Provisional Party's Power-Up
The provisional four-man party, hastily assembled to explore the Western Labyrinth, was lingering on the fifth floor. Despite being thrown together, they weren't unstable at all. With the scout and priest handling their roles admirably, all Dorne had to do was manage defense and offense—and he did it flawlessly.
This was the second corpse golem they'd encountered since entering the fifth floor and getting ambushed by a horde of zombies including one right at the start. Baren, Sion, and Mairon watched as Dorne swept away the lesser monsters around it like they were weeds with a broom—before even dealing with the golem itself. He was a fairly skilled swordsman, but swinging a sword like that would kill anything.
Shiiik! With one swing of his massive sword, skeletons and zombies alike fell like harvested crops. Dorne didn't even bother pulling out his shield anymore. Better to extend the sword further and clear threats preemptively. Having faced a corpse golem once before, he'd abandoned the idea of using his sword and switched to an axe instead.
Shuuu—Crack! Just like the first time, he blasted mana from the back of its head and swung. The axe head severed both of the sluggish corpse golem's knees in one go.
Thud—Grrraaahhh—Shuuu—Krunch! The axe head cleaved through the fallen golem's neck and buried deep into the dirt floor. As the battle ended, scout explorer Sion collected magic stones from the black-blooded monsters.
Baren and Mairon approached Dorne.
"We've hung around long enough. If we find the exit portal, we can head out."
Dorne absorbed the deeply embedded axe back into mana and asked, "Sure. But employer, doesn't that count as merit? Don't you need to contribute something to earn an ability?"
Baren glanced at Mairon before answering in his stead. "Since we're only aiming for one ability anyway, providing drinking water outside of combat should suffice. If it doesn't pan out, we can always come back. Without you, though."
To Dorne, who had first met a fellow explorer-priest in Inoi, Baren's laid-back approach to exploration felt unfamiliar. Mairon spent money freely without much control, and Baren explored the labyrinth for seemingly trivial reasons now that he was a priest. Well, the world was full of all sorts of people living together, right? He brushed off the pointless question and resumed exploring.
Dorne, whose stamina was now integrated into mana, and the other three explorers, who hadn't even broken a sweat, felt no need for a long rest after the fight.
"Exit portal to the left of our current direction. Four monsters guarding it."
Unlike Eresa, Sion the scout also had 【Area Detection】. It wasn't like 【Pathfinder】, which simply pointed directions on command, but a detection ability that revealed exit portals—not classified as threats or opportunities—and fine terrain details from a seated position.
"Alright, let's wrap up this expedition."
Following Sion's lead along the stream, Dorne took point.
Thud thud thud—Splash splash— Was that monster noises? Who were they beating up in a place with only them around? A bit further on, a white figure crouched by the stream, pounding away with a laundry bat.
Scrub scrub—Thud thud—Splash splash— It was washing what looked like a padded explorer's armor—probably from some sacrificed adventurer. The floating white-clothed ghost turned at the sound of Dorne's iron boots.
Kyaaaahhh!
Four banshees—specializing in mental attacks and immune to physical ones! Spotting fresh laundry, the four banshees flew at them through the air, their hazy legs, sharp claws, twisted faces, and brain-rattling screams assaulting Dorne's temporary party.
"Physical immunity!"
The party members except Dorne fumbled for holy water or unfinished water magic. Dorne stood still, watching the fast-approaching banshees. He trusted the words from his summon ability's Obholder.
As Baren was about to sprinkle his holy water, the Obholder hovering behind Dorne stepped forward, leaking purple mana.
…! The Obholder's pupils dilated, eyes focusing, and the misty mana afterimages sharpened into laser-like beams. This was the Obholder's innate ability, born of its tremendous mana talent. As its gaze shifted, the beam pivoted swiftly, grazing all four banshees—and they vanished in an instant like evaporated mist.
Plop— Only their magic stones remained by the stream. Baren, who had just opened his holy water, carefully resealed it to prevent spoilage. Mairon dumped his conjured water blob into the nearby stream. Sion, who had only expected the party to fight well, muttered,
"A warrior with no weaknesses…."
Dorne, the person in question, was conversing with the Obholder.
'You used a lot of mana. Bad cost-performance.'
'Inexperienced since it was first try? Next time with less mana?'
'Obholder, you're the best—'
The four-man party emerged into the Western Labyrinth exit clearing. Mairon clutched his chest in excitement, having obtained his desired ability, while Baren and Sion stood blankly.
Dorne was in the middle of a festival. He could even choose the abilities his Obholder acquired! (Due to the summon ability's nature, their linked minds made it possible.) Inside his stern iron armor, he closed his eyes in a beaming grin. He didn't know how much time he had. The status window was a tyrant that'd pick randomly on timeout! Quick decisions for his and the summon's abilities were needed.
