Survive the labyrinth with EX-grade traits

-Swish─!

“Kiaaaak!!!”

I swung my sword with all my strength, cutting through Grillops’ body, despite the flames.

Puhwak!

Instead of blood, a dark smoke-like substance burst out of the deep wound.

“Kkeuuee⋯.”

[Grillops casts ‘Quickstep’.]

‘Now it’s regenerating while using techniques.’

The monster wrapped its fist in black magical power and struck out.

-Swish

I dodged and continued to block its attacks.

“Kkeuk!”

One by one, I blocked and evaded the attacks, but I was being pushed back.

‘If I keep going like this, I’ll just give up more ground. I have Yeriel’s healing, and I have potions too!’

Fortunately, I had consumed Earth’s Steadfastness, which gave me strong resistance to being pushed, increased defense, and reduced damage from piercing attacks.

I’ll take the hits and get the rewards.

I swung my sword at the monster’s body, taking the blows and counterattacking.

-Swish.

-Boom.

-Swish!

I trusted my armor to block the non-threatening attacks.

I dodged the attacks that could have killed me, making small movements to avoid the trajectories.

My repaired armor was gradually getting damaged, but it was doing its job.

“Yeriel, heal!”

─Yes!

[The effect of the heal restores the wounded area.]

The wounds on Grillops’ body were increasing one by one, faster than it could regenerate.

Similarly, my body was accumulating damage, but it was slowly healing thanks to the healing.

‘It’s not as effective as it was before, but this is good enough!’

In a melee battle, the monster was at a disadvantage.

[Rugen’s Grip]

[Black Fang]

Even from afar, Yeriel was casting magic to support me.

Anyway, she had already attracted attention by casting healing magic, so it didn’t matter if she attracted more.

I just needed to block the monster from approaching them.

[Grillops casts ‘Earth Strike’.]

It seemed that the monster realized it couldn’t get any closer without dying.

While I was being beaten, the monster closed its eyes and jumped high, striking the ground.

Boom!!

I moved away from the circle on the ground, but I was still swept away by the black shockwave that spread from the point of impact.

I crossed my arms and blocked it, but I was slightly pushed back.

[Grillops casts ‘Quickstep’.]

Grillops quickly twisted its body, creating a bizarre backflip to quickly create distance.

‘Damn. Flexible Body trait and Quickstep.’

Bang!

I glared and charged forward.

[Grillops casts ‘Crouch’.]

[Grillops casts ‘Divine Ray’.]

The monster crouched and spread its hands wide towards me.

Swish─

It was different from before! The charge⋯ was faster!

If I tried to dodge, it would be too late.

Without hesitation, I switched to my greatsword.

-Swoosh

Yeriel created a protective barrier in the middle of the divine ray to block it.

-Crack!

It seemed to block the ray, but it was easily broken, probably because it was the same divine attribute.

But.

[Divine Shield]

The ray was blocked just before it hit me.

“Nice assist!”

Thanks to that, I gained some time.

I switched back to my sword and focused.

-Wooom!

The killing intent I had gathered from fighting Grillops was burning on my sword.

“Release Killing Intent!”

As soon as my sword couldn’t withstand the shaking, I swung it at Grillops.

“Take this!!”

-Woo─

The intense divine ray continued to emanate from its hands.

The released killing intent collided with the ray.

At first, it seemed like the red energy was being pushed back, but then it devoured the white light and hit the monster, causing an explosion.

─Booom!!!

“Kyaaak!!”

After the monster’s final scream, the arena was filled with smoke and silence.

Finally dead?

[Grillops casts ‘Intimidation’.]

“───!”

A ripping scream created a gust of wind.

The thick smoke dissipated.

“Wa⋯ What a disgusting bastard. You survived that?”

The monster, crouched and regenerating, revealed its miserable state.

“■■■■!”

It had lost its sanity, screaming unintelligibly.

How long will it keep regenerating? Is it drawing resources from somewhere else?

I bit my lip and was about to charge again when something happened.

“Here you go!!!”

.

.

.

Damn. Damn.

Damn it!!

That stupid warrior, the party leader, should have been more strongly opposed to entering this strange cave.

If there really are gods, I want to ask them.

Why couldn’t I just live a normal life in Zone 6, return to the labyrinth, and make a fortune in the 4th or 5th floors?

Why couldn’t I just continue living that kind of life?

