Chapter 332

Chapter 335: Growth Potential is at Least A-Rank (Please Subscribe!)

Ambushes from three directions—left, right, and behind. Asfi couldn’t help but furrow her delicate brows as she watched the multitude of man-eating flowers crawling along the ceiling and floor.

Their retreat was completely cut off.

The elite squad’s current position was at an artificial crossroads.

In front and behind were large holes blasted by Izay, while to the left and right were the original ten-meter-wide paths of the green wall maze.

For some reason, the man-eating flowers had left only the forward path open, blocking all other three directions.

It was as if they were intentionally driving them forward.

This location was already very close to the Great Void of the food storage area. They could even observe the vast expanse through the starflame-lit hole ahead.

Amidst the endless dimness, a blood-red glow leaked out, distinct from the faint phosphorescence of withered flowers.

(…Should we go forward!?)

Asfi hesitated as she saw the man-eating flowers swarming in from all sides.

It was clear that the forward path was deliberately left open by the enemy, and stepping into it would likely be a trap.

If they didn’t choose the forward path, they’d have to face the swarm of man-eating flowers surrounding them.

Two choices.

Unknown danger or known danger.

However, just as she hesitated for a moment, the swarm of man-eating flowers had already reached the team!

“——Everyone! Form up according to our previous formation and counterattack!”

With no other choice, Asfi issued the order.

Facing the endless horde of monsters emerging from the depths of the tunnel, the adventurers wasted no time thrusting their knives and spears forward.

The battle reignited instantly.

And just as the horde of man-eating flowers clashed with the adventurers, Izay cast a glance toward the only empty forward passage.

“There’s someone coming from ahead…”

With enemies appearing on three of the four roads, it was hard not to notice the one empty road.

The empty road might have been left open to lure the adventurers inside.

But there was another possibility.

The monsters were clearing the way—for their stronger companions to pass through!

At the same moment Izay sensed something rapidly approaching from the forward passage, an unexpected event occurred on Ais’ side.

The girl who was accustomed to taking the initiative against enemies had just disintegrated a monster with her beloved sword when, as if perfectly timed, a heavy dark-green stone pillar fell from the fifty-meter-high ceiling, plummeting toward her side.

“!”

Reacting immediately, Ais lightly tapped her toes and retreated urgently.

“Thud… Thud… Thud…”

A series of dull sounds echoed, forming a straight line…or rather, what would soon become a thick stone wall.

More massive pillars kept falling from the ceiling, and by the time Ais noticed, the wall was almost complete, leaving only a small gap.

(…I have to get back!)

Her golden eyes widened as this thought flashed through her mind, prompting her body to act accordingly.

But just as she was about to move, a fleeting red shadow suddenly appeared before her eyes.

The figure arrived earlier than her, slipping through the gap left by the wall and entering the space blocked off behind it. The strong fighting intent and imposing aura disrupted Ais’ actions.

“BOOM—!!!”

The final stone pillar dropped into place, sealing the last gap.

“We’ve been separated!?”

Behind the now extremely thick wall of columns came Lulune’s cry of distress.

Traps, which rarely appeared in dungeons, had suddenly emerged here, shocking the dog-person girl.

Especially at the end, she thought she saw something dart through after Ais.

Would Miss Ais be in any danger!?

“Don’t worry about the Sword Princess! Lulune! She’s a top-tier Lv.6 adventurer!”

Noticing Ais’ situation, Asfi shouted at the overly worried Lulune.

The implication was clear—if you have energy to worry about others, you should worry more about yourself.

That top-tier adventurer has faced countless crises. When did it become your place to concern yourself, little Lv.3 rookie?

Didn’t you see that Izay hasn’t even said anything?

Huh? Izay!?

“——!!”

At the same moment Asfi finished speaking, an explosive clash of weapons erupted in the center of the battlefield, drowning out even the monsters’ roars under the storm triggered by the impact.

“When did he…!?”

All eyes turned to the source of the sound.

Izay, who was closest to the forward void among the team, now had a white-haired man standing before him. Clad in what seemed like a white ceremonial robe, his pale hair, darker in hue, flowed slightly outside a bone-made helmet.

In the white-haired man’s hand was a greatsword that could almost be called a “boulder,” poised to strike down. However, it was being held aloft by a dark silver spear.

“Hmm, so the main guy shows up, so eager!?”

Glancing briefly at Reivice, who had darted over to Ais like a big black rat, Izay smirked as he looked at the white-haired man before him.

“Heheheheh, these ability values are impressive, no wonder even Reivice fears you! You’re quite good, aren’t you!?”

From deep within the white-haired man’s helmet, savage eyes glared out, his uncovered mouth curling into a grin.

He didn’t give Izay a chance to reply, instead abruptly increasing the force in his hands, revealing prominent veins in his exposed arms.

“Clang—!!!”

A fierce downward slash!

The greatsword and the anti-evil weapon clashed, sparking violently, shaking the air itself.

The first clash of steel against steel, easily tearing apart the atmosphere, ended with the spear and the greatsword parting ways.

The spear prepared for its next move, while the greatsword sliced through the air toward the green ground below.

It should have been like that…

“Ugh!!”

But the descending greatsword defied logic, halted mid-fall by brute force, then swung upward again.

“——!”

Izay barely managed to block the greatsword’s swing, the immense force pushing him back, his feet scraping against the green ground.

The momentum carried him back behind the wall where the monsters emerged, even pushing some of the man-eating flowers back.

“Strength attributes at least at Lv.6 or higher…”

Sensing the feedback from the brief exchange, Izay murmured softly.

‘Monsters really have it good… just consume magic stones to grow stronger~’

Shaking his wrist, flipping the anti-evil spear, Izay found himself envying them a bit.

These transformed monsters, each with growth potential at least at the A-rank level.

Starting stats are basically around Lv.5.

They can move freely in the deeper layers thanks to monster protection.

If they didn’t hand over all the hunted magic stones to the fairy spawns to devour, but absorbed them themselves, reaching potential ability values of Lv.7 or Lv.8 wouldn’t be much of an issue.

Of course, Izay’s envy was just internal grumbling.

Lv.7, Lv.8? That’s just a matter of time for him. Why dwell on nonsense and lose his humanity?

Is Lady Artemis not fragrant enough? Or are Ais and Haruhi not appealing enough!?