“Lady Renystar! I can see it, there! Ah…”
Yells Chita while pointing forward, where there’s a depression that’s notably lower than the ground around it. Part of that depression has become sort of like a cliff, and I can see a fault from where it collapsed.
The way Chita was going to speak but stopped feels ominous. It makes me get a good look at the cliff of that depression without even thinking, and I immediately understand the issue.
That’s the entrance to the dungeon. It was buried, but I think I see a gap.
“Miss Chita! Is this where the magic crystal key…!?”
“We don’t need it anymore! But that’s…”
I look back, and see Hilda’s riding beast trying its hardest, with the god eaters behind it. Their fangs stretch from their open mouths, and they spray drool as they run.
Hilda’s at her limit, she won’t hold for much longer. Whatever other plan we come up with won’t be in time. Then…!
“Hipota!”
“Bumoh!!”
I yell, and Hipota understands everything. It really is a transmuted beast made by my father. The corners of my eyes start to feel warm, but I don’t have time to indulge in those emotions. My mother would scold me too if I did that.
I flick away the drops from my eyes with the tip of my finger, and yell.
“Miss Chita! We’re charging in! Lower your posture and hang on tight! Hilda!”
“Yes.”
“I’ll follow you wherever you go.”
Hipota speeds up quickly right in the slope going into the depression.
The cliff is right in front of us, and so is the only gap that remains of the entrance to the dungeon, due to the collapse of the cliff.
Hipota is charging in.
I yell as I hold on tight to Hipota like I’m pressing my body against it.
There’s an impact, and pieces of rock come raining down.
I suffer some blows, and a few sharp fragments cut me, but they’re all shallow wounds.
The magic elements enveloping my whole body strengthen it, meaning even my skin is tough.
And one more thing. When we crashed into the rock, I used the Blink skill.
I used my expanded senses to control my body and the magic elements to minimize damage.
These are things I’m conscious of while in battle too.
The slightest change in how I tilt my arms… Moving my neck so I can dodge rubble that would hit my head…
As for things I can’t dodge, I prioritize the affected areas with how I use the magic elements to cover myself.
That’s enough to mitigate the damage my body suffers by a lot.
I manage to get through it with minimal damage, and Hipota and I pass through the big hole we opened.
And before I know it, we’re already in the underground waterway dungeon.
