the only one in the camp capable of stabilizing the situation, couldn’t abandon command to chant spells. That would be betting everything on one throw.

It would mean trading the lives of her comrades for her own spell-casting time. She couldn’t do that.

Moreover, what was needed now wasn’t to eliminate the monsters but merely to delay them.

Once the main forces returned, the situation would improve instantly!

This much was clear to everyone in the camp.

Soon, under Riviria’s orders, several rear guard archers shot their remaining arrows at the climbing monsters.

Although the arrows broke upon impact due to corrosion, the monsters lost their footing from the impact and fell, dragging many of their companions down with them.

Engaging in melee combat was not an option; it had already resulted in heavy injuries earlier. So they could only slow the monsters’ advance by consuming supplies.

When that failed and the enemies reached the rock platform, there would be no choice but to rely on the power of magic swords to eliminate them.

What was most disgusting was the explosion effect after their deaths. This was the primary reason for the camp’s significant losses.

Faced with unavoidable self-destruct attacks, the defenders in the camp were utterly helpless. The scattered poison corroded the orderly camp, filling it with black smoke and leaving it in ruins.

“Anqi, have Navi and the others retreat from that position!”

“Yes!”

With the last arrows fired, Riviria swiftly issued commands, and Anqi nodded before running off to relay the orders.

“Alisia, how many magic swords are left?”

“Approximately ten remain, Lady Riviria.”

“Use them all! We cannot let the monsters surround the camp!”

On the rock platform, Riviria’s cheeks displayed a trace of anxiety.

If surrounded by those monsters, the outcome wouldn’t need imagining—it had to be avoided at all costs!

“!?”

But soon, that anxiety transformed.

As a Level 6 Magician, Riviria keenly sensed a change in fortune and shifted her gaze toward the great forest to the west.

“This magical power is—!”

Though she couldn’t hear his words, someone far away seemed to respond to her—by launching a streak of light!

…

On the other side of the forest, Izay found a high point with a large rock, extending his star compass calmly to perceive the situation within the camp.

For an archer, understanding the target location before shooting was common sense.

Through the aid of perception magic, Izay saw the entire scene on the rock platform clearly.

The worm-like monsters possessed almost no intelligence, forming a thick line trying to climb up from one side. The rock platform was nearly half-corroded.

Having understood the situation, Izay drew his bow, pulling the string taut.

Mysterious blue particles began rising around his feet, like countless fireflies dancing—but even more spectacular!

Starting from the fletching, the glowing arrow began to form on the bowstring, its tip shimmering with an eerie light.

Without any further warning, the phenomenon grew as the arrow on the longbow became increasingly radiant, its magical energy reaching an undeniable level.

Gathering all remaining magical power into this single strike!

“The Twilight Falls—”

Izay fully drew the longbow, aiming not at the distant rock platform but at the hazy glow above.

Around him, illusions resembling luminous grasses or wild fields seemed to appear?

Concentrating the magical energy into an extremely small range, focusing solely on the arrow.

“—Artemis!!”

With the final declaration, he released the bowstring!

The sound of the bowstring resonated through the air, distorting the surrounding space. Layers of condensed clouds centered around the arrow’s starting point—the front of the mystical weapon—exploded outward in an instant.

But this was not a physical “sonic boom.” It was the vibration caused by the powerful magic arrow!

The concentrated magical energy formed threads swirling densely around Izay.

The moment the arrow was fired, these “threads” spread out in a semi-circle behind him, stretching outward—a sight so beautiful yet unseen by anyone.

The arrow left a shining trail as it reached the ceiling of this layer and promptly descended at the perfect moment.

An arrow that swept away twilight and unleashed moonlight!

In the next instant, a meteor shower fell.

The ceiling filled with dazzling light, emitting a fine, drizzle-like roaring sound, more magnificent than blooming fireworks—a calamitous rain descended!

Countless light arrows rained down from the sky, covering the entire area of the rock platform.

These intelligent arrows ignored the adventurers but were deadly to the monsters.

One by one, the worm-like creatures were struck and fell, dislodged from the rock wall and plummeting to the ground below. Then came the purifying cascade of luminous arrows falling upon them.

Whether large or small, all varieties of the monsters were shattered by the barrage of countless arrows.

Their stubborn assault was annihilated, reduced to pieces!