"Well then, we part ways here. Come find me in a few days for your weapon." Tsubaki waved and vanished into the Dungeon entrance.
The 24th Floor, the Giant Tree Labyrinth.
A pack of Hobgoblins—monsters that look like Goblins from the upper floors but stand over two meters tall—lurked in the mist. Their eyes glowed red as they growled at the intruder. Upon spotting Roland, they charged without any coordination, driven only by a bloodthirsty desire to tear him apart.
In such a cramped space, their massive bodies couldn't exert full power, but their sheer numbers would make an ordinary party panic.
Roland exhaled. He didn't draw the sword at his waist. Instead, a massive amount of mana surged around him. The air seemed to shimmer, and anyone standing near him would have felt a sudden sense of oxygen deprivation.
He raised his right hand, a faint light condensing in his palm. Then, a piercing screech echoed—the sound of a thousand birds chirping. Lightning was grasped in his hand. Using it like a whip, Roland lashed out at the horde.
Swoosh!
The chain of lightning cut through the air with a sharp whistle, striking with terrifying speed and power. In an instant, the lightning pierced one Hobgoblin after another, twisting through the air as if guided by a tracker, skewering them like meat on a kabob.
The air filled with the smell of ozone and burnt flesh. Blood sprayed from wounds only to be instantly vaporized by the high-temperature electricity, creating a macabre mist rising from the holes in their bodies. Those trying to flee were caught instantly, their faces frozen in terror as they slumped to the ground.
In the blink of an eye, the entire pack was annihilated by a single move. Roland clapped his hands, looking pleased. "Easy. Next floor."
Deep within the Giant Tree Labyrinth, Roland's gaze locked onto a unique tree hollow—a vast opening covered in what looked like transparent crystal. It wasn't the jagged crystal found on the 18th floor; it was smooth and flat, like a layer of frozen ice.
Roland could feel a damp breeze, a stark contrast to the gloom of the labyrinth. He could even hear the faint sound of rushing water. This hole led to the stairs descending to the Lower Floors. Beyond this point lay a world filled with water.
As Roland prepared to climb up using a vine, the nearby foliage rustled. Suddenly, a massive, moss-covered fist tore through the air, aimed straight at him.
Bang!
Roland barely raised his arms to block. The sheer force sent him flying through several trees until he came to a stop against a giant trunk, rolling for several meters.
"Cough... Good grief. Why do I always run into special monsters? This Dungeon definitely has a grudge against me." Roland pushed himself up, staring at the two-meter-tall creature rushing toward him.
A Moss Huge. Its body was covered in gaudy green moss that stood up like sharp dragon scales. Its skeleton was made of wood, with roots extending to its fingertips. Its mouth and eyes were split wide, resembling a demonic face.
With a dull, deafening roar, the Moss Huge clasped its fists together and smashed down at Roland.
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Danmachi : Mage's Infinite Journey (168 Chapters – Ongoing)
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Boom!
Dust billowed as the ground shattered, leaving a cracked crater where Roland had just been standing. Realizing it hadn't killed the adventurer, the Moss Huge turned its head warily, its arms twitching, ready to strike.
In that instant, Roland suddenly appeared before it, his fist wreathed in flames as he smashed it into the monster's disgusting face.
"Consider this payback for that first punch!!"
The monster stumbled back, its face charred and leaking green sap. Vines from its legs dug into the ground to steady its body. It roared at Roland, spraying foul saliva, as its massive arms spread wide. Its body began to creak and pop, small lumps bulging across its shoulders, neck, and limbs—as if it were preparing to fire something.
Roland wouldn't give it the chance. He raised his hand and unleashed a Flame Shield. Unlike the human-sized shields of the past, with his mana maxed out, the shield expanded to cover the entire Moss Huge.
At that exact moment, dozens of sharp Seeds fired from every inch of the monster's body. These projectiles weren't shot in a straight line but rained down from all directions.
However, it was useless. The Flame Shield plowed through the seed rain and crashed into the Moss Huge. The shield then expanded and exploded, swallowing the monster in smoke.
Roland summoned an Ice Shield to block the seeds ricocheting off the ground, then cast Flame Pillar into the smoke. Violent flames erupted like a volcano.
The Moss Huge shrieked. As the smoke cleared, its charred body was revealed. Its outer armor of roots was gone, and its red eyes were dim.
"It can still regenerate? What a stubborn monster," Roland noted, surprised as new moss began to sprout over the charred areas. "But I'm waiting for my magic to charge... what are you waiting for? To die?"
Sensing its end was near, the monster sent vines through the ground to bind Roland's feet, then turned and bolted toward the forest.
As long as I can reach that place! the Moss Huge thought, reaching out toward the trees.
Roland compressed an expanding fireball into a thin disc, which began to spin at incredible speeds, cutting through the air. With a step forward, his mana guided the spell toward the fleeing beast.
Snap!
The "Aero-Slasher" caught the Moss Huge, slicing through its body. Roland clenched his hand, and the fire-element disc expanded and exploded into a massive pillar of fire.
The spot where the monster stood was now a charred crater. The Moss Huge had been turned to ash—even its Magic Stone was pulverized. Nothing remained.
"That must have been an Enhanced Species that devours Magic Stones. Normal Moss Huges aren't this tough." Having spent days here with Ais, he had seen them before, but none were this durable.
After confirming its death with his mana, he turned toward the next floor. If that thing had escaped into the forest, he would have had to hunt it down; leaving an Enhanced Species alive is never good for other adventurers.