Chapter 64

To reach the inner passage, we stepped into the room. This time, to prevent being sent flying, I had Cisca place her hands on my back.

"…I knew it would come to this."

"But it doesn't seem to be a teleportation type."

As we advanced to the center of the large room, a magic circle appeared as expected. At the same time, the passage we came from and the one leading deeper were sealed off by walls rising from the floor.

I braced myself, expecting to be sent flying, but as the magic circle's glow intensified, particles of light overflowed from various parts of the walls.

Then, multiple clumps of light formed around us.

I was on guard, expecting something to appear, but what emerged from the light was the usual purple goblins.

"You got me all worked up for this!"

"Did you really expect something grand...? This is anticlimactic."

About 30 goblins appeared, raising their cudgels and charging at us from all directions. Being surrounded by monsters is a pretty bad situation.

However, the opponents were the weakest goblins. No matter how many surrounded us, they weren't a threat, and we took them down one by one.

Both Cisca and I could take them out with a single hit. In fact, a single swing of my bar could take out several at once, and they were quickly wiped out.

"It's not over... right?"

"Next, the ones with swords?"

Without a moment's pause, light overflowed from the walls again. The next to appear were the goblins with swords that we had seen in this dungeon. Their combat power wasn't much different from the first goblins, so our approach to dealing with them didn't change.

After wiping them out, the walls overflowed with light again, and this time, about 30 goblins with spears appeared.

What is this... how long will it go on?

"Are they getting stronger?"

"It seems so... let's not get overconfident and stay cautious."

"Yeah, that's right."

Goblins with bows, shields, magic, black, and red appeared in sequence, and we took them down. They seemed to be getting stronger, which was a bit unsettling.

The strongest we had seen so far were the red goblins. If that's the case, the next ones might be something we haven't seen before.

The walls at the entrance and exit remained closed, so it wasn't over yet.

Reinvigorated, we faced the light overflowing from the walls again.

"Ugh... what is that?"

"Eight-headed goblins?"

What appeared were not the usual goblins that were about knee-high to us, but goblins taller than us. They had black skin, and their chest and abs were rock-hard, making them more muscular than us.

There were about 30 of them. Honestly, it was creepy. It felt like being surrounded by muscular naked men.

Since they were a new species, I decided to check their stats.

――――――

●Evolution Goblin Species: Goblin

Level: 45

HP: 8000

MP: 0

Attack: 550

Defense: 400

Agility: 80

Magic Resistance: 0

Special Ability: None

Skill: Muscle Buster

――――――

Are they that strong? They look strong, but their stats aren't that high. Plus, they don't have weapons, so they shouldn't be much of a threat.

The Evolution Goblins that appeared all crouched down, placing their hands on the ground, and then sprinted forward with incredible speed.

The first one to reach me stomped the ground with its right foot and swung its left fist, delivering a powerful punch.

When the punch hit my armor, it made a dull sound. But I didn't take any damage. Looking at the goblin in front of me, its wrist was bent in a direction it shouldn't be. Hitting armor with bare hands, that's what happens.

In retaliation, I raised Excalibur and stabbed it in the head, then pulled it out and stabbed it several more times. That alone seemed to deplete its HP, and the goblin collapsed into particles of light.

Looking at Cisca, she was dodging the goblins' attacks and countering.

She grabbed the extended arm with both hands, threw the goblin to the ground, and then, without letting go, pinned it down and twisted its arm, making a crunching sound. She then finished it off by smashing its head with her staff.

For someone who can throw with a staff, what's going on?

"Yah! Phew! Well, they're easier to handle now that they're bigger."

"You... you're still as straightforward as ever in that aspect."

"It's the stress, you know. But I try to be restrained in my daily life?"

"Your idea of being restrained is off... somehow."

We continued fighting the Evolution Goblins. She grabbed the last one by the head, smashed it into the ground, and turned it into particles of light.

This one took a bit more effort... but still, Cisca, who usually acts demure, doesn't seem much different in battle. She seems a bit more brutal, though.

