newbobooks Chapter 184 184: Are Mid-Level Monsters Really This Troublesome?!
Chapter 184 184: Are Mid-Level Monsters Really This Troublesome?!
This passage leading directly to the deeper floors failed to reconnect with the rest of the team, to the point that they still weren't even sure which Floor they were on.
Ron wasn't in a hurry.
After all, the Dungeon's "abnormal state" would only target him. It basically had no spare attention to deal with Daphne and the others.
"Try to return as quickly as possible."
"If that's not possible, then we'll just regroup at a Safe Floor."
This was the immediate judgment he made under sudden circumstances.
Looking at the multiple branching passages before him, the thick, abyssal darkness made it impossible to tell which dangerous region they would ultimately lead to.
So—
Ron decided to temporarily stop thinking.
Even if the road ahead was full of danger, then he would just punch his way through!
"Watch out for monsters hiding nearby."
In a Soulslike Dungeon, the one thing that never lacked was those "cheap shot bastards" lurking in corners waiting to ambush.
With fewer expedition members, the downside was clear: exploration efficiency dropped significantly. They had to constantly stay alert to changes in their surroundings.
And just as Ron gave his warning, from the cave passage in the distance ahead, a clean, moonlike glow emerged—approaching from far to near.
Boom—
As the distance closed, it sounded like a massive boulder rolling across the ground. The noise echoed continuously within the enclosed cave passage.
Having already dealt with similar monsters before, Ron wasn't particularly surprised by the sudden situation. But as it got closer, when he finally saw it clearly—the corner of his mouth couldn't stop twitching.
It was still a rolling "boulder."
Compared to the monster they had encountered earlier, there was no obvious difference in size. But its surface was covered in a deep blue, crystal-like outer shell.
Just now, he even thought it was a Genshin crossover...
But now—the thing in front of him, no matter what, Ron could recognize it.
It was a monster that beginners in Dark Souls III were very likely to encounter.
A Crystal Lizard.
Hard to deal with?!
With his current stats, he didn't feel any pressure. But the Dungeon's scaling system worked like this—along with the growth of one's own strength, the monsters would also be strengthened.
In Souls terms, it was more accurately described as a "New Game+ cycle."
'Could it be that what's waiting for me later… is something like a Crystal Sage-type Boss?'
Ron formed this bold guess in his mind, but he also knew what needed to be done right now—deal with the incoming Crystal Lizard.
He gripped his greatsword with both hands.
Just as he was about to face it head-on, as if to prevent escape, from the connected cave passages around them, more monsters rolled in one after another—charging toward Lefiya, Tiona, and him.
"..."
"Let's fight."
Another situation of being surrounded by monsters.
In a full expedition team, Tiona wouldn't be too happy about this—there were too many people, barely any chance for her to act.
But now?
Lefiya wasn't good at close combat.
That was something everyone in the Loki Familia knew. Even though she was already a Level 3 adventurer, the only thing truly outstanding about her—was her S-rank Magic stat.
As for her other abilities, none of them even exceeded 300 points!
Letting Lefiya fight a close-combat Crystal Lizard alone was obviously unrealistic.
Which meant—she could step in!
"Lefiya."
"I'll take on these two… whatever these things are."
Tiona spoke seriously.
But the smile on the Amazoness girl's face couldn't be faked. Holding her twin great blades, she cracked her knuckles, unable to suppress her anticipation.
Based on their usual expeditions, she instructed Lefiya, "You hold the line."
"If things get dangerous, blast it with magic!" What Tiona was referring to here was Ron, who was currently facing off with the monster in the distance.
As a Level 5 adventurer, dealing with just two mutated unknown monsters was, in her eyes, something she could handle with ease.
"Alright."
"I'll do that."
"..."
After giving her instructions, Tiona didn't hesitate.
Gripping her sword hilts with both hands, she spun and unleashed sharp arcs of blade light.
Her extremely high Agility stat allowed this Amazoness girl to display mobility far beyond Ron's in battle. In an instant, she closed the distance and arrived before the monster.
Looking at the surging, crystal-covered "boulder" in front of her, Tiona raised her arm excitedly and brought her blade down in a heavy strike onto the Crystal Lizard's back. The blade cut through the air in a flash.
But—
Bang!
As a First-Class weapon, the twin great blades Urga—when the edge struck the Crystal Lizard's back, it didn't cut the monster open.
Instead, it produced a piercing metallic clash—and—shards of deep blue crystal scattered in all directions.
"What kind of defense is this?!"
This was just a probing attack.
It wasn't Tiona's full strength. But given her stats, combined with the sharpness of a First-Class weapon—the outcome she had expected didn't happen.
'At the very least, in terms of defense, this Crystal Lizard is comparable to a Level 5 on paper?'
No wonder… earlier, Ron had only attacked the lizard's soft underbelly.
Just as Tiona was about to switch tactics, Lefiya's warning came from behind her: "Watch out for the monster attacking from the left!"
"..."
She turned her head immediately.
Just as Tiona had taken the initiative to attack the Crystal Lizard, another monster had already finished charging up and was rolling toward her.
'The monsters can even coordinate?'
Just that alone was already beyond the Amazoness girl's expectations.
Even in the lower floors, this kind of situation was quite rare. But relying on her adventurer experience, she reacted quickly.
As the crystal-covered "boulder" filled with sharp edges was about to crash into her—
Tiona decisively retreated to dodge.
And the one she had attacked earlier, still curled into a ball and relying on its crystal defense, the moment Tiona moved—launched an attack without hesitation.
The monster fully extended its body.
The Crystal Lizard swung its sharp claws, slashing toward her abdomen.
"..."
"These monsters actually have such high combat intelligence?!"
Drawing aggro.
Letting another monster flank and attack from the side. Even if it failed, it could immediately follow up with another attack during the opponent's evasive movement.
Without any Souls experience, the fighting style of these two unknown monsters completely overturned Tiona's understanding.
She gritted her teeth, and didn't choose to keep dodging. Because from the corner of her eye, she had already noticed—the Crystal Lizard that failed its ambush was preparing to attack again.
Tiona held her twin blades horizontally.
In the gap between the Crystal Lizard's sweeping claws, using the reach advantage of her weapon—she decisively thrust toward the lizard's soft underbelly.
Pff—
The blade tore through the lizard's belly scales.
She knew this kind of wound wasn't enough to kill it outright. Without hesitation, she twisted her wrist gripping the hilt—shredding the monster's internal organs.
Finally, Tiona slid downward with force, completely disemboweling the Crystal Lizard. The fatal wound caused the monster to dissolve into black ash.
But the battle—didn't stop with the death of this one monster.
Facing the other Crystal Lizard, which attacked from a tricky angle—Tiona felt a headache coming on.
If she had the chance, she really wanted to ask Ron: What the hell… why are the special monsters in the mid-level floors this damn troublesome to fight?!
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