Chapter 68: Dangers converge and the camp collapses!
After bypassing several similar-looking forks, Arthur and his group vaguely heard a series of urgent and chaotic footsteps from a distance.
Before long, Finn and the others rushed out of a tunnel in a disheveled state.
Behind them was a dense, swarming mass of worm monsters.
Seeing Arthur and his group, their expressions changed dramatically, and they shouted sharply.
"Run! Don't get close to those monsters!"
Bang!
The ground beneath Arthur's feet exploded, and he moved like lightning, instantly overtaking Finn and the others, gripping his longsword with both hands and swinging it behind him.
A powerful slash, like a giant beast's tail whip, struck the leading giant worm monster!
The violently retreating monster crashed into the monster group behind it like a bowling ball, instantly sending them sprawling.
Arthur's movements were ceaseless; he leaped, his figure transforming into a brilliant bolt of lightning in mid-air.
An irregular hexagonal star pattern suddenly formed in the tunnel, and under the violent energy impact, the walls on both sides exploded.
Loud rumbling and crashing sounds were incessant, and falling rocks temporarily blocked the tunnel.
Only then did he have a moment to spare, stopping to assess the condition of Finn and the others.
The executives were all weathered and covered in dust, but fortunately, they had no fatal injuries.
Only Raul, who Gareth carried, was enveloped in a pungent stench and wisps of black smoke, looking miserable and no longer human.
"How did it get like this?"
Finn gasped violently, waved his hand, his voice hoarse.
"Raul was hit directly by the monster's dissolving fluid, and his backpack was destroyed. Do you still have any all-purpose medicine?"
"Yes!"
Tiona, carrying the support backpack, quickly responded, rummaging through it and pulling out four bottles of all-purpose medicine, which she handed over.
The others took them and drank them one after another without hesitation; as the medicine took effect, their injuries gradually began to heal.
They all turned their heads in unison, looking towards the other side of the tunnel where strange sounds continued to emanate; the danger was still present.
Finn, still out of breath, said with a solemn expression.
"This is no place to linger; the Dungeon will soon complete its self-repair."
Gareth looked down at Raul; the black smoke around him had finally subsided somewhat, but his tone remained heavy.
"Raul's situation is different from ours; if we delay any longer, his life may be in danger."
Bete's face was full of irritation and displeasure, and he gnashed his teeth fiercely.
His combat boots were already pitted and scarred, clearly having suffered greatly from the dissolving fluid.
"Every tunnel is filled with the stench of those monsters; which way should we break through?"
Arthur looked at Finn, who was deep in thought, frowned slightly, and reminded him.
"Don't hesitate; head back to the camp via the fastest route. The worm monsters' primary target is Magic Stones!"
Upon hearing this, Finn suddenly looked up, a hint of horror flashing in his eyes, clearly realizing the worst-case scenario.
These new species of worms seemed completely uninterested in the materials dropped by monsters.
However, every Magic Stone they had seen along the way had been devoured completely.
The main force of the Loki Familia was currently stationed on the 50th floor, where a large quantity of Magic Stones, painstakingly acquired during this expedition, was stored!
If these monsters, extremely greedy for Magic Stones, were to notice...
Bete cursed under his breath, turning to glare at the creaking tunnel behind him.
"Does that mean these stink bugs can also move between floors?"
Everyone who realized this suddenly looked extremely grim.
Without even a moment to catch their breath, they all forced themselves to stand up, their gazes uniformly fixed on Finn.
At the same time, the Pallum in the group habitually licked his thumb.
The next moment, a sharp stinging sensation instantly changed his expression.
...
50th floor, Loki Familia temporary camp.
The high-stacked rock fortifications and sturdy iron stakes were now useless against the worm monsters.
Large, monstrous worm monsters moved as if on flat ground, easily scaling the defenses.
The vanguards, fighting desperately on the edge of the stone platform to block the monsters, let out screams one after another.
The tower shields in their hands rapidly dissolved under the purple-black dissolving fluid, and those who were a step too slow had the flesh of their arms dissolved, even exposing white bones.
"Mid-guard! Fire arrows! Mages, watch the gap on the left! Bombard with firepower, cover the vanguard rotation!"
"Riveria-sama, these are the last arrows in the camp!"
"No matter! Attack first!"
A sky-filling rain of arrows whistled down from above, precisely shooting down worm monsters that had just climbed onto the rock platform, splashing deadly purple-black dissolving fluid.
The vanguards, who could no longer hold on, seized this precious opportunity and retreated from the front line in disarray.
They casually threw away the remnants of their tower shields, which now only had handles, and stumbled back to the rear for urgent rest.
