Psychological Attack

"As you'd expect from a poison labyrinth, most of the monsters here are that type."

"Reptiles that are naturally poisonous and the like. Really fits the theme, huh."

The air outside our barrier was still thick with toxic fumes, and the unpleasant sensation of the smoke touching my skin persisted.

We'd swapped out the rings during our break, so the poison was being properly neutralized, but there was nothing to be done about the physical discomfort.

Ramiza-san threw a bomb and wiped out a group of bats in an instant.

The large spider that had appeared alongside them, however, showed no sign of flinching and kept its eyes fixed on us.

A black, haze-like substance shot from it toward me and Elza-san.

Something about it felt deeply wrong, and I dodged on instinct, but the haze burst apart and fragments struck my face.

A wave of dizziness hit, followed by an indescribably awful feeling.

My willpower drained away and my body went limp.

Alexia-san noticed our sudden distress and immediately stepped forward, bringing her battle-axe down on the spider and crushing it.

The black haze vanished with it, and the feeling passed.

"What was that…?"

"From the look of it, that's your first time taking a dark-element attack. How do you feel? Haha. 'Terrible,' written all over your face."

"That's what it was? It felt like my body wasn't my own anymore, like my strength was being siphoned away."

"That's the one. Dark-element attacks target the mind, so taking one unguarded can be pretty bad. You build up a tolerance with repeat exposure, but the first time is always a shock."

"It's scary to think about getting hit with that mid-combat… I couldn't avoid it even when I dodged."

"Use the cloak to block the haze. Just wearing it provides some protection, but actively shielding with it is more reliable."

I looked down at the cloak Ramiza-san had lent us.

Jet-black with gold filigree, it looked like it could swallow any darkness whole.

"So that's how you use it. I wish you'd told us beforehand."

"If I had, knowing you, you'd probably have gone the entire time without ever experiencing it. Like I said, taking the hit once makes it easier the next time. Better to go through it in a safe situation."

"I see."

Ramiza-san apparently valued hands-on experience.

It wasn't that she'd been too lazy to explain… probably. I think.

In any case, the nausea faded with time and I was back to normal.

I looked over at Elza-san. Her complexion had gone pale.

"Elza-san, are you all right? You look pale."

"Y-yeah. I'm fine. That just… brought up some old memories."

After I gave her some water, the color started returning to her face.

What kind of memory could be bad enough to drain the color from her face like that?

While I was checking on her, Ramiza-san finished her harvesting.

"That should be everything I need. From here on, the floors just get harder but the types stay the same. Let's pick up the pace. Sleeping here is risky with the poison around."

"Understood."

We shifted from our leisurely pace to a faster march.

The routine stayed the same, though: Alexia-san scouted, Ramiza-san obliterated.

We collected only magic stones and parts that were apparently worth money, then pressed deeper and deeper.

Before long, we arrived at a large gate.

Experience told me that beyond a gate like this, the labyrinth's master would be waiting.

"What kind of monster is the boss here?"

"A Chimera. Well, fitting for a poison labyrinth, right?"

"A Chimera… You mean that ridiculous monster?"

"Oh, you've fought one before? Just keep in mind that this one's deeper in the labyrinth, so it'll be stronger than whatever you faced. It also constantly scatters dark-element attacks, so make sure to block with your cloak."

"I won't let my guard down."

"Good, good. That's reassuring."

At Ramiza-san's signal, we opened the gate.

The doors swung wide, revealing the chamber beyond.

At the far end sat a Chimera, staring straight at us.

A lion's head. A goat's head. And a serpent for a tail.

Otherworldly as ever, a monster that seemed like it shouldn't exist in this world.

"Her and I will keep attacking it nonstop from behind. Just keep its attention on you, okay?"

"Understood."

I drew my sword from the sheath at my belt.

Tipping my weight forward as if falling, I kicked off the ground at the last possible moment and surged forward.

Perhaps not expecting this kind of speed, the Chimera was slow to rise.

I wound up my swing and brought the blade down, aiming for the goat's head.

I'd been going for its eye, but it jerked its face back, so I slashed its forehead instead.

Purple blood sprayed out, splattering my shoulder.

This was clearly no ordinary blood. It wasn't just poison; it seemed to damage anything it touched.

There was a hissing sound, but the black cloak held without dissolving.

High-grade equipment indeed, just as Ramiza-san had said.

The Chimera was fully on its feet now, and its aggression was locked squarely on me.

Mission accomplished, for the moment.

I kept my eyes fixed on its next move, and the serpent tail opened its mouth and spewed black haze.

Heeding the advice, I grabbed the cloak with my free left hand and used it as a shield.

A small amount leaked through, and a brief dizziness hit, but I recovered far faster than the first time.

She was right. It was better to have experienced it beforehand.

Next, Ramiza-san and Alexia-san attacked from range.

The direct hits and accompanying explosions and shockwaves shook the massive chamber.

Even the Chimera's massive frame couldn't withstand it, and the beast staggered, but it skillfully used both heads to regain its balance and turned away from me toward Ramiza-san.

It had identified the greater threat.

I closed the distance immediately, swinging for its front leg.

It lifted the leg to dodge, but I pressed the attack without letting up, harassing it to keep it from retaliating.

Meanwhile, the next volley arrived and dealt more damage.

This was the strength of a party.

… If I'd been told to solo this thing, I couldn't imagine how long it would take.

A drawn-out fight would become a fight for my life.

We whittled the Chimera down steadily.

The goat's head lost function and went limp, so I shifted my focus to the lion's head, readying my next strike.

In that instant, a terrible premonition raced down my spine, and I leaped backward.

The limp goat's head detached from the body and lunged at me.

A truly bizarre sight.

Even just the goat's head was bigger than I was.

I rolled sideways to dodge, and the head sailed past me, hurtling straight toward Ramiza-san.

I shouted a warning at the top of my lungs.

But by the time the words left my mouth, Ramiza-san had already borrowed Elza-san's mace and was winding up to bat it away.