BXBX NOVEL Chapter 92 - Showdown with magma fish
In the first place, where is the goal of the 11th floor?
Thinking that I search in surroundings and rather easily discover the stairs leading to the 12th floor. They were in the deepest part of the room.
However, in front of the stairs was a pond of magma, so it’s not possible to get there by conventional means. There are footing up to that place but there is lava here and there.
While in the back it was flowing freely in other places it was muddy and thick. Even though it’s within the same room, the quality of magma differs? With the power of the dungeon, it wouldn’t be strange if there was some trick to it.
And… Here it is, that thing.
Swimming at high speed in hot magma. I can see its fin. Moreover, it wasn’t in the back but close to my position.
Name: Magma Fish
Level: 260
Skills: Fast Swimming, Toxic Stare.
After checking it right away with【Appraisal Eye】I understood that it’s the same one I saw earlier. Did it notice me or not, that does not reflect in its behavior at all.
「…If it was the teacher she would take it down with a skill but…」
I was too concerned about Toxic Stare. I wouldn’t be happy if by some sheer chance I was poisoned. I have LP to spare so I guess I will create a skill.
【Poison resistance A】can be taken for 1200 LP. Armed with it as a precaution, I now approach the magma.
I tried to use a skill on the magma fish that was swimming as usual and…
What a surprise, the fish jumped in the air.
My impression after the enemy fully showed itself. It looks like a carp doesn’t it? Long body, nearly one meter in length, vividly red color.
For a moment I mistook it for a carp, but looking at its eyes it is obviously different. In shape they weren’t round but long and narrow instead, tapering towards the edges. But above all, they had a dark green color and were slightly shining…
「Whoa… Close one…」
I leak out a pathetic voice. On top of that, I stagger and fall back two, no, three steps. I felt sick and almost collapsed but my condition improved at once.
Could it be what that was【Toxic Stare】? Our eyes have met so it’s natural to think so. Thanks to【Poison resistance A】it didn’t do much, but if I didn’t have it…
Still horrified I shift to a counterattack.
Extending my hand I shoot icicles from my fingertips. I used【Edit】on【Ice needle】that I obtained just now and changed its size and increased the chance for frostbite on hit.
*Whoosh*
Aaah… I missed. It quickly returned into magma. But it seems to be quite flustered as it began to swim at a tremendous speed.
But you know, I can see your dorsal fin. I emit more and more【Ice needle】attacking the fish that keeps running around.
Contacting with magma ice simply evaporates.
「I-I can’t hit at all.」
This is just a waste of magic power. The enemy has no escape anyway, so let’s just think calmly.【Freezing Sphere】can freeze objects, but I guess magma would be impossible after all…
If only I could make the fish jump out again. And such wish of mine comes true. Magma fish is soaring again. Okay, this time… I was frozen.
It wasn’t a vertical jump, it was directed at me. Putting my left hand forwards, I try to knock it away.
「You kidding me… So hot?!」
The moment I touch it, the pain runs through my body. I managed to knock it down somehow but got a burn on my hand.
「You!」
With the sword in my right hand, I slash at the magma fish that was lying on the ground. However, I miss because skillfully using its tail and body the fish moved forward. Looks like it intends to return into magma.
I won’t let you.
With Freezing Sphere I create a block of ice with a size of a human head. I could make it bigger but this should be enough. And then I launch it, in the same way, as【Stone Bullet】.
This time I hit. Moreover, I succeed in freezing its whole body. With this the magma fish is dead. I can tell whether I defeated it or not by leveling up.
「It’s still fine.」
Possibly due to a skill, I got away with only a little burn on the left hand. I would like Luna-san to treat it later.
While confirming that there are no other enemies swimming in magma, I walk further into the room.
There was a ramp with magma flowing down. Seven or eight meters beyond it was another foothold.
It might be difficult to jump over it.
Should I freeze it with Freezing sphere? I can create a chunk of ice up to one meter in size. But I’m worried, won’t it lead to an explosion if I put into such amount of magma such lump of ice. Or rather, there is no guarantee that there are no other life forms.
It would be best to jump over the magma without causing any additional stimulus.
Jump C 300 LP
Jump B 700 LP
Jump A 1500 LP
Jump S 2500 LP
There is more than 5000 LP, but today I used too much. In order to go with the low cost, I examine details.
