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A LigerFang let out a weak shrill as a huge gash appeared across its body before the monster exploded into a dissipating cloud of dust. Just like its kin, it stood no chance against the adventurer currently hunting them down.
Lyze sniffed in satisfaction before nodding his head in approval and sheathing Excalibur again. He and Tsubaki had gone as far into the 17th floor as you could go before walking right upon the monster rex.
He looked up at the large archway carved out deep into the rock. Sometimes he wondered if this was a natural formation by the dungeon itself or if the first generations of adventurers were the ones that built it.
Then again the dungeon proved itself able to construct impressive architectural monuments such as the colosseum on the 37th floor. Lyze knew it was actually a part of the Dungeon's experimentation in creating the Xenos but then turned out to be a failure. So A great arena was left in the Warrior's Room that infinitely spawned monsters without cooldown.
Of course, the citizens of Orario didn't know this. He only knew because of his gift of foreknowledge, but it made him wonder what HE would have to do if he encountered the Xenos.
That outcome had to be inevitable right? The Xenos at this point in the timeline would have to be well on their way to being established if they weren't already. According to what he knew, Fels and Ouranos had to have made contact with them only a few short years ago.
So how did Lyze go about dealing with them? While he had never really confirmed the authenticity of this theory, but apparently the Xenos were a deliberate creation on the Dungeon's part to sow agents amongst the mortal races. The trouble was though, the Xenos were intelligent and self-reliant creatures who could think for themselves...and they were seen as enemies by the monsters who were not sentient.
So there was no way the Dungeon would plant such seeds that it could not control...right? While Lyze really did not find any fault with the Xenos, he refused to believe that the Dungeon would relinquish its influence over the monsters it created so absolutely. He would not be surprised if at some point when enough monsters had integrated into society that the dungeon would flick a switch in them somehow and make them turn on the people, reverting them to the mindless, bloodthirsty monsters they were supposed to be.
He hated having to pull a Star Wars reference here but it was quite similar to the Clones of the clone wars with the bio-chip in their heads. They were all valiant and noble soldiers that would lay down their lives for the galaxy and would never hurt a non-combatant. And yet when the Sith activated those chips in their heads, all of a sudden those great soldiers would become cold ruthless killing machines that did not mind blasting up children with plasma if it meant fulfilling the orders of the one controlling their minds.
Yes, it was all too possible that such a future was in store for them. It could even be linked to that 'promised time' that was a part of the pact that the dungeon had made with the gods.
But the dilemma was that none of it would be the Xenos's fault. They would not be in control of themselves and they were their own people with their own identities, more than the monsters people saw in them. So could he stand for them, or against them? If he stood for them, there was a chance they could hurt innocent people in the future. But if he stood against them, he would inevitably have to kill them. And that was something he wasn't sure he could live with. He would live his whole life hating himself for it...and that was what made it so frustrating.
"You seem a little deep in thought there kid." Tsubaki commented. "Something on ya mind?"
"I don't want to bleed your ears with my problems teach." Lyze said. "I'm just a big thinker. I explore my head more than the average person is all."
"Didn't look like just 'thinking' to me squirt." Tsubaki raised a skeptical brow. "Looked more 'agonising' than anything else."
"It's nothing serious Tsubaki. Just let it alone. You don't have to be so worried about me all the time."
"Judging by how you seemingly tear around whenever you're down here, I believe my concerns are justified." Tsubaki replied. "By the way, how's the new dagger holding up?"
"Like a charm." Lyze said holding up Geranos. "It's the best secondary weapon I've ever had. I doubt even monsters of the Deep floors would be able to damage this thing."
"As expected of Hephy's best efforts. She would need to use her sealed power if she wanted to surpass that." Tsubaki said, pleased to see him extremely happy with his gift. "She wants to speak to you, you know."
"Huh? Why me?"
"What do you mean why you? You have any idea what you did when you brought all those things over o her and revealed you could make magic weapons?"
"...No, but I'm assuming you're going to tell me."
"You better believe it. She won't leave her forge except for important paperwork, always working on that new metal you gave her. Day in and Day out. She barely eats, sleeps or drinks because she is so fixated with your metal and your ability to make high quality weapons. It's borderline obsessive."
"Perhaps." Lyze said as he slid the dagger back into its place on his belt. "I'll go and see what I can do to help. Maybe a bit of advice from the one who presented her with such gifts will help her to see the error of her ways."
"Stop talking like you're gratifying yourself. It's a bad look on you."
"I'm a method actor."
"What?"
