Dragon’s Bloodline

Opening the huge gate and looking down the long stairs, the walls and ceiling gave off a pale luminescence. In front, there was something like a big metallic mirror.

When you touch this and recite the spell, youll enter the maze. Is everyone ready?

I see, is that why there was a six person restriction?

Each person nodded, touching the mirror.

Then, lets go. Labyrinth, open your gates before the explorers.

Waves spread out from where we touched, and our bodies teleported to another location.

The next thing I knew, though the passage was similar, we stood at a spot that split left and right. Even if I looked behind us, there was no mirror.

What do we do to return?

Lulu asked timidly. If she didnt say it, perhaps no one would have worried about it.

Along the outer sides of the labyrinth are mirrors to return. From here the distance should be a bit of a walk.

Maal had memorized the map up to the third floor.

What do we do? For now should we look for monsters to accustom ourselves to the labyrinth? There are almost no traps on the first floor and there are a lot of monsters that can be killed even I can kill by myself.

Hmm, Ria folded her arms and became lost in thought.

Her goal was the last floor. She found no meaning in staying here to get used to it.

First of all lets decide our order.

Serge said that in a tone that showed he was still excited. It was definitely important though.

Ria also had a plan for this.

Maal and I as vanguards, then Carlos, Lulu, and Serge in that order, with Gig bringing up the rear, alright?

Ojou is going to be in the vanguard?

Carlos showed disapproval, but there was a perfectly good reason for it.

First of all, Gig is in the back to cope with attacks from behind. Maal is guiding us and paying attention to traps so we dont walk into them. Moreover Im so far up in the line next to her since I can notice enemies easily. Its natural for magicians to be in the center, and when a fight happens Maal and Carlos will switch locations. Is there a problem?

It was well-reasoned, so they decided to go with that for now.

At at rate, since this is a labyrinth that you cant die in, it might be good to experience death once.

Which reminds me, Serge. Cant you use space-time magic to teleport to the surface?

Like Evac for example, though I didnt say that.[TN: A spell from Dragon Quest. Teleports you out of a dungeon to the entrance.]

Unfortunately not. I can only teleport myself to places I can see. In addition, since its a hard magic to use, its difficult to use in a fight.

Ah, so how long will it take to get to the second floor?

It generally takes about half a day while being careful. While hurrying, about half that?

Alright, then lets advance carefully while also adjusting our levels on these small fry enemies?

The party formed rank and advanced.

Before long, a presence crept up from inside the passage.

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Ria and Maal noticed quickly.

Serge, stop its movement with magic. Maal, finish it off with an arrow. Lets raise our levels with this for a bit.

Something at this level was like a game. Even if you lived an ordinary life, this would come up.

Although you could earn a lot of experience by special practice and training, the fastest way was to kill monsters.

When you kill a monster, the source of its magic poweralso called the Demon Sourceis absorbed by people nearby. Though its said to reinforce your power, the experience is a definite.

The main monsters were meter long monitor lizards, snakes, and human-sized insects. There were nothing like goblins.

Because they were equivalent to minor demi-humans, even if we kill them though we dont get any magic stones, but its fine.

Treasure chest detection. How does it work?

The wall faintly sunk in, there was definitely a treasure chest there.

She asked Maal while moving her hands across it. Though she thought it would open itself, Rias guess was incorrect.

Would you like to try it out?

Yeah, its locked, so it may be trapped and dangerous though.

Thats right. Everyone go back a little.

Standing before the treasure chest, Ria put her hand on her waist katana, unsheathing it to try and sink it in.

The metal part of the treasure chest was severed. Opening it, smoke flew out.

Its poisonous! Use anti-poison magic!

Maal cried out in a hurry, but Lulu calmly stopped her.

Its alright, Ria has poison resistance.

Ah~, my tongue stings.

Emerging from the smoke, it didnt look like there was anything wrong with Ria. She was holding a small bottle that looked like a magic potion in her hand.

Serge, what is this?

Its a magic potion. It recovers a small amount of magic power.

At times like these, the Identify Skill is convenient. Since its magic that uses magic power, its surprisingly difficult to use.

Whenever a treasure chest appeared after that, it was dealt with in a similar way.

Maal began to doubt the meaning of her existence on the way, but Lulu comforted her.

Even traps felt like they would broken through in a similar way.

When Maal found a trap using her Fairy Eyes, Ria would purposely stomp on it.

Spears protruded out, arrows came flying, and she fell in pitfall traps, but she was completely unhurt.

There was a pitfall trap with spears lining it, but she grasped them tightly with her hands and didnt let her body touch them.

Though the spears arent that good, I wonder if we can throw them. We have a good arrow reserve as it is.

Then about one hour of walking later, she knocked on the wall and spoke.

Hey, are we not allowed to break this to shorten the distance?

She said something completely countering the concept of a labyrinth.

