It crashed into the wall with a resonating 'BOOM' that was dwarfed by the countless sounds of explosions and combat echoing through the hall.
She cast a glance at the two of them before returning to her position. Elias and the assassin also returned to theirs. Despite their efforts, their teamwork lacked synergy.
At best, they were just trying not to get in each other's way while confronting the Level 15 Elite Thorn Juggernauts and defending one another.
Somewhere in the distant void, the chat room continued streaming.
[MechaWanderer]: Wish we could sponsor the Level 13 kid with a weapon, he's throwing hands like a medieval peasant.
[StarEater_99]: SHADOW GUY JUST TELEPORTED BEHIND THE JUGGERNAUT LIKE 'NOTHING PERSONNEL.' (*_*) I'M DEAD.
[BoneCollector]: Wolf's wolf looks tasty ngl.
[StarlessKingdom_Envoy]: 300 Prime Silver Coins, Silver Knight survives to the last phase. Take my sword if I lose.
[MischiefDuke]: I LIKE THIS GROUP. CHAOTIC. UNDERPREPARED. ZERO TEAM SYNERGY. PEAK ENTERTAINMENT.
[HighRoller_XIII]: 300 Prime Silver Coins, hammer girl survives to the last phase. I smell hidden potential.
[UpperworldGambler]: 250 Prime Silver Coins on Sunshine, making the Potential Starlet. Flame it if I'm wrong.
[OriginWolfmama]: 250 Prime Silver Coins on Wolf being the first to reach the Potential Starlet list. Don't disappoint me, puppy.
[StarEater_99]: 250 Prime Silver Coins on Shadow guy. If teleport-behind-your-brain were a profession, he would be CEO. Dude's moving like gravity owes him money.
[FullHouse_Chef]: Alright, I'll play big. 500 Prime Silver Coins says this entire chaotic squad clears the dungeon together. Peak underdog energy. Let's roll the dice.
**
[Awakener Sunshine, currently, three people are watching you. You have no ranking. You'll receive 2 per cent of every winning bet placed on you. Your popularity will decrease with every loss. Your popularity is 0, and your overall rating is 0. Please work harder.]
**
Although Elias knew he was being watched by some entities from the information he had learnt when he entered the dungeon and from Queen Anna's strange behaviour, he had no idea how, who, or what they were, so he placed the matter at the back of his mind for now, as it would be a fruitless endeavour thinking about it.
Elias breathed heavily, steamy mist emerging from his nostrils and lips. The golden hue around him had dimmed, and all that was left was a three-meter man with a cracked armguard and a bruised, bleeding arm.
He had ten seconds until his transformation faded. He had only killed one Level 15 Elite Thorn Juggernaut, as well as Lyrac and the assassin. The hammer woman had killed two, as well as the knight, reducing the number of monsters to 13.
However, while Elias had managed to escape with only a few injuries thanks to his immense vitality and health, the others, like Lyrac and the assassin, who had been injured at the beginning of the battle, were facing the most pressure.
If they didn't encounter a miracle right now, they might die.
BBAANNG!!
At that moment, the large door at the other side of the hall, which had been sealed shut, suddenly burst open. Several groups of red-armoured soldiers wielding swords and shields rushed into the room in a unique formation.
"HOLD YOUR POSITION! DON'T ALLOW ANY OF THEM TO BREAK THROUGH THE FORMATION!"
A loud shout resonated through the air as a knight with a red feathered plume hanging behind his helmet rushed ahead of the group with several others behind him.
"KILL THE NIGHTMARES!! CHARGE FORWARD!!"
The knight swung his longsword against a Thorn Juggernaut, cleaving it in half with a single stroke of his blade. Each swing tore through a Thorn Juggernaut like a hot knife through butter.
The others by his side didn't lag behind. Each stroke of their swords beheaded the Thorn Juggernauts, eliminating them.
As the unknown group entered the room, Elias and the others stopped, gathered around themselves, and stared at them cautiously.
Elias' [Solar Ascension] unique skill was swiftly deactivated, forcing him to return to his former height and stature. At the same time, Lyrac took the opportunity to dispel his beast. The wolf scattered into mist and vanished into thin air.
Within a few minutes, the remaining Thorn Juggernauts in the room were swiftly eliminated.
Another group of soldiers rushed into the hall and quickly surrounded them, their shields lifted high, blocking any view of the surroundings outside.
The tension in the air increased as both sides stared each other down.
Suddenly, the soldiers stepped aside, forming a clear path within the formation. The knight with a feathered plume on his helmet walked through the cleared path, his sword sheathed.
He bowed. "Welcome, Heroes from another world. I'm sorry that you had to endure this ordeal upon being summoned. But as you can see, we are in desperate need of your help. Only with it can we hope to ensure our survival. So please, Heroes summoned from another… HELP US!" the Knight spoke loudly.
Along with him, the other soldiers who had accompanied him, and those who had once held their shields high, dropped them to the ground, sheathed their weapons, then knelt on one knee, bowing in their direction.
Before Elias or any of the group members could react, an emotionless voice, neither man nor woman, resonated in their ears, and a status screen unfurled like a scroll before each of them:
[ Welcome to Special Dungeon: Red Sea Giants
Main Quest Completion Criteria:
Defeat the Red Giant King.
Clear the dungeon within 5 days before the Red Sea's corruption reaches full tide.
Side Quest Completion Criteria:
Earn up to 500,000 Merit by defending the Dawn Empire from the Red Sea Giant incursions.
– Merit is gained by protecting the kingdom, slaying Red Sea Giants, and preventing civilian casualties. (0/500,000)
Beware: You are fully exposed to the Red Sea's influence.
Good luck. ]
[Would you like to form a party? (Invite/Join)]
That was just a trial! Doesn't that mean that if any of them had died while fighting the Elite Thorn Juggernauts, it would have been before the main quest even began?