Chapter 168
Chapter 168
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Translator: Vine
Chapter: 168
Chapter Title: Unique Entity, 'Giant Lamia' (4)
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Chris's party attempted the defense several times, but they were hindered by the Giant Lamia each time.
The red and blue Giant Lamia, the Red Lamia and the Blue Lamia, roamed separately, relentlessly targeting points where a party member was defending alone. They even showed the cunning to flee to a different Divine Mark point the moment Chris arrived to support a party member.
A 1-on-1 situation persisted at each defense point. A 2-on-1, including Chris, was impossible. Chris had no choice but to dash all over the Heavenly Basin, chasing the tails of the Giant Lamia.
In the end, the entire party withdrew from the Divine Mark defense points. They gathered at the dungeon entrance to regroup.
"The defense itself is difficult enough, but the unique entities that appear randomly also have a reflection shield."
"Attacks infused with mana are absorbed and then reflected. Still, it doesn't reflect direct strikes or indirect skills using physical force. If we fight that way, it's not like there's no way to deal damage, but how long would it take to chip away at that health pool with only minor skills? And when they flee and reappear, their HP is full. Haa, I just don't see a way to catch them."
"Maybe they were designed to be unkillable in the first place?"
"Hmm...."
In a Named Combat Zone, there would be a gimmick involving objects within the area to disable the reflection shield.
However, there was no way to disable the reflection shield on the unique entities appearing at the defense points. They didn't travel together, and no special objects were visible nearby.
"Should we try pulling out a Divine Mark and throwing it?"
"Idiot! We're doing this defense to raise the Divine Mark's purification progress. What's the point if we pull it out?"
"Hey, I can at least suggest an idea, can't I?"
Amidst Cherni and Beimerung's bickering, Chris was lost in thought.
The defense difficulty itself was absurdly high. This situation, where they were being picked off one by one by named-level monsters that should require all four of them to take down, was not normal.
There has to be a way, something...
[Southeast Divine Mark Activation 0/1]
[Southwest Divine Mark Activation 0/1]
[North Divine Mark Activation 0/1]
[???]
[Heavenly Basin Overall Progress 0/1]
Chris's gaze fell on the question marks that appeared in the dungeon progress interface.
"...A hidden condition."
"Hm?"
"The question marks on the dungeon progress interface, it's a hidden condition, isn't it?"
"Definitely a condition I haven't seen before. Wasn't it supposed to unlock after activating all the Divine Marks and succeeding in the first purification?"
"Let's assume we don't necessarily have to clear things in order. In that case, what does this condition look like to you?"
"Don't tell me."
Death of Death's eyes widened. Chris nodded.
"Yeah. The two Giant Lamia, couldn't we deal with them in their own Named Combat Zone? A nest, or a cave, or something. There must be a lair for the lamias."
"You mean, inside this Heavenly Basin."
Chris looked around.
And, in a secluded corner, she discovered a huge hole, looking as if it had always been there.
Chris let out a groan.
"...The Giant Lamia weren't just appearing at the Divine Mark defense points."
"Oh, that hole! Isn't it about the same size as the one the Red Lamia just burst out of?"
"So they were moving through holes they've dug all over the Heavenly Basin!"
The unique entity that lived and bred here, the Giant Lamia.
Unlike the named monsters so far, which had stayed confined to their combat zones.
"This entire Heavenly Basin was the Giant Lamias' territory."
"If we find their nest..."
"A battle like a normal named monster raid will happen there, and the defense will become easier afterward?"
"Th-then we should find their lair right now...!"
"No. There's no need for that."
"Huh?"
Puzzled expressions appeared on everyone's faces except Chris's.
"This whole time I've been running around, I wasn't doing it for nothing, you know? There's a pattern to the lamias' appearance locations and intervals."
"They weren't appearing randomly?"
"Nope. Let's say north is 12 o'clock. If Red appears here first, then one minute later, Blue appears at 5 o'clock. And, after chasing Red away, if I go toward where Blue is, one minute later, Red appears at 7 o'clock."
The party members' eyes widened as they listened to Chris's explanation.
"Their behavior pattern of immediately fleeing when facing two or more people was helpful. In other words."
Chris smiled confidently.
"The strategy for the defense is simple. The rest of you just hold out until the first purification is complete, and I just need to run in circles clockwise without hesitation."
"I see...!"
