Chapter 57: "Parallel Incantation"

"Was that just a voice!?"

When the overly mournful scream echoed through the labyrinth and reached everyone's ears, including Rige, everyone stopped in their tracks.

"That's Raul's voice!"

Tianna cried out.

"Captain!"

Tiagne was also in a panic.

"Ais!"

Lefia was at a loss.

Ais frowned and was about to rush out when Rige grabbed her wrist.

"Here they come!"

Rige, holding Ais's hand, stared down a fork in the path with a gaze sharp as a blade.

From there, a tremor grew louder and more intense, gradually approaching.

Before long, several figures emerged from the fork.

"Captain!"

Tiagne's worry turned to joy.

Unfortunately, her joy was premature.

"Run!"

Leading the charge, the nimble and well-known hero of the small race, the genuine Level 6 Finn, shouted to Rige and the others.

Behind him, the fearless Gris and Bert were also fleeing in a panic. Raul, as a supporter, was being carried by Bert, his body emitting black smoke and a putrid odor, looking as if he were on the verge of death.

Before the group could react to this shocking situation, it appeared.

The creature's body was predominantly yellowish-green.

Its swollen, seemingly tender green skin was adorned with colorful patterns.

Numerous short legs formed its lower body, while its upper body, resembling a small mountain, was perched atop the long lower body. Flat, thin arms extended from both sides, each ending in four slits that looked somewhat like fingers.

It was a worm.

Or rather, a monster that resembled a worm.

The worm-like monster, which vibrated as it moved, stood four meters tall, its massive body almost touching the ceiling. Its width was nearly equal to the distance between the two sides of the path, blocking the passage as it collided with the labyrinth, chasing after Finn and the others.

"What, what is that!?"

Lefia let out a scream, her face pale with fear.

Not just Lefia, but Ais, Tianna, and Tiagne also instinctively took a step back, their faces filled with terror.

The Level 1 adventurers of the prestigious Loki Family, the geniuses, were now horrified by the disgusting monster.

Only Rige, upon seeing Finn and the others, immediately began his incantation without hesitation.

"O relentless sun in the sky, all things flee from your presence."

"Let the laurel armor bloom."

"Ramule."

A deep green light membrane flashed, enveloping Finn, Gris, and Bert, causing their speed to suddenly surge.

"What is this?"

The three were momentarily stunned, then heard Rige's voice again.

"O arrows of liberation, bow of sacred wood, I am the master of the bow."

"Block, elf archer."

"Penetrate, arrow of certainty."

"Curved ray."

In the next moment, a beam of light shot out in an arc, narrowly grazing the heads of Finn and the others, and struck the massive worm-like monster.

"AAAAH—!"

The monster's entire body erupted in flames, its charging form being burned away, and it let out a screech like a broken bell.

This attack finally alleviated the situation, allowing Finn and the others to quickly escape the worm's pursuit thanks to the enhancement provided by the protective magic.

"Captain!"

Seeing Finn and the others escape, Tiagne was about to rush forward in relief.

But Finn and the others' expressions did not relax.

"Run!"

"Don't just stand there!"

"You fools! Run!"

Finn, Gris, and Bert shouted as they charged toward Rige and the others.

"Go!"

Rige reacted first, picking up Lefia, who had let out a scream, and turned to run.

Ais instinctively followed closely behind.

Only Tianna and Tiagne, after a moment of hesitation, finally understood why Finn and the others were fleeing in panic, and why even Rige had chosen to retreat without hesitation.

Because the pursuing monsters were not just one.

When the first worm-like monster was struck down by Rige's magic, more worm-like monsters appeared behind it, trampling over their fallen comrades and charging straight toward them.

"Are you kidding me!?"

"Run!"

Tianna let out a scream, and Tiagne's face turned pale. The two no longer hesitated and turned to run.

The top-tier strong and talented members of the Loki Family, in that instant, fled in a panic, much to the surprise of onlookers.

Fortunately, the enhancement from "Ramule" was still in effect, otherwise, they might have been caught by the massive worm-like monsters.

"What is that, Finn!?"

Tianna finally caught up with Finn and the others, shouting at him.

