We reach the forty-second floor two days after all the clans disappear into it.
I check Map, but only see forty reactions of people. I’m pretty sure this is the group that was furthest ahead on the last floor too.
“I assume the others went back with return stones.”
“It makes sense. Having so many people means needing more disposable items too. And food. They can’t carry as much as you, even with magic bags.”
I mumble, and Rurika responds.
That’s true, the more people you have, the more disposable items you need. And that means not just potions, but spare equipment too for example.
We actually have spare weapons too, but I can repair our mithril weapons, and the others have item bags.
Incidentally, I made pouch-style magic bags and gave them to Siphon and the others, like what Fred’s party used. They’re also made so only they can use them.
They were taken aback when I gave them, but they stopped thinking too deeply about that sort of thing.
Another thing. I think a reason why people chose to retreat is the monsters that appear here. Giant elites.
As the name suggests, these are the elite among the giants, but what’s worrying is that some use magic.
That means that people want equipment that resists not just physical damage, but magic as well. According to reports left by Guardian Sword, few of those monsters use magic, but it’s still a threat we can’t ignore.
They’re easy to spot. On this floor at the very least, the ones that use magic carry staves.
“How about we try fighting them a bit?”
I tell everyone there are monsters in a nearby room, and since no one objects, we go there.
“How far ahead is the other group?”
“They’re about halfway between the entrance and the next staircase. This time the staircase is relatively close.”
But if you’re unlucky, you’re going to take a big detour until you get to it.
The paths split at various points, and if you pick the wrong one, you’re going to go all the way around and reach the staircase from the other side.
But the other group is picking the right paths. They should get there after they pass through two more rooms.
Still, there’s quite a bit of distance between rooms, so that means it should still take them more than a day. Less than a day if they don’t stop to sleep, but I also see reactions of monsters in the passages.
“Do you think we could head straight to the forty-third floor?”
“I think it would be faster than returning to the fortieth floor. But it depends on how strong the monsters are.”
“Then let’s try going forward.”
I answer Siphon, and we decide to keep going towards the next staircase.
As for fighting giant elites, when we come across one that can use magic in a passage, it just keeps firing relentlessly, so we push through while Geitz and I block it with Aura shield.
Since it rapid fires, we have no choice but to rely on Chris and Yuno to counterattack.
In rooms, one is not much of a threat, but when there are more, we need to be mindful of our positions.
If people get outside the range of Aura Shield, they will take damage.
Siphon and the others are equipped to protect themselves against magic, but only an idiot wouldn’t still try to avoid getting hit.
But still, in rooms, running around and attacking them is an option, so Hikari, Sera, and especially Rurika use their speed to keep the magic users in check and take them down.
I also bring out the golems for these fights, but having a magic shield means spending more magic energy, which means their operational time is cut down.
And the fact that I need to give them instructions means they don’t have enough capacity to learn.
“Makes me wish we had more defense, but I wouldn’t be helpful if I used a shield.”
“Because then our attack power would be lower, Siphon?”
“…Well, I’m pretty sure we’d be fine with Sera here.”
He’s looking at Sera casually swinging her axes.
Sera’s strength really is off the charts when she’s swinging those magic energy infused axes.
But at the same time, we can’t rely too much on her, or we’ll be putting too much of a strain on her. And we can’t get more people unless they’re ones that can make it on this floor.
If Naoto and the others were here, they would probably help us.
We eventually reach the forty-third floor without issues, and this time, we use a return stone to go back.
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Thanks for the treat.