"Never mind." Lyze said as once again, people of this world did not catch his meaning.
They both decided to stop walling just at the doorway which looked into the spawning area of Goliath. From where they stood, they could see the Wall of Grief and the fully formed shadow it contained within.
Right now the monster was dormant, waiting for a challenger to appear. And technically the challenger was here because he'd already fought Goliath three or four times before and was eager to do it again. But to Lyze's growing impatience, he had been ordered not to engage until Finn had gotten there to the others. So he would not go and start a fight with the monster rec before his captain gave him the order.
"Are you sure you can really take the big guy up there?"
"Yeah. I've destroyed him a few times before, and I'm much stronger now than I was back then. I bet I could do it with one attack now."
"An awful lot of confidence you've got there." She smirked. "Cocky even. No-one's ever done that."
"Because I'll be the first. Just you watch." Lyze said as they cast a glance over at the wall of Grief. Behind it they could see the a large silhouette of the fully formed monster rex, waiting for adventurers to come so it could be releases. Neither of the two made way to stepping through the arch so as not to arouse it from its sleep.
Lyze rested a hand on Excalibur while his other tightened its grip on Geranos. Last time he'd been on this floor, he had set himself a goal and he believed, with his immense strength boost since that last time, he could finally accomplish it. All they had to do now was wait for their comrades to reach them.
---
The Vanguard finally reached them in half an hour with the supply team still trudging far behind guarded by the rest of the second string group as well as some supporting adventurers. It would be a long time before they reached this point but the important things was that Finn was here now to give the go ahead to engage Goliath.
What Lyze did notice was that Ais had been allowed to come along with them instead of staying in the back along with the other lower levelled adventurers. He suspected that it had to be a result of some sort of coercion or Riveria had asked her to come along.
Since Lyze had cleared out the previous floors of monster hordes, he didn't imagine that the spawn rates were particularly high. And judging by how fidgety the little girl was, he assumed that she'd been itching to fight a middle floor monster but probably had little opportunity, if any at all.
"Well Lyze." Finn said as he stuck his spear into the ground and looked at the Wall. "We're here now. Show us what you got."
"...Thank you Captain." Lyze said as he drew his sword.
No more words needed to be exchanged or uttered now that Finn had granted his permission, making the boy free to do as he pleased. Ais intensely watched her peer, priming herself to take notes of whatever was about to come next.
Lyze stepped through the tall archway and into the boss room. Instantly the walls began cracking as two glowing red eyes appeared behind the see through rock. Goliath had awoken to meet its challenger. Unfazed by the rumbling of the monster's appearance, Lyze marched forwards. He did not even flinch as the Wall exploded outwards and the giant came tumbling out to meet him.
Goliath landed on its feet, the ground shaking as it absorbed the impact and took on the brunt of the beast's weight crashing down upon it. It swivelled its eyeballs to the only person in the room with it. His companions were unsure if their eyes were playing tricks on them but they could have sworn that they saw a flicker of recognition in the monster's eyes.
Finn frowned and called out. "Be careful Lyze. It might have something ready for you."
"Don't worry captain." Lyze called back as he made it known to the monster that he would not be turning away. "There's nothing this big lug can throw at me that I have not already seen."
Slobber fell from Goliath's lips as it roared and stood up to its full height, casting a humungous shadow over the small boy in an attempt to intimidate him. The boy just snorted.
"Size is not all that matters." Lyze scoffed. "Endurance is also key."
Those who heard him were momentarily surprised as they didn't expect such innuendos coming out of his mouth. But they then remembered he was only nine years old, so there was no way Lyze had worded his sentence like that purposefully. Fully aware of what he was doing, Lyze smirked as he looked up at the monster.
Perhaps Goliath sensed the insult behind the human's unintelligible words because it snarled suddenly and without warning opened its mouth wide. Its tonsils receded into the walls of its gullet and its uvula became clear to all who could see as its throat opened and out of its voice box came its signature Howl.
Goliath's howl infamous for rendering flesh off the bones and even being able to injure high level adventurers fired at point blank with such a large area of effect that the boy could not dodge. Tsubaki raised a hand to her weapon in alarm while Ais froze, both thinking that the boy was about to die or be fatally injured.
"KID!"
"LYZE!"
"Don't worry." Riveria said as she grabbed the half-dwarf's shoulder while using her staff to block the little girl's way. "He'll be fine."
The elf did not even have to finish her sentence as Lyze merely lifted Excalibur and swiped the air in front of him just as the distorted air of the Howl reached him. Everyone there heard the familiar sound of a bell chime although this one was much louder and shriller than what they'd heard before.
