KREEE!
Jonah launched an exploding throwing spear toward one of the Impianas.
The large monster shifted to the side just enough to avoid the projectile and the subsequent explosion.
Boom!
Jonah sent another two spears as follow-up assaults.
But as if reading the shepherd's mind, the Impiana anticipated and dodged the explosives perfectly.
It had a good foresight skill.
Heroes had to outsmart this monster if they wanted to defeat it.
And that was just what my comrades planned to do.
Devisha suddenly emerged at the Impiana's vulnerable rear side.
While Jonah was catching its attention with his throwing spears, the Tsahanam assassin vanished into the environment and slithered carefully toward the monster.
The veiled woman then summoned a huge battle axe and swung it across the Impiana's legs.
Krrchhh!
She managed to chop two out of six tree trunk legs from the Impiana before it noticed her.
Devisha's attack unbalanced the large monster, enough for her to jump toward its head and slash the Impiana's eyes with her daggers.
KREE!!!
Blinded, the Impiana flapped its wings and tried to escape to the air.
But Devisha summoned a halberd and used the large weapon to dismember one of its wings.
She then transformed the halberd into a long spear and pierced it into the Impiana's other wing, crippling it.
['Devisha (★★★)'s Basic Integrated Weapon Arts has evolved into Intermediate Integrated Weapon Arts!]
KREEEE!!!
The Impiana thrashed wildly after Devisha's butchering that she had to jump off from the creature.
But with its future-seeing eyes blinded, wings crippled, and missing legs, the Impiana was now just a large target waiting to be struck.
Jonah rushed in with his main spear glowing brightly.
Whoosh!
He thrusted the enchanted weapon straight into the Impiana and pierced a large hole through, killing the creature right there and then.
['Jonah (★★★)'s Thrust Charge has levelled up twice to level 8!]
On the other side of the battlefield, Shanny was engaged in a full confrontation against the second Impiana.
The large creature would swing its huge dark claws and obliterated the surroundings.
Crash!
Shanny tried to dodge most of the attacks.
But the Impiana sometime could read her movement and landed a blow.
Even so, the former maid would perfectly block the assault with her shield every time.
Shanny had obtained useful defensive skills recently.
Her True Block could negate the impact force unleashed by her opponent by certain extent.
While the Force Repel could redirect her opponent's force back to them.
She would use those skills to throw the Impiana out of balance, which then created an opportunity for Tarran to attack.
Boom!
The archer's exploding arrow landed on the Impiana after it was pushed back by Shanny's shield and was left vulnerable.
Even though they could predict their opponents' movement, Impiana could not do much if they were stunned.
KREEE!!!
The Impiana went on a rampage.
It started to rush toward Tarran that injured the monster last.
As a response, our archer launched his arrows to the charging large beast.
But the Impiana dodged every projectile with ease.
Their ability to read the battle was already disturbing, but it was also quite frightening how swift such a large monster could move.
Shanny dashed to the Impiana to aid her comrade.
The Impiana saw her coming and immediately turned to face her.
My comrade quickly poised her shield to block as the monster swung its large dark claws.
Clang!!!
It was a powerful assault.
The surrounding ground shattered upon the clash between Shanny's shield and the Impiana's claws.
But Shanny remained standing and the Impiana was propelled backward by the overwhelming return force.
['Shanny (★★★)'s True Block has levelled up to level 3!]
['Shanny (★★★)'s Force Repel has levelled up to level 3!]
['Shanny (★★★)'s Indomitability has levelled up to level 2!]
"Now, kid! Hit the bastard with all you've got!"
Shanny shouted at Tarran.
The archer then summoned a large arrow and nocked it to his enchanted bow.
Whoosh!
His arrow landed deep into one of the Impiana's three eyes.
KREEE!!!
Tarran did not stop.
He summoned more and more large arrows and rapidly sent them flying to the Impiana.
Each projectile pierced so deeply into the creature that the fletching was barely visible anymore.
['Tarran (★★★)'s Strongbow has levelled up to level 5!]
['Tarran (★★★)'s Eagle Eye has levelled up to level 9!]
['Tarran (★★★)' has obtained the skill, 'Target Penetration'!]
With the monster riddled and crippled with arrows, Shanny grasped her sword much tighter and leaped to the air.
She beheaded the Impiana with one clean stroke of her sword.
