Chapter 113: Cave Exploration 3
TL/Editor: Raei
Schedule: 5/Week Wed-Sun
Illustrations: Posted in discord.
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The sudden appearance of a maze was nothing short of a nightmare.
Was it because dozens of monsters emerged?
Or because there was a boss unfitting for the 21st floor?
Was it due to the maze's complexity, difficult even for scouts?
It wasn't for any of these reasons.
It was a more basic, straightforward reason.
There are so many twists and turns, yet there's not a single monster in sight."
The problem was the absence of monsters.
Are you kidding me, BB Games?
It was like an event dungeon, but there were no goblins, kobolds, cave spiders, or vampire bats.
We tensed up, thinking the Serpent Lord, the boss monster of the 30th floor, might appear and ambush us with its massive body.
But reality was bitterly disappointing.
The absence of monsters meant no mana stones to collect.
As adventurers, it felt like we were wasting both time and money, reaping zero benefits.
Thankfully, as a senior adventurer, I had saved up a lot of money and the rest of us had earned a lot from the gate rewards.
If I was a regular adventurer, this would have been incredibly discouraging.
To wander and earn nothing?
Could there be a more malicious maze?
"By the way, what kind of place is this?"
Judging by its appearance, it seems like a part of a cave turned into a mage's workshop but its hard to tell since were inside the tower.
As they explored this unknown territory, the previously tense Grace began to relax.
Meanwhile, Irene and Kaiden chatted away.
The maze, with its smooth floors, walls, and ceilings, naturally aroused curiosity.
They walked slowly, wondering if there might be clues on the walls, but with neither monsters nor hints about the maze, the party started to ease up.
"We have been walking for almost 40 minutes, doing literally nothing. At least we can keep track through the mini-map, but what's going on?"
-First a healing trek in the forest, now this maze. You've just been strolling around!
-Is power walking the main content of this stream?
-Why would BB Games even make this?
-[Chat deleted by the mod]
-Feels more like a fitness stream.
From an adventurer's perspective, the maze was dreadful, and it was no better from a streamer's viewpoint.
Having walked for nearly an hour without a single thing happening, the number of chats getting deleted noticeably increased.
It seemed promising at first, suggesting something big might appear, but nothing has happened since, frustrating the viewers.
However, what pacified the bubbling anger of the viewers was the appearance of a monster.
It wasnt small goblins or the grotesque cave spiders and vampire bats.
"A golem? Why is there a golem here?"
"Perhaps this really is a mage's workshop?"
The golem stood at an approximate height of 2 meters.
The golem, seemingly made of the dark stones of the cave, approaches us with thudding steps.
It looked less like a human and more like a crude chunk of stone with limbs.
Its massive body, the intimidating sheen of its dark surface, and the faintly glowing red eyes from the shadows make it an imposing sight.
"It looks hostile, doesn't it?"
"Since it's my first time seeing this creature, I'll handle it myself. Just stay back for a moment."
I stepped forward, signaling the party to stand down.
Not for any particular reason, but rather out of a blend of competitiveness and curiosity.
Even if the golem was strong, it wouldnt be as tough as a 5-meter tall giant, I felt no pressure confronting it.
As I got within arm's reach, the golem immediately raised its heavy stone arm.
It swung its rock fist down, much like someone swatting a mosquito on a table.
"...How does it feel, Roland?"
"It's definitely strong, but it's not dangerous. Other than being sturdy, it doesn't have much else going for it."
The fight was uneventful, no flashy moves or heart-stopping moments.
It relies solely on its weight rather than mana, to attack.
Grabbing the golem's wrist as one might grasp a child's, it struggles with a strange grinding noise.
The force with which it tried to free its arm was formidable, and its stony skin was harder than expected.
Its continuous flailing suggested it wasn't very intelligent.
When it realized it couldn't free its hand from my grip, it tried to hit me with its other hand.
It was just as before it raised its arm high above and aimed for my head.
Thud!
"When it's hit, only the part struck shatters while the rest remains fine. Grace, Hanna? Try attacking its torso."
"Got it!"
Upon clashing with my shield, which was enhanced not by divine power but pure mana, its rock fist shatters into pieces.
