Live Dungeon!

Two days left until the Security Team’s announcement regarding the coming Stampede. Stephanie had returned to her post in her Clan’s main party; they were currently in the middle of exploring layer sixty-five, with the Black Gate leading to layer sixty-six visible in the distance.

But they were also facing a roadblock: a monster that looked like a combination of a loach and a catfish; it had given the Scarlet Devil Squad quite a hard fight before. Its name was still undecided since Amy had yet to appraise it, but in Live Dungeon, it was called the Bolseyer.

The Bolseyer loitered around the Black Gate to the sixty-sixth layer, guarding it. The Gate itself stood on an island surrounded by a doughnut-shaped lava ring. The Bolseyer swam in this ring; if one wanted to go across, then it was necessary that they defeated the monster first.

In order to open a Black Gate, one must not be under the hostility of a monster. It was technically possible, albeit difficult, to open the Gate without the Bolseyer noticing, but Ealdred Crow had chosen to defeat the monster outright.

“I can take care of the opening jump just fine, but you all should be careful, just in case. Then I’ll use an Eidolon to fish it out of the circle… and we’ll just see how it goes from there. Will that be all right, everyone?” Rook asked once he was done outlining a general plan for the team.

“Hmm, well… First of all, our two Tanks must be as careful as they can not to fall into the lava. Also, the Bolseyer spits lava bombs as one of its methods of attack, so it would be helpful if everyone could position themselves so that you don’t have any allies directly behind you. I am aware of that as well, of course,” Stephanie proceeded to explain.

“Understood,” Bittman replied, and the party’s other Tank, a woman, nodded.

Rook was surprised to see how openly Stephanie was stating her opinions to the two Tanks. She had been so much of an overly humble part of the party before, not expressing any of her opinions unless asked.

“Stephanie’s changed quite a bit, hasn’t she? In her mood and aura stuff…”

“…Why’re you asking me, boss?” Sova responded with a hint of annoyance to Rook’s whispers, while maintaining his black greatsword.

Sova, influenced by his respect for the Crimson Spellblader and his ability to wield practically every weapon, also practiced the use of multiple weapon types. Out of what he had tried, the greatsword was what he was currently least skilled with, but he had managed to wield one and make it through the sixty-fifth layer’s monsters just fine.

Once everyone was ready, Rook summoned a few Goblins and sent them towards the center of the circle. As soon as the Goblins got near the Black Gate, two of them disappeared in an instant.

The black, serpentine-looking Bolseyer had leaped out of the lava and instantly flicked away two Goblins. Rook ordered the remaining Goblins to escape, intending to send them away from the combat area.

Before the Goblins could get away, however, the Bolseyer slithered up to them and swallowed them whole. The two Tanks used <<Combat Cry>> to pull the Bolseyer’s aggro; Stephanie cast <<Protect>> for both of them, and then <<Haste>> for Sova as he rushed forward.

The Bolseyer, as a catfish would, had round, blank eyes and whiskers growing from its nose. Its long, serpentine body was covered in some sort of red membrane.

Sova went around behind the Bolseyer as it was being distracted by the two Tanks, and swung at its black body with his greatsword. Despite the monster’s mollusk-like appearance, however, its body was quite tough. The slimy texture of the covering layer also seemed to dampen incoming impact.

The two Tanks were preoccupied dealing with the Bolseyer’s signature slide-tackles, unable to do anything else due to just how difficult the attack was to dodge.

“<<Summon — Slime>>.”

Rook installed a Water Magic Stone onto his staff and cast the skill to summon a blue, gelatinous-bodied Slime. The creature bounced forward, heading toward the Bolseyer.

…But then it got squished by the Bolseyer and promptly faded away. Sova kept on attacking, but was having a hard time getting through the monster’s lava-like coat and tough skin. Moreover, each time it took a hit, the coating membrane ripped apart, gushing with a slimy substance that burned Sova’s body in spots.

“<<Heal>>.”

Stephanie, having set up an <<Area Heal>> beforehand, ran into its perimeter and cast <<Heal>> for Sova. Then, seeing that the Tanks were starting to be fatigued from dodging all the attacks, she cast <<Medic>> for both of them.

“Our current strategy doesn’t seem to be working! Tanks, I suggest that you take turns using <<Combat Cry>> to have it alternate between you two! Bittman, are you good to start!?”

Bittman responded to Stephanie’s suggestion by raising one hand without looking back and giving a thumbs-up, then he immediately unleashed <<Combat Cry>> at the Bolseyer again. Rook was impressed by Stephanie’s instructions; he rummaged through his Magic Bag and pulled out a medium-sized Green Magic Stone, placed it on the ground, and stuck his staff to it.

“<<Summon — Orc>>.”

The Green Magic Stone on the ground began melting down and splitting apart, forming into three cudgel-wielding Orcs. Rook ordered them to charge at the enemy.

The Summoner Job had the ability to summon Eidolons based on the caster’s mental energy, and also the consumed Magic Stone’s size, quality, and properties. Although the number of Eidolons that could be summoned at one time was limited by the Eidolons’ ranks, the ability to summon monsters to add to a party’s limit of five members was a significant advantage.

