Chapter 67 – Floor 10. Fire in the hole!

Despite Albert’s timely arrival to assist, the situation remained desperate.

Severa, Kali, and the Slime were unusable, and Blue Tongue was practically incapacitated. To make matters worse, I had dropped my weapon, and my backpack was out of reach.

“Cough!”

The blood that continued to gush from my mouth suggested my internal organs were severely damaged. When I removed the completely torn and non-functional plate armor, a diagonal wound across my chest was clearly visible.

An injury that would be life-threatening without immediate surgery. A large amount of blood was staining my shirt red.

‘I’m really going to die…’

Just one hit.

Even though my Constitution stat was on the lower side, it was absurd that one hit from a boss could cause this much damage. I couldn’t help but laugh at the ridiculousness of it.

“Seeing you laugh, you must still have some composure left.”

Whoosh—

Albert naturally kicked my fallen backpack nearby, spinning it with perfect force to send it sliding toward me.

The backpack scraped along the ground as it slid, likely tearing up its bottom, but his control of strength was so precise that it stopped right in front of me. I decided to act rather than think.

‘Healing potion… none. Among the scrolls, something good…’

While I rummaged through the backpack searching for items to stop the bleeding and heal my injuries, Albert once again thrust his longsword deep into the ogre with force before jumping down from the ogre’s wrist and picking up the White-Winged Greatsword I had dropped.

His nimble movements were hard to believe from a white-haired man of his age.

“Alright, I’ll buy you some time. I trust you can handle your wounds yourself.”

“Says the one with a mouth full of—”

Thump-! Thump-! Thump—!!

The ogre pulled out the longsword that was stuck in it like a stake, dripping black blood, and threw it toward Albert.

Swish—!!

Albert raised the greatsword to deflect the high-speed longsword that sliced through the air with a chilling sound.

A sharp noise like glass breaking rang out as the longsword cracked significantly before embedding itself into the floor, forcing Albert to step back twice.

But simultaneously, he spun and stepped forward, fearlessly diving in as he clashed the greatsword against the ogre’s descending blade. Though greatly overwhelmed in the power struggle, he released the handle and stepped in closer.

Shrik— Two daggers gleaming with sharp light were drawn from his holster.

The daggers tore through the ogre’s skin, embedding like needles into its knee joints, causing that massive body to tilt again.

As the heavy body slowly began to fall forward, Albert quickly stepped backward, grabbed the greatsword still in the air, and with a great spin, drove a slash into the ogre’s waist.

The experienced knight then slid forward between the ogre’s thighs, avoiding its rotting mass with practiced skill.

It was a combination without any wasted movement, as if he could see the future.

“Phew… No matter how much my senses have returned, age certainly makes this difficult. I’d appreciate a tag out now that you’ve finished your healing.”

“…It hasn’t even been 10 seconds yet.”

But that time was enough.

The scroll in my hand would solve the problem.

『Scroll of Regeneration』 A scroll that applies regeneration, recovering 5 Health per turn for 50 turns.

Along with the 『Scroll of Protection』, it was an insurance item that enhanced a player’s survivability, one that should always be kept on hand alongside 『Healing Potions』 for peace of mind in any situation.

Rip—

The magical energy emitted from the torn scroll bound itself to me, beginning to continuously heal my wounds.

“Haaah…”

I wasn’t sure if it would mend broken ribs or close the wound, but at least I no longer had to worry about bleeding out.

“I almost died, you bastard…!”

Hissss—

I felt the heavy weight of the flanged mace in my hand as I turned my neck, making a deflating sound, and walked toward the headless ogre.

***

Crack! The mace’s metal flanges crushed the ogre’s thick hide, pulverizing the rotten flesh.

Squelch! The broken spear blade in my other hand pierced through the ogre’s thick skin, causing decayed blood to pour out.

With the regeneration effect continuously recovering my lost health, I recklessly dove into the ogre’s attack range, unleashing a barrage of attacks.

This was, of course, a dangerously reckless action that couldn’t be done alone, and a strategy that wouldn’t be possible if Albert wasn’t drawing its attention.

“Over here! You undead abomination!”

As the creature tried to check me while I carved away at its decaying body, Albert shouted to draw its attention, performing a precarious acrobatic display while avoiding threatening attacks.

Deflecting, enduring, pushing back, diving in, leaping away.

He couldn’t eliminate all damage, but his seasoned responses, born from years of experience, reduced it to the absolute minimum.

‘What a crazy old man.’

His movements were so impressive that I couldn’t understand how he could have lost an arm to an Orc Warrior.

Blue Tongue, who had recovered some health, was also helping to restrict the ogre’s movements with the fallen greatsword, but he couldn’t display the same level of movement as Albert.

In fact, I wondered if Albert might have been an acrobat or assassin rather than a knight.

However, it was clearly visible even from the corner of my eye while focusing on attacking that his speed was decreasing, likely due to a significant lack of stamina.

