The following morning.

　Chartering a small boat from Koula's Port, I headed for the island where Isoreus was.

　It's not too far off the coast, so I'll be arriving in about two hours.

　After getting down on the island, I started to reminisce on it. A huge, dilapidated old castle turned dungeon; that was Isoreus. And although it had such a setting in the world of Mobius, it had its own history in this world. Maybe even a lord ruled over this old castle once.　If so, since when did it become a dungeon? And when did monsters start appearing from it? It might be interesting to later search the doc.u.ments and records.

　While having those thoughts in my mind as I walked, I finally arrived at the front of the Isoreus Dungeon. The old castle was so huge that one couldn't really see the whole thing. The atmosphere was awfully dark and an eerie silence covered the place. The only entrance was the castle's front gate. There, two monsters acted as gatekeepers. The boss is in the deepest part of the ‘top floor', but my destination is a different one. The lowest part of the ‘underground grand library'.

“For now, let's go straight to the library.”

“As you wish.”

　Das.h.i.+ng out, I stopped in front of the two gatekeepers. They were two demonic knights nearly three meters tall, wearing an ominous black armor.

“Transform.”

　The moment the gatekeepers approached me, swinging down their long swords, I activated 《Transform》. Twisting my upper body, I put my right hand forward and my left hand on my waist. I chose a pose that was as simple as possible so that I could activate it immediately.

“――――！ “

　The two black knights were then blown away by the blue-blackish lightning that gushed out from my body.

　Enemy characters who were within a certain radius when the transformation process starts were always knocked back. Aside from the 8 second immunity, this was one of the very important effects of Transform. Seems like Mobius management had a really good understanding of how a transformation should work.

　And, one more important thing. The immunity time was 8 seconds, but the time until the transformation was completed was only 6 seconds. In other words, ‘you can move while invincible for two seconds'.

　I wonder why it's become like this……?

“This is how it is.”

　Six seconds later, I approached the armored knights.

　Knocked back by the effect of the transformation, the armored knights were still alive and well, but a great distance had opened between us. It was on a level where it allowed me to have plenty of time to prepare my skills.

　For knight-type monsters, magic attacks worked the best. Combining 《Rook Archery》 and 《Lightning Attribute・Third Form》, I released it against one of the knights still down in the distance. Along with a loud sound, its head was blown off. The other one was starting to get up. Still, with this distance, I have great leeway in preparing my skills. In a similar way, I defeated it with 「Rook Third Lightning」.

“Isn't that overkill?! “

　Angolmois said in a great mood.

“I was able to finish them in a single shot since both were critical, but if that didn't happen, it would've taken a little longer to defeat them. That's no overkill at all.”

　I explained as I went deeper into the Isoreus Dungeon.

　Yeah, critical is a tricky thing. You get a critical hit when you don't really need it, but when you're hoping for one, it doesn't come out at all. Therefore, it's not really good to rely on it. It's better to think of it as a bonus or else you're in for a painful ride.

　I could have asked Yukari to craft some equipment and give it the effect of increased critical using 《Bestowal Magic》. However, once you start, it is quite the tedious task. It sucks up plenty of money and time. Money is acceptable, but I don't have the time right now.

　Still, an attack with 《Transform》 at Grade 9, 《Critical》 at Grade 9, 《Rook Archery》 at Grade 9, and  《Lightning Attribute・Third Form》 at Grade 6, while using 《Combine》 with a Mithril Longbow reinforced to the fifth stage, specialized in attack speed; I think those criticals were barely able to one-shot the knights with low magic resistance…… This might be a little harsh.

　These black knights that serve as gatekeepers are about as strong as Metio Dungeon's White Dragons. Most players when they hear that think “The Isoreus Dungeon isn't that big of a deal after all”. But that's wrong, completely wrong. The reason is, while in Metio you always fight one on one, in Isoreus, more often than not, it's at least two on one. At the room in front of the last boss located on the top floor, it becomes a 3 vs 1 against monsters that are eight times stronger than the White Dragons. They are on the level of the Golden Dragons.

　However, the monsters in Isoreus are certainly weaker. All the monsters that appear here are attack-focused, therefore their HP and VIT are on the lower side of the Upper-cla.s.s dungeons. That's the case for everything all the way to the boss. In particular, the 「Darkness Wolf」, despite being a head above the boss-cla.s.s monsters, has quite the low HP. But in exchange for that, it has incredible attacks incomparable with the other bosses.

“Change of plans. Let's move to the Great Underground Library considering safety first. Straightforwardness isn't good here, it's better to take our time.”

“Straightforwardness? “

“Yeah, it's better to not be too naive.”

“I see. Let's work hard, my Second.”

“Yeah, do your best. I'll also do my best.”

　Impatience and frustration are forbidden. Steeling my resolve, we aimed at the deepest part of Isoreus.

——————-

——————

　Probably about six hours have pa.s.sed since we were in the castle's entrance.

　Proceeding cautiously while taking breaks every now and then, the entrance to the Grand Underground Library came in sight.

“Let's set up camp here.”

“……By the side of the road? “

　The tent was set by the side of the hallway, in front of the library's entrance, in the s.p.a.ce between the figures of large armors that were lined up at each side in a stage-like platform. 

“We can relax here. The only monsters that appear here are Ghost-type ones, right?　And since ghosts can't jump, they can't get past steps of a certain height.”

“…………”

　Angolmois silently looked at me, half unconvinced. I wonder if he isn't in on the idea of sleeping this close to the enemy?　However, if it's safe, it's safe.I can't do anything about it.

“Alright, let's go.”

“Umu. So finally, it's time for the Darkness Wolf.”

“Yeah. Get ready for possession the moment I open the door.”

“As you wish.”

　After taking a break for some time, I finally decided to begin this deathmatch.

　After giving instructions to Angolmois, I then prepared an item that can be set up and used as a light source.

　One of the most useful items in the fight against the Darkness Wolf, the longest-lasting among the so-called Bonfire-type, the 『Great Bonfire』. This item was used during the ‘Great Barbecue Event' back in Mobius, and was able to be crafted using the 《Manufacture》 skill, even at the 16th cla.s.s, using a bag of rice as a raw material.

　This is an item with an amazing performance that continues to burn for 336 hours each. Seems like it was designed to disappear after the two-week event period was over, but for some reason people were still able to create it with the 《Manufacture》 skill even after the event was over. Probably the developers simply forgot about it. And thus, it became an item that was greatly used as a source of light in the Darkness Wolf Tame.

　And surely, I could also make it in this world. So, I'll be relying on it once again.

　Holding the Mithril Longbow in my left hand, with the Mithril Longsword hanging from my waist, and the Great Bonfire on my right hand, I kicked the door open.

　Immediately after, I activated 《Spirit Possession》. The red-blackish thunder ran through my body, illuminating the lurid library with a flash.

＜Status Details＞

Named after shogi pieces (The word in bold is the one being used in this translation). From easier to acquire to harder.

Swordsmans.h.i.+p

s.h.i.+eldmans.h.i.+p

Archery

They use the “Form” or “step” system of martial arts. From lower to higher.

From lower to higher, then it changes to the “Dan” system of martial arts, which means Grade.