Chapter 204: It's More Dangerous Here
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 204: It's More Dangerous Here
“Sion!”
“Of all things, he had to trigger a teleportation trap.”
“Ah, this is driving me crazy.”
The person in charge of the team’s supplies had suddenly vanished.
To make matters worse, he was the team leader, and he had taken the team’s only healer and mage with him.
“It’s impossible for us to keep going on our own. We have to get out.”
“We agreed that if we got separated, we should find a Transfer Stone and leave immediately. If it’s Sion, he’ll find a way to escape on his own. It’s better to leave before we end up missing each other.”
Joshua and Maximus nodded at Chloe and Ulysses’ words.
They had already coordinated with Sion before coming here.
The plan was that if anyone became isolated, the remaining team members shouldn't focus on a rescue mission but prioritize their own escape. The 6th floor was unimaginably vast; without a tracking-type Ability, finding one another again would be nearly impossible.
“Since Sion was teleported away, we only have three to four days left at most.”
“That’s all the food and water we have left.”
“Let’s find a Transfer Stone first. Hey, Young Lady, are you alright? Can you lead the way?”
“I can. I’m already searching.”
“That’s a relief.”
Maximus checked on Leah’s condition.
Everyone knew the nature of the relationship between Leah and Sion. That was why they had to keep an eye on Leah, their guide.
If her mental state wavered, there was a high probability she wouldn't be able to find the path to the Transfer Stone properly.
Of course, Leah’s spirit wasn't so easily broken.
Her faith in Sion was stronger than anyone else’s. If anything, she was worried about herself and the rest of the team, not Sion.
Can we get out without Sion?
In a way, this could be called dependency.
To her, Sion was like a hand that was guaranteed to win.
Perhaps because of that absolute trust, her concern for the survival of the team members—and herself—outweighed her worry for Sion.
“I think we should go this way. Since I’m prioritizing the search for a Transfer Stone, there’s a high chance we’ll encounter monsters.”
“It doesn't matter. Our first priority is to escape as quickly as possible and report the distress situation.”
“Let’s get moving. I’m itching for a fight since we haven't had one in a while.”
Despite Sion’s disappearance, they didn't fall into a major panic.
It wasn't just Leah; the rest of the group also didn't believe Sion would die easily.
The real problem was that, while Sion had indeed survived just fine as they expected, a much greater danger was closing in on the rest of the party.
*
Following Leah’s guidance, they fought off Dungeon Crawlers while roaming around looking for places where a Transfer Stone might be located.
Then, something happened.
“Is it just me, or is the number of monsters increasing?!”
“It’s not just a feeling! There really are more of them!”
Nearly a hundred Dungeon Crawlers began to swarm them.
Furthermore, for some reason, the number of traps was increasing exponentially, and they frequently encountered paths that had been blocked by cave-ins.
“Something’s wrong. There shouldn't be monsters on the 6th floor capable of cutting off paths like this.”
“This way is blocked too.”
“Doesn't it... feel like we’re being herded?”
“The problem is, it feels like a Transfer Stone will appear even if we go in this direction,” Leah said, looking at the remaining path.
It was definitely the way to the Transfer Stone, but the fact that all other paths were blocked made it impossible to shake the feeling that they were being led by something.
It felt like walking into a tiger’s den of their own volition.
“Do monsters with this level of intelligence exist on the 6th floor?”
“They do in the Ancient Ruins. I don't know about the other sectors, though.”
“Most monsters on the 6th floor focus on unique abilities rather than high intelligence. As far as I know, there aren't any that hunt adventurers by blocking paths and setting traps.”
“...That means it’s a new type of monster.”
Since the Labyrinth Eruption, two new types of monsters had appeared on the 6th floor.
The first were the monsters of the Flesh Zone, which was made of walls of meat.
And the second...
“Are you saying Golden Goblins are doing this?”
“It’s not impossible. The information we have is from several weeks ago. What if the Golden Goblins have built up their power and formed a collective in those few weeks? It’s entirely possible.”
The Golden Goblins had established a power base and were turning the 6th floor into a hunting ground for adventurers.
That was Ulysses’ deduction, and his theory was mostly correct.
After the danger of the 6th floor became known, adventurers gave up on entering it and settled for the conquered 5th floor.
As a result, the forces that could have suppressed the Golden Goblins vanished completely. In a 6th floor devoid of adventurers, the Golden Goblins expanded their influence at will, hunting monsters for materials to set traps, tearing down walls, and blocking paths.
“Their intelligence is beyond imagination.”
“It’s almost like they’re no different from humans.”
The party nodded at Leah’s words.
It was similar to when they dealt with the Heretics.
Dealing with highly intelligent enemies carried these kinds of risks.
“Do we keep going? It’s definitely a trap.”
Leah, the guide, asked Ulysses, the eldest in the team, for his opinion.
In Sion’s absence, following Ulysses’ judgment offered the highest chance of survival.
“Since there are no other paths, turning back will only delay us further. We’re at a crossroads: do we take the long way around safely, or do we force our way through?”
