[Urgent Order:]
[TAKE COVER!]
I immediately created a dimensional portal right next to the former maid.
"Shanny, get back here!"
She fortunately did not question me and quickly threw herself into the portal.
As soon as Shanny rejoined us, I quickly raised a dome barrier around my comrades and I.
It was then that the dozens of thorns on the lion head's mane darted off and rained down on the rise like piercing arrows launched by a longbow legion.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The thorns bounced off my shield.
None of us were harmed by the sudden attack.
"Damn. That was close."
Shanny commented.
"The monster now shoots thorns from the lion head's mane. Another thing to worry about."
Darius said while observing the dozens of large thorns scattered all over the rise.
At the same time, more thorns grew out of the lion head, filling the gaps created by the previous assault.
I nodded to the archer.
"We'll have to readjust our strategy and--"
Crack… Crack…
As I was about to give my next command, the scattered thorns all over the rise began crumbling on itself.
No. Something was tearing them apart from the inside.
Kreeee!!!
Pale goblin-sized creatures suddenly burst out of the thorns as if they were young hatchlings.
They had wings like bats, a snouted head like pigs, and long fangs and claws like the Dark Spawn.
[Night Terror Lv.15 x???]
The winged creature along with the Dark Spawn began to crowd upon my dome barrier. They repeatedly struck the shield with their claws and biting with their fangs, trying to tear it down.
"Wh-what the hell?!"
Shanny shouted.
Jonah immediately raised his spear.
"More enemies!"
Screechh!
While the minions were entrapping my comrades and I, the chimera began to charge at us.
I immediately ordered my comrades.
"We need to rebuild our formation! Prepare to engage the enemies!"
I then channeled my mana throughout my barrier, causing the entire force field to overflow with magical energy.
Boom!
My dome shield exploded into a powerful shockwave which threw all the minions away.
['Serafina (★★★★)'s Mana Shockwave has levelled up to level 5!]
Kreee!
The winged creatures and the Dark Spawn quickly regained their balance. They immediately set out to charge at us again.
Shingg!!!
Lights flashed in the sky.
Sigyn was deploying another signal.
[Modifying battle instructions for 'Party 1'.]
[Changing the default archer class strategy and the default mage class strategy from 'Unrestricted Fire' to 'Designated Fire'. Archer and mage unit will now focus on selected targets.]
[Setting targets for sniping!]
Ziing!
Bright crimson cross marks suddenly emerged on each of the winged creatures.
Having seen the notifications, I understood what Master intended us to do. It was actually aligned with what I had in mind.
"Darius and I will take care of the Night Terror!
"Devisha, you'll now be the decoy for the chimera! Jonah, protect her from the Dark Spawn since Darius and I won't be able to fully cover her!
"Shanny, fend off the Dark Spawn coming our way!
"Be wary of the lion's thorns, everyone!"
My comrades immediately set out to do what I instructed.
Jonah dashed ahead of Devisha and engaged the Dark Spawn lying in her way to the chimera.
Slash! Thrust! Slash!
The shepherd twirled his spear around like a weapon acrobat.
Only each swing of his spear was filled with great strength that instantly butchered the slimy figures heading his way.
Eight Dark Spawn formed a horde and attempted to charge at Jonah at once.
The shepherd then clenched his spear and thrusted it forcefully toward the horde.
Zoommm!
Jonah's spear eradicated the horde in one single thrust.
The man recently obtained the skill 'Thrust Charge' which enhances the power of his spear assaults.
Combined with his enchanted weapon, Jonah was now able to perform techniques only used by combat masters.
[This monster is immune to physical attacks!]
Screech!!!
Devisha managed to catch the chimera's attention after striking its leg.
The bull head responded by breathing a stream of fire toward her.
Whoosh!
Devisha leaped to the side and escaped the raging flames.
But the lion head had anticipated her and launched its own special assault.
Tratatatata!
A barrage of golden thorns rapidly flew at the veiled woman.
Devisha immediately set her scimitars to block.
Clang! Clang! Krch!
['Devisha (★★★)'s Projectile Defense has levelled up to level 5!]
['Devisha (★★★)' has been inflicted with bleeding. Her stamina will be reduced for a period of time.]
A thorn grazed her left forearm.
But the Tsahanam assassin managed to protect all her vitals.
She quickly poured a quarter vial of health potion to her minor wound and continued distracting the chimera.
