episode_0152

Mimic.

One of the monsters representative of the 8th floor.

As expected of the 8th floor, where the environment changes, the Mimic can take on an optimized form in any environment.

Furthermore, it can’t only transform into monsters.

Although it cannot speak human language, it can also transform into a human.

Like on the 7th floor, it can transform into the shape of a corpse.

In addition, it can change its appearance into various things like bushes, trees, etc.

It is a creature famous for being extremely tricky.

But to think it could transform into a card.

And to think it knew how to lure adventurers with it.

If such a thing existed, shouldn’t Jack have known about it long ago?

Something felt strange, but that’s not important now.

We must survive the Mimics attacking from all sides.

[Terrain Manipulation]

A card thrown while running backward melted into the world.

Immediately, I manipulated the terrain to create a sinkhole beneath the Sundew and made it fall in.

Then it tried to hold on somehow using its extended vines. Thanks to that, everyone escaped the threat of the vines.

And one of them, Kylek’s arrow, was shot precisely towards the Sundew.

*Whoosh-*

A powerful arrow pierces the Sundew.

If it had been a normal Sundew, it would have blocked it with its unique skill.

Unfortunately, the Mimic cannot perfectly imitate such unique skills.

Defenselessly, it is hit by the next attack from the archer of the opposing party.

*Kuuuuoooooh!!!*

Letting out a bizarre voice, the Sundew immediately changed its appearance back to the Mimic’s characteristic amorphous body, and then changed its form once more.

But in the midst of the transformation, Luca’s wildness pierced the Mimic’s body. The Mimic, cut in half, vanished completely.

“We got the one in the center.”

“They’re coming from all sides!!”

Although we caught the tricky Mimic that was trying to hinder everyone in our center. That wasn’t the end.

Mimics starting to run towards us from all sides.

While approaching, each transforming into various shapes.

The ground started to shake slightly.

“They’re coming from underground too!!!”

Simultaneously with Grace speaking, a mole popped out from under Noah and attacked Noah.

Fortunately, Noah dodged by slightly deflecting it, but at the same time, the mole changed its form into a giant tree monster, a Trent, and wildly swung its branches.

The Mimic’s specs themselves aren’t very strong, but it continuously changes into the optimal form during the fight, gaining an advantageous position.

Numerous Mimics continuing their attacks in that manner.

To the extent that one could immediately tell why they are the monsters representative of the 8th floor.

Therefore, I realized that we had to make a stand here to some extent.

『It’s your turn. Draw 5 cards.』

『White Storage Box – Preserve 1 card at the end of the turn.』

The one to preserve is [Rupture].

All cards except for 1 disappear, and 5 cards are drawn.

[Blizzard(8)] [Force Field(2)] [Mana Overload(0)] [Fireball(1)] [Ifrit(4)] + [Rupture(4)]

The options are varied.

Should I exert strong power momentarily?

Or should I unleash continuous power?

The choice was simple.

Quickly throw 2 cards.

[Mana Overload]

[Blizzard]

Instantly, energy doubles to 10, and is reduced to 2 slots by using Blizzard, an 8-cost card.

The chill starting to circle around my body.

Immediately, it creates numerous ice shards.

After converting them into many small, fine ice shards instead of large ones, it shoots them out in all directions.

Spreading my senses and maximizing concentration to shoot them so they don’t hit people, the Mimics hit by them are quickly neutralized.

Since the wounds pierced by the ice shards start to freeze little by little, difficulties arise in the Mimics’ movements, and we attack without missing the opportunity.

Then the Mimics slowly started to be pushed back.

*Kuuuuoooh?!!*

After a bizarre voice echoed, the Mimics urgently started to flee.

We tried to chase them, but since we also had some damage, we couldn’t pursue those that transformed into moles or birds and fled.

『Check card rewards.』

Upon confirming that the reward window had appeared, I immediately checked the state of the party members.

Fortunately, they only had light injuries.

Jack was not visible.

Looking closely, Jack was lying collapsed on the ground.

Grace was poking him beside him, checking for a reaction.

As soon as I saw his whole body covered in blood, I quickly ran over.

“Jack?!”

“I-I’m okay. I missed the timing by mistake.”

“Ah.”

As you know, if Jack parries, his defense increases significantly and he can also deal counter damage, but conversely, if he fails to parry, he takes several times the damage, so even just taking a blind hit head-on will result in this kind of damage.

“Um, could you give me a potion?”

“You’re fine without it.”

“That’s… right.”

As the bloodstains started to disappear little by little and his wounds seemed to be healing, Jack vigorously got up.

Friendly force check was complete, what about the other party?

Checking immediately, it seems they also had some damage, but no critical injuries.

However, the leader of that party approached us.

“Thank you. I didn’t expect you to help us.”

“Well, there’s no personal ill will.”

“…Since the gold card was also fake, there’s nothing to argue about now. I apologize for being unreasonable.”

Seeing him slightly lower his head, I extended my hand.

Then, he smiled and responded to the handshake.

“Well, isn’t this just how the life of adventurers is? In the opposite situation, we would have argued the same.”

“You’re not very… wizard-like. Yes. I wish you good things ahead.”

There was a slight conflict, but anyway, the element of conflict, the gold card, also disappeared, and since these minor conflicts happen frequently, we both brushed it off and went our separate ways.

