TM-Chapter 31

The Wizard’s Escape Strategy (2)

Dust Explosion.

A 2nd-grade binding spell that occurs when registering the 1st-grade spells Dust and Heat Wind in spell slots.

High damage and can inflict burns.

Moreover, it can jump over obstacles, making it even more useful.

But the case I used it more often was when destroying obstacles.

***

[It’s your turn. Remaining time: 56 seconds]

[Action Points: ■■■■]

Like a demolition foreman, I carefully choose the target points for the spell.

“Dust Explosion.”

I set off one at the corner of the sanctuary’s front wall.

After counting the 10-second cooldown.

[It’s your turn. Remaining time: 45 seconds]

[Action Points: ■■■□]

“Dust Explosion.”

I set off another one on the opposite side.

When collapsing the wall and ceiling, I’m careful so that the falling debris won’t cover our team.

The spot where the Manager is standing now, and where the Sentinels are rushing in.

I blow up the sanctuary entrance and the nearby wall corners and ceiling.

“Dust Explosion.”

[It’s your turn. Remaining time: 23 seconds]

[Action Points: ■□□□]

What happens to the Sentinels when it collapses? About 60-70% will probably be crushed under the falling ceiling and the sanctuary’s front wall.

What about the Manager?

It’s one of two things.

If we’re lucky, he’ll be crushed together and it’ll take some time to get out, but if we’re unlucky…

‘Phase Shift.’

The Manager of Rest can teleport short distances. Maybe he’ll dodge the falling debris with that.

But even if that happens, it’s not bad.

It would be better if he were completely crushed by the debris and couldn’t even use Phase Shift, but taking away that spell right now is an excellent merit.

Because then we won’t be caught from behind when we run to the gate.

The more important problem is…

‘Where should I blow up last?’

If I’m too greedy, the ceiling might not collapse properly.

If I design the falling debris points wrong, our team could get hurt.

But if I blow it up too conservatively, too many Sentinels might remain.

How long does it take for the Barbarian, paladin, and monk old man to climb up the display case to the roof?

Including time to disarm and carry weapons on their backs, let’s generously allow 7 seconds per person.

Since brother monk’s iron rod has no choice but to be held in hand, receiving the iron rod first would be a method.

[It’s your turn. Remaining time: 8 seconds]

[Action Points: ■□□□]

Even if the worst happens, there is a way.

The Temporary Hourglass, I mean.

I already obtained it. I’m just saving it because I have other uses for it.

If any of the three people get caught by enemies while climbing the display case, and we can’t rescue them with our backup, I’ll use the Temporary Hourglass.

Ah.

Come to think of it, if luck follows us a bit, I might not need to use the Temporary Hourglass.

“Dust Explosion.”

[All action points have been exhausted.]

[Ending turn.]

[The hourglass has been flipped again. Cooldown: 60 seconds]

***

Bang! Kwagwang! Bang!

Suddenly the walls and ceiling corners near the sanctuary’s main entrance exploded.

Flames shoot up and bricks pour down. Shattered roof tile fragments scattered in all directions.

Jjaeng!

More than half of the urns were shattered to pieces.

The collapsed ceiling and walls fell directly, covering the Sentinels and Manager at the entrance, and thick dust rose up.

“What… What is this.”

The Halfling who had been aiming the crossbow looked at the wizard with a bewildered expression.

This wizard suddenly aimed a pair of wands downward and half-destroyed the building without incantation or cooldown.

“What is this…”

Paladin Bernard also looked back in confusion while running away.

“Hurry up and climb! There’s no time!”

The wizard shouted again.

“Please go quickly!”

The monk slapped the Barbarian’s back and turned around.

Roof tile fragments clanging and clanging rolling and bouncing on the floor.

Bricks and mud fragments, and settling dust.

Among them, the surviving Sentinels appeared.

“Hurry up and climb! You Barbarian!”

As they say, arms bend inward, so the Halfling had no choice but to take care of his longtime companion first.

“Got it!”

The Barbarian bit down on that huge two-handed axe with unbelievable jaw strength and began climbing the display case quickly.

“Monk!”

Bernard smashed the head of one surviving Sentinel.

“After the Barbarian, it’s your turn! Please climb first, monk!”

“…No.”

Aimus also smashed three Sentinels crawling out beside him with his iron rod.

Looking at the opened sky and the sanctuary’s front.

‘Caleb collapsed the roof.’

Did the Manager of Rest also get buried in that rubble?

