Want to read ahead? Join my Patreon for just $7 to get early access to all upcoming chapters!
> Patreon.com/NegativeTranslations
________________________________________
Chapter 23: The Power of Magic
The professional smile on Liliruca's face froze. A trace of astonishment flashed through her large eyes, immediately replaced by deep disappointment. She lowered her head, biting her lip tightly. That dejected appearance did indeed look somewhat pitiful.
Standing behind Aiden, Robin took all of this in. A flicker of hesitation passed through her lake-green eyes. With her kindness, she wanted to extend a helping hand to this seemingly pitiful girl. However, Aiden was the Captain of the Focalors Familia. Robin believed that he must have his own reasons for making this decision. She wouldn't interfere with Aiden's choices just because of a momentary softness in her heart. She simply stood there quietly, expressing her unconditional support through silence.
Aiden's rejection was clean and decisive, leaving no room for maneuver. Liliruca Arde's small body froze in place for a moment before she finally turned around dejectedly and disappeared into the noisy crowd. Aiden didn't spare her another glance, leading Robin straight into the Dungeon entrance.
The spiral staircase extended downward, isolating them from the noise of the surface. The unique air of the cavern, a mix of soil and faint magical energy, enveloped the two of them. Robin followed quietly behind Aiden. She didn't ask about his decision just now, but Aiden took the initiative to explain.
"The quality of Supporters varies greatly. There are many with ill intentions. They rely on adventurers, but they can also become the biggest hidden danger at critical moments."
He paused, lowering his voice further.
"Besides, because of my skill, we're likely to frequently encounter... special monsters. If there's an outsider with us, my secret will eventually be exposed. Teaming up with outsiders also risks exposing our ability data. In this place, the more trump cards you hold, the longer you live. So, if we can avoid teaming up with outsiders, it's best not to."
Finally, he added a meaningful remark: "You can know a person's face but not their heart. Never judge a person's good or evil easily based on their appearance."
He was subtly reminding Robin that the seemingly pitiful Dog Person girl might not be as simple as she looked. Robin was intelligent; she understood the deep meaning in Aiden's words almost instantly. Although she didn't know the specific reasons, she trusted Aiden's judgment unconditionally. She simply nodded gently to show she understood.
Their steps were light as they chatted idly on the way down, quickly reaching the 2nd Floor. Just then, Aiden once again felt that familiar sensation of being "watched" by the Dungeon. The walls began to squirm. New monsters were birthed from the stone, hatched, and then dropped to the ground.
It was Slimes and Hilichurls again. In addition to Pyro Slimes, there were now Anemo Slimes, glowing with the breath of the wind, and Geo Slimes, encased in hard rocky shells. The variety of Hilichurls also increased. Aside from the basic type wielding wooden clubs, there were Hilichurl Shooters carrying quivers and crude wooden bows, and Wooden Shield Hilichurls holding a wooden shield in the left hand and a stone axe in the right.
Aiden was already quite familiar with these monsters. Facing a rolling Geo Slime, Aiden didn't use his sword to hack at it like yesterday. The hard rock shell would wear down his weapon too quickly. This time, he held nothing back.
"In the depths of my heart's lake, the ripples of the past rise—"
With a short chant, a spectral blue light flashed across his body. Immediately after, he raised his hand, aimed at the Geo Slime, and uttered a simple yet terrifyingly powerful word from his mouth.
"Gospel."
A practically inaudible noise manifested as an invisible cannonball, blasting out instantly. The Geo Slime's hard shell was as fragile as paper before this sound wave. It, along with the magic stone core inside, was instantly pulverized into dust.
Not far away, several Hilichurl Shooters were preparing to draw their bows. Aiden shifted his gaze and spoke again.
"Gospel."
Invisible sound waves spread out in a fan shape, sweeping over the Hilichurls. Their bodies shook violently, as if struck by an invisible hammer. Bones shattered inch by inch, blood sprayed from their mouths and noses, and they collapsed softly to the ground, dead instantly.
This terrifying and eerie lethality made even Robin look sideways. As a user of sound magic herself, her Pinion's Aria had strong penetration, but its effects leaned more toward "cutting" and "piercing." It was far less brutal and domineering than Aiden's magic.
Aiden himself was startled by the power of this magic belonging to Alfia. As expected of her. Every spell was extraordinary, with destructive power that defied standard specifications. But now, these spells belonged to him.
After using magic, the Slimes and Hilichurls of the upper floors could no longer pose any obstacle to the pair. Aiden didn't even need to draw his sword. Just by constantly repeating the word "Gospel," he reduced groups of monsters to nothingness. Robin would occasionally strike, using a sound wave to precisely eliminate monsters attacking from blind spots, but most of the time, she dutifully played the role of a Supporter, following behind Aiden to help pick up magic stones and materials.
The two advanced with irresistible force, quickly passing through the 5th Floor and arriving at the entrance to the 6th Floor. Unlike the narrow, monotonous tunnels of the upper floors, the space on the 6th Floor opened up significantly. It was a massive cavern with a ceiling tens of meters high, dotted with phosphorescent moss that looked like stars in the night sky. The ground was no longer a flat dirt path but became rugged and uneven. Huge stalagmites and stalactites crisscrossed, forming a natural labyrinth. The air also became damper and colder, with water droplets falling from high above, making crisp drip-drop sounds.
And the moment they stepped into this area, new enemies appeared. From behind a massive stalagmite, several giant Slimes, comparable in size to calves, rolled out. There was a Large Pyro Slime burning with raging flames, a Large Cryo Slime covered in heavy ice armor, and a Large Geo Slime composed of a solid boulder. Their size was greater, and the magical fluctuations they emitted were stronger. The mere momentum of their rolling was alarming.
At the same time, on a distant stone platform, several Hilichurl Grenadiers appeared, holding simple crossbows with small Pyro Slimes tied to the bolts.
Whoosh!
The sound of breaking air rang out as several burning arrows dragged long tails of flame, shooting toward the two. And directly in front of them, several Hilichurl Berserkers wielding burning wooden clubs let out strange cries, spread their legs, and launched a straight-line charge.
________________________________________
Support this fanfict by leaving Positive Review, Comments, and Power Stones.