“Wow, this feeling…”
Though Lulu unintentionally let that out, everyone felt it.
Until now, the labyrinth had a level of light that they could see clearly with. However, the soil walls of the seventh floor only had minimal lit torches here and there.
“It looks like ghosts showed up after all. Though, these aren’t my strong point.”
“Maal, by some chance are you able to see somewhat in the dark?”
“Most beastkin can.”
“Mud walls, huh? If we knew where the center was, it would be nice to break them…”
The main monsters on this floor were undead and some could pass through walls. It wasn’t so bad when the enemy could only attack from the front and the rear, but if they came from all directions at once it would naturally have been hard for them to cope with.
The exploration was difficult.
The zombies were also fine. Moving corpses were gross, but they were pretty weak. Some of them were excessively strong and clever, but still stopped after their heads were crushed. There were also abnormal conditions like poison and the like, but they could be cured with healing magic.
It was gross collecting magic stones from the undead. Though there was a mental problem with it being disgusting, thanks to the Goblin Bludgeoning Demon Ria-sama, the other members’ loads weren’t that much.
The problem was the ghosts.
So that their physical attacks could be effective towards them, they imbued magic on everyone’s weapons the previous night.
Using magic to create barriers was the normal way to prevent it. However, when exploring for a long time, it was impossible to keep defensive magic up constantly.
Ria, who was calm while being surrounded by ghosts, was the exception. The vanguard warriors were used to pain, but this was exhausting.
The ghosts’ attacks stole endurance and magical power from being touched directly. Giving dizziness and lightheadedness, the sudden attacks were dreadful as armor couldn’t defend against them.
Ria, who had an abundance of abnormal condition resistances, was hardly affected with her magic and willpower.
It didn’t feel real since the ghosts were like 3D CG. At best, they gave her goosebumps.
Probably due to her race, Lulu was strong against the ghosts’ attacks. Maal made use of her senses, quickly avoiding direct contact.
Taking a short rest, the group took out a map. From the way things had went so far, the guardian’s room must be in the center. Though there were a lot of blank areas, they didn’t have the time to fill it out.
Motivated with Ria’s rough words, the group dove towards the guardian.
They were in a room with a high ceiling and cold air reminiscent of catacombs.
Standing in the middle was a knight dressed in elaborately ornate armor. Its hand held a long sword, its face covered and hidden with a visor.
However, it held a different atmosphere.
A specter knight.
This was the place the Ogre King said he first lost a comrade.
“Spread out!”
They didn’t have time to spare. If the person didn’t have resistance against it, just being there sapped their vitality. That was the specter knight’s ability.
The specter knight’s focus turned towards the largest figure, Gig.
Its gaze was harmful. Gig held his chest, stumbling forward and crouching down.
Moreover, without wielding its sword, it pointed towards Carlos with its left hand.
Losing the feeling in his left arm, Carlos lost balance of the weight of his shield.
“Eyaaaah!”
It parried the katana attack skillfully. Its skill in combat itself was also high.
Maal fired an arrow from behind, piercing its armor. However, it didn’t appear to damage it at all.
Gig, healed by Lulu’s magic, swung his warhammer downwards, but it dodged magnificently, repaying him with an attack to the side.
Fresh blood splattered. Simultaneously, Gig felt his vitality being snatched.
But at that moment, Ria did not overlook the small chance that had opened up.
She attacked with an upward diagonal slice, and though the specter knight parried with his sword, it couldn’t completely kill the momentum. The attack sent its helmet flying. [TN: Gyaku Kesa]
There was, of course, the skull of a skeleton.
The arrow Maal hit with had also corroded, falling to the ground as the crack in the armor regenerated.
“Nee-chan, this is bad! My magic can’t undo it!”
Lulu, who had healed Gig, was heading towards Carlos. Serge put acceleration magic on Lulu. Seeing the specter knight’s motion, he didn’t know if Lulu would be killed.
Though Maal had hit with another arrow, they had no answer to their current circumstances.
Maal exclaimed in a crying voice.
Though Rufus had done detailed investigations into most fields of magic, holy magic originates from power based on praying to god. The temple did not hand out control of it. Ria and Lulu as well, as those that could be called his disciples, they had no knowledge of it.
Serge shouted. He had the ability to see the other party’s vitality. Though in this case, it was more like negative vitality.
“If that’s how it is, we’ll just shave it down.”
Gig started returning attacks. Ria circled behind to attack, giving the specter knight no room to dodge.
When Carlos and Gig became unable to move from the specter knight’s attacks, Lulu would heal them immediately.
Serge launched offensive magics to give an opening.
Surprisingly, the final blow was from one of Maal’s arrows.
The specter knight fell, its contents turning into ashes.
Leaving behind its weapon and armor, there was a magic crystal inside.
“It isn’t cursed. It’s armor is imbued with an auto repair function, same with its sword, as well as having the ability to steal endurance from those it cuts.”
“If only it were a katana… Even if the armor doesn’t fit, does Carlos want to use the sword?”
Since the long sword had a weight that could be used with one hand, it would be just right for Carlos. She thought that, but there was a problem when he actually swung it.
Though the sword he was using now was also new, it’s things like length and balance were chosen carefully. If there were slight incompatibilities in combat, it could easily be fatal.
“Then Serge, store this. After we get to the next floor we’ll take a break.”
Even though the specter knight was defeated, it wouldn’t feel like a rest in a place like a cemetery.
As Lulu treated their abnormal conditions, drinking magic recovery potions, the group set foot in the eighth floor.