However, time is needed for the depleted emotions to recover.

“Hah… Even with such minor conflicts. It’s amazing those large clans are holding out without fighting.”

“You never know. They might be on the verge of exploding?”

“Don’t say such things recklessly. What if it explodes this time because of that?”

“Well, we won’t be involved with them in the first place.”

“That’s true.”

Small to medium-sized ones should originally avoid the large ones.

We are gradually moving towards the outskirts, to places where adventurers are less likely to roam.

As we did so, time passed and night arrived before we knew it.

It became the time of the ‘Transformation Period’.

“…Shall we rest here?”

Grace found a relatively dry area even within the swamp.

It seems okay to take a short rest here.

After raising the terrain to create a wall, building a campfire, and setting up a suitable campsite, we waited for the Transformation Period.

Soon, a strong wind blew, and thick fog covered us.

And about 30 minutes passed.

The 8th floor transforms into a new form.

“…Hmm.”

“It’s ambiguous.”

However, everyone’s evaluation upon looking at the changed 8th floor was… ambiguous.

That’s because it had changed too dramatically.

High mountains appeared where there was nothing, and giant rocks started springing up everywhere.

To the extent that rocks even appeared where we were, completely blocking our front.

“If you have bad luck with this, you might start buried underground?”

“Exactly. During the Transformation Period, if you’re near the portal, it’s not a good idea to stay outside it.”

Jack brushed it off as if it were nothing, but.

I felt like the 8th floor might not be easy.

“It’s better than being in terrain with high mountains like this and having the mountains disappear during the Transformation Period, causing you to fall.”

“…That’s true.”

Rather than the terrain suddenly changing and starting a free fall, it’s better for rocks to appear in front of your eyes.

“Anyway, what is the 8th floor now? Rock zone? Mountainous zone?”

“…I’ll have to look around a bit.”

Currently, the 8th floor is not only composed of giant rocks, but also has sparse small bushes and trees growing through rocks scattered here and there, filling the area. Therefore, a wide view is not secured for the first time in a while.

“There are various kinds of mountains, too. I’ll go take a quick look around.”

“Let’s go together. We don’t know what might happen.”

We immediately tidied up the campsite and moved forward little by little.

The entire 8th floor became covered with huge and high mountains.

But what stood out the most was the extremely high rocky mountain in the center.

As if looking at a magic tower, with a particularly prominent rocky mountain standing out, surrounded by several large mountains.

Jack also quickly realized where this place was.

“Ah, this is it. Not bad.”

“How can I know if you just say that?”

“It’s just ordinary terrain. A combination of forest and rocky mountains.”

“On the contrary, it seems difficult because it’s a good place for monsters to live.”

“Originally, there were many monsters weakened by the extreme climate, making it good for hunting. Well, I guess you have to get used to this kind of climate to become an 8th floor adventurer. We should be a little careful, though.”

Since the terrain has changed anyway, adapting to it is the life of an adventurer.

We started roaming around once again in search of prey.

However, we did not climb above a certain point on the mountains.

Leaving aside when the ‘Transformation Period’ itself might suddenly occur, the appearance of mountains means that monsters that inhabit those mountains have also appeared.

There’s no need to specifically confront monsters that have been strengthened by the environment.

So we tried to safely hunt only small groups of monsters while roaming around the mountains, but.

Unfortunately, there were quite a few people who thought similarly to us.

Most of the weakened monsters had already been dealt with by someone.

Only monsters suitable for forests and mountains remained.

Moreover, it would be different if their numbers were small. Since monsters with small numbers were all caught. Only a large number of monsters remained.

I don’t know if Noah could catch them if he used all his strength, but I didn’t particularly want to bear such a risk.

So after several hours, we could only hunt about 5-6 groups of monsters.

It feels like the efficiency isn’t very good.

“I think I understand why people struggle to join clans as they go higher up.”

“I’m feeling it deeply right now too.”

To be in a situation where you have to avoid monsters even after spotting them.

“Maybe it was right to stay on the 7th floor a bit longer before coming.”

“It seems like we came a bit early.”

Even though there’s a new face named Jack, it seems it was a slightly hasty decision.

We did get some rewards, but this is nowhere near enough.

“…Let’s leave the maze at midnight this time.”

“Or shall we just go back to the 7th floor?”

“Do you remember the way?”

“Yes. The general direction.”

“Well, in that case.”

Originally, we intended to go outside, but returning now is much faster than going outside and then climbing up to the 7th floor again. So we decided to turn back.

“Hmm, I think it’s quite possible.”

Jack had a regretful expression, but it’s fine.

Actually, it seems Jack overestimated us.

Especially my combat power.

Unfortunately, I can’t just spam magic like that unless everything is prepared.

No matter how urgent it is to quickly raise combat power because an evil god is descending before my eyes, it’s not like I can’t do that on the 7th floor either.

So we slowly moved forward, crossing the forest.

While walking for a long time.

“……?!!!”

Suddenly, Grace flinched.

“What’s wrong?”

“…I smell blood.”

“Where is it?”

“This way!!!”

Immediately, we crossed the forest following behind Grace.

Before long, we arrived at a wide clearing.

Upon arriving there, only gasps escaped our mouths.

Because numerous bodies of adventurers were scattered everywhere.