A massive body, nearly eight meters tall, is wreathed in flames. The original boss of the dungeon, “Titan Vanguard”, has been changed to “Flame Titan”. Its disheveled hair had turned into fire, the red glow in its eyes intensified, and its already thick, enormous frame became even more imposing with the searing heat.
There came a heatwave and roar that shook the space. The Flame Titan was rejoicing in regaining its true power. Or perhaps it had found a god and was enjoying the chance to resume the battle.
The mouth that stretched unnaturally wide across its face made me think so.
“……I knew it’s gonna be a giant-type guardian.”
Mia-san lightly swung her chain-axe, the chains clinking. From beneath her hood, her lips curled into a sly grin.
“I see. The ‘Titan Vanguard’ in Alvis Dungeon is not just a giant type. Its true identity is the flame titan who was stripped of the fire with a seal.”
I swallowed hard. So it’s true—there really is a Flame Titan in the Alvis Dungeon. The idea that their king, Flamebone Surtr, lies deeper underground suddenly feels a lot more convincing.
“There’s no need to panic. If the king is there, then of course his subordinates would be as well.”
Felix-san readied his staff, his sharp eyes turning toward us.
“Just as planned.”
At Felix-san’s signal, everyone dispersed. The enemy slams his fist into the ground. A tornado of flames swirled and the entire room shook. If that hit you, both the burns and the impact would be fatal. But in terms of the sheer, instinctive fear it stirred, yesterday’s “Incarnation of Rage” was far more terrifying.
“Wake up.”
At my voice, the wind spirit Sylph and the flame spirit Salamander jumped out. The wind blade cuts through the enemy’s shoulder. The scale-shaped barrier that nullifies the flame protected us from the heat wave.
“Guo-oh!”
Holding down its slashed shoulder, the titan groaned. The wind blade cannot fire repeatedly. But it’s powerful enough.
『It doesn’t measure up to yesterday’s incarnation.』
Nodding at Solana’s analysis, I activated Blessing of the Sun. As golden flames wrapped around my body, my senses were instantly heightened.
“Vuooooo!”
A vast battlefield.
The enemy leapt low and landed right in front of me. The ground shook, and the roar echoed through the space. But rather than feeling scared, the feeling of “wanting to confront it” comes first.
“Get out of the way!”
Because I can’t afford to stop!
I burst forward, diving in close to its feet. Looking up at a foot the size of a table, I slipped around behind it and slashed lightly at its leg. The Salamander spirit protected me from the flames surrounding its body.
The enemy raised its fist—likely preparing to unleash fire. But before it could, Felix-san swung his staff, and a chunk of ice pierced into the titan’s hand.
“Gaaah!”
The titan’s right fist froze solid, extinguishing the flames that had cloaked it. Mia-san stepped in front of me and activated the Axe Warrior skill—Immovable and Mighty Strength.
“Haa!”
Earlier, Mia-san had blocked the shockwave from the flaming tornado with her axe. The Crimson Axe gleamed, its magical rune letters repelling the force of the spell. The frozen right hand of the titan shattered completely.
As the titan collapsed to its knees, Mia-san, Felix-san, and I closed in to surround it.
“Ooh…”
The enemy should be a powered-up boss. But we’re overwhelming it—thanks to the god’s skill, the dwarf’s runes, and the coordination of our party.
Maybe… just maybe, we really are becoming a true party.
I raised my voice to my companions.
“We’re almost there!”
“Yeah!”
The Flame Titan crouched down, clutching its lost right hand.
A low growl escaped its mouth.
“Grrr…! OOOOAAAHHHH!!”
The entire space is shaking, and the Blessing of the Hunting God also detects that the enemy is gaining enormous magical power.
Mia-san stepped back.
“No way……”
I also have a bad feeling. Felix-san’s eyes widened.
“Magical power is contracting in the center of the body? This reaction…”
Felix-san shouted.
“It’s going to self-destruct!”
If it explodes in such a closed place, we will definitely be annihilated!
“Finish it right away!”
In response to Felix-san, I tried to kick the ground. However, suddenly, my Alarm skill conveyed something unusual. The light that can be unsealed is on the wall very closely.
| “Anti-Titan ballista” can be unsealed. |
“Ba-ballista……?”
The image of the giant bow from the passage we came through flashed through my mind.
No time to hesitate. Now’s the time to act!
“Wake up!”
As I activated my power, the entire wall lit up.
What burst forth was a massive mechanism. It’s a ballista—a relic resembling an enormous crossbow. The huge bow, as wide as a full-grown adult, was set horizontally. Loaded in it was a massive bolt, more like a spear than an arrow.
Its tip gleamed sharply. Then, as if moving on its own, it aimed straight at the titan—and fired the massive bolt.
“Gugaaaaa!”
The spear pierced deep into the titan’s chest. The death cry of the monster was painful to the ears.
“O-one hit?”
“What an incredible blow……”
The Raven Warriors also stood there in a daze. The flame on the titan gradually weakened and then it fell to the ground.
“Ooou……!”
The keeper of the dungeon stretches out a resentful hand to us. The fire covering its body had already been extinguished, and it had returned to the original “Titan Vanguard” form. Its head turned to ash, and the remaining right hand crumbled away in pieces.
Aside from the lingering warmth in the air, the boss chamber had returned to what it was just moments ago.
“That’s….”
Safi, her green hair swaying, poked her head out from the backpack.
“…Just like the golems—that’s a defensive mechanism of the dungeon. Something hidden and had been sealed away…”
I wonder if it’s a trap from a long time ago.
Mia-san took off her hood and bent her mouth as she wiped her sweat.
“This is near the throne room, right? Did they really have to set traps this far out?”
“I-I mean, it’s true the battle wasn’t exactly going in their favor, but still…”
Safi leapt out of the backpack. Her dark, wide eyes stared towards the back wall.
“I think we’ll understand once we get there!”
Without hesitation, Safi marched across the vast chamber.
“The throne should be in that direction, deep in this area!”
We hurried after her.
This is translated by Yume Neiji. Kindly read at yumeineijiworks.wordpress.com.
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