ALL NOVEL Wizard of the Abyss!
The following two floors of the labyrinth went rather quickly compared to the second one. In mere eight hours since they dived in, the group of four was standing on the barren fourth level.
Thanks to the fact that the third and fourth ones contained a single entity as their bosses, which Saya and Kyouki annihilated without much difficulty.
Saya did her best not to let Austin move and do all the work by herself.
The prowess she showed. Her formidable blade skills and precise technique, blended with overwhelming strength, were more than enough to kill the bosses, which were on par with Terror Rank's initial stage.
Kyouki also showcased the skills worth being a hero. From what Austin has seen last time in the war, Kyouki has indeed improved a lot.
Austin hasn't touched his Legendary Sword even once, but he could sense the dormant energy inside the weapon, which the hero has been slowly accessing through his hard work.
'Well, this shounen hero would unlock everything with the power of friendship…'
With a light chuckle, Austin gripped the handle of his hammer, and just like he had gotten used to, Austin brought the strike down to the ground and broke through.
**BOOOOM**
The sky-shattering collision effect reverberated as the four descended to the next stage. By now, even Cordelia and Kyouki for accustomed to the fall, so they don't use the skills like before.
Austin threw the hammer back into the inventory while in mid-air since there wasn't any use for it until they didn't clear the fifth level.
Austin did try on the third floor to break through without defeating the boss, but it failed, and Austin suffered a severe physical backlash.
Thanks to his natural healing capability and the pills Luna had given him, Austin was back to full health in no time.
"Argh!"
"Lia!"
Just when the four pairs of feet landed on the ground, Cordelia fell on her knees, with her face contouring in pain. Kyouki turned toward his friend in panic before he supported her.
Austin and Saya looked at the girl in astonishment since nothing seemed to directly or indirectly affect their surroundings.
There was no artifact, no mana presence, or anything evident; even the pair searched all around.
"I-I am fine… it just feels a little stuffy…."
Cordelia replied while being supported by the hero as she uttered her words somehow in between her labored breathing.
Her face was drenched with sweat, and all her facial color was adapting to paleness.
Other than being in extreme pain, Cordelia seemed fine, with no vital danger whatsoever.
"Here, stick this on the middle of your chest."
Suddenly Austin pulled out a sticker that had some scribbling which none of them understood. Cordelia took the long paper instinctively before she looked at Austin for an answer.
"This will keep an invisible barrier around you, and resist whatever is affecting."
Cordelia thanked Austin before she started unzipping her jacket. Saya instantly covered the stupid woman from her brother.
Kyouki also turned his gaze away and tried to keep his mind occupied with anything but the rustling sound from beside.
Austin didn't have much care since he never gets bothered by any woman other than one. He took the time to check out the surroundings, which, unlike the previous floors, seemed incredibly silent.
The space was equally dark and cold, but something felt odd. Something which made Austin awfully cautious after who knows how long.
[Already here? Guess, I underestimated you guys.]
A voice that, by pitch and tone, seemed human yet at the same time contained the density which told otherwise resonated from an unknown source
Austin focused his senses to find the person, but unfortunately, it came from all around, not from a single direction. Using his fireballs, Austin searched for wider proximity, but the conclusion remained zero.
[Why are you struggling so much?]
Suddenly all three became stunned as they saw an unexpected presence standing just inches behind Austin. The latter mentioned didn't turn, but it doesn't mean he was standing there shocked.
[Hmmm~Aren't you an interesting one?]
The entity that erupted out of nowhere smiled in amusement as he saw the stance of the blondie. Even the young man has his front turned on the other side; his arm has been raised with a dagger held in such a position that advancing a step could cause a deep cut.
"I share the same sentiment."
It's been a long time since someone has been able to sneak to Austin's back like this. If not for his natural instincts, which rang like church bells, Austin couldn't have pulled the dagger in time.
(A/N: -Luna doesn't count since she's pretty above comprehensibility.)
Saya wanted to step forward as soon as she witnessed the person standing near her Onii-sama, but she knew there might arise repercussions which she would like to avoid.
Turning steadily with his guard still pulled up, Austin looked at the person who undoubtedly was the floor boss.
A black robe all over his body with white hair sticking out the cover. Red ruby eyes stared down at Austin with a strange glint of curiosity blended in them.
Apart from his eyes, nothing seemed unnatural with his appearance, which seemed just like an average human's. But that doesn't provide leeway for Austin to turn casual.
Even though the strange man was standing there lazily, Kyouki realized that there was no possible opening he had left at all. And the fact he was standing so near to Austin, didn't help either.
"Compared to the other floor bosses, you seem a little sane."
The others were just trying to kill Austin, and his group without any reason. Well, it was understandable since it was a labyrinth, but Austin wasn't here for the purpose of clearing this place.
He just wanted to get some answers, and this person in front seemed to be the right man.
Hearing the blond boy's words, the robed man smiled in amusement as he spoke in a prideful tone.
[Of course, I would. After all, what you have faced were all my slaves, and I am their master. The Wizard of the Abyss, Aèzar]
____________…
A/N: - Story hasn't turned boring, right?
I don't know, but keeping Luna out of the story makes me think that maybe viewers don't like it much.
Please let me know😣