Unlike the orcs, it doesnt faint; only the left arm that struck me crumbles into stone fragments scattering around.
Though not particularly intelligent, it's tough and possesses great strength a monster entirely reliant on its defense.
Moreover, it had a system where damage was distributed.
For a party of the 21st-floor level, they would need to first destroy its arms or legs and then focus on the torso.
Its a nuisance that such a creature appears in an already annoying maze.
"Arrows... unsurprisingly don't pierce it."
"My magic hit it directly, but it doesn't seem to have done much damage."
"Trying to cut it with a sword might just dull the blade. We might need to consider blunt weapons against this one."
The smooth stony body of the golem also repelled arrows and negated magic.
-This new monster is kinda bs.
-I genuinely don't feel like going to the 21st floor now.
-Maybe it's due to its elemental property? Maybe something like a water arrow would work?
-This feels like Pokmon, but it would make sense.
-Yeah, using wind against rock is kinda...
"Shouldn't we be able to find its weakness by trying different things? It wouldnt have appeared in such a suspicious maze without one. And looking at how it shatters with reflecting damage, it doesnt seem to have that much health. The orc warrior didn't shatter from reflective damage."
The viewers are understandably taken aback by the sheer tenacity of the golem.
It's fun to tease Han Se-ah, but most viewers are also gamers, playing the world's first virtual reality game.
They're likely worried about what's ahead for them.
Still, the golem must have a weakness, as Han Se-ah suggested.
"Excuse me, Hanna?"
"Yes?"
After shattering its arms and legs, the golem and its torso remained, its red eyes staring vacantly.
The party tapped it here and there, suggesting various theories like its potential weaknesses and moves.
In the midst of this, Irene, noticing something, calls out to Han Se-ah.
Look, the debris from the shattered arms and legs isn't disappearing. Do you think these stone fragments will remain even after we deal with the main body?
"Why do you ask?"
"If the fragments remain, they could be analyzed at the Magic Tower for any weaknesses right?
-Is the mage being outsmarted by a nun?
-Forbes' number one smartest mage player.
-You're more of an alchemist than a mage at this rate.
-Is this to show that intelligence and wisdom are different?
Han Se-ah's puzzled reaction makes Irene second-guess herself.
The viewers, sensing an opportunity, pounce like piranhas smelling blood.
Come to think of it, with Antenor and Charlotte Cavendish both taking on research roles at the moment, if Irene's assumption is correct, it might be worthwhile to have the fragments analyzed.
Of course, that's only if the fragments remain after destroying the golem's body.
Shall we see if there are any remains after we crush the main body?
I held my warhammer up high in front of the fallen golem.
I move deliberately, waiting to see if anyone will stop me with another idea or suggestion.
But no one intervenes; they all seem to agree with Irene.
Thunk!
With just the strength of my arm, I strike down on the golem's torso.
The sensation reminds me of a time before I became an adventurer.
When I accidentally struck a rock with a pickaxe while digging in freezing weather during my military service.
This wont do. Its not something you can take down with brute strength alone. Its resistance is no joke.
"Is it that tough?"
Kaiden asks, concerned, watching me flex and massage my hand.
For someone like her, who leans more towards agility, taking down such a golem would mean properly infusing her weapon with mana.
Of course, just because it has high resistance doesn't mean it's invulnerable.
After several repeated strikes, the golem crumbles into pieces, scattering stone fragments everywhere.
"The stone fragments are still around. And that, is that a red mana stone?"
"Odd, mana stones are usually blue, not red."
The stone retrieved from the creature is a somewhat faint red, similar to those from the Full Moon Wolf and the Orc Chieftain.
Goblins typically give almost colorless, faint blue mana stones, and stronger creatures yield clearer blue ones; this mana stone is certainly extraordinary.
Huh? The wall seems to be shaking.
Is the maze disappearing?
As we picked up the few remaining pieces of stone and stored them in the inventory along with the mana stones, a rumbling noise echoed through the maze.
The walls turned rugged again, and from the floor and ceiling, stalagmites and stalactites sprouted up like bamboo.
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