Hazure Skill ‘Mapping’ wo Te ni Shita Ore wa, Saikyou Party to Tomo ni Dungeon ni Idomu Chapter 25

Chapter 25
Chapter 25 – Progressing, even if just a little

There are 30 floors in Puriff’s dungeon. The adventurers in town call floors 1-10 the shallow floors, floors 11-20 the middle floors and floors 21-30 the deep floors.

According to that we, the ‘Arrivers’, who had just stepped foot into the 11th floor, have reached the middle floors.

A vast underground lake stretches itself out before the teleportation crystal. Whether or not it is really filled with water remained to be seen. As I ponder the subject, the transparent surface of the lake glistens marvelously. The underground lake takes up about a third of the floor’s limestone cave. It is obvious that the difficulty of the eleventh floor has increased drastically in comparison to the previous floors. Even amateurs could see that the crystals growing on every possible surface are highly valuable. If you stretched your neck out over the water, s.h.i.+ning jewels and glittering gold can be seen at the bottom of the transparent lake. Their continued and exposed presence is proof that the eleventh floor is a place in which only the strongest can enter and survive. In town there are only a handful of parties that challenged the middle floors. An average adventurer will be exhausted by the time he comes here. Therefore, only parties with first-cla.s.s strength like the ‘Arrivers’ can come here. There are very few adventurers that make it to this floor and the number of adventurers that come here for gold are even less. If they are strong enough to get here, there are many easier and efficient ways to earn money. Because of that, the profitable treasure ends up being left here.

Of course, our purpose in coming here isn’t the treasure. Our goal is to clear the dungeon. Ignoring the smell of money in the air, we move forwards.

After the eleventh floor the strength of the monsters isn’t the only thing that increases. The size of the dungeon also increases exponentially, so even taking the shortest route will take all night. Therefore, we also step forward without being sidetracked.

The floor’s shortest route has already been recorded on the map Jin recovered from the dead adventurers. They also appear to have had a member with the ‘Mapping’ skill in their party, thus the map is quite accurate. There is no need to worry about getting lost.

Today, our party’s goal is to reach the camping point we had settled on beforehand. It was based on the information we obtained from the map. So far, it seems like my own ‘Mapping’ skill hasn’t been useful at all.

I keep practicing ‘Stealth’ while watching Jin’s fighting, trying to improve my arts. It is the usual dungeon exploration.

My ‘Stealth’ progresses smoothly as I get the hang of it. The real problem lies in the evasion arts. Several days have pa.s.sed since I received Force’s advice. However, I’m still not even able to accurately use ‘Withdraw’. It might be a lack of effort, but I think I merely lack apt.i.tude. I’m getting depressed over it. If you have time to be depressed, practice! At least that’s what they say, but when you’re experiencing it yourself…

For me, the dungeon exploration hasn’t changed a bit, but the way the ‘Arrivers’ fight has completely changed.

“‘Light Up!'”

Rosalia is surrounded by an aura of light. The paladin’s target-drawing art has been activated. Three nearby centipedes react, rearing their heads up as hundreds of feet rush towards Rosalia.

Rosalia takes the Holy Sword Fractus in hand, readying for the a.s.sault. The centipedes seemingly feel threatened. They stop moving their feet and suspend their short range a.s.sault, opting instead for a long range attack which shoots out from their mouths in the form

of a corrosive liquid. Smart little centipedes. As one would expect, the attack is still trivial to Rosalia. Since she couldn’t respond to the attack with her sword, she simply took out her s.h.i.+eld instead.

Force and Jin were behind me, fighting a human-sized bat. It met its end in disgrace. As one would expect, the bats’ strength was no match to Force’s, the only reason they were able to give him a slight amount of trouble in the first place was because of the aerial advantage they possessed, being able to fly. Because of the shockwaves released by the bats’ wings, Force’s sword strikes could be heard echoing throughout the cave.

Me, Erin and Neme are sandwiched between the Rosalia, Jin and Force combo. Erin, who had been facing Jin and Force while targeting a bat, turned around to face Rosalia while switching her target a centipede. The battle between Jin, Force and the bats is stable, so Erin probably chose to lend her strength to Rosalia, who had until then been fighting the centipedes off on her own.

“‘Water Domination!'”

All of the magical energy stored in the tip of the cane is released at once. The released water-blade avoids Rosalia before making mincemeat out of the centipedes. Erin has ma.s.sive amounts of magical power because of her skill ‘Magic Enhancement – Master ‘. While continuously replenis.h.i.+ng the magic of the attack, Erin continues her attack against the centipedes, a never-ending water storm. If you do not run away from the magic range, you can never escape from this attack, but the centipedes can’t even move under the attack. They had only been able to against Erin’s attack thus far because of their moderate defense power, but their strength was all used up.

“Rosalia, all your enemy signs have disappeared!”

With ‘Enemy Search’ I confirm that no opponents survived or escaped. After hearing my report Rosalia hurriedly turned our way and joined forces with Jin and Force, providing them with backup.

“Force, Jin, I’m attacking now! Light Sword Injection!”

Rosalia easily chanted a high-level long-ranged Paladin spell. The light sword shot out towards three flying bats, two were hit. One was. .h.i.t directly on the flank. Another was. .h.i.t on the wing.

Just that was enough for Jin to use as a diversion.

He immediately leapt to the side, running up the wall of the cave. It’s the ‘Climb’ art.

