53 The 6th Floor

After descending the stone spiral staircase, we arrived at the 6th floor.

The scenery was no different from that of the fifth layer.

In the thickly forested area, a 'road' was formed unnaturally clearly.

Incidentally, it's not impossible to enter a roadless area in the forest, but it's 'off the map' and even [Mapping] skill won't show our current location.

Going deep into the vast "mere sea of trees" can be suicidal.

There was no need to take such a risk, so we decided to continue our way.

"Finally, we're on the 6th floor. I heard that the new monster on this floor is Giant Viper.

"It's a big viper. They come out in droves, just like killer wasps.

"There is a large number of them. I'm counting on you, Yuzuki, the Great Mage."

When I said that, and put my hand on Yuzuki's head and patted it, the younger man squealed and looked happy.

"Ehehe, leave it to me, aniki… In return, I want aniki and Kazane-san to protect me well."

"Yeah, Hotaru-chan will be protected by her onii-chan and onee-chan. The three good friends are invincible♪"

"Hehe. We're family, right? Onii-chan♪"

"Right. I'm going to do this to you because you're getting on my nerves."

"Oh, don't stir my hair so much! Gah!"

I put my hand on Yuzuki's head and stirred her hair.

My 'little brother's' glossy short hair became shaggy.

But Kodachi-san, I don't think she has a pulse by any means, but she shifts it subtly.

It's also because I'm not trying to step in, but let's put that aside.

The 6th floor strategy, from the data I've seen online, doesn't seem to be that much different from that of the 5th floor.

The number of monsters encountered at one time increases compared to the 5th layer, with up to seven killer wasps and up to three death spiders.

But I think this is probably manageable.

Our party's firepower is overspecified for the 5th floor, so we should be able to handle a slight increase in the number of monsters.

There may be some damage, but I think it will be within acceptable limits.

The one thing that is not so easy to read is the giant vipers, the new monster on the 6th floor.

From the data I have seen, I don't think it is strong enough to deal with, but I haven't had a chance to fight it yet, so I still feel uneasy about it.

As I was thinking this, we encountered our first group of monsters on the 6th floor. 

There were 2 death spiders.

This monster formation we could encounter in the 5th layer, and not a very difficult enemy.

We easily defeated the two death spiders by using Yuzuki's [Burn Blaze] to burn them together, followed by Kodachi-san's [Wind Slash] and additional physical attacks by myself and Kodachi-san, and we easily won the battle.

The next is six killer wasps.

By adding physical attacks to [Burn Blaze], [Wind Slash], and [Rock Bullet], we were able to complete the victory.

And so we pushed through the 6th floor with no damage, and the third battle──.

"Musou-san, Hotaru-chan. Our favorite is finally here."

It was right after Kodachi-san said that.

Ahead of us, a few dozen paces away.

Several giant snakes cunningly appeared from between the trees in the forest on either side of us.

Each of them must have been about five meters long.

Their girth was not as thick as a person's torso, but much thicker than a person's thigh.

Their undulating movements were eerie, and their movements were unexpectedly swift.

The head looks like a large cobra.

From their sharp fangs, which could easily bite off an ordinary person's arm, dripped a horrifying purple liquid.

There were four of them.

They crawled on the ground at a rapid pace and approached us.

( End of Chapter )