"Of course, even if we've figured out the pattern, it's still difficult. It won't be easy for you to hold out alone until I get there. If I'm even a little late arriving at the next point, the respawn interval will get messed up. But, while running around just now, I've already mapped out the most efficient route, including shortcuts through the rock crevices."
"As expected of you, Chris, you're amazing!"
Chris patted Beimerung's head, whose eyes were sparkling, and declared.
"So, we don't need to bother catching the Giant Lamia; we just have to hold out until the purification is complete. I'll move as fast as I can to give you guys breathing room. I'm absolutely sure we can do it. Because I trust our party members."
A fire ignited in Chris's eyes.
Rain would have figured out the dungeon's structure and found the lamias' lair right away. Her unusually outstanding abilities and senses were largely based on experience.
If Chris's party were to start searching for the lamias' lair now? Unlike Rain, it would take them a long time. Just following in Rain's footsteps wouldn't change the fact that they would lose the race for the First Clear.
'Noname' and 'Chris's Attack Squad'.
Even now that she had become a beloved little sister, the fact that they were still rival teams competing for the First Clear remained unchanged.
"We'll do it our way."
We will beat Rain.
[Southeast Divine Mark Activation 1/1]
[Southwest Divine Mark Activation 1/1]
[North Divine Mark Activation 1/1]
(All Divine Marks Activated)
(First Purification 96% Complete)
[???]
[Heavenly Basin Overall Progress 0/1]
*Fwip-fwip-fwip!*
Talismans swirled around Chris's body as she used the Yin-Yang Master's movement speed buff. She swiftly navigated the crevices of the Heavenly Basin. Her movements were flawless. She always took the shortest, most efficient path to the next defense location.
There was no need to use the Yin-Yang Master's enhancement skills for combat. Using them solely for movement was enough. If they had a Ranger with excellent mobility skills, the Ranger would have taken this role instead of Chris.
"With our party's class composition, it's best if I do it."
*Shhhk!*
Chris skidded to a halt, kicking up sand from the ground.
12 o'clock, she reached the northern point. There...
*Boom, ba-boom!*
Death of Death was struggling against the Blue Lamia's massive serpentine lower body.
He glanced at Chris, who had arrived at his defense point, and smirked.
"You're late."
"I got here as fast as I could, you know?"
*Woooong!*
The Yin-Yang Orbs circling Chris seemed to act on their own, circling once in the air. Then they began to strike the Blue Lamia's body.
A direct strike method that bypassed the energy reflection gimmick. It couldn't deal much damage this way, but it was enough to make the creature back off.
*Thwack! Thwack! Thwack!*
*Sssssss-!!*
The Blue Lamia, wearing a displeased expression after being battered by the Yin-Yang Orbs, let out a threatening hiss and slowly retreated.
And then.
*Crack!*
It widened the hole it had emerged from and disappeared into the ground.
"Purification at 99%, it's almost over. I don't need to move to the next point."
"So this defense strategy really was possible."
"It's all thanks to everyone holding out with all they had. If even one person hadn't been able to endure, we would have failed."
*Fwoosh!*
Chris smiled, looking at the spot where the Divine Mark was buried, which had begun to emit a blinding light.
(First Purification 100% Complete)
*Ting.*
[Hidden Condition Unlocked]
[Defeat the pair of Giant Lamia]
"So, it was a matter of order in the end."
"Yeah. Either find and deal with them in their nest, or succeed in the first purification and draw them out like this."
On the path leading to the central clearing of the Heavenly Basin, surrounded by massive rocks, the 'Red Lamia' and 'Blue Lamia' stood barring the way with vicious expressions.
The reflection shields that had protected the Giant Lamias' bodies during the defense phase had been dispersed by the holy power that began to swirl throughout the Heavenly Basin.
"Succeeding in the first purification weakened the lamias. This means we don't have to worry about the reflection damage gimmick anymore."
"Let's deal with them quickly and go face the final boss!"
Chris drew a talisman.
Beimerung began casting Arcane Burst.
Cherni's Undine flew in at high speed.
Death of Death's form lunged at the lamias.
*Sssssss-!!*
*Kaaaaak-!!*
[Hidden Named]
[Level 55 Red Lamia]
[HP 70,000,000 / 70,000,000 (100%)]
[Hidden Named]
[Level 55 Blue Lamia]
[HP 70,000,000 / 70,000,000 (100%)]