[Floor 14]
[Mission Type – Subjugation]
[Objective – Annihilate the enemies!]
We continued our climb once more.
This time we were deployed in a huge square, intersected by four roads.
The square was on a rise, a flat peak of a large hill, allowing us a view of the rest of the city.
I needed more time to figure out the exact location, but I believed we were somewhere on the inner side of the Third Wall district.
The sun was about to set on the Great Katcha Lake to our west, painting the horizon crimson.
It was a beautiful scenery.
I would not mind going on a relaxing stroll with Jonah in this floor.
If only the situation would allow us…
"Drop your weapons!"
Unsurprisingly, hostile Jherendal soldiers were waiting for us at the square.
They had positioned themselves at the four streets.
Ten on each side, each group with a knight leading them. The knights looked better armored than the captains on the previous two floors.
[Human Soldier Lv.13 x40]
[Human Knight Lv.14 x4]
Presented with the enemies, I addressed my combat-ready comrades.
"Don't let them keep surrounding us from all side like this. All of you, take care of the enemies on the eastern road. I'll keep the rest away from us."
"Understood!"
Darius and Jonah immediately retrieved their explosives and sent them to the group of soldiers on the eastern path.
Boom!
Seven enemies killed.
Shanny and Devisha rushed in next and confronted the remnants. One knight captain, one spearman, and two swordsmen.
The spearman thrusted his weapon at Devisha, but the Tsahanam mercenary effortlessly dodged the assault by leaping to the air.
['Devisha (★★★)'s Nimble Movement has levelled up to level 3!]
Slash!
Blood fountaining out of the stump between the spearman's shoulders as Devisha claimed his head with her scimitars.
The two swordsmen joined the fighting and attempted a pincer attack.
Clang!
The veiled woman parried their blows. Her curved blades caused the soldiers' swords to slide away from her awkwardly, throwing them off balanced.
Devisha twirled like a dancer as her blades were extended.
Slash! Slash!
Two heads rolled to the ground. Sliced off cleanly by the 3-star's exotic weapons.
['Devisha (★★★)'s Basic Dual-Swords Technique has levelled up to level 5!]
Just beside her, Shanny was engaged in a duel with the knight captain.
The knight used strong and swift movements. The swordsman was clearly trained.
But Shanny had fought against others in the lobby who were stronger and faster.
The former maid made a sudden movement toward the knight's left.
The enemy poised his sword to block but was surprised to see Shanny never went through with her assault.
The knight finally realized she was feinting an attack. But it was too late, his right side was exposed.
Slash!
Shanny's enchantment-strengthened sword tore through the knight's oblique, throwing him off-balanced.
The former maid delivered a swift finishing blow to the knight's neck.
['Shanny (★★)'s Basic Sword-Shield Technique has levelled up to level 7!]
Slash!
Another helmeted head rolled.
This entire sequence happened in less than seven seconds that the rest of the enemies on the other roads could barely take eight steps toward us.
I did not even have to repel the remaining soldiers before the eastern side was secured.
"Move to the road!"
I commanded my party.
We shifted our location to the eastern path, just at its mouth, knowing well no enemies were coming from beyond the road.
From there we would only need to worry of defending three sides instead of four.
The remaining soldiers joined up at the square. They were forming a huge rank now that they had gathered together.
Enemies were always better divided than united. I liked them that way.
[Mana Shockwave]
I caused an orb of light to manifest in the middle of the soldier group.
The orb exploded into a colorless forceful ripple. The soldiers were thrown all over the square by the blast.
['Serafina (★★★★)'s Mana Shockwave has levelled up twice to level 3!]
The spell did not kill any of them. Simply injuring the soldiers with bruises and sprained ankles, at most.
I could always eliminate them at once using one of my bigger elemental spells when they were gathered.
But I did not want to rely on such shortcut so my comrades could get used to fighting a huge number of people at once.
I also wanted to practice my earth magic some more.
[Maha Bhumi]
The ground before me rolled like ocean waves and erupted at a cluster of soldiers at the center of square.
Seeing my assault, Darius and Jonah followed suit.
The two sent out arrows and throwing spears toward the soldiers that had regained their footing and approaching us once more.
['Jonah (★★)'s Spear Throwing has levelled up to level 5!]
['Darius (★★★)'s Rapid Fire has levelled up to level 5!]
['Darius (★★★)'s Eagle Eye has levelled up to level 4!]
['Darius (★★★)'s Basic Archery has levelled up to level 6!]
Four soldiers managed to get past the volley of projectiles.
Shanny and Devisha rushed forward to welcome them.
Given their recent levelling up in skill, the four soldiers were nothing to the women.
However, eight more soldiers charged in in their places.
Eventually Jonah ran out of throwing spears and joined the frontline.
That was quite unfortunate.
The shepherd was getting really good at using his throwing spears.
He knew where to throw his explosives to claim most enemies and at what angle should he launch the regular ones to spear at least two enemies at once.
The spearman would be even more formidable had he possessed unlimited supply of throwing spears.
He could always replenish his projectiles. But he required me to open up a dimensional portal first and wait for master to deliver the weapons from the main storage.
We needed to do something to solve this problem.
Later, though. The trial at hand came first.
I sent another rolling wave of earth toward the last cluster of soldiers.
Darius arrowed down the last two enemies seconds after.
[Stage Clear!]
[MVP – 'Jonah (★★)']
[Reward – 50,000G, Iron Ore (B) x5, Leather (B-) x3l]
The familiar bluish-white light soon engulfed our party and returned us to the mirrored chamber.
I immediately turned to the shining mirror on my left.
[Climb the tower and save the world!]
[Main Dungeon]
[Floor conquered - 14 -]
My comrades and I exchanged determined looks after seeing the new number on the mirror.
We knew what the change implied.
Fourteen floors cleared.
When we resumed our climb, we would be going to the fifteenth floor.
Indeed.
It was time to prepare for the third Quintal Trial.