I don’t know.

But what’s fortunate is that the Sentinels aren’t reviving yet.

“I don’t like leaving comrades behind and running away first anymore.”

It was about Backstab incident.

Aimus had abandoned Backstab and ran away alone when Backstab came to rescue him in the labyrinth, and he got possessed by madness.

“Paladin, please climb first!”

Mountain Dalai teaches not to be buried in distracting thoughts.

They say not to keep past events in your heart.

Regret bears nothing and only destroys the mind.

But how can one shake off such things?

Kwajik!

Aimus smashed another Sentinel.

“Please go quickly!”

“You are…”

The paladin turned toward the display case first.

“The best front-liner I’ve ever seen. I’ll wait above.”

At the same time, three Sentinels came over the debris.

Jjeok!

Aimus smashed one with his staff, and the other two…

Ppajik!

Peok!

Lightning Shock and crossbow bolt took them out simultaneously.

“Aimus! Slowly back up!”

Caleb’s voice was heard.

Aimus slowly stepped back while guarding the front.

The paladin was climbing the display case as quickly as possible with his shield on his back.

And…

Ppiiit!

A whistle sound that made everyone’s hair stand on end echoed.

If the gates of hell were opened and closed without oiling them, making a screech sound, it would feel just like this.

Goosebumps rise all over my body.

“Not crushed! The Manager wasn’t crushed!”

Caleb shouted.

“Aimus! Come up! Quickly!”

That monster used Phase Shift to avoid the ceiling debris, escaped outside the building, and watched the situation for a moment.

And now again.

Ppiiit!

The Manager of Rest entered the sanctuary to pursue the intruders.

Ppiiit!

The building debris scattered on the floor rustles.

The dead Sentinels are awakening again.

***

Now that most of the monsters’ aggro has been drawn to the sanctuary.

Two people are running through the middle of the empty inter-floor village on the 1.5 floor.

Namely, Elf archer Yernil and dwarf wizard Austin.

“Huff… Huff… Go a bit slower!”

“We don’t have time! We need to go quickly!”

“Hey, you brat…”

The dwarf clutched his side.

“I was injured… I’m a body that died and was revived.”

“I healed you, didn’t I?”

Yernil did as Caleb instructed, placed a urn next to the dwarf’s corpse, tore open the revival scroll received from Bernard, and poured healing potions all over the dwarf’s wounds.

After he woke up, she also fed him healing potions.

Healing complete!

“Would that make me fully recovered!”

The dwarf’s side still throbbed as if it would tear every time he ran.

“Still, just bear with it a little! Both your party and our party are all in danger!”

“I know that too…”

dwarf wizard Austin was a skilled 3-person party that operated with Barbarian Greg and Halfling Remus.

The friendship forged through countless life-and-death situations and shared hardships together is no less than that of any deep-floor party.

He too wants to return quickly and help more than the Elf in front of him.

“Damn.”

The dwarf gritted his teeth stubbornly.

“Fine, good. Lead the way!”

He clutched his throbbing side and picked up speed.

“Thank you! Caleb said to come back quickly. Let’s go!”

“What are we supposed to do when we get there?”

“Caleb asked to respond with earthen wall magic.”

“What kind of response?”

“Caleb is going to make clouds, so respond then!”

“What are you talking about?”

This Elf keeps calling ‘Caleb, Caleb’ just like how the paladin looks for Nataniel.

Austin found the novice archer of that new party somewhat amusing.

Fellows with solid trust relationships always make you feel good just by watching them…

“A monster!”

Austin, who suddenly spotted a Sentinel jumping out from the front, pulled out his wand.

But just before he could incant magic.

Pang!

An arrow fired like lightning from Yernil’s hand pierced the Sentinel’s head.

Not just one, but three arrows.

Pabang!

“What!”

The dwarf burst into laughter.

“You’ve got some skill!”

“…!”

Yernil’s face, looking back at the dwarf, showed reddened pride.

“Triple Shot! It’s a skill!”

“I didn’t ask.”

“I caught three on the way to find your corpse too.”

“How many times have you been to the labyrinth?”

“Second time!”

No wonder there was a fresh scent.

But Yernil was full of confidence.

The weakest Yernil who had no skills and only received protection is already gone.

Didn’t I vow to be reborn?

What’s here now is a super rookie archer who fires three arrows in succession in an instant.

Caleb’s most trusted(?) right hand.

