Chapter 81: Blazeborne

One of the wolves, attempting to nibble at the pony's hindquarters, was struck down by a bolt to the head and collapsed.

Looking back, I saw Jenna pointing her bow from afar on the city wall. With each pull of her bowstring, another wolf fell.

That insane young lady.

Blast!

An uproarious clamor followed the breakdown of the city door.

The lead beast began to enter the city. Jenna immediately descended from the city wall.

I need to split my body into two.

First and foremost, the priority was to defend the goddess sculpture.

If the outer gate fell, we had to immediately retreat to the ghetto and build barricades inside the gate. If we used the strategy from the fifth floor, we should be able to hold out for quite a while.

So, I decided to block out everything else.

It didn't matter how long we could hold on in this area.

The main issue was how quickly I could deal with the cleric.

The warhorse trampled and crushed the corpses as we ran toward the woods. Suddenly, the heat from the burning forest could be felt on my skin. I dismounted from the horse.

Go.

Hee-heeng!

The horse raised its front hooves and vanished into the western fields.

Behind me was a horde of bodies attempting to devour my flesh, and ahead was the fiery blaze.

The fire burned fiercely as if trying to engulf the entire forest.

The trees near the fields were charred black, and beyond them, the sound of burning leaves and branches rustled as they were consumed by fire.

The bodies of humans and trolls lurched towards me despite the fire directly before them.

I uncapped a health potion and gulped it down in one go, then splashed the remaining liquid over my head. Then, I stepped into the flames.

Kiaa!

As I entered, a troll corpse tried to strike me. Its whole body was ablaze.

I twisted my body aside, and it fell over, still burning, and ceased moving.

I bent my torso to avoid inhaling too much smoke. Still, my steps were quick. The heat was searing, and the air was thin.

I can endure this much.

It didn't take long before I reached the edge of the map.

A blocked transparent wall. The fire continued to spread beyond it, but I couldn't go any further.

I know you're here.

The fact that I couldn't pass through the wall means the enemy can't either.

Since I didn't see anyone emerging from the forest, it means they are confined in this small space.

[Ddara-ran!]

[Ability Awakening!]

[Han () Fire Resistance has increased to Level 2!]

Ignoring the ability level-up notification that appeared in my field of view, I unsheathed my sword.

I just have to kill one person. Just one person.

[Maekin () is terrified! All attributes decreased by 50%.]

[Shurn () is terrified! All attributes decreased by 30%.]

They were the two who joined mine and Edis's party just in time.

[Maekin () has returned to the goddess's embrace. His soul will be remembered forever!]

[Edis () is dying. Her health decreases at regular intervals.]

[Dica () is terrified]

They're nearing their limit.

I moved the messages to the side of my vision.

A dark shadow moved from the ashes.

I gripped my blade tightly and leaped toward it. A dark red bolt darted away from between the burning branches, and I blocked it with my shield.

The shot pierced through my iron shield as if it were butter and penetrated my left arm.

Though weak in terms of combat power, the cleric is still a mid-level beast.

And since we're on a low-level floor, it's a bit different.

The second magical bolt came flying. This time, it targeted my right chest.

I tried to dodge, but there was nowhere to hide. I gritted my teeth hard, drawing blood.

[Han () has entered an excited state!]

Kikkagagak!

The clash of blade and magical bolt resonated. The spinning bolt grazed the blade and took a chunk of flesh from my shoulder before vanishing. I immediately lunged forward and stirred up a commotion. The third bolt grazed over my head.

If I didn't have the shot guard skill, I would've been done for.

The situation isn't favorable.

Despite fire resistance and everything else, my surroundings are ablaze. Every time I inhale, acrid smoke mixes with the air and enters my lungs. Blood now started flowing from the wound in my left arm.

[Han () is bleeding. Health decreases at regular intervals.]

There's no time.

Before my mind gets clouded.

Before the party is wiped out.

You have to. endure.

A haunting voice echoed from within the forest.

Endure? What kind of endurance?

You. and. others.

I stood up suddenly and threw my blade toward the voice.

Ugh!

I drew my second weapon, the knife, as I continued to run.

Kiiiiing!

A dark bolt flew towards me. I extended my injured arm to block it. My left arm was severed completely and fell off. My vision turned red.

I held the knife backward and aimed for the cleric's face.

The second dark bolt pierced through my right chest.

[Han () is in critical condition.]

Thunk!

The knife was plunged into the hood.

I pulled it out and thrust it in again.

Without awareness, I kept stabbing.

The dark cleric, who had been writhing and convulsing, finally stopped moving.

Kulk.

Blood spurted from his mouth.

Is it a stage clear?

I dragged my right arm and leaned against the tree trunk.

Is it not over?

If that's the case, it's the end.

I don't know anymore.

I'll probably die before the goddess's sculpture breaks.

[Shurn () has returned to the embrace of the goddess! His soul will be remembered forever!]

Damn it.

There's no more gruesome death than this.

To be dragged to an unknown place, treated like a dog, and then die.

When I was about to lose my grip on my sanity, a message popped up.

[Stage Clear!]

[Jenna (), Aaron (), Eolka () leveled up!]

[Edis (), Roderick (), Asher (), Dica () leveled up!]

[Reward: 70,000G, Lesser Fire Elemental Stone]

[MVP: Han ()]

[Congratulations, Master, on clearing the tenth floor!]

[The town's name will be fixed as Townia.]

[The exploration dungeon has been opened. Collect unique materials, including the descent stones!]

[Among your heroes, there are heroes ready to be promoted. Once you've gathered the materials, combine the promotion stones and recover the lost memories!]

Light surrounded my whole body.

But I didn't even notice it.

And, I quietly closed my eyes.

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