In exchange, however, Summoners were severely limited in personal attack and defense options, and since their main function consumed Magic Stones in addition to their mental energy, the Job also required excess financial strength to operate viably. Although it was possible to perform a Summoning without Magic Stones, it consumed a great deal of energy and would only result in Summoner-specific, non-monster Eidolons.

Most of the Summoner-specific Eidolons were mostly Arcane Beasts that performed healing and support. The catch was that their skills were only good for auxiliary effects, being not as effective as those of the other Jobs. These Arcane Beasts could be summoned for less mental energy by consuming colorless Magic Stones, too, but that still would do nothing to help with their low effectiveness.

After a change of plans, the Tanks took turns defending against the Bolseyer’s tackle attacks, while Sova and Rook’s Orcs attacked. Then the Bolseyer suddenly stopped all movement, as if its batteries had run out…

“Retreat!” Stephanie shouted.

Sweltering heat blew violently from the Bolseyer’s body. The two Tanks stepped back while blocking their faces with their hands, and Sova dashed away, having been quick to react to the shout. The three Orcs took the full brunt of the heat, turning into light particles and fading away.

Stephanie promptly healed the two Tanks, then shot <<Air Blades>> into the Bolseyer’s wide-open mouth.

The Bolseyer slid along the ground, intending to swallow the two Tanks as they were stunned by the heat wave, but it instead ate the bladed wind blasts right up; it flinched and screamed in pain. Meanwhile, Stephanie reapplied her allies’ support skill effects.

The Bolseyer slid back and dove into the lava, then popped right back out. It shook off the lava off its whiskers, then spat out a bunch of red-dyed rocks from its mouth. The Tank woman, the primary target of the swift attack, avoided a direct hit but was still knocked quite far back. Then the rock fragments hit Bittman in the shoulder with such force that he was blown away as well.

“<<Heal>>, <<Heal>>.”

Stephanie healed up the two Tanks, but then the Bolseyer bounced up and repeatedly spit lava at them like a cannon bombardment. Bittman moved quickly to avoid direct hits, but still took accumulated damage from all the smaller fragments that he could not dodge.

The Heavy Knight lady, on the other hand, staked her tower shield onto the ground and defended against it head-on, but eventually lost to the impact and was pinned under the molten rock. She was subsequently burned to death by the sheer heat.

“<<Summon — Wyvern>>.”

Rook used three Medium Green Magic Stones to summon a Wyvern and sent it toward the Bolseyer, which now was staying half-submerged in the same spot in the lava. In an effort to stop the bombardment, Sova jumped onto the Wyvern.

The Wyvern dodged the lava blasts by gliding to the sides. Once close enough, Sova hopped off the Wyvern’s back and struck the Bolseyer’s head with his greatsword.

…But the monster was unharmed. It proceeded to open its mouth so wide, one would think that its jaw had fallen off. The Wyvern knocked Sova away, and was then caught by the Bolseyer’s mouth.

The Wyvern, burned by the lava spilling from the monster’s mouth, screamed in pain as it turned into light particles and disappeared. Sova groaned in annoyance at how his previous attack was ineffective. He proceeded to store his greatsword into his Magic Bag and pull out a long sword instead. Although Swordfighters could still use their skills with a greatsword, the long sword was their most effective weapon.

“<<Enchant Earth>>.”

Sova, with his long sword enchanted with increased strength, stabbed the monster’s face, but the red, slimy coating prevented his weapon from piercing through.

“Oh c’mon!”

Although frustrated that his attack was yet again unsuccessful, Sova retreated… but then the monster’s long, elastic black whiskers tangled around his leg.

“<<Raise>>.”

Stephanie, seeing that Sova was trapped, quickly cast <<Raise>>. A pillar of light shot up into the sky, and then particles of light gathered to form the Tank lady.

The Bolseyer, previously trying to drag Sova into the lava, now turned its little eyes around and charged in a straight line at Stephanie, influenced by the aggro her casting of <<Raise>> had generated. Its whiskers still clung to Sova’s leg, so he was dragged along, but at least he was no longer at risk of death from drowning in lava.

“Bittman! <<Combat Cry>> repeatedly, please!”

“<<Combat Cry>>,” Bittman shouted, immediately reacting to Stephanie’s cue.

“<<Summon — Giant Golem>>.”

Rook used a Large Earthen Magic Stone to form a gigantic rock statue in a bid to defend Stephanie.

But then the Bolseyer rammed at the Giant Golem as it was still forming, instantly neutralizing it and scattering rocks all over the place. Sova, seeing an opening, slashed at the Bolseyer’s whiskers with his long sword, causing it to wriggle in pain and loosen its whiskers’ grips.

Having escaped from his restraints and seeing that the Bolseyer had stopped moving, Sova proceeded to attack it again, aiming at its whiskers. The Bolseyer wriggled again, as if it hated taking a hit, especially there.

