We got through the seventy-third and seventy-fourth floors without issue.
On the seventy-third floor, the monster charged at us from the beginning, and we engaged it.
Thankfully, it was only level sixty, so we took it down by fighting it head on.
We didn’t use the weapons with Absorption, and attacked it from all sides.
On the seventy-fourth floor, the monster summoned more at the start. There were seven, not counting the main one, and Appraisal showed me level eighty-one. It was pretty tough.
I used Provoke to gather a lot of them, and held on while Mia supported me, and Rurika and Hikari followed Sera as they reduced their numbers.
Chris was also mostly on support, holding them back, so we somehow managed to bear it.
Kaina focused more on hit-and-run attacks, drawing the attention of hellhounds when it got to be too much for me, and also stopping them from going after the back row.
The biggest issue came when there were only two summoned monsters left, and it summoned more.
This time, it was nine, meaning there were a total of thirteen.
Thankfully, these monsters get weaker from summoning. When I Appraised the last one, I saw it went down to level seventy-two.
Dropping close to ten levels meant we had the advantage, and Rurika and Chris worked together to press the main one, which went down before it could summon more.
Sera going on a rampage and taking them down one after the other helped a lot.
“So there are multiple patterns.”
“Yes, it’s trouble.”
Hikari meekly agrees with Rurika.
Yes, they do act differently as we go from floor to floor. It’s almost like we’re being tested.
I heard the god that made this dungeon was a muscle-head who loved training, so could that be why?
If this is a dungeon that learns, does that mean monsters come up with ways to counter our counters?
…Am I overthinking it? If that was the case, it would’ve made sense for that to happen on the lower floors too.
On the seventy-fourth floor, we had the opportunity to use the weapons with Absorption, and they really did suck up magic energy. Apparently they absorb a set amount, regardless of the damage they do.
I don’t mind the downside of having less magic energy just from holding it if it means I can attack in a sequence, but I also think it’s dangerous to get flustered and go on the offensive too much because of it. I guess these weapons really might be tricky to use.
It would be good if I could rework them so they wouldn’t absorb the holder’s magic energy, but… For some reason, it happens even if the effect is infused on the blade.
I fail to find a solution to that, and then it’s time to enter the seventy-fifth floor.
The moment we enter, the hellhound charges forward. Its speed… Is not the best we’ve seen. Is it under level eighty?
We choose not to go too far forward, and instead confront it.
But then the hellhound does something different.
“Summon!”
Rurika is surprised, as the hellhound summons monsters while running.
It happens as it’s closing in on us, so the summoned monsters descend like an avalanche.
Since the hellhound was very close, I can’t use Provoke before it summons the others, so they start attacking everyone.
I block one of them, and use Provoke on the main one. I want at least that one to target me.
I look to the side, and see there are four summoned monsters. Sera, Rurika, and Kaina are all dealing with one each.
It’s a good thing there aren’t a couple more, or they might attack the back row.
“Sora, I’m coming to support.”
“Master, supporting.”
Chris and Hikari decide to take down the summoned monster attacking me, and attack the boss. It’s probably because it’s just going to summon more otherwise.
And so, they support me while keeping the boss in check to make sure it can’t summon any more.
I sync my movements with their attacks while attacking the main one and defeating the others.
When Hikari uses Projectile Slash, I slash shortly after, and when Chris fires magic, I cast a shield on myself and attack the summoned one.
The summoned one goes down, and I use Transfer to jump at the main one to cut at it.
My choice to use Transfer cones from the spike of magic energy I feel in the hellhound.
Is it trying to summon more, or use that magic energy cannon? In any case, I can’t let it do it.
At this point, if I face the boss and the others take out the summoned monsters, it’s practically over for them.
However, I realize I’m being too naive, when one of the summoned monsters summons more, which is something I thought only the main could do.
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Thank you for the chapter and Happy New Year!
Thanks for the treat.