Chapter 285

Chapter 285: Chapter 285

Sizzle—!

The blood splashed across the ground and, in the blink of an eye, dissolved a deep crater into the stone.

"T-That acid is terrifying..."

Lefiya’s face went pale.

If someone took a direct hit from that stuff, there probably wouldn’t even be bones left behind.

"We can’t fight this thing at close range."

Ryuu immediately prepared to begin chanting.

"I’ll handle it."

Kiriya stopped her.

"That thing’s huge. If you bombard it with Magic, there’s a good chance we’ll bring the entire passage down."

He glanced at the corrosive blood eating through the floor.

"And the acid spraying everywhere would be dangerous too."

Ryuu had no objection.

She simply pulled the others farther back.

"Kiriya, avenge me!"

Tiona shook a small fist at the monster, her face filled with righteous fury.

If its acid had not been so absurdly dangerous, she would already have rushed over and beaten the creature into paste herself.

"What are you going to do?"

Ais watched him curiously.

Kiriya did not unleash any spectacular sword technique.

Instead, his hands rapidly formed seals before he expelled a thin blade of highly pressurized water toward the monster.

"Water Release: Severing Wave—Fission."

The high-pressure water blade shot forward faster than sound and struck the strange worm. The instant it entered the creature’s body, it began multiplying rapidly.

Its blood might have been capable of corroding metal, but it could not instantly dissolve high-pressure water blades saturated with enormous amounts of chakra.

Squelch! Squelch! Squelch!

Within moments, hundreds upon hundreds of pressurized water blades erupted throughout the monster’s body from the inside, shredding its internal organs into pulp.

Its magic stone was naturally struck as well.

The worm released one final shriek before dissolving into smoke and disappearing.

"S-So strong..."

Similar exclamations came from nearly everyone behind him.

Ignoring their astonishment, Kiriya walked forward and picked up the magic stone, which had shattered into several pieces.

"It’s different from ordinary magic stones."

Ais stepped closer and examined it.

Everyone else nodded as well.

Most monster magic stones were blue-violet, but the center of this one shimmered with a multitude of colors, while only its outer portion retained the usual blue-violet hue.

"What the heck was that thing?! Seriously!"

Tiona stomped her foot angrily.

She had unquestionably suffered the greatest loss today.

Her expensive first-class weapon, forged at the cost of more than a hundred million valis, had been destroyed just like that.

"Aaaaagh—!"

At that moment, a familiar scream echoed from somewhere ahead.

"That voice... Raul?"

Tione’s expression changed sharply.

"Something happened to Captain’s group."

Before she even finished speaking, she shot forward like an arrow released from a bow.

Kiriya and the others exchanged glances and immediately followed.

After passing through several caverns, they ran straight into Finn’s group.

"Captain! Are you all right?"

Tione called out loudly.

"You’re safe. Good."

Finn first showed relief before immediately continuing.

"We need to withdraw. We encountered some strange worm-like monsters. Their bodily fluids can dissolve even first-class weapons, and most of ours have already been damaged."

As he spoke, another swarm of the strange creatures surged out behind them.

These were somewhat smaller than the one Kiriya’s group had encountered, but their numbers were overwhelming.

"Fall back."

Finn gave the order immediately.

Without proper weapons, fighting monsters like these would only create unnecessary casualties.

"It’s fine, Captain."

Tiona proudly slapped Kiriya on the shoulder.

"We’ve got a secret weapon against these things. Right, Kiriya?"

"Hm?"

Finn and Bete both immediately turned toward him.

Kiriya did not bother explaining beneath their curious and probing gazes.

He simply walked to the rear of the group and used the same technique again.

"Water Release: Severing Wave—Fission."

Shhk-shhk-shhk-shhk!

In the blink of an eye, the passage ahead became a deadly web woven from high-pressure water blades.

Every worm caught within it was sliced to pieces without exception, shrieking as their bodies vanished one after another.

’No chant at all... and he can still use Magic with that much power and range...’

Lefiya’s heart was shaken yet again.

How had someone even trained themselves into becoming this strong?

"Beautiful."

Finn stared for a moment before applauding in admiration.

"Tch... that really is convenient Magic... no, ninjutsu, was it?"

Bete tried his best to sound indifferent, while inwardly he was practically drowning in envy.

He wanted it.

