[50F Floor Boss 1]
(Dan Side)
Luc rejoined the team and, together, we delved into the dungeon from the 41F. Dragons were among the most dangerous monsters. I had never seen one back in the Marshall Duchy.
The Dragon Puppy we encountered was on the smaller side among dragons, but its attack and defense powers far surpassed any other monsters we had faced before. We found ourselves constantly on the defensive against its onslaught.
Despite my attempts to strengthen our team using my attribute magic, Boost, we struggled to take it down. It seemed invincible.
But after receiving some instructions from Luc, the rest of my teammates changed their strategy.
Anna utilized her agility to lead the Dragon Puppy on a wild chase, effectively distracting it and keeping it occupied.
Elina, with her attribute magic Ice, froze the surroundings, lowering the temperature and slowing down the Dragon Puppy’s movements.
Lady Lyncean, seizing the opportunity while the Dragon Puppy was slowed down, targeted its eyes. With swift strikes from her flame sword, the Dragon Puppy fell within moments.
The experience points I gained from defeating the dragon surpassed anything I had earned from previous monsters. My level, which had stubbornly refused to increase after reaching 40, shot up by one in an instant.
“You’re using your power incorrectly. Your new attribute magic’s power isn’t just about enhancing your toughness.”
“Huh?”
“Think again about what you wish from your holy sword, and what kind of power it possesses.”
Luc gave me another piece of advice, too.
But I didn’t get what I was doing wrong.
What did I wish from the holy sword?
・When thou dost desire to shield someone beloved.
・If thy heart aligns with them, I shall bestow upon thee true power.
The words of the holy sword suddenly came to my mind.
I had stepped up against the dragon to protect my teammates.
In response, [Indomitable] had empowered me to endure the dragon’s relentless assaults, as long as my heart remained unbroken.
[If thy heart aligns with them, I shall bestow upon thee true power.]
Luc’s advice was becoming clearer; it must be related to the true power the holy sword had spoken of.
Suddenly, my gaze shifted to Lady Lyncean, who was clearly elated after our victory over the Dragon Puppy.
If thy heart aligns with them—the first person that came to mind as I contemplated those words was Lady Lyncean.
We had grown up together, known each other since childhood, and understood each other better than anyone else.
She had to be the one.
To tap into the holy sword’s true power, I kept making eye contact with Lady Lyncean in our subsequent battles ‘to align my heart with her’. I figured that I couldn’t say anything to her in order to do so, but I wasn’t if my intention was conveyed.
“Dan! We did it!”
Still, as I looked at Lady Lyncean, I couldn’t help but share her excitement, feeling joyful at our improved teamwork. The four of us could now effortlessly take down Dragon Puppies, and my level had exceeded 50.
Reaching level 50 marked the threshold of becoming an A-rank adventurer.
The level cap for people was 99.
But true strength couldn’t be quantified solely by one’s level.
I’d heard that Marquis Gordon, the lord of the Labyrinth City Gorgon, and my master, Sword Emperor Arthur, had both reached level 99. Despite that, no one knew who would come out on top if the two of them fought. Additionally, there were some rumors about monsters that exceeded level 99 felled under the hands of legendary figures, proving that the measure of strength in this world extended beyond mere levels.
“Haa!”
With a determined cry, I took down a Frost Dragon on the 45F with an upward slash.
Luc had told us that dragons had three weak points: the eyes, throat, and belly. Striking the eyes and throat could inflict damage to their brain, while attacking the belly could lead you to their heart. Just like with people, their weak points, well, weak.
I had used [Indomitable] to withstand the Frost Dragon’s onslaught then used [Boost] to increase my attack power and aimed for a one-hit kill.
And so, I managed to defeat the dragon.
With my increased level, my physical abilities had noticeably improved, making the once-daunting dragons no longer as challenging
“We’ve finally made it to the Floor Boss.”
Rivera’s team had announced their withdrawal after defeating the Floor Boss on the 40F.
So, now our team was the sole contenders with a shot at defeating the 50F Floor Boss, an unprecedented achievement since the establishment of Alecidus Royal Academy.
Time was of the essence; with just a week remaining on our school trip, our window of opportunity was rapidly closing.