The result, with C I will go plop into the magma.B and I might barely get over it. A, with ease. S, and I can easily do it even with my eyes closed.
Failure means death, so I can’t gamble with B. I fork out and acquire A.
I do the run-up at a safe place and leap.
「WHOOOOOOOOA!」
I became a bird. After a few seconds, I turned back into a human though. Anyway, it’s amazing. I can normally jump about ten meters.
I stand in front of the magma. Take a few deep breaths.
「Hop!」
Looking down during the big jump I was scared seeing burbling lava, but I was never meant to fall there.
In other words, a huge success. After looking back once I immediately go down the stars. Goodbye 11th floor, hello 12th floor!
Well, what kind of place was the 12th floor that I reached after such a hot experience? A large room with a door in the back, however, I was presented with an unusual sight.
Weapons were lying all over the place. The amount was enough to almost completely cover the floor.
「What is this about? I guess I could take some if they are usable.」
Since I can identify items, let’s use it to avoid those with dangerous skills.
Yup, I was naive, please forgive me.
It seems there is a concealment-like skill, so I can’t estimate whether a weapon is good or bad. As I was thinking about what should I do, someone spoke to me.
『Hey you, why won’t you take me along?』
「Who?!」
I immediately turn around and assume a basic balanced fencing stance. Since there was nobody inside the room I assumed it came behind me. However, chills run down my spine because no one was there.
『I’m here, here.』
『Hey, what are you trying to get ahead of us!』
『That’s right, he might run away because of you.』
『Put your hands, put your hands on me!』
I’ve got a sudden impulse to run away from that place. I mean, weapons were talking the ones talking. A wide variety of weapons such as swords, spears, axes, sickles with chains, possessing their own will they were having a conversation.
Moreover, it was even scarier since they sounded belligerent. As I listen carefully to their talk, it sounds like they want to be used by me. Fervent claims to choose oneself can be heard.
『Hey, choose me. There should be a lot of dangerous monsters ahead. With my blade, any giant monster is one hit.』
Says a greatsword.
『Baaro, dungeons also have narrow passages. As if one could swing you at such a place. It’s me, you should take me.』
Raises objection mister club. Through they were abnormal since they had a will, it’s not like they could move on their own.
Since that’s the case I proceed to the door in haste. Of course, I won’t be picking up any of the weapons.
「Sorry, I have enough weapons.」
And after showing off my treasured two-edged sword I put a hand on the doorknob… …It won’t open. Though it does not seem to have a lock on it.
『Ahahahahaha~. Bro, that wouldn’t fly. It’s arranged so explorer alone won’t be able to open it.』
「In other words, I have to pick someone among you?」
『Exactly, so.』
I see, I understood the purpose. Preventing from identifying them was also a will of the dungeon.
I guess there are some with bad skills among them. Or rather, I hope it’s not like all of them are like that. Then how about picking up a weapon and then throwing it away after opening the door?
Well, it looks like such thoughts of mine were completely transparent to them.
『Give up, this floor cannot be cleared without one of us. Absolutely.』
「Hmmm…」
『C’mon, c’ mon, hurry up and choose a partner. 』
『Take, your, pick! Take, your, pick! Take, your, pick!』
Ignoring pressure from them bluntly rushing me, I count weapons that stayed calm. Forty eight in total.
It won’t be easy to pick a good one from them.
『Hey, you don’t have time. Who are you going to take with you?』
「It’s not like I don’t have time. I will not choose.」
『Huuuh? Did you listen to us?』
「I meant that I won’t pick right now. I used quite a bit of magic power on the upper floors, I have no reason to rush and advance right now.」
『Are you kidding me? You finally reached here and going to turn back? You will die on the way.』
「I want to ask you guys, do I look strong enough to go straight through twelve floors?」
『『『Not at all.』』』
Thank you for your solidarity, I am not happy at all. Now, soon【Dungeon Portal】should become usable again.
「Then I’ll be going home.」
『Wait! When will you come back?』
「Well, I wonder. Since you are hooting that much, maybe five hundred years later. That is if I will be still alive.」
After teasing them a bit I go into the hole with my skill. I heard sad voices of the weapons but it didn’t bother me too much.