NOVEL WEB Chapter 722: Tracing their path to Andrey (1)
Though there was a bit of a situation, Allen and team had set their eyes on the soil incarnation, LV80 Andrey.
(Hmm, not everyone is feeling it, huh. And I also need time to come up with a strategy.)
"Anyway, I believe everyone should take a good rest, since you all must be tired from our campaign. We will meet 8 hours later at the dining hall. We will hold the discussion then."
"I like that idea. Then, Sofia is leaving ahead."
Sofia made her the remark first, and the others nodded in resonance. They then turned to their base---it was a huge building with five stories, almost on par with the Royal Castle, and withheld a capacity of 100 people---in the neighbourhood of the atelier for rest.
This building was, in fact, a magic tool to set up a simple base for large-scale parties.
The base was also fully equipped with a shower facility, which was now in use by party members. Often, even the dwarves turning to atelier would come to take advantage of its facilities, so one floor was actively allocated to them now.
Well, they'd been doing that in the territory of Earth God without his permission however. But Earth God seemed to have turned a blind eye to this situation, seemingly to gather dwarves' faith toward him.
The dwarves could be seen making merry night after night, being drunk on the alcohol prepared among the supplies of Allen Army. They also participate when it's time for a party.
On the other hand, Allen also felt like they're cleverly guided to stay here after being caught in Earth God's vague explanation. He knew no details about the situation, but maybe, they might learn about it after they subjugate Andrey? Allen thought as he began to formulate the plan in his mind.
Following other member's footsteps, Allen also took a shower before hitting the bed. The lunch was mainly postponed because he hadn't been that hungry. They'd mainly handled that with the items plundered from the shop inside Earth Labrinth. There was also the option of using Grass H, but the campaign was too fierce to even allocate one slot to it.
Then again, dungeon food was too bland and that would always be his complaint. In the roguelike game's food he remembered from previous life, the staple was always the bread and rice balls. But here, the items they seized were only limited to nutrient pills in the package, something you would expect to come with a catchphrase like "Nutrients pill---A revolutionary way to supplement your energy in just 10-second charge!"
Well, maybe asking for exciting setup and elegance was an area of expertise out of the realm of muscle headed god.
Eight hours later---
The entire team gathered for their dinner. Habarak wanted to return to smithing, but Allen called him over and had him sit with them for their strategy planning.
"How are we going to progress? We only made it to the 72th floor in our last run, while Andrey is at the 80th floor."
"Yeah, that's a big problem. And the enemies have so much resistance, so we need to make sure we have ample amount of time left from our campaign. We barely made it last time. I would like to avoid a reckless plan though."
Luck began with conversation as his teeth sunk into the bread, and Formar made a follow up as he sipped the soup with a wooden spoon.
"That's a point. I mean, if we go by my blessing, we should rather focus on finding the next floor's stairs than clearing it. After all, there's no boss now to put a significant blockade."
"I agree with that. I also want to check out on atelier and orichalcum ore vein past Andrey."
Albeit, as if they're not already pressed, Habarak also chimed in his wants, hoping to check out on orichalcum ore veins for his smithing.
"But we still came to the same point---how are we going to make it? I do want to raise my level, but that's beyond the point if we have to risk ourselves."
It wasn't like they'd need to take risks. Even Kurena and Dogora had settled down at level 91 on their Extra Mode, since there were no demigod class spirit beasts back then. Moreover, Allen and others were strong enough to mow out Iron Golems, and they could just focus on that.
"No, I would strongly recommend it. Besides, It would help you clear the trial of Space-Time God much more easily. You may not have known, but you will see amazing growth beyond LV81."
Allen insisted on their current plan. He had wanted Cecil to get the bonus of Extra Mode ASAP, because the endgame levelling in Extra Mode offered more lucrative status at twice the setup.
The bonus went like following:
1. Stats gain every +1 level up (Starting with level 61) = 2x (X is the stats value gained with each level up)
2. Stats gain every +1 level up (Starting with level 81) = 4x (X is the primary stats value gained with each level up below 'level 60.')
"Hmm, so we'll be continuing to rely on Allen-sama's summons to chart the floor for stairs huh."
"For the better part, yes. This is the only card we have since neither Rosetta nor Tim are available. We would be relying on Tsubamen."
"Hmm-mm~, but do you think that works? Wouldn't it be taxing on your mind to handle all of them at once?"
"Well, there are indeed problems. But I should be able to pull it off with my intelligence. Anyway, inform me if anything happens until our next campaign. Until then, you're free to do anything for the next 16 hours."
Following the announcement, everyone put the dining hall behind their back.
Habark, as to be expected, turned toward the atelier to work on just acquired orichalcum. Cecile was working to increase her magic skill's level up. Luck and Sofia were helping her out with their spirits.
16 hours later---
Once again, Allen and team now gathered at the entrance of Earth Labyrinth after their moment of respite.
The dungeon guide clay doll walked in front of the group.
«May you be here to challenge Earth Labyrinth? Which one of you would be joining in? Please list the names of participants and leaders.»