First, Dorne picked 【Inventory】… and [Slow Starter] for the Obholder! It never slept anyway, so an ability that boosted power the longer it stayed awake was perfect. No different from a custom ability unknown to the world. (Even non-combo abilities get written in 【】 if their utility matches. Like 【Inventory】 and 【Mana-Fat Substitution】. The latter's a rare independent specialized ability.)
Then he picked [Remote Manipulation 1] and the 2nd and 3rd, completing a combo ability. Dorne hugged the writhing Obholder, eyes squeezed shut from the novel heat of ability acquisition, and waited.
…! Once all four abilities were engraved and three combined, Dorne checked the Obholder's status window.
Unbelievable…! A summon that grew stronger just by staying alive, strengthening its summoner in turn! The unscrupulous warrior named Dorne had evolved into an all-purpose attacker covering physical and magic, a utility flyer defying his bulk with the skies, and an omnipotent explorer with 【Inventory】… A third-year warrior veteran lost in the Northern Labyrinth might never recover from the grief if he learned this.
Baren, Sion, and Mairon—who'd gained his combo ability—watched Dorne hugging the Obholder.
'Did this warrior get something again?'
… Ignoring their stares, Dorne released the Obholder, opened 【Inventory】, and tossed in the luggage from his back.
Gasp! Hiding a good ability didn't suit Dorne's personality. No need anyway. Explorers who hid 【Inventory】 were only those too weak on their own. For someone already strong like Dorne, gaining it barely affected his reputation.
"Baren, Sion, Mairon. It was a good experience exploring together. Send the remaining pay and magic stone shares via Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group. I'll be at their annex for a few days. Farewell."
Dorne parted from the slack-jawed trio and headed to the annex, chatting away.
'[Slow Starter] engraved on the wings? So only three more public abilities from now on?'
'Yeah? Assisting my flight with telekinesis saves way more mana?'
'No limbs was a shame, but glad you got a replacement? Haha—I picked well.'
Dorne and the Obholder walked without watching ahead, eyes locked on each other. Pedestrians parted like dodging a galloping horse.
Dorne turned the Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group annex upside down with busyness. Using earnings from the labyrinth, he kept the kitchen running nonstop. Before heading to the Eastern Labyrinth city where his comrades were, he planned to stock 【Inventory】 with tasty food. Luckily, unlike Eresa who had to store stew or water in bowls or pouches until proficient, Dorne had the Obholder—linked via summon ability, with immense mana talent—so no training was needed.
When kitchen staff boiled a pot of stew, Dorne plucked just the stew out. Stew, roast chicken, braised pork, beef dishes… He stopped overworking the staff. It was only as far as the Eastern Labyrinth city anyway. No need to prep his comrades' favorites now—there was an Oren Labyrinth Merchant Group annex there too.
Thus, Dorne boarded a carriage bound for the Eastern Labyrinth city.
Clop clop— Two fine horses pulled the sturdy carriage. His skills, status, and gear differed vastly from his first trip to the Western Labyrinth city, but what he felt most now was his bulk and height. With 【Iron Man】, 【Giant】, and 【Mana Core】 repeatedly combining into 『Ironclad Giant』, he'd grown even larger. The carriage interior felt extremely cramped.
Mid-level warrior explorers sharing the carriage with Dorne didn't dare ask his years of experience. At his level, tenure didn't matter. No peasant would speak casually to a 12-year-old prince.
"We'll camp here tonight."
The lead guide-coachman halted the carriage.
"Ugh—so uncomfortable."
The floating Obholder and massive Dorne hurried out.
Groooan— Dorne stretched muscles cramped from the tight carriage. Wing bones moved freely, back muscles relaxed and contracted. The iron armor assisted every motion smoothly, without a single scrape.
The explorers, staring at the demonic-face backplate of 『Ironclad Giant』, were speechless. Beyond common sense.
"Alright, let's make a fire."
Explorers from several carriages gathered firewood and sat in a cluster. Watching warrior explorers spark flint on dry leaves, Dorne wondered, 'Can't Obholder light it? It shoots beams.' (Fire-starting magic tools existed, but unnecessary for deep labyrinth divers or serious explorers.)
'Can't do fire? Isn't it like the beam?'
…….
'Not now, but learn from Lucian and you can? As expected of my kid.'
Dorne poured water into a pot, added rations for porridge, then sat apart and pulled out stew. Obholder ladled it into an iron bowl forged by 『Ironclad Giant』's power.
Clop clop—Snort— Someone on horseback approached their campsite.