Damn it, this is the result of everyone but me agreeing to enter. What’s the point of a majority vote?

If I could see those dead bastards again.

I’d ask them if they feel good about dying because they acted beyond their means.

Especially the pig who touched the bead without a second thought, even though it was obviously dangerous, placed in the center of the box.

I want to kill that bastard with my own hands, not just let him die from the golem’s attack.

Kwaaang!!!

My hands were shaking at the intense battle happening in the distance.

Yeah. It’s fortunate that I survived thanks to the kindness of another adventurer party after the temporary party died.

But, is it okay to just keep watching like this?

Is there really nothing I can do here?

From the moment we entered the cave, I’ve been swinging my sword, and almost got killed by someone else’s stupid decision.

Now, I have to just watch as a mad monster rampages.

A sense of helplessness overwhelmed me.

The party leader. Yeah, his name was Ahren, right? He said this.

─Even though it looks like that, it’s a monster that can use long-range attacks and magic. Focus on defense and evasion, and leave the attacks to me!

The two people in the rear could have summoned a protective barrier or cast magic to interfere with the enemy.

But I could only move stealthily and quickly.

I had no way to influence the battle.

I bit my lip and racked my brain.

‘Think of something that will help the current situation! Don’t just be a burden!’

I had to act quickly.

“Hey! Where are you going!”

The priest was angry, but I ignored her.

There was no time for explanations.

-Wooo.

I circulated a tiny amount of magical power throughout my body, activating Eavesdrop.

“Calm down. All I have to do is pick up the bead and throw it before the golem reacts. It’s simple, right?”

I suppressed my trembling hands and walked slowly.

The wall that had opened to reveal this space was still open.

I walked from the space with the cocoons to the area with the boxes.

The golem in the corner was⋯ still not reacting.

“Yeah, it’ll open its eyes as soon as I pick up the bead.”

I took a deep breath and reached out to the bead.

As soon as my rough fingers touched the smooth surface.

Flash!

The Golem opened its eyes, stood up, and stared at him with a chilling gaze.

If it caught up, he would die for real this time. From now on, it’s a race against time!

He sprinted towards where Ahren’s party was fighting.

“Kuaa!”

The Golem in the corner followed him, then leaped a short distance.

Kwoong!

The Golem momentarily blocked his path.

“Shit!”

He had escaped once before, so he could do it again!

He slid on his back, passing under the Golem’s open legs.

The Golem’s giant arm swung through the air, missing him.

The Golem furiously chased after him, and he ignored it as he quickly stood up.

He balanced himself and ran, and soon he saw Ahren.

“Catch this!”

He gathered all his strength in his right arm and threw the orb.

Thud!

This was the best he could do.

Please, let it hit!

.

.

.

Thump!

Jacob, who had been out of sight for some time, shouted and threw something towards them.

What was this?

He caught it and saw that it was the black orb guarded by the Golem.

‘Why did he throw this? What does he want me to do with it?’

-Stomp, Stomp, Boom!

As expected, the Earth Golem was running towards them with heavy footsteps that echoed in the distance.

This guy was ruining everything!

…

Wait a minute.

No matter what, he wouldn’t have thrown it to ruin the situation.

After thinking about it, he understood Jacob’s intention.

‘Yeah, he wants me to use the orb as bait to make the Golem attack Grillops and fight each other! With the Golem’s current state, it’s worth a try!’

As long as Grillops’ regeneration didn’t stop.

Unless a skill with greater attack power than the Grillops’ life force release was used, the battle didn’t seem like it would end.

If things went as expected, there was a solution.

Dudu—

The Golem started rolling in a spherical form, just like when it first appeared.

Although it didn’t have any special traits, he could hit it from this distance.

There was no time to waste. He quickly took a stance and threw the orb.

Thud!

“!”

As soon as Grillops was hit by the orb, he quickly rolled to the side.

The Golem, which was rolling at full speed, passed by him and body-slammed the Grillops.

Bang!!

Although it had withstood his attack, it couldn’t endure the Golem’s follow-up.

Grillops flew and rolled on the ground with a loud crash.

“■■■!!!”

Grillops’ eyes were completely flipped.

The Golem picked up the orb from the ground and turned its back, ignoring the Grillops.

The Grillops roared and charged at the Golem as if to say, ‘You dare to hit me and run away?!’

Thud. Thud. Stomp!