['Shanny (★★★)'s Savage has levelled up to level 7!]
['Shanny (★★★)'s Power Charge has levelled up to level 7!]
With the last monster subjugated, the mission concluded.
Familiar bluish-white began to engulf each of us.
[Stage Clear!]
['Serafina (★★★★)', 'Devisha (★★★)', 'Tarran (★★★)' levelled up!]
[MVP – 'Tarran (★★★)']
[Reward – 60,000G, Leather (A) x3, Beast Hide (B+) x3, Hard Shell (A-) x3, Poisonous Essence (Low-Rank) x3, Dark Claw (Low-Rank) x1, Dark Feather (Low-Rank) x1]
As usual whenever we first cleared a new trial, I immediately casted my gaze to the mirror on the furthest left.
[Climb the tower and save the world!]
[Main Dungeon]
[Floor conquered - 22 -]
The change in number of the conquered floor confirmed our climb progress.
We were only two floors away to the fifth Quintal Trial, our next major obstacle.
"Excellent! You did well taking down the Impianas without my help."
I complimented my comrades.
They did not take my words too well, however.
"I still think we could've done better."
Jonah said sourly as we left the mirrored chamber.
Devisha nodded to him.
"Perhaps it was not necessary for two people to take the monster on. If I adjusted my attacks, I could've probably killed the Impiana by myself even without attacking it by surprise first."
"We were being too cautious with its foresight ability. But it turned out we could still keep up with the beast."
Shanny said.
Tarran responded with an agreeing nod.
"The Impiana managed to dodge my arrows because I was standing still. But if I were to move around and fire some feint arrows, I bet I could land enough critical shots to bring it down."
My comrades had certainly set a high standard for themselves.
It might have to do with the current lineup of the Main Forces.
Party 1 was the only group in its rank with heroes that were originally 1-star.
The other parties were composed of advanced heroes, or at least 2-star at summoning heroes.
Jonah and the others likely did not want our party to get left behind.
Moreover, they must not want a repeat of the 20th floor.
They would do anything to not feel so powerless again.
Just like I did not want us to have a repeat of the experience.
"Well then, make sure to train hard if you want to be able to kill an Impiana on your own."
I said to my comrades while opening a portal to the fourth floor of the lobby.
"Will you be staying behind, Fina?"
Jonah asked as the others were crossing over the portal.
It was then that Alam's voice echoed throughout the lobby.
[Marke, Deana, Carlo, Santra, Evains! Come to the first floor square!]
I nodded to the shepherd.
"Master will be scouting the 23rd floor. I need to be ready in the Tactical Post to receive their findings."
"Okay then. I'll take care of the work you've assigned to me just in case Master intends to give us more orders soon."
He said before the portal closed behind him.
As I promised, I had been letting Jonah help me with some of my Vice-Master duties.
He had been doing a great job taking care of the less urgent duties so I could focus on the more pressing matters.
Like learning about the upcoming mission.
Scouts from the Evaluation Center walked past me in the first floor square as I made my way to the Tactical Post.
Master had listened to my suggestion on reinforcing the Evaluation Center scouts.
Starting from the 21st floor, Master only sent 2-star heroes to scout the missions.
Each scout was given proper equipment suitable for second floor trainees as well as Intermediate Health Potion.
Their levels were also, at most, four levels lower than the level appropriate for the current floor they were scouting.
Master had been making the heroes in the Evaluation Center to continue climbing. They were no longer left to rot in that dump.
The main purpose was so we could develop scouts that could properly survey a new trial.
Depending on when the last time they visited the Main Dungeon, Master would form parties of the Evaluation Center heroes to make them continue climbing and level up.
We lost a number of heroes in the missions given most people in the Evaluation Center were failed trainees.
There were reasons why they were no longer candidates for the Raid Team.
But a certain few managed to break through their limit and developed their skills significantly during the outings.
Master would transfer these heroes out of the Evaluation Center after discovering their true potential.
But the same treatment was not given to heroes that were sent to the Evaluation Center due to misdemeanor or more severe crimes.
All in all, the management system in the Evaluation Center was improving in the same trend as the rest of the lobby.
We should be able to face whatever lied ahead of us with the best of what our army could come up with.
[Main Dungeon, the current challenge floor is the 23rd Floor.]
[The doors will open after ten seconds. Get ready!]