"I don't know." Finn, looking at the light membrane enveloping them and glancing at the calm Rige, said, "At least, I have no information about such a monster in my memory."

This was a serious matter.

As the leader of the family, Finn was always cautious and well-prepared. Before each expedition into the dungeon, he would memorize all the information about the monsters on each floor and the map of the labyrinth.

Finn's memory was as good as Rige's, and he remembered the layout of the 51st floor clearly. He was leading the way without needing to look at a map, running without hesitation, even as the path twisted and turned, and the forks were numerous.

For such a Finn to say he had no information about the monster, it could only mean one thing.

That it was a completely new monster.

Just like the crocodile dragon that appeared on the 6th floor.

"Abnormal situation"

Ais whispered, and everyone's expressions turned grave.

Especially when they saw what was happening behind them, their scalps tingled.

"Roar!"

"Screech!"

The giant worms were chasing them like tanks, while also extending tentacles to grab any monsters they encountered.

They watched as a black rhinoceros struggled desperately but was swallowed whole by a worm monster.

The other monsters met the same fate, being hunted and consumed by the worm monsters without exception.

"Are they eating magic stones?"

Tiagne's voice was almost a moan, and everyone's hearts sank.

"Enhanced species? And so many!?"

Lefia, being carried by Rige, was no longer concerned about her embarrassment, her face as white as paper.

Only then did the women understand why Finn and the others were running.

Because they were facing a group of enhanced species.

Creatures that were rarer than rare species, whose appearance would put the guild on high alert and immediately offer a bounty for their extermination, were now appearing in groups.

Could there be a worse situation?

Unfortunately, there was.

"Get out of the way!"

Rige, who had been silent, suddenly spoke, maintaining his position of holding Lefia and grabbing Ais's hand, and suddenly lay down.

"Get down!"

Finn's reaction was swift, and he trusted Rige's sudden warning without hesitation. He ordered everyone to lie down.

At that moment, a purple liquid, like a high-pressure water jet, shot past, hitting the wall in front.

"Sizzle!"

The wall hit by the purple liquid immediately began to dissolve at a visible rate, turning into a puddle of mud in an instant.

This scene immediately reminded Ais and the others of the Cadmus spring.

In that chamber, there were many traces of something being corroded and dissolved.

"Could it be!?"

"It was them who killed the dragon!"

Tianna and Tiagne called out in unison.

"Raul!"

Ais also understood why Raul was in such a state, being carried by Bert.

Because he had been hit by the corrosive liquid and suffered from its effects.

"Indeed, it's these monsters."

Rige, who had been silent, finally confirmed this, his gaze on the worm monsters becoming sharp.

The pursuing worm monsters, under the trembling gaze of the group, raised their upper bodies, opened their sticky mouths, and sprayed jets of liquid, sending waves of purple corrosive liquid toward them.

"Be careful to avoid that corrosive liquid!"

Finn warned loudly.

Naturally, no one was foolish enough to touch that terrifying corrosive liquid.

At that moment, everyone began to dodge, either moving around or jumping rapidly to avoid the incoming liquid jets.

"Clang!"

Ais drew her sword, seemingly preparing to fight.

"Don't go, Ais!" Bert shouted, "If you cut the monster, the corrosive liquid inside will burst out. That's what happened to Raul!"

Those words made Ais stop in her tracks.

"Rige, kid!" Gris shouted at Rige, "Can you cast another spell in this situation!?"

Since close combat was not an option, they could only use ranged attacks.

And Rige was already prepared.

"Curved ray!"

Rige, having completed his incantation, unleashed the spell without hesitation, sending a beam of light through the air to strike the worm spewing corrosive liquid.

"Curved ray!"

"Curved ray!"

"Curved ray!"

One after another, the incantations and releases sent beams of light hurtling toward the worms, making them scream in agony.

The explosions and screams mixed together, creating a sense of smoke in the air, shaking the entire labyrinth.

Seeing Rige, while holding Lefia, calmly dodge the corrosive liquid and continuously cast spells, everyone's expressions changed.

"Parallel incantation?"

Finn's whisper contained both amazement and satisfaction.

"Damn monsters!"

Bert cursed aloud.

New book, seeking support! Recommendations! Collections! (*^▽^*)

(End of Chapter)