"We all will be participating. And I am the leader."
Earth Labyrinth's Challenger Team Formation - 48 Members (*Human*)
---Allen (1)
---S-rank Summoned Beasts (8)
[Luvanka, Kuwatoro, Pecktan, Makris, Grahm, Magla, Merus, Leon]
---Bird-type summoned beasts (27)
[F (1), E (1), A (24)]
---Cecil (1)
---Sofia and Great Spirits (5)
---Luck and Great Spirits (5)
---Formar and Habarak (2)
«Understood. This is the timer here. Please be aware that you wouldn't be able to bring along magic bags, healing items, or food ingredients. You will be automatically teleported out of the Earth Labyrinth after 24 hours.»
Everyone immediately wore their stern expression as the familiar speech of Clay Doll resounded.
(Well, looking at it from another perspective, we can bring our weapons and armaments. They shouldn't be posing a challenge if it's impossible, after all?)
In the corner of his mind, Allen recalled Kenichi's memory. It was just like the endgame dungeons exploration he had cleared 1000 of times. It felt like he had only cleared the dungeon in one day, but the relativity of time works in a different way, and if analysed, it would turn out it was akin to spending five days.
So if a dungeon was offering a Time-Rush Attack within a time period, then it might not be a mission impossible situation.
Meanwhile, they'd no restriction in bringing the sacred artifact «Earth Hammer» which could also be used in the atelier to smith shovels or pickaxes without any limitation. Subsequently, they'd spirit buffs, and with the transformation of Merus's Angel B «Pom-Pom», they could get advantage of increased agility. Both Angel B and Angel V were used in equipment slots so there was no restriction inside the dungeon for their transformation.
«Weapon Name : Pom-Pom (Growth Level 9)»
1. Special Skill - Funny Pompom
---Agility +10000
---20% Reduced Skill Activation Time
2. Awakened Skill - Frenzy Dance
---Agility +30000
---50% Reduced Skill Activation Time
---50% Reduced Cooldown
"Alright, let's go, team. We have already gone through this phrase many times, so do not let down your guard! Sofia's divine skill wouldn't be available immediately. Wait for my commands!"
"As you say, Allen-sama!"
Allen remarked as the whole team rode on back of Magla, a giant with 100 meter colossal size, meanwhile the other great spirits and summoned beasts encircled around them in a protective formation as they jumped inside the labyrinth.
"We're at T junction! Now, 12 of you capture the opposite direction to me!"
«Pipi»
«Pipi»
«Pipi»
The summoned birds chirped in acknowledgement. There'd be no need to announce that since they're already in synchronised state, however he did it to make sure they'd clear grasp of their action.
«Well, the real trial is how much the brain can shoulder, aye.)
Allen split the summoned birds into two groups, and led his group to explore the right hand path. Soon, Bird E captured a crossroad 3 km ahead of their position.
At the crossroad---
"Alright, four keep moving in the straight line. And the eight of you---four to left, and four to right!"
«Pipi»
«Pipi»
«Pipi»
The same sequence continued, and ten minutes later, even the last two Bird A groups parted ways in different directions when they encountered another T-Junction. And now, all the 24 Bird A had spread around the floor, trying to find the stairs.
"How is it, did you find the stairs, Allen?"
"Ssh! Allen-sama is focusing right now."
"Ack, right. I'm sorry."
Luck tried to ask about the progress, but Sofia swiftly rebuked him while explaining. Allen was also looking for the route themselves, aside from the summon birds in fact.
And barely a moment later, Allen himself remarked. "I have found the stairs for the 2nd floor. We're teleporting!!"
(Well, this is faster than charting the distance.)
He immediately had Bird A who found the stairs set that point as «Nest» and invoked awakening skill «Homing Instinct».
[Location - 2nd Floor
Remaining Time - 23:42]
The team immediately ran down the stairs, and continued to trace the path of 2nd floor together, alongside all the one Bird A, until they arrived at another fork where they split into two directions.
The remaining 23 summoned birds were too far from Allen and the others to teleport with them. Allen had memorized all the paths they had traveled or turned back on, so he guided others to rush toward the stairs leading to the 2nd floor.
Before beginning the challenge, Luck had suggested, "Why not just have the Bird A who found stairs keep exploring the second floor instead of teleporting?"
It was a viable strategy, however that would mean the aforementioned Bird A had to explore the area by itself. And again, it wouldn't be easy to steal from the shop if encountered alone.
Ultimately, that strategy wouldn't do their exploration progress any favour.
As they teleported, Bird A summoned beasts subsequently arrived at the 2nd floor, and he once again guided them to explore the floor in earlier formation.
(Well, this challenge is going to be even harder than exploring the armor ants' nest, eh?)
Allen thought to himself, and amidst that, the other summoned birds kept arriving on the second floor, splitting off to progress down different paths.
With overwhelming intellect, Allen continued to mentally map the routes and determine the necessary items, keeping everything moving forward smoothly.