She says she's usually restrained, but for her to be restrained... Estelle is the same; the word "restrained" is completely unreliable.

After defeating the Evolution Goblins, more particles of light overflowed from the walls. It wasn't over yet.

The next to appear were over 30 eight-headed goblins with staffs, barely wrapped in rags. They immediately raised their staffs, and small magic circles appeared beside them.

This... could they be mages!? This is bad, Cisca will be caught in the crossfire!

"Cisca! Cast a healing spell on me!"

"Kyaa! W-What, Ohtori!?"

There was no time to escape, as they were already surrounded and the spells were about to be cast. So I pulled Cisca close, shielding her with my body to protect her from the attacks.

Immediately, I felt impacts all over my body, and heard explosions. They were casting various spells.

Since the attacks were penetrating my defenses, it was quite painful. But Cisca kept casting healing spells on me, so the pain quickly subsided.

"Are you okay?"

"Y-Yes..."

"Alright, let's take them out while I shield you with my body!"

After enduring the magic attacks, as soon as the noise stopped, I released Cisca and charged at the goblins. We had to take them down before they could cast more spells.

I wanted to check their stats, but there was no time. They looked similar to the previous ones, so their stats shouldn't be much different.

I reached the first one and slashed it with my bar. At the same time, Cisca hit a goblin with her staff. The goblin collapsed and turned into particles of light.

It seemed their HP was lower than the previous ones. After taking down the first one, I quickly moved to the next.

While moving, fireballs and earth projectiles flew at us, but I guarded against them. Repeating this, we managed to take out all the goblins.

"Phew, we managed to get through... I hope it ends soon..."

"I hope this is the last. Dealing with magic-using monsters is a bit tough for just the two of us."

How long will this goblin rush go on? We've already taken down over 100, and I hope it ends soon.

Perhaps our thoughts were heard, as the light overflowing from the walls changed.

An unprecedented amount of light emerged from the walls and gathered in a distant spot, forming a massive clump of light.

"What the hell is that!?"

"It's huge. I can't handle that, even I can't..."

As the light stabilized, its form became visible. It was a giant creature, similar in size to an ogre or cyclops, walking on all fours with its hands and feet on the ground.

Its body was black, and its head resembled a hippo with tusks protruding from its mouth and two jagged horns. On its back was a transparent, round membrane, inside which a black goblin could be seen.

What is that? We've only seen goblins so far, but suddenly a monster like this appears...

I need to check its stats.

――――――

●Kurus Goblin / Calamitas Species: Goblin / Behemoth

Level: 65

HP: 8000 / 150,000

MP: 0

Attack: 10 / 4500

Defense: 10 / 50,000

Agility: 10 / 120

Magic Resistance: 0 / 0

Special Ability: Control / Hyper Armor

Skill: None / Charge

――――――

...What? No way, this is a joke, right!? What is this!?

Moreover, riding a Behemoth is totally unfair! This is ridiculous!

"It's coming! Cisca, it has an attack power of 4500! Absolutely don't let it hit you!"

"Wh-What? That high! Let's run, there's only one, so we can escape!"

The giant four-legged monster carrying the goblin started moving. With each step, the entire room shook violently.

It gradually sped up, and the room was filled with the constant shaking and the thudding of its steps.

There was no way we could stand up to this without thinking, so Cisca and I turned and ran.

"What do we do? Its defense is incredibly high!"

"Magic... is the only option! Ohtori, can you use wind-based attacks?"

"I can, but it'll be tough to take it down!"

While running, we discussed what to do. Fortunately, there was only one enemy, so we could keep running.

We had wind-based attacks, so we could penetrate its defense, but the Behemoth itself had too much HP, and it would be tough to reach the goblin. Moreover, hitting it while moving was impossible.

The goblin on its back is probably the main body, but climbing up to attack it would be dangerous. The membrane on its back looked thin, but if it benefits from the Behemoth's defense, it might be tough.

We can't just run away... but if we do, we'll leave Noelle and the others behind. If we can take down the goblin on its back, we might be able to turn the tide. What should we do... think, think, I need to think.