Volume 2 Chapter 19 (1/2)
The [Crimson Cavern]; the dungeon without a Demon Lord.
With its Demon Lord now gone, the core kept on making monsters on its own. Furthermore, the [Maelstroms] that were in place from when the Demon Lord was still alive also continued to gush forth new monsters each day.
Originally, it was a dungeon ruled by the [Flame] Demon Lord and as such, most if not all of it were volcanic areas. There were many monsters made of [Flame] too.
Each day, a fixed amount of monsters were being made so we were using it as a convenient hunting ground.
”I'd like to also make a [Maelstrom].”
”Oto-san, what's wrong?”
”No, it's nothing.”
By paying a hundred times that of the price of a monster one could buy with DP, one could purchase a [Maelstrom] which was able to gush forth that monster each day.
Demon Lords—other than myself—could only synthesize monsters of up to A rank. That meant that they could only buy monsters two ranks below A rank, or in other words C rank monsters of that lineage. But since I could make S rank monsters, I was able to buy even B rank monsters with DP.
Having one new B rank monster each day was a great boon.
After all, B rank monsters—monsters that originally could only be made through synthesis— were such powerful monsters that they served as the main force of most Demon Lords.
However, as my fighting force was still not yet ready, it was far more preferable to have a hundred monsters right away than to save up for a [Maelstrom]. I guessed I won't have one anytime soon.
”Please be careful. An enemy is approaching.”
Ancient Elf informed us so.
She had attuned herself with the wind here and was therefore able to perceive the state of things wherever there was wind.
This was perhaps the best radar above ground.
”Elf-chan, please tell us detailed information about the enemy.”
”Okay. It's an armadillo type monster covered in hard scales.”
”Ahh, that one. I know it. Leave this one to Kuina.”
We had been going in and out of this dungeon a considerable amount of times so we had understood the kind of monsters that were spawning.
”Kuina-chan, it will be here soon. Please ready yourself.”
Around thirty seconds after Ancient Elf warned her so, the enemy arrived.
Its appearance was that of an armadillo except for the metallic glow emitting from its back and the spikes littered all over it.
It was a C rank monster. An Iron Armadillo.
As it name would suggest, its back was covered in steel and had high defense.
”Just the right thing to test my shotgun on.”
Said Kuina, smiling.
The Iron Armadillo rolled itself into a ball and then rolled forward.
In all regards, it was the bane of gun users.
On top of it being absolutely tough, the countless spikes on its back had the effect of deflecting bullets.
But Kuina, against such an enemy, dove right in.
Her silver shotgun, the Curtana, then shone red, a clear indicator she was pouring magic power into it.
She pulled the trigger and a thunderous sound shook the air. Her shotgun made use of the high powered 4 gauge shells hence that sound. However, there was another sound that soon followed.
Due to the enchantment Elder Dwarf placed on the gun, whenever a shell was going burst into countless pellets, [Explosion] was also set to activate which would accelerate the pellets and thus further increasing their destructiveness.
The countless pellets pierced through the tough metallic carapace and came into contact with the enemy's flesh, further drilling into its body.
”Amazing! It's more than what I imagined! This gun is the best! Even shotshells can penetrate like that!”
Kuina spoke with delight obvious in her voice, happy to have that much power in her gun.
”I'm glad you liked it. For now, try out the full-auto mode.”
”Okay! If I had this gun firing slugs fully automatically before, during our hard fight with the wind dragon, I think I could have beaten it a somewhat easier manner.”
It really did seem so.
Afterwards, Kuina had beaten about three enemies and her tests were thus concluded. When she tried to shoot her shotgun fully automatically, it did as was expected and didn't broke down. Kuina was so happy, she kept swinging her tail.
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”Then, next is my turn.”
Kuina finished her test firing so now it was Ancient Elf's turn to do so.
We exited the cave area and proceeded to an area sprawling with lava.
With lava burning all around us, it was extremely hot.
It was an extremely dangerous area wherein if one failed to step on the narrow footholds, they would be plunged headfirst into the lava.
”Well then, I'm off. Please wait there, everyone.”
Ancient Elf said so as she jumped in the air and flew.
The lack of footholds was not an issue for her.
Still, I worried. I worried because somewhere here, enemy monsters were lurking. Specifically the rock-skinned giant snakes swimming in the sea of lava. They rarely come out of the lava so we generally tend to avoid them.
However, Ancient Elf said to leave it to her.
Did she have some kind of plan, I wondered.
She hovered in the air and aimed the anti-materiel rifle that Elder Dwarf masterfully made, the Durandal EDAM-01, toward the ground.
She must have been looking for her prey, I thought.