A genius archer carrying the important mission of reviving and bringing back a fallen comrade.

Special Agent Yernil appears!

“Goodness.”

Looking at this greenhorn archer, Austin was reminded of his own beginner days.

Remus and Greg were similarly fresh back then too.

They’re companions who’ve accumulated scars and memories together as they aged. Their skills made it difficult to go further down from the 2nd floor, but.

“You idiots. Just don’t die.”

“We’re almost there now! I can see the sanctuary!”

***

‘I might get caught.’

An ominous thought crossed everyone’s minds.

An adventurer who plunges into the labyrinth must always regard death as a companion.

So they always keep in mind that they could die.

Still, moments like this are inevitably frightening.

When faced with a crisis of death, fear sprouts even in the steel-like heart of a monk trained at Mountain Dalai.

The thought that they might never see their families again.

Last turn.

Aimus began climbing the display case.

“Iron rod first!”

Bernard reached out his hand.

“Here!”

Aimus sent up the cumbersome iron rod, Bernard and the Barbarian grabbed the iron rod simultaneously.

“Hurry!”

The Halfling shouted. Sentinels had swarmed right up to the display case.

“Back up! Back up!”

The Halfling fired crossbow bolts rapidly.

“Lightning Shock!”

Magic also spurted from Caleb’s wand.

Ppiiit!

The Manager’s whistle sound rang like a funeral dirge.

“…!”

Aimus suddenly felt the display case swaying from something below.

“It’s attached to the display case!”

The paladin shouted.

Looking down, it’s true. Two Sentinels were grabbing and shaking the display case.

“Dust Explosion!”

Caleb quickly used magic to blow up one.

The other one…

Tang!

The Halfling crossbow shooter tore it apart with penetrating shot.

Now Aimus had climbed almost to the top of the display case.

“Reach out your hand!”

The moment Aimus grabbed the hand the Barbarian extended.

‘What?’

Suddenly the expressions of the four people in front froze coldly.

Aimus realized something was wrong.

‘My ankle is cold.’

As if something cold grabbed his ankle.

There’s no ladder here.

However, urns are placed on the first tier of the display case.

The reason is that the Manager of Rest can reach there if he extends his hand.

That’s why the ankle is cold.

Because the lord of death ruling the 1.5 floor grabbed his ankle with ice-cold hands.

“Aimus!”

Bernard thrust Aimus’s iron rod like a spear, but it was pathetic.

The Manager easily dodged the attack.

Peong!

Caleb’s Lightning Shock hit but didn’t deal much damage, and the crossbow bolt the Halfling fired…

Kwajik!

Amazingly, the Manager caught it by biting it with his mouth.

“That’s impossible!”

Aimus’s hand slipped powerlessly from the Barbarian’s hand.

It was because their hands were sweaty from the urgent battle.

Kwaaang!

He grabbed and hung from the top of the display case, but…

“I can’t hold on!”

Even a monk’s strength that swings an iron staff like a tree branch can’t withstand a floor boss.

“Aimus!”

“Heu. Heuheu. Heuheu.“

Screaming from above.

Spine-chilling laughter from behind.

Aimus, hanging from the display case, began losing strength in his arms instantly.

It’s over.

This is as far as it goes.

A strong intuition came.

“Run away first…”

“In my backpack!”

Suddenly Caleb turned around and shouted.

“There’s a dagger!”

It was the weapon used by the beast-person member of the Marauder Party.

Caleb doesn’t need to use the Temporary Hourglass.

Because he appeared.

“What…”

Beyond the faces of Caleb and the Halfling, a familiar silhouette appeared to Aimus.

The person who was once the youngest rogue in his party, the core strength, and the person who received all the expectations of the Adventurer Guild as the best rookie on the 1st floor.

Aimus knows his skill too.

‘Magic Throwing Blade.’

When white light glittered on Backstab’s dagger, it never missed.

***

“Kiiaaaaaaaaak!“

The dagger was embedded in the Manager’s forehead, and the 3.5-meter monster staggered backward with a scream that made the sanctuary ring.

“Aaaaak!“

While clutching his forehead and stumbling on the roof debris, kwagwang!

In the gap when he fell crushing several Sentinels, Aimus quickly recovered his posture.

“Now!”

Helping hands competed to pull Aimus up.

“Huff… Huff…”

Aimus panted from the fear of having gone to the brink of death.

“Let’s greet each other.”

Caleb lightly patted his shoulder.

Backstab was standing in front of them.