“Aha! I’mma cut these right off!”

Just as Sova was about to attack the Bolseyer’s newfound weakness again, it started bouncing around like a fish out of water. Sensing that his attack was working, Sova gave it another shot.

That moment, the Bolseyer used the recoil from its bouncing to leap high into the air.

“What the–“

…Was Sova’s last words before being squashed to death by the gigantic, serpentine body on its way down. The giant rock that had been the Giant Golem got blown from its resting place with the impact; it ricocheted and crashed into Rook, knocking him into the lava.

The smaller rocks bounced, too, hitting Stephanie and hurting her quite badly. Bittman has only suffered minor injuries so far, while the Tank lady held her abdomen in pain, still unable to put her equipment back on.

“<<Rai– <<Heal>>.”

In the past, she would have used <<Raise>> instantly to draw the Bolseyer to her, giving the Tanks the time to recover the uncollected equipment and get their positionings in order, as had been the old expected procedure. Now, however, Stephanie healed her own wounds first before casting <<Protect>> for the two Tanks.

“Bittman! Use <<Combat Cry>>! Drink a Blue Potion if you need to — just make it go after you!”

“Understood. <<Combat Cry>>.”

Bittman chugged down a vial of his Blue Potion, of the not-so-tasty brand, and then continuously unleashed <<Combat Cry>>. Stephanie dodged the Bolseyer’s attacks for about thirty seconds before the <<Combat Cry>> spam took effect, finally taking the Bolseyer’s attention off her.

“You two, avoid its attacks and use <<Combat Cry>> as many times as you can! I need the time to get everything back together!”

The Tank lady had yet to recover her equipment, so she faced the Bolseyer in only her flaxen clothes. She spent all of the mental energy she had before her previous death into using <<Combat Cry>>.

Then Stephanie cast <<Raise>> twice, making it just a few seconds past fifty after Sova and Rook had died. Light particles formed back into their living bodies; Stephanie held her aching head while sipping from a vial of Blue Potion.

Although aggro generated by <<Raise>> was the highest among the heal-and-support-generated type aggro, the final amount was also influenced by the aggro on the targets of the resurrection. As such, reviving an Attacker would result in not as much aggro being generated; thanks to that and the two Tanks’ efforts, Stephanie did not get targeted even after casting <<Raise>> twice.

Rook and Sova, likely having expected to come back to life in the Guild, were stunned to find themselves still in the chaos of the Dungeon.

“…Huh?”

“Rook! Your armor is over there! Quickly!”

“Y-yes, ma’am!!”

Rook hopped to his feet and went to retrieve his equipment, hurried on by Stephanie. Sova looked at Stephanie, and saw that she was having a hard time managing her aggro and deciding whether or not to heal the two Tanks now.

“…HAH!”

Then he shouted to psych himself up, donned his gear, and rushed toward the Bolseyer, covering for the Tanks as they were running short on breath.

In the following battle, however, the party failed to find an effective means of attacking the Bolseyer; after another half-hour or so, Ealdred Crow’s main party was wiped out.

The five of them in flaxen clothes, and also their Magic Bags, emerged from the Guild’s Black Gate as if they were spat out. They proceeded to withdraw their spare gear from the Guild’s storage and equip themselves, then sat down at one of the round tables, sighing in disappointment.

Then suddenly, Sova bowed his head.

“Sorry — I really mess up there. My attacks weren’t even getting through it.”

“No, no, I should be the one saying sorry. Didn’t think the Giant Golem would be such a bad idea…”

“The red slimy coat was quite a nuisance. It’s effective both for attack and defense, so I say we have to do something about it. From what I could see, the coat’s content is… refilled whenever the monster dives into the lava ring. It would be nice if we could prevent it from doing so, somehow.”

“…Right, it did dive into the lava for no apparent reason a few times. Hey, maybe I could try cooling it down with one of my Eidolons — that’ll be interesting.”

“…Its whiskers are clearly the weakness. I actually felt my cuts do something.”

“That, and the inside of its mouth. My <<Air Blades>> seemed to do damage that one time I used it,” Stephanie said and pondered things over further.

Meanwhile, the other party members looked at her. After a few moments, Stephanie realized that all eyes were on her, and was quite surprised.

“Y-yes? What is it?”

“Nothing, juuuuust thinking how amazing you are, you know. Like, when Sova and I died, I really thought it was all over — but then you managed to bring us back into the fight!”

“Th-thank you…”

“Stephanie, your decision-making and instructions were wonderful. It’s partly thanks to you that I didn’t falter.”

“…Hmph. I’ll admit that you did good — but don’t get carried away. You never know what’ll happen next time.”

“You’re awesome, Stephanie!”

Stephanie, bewildered by all the praise she was receiving, almost deflected them out of humility before stopping herself.

Instead, she said confidently, “Thank you very much. Come, everyone, let us continue our discussion.”

“Oh, Stephanie… How much you have grown…” Rook said, almost shedding a few tears.

“What do you think you are, her dad?” Sova calmly called out Rook’s overreaction.