Break it? With a hammer or something?

Towards the moderately amazed Maal, Ria shook her head.

No, how youd normally do it.

She bashed the stone wall with her fist. It collapsed.

Yup, it wasnt that hard.

Y-you shouldnt do that! When a passage is broken, monsters will gather! If we dont hurry and

Putting her hand on the upset Maals shoulder, Ria spoke calmly.

Its fine isnt it? Lets raise our levels. Theyre only going to come from in front and behind us.

According to Maals common sense, it was ridiculous.

Heading farther into the labyrinth, one would be careful, be serious, sneakily slip through traps and rejoice at getting treasure.

But Ria was different.

Since the monsters from this way will all be handled by me, take care of over there. Oh, Maal, Ill be relying on you to finish them off since Ill be half-killing them.

In the straight passage, they divided into two groups. Maal a little behind Ria. The other four stood in a line about twenty meters away.

Before long the first group arrived. Twenty monitor lizards.

Ria severed their limbs, causing them to hop about as Maal was able to easily deliver the fatal blow.

On the other side was Carlos skillfully using his shield in the center, with Gig and Serges firepower overwhelming the enemy.

Lulu occasionally used offensive magic as well. Though she had waited for something to heal at first, reducing the number of enemies took priority.

As many as one hundred reptile and insect enemies were killed, and the wave finally ended.

Everyone other than Ria were gasping for breath.

N-Nee-chan, next time lets think before fighting a bit more

Though Serge was proficient in the offensive fire magic in addition to space-time magic, it seems he was still tired.

Did your level increase?

Yeah, mine and Maals went up by three, with Lulus group going up by two.

They collected the magic stones for now, stripping them for raw materials such as the insects blades. The party then moved locations to try and recuperate.

Ria wiped down her katana, but there was nothing besmirching the beautiful blade.

Apart from their strength, the number of them was a problem. Its not like theyll disappear when you defeat them like in a game.

Yeah. Since Ive always fought in open areas, I didnt consider that.

When she fought against the army of orcs, it was in an open space in the town.

Fighting in an open area, youd be crushed by the numbers instead.

Carlos said wearily. Hes probably really tired. Using his shield to keep the enemies from getting to the magicians in the rear, a good way to fight.

Then lets go down a floor now that the distance is shortened a lot.

Before that, lets eat.

Everyone nodded towards Lulus words.

Geh, you eat monsters?

Though Serge grimaced, they werent any different from normal monitor lizards.

But, there are rations

Serge came to store it expressly.

Of course, those are also good. But in case an emergency happens that causes us to leave them, Ill eat anything in front of me.

Even if we leave them, you should ignore the slimes though

Slimes are a small fry monster that became famous due to a certain nations RPG, but in reality its a terrifying foe.

Since it has a viscous body, it can soundlessly creep up and absorb its prey whole, digesting it.

Especially for magicians who can only use magic by chanting it, just getting attacked on the face is a definite death.

Nn, lizards are delicious. Even this places insects yup, they have a shrimp-like texture. Theyd be good with just salt.

When theres a poisonous part, her tongue would sting and shed learn it. Poison resistance is convenient.

Maal moved towards the insects without poison. It seems this happened often in her previous party.

But we killed too much. Slime-kun will have to do his best.

The party relieved its thirst with water that came out from magic and advanced further toward the interior of the labyrinth.

As planned, shortening the distance by breaking walls shortened it.

Of course monsters would crowd up again and attack, but they disposed of them in the same way. As they became accustomed to it, their speed rose.

Without coming across another explorer, they arrived to the center of the first floor much faster than first estimated.

The room was wide and made out of the same material. The passage had one way to go. On the opposing wall was a mirror with the floor guardian lying in wait in front of it.

Skeletal Swordsman, level 35.

Serge used Identify as usual. Even if we fought as is, it would be an easy win.

With that sword it would be a hard fight huh.

Carlos frowned. The skeleton wielded just a sword and shield, definitely a bad match for him.

Guess Ill do it? It looks like he doesnt even have long distance attacks, Ill finish it in one shot.

Offensive space-time magic rips apart space, so if the enemy doesnt have resistance against magic theyll be killed in one hit.

However, this skeletal warrior is something made of magic and probably has some magic resistance.

Gigs compatibility is probably good. Hit him lightly. Just in case, Lulu, prepare to use healing magic.

Alright.

Speaking of unexpected, the fight was unexpectedly a bit of a struggle.

Gig attacked with his warhammer with all his strength, the Skeletal Warrior sidestepped, caught it, and warded the blow off.

It was a good fight until Serge blew off one of its legs with magic.

Magic stone, GET~

As expected, the magic stone was a different size than those from average monsters. The color was red, too.

Incredible. Everyone is so strong.

Though Maal felt admiration, there was still a long way to go.

When the party touched the mirror with their hands, they teleported to the second floor.