“You’re starting to look tired.”

“Hmm..! Certainly getting difficult. I never encountered a monster of this caliber even in my active days.”

Then it was time to bring it out.

“Alraune!”

The repulsive smell of decaying flesh that filled Floor 10 was suddenly overlaid with the refreshing scent of nature that cleared the head, accompanied by a sweet floral fragrance that made the head dizzy.

That explosive fragrance that induced nausea immediately dominated the battlefield, indicating the presence of a being.

Beautiful, yet monstrous.

Small lovely flowers blooming in her fresh-colored hair, and branches protruding like deer antlers.

A female form with pale jade-colored skin smiled seductively.

Tiny sprouts grew from the ground where her smooth bare feet touched. A subtle pulsation of life.

Though subtle, it was not singular. As one grew, others followed, competing to grow faster, enlarging themselves.

Yet before her, the ruler of these lives, dominance and competition were meaningless actions. Plants like spring sprouts instantly covered the female form, eventually becoming one with her.

Forming a receptacle, a stem, and petals, countless lives harmoniously bloomed into a single flower.

“Now, baton touch!”

Alraune’s vines shot out, wrapping around the ogre’s arm.

As the arm was entwined by the tough vines, even the strong ogre couldn’t easily break free and flailed its arm.

Crunch—

The vines dug deeper into the ogre’s arm as it applied more force, constricting it to the point where it seemed like it might be severed with a little more pressure.

Against a normal opponent, resistance would have been abandoned due to pain, but the opponent was an undead that couldn’t feel pain.

The creature’s arm rose high, and its blunt sword struck down on the vine.

Crack—!

The undulating vine wasn’t completely severed, but it seemed to have sustained significant damage to its durability, as unstable sounds like tuk- tuduk- began to be heard.

It would probably break if struck once more.

“Everyone back away!”

But that was enough. At my shout, Albert and Blue Tongue, two seasoned warriors, distanced themselves from the ogre without hesitation.

Regardless, the ogre raised its arm high again to break free from the restraint.

And just before it struck down, I pulled out another scroll.

『Scroll of Swamp』

One of the few items that could change terrain tiles, it contained magic that transformed a straight line area in front into a swamp. And the effect of swamp tiles was…

Splash— Boom!

The ogre’s lower body was sucked into the ground, which had become too muddy to support its weight.

Tudududuk—!! Although the vines broke in succession as they received tension beyond their limit when it fell, the ogre lost balance and plunged deeper into the swamp as it fell.

Mud shot high into the sky.

Patter patter patter—

I blocked the mud raining down with my hands while breathing heavily.

My Health value itself had already stabilized due to natural recovery and the regeneration effect, but getting close to an ogre with enough power to cause near-death in one hit was mentally taxing.

“Persistent…”

“Kugh… I knew it was strong, but not to this extent. Are you alright, human?”

Albert and Blue Tongue approached slowly, each offering a comment as they watched the ogre struggling in the swamp, unable to escape.

“Old human… do not approach.”

However, Blue Tongue, despite having helped, seemed wary of Albert due to his previous troublemaking, and quivered his tongue slightly while firmly gripping the greatsword’s handle.

“Well now. I wasn’t expecting gratitude, but this is a bit much.”

“Are you serious?”

As the two looked ready to clash blades at any moment, I let out a deep sigh.

I didn’t want to mediate between the two while the headless ogre was still alive, so I clicked my tongue and kicked Albert in the shin.

Thwack—!

“Kuhuck!”

Ignoring Albert who fell to his knees, I waved my hand for them to stop. Blue Tongue stabbed the greatsword into the ground, clearly displeased but willing to comply.

Splash! Splatter—! Splash!

The ogre flailed its large hands, struggling to escape from the swamp.

It should have been stuck deeper and unable to move, but through sheer strength, it seemed to be slowly getting out.

“You can eat each other later… I’d like to finish that thing off first.”

『Headless Ogre』Level: 20★ [Status: Trapped in Swamp]

Health(B): 42/444 ■□□□□□□□□□

Health(H): 13/222 ■□□□□□□□□□

【One who committed sins rejected by all. Even in death, he did not earn the right to rest.】

The headless ogre’s condition was poor, validating our life-risking charges. Its health was low enough that Severa could have finished it off had she been in proper condition.

I pulled out a fire potion I’d bought on Floor 6. A simple attack potion that sprayed flames when drunk or thrown.

Its mysterious color had a magical quality that drew you in.

“Whenever I throw one of these, there’s always something I want to shout.”

“Krrng… What’s that?”

“Fire in the hole!”

KABOOOOM───!!!

The refreshing explosion and blast of flames swept by, blowing my hair.

[You have defeated the Headless Ogre.]

[You have grown.]

Explosions truly are art.

It’s a shame I don’t have sunglasses.