Ch 57 - A Quick Dungeon Run (2)

The Phoenix Lance propelled with a sonic boom that rattled the cave around Albion. Albion ran behind the lance as it hid him from the enemies in its spiralling of flames. The air broken by the spell as it spiralled helping him run without effort. Traps that went off breaking or Albion dodging them effortlessly behind the Phoenix Lance.

Flying daggers, darts, spiked pits, swinging axes. Albion dodged all the traps that didn't break from the powerful spell and its damaging effects on its surroundings. The spell ripping through countless goblins. Tearing and searing their bodies. Arms ripped off, heads tore to shreds, skin melting off their bodies and muscles burning off their bones. Phoenix Lance was a devastating spell of great penetration. There were barriers placed up by Goblin Mages but the barriers were shattered like glass. The flames spinning from the attack burning the skin of the Goblins Mages and boiling the liquid in their eyes as they screamed in agony. Albion finishing off any that didn't die from the flames.

But something surprised Albion. Every single Goblin here was a variant. Some wearing cloaks that burned under the intense flames. Trying to use magic but not able to cast fast enough compared to the propelled Phoenix Lance. Others had full plated armour and heavy weapons. There was such a wide variety that Albion was surprised.

But when a loud bang sounded Albion saw a crystal shield. A large goblin was pushed far back, its feet dragging along the floor but the shield and the Goblin behind it survived as the Phoenix Lance fell to the floor. The spiked drill landing with a heavy thud, only showing its density as the stone cave floor underneath cracked. A massive magic circle flashed before Albion could use Spell Deterioration. The corpses around Albion slowly got up. Their flesh melting off of their bodies if it hadn't already. Turning into a viscous liquid as their skeletons stood up. Some more goblins were coming from the cave. Mages, warriors, archers, sharmen, assassins, Hobgoblins. It would be easier to list what wasn't there. Which was nothing. There was every recorded variant of a goblin in the cave.

Albion: {This doesn't seem like a realistic situation to be in. Nor something any weak noble could beat. At least not by themselves unless they had amazing weapons and equipment on them.}

The bones of the Skeletons rattled as they picked up their former weapons. Swords, staffs, shields, daggers. Weapons that were too heavy for a Skeleton left on the floor. Albion looked around as he was completely surrounded by Goblins and their skeletons. No where to run as this was a straight tunnel. Boxed in by the walls and the army of monsters on both sides. But his thoughts came to one extremely stupid idea. One that could mean a very painful end to him if done wrong.

Albion: *Sigh* I'm definitely going to regret this.

Albion created a solid barrier around him. So thick the normal translucent appearance turned opaque as he cast a large spell in a confined area. A spell made for wide area attacks.

Gaia

A spell that literally tore apart the earth as if it was paper. Shredding the area around the caster until the earth was left in an unrecognisable state. A spell that brought a new definition to earthquakes. If you put enough mana into it, the spell would shake and rip apart the planet. But Albion didn't want to kill himself in such a dramatic way, on such an easy level he just got too bored to continue. He wasn't getting any experience from killing these monsters anyways. Though his skills were levelling up.

So he injected just enough that the cave began to shake and the floor split. All the Goblins began to panic as Albion could feel his barrier surrounded by them. All hitting it hard trying to get in. Albion caused the whole cave to collapse as per his plan.

Goblins and Skeletons alike got crushed as Albion continued the spell. Only dispelling it once he was sure everything was done. Now just sitting in his barrier letting the rubble settle. When he dispelled the barrier the rubble began to fall again. Albion catching the rubble as he put up another barrier up around him but much smaller.

Albion: *Sigh* What did I say about regretting this? *Sigh* I guess I already am.

Albion took a moment to acknowledge his situation and laughed a bit. Sitting down in his small barrier.

Albion: Limited space, limited oxygen, unstable terrain. I've really screwed myself just because I was too bored to fight through them. I've completely screwed myself. And here I thought Sylvia wanted to do that to me.

Albion gave a small laugh as his joke as he took deep breaths. Thinking about what he could do in such a situation as the one he was currently in.

Albion: Hmmmm. I can't use anything to do with a flame because that would burn my oxygen… but if it was outside my barrier.

Albion used his Mana Lines to have control over the fire element. Concentrating large amounts of heat. Extreme amounts as the rock above him began to melt. Melting over his barrier into a thick lava. Albion kept on melting the rock until he thought it was enough. As it cooled Albion slowly shrunk his barrier. He couldn't hear any cracking or movement of rocks so as he dispelled his barrier he looked up. He had formed a perfect dome of solid rock. And now he was going to do something from a popular game in his old world. Albion used his ability to manipulate the elements as he created a very dense solid ice pickaxe.

Albion: Now to mine!

Slowly and gently Albion broke the shell that was holding everything up. When a small hole was created he kept on going.

Like a miner he mined through the collapsed rubble. Supporting the structure above him with dense ice. He had to make new tools a couple of times because even though it was extremely dense ice, Albion had a long way to travel and the ice constantly broke. But Albion slowly made it out and to the other end of the entire mess he made. Reaching the end of all the fallen rubble and back out to the straight cave. Albions hands cold as he heated them up with fire he produced. But as he took one step. The cave walls changed. It was still a cave wall but it was subtly different from the ones he was just looking at. Behind him the entire mess he had made disappeared. A purple window popping in front of him.

[Reach the boss room.]

Albion: No way. Are these multiple floors linked to one main objective? So this would be the ninth floor? Maybe it's based off of something. Forest, forest, forest, there was a level when the floor was falling, open grass lands, desert, caves. If it's based on anywhere it could be from Tera which is mostly forest to Primal which is mostly desert. Oh cool. Is this based on a story?

Albion looked around and it was still a cave. But he could hear Goblins a lot earlier than initial. And their joint laughs echoing Albion could feel a lot more than before.

Albion: I can only assume the tenth floor is just the boss room? Would that mean that this should be more of a party raid? That would make sense as to why there were so many variants and monsters. A noble school that you need to use teamwork to climb the tower, a way the school helps students improve while making connections. Would normal first years or second years be able to get through this though?

Albion thought to himself. Drawing the sword which he put in the sheath while he was slowly mining.

Using Activate to brighten up the cave.