“Concentrate on defending!”
“Shield! Shield up front!”
While Weed was caught up in his concerns after talking to Geomchi, the battle between the dwarves and the Kalamus was still waging.
The Kalamus movements were flashy, but their swings were quickly fended off by dwarves with their shields.
‘To be free.’
More attacks were poured onto Weed who was a step further.
‘Do I need further enlightenment in the way of the sword?’
The advanced training arena.
When he penetrated through the path of struggle, he felt he was walking down the way of the sword.
He found the perfect path that allowed him to fight numerous enemies based on a wide range of vision.
With clean, efficient movement that crushed the enemy.
With each battle honing his skill to perfection, but at this point in time he felt that he had nothing to add or shave from his swordplay.
‘Maybe I’m just concentrating on combat more than is needed.’
In Royal Road there were many players that reduced instances of using swords directly and were therefore more dependent on skills to fight.
Depending on the situation, they used appropriate attack and defense skills which were decent enough.
That kind of style used up a lot of stamina and mana, but the player could carry out stable combat.
Players like Weed who utilize sword techniques perfectly against monsters were monstrous themselves.
People who calculate their decisions several times within a second were extremely rare.
‘I am already using 100% of my combat abilities. But for me to feel the thirst for the sword now…’
He thought no change would arise.
He learned a fine sword technique that allowed him to react appropriately to any situation as he saw through the movements of any monster.
Quick reaction and moving a step ahead was thought to be enough for hunting.
He also possessed secret sword techniques, various skills and equipment.
‘Dying to an opponent that is ridiculously powerful such as the dragon is unavoidable. Even so, I feel this thirst that is driving me crazy.’
Weed’s frustration grew further as he battled the Kalamus.
The three-legged creatures raced around and harassed the dwarven defense line. It was very difficult to catch just one of them.
They were 100 levels higher than the dwarves, so it was best to hold for 30 minutes to an hour to defeat them a step at a time.
‘The dwarves lack in attack power. This composition inevitably consumes time.’
He thought so in his head, but his heart was different.
It told him to swing his sword.
To take a step further.
He thought of Geomchi’s words of freeing himself from bounds.
Weed decided to follow it.
Three steps.
Just three steps taken caused the Kalamus to focus their attack on him.
The attacks from the front and sides doubled.
Weed processed the enemy attacks like usual.
‘Deflect the spear from the left first. The sword on the right is next. From the current position, up to five monsters can attack me simultaneously. I can’t retaliate this instant, but if I exchange a few times and knock them away, an opportunity will rise.’
His split second decision was made, taking the nature and combat level of the Kalamus into consideration.
It was all thanks to his wide vision in combat that other players could only admire.
‘Kalamus are strong and have high stamina and intelligence; they are difficult monsters to defeat. Their bond with their own kin is also strong. They are formidable opponents for the dwarves.’
This dungeon was located underground.
Unfortunately, he could not spam large AoE skills such as the Lava River and there was not much he could do about that.
‘I don’t need all that. Don’t process things anymore.’
Weed emptied his mind.
He did not think of anything while watching the enemy’s movements.
He just raised his sword to retaliate!
Cling! Clang! Ching!
He fended off several attacks consecutively.
His movements were instinctual, as they had always been.
Swoosh!
That moment, Weed’s sword lunged forward.
It was as if his sword bent time itself.
“Wak?”
“Kye-kye-kyeet!”
“Where is he aiming?”
The Kalamus mocked Weed who was stabbing the empty space between them.
F-F-Fwoosh!
He swung his sword several times more.
They seemed like odd attacks, but soon the Kalamus were severely threatened.
His sword seemed to bend space itself.
The sword technique that even sees through movements of irregularity.
It seemed as if the Kalamus themselves were diving into the swing of his sword.
< Critical Strike!
You slayed a defenseless enemy… >
Weed defended, parried and attacked.
‘I swing where my heart directs.’
The Loa sword swung without rest.
***
The adventurers that gathered at the Great Volcano were blown out of their minds.
“He ascended this mountain alone?”
“He’s crazy. So crazy that he pulled it off.”
Half of the mountain was covered with dark red lava.
The lava was flowing down slowly and surging into the air like fountains in certain spots.
The ground was burning hot like a heated frying pan.
Chase’s face turned serious.
“I expect that a lot of us are going to die here… Turn back now if you wish.”
“…”
None of the adventurers were hindered by what Chase said.
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The situation was different from when nothing was discovered.