He just refused to say so!

With the immediate crisis resolved, Finn quickly ordered everyone to take out potions and treat Raul and the others who had been injured.

Finn himself, however, remained off to the side, licking his thumb.

"What’s wrong, Captain?"

Tione approached him.

"I just have a bad feeling."

Finn frowned.

"My thumb has started aching, but I can’t figure out where the danger is coming from."

Halfway through speaking, he suddenly froze.

His expression changed drastically.

"Quickly. Back to the camp."

Everyone immediately looked toward him.

"Riveria and the others may be in danger."

"What?"

Ais and the others were stunned for only a moment before urgency filled their expressions and they prepared to move.

"Wait."

Kiriya stopped them.

The Loki Familia members immediately turned toward him, their confusion mixed with obvious impatience.

"I’ll give everyone a ride."

Kiriya smiled.

"It’ll be much faster."

...

Floor 50.

The once quiet and peaceful area had already turned into a battlefield.

Large numbers of strange worms poured out through the passage leading from Floor 52, forming a rolling tide that surged toward the Loki Familia’s camp.

Fortunately, Finn had left Riveria behind to hold the camp.

Without someone of her caliber present, that single charge alone might have completely wiped out the expedition members who had remained behind.

Under Riveria’s command, the Loki Familia adventurers maintained an organized formation and defended themselves with tense but disciplined movements.

The worms’ acid was extraordinarily dangerous, but the Loki Familia members were hardly amateurs.

After paying a price to learn how the creatures fought, they gradually adapted and managed to hold the defensive line for the moment.

But only for the moment.

If things continued like this, their formation would inevitably be overwhelmed.

Against monsters whose bodily fluids could dissolve weapons, Riveria’s Magic was undoubtedly the most effective solution.

Unfortunately, she had been occupied with commanding the defense and had no opportunity to complete a chant.

Whoosh!

Near the entrance leading toward Floor 52, Kiriya and the others suddenly appeared.

The sight awaiting them immediately made even their group jump.

"What the hell is going on here?!"

Worms filled the surrounding area in every direction.

The moment they noticed the newly arrived adventurers, they immediately sprayed torrents of corrosive fluid toward them.

Kiriya’s hands flashed through seals.

"Wind Release: Net Technique."

Violent wind erupted around the group and formed a thick barrier of compressed air, blowing every incoming stream of acid away before it could touch them.

"Oh..."

Ais’s eyes immediately brightened at the sight.

"Awaken."

She murmured softly.

Wind wrapped around her body, and Ais transformed into an arrow as she shot straight into the worm swarm.

Her sword flashed repeatedly, cutting down monster after monster almost effortlessly.

Because powerful winds surrounded her entire body, every spray of corrosive blood was automatically repelled before it could make contact.

"Not bad."

Seeing that, Bete immediately became interested.

He rushed over beside Ais.

"Ais, give me some wind too."

Ais complied.

Her Magic was absorbed by Bete’s magic boots, Frosvirt, and violent wind began swirling around him as well.

The werewolf immediately charged into the enemy and killed several worms in quick succession.

The most troublesome thing about these monsters was their acid.

Once they had a reliable way to deal with that, killing them became far simpler.

With Ais, Bete, Kiriya, Ryuu, and the others joining the battle, the pressure on Riveria’s side immediately dropped.

"Captain and the others are back! Reinforcements are here! Hold the line!"

The disturbance Kiriya’s group caused within the monster swarm naturally drew the attention of Riveria and the others.

Their morale surged at once.

The defensive line, which had been wavering under the pressure, immediately stabilized.

With the worms’ attention now drawn toward Kiriya’s group, Riveria finally gained the opening she needed to begin chanting.

"—Soon the flames shall be released, the approaching fires of war, inevitable destruction.

The horn of battle sounds high. Let the raging conflict that consumes all descend.

Crimson flames, merciless inferno, thou art the incarnation of hellfire that sweeps away armies beyond number.

Bring down the curtain upon this great war.

Burn everything to ash.

Sword of Surtr—

My name is Alf."

Riveria raised her staff.

"Rea Laevateinn!"

In the next instant, an endless sea of crimson flame erupted across the battlefield and swallowed the strange worms scattered throughout the area.

---------

Read 40 Chapters ahead and support me on patreon.

patreon (.)com/Newbietranslator