Goliath

Looking at the aftermath of the strike of Bell, Welf and Lilly didn't moved, just silently stood there unable to speak.

Bell has his back on them, shoulders were rising and falling with each shallow breath. He had defeated minotaurs in a row. It was an accomplishment that went beyond his level and put his techniques and strategy on display.

The rumors about the boy defeating a minotaur wasn't just an idle gossip.

____Minotaur Slayer.

Welf and Lilly locked their eyes on Bell's back until the two of them snapped out of their daze when they heard Alex grumbled.

"I wanna sleep."

Their eyes was then fixed at Alex's relaxed expression despite saying that he was exhausted. Remembering the flashing speed and splended swordsmanship that he had shown, they know that Alex was amazing on his own, worthy of admiration. He didn't even turn back on them and stayed to defend them until the end even putting his life in danger for them.

Not just Bell but Alex was very talented in their eyes. It was now widely known throughout Orario that the record holder Crimson Flash haven't been an adventurer for a month. For Welf and Lilly who saw his capabilities, they even doubted how Alex could be this skilled in just 3 weeks time.

"We still need to go the 18th floor."

Enduring the exhaustion that was slowly being built up in every battles, Alex muttered while catching his breath.

In a Dungeon infested with monsters, there were very few areas that could be considered "safe". Adventurers had learned over the years that no monster came out of the wall on the 18th floor, and so they used it as a rest area.

The goal of the group was to take cover in the safe area to ensure their survival. As they were moving forward, they heard a long, weak breath behind before the sound of falling over.

Bell, Welf and Alex turned their head just in time to see Lilly's eyes rolled back of her head as she falls headfirst onto the gravel path.

"Lilly!"

"Lil'E...!"

Bell and Welf yelled in worry seeing that she's out cold. The combination of extreme anxiety and over fatigue— a new kind of stress that the group had never experienced in the upper levels, had worn her out. Her status was the lowest in the party. She had ran out of strength long ago, but just pushed her body forward until now.

"Keep yourselves calm. She just fainted."

Alex calmly muttered to the two who had grim expressions. With his sensitive senses, Alex could feel their heart was pounding in their chests.

"Just let her rest for a while. We are almost there anyway."

His persuasion calmed down the two a bit as Bell outstretched his hand to grab Lilly. Looking at Welf at his side, or to be exact... his leg that has broken bones, Alex could see that the injury has worsen.

"Krausel..."

Alex called out his partner in a low voice which the Celestial Cat immediately responded as it was just behind them guarding their rear.

"Do you perhaps had any ability for healing?"

Alex asked not really hoping for any affirmation. Welf's injury was so grave that even a healing potion could not heal it. While healing potions does heals adventurers, the effects were only limited to cuts and slashes but not to the extreme injuries of broken bones and severed body parts.

As Krausel sensed his master's thought process, it undid its Celestial Earth Cat's form and switched to another form. Bell and Welf turned their attention to the mysterious cat that Alex had been calling his partner as it was now surrounded by brilliant light.

His furs were a brilliant white color, looking like the purest substance in the world. The underbelly was creamy and very toned. He had no flab anywhere on his body.

He had a single horn in the center of the forehead that was short, possessing a light blue color. His eyes were a light blue as well, combining with the coloration of his horns as well as his pure white furs to create a beautiful symmetry.

Krausel who shifted to the Celestial White Cat form, slowly walked up to Bell or to be exact, moved to Welf. Raising his cute paws which made Bell and Welf confused, a warm light surrounded Welf's body.

[20% of your total health has been restored.]

[The fractured status has been recovered.]

Welf was surprised as the pain in his leg suddenly disappeared. He unconsciously looked towards the direction of his legs and saw that it wasn't bleeding anymore. He tried moving it and found that his leg had completely recovered.

He looked at the white cat with widened eyes. Alex on the other hand, looked at the spell that Krausel had casted.

[Celestial Light Lv.1]

Rating: Epic

[Randomly recovers 10~30% of the target's maximum health. After restoring the target's condition, the status conditions immunity effect will be given for a certain period of time

Skill Mana Consumption: 10% of your maximum mana.

Type: Active

Skill Proficiency: 0%

Cooldown Time: 5 Minutes.]