"Full Counter!" Came the familiar shot as the attack was launched right back at Goliath. At double its original force, the Howl packed such a punch that not only did it create gashes on Goliath's face but it also caused the monster whiplash as its body crashed against the Wall of Grief once again.
Ais relaxed as she realized she'd completely forgotten about the special magic Lyze possessed. Tsubaki however was staring at the scene, befuddled by what had transpired.
"...what..." she said, still trying to figure out what had happened.
"It's the little trick that the devious little lad used to entice Loki so she would accept him into our Familia." Gareth grinned as he hefted his axe over his shoulder. "You should ask Finn about it. After all, Lyze broke his nose with it during the try-outs" The dwarf pointed at the Pallum who expressed exasperation and exhaustion in his voice.
"My nose was NOT broken. A few blood vessels had just burst from the impact." Finn turned to Tsubaki. "It's one of Lyze's better abilities. At any moment, the choice being up to him, he can reflect physical or magical attacks right back at the offensive party at a minimum of twice its original power." Finn explained as the smith woman gaped between him and the boy battle the big brute. "He has a tendency of using it when we least expect it."
"Are you serious?" Tsubaki breathed in astonishment. "An ability like that is just...priceless!"
"Yep. Which is why he is with us." Finn smiled.
"Wait a second. Doesn't that mean you could put him up against any monster rex when its about to attack so he can reflect the attack back?"
"That was something we discussed." Riveria said as she gained a stern look on her face that was not so subtly pointed at the other two men. "But we decided that it would be best to gauge his strength and see if he is suitable for the job when we engage monster rexes. Based off of our observations of him, we will decide whether or not we can put him in such a risky and dangerous situation." Riveria tightened her grip like she was daring anybody to come and challenge her. Everybody, even Ais who was stood by her side crept way from her a little to avoid any spontaneous outburst.
Goliath regained its bearings by this point and screamed in anger and humiliation as it suddenly attempted to pick the boy up in its grip. Instead of dodging, Lyze jumped towards the incoming hand, un-fearing even in front of the blatant attempt to grab a hold of him. Lyze finally met with the giant appendage but before it could clench its grip over him, he flew through the fingers and knocked Goliath's shoulder as he flew past and landed on the wall to let the monster know where he'd gone.
Goliath turned around to see the boy hanging off the wall by no obvious handhold. Those who did not know of Lyze's true power would have compared the scene to a person seeing a fly on the wall right before they squish it. Yes, but the roles were in reality very much reversed in this situation. Only one problem was, one party didn't get the hint.
As if it were trying to squash a fly on the wall, Goliath punched the rock face but a everybody saw a purple flash before the fist collided as Lyze was nowhere to be found. Riveria who had already witnessed a battle like this once before looked up immediately, her comrades following suit as they saw the same purple flash of light re-appear on the ceiling and there the boy was hanging like a bat.
Goliath stood confused and bewildered as it pulled its fist back but found no bloody mess inside the massive hole he'd just punched through. It had no idea of its enemy looking down at it.
Lyze took a steady breath as he readied Excalibur in a slashing motion. Now was his time to try and see if he could do this, if he could reach the goal he set for himself when it came to this particular monster rex. The boy propelled off the ceiling with his legs, dislodging some debris as he did so as he rushed forward to the ground.
When he passed by Goliath and he stuck Excalibur in its back. The Loki Familia only saw a large glowing white line created by Excalibur but forming down the Goliath's body as Lye landed on the ground.
Without warning, Goliath's body split into two pieces exposing an undamaged core as the flesh disintegrated into ash and the giant core fell with a massive thud. Everyone was silent for a moment as they tried to process what had just happened. Even Riveria who was the one most used to Lyze and his attack patterns had not seen this coming.
Poor Ais couldn't tell what had happened at all as her senses were not developed enough where she could register, recognise and react the speed of Lyze's movement but the rest definitely saw it and they could not believe what had just happened.
'He really just did that didn't he. He really is a monster' Tsubaki thought before she smiled. 'to think I would be contributing to the development of such greatness. It is but a smith's dream'
"Lyze...what did you just do?" Finn asked, not sure if he wanted to believe what had just happened.
"Simple." Lyze said. "I killed it with one attack. It was only a regular one as well so it was too easy. Not sure how I would fair against a irregular Goliath but this is all I got to work with.
...
"""What?"" Everyone said dumbfoundedly.
On that day, a new record was made.
"That was just anti-climactic." Gareth frowned as he muttered quietly.
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