The Golem silently protected the orb and headed back to its original position.

The Golem started to respond as it saw the cracks on its body from the Grillops’ continuous attacks, its eyes glowing with a deeper light.

“Kuo!”

“■■■■■!”

The Golem pushed with overwhelming mass and destructive power.

The Grillops wrapped itself in black magic power, striking the Golem’s body and spewing flames.

The two monsters fiercely fought, determined to kill each other. He slowly drew his sword as he watched from a distance.

In truth, for everyone’s safety, the Grillops was a monster that kept regenerating, no matter how much they cut it.

It was best to leave this place while the Golem was distracted by the Grillops.

‘Still, I have to see the end.’

[Chaos says to do as you please.]

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity.

He infused his sword with magic power, determined to kill the monster.

He took a stance, twisting his upper body, his right arm behind him, and his left hand on the tip of the sword.

He kept his center of gravity forward, stamping his left foot on the ground as if ready to pounce.

He recalled the finishing blow used against the Full Serpent.

‘Strictly speaking… that attack failed.’

He had gathered a massive amount of magic power and extended it, but—

It didn’t live up to its name as a ‘one-point breakthrough’ as the Full Serpent’s body exploded with magic power.

This time would be different.

He pictured the image in his mind.

Instead of stabbing and exploding the magic power inside to cause an explosion, he focused on gathering the power at a single point and piercing through.

Crack. Crack.

The sword’s blade was on the verge of shattering as the magic power concentrated, forming cracks.

The rippling magic power distorted the surroundings, focusing at the tip of the sword.

“■■■!”

“Kuaa!”

The entangled monsters were in a sorry state.

The Golem had cracks all over its body, and its once-intimidating red eyes had weakened.

The Grillops, covered in wounds and struggling to regenerate, was also in the same state, with darkness seeping out.

When the sword could no longer contain the magic power, he redirected the flow to his toes.

He waited for the moment when the two bodies overlapped, when the Grillops would be vulnerable from behind.

“Kuo!!!”

“■■!!!”

Now!

Bang!

“Haaa!”

All his nerves focused on the tip of the sword.

As he exerted force to extend his tensed arm, everything else in his vision turned white.

Only the Grillops’ back and the sword in his hand occupied his sight.

Before the sword touched the Grillops’ back, he held back the magic power that was about to burst out.

‘Not yet. It needs to gather at a single point. A little more, just a little more!’

The Grillops belatedly sensed his presence and tried to turn its body.

It was too late.

Thud!

The moment the sword touched the Grillops’ body, he added his left hand to his right, which held the sword, and stabbed deeper, then released the suppressed magic power.

Thud!!!

The magic power burst from the tip of the sword, piercing through everything in its path.

Not only the Grillops but also the entangled Golem.

“■■…”

The Grillops looked down at its own body, which had been pierced through.

It tried to say something, but no sound came out.

Finally, its regeneration seemed to have stopped.

“…”

The Grillops fell forward, lifeless.

‘It’s finally dead.’

He looked down at the scattered sword fragments and the hilt of the Barrak, which was all that remained. He heard a sizzling sound.

He raised his head and looked ahead.

The Golem was in the same state as the dead Grillops.

A cylindrical hole penetrated its body, and half of its core was gone.

‘That’s the core that made up the Golem’s body. I just aimed for the moment they overlapped, and I got lucky.’

“Ku, kuo.”

The Golem looked at the orb lying nearby with a wistful gaze.

It stretched out its hand with difficulty.

Kwoong—

It fell back, unable to reach the orb.

Silence.

He tensed his body, worried that the Grillops might resurrect again or that the Golem might move again with its half-remaining core.

10 seconds. 30 seconds. 1 minute.

“It’s over.”

He judged that waiting any longer was pointless.

He immediately relaxed his whole body and sat down.

“Haa.”

“Ahren.”

“Brother!”

‘Why brother…?’

He breathed a sigh of relief as he saw the three of them running towards him.

Now, all that was left was to return.

‘When we return to the city, we can rest for a few days. We’ve been working hard since the transfer, right?’

[Chaos says you worked hard today and deserves a rest.]

He nodded and turned his head.

“Haa.”

Above the Grillops’ chest, a hole was gaping, with light blue and black energy floating above it.

There was even a treasure chest that hadn’t been opened yet.

Well, it’s time to receive the reward for all the hard work.