Adventurers were like moths flying into fire when they had a clear goal to pursue.
Chase too did not speak because he wanted someone to leave. He wanted them to strengthen their resolution before they proceeded.
“Let us go then. Blitz tactics.”
The adventurers were well aware of the danger that came with the Great Volcano.
According to their observations, the massive lava surge occurred every two to three days.
After the surge, the dreadful heat prevented access for an entire day, so there were no safepoints.
“This is the start.”
The adventurers began their climb.
The sky was covered with ashes and one could not tell if it was day or night.
Despite the darkness, the lava emitted a red glow and lit their path.
Crumble!
The ground under the adventurers shook violently.
“Could this be?”
“A volcano nearby has erupted. Let’s keep moving.”
The adventurers witnessed the glaring lumps of lava from the volcano beside them.
It was truly an astonishing expedition.
“This is as far I go. Everyone please keep it up.”
“Yes, of course.”
The players with low fire resistance gave up after a third of the climb.
Their health points were falling and their bodies set on fire. Hence they decided to descend.
“It took 6 hours to get to this point. We must move faster. We have to take the risk.”
Chase, who was directing the path, made his decision.
“So be it.”
“If the Great Volcano erupts we are all dead anyway… Then we must hurry.”
The other adventurers agreed as well.
Each time they found a stream of lava they circled around, slowing down their progress.
“Throw the hooks!”
They tossed their hooks to the other side of the lava stream and crossed over.
Some adventurers split away from the group and found their own paths.
“Kuaaaagh!”
“Sa- Save me!”
The adventurers that came in contact with the lava burned to a crisp instantly.
The water elementals were summoned in an attempt to save them, but they too dissipated not long after due to the heat.
Just advancing 50, 100 meters led to several deaths.
When they came across a massive lava stream, they tossed their hooks, put together coils of rope to cross.
“We are finally here.”
“The lair is really here.”
256 adventurers made it to the lava cave discovered by Bison.
The interior of the Great Volcano visible through the cave contained the Red Dragon’s lair.
“Look, over there. Gold is flowing like water.”
“Yeah. There are mountains of rubies too.”
A river created from smelting gold was inside the lair. There was magical equipment and gems stacked in piles.
“The treasures here are about half as much as the treasures in Kaybern’s lair.”
“That dragon had loads of treasure because it exploited the dwarves.”
“Still, this is the most I have ever seen.”
The adventurers boiled with greed. But, passing through the lava cave was their problem at hand.
The width of the cave was about 3 meters. The ceiling was high, but lava was dripping like water drops.
“We have to avoid the lava… About half way we will have to cross a complete lava floor.”
“It appears to span across about 50 meters. More like flying over it.”
“Luckily there are no forces guarding the lair.”
“Who would dare to pass through? It is fortunate for us that there are no monsters.”
The adventurers ended their brief discussion.
From this point on, they had no choice but to leave each to their own abilities.
Ten adventurers leapt into the cave and died from the heat and dripping lava from the ceiling.
Two of them managed to get further but still lost their lives near the 50 meter lava floor.
“Next group.”
“Yup. Hurry.”
The adventurers did not have time to assess each try.
In an interval of one or two minutes the players were deployed.
This method of sacrificing lives was pure recklessness but seemingly effective.
They didn’t discuss their trial and errors. They just experienced what method works and what doesn’t with their bodies. About a hundred of them died, but they secured an acceptably safe path to the lava floor.
Even on this path, 2 out of 10 would be the unlucky ones to die.
“Lava floor. I will try it first.”
Chase posed to challenge the biggest obstacle. He had various types of powerful magic resistances and decent equipment.
After safely advancing up to the lava floor, he activated the flight spell sealed within his ring.
He flew so low across the lava he almost seemed to skate across its surface. However, about half way through, the lava began squirming.
Shhwak!
An arm covered with scales like a lizard spawned and grabbed Chase.
“Wind Acceleration!”
Chase hurriedly increased his speed and returned to the other adventurers.
“Monsters. What do we do?”
“They don’t seem to be monsters protecting the lair, but rather creatures that inhabit the lava. Combat type job classes would be able to handle them.”
“We can’t defeat them, so it will be best to go around.”
“Are you saying we should find another path?”
“That’s too much. We have 12 hours at minimum – 24 hours if we are lucky until the eruption.”
“What if we recoup and return after the eruption?”
“We don’t have many chances. It will take another day for the heat to simmer down.”
The adventurers continued to try to find a way through while being devoured by the lava monster.
(To be continued…)