NOVEL WEB Chapter 167
Chris’s party had attempted to defend multiple times, but each time they were thwarted by the Giant Lamias.
The Red Lamia and the Blue Lamia, each a different color, roamed separately, ruthlessly targeting the solo defense points of the party members. Whenever Chris arrived to support, they displayed the cunning to immediately flee to another Divine Mark point.
Each defense point resulted in a 1:1 situation. It was impossible to achieve a 2:1 with Chris included. She had no choice but to dash around the entire Heaven-Descended Basin, chasing the flanks of the Giant Lamias.
Eventually, the entire party retreated from the Divine Mark defense points. They gathered at the dungeon entrance for a regroup.
“It’s not easy defending, especially with these randomly spawning special creatures sporting reflection shields.”
“When you attack with mana-infused strikes, they absorb and reflect. However, they won’t reflect direct hits or indirect techniques that use physical power. So while it’s not impossible to deal damage that way, using minor skills to whittle down that health bar? How long will that take? And when they escape and respawn, their HP is fully restored. Ugh, I can’t see any way to catch them.”
“Were they literally made to be impossible to catch?”
“Hmm…”
In a Named Combat Area, there should be a gimmick that uses objects within the region to disable the reflection shields.
But there was no way to disable the reflection shields that appeared at the defense points. They weren’t cooperating, and no special objects were visible around.
“Should we try to draw out a Divine Mark?”
“Dummy! We’re defending to raise the purification progress of the Divine Mark. If we pull it out, what’ll happen?”
“No, I’m just suggesting ideas!”
In the midst of Cherni and Bae Merong squabbling, Chris fell into thought.
The difficulty of the defense itself was absurdly high. This situation, where they were being taken down one by one by Named level foes, was not normal.
There had to be…something, some way.
[Southeast Divine Mark Activation 0/1]
[Southwest Divine Mark Activation 0/1]
[North Divine Mark Activation 0/1]
[???]
[Heaven-Descended Basin Overall Progress 0/1]
Chris’s eyes caught the question mark that popped up in the dungeon progress interface.
“…Hidden condition.”
“Huh?”
“The question mark in the dungeon progress interface indicates there’s a hidden condition, remember?”
“Definitely, it’s a condition I’ve never seen before. Didn’t it require activating all Divine Marks and succeeding in first purification to open?”
“Let’s assume there’s no need to tackle them in order. If that’s the case, what does this condition imply?”
“No way…”
Deathly Death’s eyes widened. Chris nodded in response.
“Yeah. The two Giant Lamias, can’t we deal with them outside the Named Combat Area? Somewhere like a nest or a cave. There must be a place where the Lamias dwell.”
“Within the Heaven-Descended Basin itself?”
Chris looked around.
Then, in a corner, she found a gaping hole, obviously without any effort to conceal it.
Chris let out a groan.
“…The places where the Giant Lamias spawn weren’t just limited to the Divine Mark defense points.”
“Hey, that hole! It’s similar in size to the one the Red Lamia just came out of, right?”
“They must be moving through holes they’ve made throughout the Heaven-Descended Basin!”
The unusual creatures, the Giant Lamias that inhabit and breed here. They were different from the Named enemies that had only stayed in the Named Combat Area before.
“This entire Heaven-Descended Basin was their hunting ground.”
“If we find their nest…”
“Then the fights will be like those against regular Named enemies, and the subsequent defense will be easier?”
“Then we need to find their lair right away…!”
“No. There’s no need for that.”
“Huh?”
Confusion spread across the faces of the party, excluding Chris.
“The endless running around we’ve been doing hasn’t been meaningless. There’s a pattern to where the Lamias appear and the intervals between them.”
“Weren’t they randomly spawning?”
“Right. Let’s consider north as 12 o’clock. If the Red Lamia appears here first, then a minute later, the Blue will appear at 5 o’clock. Then if we chase away the Red and head to where the Blue is, the Red will reappear at 7 o’clock a minute later.”
The eyes of the party members widened as they listened to Chris’s explanation.
“When you encounter more than one, they instantly flee. Their behavior pattern has been helpful. In other words…”
With a confident smile, Chris declared.
