Around the same time Scaly began to focus earnestly on observing the dungeon core in an attempt to raise the level of her mana circulation skill, far from her and Verdell, the group of adventurers that had followed them in the same direction towards the dungeon core at the center of this new dungeon floor found themselves cutting down a group of monsters that had attempted to ambush them unsuccessfully.
"I swear those undead were far easier to deal with compared to these damnable monsters that keep lying in ambush all the time! Don’t they have anything better to do? Or did the damnable dungeon core decide it was time to create a dungeon floor where all the monster love to lie in ambush!?"
Still, even though the monsters had been unsuccessful, one of the adventurers couldn’t stop himself from cursing out loud looking down towards one of the now dead monsters. Expressing his frustration over what they had ended up going through ever since they had successfully made it out of the boundaries of the newly formed undead kingdom.
"""..."""
A kind of frustration that none of his companions said anything about, as all of them were feeling the same way he was. After all, since they had left the undead kingdom, they hadn’t encountered a single monster that didn’t attempt to ambush them first.
At first, it might have been fine and they had long since grown used to dealing with ambush monsters, but after the third, seventh... Twelfth time in a row of being ambushed by the local monsters, they had understandably begun to feel a bit frustrated with the seemingly single-minded policy for the monsters found outside the undead kingdom.
Even if they ended up running into monsters like Great Far Land Rabbits that wouldn’t normally ambush people, they still ended up being ambushed. Almost like all the monsters outside of the undead had been installed with a detailed blueprint on how to properly ambush adventurers even if they weren’t normally ambush monsters.
To say it was frustrating would be an understatement, as even with their superior strength, this kind of environment where all the monsters around attempted to ambush them essentially meant they always had to be ready for another attack to come their way and left them with little to no chance of resisting, as the second they lowered their guard, another ambush would come their way.
The one positive to this troublesome situation was the fact that the constant pressure from the local monsters had forced them to continue making progress towards the dungeon core without the slightest bit of rest, something that ultimately wasn’t too straining given how all of them were SS Rank Adventurers, but undoubtedly still an exhausting endeavor, nonetheless. Especially for the mages amongst their group, as they had a far worse physique compared to the more physically aligned classes of the rest.
To ensure that they could keep making progress without having to stop, these mages had to be carried every now and then, though it wasn’t exactly difficult for the few with physical classes at the SS Rank, as people who went that far having focused one their strength and vitality were generally known as inexhaustible beasts of burden. Able to keep going through highly strenuous situations lasting for days without rest.
These adventurers, having reached a level even a dragon like Scaly hadn’t yet reached with her natural advantages in vitality and strength growth.
"I really hope we get to the dungeon core soon..." But even with this, these top-quality beasts of burden still wanted this unending ambush simulation to come to an end.
Unfortunately for them, their travelling speed through the ninth floor of the dungeon compared to a dragon like Scaly who could fly through the sky and ignore the monsters down below was downright abysmal.
Not that they couldn’t fly, it was just that flying would burn through mana and at the same time also make them an easy target for any flying monsters or the leading necromancer still on the loose somewhere within the ninth floor of the dungeon.
They weren’t like Scaly, who had a pair of wings and felt invisible in the sky relying on her natural advantage along with wind magic to escape from any potential danger she might end up finding herself in.
Rumble~
Because of this, as the group suddenly felt a loud rumbling sound that caused the very earth beneath their feet to shake, they were understandably confused. Not knowing how to react, as their first thought wasn’t that some powerful group of monsters was passing through, but instead that the dungeon core might be doing some construction nearby. Meaning reckless movement could very well get them noticed and killed.
"It’s growing closer..." Still, as the rumbling sound grew closer and the shaking increased, the leader of the group decided to split off from the rest to investigate the situation and make sure the dungeon core wasn’t in the process of constructing a mountain range right through where they were standing. Knowing that if that was the case, all of them would be doomed if they just stood around waiting for everything to pass.
At the same time, the reason he split off from the group and went to check on the situation on his own was because he knew that there was a good chance the dungeon core might notice him if it really was the one behind the loud rumbling sound, as the sound itself had made it clear it should be working nearby.
"Necromancer...!" But what he ended up seeing wasn’t some new building project under the command of the dungeon core, but instead a massive bone construct recklessly charging through a nearby forest. Flattening any monster or tree along its path heading directly towards them.
His mind briefly flashing back to the undead kingdom that had emerged on this floor of the dungeon, he knew that they needed to take out this necromancer before she could inform the Eternal Life Sanctum about its existence.
But... Given the fact that the dungeon core was still in the process of constructing the ninth floor of the dungeon. Engaging in a battle with this necromancer would do little but draw the attention of the dungeon core over and end up with both sides being erased by the dungeon core, something he didn’t want to see happening if possible.
"Everyone, hide, fast!" Because of this, after hesitating for a few seconds, he quickly descended back down to the group waiting for him below and made them hide. Unwilling to clash with this powerful necromancer before the ninth floor of the dungeon had been successfully completed by the dungeon core.
Something those below also understood as they silently nodded in response before hiding after learning about the situation above. Knowing that while they might not be able to fight with that necromancer right now, she wasn’t exactly making it difficult to find her, as they would be able to follow the path of destruction she left behind.
In the process, this would also allow them to avoid the constant ambushes they had enjoyed along the way so far.
Not just because the monsters along the way would be trampled by that terrifying bone construct whose strength had surpassed the SS Rank, but also because the presence of the bone construct itself would linger around the path of destruction it had left behind. Detering any of the monsters from the ninth floor of the dungeon from approaching the path of destruction in the short term.
Or in other words, creating a safe passage for them towards the dungeon core, as it was clear from a glance that this necromancer was also moving in the direction of the dungeon core like they were.
Although, the reason behind trying to reach the dungeon core was questionable now that an undead kingdom had emerged on the ninth floor of the dungeon.
There was a very real chance that the necromancer wouldn’t care about what would be the most beneficial to the Eternal Life Sanctum and would still try to target the dungeon core to potentially elevate from the status of a crypt guardian to a lich.
All things considered, great as an undead kingdom might be, it was clear that the leading undead they were facing this time wasn’t some junior figure that had only recently reached the crypt guardian and was instead a senior figure who was only a single step away from becoming a lich.
To such a being, not becoming a lich to preserve an undead kingdom inside a dungeon was more so a choice that was up to the individual and the path they decided to take as a necromancer.
Be it one that still wanted to retain their original race and continue forward while still being one of the living or one who fully committed to becoming a lich. Leaving behind their weak shell and becoming an immortal lich standing at the pinnacle amongst undead.