Rae stood before the behemoth, which she could only describe as the embodiment of fear. The creature was immense, its skin seemingly impenetrable, and its features barely discernible.
She decided to send Eleanor and Cilia to the Shadow Plane, a decision that, while exhausting, became easier with a magic circle she prepared. At least now they were safe.
Turning her attention back to the monstrous creature, she couldn't help but marvel at its presence. The whole area seemed to react to its being. Is this the mana field they call "area of effect" or "mana domain"? Rae wondered.
She understood that this field activated when a magical being continuously released huge waves of mana within a certain radius. Rae envied how the beast controlled its mana field so perfectly. The only times she created a mana field were accidents, and she could barely control the chaos it caused. Her mana usually spiraled out of control, often resulting in dangerous mana storms.
But now, she needed to figure out how to defeat the behemoth. If she had the same control over her mana as the creature, perhaps she could disrupt its mana domain. But since she didn't, she would have to find another way.
Reluctantly, Rae knew the only option left was the suicidal route. She searched for an opening large enough to infiltrate the beast, feeling a sense of disgust rise within her as she prepared for the challenge ahead.
After a moment, she spotted what she assumed to be its mouth. Wind magic, please don't fail me now.
It seemed the creature noticed her intentions, but Rae wasn't deterred. Suddenly, an air current swept through the area, and Rae felt the environment itself fighting against her. So this is what control over a mana field can produce. Rae silently hoped she could master this skill one day.
The air grew thinner, making it harder to breathe. If this continued, she might lose consciousness and, ultimately, her life.
Then, just as it seemed impossible to continue, she spotted an opening—finally. Her heart raced as she passed the massive teeth that could have crushed her instantly. Once inside the creature's body, Rae wondered how she would defeat it. First, she decided to go through its esophagus to ensure it wouldn't be able to regurgitate her. As she sliced through its flesh, she knew that while this would harm it, it wouldn't be enough to kill it.
She couldn't afford to waste time. She gathered all her mana and prepared to release it in a desperate bid before she reached the stomach, where the acid would turn her bones to mush. It was a dangerous move—perhaps even fatal—but she had no choice.
After unleashing her mana, Rae felt her head grow light and her vision blur. She could barely move, let alone stand. Yet, for some strange reason, she didn't feel claustrophobic anymore. It was as if, in some way, she had conquered the beast.
As her body teetered on the edge of collapse, a familiar surge of energy flowed through her, renewing her strength. The sensation of leveling up washed over her, and she felt as if she had been revitalized. Her vision cleared, and her sharpness returned.
Scanning the area, Rae noticed several dungeon treasures dropped by the Guardian: a necklace, a sword, a crown, and the usual storage device. There were multiple drops, and although it puzzled her, she didn't mind. It would be helpful.
Now it was time to bring Eleanor and Cilia back.
After the usual glowing inscriptions, the gate opened to reveal the fourth level.
The fourth level felt eerily similar to the shadow forest, with the scent of death hanging thick in the air. Rae's first sight was of moving skeletons, emerging from the ground in such numbers that she thought they might overwhelm them. Despite being brittle, these skeletons could magically repair any damage they took, making them difficult to defeat.
Eleanor, as usual, used her fire magic to weaken the skeletons. Rae wished she still had fire magic of her own, but for now, she relied on Eleanor's power.
Wait, this is a dungeon, and so far, the monsters here have been extremely weak to light magic. Rae decided to test it. When she cast light magic, almost all of the skeletons instantly incinerated, leaving nothing behind but ash. These skeletons were particularly vulnerable to light.
They swiftly moved through the forest, careful not to waste too much mana on unnecessary battles.
Next, they encountered the wraiths Rae had seen in the shadow forest and had envisioned before. These ethereal creatures were nearly impossible to touch.
As they attacked, their swords appeared able to cut through them, while Rae's strikes passed right through their forms. Desperate, she tried using light magic, but it only seemed to slow them down.
Eleanor, however, seemed to be managing better than the rest of them. Her shield, with its adaptive properties, could protect her. Rae wondered if it could be used to harm the wraiths.
"Eleanor, can you use your shield and see if it can hurt these incorporeal monsters?" Rae asked.
"Yes, my lady. Right away."
Rae marveled at how Eleanor had mastered her shield, wielding it as if it were second nature. It seemed the shield was working, cutting through the wraiths with ease.
"Eleanor, looks like I'll have to rely on you as my sword and shield for now," Rae said, a grin forming on her lips.
"...This is what I've longed for, my queen. You don't know how happy this makes me. I finally get to be your knight."
"Knight? ...Alright, as you say. I'll rely on you, Eleanor, my knight."
The moment Eleanor embraced the title, a surge of power seemed to course through her, as though a cheat had been activated. She sliced through the wraiths with ease, her movements precise and effortless.
Soon, they encountered a new threat: a massive skeleton, almost two and a half meters tall, and a shadow-like wraith. Rae recognized the wraith as a phantom, a powerful foe. The Devil Queen had warned her about these creatures.
"Eleanor, you take on the phantom while I deal with the skeleton. Cilia, stay back; we don't want you getting hurt."
"As you wish, my queen. I'll fight the phantom, while you fight the elder lich," Eleanor replied.
A voice echoed through the dungeon. "Welcome challengers, defeat us to gain entry to the dungeon's core."
The elder lich summoned a horde of skeleton soldiers without chanting, using inscriptions similar to those that appeared when a gate opened. Rae realized that fighting these soldiers would waste valuable mana. The best approach was to cut through the horde with light magic and focus her attacks on the elder lich.
The battle was easier than expected, but Rae was exhausted by the end.
She glanced at Eleanor. Is this really the same Eleanor she knew? The way she fought was like that of a seasoned knight, skilled and powerful beyond belief. Rae didn't need to step in to help her.
After the battle, the phantom was defeated, leaving behind golden armor and a dark amethyst ring.
Rae decided to give the armor to Eleanor, knowing it would suit her well.
"Thank you, your majesty."
"You deserve it. I'm grateful for your help," Rae replied, offering a small smile.
"Don't be, I am your sword and shield. Helping you brings me joy."
With that, the gate to the final level of the dungeon opened. They were finally on the verge of conquering this dungeon.