Several magic beams of different colors accurately concentrated on the left side, quickly filling the defensive vacuum created by the line's rotation.
Riveria examined the battlefield with a solemn expression, noticing that the worm monsters were indeed beginning to gather on the left flank, and murmured to herself.
"They only react so strongly to Magic Conduction? What kind of monsters are these, really?"
"Riveria-sama! The defensive tower shields are also running out!"
The logistics member responsible for coordinating equipment once again brought despairing bad news.
Without arrows, they could still hold on for a moment longer with the Mage's firepower.
But if even the last shields were exhausted, the adventurers would no longer be able to withstand the terrifying dissolving fluid attacks with their flesh and blood.
As the last batch of tower shields corroded away with a "hissing" sound, everyone no longer had any effective means to stop the worm monsters' greedy and deadly approach.
On the high platform, Riveria tightly gripped her staff, gritting her silver teeth, her mind racing for a countermeasure.
She was very aware of how terrifying the aggressiveness of these worm monsters was; even if she fully deployed a defensive barrier, it probably wouldn't last long.
Abandon the camp, carry some key supplies, and retreat to rendezvous with the advance party first?
During the brief skirmish, Riveria had also discovered the characteristics of the worm monsters.
Perhaps, they could use the large amount of Magic Stones stored in the camp to attract attention, thereby buying precious time for the main force to evacuate.
As for the loss of spoils from this expedition...
At this moment, it was no longer the time to consider such things.
...
"All units, prepare to withdraw..."
Boom—!
A violent and unparalleled Magic Conduction fluctuation suddenly erupted, its power instantly overshadowing all sounds on the battlefield!
A scarlet, blood-red pillar of light shot up into the sky, directly hitting the hard rock ceiling of the 50th floor, then spread out savagely in all directions!
The swarm of worm monsters, which had been surging furiously towards the rock defenses, all paused in unison.
They collectively twisted their ugly, slime-spitting heads towards the dazzling scarlet light, then let out even sharper hisses!
The worm army changed direction, rushing over recklessly!
Riveria gazed at the pillar of Magic Conduction that pierced through heaven and earth, her eyes becoming incredibly complex.
She clearly sensed that it was Arthur's Magic Conduction.
Was he...
Planning to use himself as bait to cover the safe retreat of everyone in the camp?
At least, let me share some of the pressure with him!
Having made up her mind, Riveria abruptly raised her staff, and a clear, resolute voice began to chant.
"O harbinger of the end, O pure white snow, as twilight approaches, stir up a fierce gale!"
As the Magic Conduction within her rapidly refined, a complex and profound magic circle slowly formed before her.
This immensely powerful force also caused a noticeable agitation among the nearby restless worm monsters.
"Riveria, stop!"
A lithe figure, wreathed in a blue current of air, descended from the sky; it was Ais.
She raised her hand, firmly pressing down on Riveria's raised arm, forcibly interrupting her spellcasting.
The magic circle, on the verge of forming, quietly shattered and dissipated into the air.
Riveria's brows were tightly furrowed, her face full of seriousness and confusion.
"Why are you stopping me? Once Arthur is completely surrounded by those monsters, it will be too late!"
"This was a plan jointly decided by Finn and Arthur."
Ais's expression was equally grim; she could only use this reason to try and convince herself and Riveria.
Not long after, Finn and his group, who were a little slower, finally rushed out of the 51st-floor entrance.
When they saw the vast, surging tide of worm monsters rushing towards the distant camp, their faces were filled with horror and astonishment.
"There are so many new species of monsters!?
"Can Young Arthur still escape successfully?"
"Finn, I'll leave Raul to you; this old man is going to help!"
"Don't cause trouble, you slow old man! I'll go!"
Finn listened to his companions' anxious arguments, his face so gloomy it could almost drip water, cursing his miscalculation in his heart.
The plan he and Arthur had discussed beforehand was not like this!
They had intended to use the characteristic of the new species of monsters being strongly attracted to Magic Conduction to draw away all the worm swarms surrounding the camp, and then annihilate them in batches.
However, Finn had completely underestimated the true number of the new species of monsters!
Facing the overwhelming and terrifying scene before him, even with his Magic Spear activated, he was not entirely confident he could retreat unscathed.
Finn no longer hesitated, abruptly drawing the commanding spear from his back, preparing to go with Bete to support Arthur.
Just at this critical moment, a profound and complex giant magic circle suddenly appeared in mid-air!
Scarlet meteors continuously poured out from it, causing the magic circle to expand rapidly!
Stars fell from the sky, and the earth wailed!