Bell who was still surprised, unconsciously yelled as Welf was attempting to stand.

"Wait, Welf! Your leg...is fine?!"

Bell widened his eyes seeing that was now Welf standing. As he saw how bad it was when his leg was smashed, he knew how severe it was so he was speechless that the leg of Welf had recovered.

"I just discovered that my partner can heal. Well I'm not sure about this earlier but I guess its worth a try."

Alex muttered in satisfaction as he patted Krausel's cute head and carassed it's very soft white fur. Krausel purrs in satisfaction being appreciated and rewarded by his master.

"Thanks a lot, Alex and you too little one."

Welf smiled as he genuinely thanked them. Now that he could stand again, he will no longer just stay a burden. Bell recovered his composure and felt relieved seeing that Welf was now fine.

He then pulls Lilly closer. As they were still not in the safe area, they didn't have the luxury to rest here. They still had to move forward and go to their destination.

Now that Welf is fine, even though Lilly had passed out, their combatant has increased. The greatsword appeared in Welf's hand. Unlike Alex who couldn't equip it, Welf can because of being Pagma's Successor.

As Welf was ready to assist, an armor appeared all over his body as he equipped it from his inventory. Seeing Welf wearing his armor, Bell could now smile a little, as the pressure he had been carrying was slightly reduced.

He was now wearing a Full Plate Armor with gold and red details. All of the gears of Welf was radiating the glow of Hero rating. With the greatsword in his hand, Welf was now fully geared. Alex and Bell could feel that their chances has increased.

While Bell was carrying the unconscious Lilly, Welf stood in front as the vanguard, ready to intercept any monster that will appear in the front.

As they continue to move forward, they arrived to another tunnel that intersects to where they are, making a four way intersection.

The group decided to go to the wider tunnel as it should lead to the deepest part of the seventeenth floor. It didn't took long for them to enter a wide-open tunnel that seems to be designed for an absolute behemoth kind of monster.

They rushed to the other side, and saw a very wide, very tall room. The shape of this room was completely different from all the other random and haphazard designs on the middle levels.

The large, circular entrance that leads to a rectangular room that has to be at least 200 meters long. The walls and ceilings are made of many different-size rocks piled on top of one another. Completely smooth like someone has built it with their own hands.

The Great Walls of Grief.

Then— Crack!

The moment they entered the room, massive cracks down the wall from top to bottom like a massive lightning bolt. Crack! Crack! Even more lightning bolts run down the Dungeon Wall, deafening echoes filling the room.

The entire room is shaking. A sudden avalance of walls fragments slams into the dungeon floor, splitting their eardrums.

"What...is this?"

Welf couldn't help but mutter in fear and anguish. Something huge has come out of the hole, shaking the room with its first step. They can see it emerging from a large cloud of dust.

Thick neck, shoulders, arms, and legs. It looks almost human. It's hard to tell in the darkness, but it's skin looks grayish brown. It has greasy black hair coming from the back of its head that's long enough to reach its shoulders.

On the 17th Floor, this huge wall that appears in the big room located called the Big Wall of Grief, spawns the Monster Rex Goliath.

The three of them could feel the different scales of their power. The disparity between their existences.

This is a floor boss.

A giant standing more than seven meters tall.

"—Ooooo!"

The Goliath's ear piercing roar makes them covered their ears. Bell and Welf shivered as they saw its murderous eyes lock onto them.

"We should have run to the exit earlier."

Bell spoke in a stuttered manner as he's feeling threatened by the Goliath's presence.

"Guys, calm down. No matter how big and threatening it is, it's not invincible."

Welf and Bell turned around when they heard Alex.

"Man, how could you be so calm even in this situation?"

Welf asked. He was truly puzzled why as he could feel that his body was shivering in the presence of a floor boss.

"You see, it has a humanoid body and the core is in the middle of the torso. Normally, to kill it, adventurers will pierce it in the body to kill it." Alex spoke slowly as if he was in a lecture.

"So you're saying is?"

Bell asked Alex who was now smiling. For some reason, he didn't liked that smile on his face.

"Of course, we will fight it."

Alex replied with a smile as three tomoe patterns appeared in his eyes.