Is it wrong to try to meet someone in a dungeon?

I feel like his protective gear looks battered and bruised. Am I seeing things?

A sharp pain shot through my neck, and then it started to throb.

Soon, doubt turned into an ominous premonition.

"...Get into position. Something's not right."

"what?"

Almost at the same time I got into position, Miss Aisha also issued a warning.

The man staggered unsteadily.

It could be said to resemble the footsteps of the dead.

The eerie, swaying silhouettes in the dim light not only confused the team but also created a tense atmosphere, with Lily and the others holding their breath.

Finally, Mr. Lewis arrived directly beneath the white crystal that had grown from the zenith.

His lowered face slowly lifted...

"Ah...uh...!?"

What was exposed to the light was a face covered in blood.

"!!"

"How……!?"

The entire team was stunned by what they saw. But that wasn't the biggest shock.

Lily and the others were speechless because Mr. Lewis's right arm had disappeared.

With his upper arm hidden in the shade of his body, Mr. Lewis dangled his right arm, which no longer existed below the elbow, and extended his remaining left hand toward us.

"Help...me...!"

With a few words uttered, Mr. Lewis's body fell to the ground.

In his place, a large monster emerged from the shadows behind him as he collapsed from exhaustion.

"Green." That's the only word to describe it.

The colossal, humanoid form was over two meters tall, its entire body covered in moss. Moreover, tree roots, resembling an armored skeleton, covered its entire body, making it look like a giant without full-plate armor. The head resembled that of a hairless human, perhaps enhancing the giant-like impression. However, the presence of short, horn-like wooden protrusions suggested it was more akin to a demon (ogre). Two large, emotionless eyes gleamed with a yellow light.

In his rough left hand lies a natural weapon imbued with a deep, ancient radiance—a crystal mace.

As for what is held in the right hand, that is the human arm.

It was torn off, Mr. Lewis's right arm.

"Alas……!?"

As the elf's arm was crushed with a horrifying "crunch," Miss Haruhime couldn't help but let out a short scream.

Blood splattered on the crystal floor, and the severed arm was tossed aside. Faced with this shocking scene, everyone was speechless and stopped moving, except for me, who had the unsettling feeling that my hair was standing on end.

The sinister giant remained silent, extending his blood-stained right hand toward the fallen Mr. Lewis.

"Stop—!!"

In an instant, I rushed out.

A full-scale assault is launched towards the unknown object of unknown origin.

In an instant, I reduced the distance to zero and attempted to slash at my opponent—facing this, the monster's yellow eyes glared fiercely at me.

"──"

The monster reacted to my approach by unleashing a powerful sweeping motion with the crystal hammer spear in its left hand.

Wow, so fast!

"!!"

The hard flash of light spread with the sound of tearing through the air. Faced with this attack, I dodged with all my might in an instant.

I leaned forward until I was almost touching the ground, and the hammer and spear whistled past my head, unleashing their power against the maze wall beside me.

A thunderous roar, along with the shockwaves and impacts, arose from within. The crystal walls emitted a piercing scream, cracks appeared from the ceiling to the ground, and the entire passageway trembled.

"What!?"

Welf and the others shouted in shock from behind.

Faced with an attack speed and power far exceeding our expectations, I was also greatly surprised. Even so, I quickly switched from a forward-leaning posture to an offensive one.

A few strands of white hair fluttered, fragments of the crystal wall scattered like rain, and the monster's eyes widened slightly; I caught all of this at the edge of my vision, and this time I swung the "White Illusion" in my left hand from bottom to top.

A gleaming blade, aimed at the torso and with excessive force—flees in the nick of time as the massive body is thrown backward in desperation.

"!"

--I've realized it again!

It wasn't by chance; it could see my attack.

You can see the Lv.4's relentless, high-speed attacks!

(Could this monster be—)

As the dagger grazed past, some moss splattered back like blood, and the monster's yellow eyes met my pupils.

In those yellow eyes, I saw a fighting spirit, a kind of filthy, turbid desire, that the monsters that run rampant in their instincts lacked, as well as a light of wisdom that tried to observe the adventurers' actions.

There's also the high potential that can be sensed even in a fleeting moment of combat.

It cannot be compared to any monster that has been fought in the "Water City" today.

in other words……

(—It's an "enhanced species"!!)

The level of ability and judgment that was so strong, beyond the standard for this floor area, made my brain scream.

"Roar...!"

As if confirming my guess, the monster stuck out its red tongue and licked its lips.

With certainty in my mind, I used the momentum from the missed swing of "White Illusion" to unleash a mid-section spinning kick. My spear-like right foot finally struck the enemy's body this time, successfully moving my opponent away from the fallen Mr. Lewis.

"Little brother, don't keep chasing me!"

"We're coming right now!"

