Targeted.
Looking at the unharmed Amphisbaena in the pool, Lynn truly realized what Hestia meant by being targeted.
A light film that countered Fading Light Slash.
A snake body whose strength increased drastically after hardening.
A regeneration speed no weaker than Super-speed Regeneration.
With three abilities that shouldn't have appeared combined, Amphisbaena's self-preservation ability had significantly improved, allowing it to take the Fading Light Slash head-on.
"Do you need my help?"
Ottar's voice came from behind.
"No, I can still handle it."
Lynn declined Ottar's assistance.
Although this mutated Amphisbaena was very strong, it wasn't impossible to defeat.
Within the Spirit Devouring Barrier, as long as he injured the enemy, he could weaken their power and strengthen himself.
In other words, if he could find a way to pull Amphisbaena into the Spirit Devouring Barrier and repeat the process from before, he would win this battle.
"Haruhime, give me a buff."
"Yes!"
Having been prepared, Haruhime raised her staff.
"[Enhance—! ]"
"[Its power, its action, countless treasures, countless wishes! When the bell tolls, I pray for prosperity and illusions! ]"
A clear chanting voice rang out on the shore, and the glow of magic power illuminated Ottar beside her.
He looked up at the light hammer forming in mid-air, a trace of thought flashing in his eyes.
Ottar was no stranger to this magic.
When he first fought Lynn, Haruhime had used this magic to strengthen him.
Initially, Ottar thought this magic was an enhancement magic, but later he discovered it wasn't so.
Uchide no Kozuchi was much stronger than enhancement magic; it was on a completely different level.
"[Grow big—! ]"
"[This body that swallows the divine food, bestow the divine golden light! Return the hammer to the earth, bestow the blessing! ]"
"[Uchide no Kozuchi! ]"
The chant came to an end, and a brilliant light hammer fell from high above, enveloping Lynn.
In just an instant, Lynn's power completed a breakthrough, reaching a higher realm.
An aura turned tangible surged in all directions, and even Ottar felt a faint sense of pressure from it.
"As I thought..."
Ottar confirmed his suspicion.
This wasn't enhancement magic, but level-up magic.
An unprecedented level-up magic that could forcibly raise an adventurer's level by one.
"Ottar, protect Haruhime."
Lynn's voice came from ahead.
"Okay."
Ottar nodded slightly and led Haruhime to the rear.
Having confirmed his suspicion, he finally understood why Lynn valued Haruhime.
She indeed had the qualifications.
Even at Level 1, as long as she had the level-up magic Uchide no Kozuchi, Haruhime's role remained decisive.
But, ...
"Level 1 is still too low."
"Eh?"
Haruhime, who was staring nervously at the battlefield ahead, was stunned and turned to look at Ottar beside her.
"Mr. Ottar, did you just say something?"
"I said, Level 1 is too weak."
Ottar replied expressionlessly, "On a real battlefield, someone of your strength could easily be heavily injured by the aftershocks."
"Furthermore, your mental energy is too low. A Level 1's spirit can't support you casting many spells."
"To play a role in a critical decisive battle, you must at least break through to Level 3."
"...I will work hard."
"If needed, you can come to the Battlefield Plain."
Ottar made such a promise.
The Freya Familia's Battlefield Plain was essentially a large-scale arena for survival of the strongest.
Although it was cruel for a Level 1 like Haruhime, her growth speed would be very fast if thrown in for training.
But correspondingly, this process would place a huge burden on her spirit; after all, not every Level 1 is named Bell.
Leaving the choice to Haruhime, Ottar ignored the Fox Maiden and looked toward the battlefield ahead.
After receiving the Uchide no Kozuchi buff, Lynn, as he did during the first subjugation of Amphisbaena, relied on the boost from Current Propulsion to charge across the water surface.
Like an arrow from a bow, the golden beam of light crossed most of the pool in an instant, arriving right in front of Amphisbaena.
At such a distance, the thirty-meter height transformed into a colossal presence, and a terrifying pressure bore down on him.
Amidst a massive roar, four of Amphisbaena's heads aimed at Lynn simultaneously.
Pale blue flames fell head-on, and the pool water surged up to form a cage, blocking Lynn's retreat.
After that, a blood mist capable of suppressing magic fell toward the cage, and a deep purple liquid merged into the water cage, turning the pool water into a toxic cage emitting a foul stench.
"So, it does have eight abilities."
Lynn confirmed his suspicion.
The original Amphisbaena had two heads, so it had two abilities: fire and blood mist.
The mutated version of Amphisbaena had eight heads, thus corresponding to eight different abilities.
Fire, water, blood mist, blue light membrane, metal defense, regeneration, toxin attacks...
"There is still one more ability that hasn't been exposed."
Counting the abilities Amphisbaena had displayed, Lynn drew his blade and swung it down; a Fading Light Slash crashed down with a roar.
The sword slash, composed of lightning and the Dismantle, was corroded by the blood mist and began to shrink continuously.
