11 Ⅱ
Why did a BOSS suddenly show up?
And from the looks of it, it's going to be a real pain to deal with...
Isagi couldn't help recalling how, back when he'd been exploring that place called the [Dragon Palace]—in other words, the remains of the Leviathan—he'd likewise run into a BOSS known as the "Monster King."
Could it be.
That his skill would actually take effect even outside the Dungeon?
Why?
Was it because they'd drawn near the [Black Dragon]?
Did these Monsters that had escaped from the Dungeon still retain some kind of connection to it, even after coming up to the surface?
There was no way to know the answer to that question.
And judging by the current situation, unless they dealt with this [Mad Dragon], there'd be no way to get inside the Dragon Valley.
So....
Let's try operating it and see.
Right now his heart was linked with the [Soul Teardrop]!
Teardrop Big Bro was himself, and he was Teardrop Big Bro!!
Either way, let him first take a look and see just what level this gatekeeper BOSS of the [Dragon Valley] really was—
Finn, Ottar, and Ais were all going all-out at this very moment!
The subjugation battle against the Corrupted Spirit was harder than they'd imagined, because right now the enemies on their side weren't just the Corrupted Spirit—there was also the ["God of Death and Wine"], along with a "Female Dragon-Species Monster" of at least Lv.8.
That's right.
Right now, over on the Corrupted Spirit's side, it wasn't alone—there were three troublesome foes!
Just a moment ago.
When the ["God of Death and Wine"] had emerged from the flesh-orb Ottar destroyed, the Corrupted Spirit had also revealed her true form within the darkness.
It was an indescribably twisted existence.
Up between the dark ceiling, a pale flesh-orb bulged out, swollen like the bloated tail-end of some insect, and from deep within it stretched vine after vine of flesh-colored, tendril-like growths.
On the largest and thickest of them all.
Extended a deep-purple, female humanoid figure—that was the "Corrupted Spirit."
It drifted in midair, letting out a shrill, nauseating laugh, its pair of eyes fixed unblinkingly on Ais.
"Ailiya——"
It called out again and again, the craving, greedy expression on its face utterly undisguised.
It simply wanted Ais (Alia).
For that it would spare no price, and so, from the very start, the Corrupted Spirit had laid out every last one of its trump cards.
That was a dragon-species Monster from the deep levels, presumed to be at least Lv.7. After being parasitized by the Jewel Fetus, the Corrupted Spirit called it the "Female Black Dragon."
Of course.
There was no way it could be as strong as the true [Black Dragon], but even just being Lv.8 was more than enough.
Everyone abruptly realized.
This subjugation was far more difficult than originally planned.
Because at present there were three beings on the Corrupted Spirit's side presumed to be at least Lv.8, and they came swarming in all at once, instantly throwing the adventurers' "arrangements" into disarray.
"Freya Familia, take on that ["God of Death and Wine"]!"
"Astrea Familia, take on that parasitized [Female Black Dragon]."
"We'll hold off the Corrupted Spirit first—once you've finished off your opponents, come back and support us!!"
Almost immediately, Finn made the most correct arrangement.
For now, they had to deal with the enemies separately.
Each Familia already had its own "tactics," and mixing them together would only make things troublesome—better to fight separately for the time being.
And so.
The battle swiftly unfolded across this "demon realm" full of pale, fleshy lumps, and the first thing to light up was, of course, the fox-girl maiden's level-up magic.
"Beloved auspicious snow, cherished deep crimson, dearly-loved white light—please accompany them at their side and watch over the love-wish of two thousand nights!"
Fox tails formed of magic power appeared behind the maiden.
A single tail could add one more target to her magic [Myriad Treasure Mallet], and soon nine fox tails coalesced into shape.
"Devourer of all things, fulfiller of every hope, tail of the auspicious beast—[Dance]! Grow larger!! Its power, its deeds, countless treasures, countless wishes. When the bell tolls, pray for glory and fantasy."
The linked chant began.
Golden little mallets fell simultaneously upon the heads of Ais, Ryuu, Tiona, Lefiya, Finn, Gareth, Riveria, Ottar, and Allen Fromel.
That still left Hedin, Hogni, and Miss Heith, but it didn't matter—she'd simply chant the magic once more.
Casting the level-up magic on everyone right away was, of course, so that they could meet the first wave of engagement with greater fighting strength, avoiding any sudden casualties, and could also better adapt to the unknown enemies.
This had been the very "tactic" that Isagi and the maidens had confirmed.
Haruhime was now Lv.5. Whether in mental strength or in control over her magic, she was long past the "little rookie" she'd been back at Lv.1.
Whether it was the duration of her magic or the number of times she could use it, both had made tremendous progress.
It was no longer like before.
When she'd had to treat it ever so carefully as a "trump card."
Though she hadn't yet reached the point of being able to sustain it through normal combat indefinitely, she had a fairly comfortable margin—and moreover, there was that [Mystery] item Isagi had earlier asked Asfi to make, the one called a "battery," which could store mental strength inside it, giving Haruhime even more leeway when casting her magic.
As the golden light shone.
Ais and Tiona once again advanced in perfect coordination, directly blocking the enormous "Female [Black Dragon]" before them.
Even if it was a counterfeit, no one dared take it lightly.
An unknown dragon-species Monster from the deep levels—even if it wasn't a "Monster Rex," it was still an extremely troublesome creature, and after being parasitized by the Jewel Fetus, it had even gained the ability to cast magic. That was the most troublesome part of all!
A Spirit's magic was completely different from what the adventurers used—it was something more ancient, more primordial.
Even Riveria or Lefiya, in a one-on-one situation.
Would be overpowered when facing a Spirit's magic.
What's more, after parasitizing a dragon-species Monster, it had gained an unimaginable "physical strength" as well—it practically had no weaknesses whatsoever.
Fortunately.
The maidens had already grown accustomed to facing such "hexagonal warrior"-type enemies.
In Isagi's special Dungeon, weren't BOSSes like this everywhere? The only difference was probably that Isagi wasn't here right now.
That actually left the maidens a little unaccustomed.
Perhaps out of reliance, perhaps out of habit—but now was truly not the time to be distracted.
Ais and Tiona, one on the left and one on the right, had already dashed toward the Monster.
Ryuu, meanwhile, guarded at the side of Lefiya, Haruhime, and Heith, serving as commander, observing the entire battlefield and preparing to devise the next combat strategy.
Without a doubt, the opponent on their side was the weakest.
Whether it was the main body of the Corrupted Spirit or that ["God of Death and Wine"], both were surely stronger than this counterfeit Black Dragon before them.
In that case.
Their side had to finish the fight quickly, and then go support the others!
____
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