“Even if we take the safe way around, there’s no guarantee that it will actually be safe,” Maximus added.
“Maximus is right. There’s a good chance every path is trapped. But then again, maybe not.”
As the party’s dilemma deepened, Joshua, who had been listening quietly, stepped forward.
“What’s there to think about? Let’s just go.”
“It’s not an easy decision to make.”
“This is frustrating. It doesn't matter to me since I have a machine body, but once you guys run out of food, you’ll have to start eating monster meat. But are there even any edible monsters on the 6th floor? No. They’re all infested with parasites and have filthy meat. Can you even stomach meat that reeks that badly? It’s better to get out fast. Let’s just break through.”
“Wait a minute. If we have to, we can eat even the stinking Dungeon Crawlers. Parasites can be dealt with by taking medicine. I think it’s better to go around than to force our way through.”
Chloe nodded at Maximus’ words.
The two gladiators had eaten everything except human flesh, so there was almost nothing they couldn't consume.
“Well, I suppose you two are rugged enough to manage.”
“I... I can eat it too.”
“Even the Young Lady? Hmm. That’s unexpected. You look like someone who wouldn't even touch that kind of thing.”
“Don't underestimate me, Joshua. I’m an adventurer too. A little smell doesn't bother me.”
“So what, is everyone going to turn back the way we came? I think breaking through is the right call... but fine, I’ll respect the majority opinion. Of course, we’re going to run out of torches soon, not just food!”
“Torches are a problem, and so is drinking water.”
“Torches and water are actually bigger problems than food.”
If they ran out of food, they could substitute it with monster meat.
However, if they ran out of torches and water, there was no substitute.
If Sion were here, they could stay in the Labyrinth for months without issue thanks to his nearly infinite supplies, but without him, the story was completely different.
“We can still hold out for a bit. Walking into what we know is a trap is suicide.”
“I agree with the Young Lady.”
“Let’s just go back. It’s too dangerous to keep going like this.”
“Then let’s do that. I’ll follow the majority.”
After gaining the group’s consensus, Leah changed direction.
They intended to head back the way they came and find a different Transfer Stone.
However, things didn't go so smoothly.
“It’s... the same here.”
“Even though we’ve come quite a distance, there are too many traps on the path to the Transfer Stone. The Golden Goblins must have taken over this area as well.”
“Damn it. Are they ruling the entire 6th floor? Every direction leading to a Transfer Stone is filled with Golden Goblin traps and traces.”
“It means every location with a Transfer Stone is Golden Goblin territory! Well, well. Everyone’s trip was for nothing. It was the same everywhere.”
Maximus smacked the back of Joshua’s head at his sarcasm.
“Gah! Why did you hit me?!”
“Just because. I hate your tone. You’ve become damn annoying since you got that machine body.”
“So what, should I just keep smiling like an idiot?”
“I preferred that. A guy who smiles without a plan is much more likable than a cynical prick. If you keep spouting discouraging crap, I’ll rip your head off next time, so watch your mouth.”
“Hmph.”
Joshua snorted at Maximus’ words and crossed his arms.
He didn't open his mouth again after that.
He was genuinely intimidated by Maximus’ threat.
“Well, now the only option left for us is to break through.”
“We can't waste any more time here. The torches are starting to run low, so we just have to push through.”
They had already wasted nearly a day.
Judging that they couldn't delay any longer, they headed toward where the Transfer Stone was likely to be.
They had no choice.
They didn't have a Hypercube providing an infinite light source like Sion did, nor did they have materials to make more torches. If they lost their light here, they would be unable to see.
It meant they would literally become prey for the monsters.
“Did they narrow the path on purpose?”
“It looks like it. They’ve made it difficult to move.”
“Since they’re small, it’s a pure ploy to hinder the movements of humans. Bastards.”
The further they went, the more the traps increased, and the path gradually grew narrower.
With all other passages blocked, they were forced down a single path.
“It’ll be hilarious if they’re weaker than expected after all this fuss.”
“I certainly hope so.”
The party’s tension only grew.
It was rare for monsters to alter the Labyrinth so much to their liking.
Especially on the 6th floor, not the 7th, which was considered an entirely different world.
“It’s just ahead. A wide space will appear soon.”
“I can sense them. There are more than I imagined.”
“Are they all Golden Goblins?”
“Who knows. Maybe, maybe not.”
Soon after, the party reached the area just before where they expected the Transfer Stone to be.
Passing through a dark tunnel, they finally reached a space where it was easier to move, only to witness a shocking scene they hadn't anticipated.
“....”
“What... is that?”
Wriggling lumps of flesh.
And a creature half-buried within that flesh.
“A Variant....”
A massive Golden Goblin, nearly three meters tall with a bloated, fat body, sat upon a throne made of living meat.
“Welcome. I have been waiting for you.”
The Golden Goblin King.
And the byproducts of the Flesh Zone were clinging to his head like parasites.
“I invite you to my banquet.”
Leah felt a surge of nausea as she looked at the feast of slaughter made from dead corpses.
The thick malice of the Labyrinth surged toward them.
Intent on snuffing out the lives of the adventurers.