23 Chapter 23: 2Nd Floor
As we had planned, we continued to fight with me as the vanguard and Ariel with Serena as the support.
We were unstoppable, the number of monsters had increased and we were encountering groups more often compared to floor one, but we didn't encounter any adventurers.
We also saw a few Weirdly coloured but bigger than normal magic stones lying around and decided to leave it in the toolbox. The stone's origin was probably from the death of adventurers.
"John! Enemies!" Ariel said as Serena started to prepare her spell.
"Again? Haven't we already killed like 60? Since when do goblins and kobolds even work together? Tch, Alright I have an idea. Let's deal with this group first." I said as I looked at the group of Goblin and Kobolds.
There were around 6 Goblins and 4 Kobolds, Armed with Swords which were probably the only remains of the corpses of the adventurers they killed.
"For some reason, I feel really mad... Ariel, Serena! We'll do it like usual! After I attack them head-on with my daggers and break their formation, you guys finish them." I Said.
"Yes!" Ariel Replied.
"You don't have to tell me twice," Serena replied as she gave the signal that she had finished casting and that the spell was ready.
"Alright," I said as I enhanced my body with magic strengthening and charged at them. The more magic I circulate through my body, the stronger it gets. With magic stones, it can get even stronger as I have more power to be able to circulate.
But I don't need magic stones, It feels like every day my mana pool or reservoir has been growing, quite quickly too.
In a single leap, I was able to cover the distance needed to get to them and in a single swing, I sliced off the head of the two goblins and kobolds who stood at the front.
Seeing their comrades getting obliterated so easily, struck fear in the hearts of the monsters. Seeing them tremble in dread made me feel bad for them. But that completely disappeared once I saw the weapons that they were holding.
"Now!" I shouted.
And at that moment, the two girls who had their spells ready, cast it.
A giant ball of fire appeared and so did fairly transparent wind blades. These attacks were then propelled at the group of monsters who had lost their formation after I attacked them.
As the fireball and the Wind blades were about to impact on the group. I lept back to Ariel and Serena's side to dodge, and as always, the formation worked.
6 Green magic stones and 4 Purple magic stones were formed as the corpses disintegrated or were absorbed into the dungeon.
"Well done you two," I said as I walked up to them after I picked up the magic stones and placed them in the Already full pouch.
We've been using some of the magic stones so that we could keep and sell the lower-level ones. We had around 50 when we left the 1st floor and now only have 30. Each small stone from the weak monsters breaks after one use of a Giant spell like fireball or Ventus Tormentum.
I haven't been using any, because I don't need them. But after seeing magic stones I got an idea. Since I won't be using a wand or daggers. Why don't I make gloves with magic stones imbued in them!? That would not only look awesome, but it would also feel awesome.
"Regarding what you said, How will we be able to pa.s.s through without being detected?" Asked Serena.
"Ah John, you haven't shown her that yet have you?" Ariel asked.
"Nope, I was waiting for this moment. Both of you, grab on" I said as I stretched out each of my hands.
"W-Why?" Asked Serena.
"Just do it," I said.
"Fine..." Serena said as she grabbed on to my hand.
"Silentium, Furtim" I muttered after Serena and Ariel grabbed my hands.
In that instant, we had turned invisible to the other enemies, and our magic power was also being hidden. This is the power of my strongest stealth skill, Furtim. Combined with my Silencing Spell Silentium.
Serena gave me a confused looked as it appeared as if nothing had happened but when she attempted to question it, no sound came out.
I deactivated furtim and silentium to explain what just happened to Serena.
"What just happened?! I wasn't able to talk!" Said Serena after she realised that she was able to talk again.
"Relax, you're overreacting. All I did was make us invisible to anyone who wasn't cloaked with my Furtim spell and prevent any sound from travelling within a certain field. Luckily it worked since I'm using it on us and not the
"Overreacting? You just removed my voice and said something about us becoming invisible as if it were something normal and you expect me not to overreact?" Asked Serena.
"Ariel, took it pretty fine," I said as I looked at her.
"That's because I trust John." She replied.
"No, I don't think that's the case here, I trust john too but there's it's normal to react this way, right?" Serena said with a deeply confused expression.
c.r.a.p... I should've made it seem like it was something harder to do...
"Well, Let's leave the overreacting to after we leave the dungeon. Besides, let's see if it will work in a dungeon. Now, let's go find the dungeon boss." I said.
"Yes!" Ariel Replied.
While Serena simply nodded her head. Is she alright?
I should be able to last over a few hours without magic stones and the current size of my mana pool. With the addition of magic stones, we should be fine. Well, guess I'll just have to find out.
"Don't let go, no matter what. Furtim, Silentium" I said as I grabbed on to their hands.
The two nodded in response.
Will this work or not? Time to find out.
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We walked for 10 minutes without deactivating the spells and finally encountered monsters. The monsters were unaware of our presence as we pa.s.sed by them. We didn't even have to worry about the sound of our footsteps, it was convenient, way too convenient...
With this, we should be able to easily conquer the dungeon... No... Even if we can get past them, there's no point if we can't beat the boss. Not to mention monsters of lower floors should be able to detect us. My spell does have a few loopholes, like smell for example.