After splitting the oncoming flames in two, the sword qi, now only a few meters high, struck the blue light membrane.
With a sizzling sound, like fire extinguished by a downpour, the Fading Light Slash vanished this time without even piercing the light membrane, dealing zero damage.
However, Lynn had already anticipated this strike.
At the moment the Fading Light Slash flew out, he used the power of Current Propulsion to charge into mid-air.
Explosions rang out continuously, and thunderous light erupted beneath his feet to act as thrust; he went all the way up and soon passed through the blood mist to arrive right in front of Amphisbaena.
Fading Light Slash: Raikiri!
After a brief charge, another sword qi fell.
But unlike the previous two Fading Light Slashes, this time the surface of the Fading Light Slash was not covered by lightning.
Sizzle—!
A crisp tearing sound rang out as the Fading Light Slash pierced through the blue light membrane unscathed, shredding the metal shell.
"As I thought."
Lynn understood the principle of the blue light membrane.
Just as he thought yesterday, the Dungeon had created a monster specifically to counter his lightning-attribute magic.
That's right, the blue light membrane didn't counter magic in general, but specifically the category of lightning-attribute magic.
By modifying the composition of the Fading Light Slash, no longer using Current Propulsion as the carrier but using the Dismantle instead...
The attribute of the Fading Light Slash changed from a lightning-attribute slash to an attribute-less sword qi, no longer countered by the blue light membrane.
Although its power was slightly less than the full version of the Fading Light Slash, the result was better.
"Next is a battle of attrition."
Feeling the strength increasing in his body, Lynn dodged Amphisbaena's attack and ran to the other side.
But just then, the wounded Amphisbaena raised its heads; all eight snake heads roared simultaneously, and killing intent manifested physically, lunging at him.
As if he had eaten poisonous mushrooms, the scenery in Lynn's vision suddenly twisted and shook, and a feeling of nausea rose from within his body.
"A mental attack?!"
Realizing what was happening, Lynn decisively switched the effect of the State of Selflessness, transferring the enhancement from his physical body to his brain.
The nausea instantly dissipated, the scenery no longer shook, and flames entered his vision.
"Lord Lynn!"
Haruhime suddenly cried out in alarm.
In her sight, Lynn had suddenly stopped in mid-air while moving, and in the next instant, he was hit by flames.
"A mental attack?"
Nearby, Ottar seemed to notice something, frowning slightly as he prepared to step forward to help.
But just then, the flames in the sky exploded, and Lynn, surrounded by lightning, walked out from within.
"Defense, regeneration, toxins, mental attacks... these newly awakened abilities of yours are quite insidious."
Activating the Reverse Cursed Technique and Super-speed Regeneration simultaneously, the burns on Lynn's body recovered in an instant.
"Come to think of it, I'm always being burned by fire lately, even though I'm a member of the Goddess of Sacred Fire's Familia."
After silently lamenting that if this continued, he would gain fire resistance, Lynn's figure vanished from the spot.
Amphisbaena's last ability had been revealed; all that was left was a battle of attrition.
...
The twenty-fourth floor of the Dungeon.
After a night of travel, Fels led Rena and the others to their destination successfully.
"Rena, and everyone! Are you all okay?"
A figure covered in golden wings descended from the sky, hugging the red-haired girl excitedly.
"Ray, sorry for worrying you."
Rena also reached out to hug her.
Ray was one of the earliest members of the Xenos group, and she was also the one who found her and gave her her name.
If one were to ask who Rena had the best relationship with among the Xenos, Ray would undoubtedly be number one.
"I didn't expect to see Rena again."
Lyd the lizardman walked over from behind.
After glancing at Rena and Ray, his gaze turned toward the skeleton in front of him who had taken off his hood.
"Fels, thank you."
"No need for thanks, I only helped lead the way; the one who truly rescued Rena was Lynn."
"Lynn... I've already heard from Rena. That adventurer named Lynn disguised himself as the enemy leader, infiltrated the dangerous Artificial Labyrinth, and rescued them."
Although he didn't have a concrete concept of the Artificial Labyrinth, Lyd still understood how difficult this was.
"Fels, could you arrange for us to meet when you have time? I want to thank him personally on behalf of the Xenos."
"Meet Lynn? I can ask for you."
Fels didn't dare to guarantee anything.
He was still a bit afraid of Lynn; after all, he was a robber who had fleeced nearly half his fortune upon their first meeting.
If he made decisions without permission, his small treasury would likely be plundered again, and who could withstand that?
Buzz—!
Just then, a vibration came from his chest.
Fels, who was about to say something else, was stunned for a moment and took the Oculus from his robes.
As he injected magic to connect the communication, an old god sitting on a stone throne appeared on it.
Knowing the other party wouldn't call for no reason, Fels asked directly: "Ouranos, is something wrong?"
"The Dungeon has gone berserk."
Ouranos replied in a heavy voice.
...