[Ring of Malaikat (A-) is taking effect!]
['Devisha (★★★)'s agility has increased by 12 for a period of time!]
['Devisha (★★★)'s strength has increased by 4 for a period of time!]
A dozen Night Terror tried to ambush the veiled woman from the air.
But I intercepted them with an obliterating gale which reduced most of the winged creatures to piles of flesh. Darius swiftly shot down the few that escaped my assault.
Screeech!
The three-headed beast continued spreading chaos all over the rise.
Its bull head constantly scorching the battlefield. The lizard tail kept creating monster-spawning pools all over. And the lion head frequently shooting out golden thorns from which hatched winged creatures.
[Dark Spawn Lv.14 x???]
[Night Terror Lv.15 x???]
"Hey, isn't this getting a bit overwhelming?"
Shanny called out to me while striking down three Dark Spawn.
Another tried to sneak up to her from behind, but the former maid noticed the creature and sliced the thing in half with one single stroke.
"These freaks aren't that strong but they keep coming back, you know. We'll tire down pretty soon at this rate. And I'm sure we'll have to spare a lot of strength to kill that big asshole."
"I wouldn't worry about that."
I calmly replied her.
Shanny frowned at me.
"What do you mean?"
"You seem to forgot that Party 1 isn't the only party needed for this Quintal Trial."
Upon my words, bluish-white light radiated from somewhere beyond the rise.
[Field formation is complete!]
[Master, the rearguard can now be deployed.]
[Extend a helping hand to the heroes in distress!]
I turned my gaze toward the light's direction.
A portion of the dark clouds expanding below the rise began to dissolve.
The clouds' dissolution revealed a complex labyrinth which resembled the walled maze of the eighteenth floor.
[Magnifying lens]
I activated my sight-enhancement spell to observe the new battlefield in more detail.
[Pirate Lv.16 x215]
[Pirate Captain Lv.19 x57]
[War Hound Lv.14 x88]
Large number of enemies were scattered throughout the labyrinth below. They were the types of foes we had faced on the previous floors.
I recognized the formations the enemies used in the labyrinth.
Sigyn would use those types of formation against the supposed first rearguard party during our mock battles.
This labyrinth then had to be the location where the first rearguard would be deployed.
In that case, which party would Master pick to overcome this particular hurdle?
[Choose the rearguard.]
[Designated Parties - Party 1 (on the field), Party 2, Party 3, Party 4, Party 5]
Bluish-white light manifested at one end of the labyrinth.
The figures of five people were forming within the light.
[You have selected 'Party 4'.]
[Party Composition - 'Djhotti (★★★★)', 'Vallerynne (★★★)', 'Bolav (★★)', 'Gharand (★★)', 'Wallick (★★)']
[Would you like to deploy them?]
[Yes (selected)/ No]
A dwarf with a giant halberd, a cream-haired girl in frilly silver dress, and three burly old men arrived to the battlefield.
Master had chosen Party 4, as expected.
The first rearguard would be fighting the longest among the rearguard parties.
Djhotti and Vallerynne were capable of casting enchantments that would preserve and enhances their strength and stamina.
Their group was the most suitable to fill this role in the Quintal Trial.
[Great Mage, we've arrived! How can we help?]
Djhotti's voice echoed in my mind.
The dwarf was contacting me through the communication blessing.
"I've briefed you on what the rearguards are supposed to do. Your objective is supposed to lie somewhere in the labyrinth you are in."
I told him as I scorched ten Night Terror chasing after Devisha.
Zinggg!
Lights flashed in the sky.
Sigyn was preparing more orders.
[Possessing a map of the stage.]
[Deploying tactical instructions.]
The lights descended to the labyrinth, right in front of Party 4, and transformed into a glowing red arrow.
[Forming direction trail. Nearby heroes will be prone to follow the created track.]
The red arrow started to elongate and began going through the labyrinth. It slithered through every turn and corner like a serpent.
Sigyn had observed the fourth Quintal Trial numerous times now.
They must had figured out which was the most effective route to reach the first rearguard's objective.
Eventually the red arrow stopped on top of a wide battlement at the other side of the labyrinth.
A familiar statue of two winged maidens was perched on the battlement.
Another light flashed in the sky and descended to the statue as a tactical signal.
[Field Instruction: Seizure]
[Description: Suppress enemy forces present and take over the area!]