If we managed to defeat the Floor Boss, we would be rewarded with an S-rank certification from the Adventurers’ Guild with no strings attached.
This could be the treasure that Marquis Gordon had mentioned, the one he hoped we—or at least I, would obtain in his city.
Luc taking time off from dungeon exploration for two months meant that he had been preoccupied elsewhere.
Did he rejoin us because he had found his own treasure? If so, then I was lagging behind him again.
However, I should be able to defeat the Floor Boss of the 50F if I aligned my heart with Lady Lyncean and tapped into the holy sword’s ‘true power’.
Maybe then, I could finally stand on equal footing with Luc.
“Let’s go!”
Leaving my resting team behind, I opened the door to the Floor Boss room. The massive door felt almost weightless, as if it were inviting me in. Without hesitation, I stepped into the enormous room.
“Dan! Stop!!!” Luc, in a rare display of panic, shouted.
I now possessed [Indomitable]. I was practically invulnerable.
Luc, have faith in me.
“Don’t worry. No matter what the Floor Boss is, I should be able to keep my life at least!”
“You idiot!” Luc spat, his frustration evident. He grabbed my shoulder and tried to pull me back out. However, the weightless door was automatically closing fast.
“Don’t come in here!”
Despite Luc’s attempt to stop them, the rest also rushed in before the door shut completely.
“Dammit!” Luc tried to force the door open, but it wouldn’t budge.
Inside the closed room, blue flames flickered to life on torches lining the walls, revealing a colossal Black Dragon suspended from the ceiling.
“So huge!!!”
As I screamed, the eyes of the Black Dragon, its serpentine body stretched across the ceiling, looked onto me.
“GYAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAAA!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!”
Its deafening roar filled the room, a chilling signal of despair that sent shivers down my spine.
Despite my level surpassing 50 and nearing 60, a primal fear gripped me, stemming from the vast disparity in our levels.
“T-that’s… but how?!”
“Impossible! Black dragons are the strongest among all dragons! What’s one doing here?!”
Elina and Lady Lyncean screamed in despair.
Anna had already crumbled to the ground, paralyzed by fear.
“Strongest?”
As long as my heart didn’t break, I should be able to withstand any attack.
As long as my heart didn’t break…
“…No.”
As I muttered in a hollow tone, the black dragon’s entire body glowed ominously. In an instant, it unleashed a torrent of scorching breath.
Its power was so immeasurable that it made the adult dragons we had fought before almost like babies. The whole room immediately heated up, becoming unbearably hot.
“…We have no chance of defeating it.”
I immediately sensed it…
Our death was imminent…
“[Sloth].”
Amid my despair…
Luc put up a magical barrier to shield us from the impending onslaught.
But the Black dragon’s breath was so powerful that it shattered even Luc’s formidable barrier.
“Gh!”
“Luc?”
Luc fell to his knee, blood trickling down his forehead.
It was a sight I had never witnessed before—Luc, who was always easy-going and could easily accomplish anything, was forced to his knee?
“You idiot! Why did you act on your own?! Do you want to die?!”
“I-I…”
“This is the moment of truth, Dan. Your holy sword is the key to defeat that dragon.
“If you can wield its true power, you’ll be able to take down the black dragon!”
I moved my gaze to the sword in my hand, its words surfaced in my mind.
[If thy heart aligns with them, I shall bestow upon thee true power.]
I then looked at Lady Lyncean.
“My Lady… no, Lyncean! Lend me your strength!”
“Huh? Y-yeah, of course. But can I do it?”
“Yeah. You’re the only one who can help me release my sword’s power.”
“Okay, what should we do?”
At her question, I froze.
What should we do?
“Repeat after me, Dan!
“Dearest one, bestow upon me thine strength. Should thou grant it, I shall transform into thine mightiest guardian.”
Emulating Luc’s movements, I raised my holy sword and repeated his words.
[Dearest one, bestow upon me thine strength. Should thou grant it, I shall transform into thine mightiest guardian.]
The holy sword began to unleash light that grew brighter with each word of the incantation I uttered, power pulsing from it…
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Dan fucking things up as always… He must get a good beating
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