There are a lot of ogres, but all the adventurers that made it to the eighth floor are tough.
As the battle starts, it goes well for the adventurers. I see an ogre’s reaction disappearing, followed by another one.
After a while, the ogres that were almost twice as many as the adventurers are now about the same in number.
This is in spite of the fact that there were close to a hundred fifty ogres when the adventurers attacked.
At this rate, the adventurers will win. But just as I’m thinking that, one adventurer reaction disappears.
“What happened?”
Mia asks with concern after seeing my face.
“…One person disappeared.”
That can only mean one thing, this person was taken down by an ogre, and killed.
Mia gulps, understanding that too. We don’t know this person, but it still strikes a chord.
But this is only the beginning.
One is gone, then another. And close to these reactions, is one monster reaction that’s stronger than the others.
About the time when twelve reactions of adventurers disappear, they start to run, getting away from the ogres very fast.
The ogres don’t chase them too far, bringing this battle to an end.
The monsters took more damage, but if we had to call a victor, it would be them.
After all, the adventurers didn’t accomplish their goal.
“What should we do, Argo?”
Asks Rurika after I say what I saw on Map.
“Even if we’re going to fight, we should talk to them first.”
“The adventurers?”
“Yes. If there’s a variant species, it doesn’t hurt to have information. I doubt they’ll be stingy about revealing it. They want those ogres out of the way too.”
Whatever beat back the adventurers can’t be just a normal monster. And it might attack in a way we’re not expecting. Although it would be worse if it didn’t have any special attacks, because it would mean it’s just that strong.
◇ ◇ ◇
We meet up with the adventurers, and feel the heavy atmosphere in the passage.
We see people lying on the ground with their hearts broken, like they’re waiting for death, and ones suffering from their wounds.
Argo was right, they don’t have enough consumable items.
The ones that are particularly bad are the ones suffering from poison.
Poison? An ogre attacked with poison?
Then one adventurer says said poison came from an ogre with a different color.
Mia and I heal the wounded, and give them water. They take it and lie down, and seem to be settling down.
“Poison… They wouldn’t be equipped for that here.”
Argo is also surprised by this attack.
Unlike Majolica’s, this dungeon doesn’t have traps, so it’s not unusual for people to not have the means to deal with it depending on the floor.
They need to be ready for it on the seventh and ninth floors, because of the demons, but ogres don’t cause status conditions, so it’s not strange to not have potions to heal them.
“So a variant species… It sounds stronger than red ogres, and it sounds like it takes command too.”
And the way it commands is pretty bold and heartless.
Argo says the adventurers told him it was going well at first. But looking back now, they were just being led on.
As they took down ogres smoothly, they were being led deeper into a counterattack.
It was a sneak attack from the side passages, that they would normally not overlook.
They were thrown off, their formation broke, and they ran. The poison also caused panic.
“So what now?”
“There’s a variant species, but I don’t think we need to change our strategy that much. Poison isn’t that big of a threat to us.”
Chris and I can exterminate them with area of effect magic, and we have plenty of ways to attack from a distance.
“Are you fighting?”
“Well, we can’t get back if we don’t.”
The adventurers listening to us can’t hide their surprise.
The fact that we’re new here doesn’t help.
“…Then wait a bit. We’re helping.”
I’m thrown off by this offer.
We don’t know how strong they are, and most importantly, if we can even trust them.
“Well, as long as you don’t get in the way. But I doubt you’ll get to do anything.”
Says Argo plainly. Now it’s the adventurers who are baffled.
In the end, the battle goes without much trouble. There’s a black variant species, but the moment the ogres are in sight, we attack with long-distance magic.
Chris and I take turns, and all the nearby orcs disappear.
Before I know it, the variant species’ head is flying.
“So slow.”
Says Hikari as it falls limply.
She threw out a Projectile Slash just to see, and killed it easily.
It takes less than thirty minutes for the ogres to be mopped up, and for us to leave the dungeon.
The adventurers watching don’t say a word, and simply leave behind us.
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Thanks for the treat.
Thanks for the update, & hope everybody has a good week. 😎👍
& with that little bit of a show at the end that will spread really quick, can’t wait to see how they will be treated after this.