When the moss giant was forced to retreat about five meters, Miss Aisha's sharp voice came, and the footsteps of Miss Welf or Miss Flynn approached immediately.

The monster made a gurgling sound as new moss grew on its body, which had been slashed by the "White Illusion," and the wound was instantly healed. It then looked at the adventurers (team) who were rushing up behind me.

Then, it did indeed squint its eyes.

Immediately afterward, in front of me, who had stood up to protect Mr. Lewis, it spread its thick arms to the side.

What exactly does it want to do? Just as I was on high alert, its massive body emitted an annoying crackling sound, and several small bumps appeared on its surface.

Arms, shoulders, neck, torso, legs—it's all over my body.

It was as if they were ready to shoot something at any moment.

"...Hide...!"

Just as I was feeling a chill run down my spine, Mr. Lewis made a sound at my feet.

The severely wounded elven adventurer mustered his last strength to issue a warning:

"Quick, dodge! Don't get hit by its attack—!!"

Just at the same time.

Sharp bullets—dozens of "seeds"—were fired all at once from the monster's entire body.

「!?」

An unexpected long-range weapon.

It was neither flame nor snow; the countless "seed" bullets were not even fired in a straight line, but were launched in different directions, up, down, left, and right.

They bounced off the walls of the passageway, attacking from all directions.

-- A ricochet!

I couldn't see clearly. The irregular movements crisscrossing my field of vision, the excessive number of bullets, and the firing distance being too close left me with no choice but to follow Mr. Lewis's advice.

I abandoned my defense and jumped to the side without hesitation, thus evading the situation.

The instant I kicked the ground, I grabbed Mr. Lewis's body and lunged into the backlit crystal block on my right.

"Haruhime!! Put on your robe!"

"Woo, ooh ...

Then the "seed" projectile flew to the squad's vicinity.

The first sound was Miss Aisha's flustered and agitated voice. Then, Welf and Mr. Sakura, at the front of the squad, barely managed to raise their large shields, lowering their bodies to deflect several ricochets while bracing themselves against the hail of bullets. But they couldn't stop all the bullets. Miss Ming and Miss Daphne's expressions changed drastically, and they quickly rolled away to dodge; Miss Aisha leaped forward, wielding her large broadsword to protect the supporters behind her. Finally, Miss Haruhime, her tail trembling, and Lily collapsed to the ground, covering themselves with their spread-out Goliath robes.

"—Ooh!?"

As Welf and his companions weathered the ricocheting storm, and the impenetrable Black Giant Protective Suit (Goliath Robe) shielded their frail and helpless supporters, a scream rang out.

It's Miss Chigusa.

She couldn't dodge it completely; a bullet hit her shoulder, and she landed on her waist.

Witnessing this scene, I gritted my teeth and rushed from the backlight of the crystal block to the passage where the ricochet threat had receded.

The monster, with its arms hanging down, stared intently at me. Just as I was about to strike it—

"──"

"Varied……!?"

The moss giant kicked the ground with force and disappeared into the hole that had been opened in the wall.

It escaped—no, it "retreated"!?

The monster will retreat!?

Just as I stood there speechless, holding the dagger, a shout came from behind:

"Chigusa! Hey, what's wrong with you!?"

"Waaaaah...!"

I looked back and doubted my eyes again.

Mr. Cherry Blossom knelt down and embraced her, nestled in his arms...

Miss Chigusa closed her eyes as if in pain, and "vines" grew from her shoulders.

From her right shoulder to her neck, arms, and chest, vines crawled into her combat suit from the hem, as if invading her tender skin.

Sweat dripped down Miss Chigusa's neck, but even that was absorbed by the green vines.

"Plants are growing from the wound...!? Chigusa-sama!?"

Hearing Miss Ming's panicked voice, I stared in disbelief.

The problem lies in those "seed" projectiles—?

I snapped back to reality and my gaze fell on Mr. Lewis, who was lying in the shadow of the crystal block.

Previously, the light was dim and it was hard to see clearly, but now I can see half of the elf's body, with several vines intertwined and coiled around it, just like Miss Chigusa.

Volume 12, Chapter 4: The Hunter by the Water

"Cheer up, Chigusa!?"

Mr. Sakura's shouts echoed again and again.

In a corner of the 25th floor, there is a cavern made of crystal.

After being attacked by the Moss Giant, we moved from the passage to this cave to avoid fighting other monsters. We quickly damaged the walls and assigned people to guard the entrances and exits, while simultaneously treating Miss Chigusa and Mr. Lewis.

"[O Sunshine, may you vanquish destruction]—[The Light of Thor]."

We had Ms. Chigusa and the others lie on the floor, and Ms. Cassandra, the healer, cast a spell.

The staff held horizontally emitted a gentle glow like sunlight, its warm light embracing the wounded. The rare healing magic completely healed the bloodied wounds... but the "vines" that tormented the two did not disappear.