Chapter 200: |
Dungeon Stampede 2.0 Landslide
[Zubaaaah!!]
"Aagh!!"
Finally closing the distance, I get hit by a strike from the Giant Red Scorpion.
The impact is like being shoved, making me lurch forward. Then, a sharp pain in my back. Wait, it doesn't hurt!?
Confused, I glance over my shoulder and see the auxiliary arm rolling on the asphalt, crushed to pieces by the Giant Red Scorpion's sharp leg.
(The auxiliary arm!?… Thank you! And forgive me for not being able to retrieve you now…!)
A strike from the Giant Red Scorpion's massive pincers. I couldn't completely dodge it. But, the auxiliary arm mounted on my back shielded me, absorbing the damage.
(But… at this rate!)
(Alright, then I'll unleash everything…! All the power I have…!)
"Pixie Queen! Slipstream!!"
[Bwoosh!!]
The Pixie Queen appeared in a dazzling array of colors, conjuring wind magic at once.
Slipstream, is a magic that aids in acceleration.
It creates a low-pressure zone in front of the user to pull them forward and a high-pressure zone behind to push them forward. Though weak alone, it boosts speed significantly when already in motion.
Accelerated by Slipstream, I grabbed Ruu running ahead with full force.
"Ruu!"
"Eek!? Y-yes?"
No time to explain. The Giant Red Scorpion is closing in. I threw Ruu up the slope with all my might.
"Land safely!"
"Huh? Waaaah…!"
Ruu soared skyward with a pitiful cry.
[Whooosh!]
"Damn…!"
The recoil threw me off balance, making me stumble. The Giant Red Scorpion's pincers swung to decapitate me, grazing my head.
But there's no time to cower. I need to evacuate everyone quickly.
"Serai-san! Jump!"
"Huh!? O-okay… hey!"
Throwing Serai-san, larger than Ruu, would leave me vulnerable. So I had her jump herself.
But running up the steep slope, already exhausted, she didn't jump high.
Still, it was enough.
"Queen! Air Catapult!"
[Boom!]
I received Serai-san like a volleyball and the Pixie Queen's magic launched her upward.
"Aaaaah…!"
Like Slipstream, Air Catapult uses the Pixie Queen's wind magic. Screaming, Serai-san soared like a human cannonball.
"Nina-san!"
"Got it!"
[Boom!]
No time to waste. I launched Nina-san right after Serai-san.
"Ugh…!"
Nina-san groaned slightly at the impact but flew in a perfect pose to the top of the slope.
"Grrraaah!!"
The Giant Red Scorpion roared in anger.
Its prey, about to be snatched, vanished before its eyes, clacking its giant pincers furiously.
"Alright, my turn with [Leap]! Queen, let's go…"
[Boom!]
"Wha—!?"
Using my skill [Leap], I jumped.
Level 9 [Leap] stolen from the Giant Grasshopper lets me jump to a building's third floor. Combined with Air Catapult, I soared as if double-jumping.
[Wheeee…]
"…"
My view opened up, feeling the cold air above.
A sudden calm from distancing the imminent danger.
This clarity let me see things objectively. Grateful for that.
From above, I saw Serai-san and Ruu on the slope's peak. Nina-san landed safely too. No enemies at the top. The problem lay on the slope.
I turned to see the Giant Red Scorpion climbing with its pincers raised, roaring. Behind it, a horde of monsters followed.
The situation: ‘Near certain death delayed by six seconds.' Yet, I felt confident in victory.
[Wheeee…]
"Overflow! Hyper Lotion Full Burst!!"
In the air, using all the magic power available, I conjured a torrent of highly lubricating slime.
[Splashhhh~!!]
A massive wave of highly lubricating slime, created by the skill [Mucus], surged toward the approaching Giant Red Scorpions on the slope.
[Thud…!]
"Grrraaah…!"
The leading Giant Red Scorpion collided head-on with the highly lubricating slime tsunami.
But it immediately raised its rear high to withstand the impact. Impressive…!
However, only the Giant Red Scorpions with sharp pickaxe-like legs could do this. Other monsters slipped on the slime and tumbled down the slope like on a water slide.
"Guugah!?"
"Gyaaah!?"
[Crash!… Bang! Bump!!]
Colliding in a domino effect, crashing and entangling, they slammed into the concrete wall at the bottom of the slope.
[Crunch… Smash…!]
I faintly heard bones, flesh, horns, and exoskeletons breaking.
It's a steep slope. Accidents like this weren't uncommon. The concrete wall at the bottom was thick like a coastal embankment. Slamming into it at full speed would surely result in more than just bruises.
As I landed on the slope's top, the monster group crashed into the wall below almost simultaneously.
"But, as expected, one remains… A true boss, not to be underestimated…"
Alone on the slime-covered slope, only the Giant Red Scorpion remained, raising its venomous tail high and halting its steps.
"Grrraaaoon…!!"
[Scrape… Clack…]
Using its pickaxe-like legs for support, it continued to climb the slime-covered slope.
(What a stubborn creature…)
But even though I've exhausted my magic, there's still something I can do. With the remaining magic power…
"Here we go, magic manipulation…! Take this, Slime Nature Alteration!!"
Extending my hand toward the Giant Red Scorpion, I began to alter the nature of the slime adhering to its legs…
[Squish… Squelch… Squelch… (Sliiide! Thud!!)]
"Grrrahh…!?"
"Hahaha! Surprised, aren't you!? This is the result of my special training! The power of slime nature alteration through magic manipulation!!"
[Slurrrp…]
"Grrraaahhh…!?"
The Giant Red Scorpion, losing its grip on the ground, began to tilt and wobble, clearly confused and astonished.
[Zing! Thud!]
"Grrrahhhh…!?"
Frantically trying to regain balance, the Giant Red Scorpion reached out its pincers to grab nearby lampposts and shop roofs. But its power was too overwhelming, effortlessly tearing through the metal poles and shop roofs.
[Clang!!]
"Grrraaaahhh…!?"
In its final struggle, the Giant Red Scorpion, still clutching the tip of a lamppost and a roof fragment, mercilessly began its descent down the slope.