“The defense strategy is simple. The rest of you just hold out until the first purification is complete, and I’ll just keep running clockwise without worrying.”
“Indeed…!”
“Of course, even if I’ve grasped the pattern, it won’t change how difficult it is. Holding alone until I get there won’t be easy. If I take even a moment longer to reach the next point, the respawn intervals might get messed up. But after running in circles, I’ve already prepared the most efficient route through rock crevices and all.”
“Just as expected, Sister Chris, you’re amazing!”
After ruffling Bae Merong’s sparkling hair, Chris announced.
“So, there’s no need to catch the Giant Lamias. We just have to endure until the purification is complete. I’ll move as fast as I can to create openings. I firmly believe we can do this. I trust my party members.”
Flames ignited in Chris’s eyes.
Once Rain grasped the dungeon’s layout, she would have immediately found the Lamias’ lair. Her strangely exceptional abilities and senses were largely based on experience.
If Chris’s party set out now to find the Lamias’ lair? It would take far longer than Rain. Chasing after Rain would mean certain defeat in the first-clear race.
‘Noname’ and ‘Chris’s Raid’.
Even now, with her being a lovely little sister, the fact that they were still in competing teams for the first clear remained unchanged.
“We’ll do it our way.”
We’ll beat Rain.
[Southeast Divine Mark Activation 1/1]
[Southwest Divine Mark Activation 1/1]
[North Divine Mark Activation 1/1]
(All Divine Marks Activated)
(96% until First Purification is completed)
[???]
[Heaven-Descended Basin Overall Progress 0/1]
Wham!
Using the Onmyoji’s speed increase skill, talismans swirled around Chris. She quickly navigated the rocky crevices of the Heaven-Descended Basin. Her route was streamlined. Always the shortest and most efficient path leading to the next defense site.
There was no need to use the Onmyoji’s enhancement skill for combat. Using it solely for mobility sufficed. If there had been a capable ranger, they would’ve taken on this role instead of Chris.
“Given the class composition of our party, I’m the best choice for this.”
Whoosh!
Chris stopped, kicking up sand.
At 12 o’clock, the northern point—there, Deathly Death was struggling against the massive serpentine lower half of the Blue Lamia.
He looked over at Chris as she arrived at her defense point, sneaking a smile.
“You’re late.”
“I got here quickly!”
Whoooosh!
The talismans swirling around Chris seemed to have a will of their own as they soared into the air and began to pound the Blue Lamia’s body.
By bypassing the energy reflection gimmick with direct strikes. Although this method couldn’t deal massive damage, it was sufficient to make her retreat.
Bam!
With an annoyed expression, the Blue Lamia hissed threateningly while stepping back.
And then.
Crack!
Widening the hole she had just emerged from, she disappeared underground.
“Purification at 99%, it’s over now. No need to move to the next point.”
“Looks like this defense method was actually possible.”
“It’s all thanks to everyone holding out for their best. If even one had faltered, we would have failed.”
Whoosh!
With a smile, Chris looked at the Divine Mark installation site, which was starting to emit a blinding light.
(First Purification Completed 100%)
Ding!
[Hidden Condition Unlocked]
[Defeat a pair of Giant Lamias]
“Eventually, it was a matter of sequence.”
“Right. Whether we find their den and eliminate them or succeed in the first purification to summon them out like this.”
At the path leading to the central plaza surrounded by immense rocks, the menacing faces of the ‘Red Lamia’ and ‘Blue Lamia’ blocked their way.
The reflection shields that had protected the Giant Lamias during the defense process were now dispersed, thanks to the divine energy looming throughout the Heaven-Descended Basin.
“Since we succeeded in the first purification, the Lamias are weakened. It means we no longer need to worry about the reflection damage gimmicks.”
“Let’s take them down and go face the final boss!”
Chris brandished her talisman.
Bae Merong began casting Arcane Burst.
Cherni’s Undine flew at high speed.
Deathly Death’s new form leaped toward the Lamias.
Swoosh!
“Aahhh!!”
[Hidden Named]
[Level 55 Red Lamia]
[HP 70,000,000 / 70,000,000 (100%)]
[Hidden Named]
[Level 55 Blue Lamia]
[HP 70,000,000 / 70,000,000 (100%)]