The apocalyptic scene outside did not disturb the brief peace inside the cave. Roy finally understood that Cassandra's prophecy wasn't about the surface, but the disaster after falling. The dream was 100% accurate.
Broken blades and a mutated beast! Knowing the lore of this world plus the prophecy was his greatest advantage. While resting, Roy updated his stats. His total points increased by over a thousand; despite relying on the Holy Sword, he had defeated a Level 5 Spirit Soldier.
A surge of heat spread through his body, and he felt his spirit and strength recover like a parched sponge absorbing water. Astraea's back was pressed against his chest. After the battles, her dress was torn, exposing her pale, delicate neck and shoulders.
Outside was terror and despair—a Level 6 Aberrant Beast sent to execute them. In the silent cave, they could feel each other's heartbeats. The peace didn't last.
"The sound of the collapse has stopped..." Astraea's voice trembled. As a god, she could feel the looming threat. Looking through the crack, they saw the ceiling of the 30th floor was gone. High above was a dark, grey dome—likely the ceiling of the 25th or 27th floor. Water poured down, raising the water level to over a meter.
Roy breathed a sigh of relief that the Juggernaut hadn't appeared. Dealing with an Aberrant Amphisbaena was trouble enough. The Dungeon deemed a Level 6 beast sufficient to end them.
Suddenly, Roy's heart felt as if it were gripped by an ice-cold hand. "Gather now, breath of the earth—My name is Alf, the Mirage of Life!" Roy chanted at high speed.
Dimension: Sever!
A transparent hemispherical barrier—the defensive magic he learned from Riveria—enveloped them. The next second, one of the serpent heads unleashed a torrent of green toxic mist like a liquid flood. The acid mist hissed as it melted the stone wall, exposing Roy and Astraea.
The barrier held. The battle was joined. Roy gasped at the nine-headed beast. It wasn't just slightly stronger; it was a different league. The heads opened their mouths to charge different breaths: blue flames, magic-nullifying red mist, acid, frost, mudslides, lightning, dark purple flames, gales, and an eerie black breath.
Seeing the mist fail, all nine heads struck at once! Thunderous roars echoed as nine breaths converged on their location, annihilating everything in their path. Roy dropped the barrier, hoisted Astraea onto his shoulder, and ran for his life using the Gale Boots. The path upward was open, but the beast wouldn't let them go.
Boom! Boom! Boom!! Explosions tore up the earth behind them. Roy threw a water-spirit cloth over Astraea to protect her, but he took the brunt of the shockwaves. His bones groaned. He downed an Elixir and an antidote from Elsa's drop. He was at his limit.
Astraea's swordsmanship was Level 5, but only against man-sized targets with magic stones as weak points. Against a hundred-meter stat-monster, she was helpless.
A head wreathed in purple fire unleashed a concentrated blast. Its target was the goddess.
Heavenly Blaze! Roy swung the Holy Sword, meeting the flame with his own crimson dragon of fire. The high-temperature waves evaporated the surrounding river water into a thick fog. It was staggering that a Level 3 could trade blows with a Level 6, but the Holy Sword was that powerful.
However, the frost head fired next. Roy rolled desperately, clutching Astraea. The cold current grazed his shoulder, flash-freezing the ground into a sheet of ice.
Thud! Roy hit the ground, his skin and lips cracking with frost, his muscles shivering uncontrollably.
"Roy!" Astraea cried out in alarm.Astraea let out a sharp cry, her deep blue eyes filled with dread as she looked at Roy. Had they made the wrong choice? They should have taken the first path. There was still time!
Her gaze toward the Aberrant Amphisbaena was thick with hatred and fury; she was ready to unseal her divine power and incinerate this monster and the entire Dungeon along with it! Roy gritted his teeth, death-gripping Astraea's hand. He just needed one chance—give him one more chance and he would win! But his body no longer obeyed his will. Every cell in his body seemed to rebel, screaming in exhaustion, begging for rest.
The Aberrant Amphisbaena didn't care. More attacks followed as its jaws unhinged and its nine heads prepped their various breaths. In that instant, time seemed to stand still.
Whoosh!
A massive boulder flew from the distance in a perfect arc, slamming heavily into one of the Amphisbaena's heads. The head charging the blue flames was knocked aside before it could fire. The heads collided, and the beast was engulfed in its own explosive fire! It shrieked in agony, thrashing wildly as flames splattered everywhere.
"Charge! For our friend!"
Amidst the chaotic shouts, the earth trembled. Dozens of Xenos emerged from the deep jungle, rushing fearlessly toward the Aberrant Amphisbaena.
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Danmachi : Starting with an Elf (393 Chapter – Ongoing)
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