I noticed this as we walked past the goblins. They weren't able to see us, but they kept constantly sniffing the air as if they could smell us. It's a good strategy to get us to the bosses room on the early floors but it won't be of much help after dropping a few more levels.
That being said, I wonder how many floors a dungeon has? Maybe Serena knows something about it.
As I thought such things, we had finally arrived. A giant door much like the one we previously saw on the 1st floor which led to the entrance of the boss room.
Before we entered I decided to ask "Hey Serena, How many floors does a dungeon have?"
"The Highest recorded number on this one was 17. Those who completed the dungeons disappeared and never mentioned anything about it. However there was a case, where a man who completed it said there was 20, but it was never confirmed." She replied.
I see... So it's that sort of thing huh...
"You two ready?" I asked as I let go of their hands.
"Yes" They replied as they nodded.
"Then, Let's go," I said as I pushed open the doors of the boss room.
Much like the room of the 1st-floor boss, it was a big chamber. The only difference was. Now there was fire illuminating the Chamber and there was no longer a throne. Instead there stood a motionless Goblin King in the middle of the chamber.
The Goblin King wore leather iron armour and held a Giant iron sword on its hand.
"What, it's just a goblin king. I beat one of these already. They're weak and slo-".
Before I could finish, I was interrupted by the Goblin King who was rus.h.i.+ng at us who stepped inside its chamber.
"Something's wrong. He wasn't this fast before. He's a lot stronger. Serena Starting Casting. Ariel Prepare to use the cannon when I give the signal".
The two nodded at what I said.
"Tch, I kind of regret underestimating you.".
After I said that I activated magic strengthening and circulated magic through my Daggers, before running at him.
"I'll hold him off! Tell me when you guys are ready!" I Said loud enough for them to hear it as I approached it.
"Yes!" Said the two of them.
With the momentum from the dash, I parried the swing of his giant sword with my daggers. I had been supplying with a lot more constant magic than usual so they were stronger than ever.
Having been only an iron sword, his Sword broke on impact and during that opening. I swung both of my daggers together in an X motion and cut off both of his arms.
After that, he let out a roar filled with pain and rage. Now that he was unarmed he wouldn't be able to block any of the attacks Ariel or Serena would throw at him.
"We're Ready!" They shouted out.
I lept back to give Ariel and Serena the s.p.a.ce they needed and at that moment, I felt a Cannon of wind pressure pa.s.s by on my right side, while a Fire lion ran by my left. The Target of these two insane spells was the Goblin Lord.
The first to hit the defenceless goblin lord was the wind cannon from Ariel. After being hit by all that wind Pressure, the goblin lord was sent flying to the wall, which looked broken after impact.
The wind cannon was then followed up by the Fire Lion which was significantly slower than it. But the Goblin Lord was already immobile so it didn't matter. After the fire lion reached the Goblin lord, It bit on to him and began to burn his body.
Shortly After the goblin lords body Had turned into a Big Purple Crystal. The Size Of a 500Ml water bottle, unlike the small ones which looked like 50Ml water bottles, in terms of size.
I picked up the magic stone and brought it back to the girls so they could see it and the Lion dispersed into the air. It was a really handy and strong spell. I'd like to learn more about its concept...
"So, pretty big isn't it?" I asked as I showed them the magic stone.
"Wow... I guess it's what you'd expect when you fight a monster that strong. But John you could've beaten it alone." Ariel said.
"Sure I might have been able to beat it alone, but for how long? We need to improve our teamwork and he was a great practice. I feel like we make the strongest team!" I said with a bright smile on my face.
"Well then, how about we see how far we can go after 3 days? That's how long our food will last, if we ration it, it should be 6, just enough to come and go. but we'll stay here for 4 days depending on what you'd want." I said.
"Well, if everyone's fine with it, I don't mind... Staying 4 days" Said Ariel.
"It does look like it would serve as good teamwork training. Just make sure you don't underestimate dungeons too much." Said, Serena.
"Yes, Yes... You're always too serious, you need to smile more often." I said as I started to pull at her cheeks in an attempt to make it into a smile.
"Wh! S-Stop!" She said with an embarra.s.sed expression.
So she can be cute if she tries...
"Alright, my bad. Anyways why don't we start making our way to the third floor? I wonder what awaits." I said as I eagerly walked ahead of them to find out.
"Ariel, I've been thinking about this but... Isn't John super strong?" Serena asked.
"Yes, John is super strong and kind, he always helps a person in need," Ariel replied as she looked at john him with idolizing eyes.
"I see..? I don't know about the kind part but he is strong and helpful so I guess you're right." Said Serena as she stared at him.
"Huh? Did you two say something?" I asked already on the other side of the chamber.
"Nothing!" They both replied as they smiled at each other.
I wonder what they were talking about? Girls are girls... I wonder if I should add another party member to the party. It'd be nice if he was a guy. That way I'd also have someone to talk to like them... Maybe I should do that...
And so... We moved on to the third floor, and I thought about what to do after we left the dungeon.