Without pause he jumped off the wall and damaged the bat’s other wing before falling to the ground along with the defeated bat.

Immediately following that, the last remaining bat that had managed to escape Rosalia’s ‘Light Sword Injection’, attempts to flee through the s.p.a.ce Jin had recently vacated in the air.

“‘Block'”

Erin forms a small barrier in front of Jin. Gagin. It is the sound of the bat’s attack cras.h.i.+ng directly into the magic barrier. Jin does not miss his chance. Because of his ‘Shapes.h.i.+fting – Mineral’ skill his black sword sways like the surface of water. Just like that, he extended his right hand and the sword grew longer. Then it twists in order to circ.u.mvent Erin’s barrier. Ater the bat’s head is cleanly cut off, the sword returns to its original shape.

While this happened, Rosalia dealt with the bat that attacked our flank and Force dealt with the bats that decided to attack us on the ground, walking on their two feet.

Using ‘Enemy Search’ I confirm that all surrounding enemies have been completely disposed of. With the exception of our party, I cannot sense any other living creatures around.

“It looks like it’s about over!”

After hearing my words, Erin exhales. The other members also relax, letting go of their intense concentration.

Right, so the real change in the way the ‘Arrivers’ fight is that now each member has carried out their role in the party in order to fight. In the floors so far, the monsters’ strengths were obviously far below each members’ ability and they had been able to take them on individually. However, from the eleventh floor onwards, the monsters are much stronger and numerous. Finally, they will have to fight as a real party.

The Force, Jin and Erin combo was exceptional, Rosalia, who had just joined them, wasn’t lacking either. The awkwardness still hadn’t resolved itself, but it would with time.

“Does anyone need recovery?”

Everyone shakes their head at Neme’s question. Of course the emerging monsters had grown stronger, but they still weren’t strong enough to damage them. If you handle the situation precisely, there isn’t any danger. Since our priest still hasn’t used her buff spell, it can be said that this floor is still not enough to challenge the ‘Arrivers’.

Exactly what you would expect from the party closest to clearing the dungeon. Their strength really is the real deal.

 

 

We are on the way home after our overnight exploration of the eleventh floor. As usual Jin and I get ready for our evasion arts practice, where I am once more expected to battle with him.

While exploring the dungeon yesterday, we had fought whenever there was free time, yet I was still unable avoid any of Jin’s attacks.

I had been so frustrated with myself that I had wholeheartedly practiced ‘Withdraw’ while everyone else slept. Because of that I was somehow able to use ‘Withdraw’. Progress, after a long time. In order not to forget the sensation, I continued to practice it over and over. My eyelids are heavier than usual, probably from lack of sleep.

“Alright! Bring it!”

I brace myself, holding my dagger at the ready. It’s my battle stance.

Pretending to concentrate on Jin’s attacks, I instead focus on his right foot.

It’s because of the long-awaited arts I learned. After dodging Jin’s first attack, I want to see his surprised face. That’s what I planned for. I need him to keep track of my eye movements. I would be grateful if he could be misled by this weak feint, but…

“‘Absolute Shadow!'”

Jin shouts enthusiastically. That’s the sign I was waiting for, I activate my art.

“‘Withdraw!'”

After hearing the attack signal it’s already too late! I can’t make it in time!

Sensing it through my skin, I jump back simultaneously. It’s a feeling similar to intuition. It was an instinct gained from all my battle experiences with Jin.

However, in the face of my evasion, Jin is already one step ahead. He extends his attack with a thrust. The black shadow accelerates further.

Simultaneous use of ‘Absolute Shadow’ and ‘Shukuchi’—

The speed of the shadow exceeds the speed of my visual perception. In the blink of an eye, he was out of sight.

Immediately after, I felt something behind me.

I was defeated from the behind.

Jin easily dealt with my ‘Withdraw’ attempt.

“I surrender…”

I recognize my loss and raise my hand. It was a complete defeat. So far the losses had inspired me, but this time I can’t help but feel the opposite…

“Not bad… Note. You’ve already acquired an evasion art…”

After witnessing the sheer difference in abilities, Jin’s complimenting words sounded like sarcasm to my ears. Even after practicing so hard, I was so easily defeated. Although I hadn’t expected to hold out for long, I was still depressed. Still, I responded to Jin’s words with a cheery half-laugh.

“Thank you… But I was still completely unable to avoid any of Jin’s attacks…”

“Well, I sorta ended up getting serious…”

Shyly, Jin raised his right hand to his head, scratching it. From his use of the word ‘sorta’ I know that his true strength is not just that.

I am not even able to avoid Jin’s halfhearted attacks. I want to break through all of his strength. If someone asks me if I have such a disproportionate ambition, I will answer “yes”. I do not have a special skill. I am not talented. But, this kind of me is still a member of the ‘Arrivers’. I want to stand shoulder-to-should with Jin, I want to fight, that is my only wish.

Therefore, when I look at the current situation, where the difference between him and I is still so vast, it makes my heart heavy.

It means the difficulty still isn’t high enough. The practice isn’t at all enough. The effort isn’t enough. The accuracy of ‘Withdraw’ is unsatisfactory. Easy to avoid. ‘Withdraw’ isn’t enough to begin with. Jin’s attacks still can’t be avoided. I need to quickly learn the next art.

Feeling impatient, I repeat the arts until the sun goes down, carving their sensation into my body.