Slicing through the head of a few zombies approaching me from behind, I turned back around, gutting the remaining zombies in front of me before stomping on their heads, crushing through skulls, and killing them. Just when I was about to check up on Yuki, I saw a pair of dull eyes looking at me from the ceiling, causing me to instantly bring Zartha before my face, protecting, just in time, too, as I was hit with a decently strong blow which forced me back a little.
Clicking my tongue in annoyance, I leaped into the air, and using [Air Jump] to gain even more height, I slashed at the monster once I arrived near the ceiling, yet the monster, knowing it would die, dodged out of the way, causing me to groan. This wasn't the first time I'd dealt with this monster, and if anything, it wasn't that strong; it was suited for sneak attacks; the only dangerous thing about it was its tongue, which was what it had just tried to hit me with. Other than its initial sneak attack, it does with its tongue; it's not too dangerous, and its only strength is its impressive agility that allows it to evade sure-kill attacks.
Watching the monster land on the ground on all fours, I used [Air Jump] once more, pushing myself back toward the ground right for it, though while doing so, I saw it reel its head back, a sign that it was about to fire its tongue. Slowing down my perception of time by using [Hereos Gaze], I watched how it opened its mouth, launching its several-meter-long, pointed tongue right at me, though I titled my head out of the way and absorbed Zartha back into my body as I grabbed the extended tongue with my left hand.
Tightly holding the disgusting, slimy tongue of the undead, I pulled my close to it while slashing down at it with Trina, and though it did try to evade, it couldn't as I was grabbing its tongue, so with a swift slash, I sliced the monster's head, and a third of its body in half, causing it to lifeless collapse on the ground beside the rest of the defeated zombies.
'What was that? The sixth one I've encountered already?' Pondered Alexander curiously as he let go of the tongue while rubbing the slime on his armor before following the sound of heavy footsteps, grunts, and metal clanging together.
Turning the corner, I saw Yuki in the distance fighting against numerous zombies while a few of those lickers, the monster I had just killed, were attacking her from a distance; to be honest, she was completely fine, the licker's only left dents on her armor, and harmless bounce off her shield. The only problem was they were too fast for her to catch, well I should say more agile; at her top speed, Yuki is most likely faster, but just like any large and fast animal, she's not going to turn on a dime, not like the licker's, so right before they get crushed to death, they'll move out of the way unless she corners them.
'Heh, now I know why Yuki was so excited for me to tag along.' Mused Alexander with a slight smirk as he raised Trina into the air, causing the surrounding air to tremble before he slashed at each licker attacking Yuki.
Launching three [Wind Blade] at the unsuspecting monsters, when the blades of air reached them, I saw their bodies suddenly tense as they prepared to dodge, but they were too slow, and almost simultaneously, the licker's heads were cut off; with their heads rolling on the ground while their bodies collapsed, Yuki turned and glanced at me, causing me to smirk as I winked at her.
Yuki then raised her two shields in the air before suddenly slamming them together, causing a ripple to travel through the air with her at the center that destroyed every zombie it came in contact with, though it also continued heading right for me and just when I was about to back away, it dissipated, and all that hit me was a soft gust of wind.
Sighing in relief, I summoned Zartha when Yuki wasn't looking and sheathed both of my greatswords onto my back, even though I don't really have a sheathe; as I approached Yuki, who was killing any zombie that happened to survive her initial attack.
"So, which floor are we on now, Yuki? This is the fourth, right?" Asked Alexander with a raised eyebrow as he outstretched his hand, bombarding Yuki with a powerful gust of wind that blew chunks of zombies off her armor.
"Yes, we're actually near the first guardian room as well. Thanks for your help earlier; those lickers are so annoying to deal with, always so fast and slippery." Replied Yuki with a nod as she killed the final zombie before glancing at Alexander, who smiled, only for her to stomp her foot on a licker's head.
"You're welcome, and that's what partners are for, though; maybe if you weren't so chunky, Yuki, you'd have caught them." Said Alexander with a smirk as he nudged Yuki with his elbow while she looked down at herself.
"Eh, am I too chunky? Last I checked, I was about 754 pounds without my armor; maybe I am getting a little too heavy." Muttered Yuki with a slight frown as she patted her armor while Alexander's expression twitched at her absurd weight.
'She weighs roughly three times as much as me, ridiculous.' Thought Alexander as he looked at Yuki, who was checking herself out, before shaking his head.
"I was merely joking, Yuki; you're perfect the way you are." Stated Alexander lightly as he glanced at Yuki, specifically her large breasts, before coughing while looking away.
"Anyways, since we're close to the first guardian, do you suggest we stop here, or should we go for it? I'm following your orders; you're the senior here; I'm just the rookie." Added Alexander curiously as he looked at the pathway ahead before glancing back at Yuki, who took a step forward without any hesitation.
"Now that there's two of us, we take down that first guardian!" Declared Yuki eagerly as she lightly clanged her shields together and started walking down the pathway, heading right for the first guardian while Alexander followed right behind her.
"Is the boss or guardian difficult, Yuki?" Asked Alexander with furrowed brows as he looked at Yuki, who quickly shook her head.
"No, the only problem is, the boss directly counters me, so I can never beat it in a one-on-one." Replied Yuki with a slight frown of annoyance as she inspected her body once more, while Alexander raised an eyebrow.
"Directly counters you? Is it too agile for you to catch? Or is it immune to physical attacks? If it's the latter, while I can help, I'm no mage; I'm a magic swordsman." Questioned Alexander curiously before frowning at the thought of fighting someone physically untouchable.
"No, it's too agile for me; I can damage it, but whenever I'm about to land a killing blow, it always manages to evade at the last second. I mean, I have beaten it one-on-one, but it takes so excruciatingly long that I'd rather not fight it at all unless I have someone to help me." Remarked Yuki with an ugly expression, reflecting on her twelve-hour fight a few years back.
Nodding to Yuki, we walked for about another minute before the path we were on suddenly expanded into a cavern, roughly the same sized as the one where the centipede guardian resides, which led me to assume the monster wouldn't be any bigger than that schoolbus of a centipede. Wielding Zartha and Trina, I slowly followed Yuki's steps as we entered deeper into the cavern; not seeing anything that screamed monster, I used [Heroes Gaze], scanning the surroundings for any sign of life, and then, on the side of the wall, I noticed an abnormal along of life force.
Just like the centipede dungeon, this dungeon also had veins of life force flowing through its body, and I will add, they're much more potent, though while the amount of life I sensed was even comparable to the amount I could find in just one floor, it was concentrated in a small area, and I would be a fool, to not be suspicious of it.
"Yuki, what guardian will we have to fight?" Asked Alexander with a slight frown as he warily eyed the stone wall while Yuki intently observed her surroundings.
"The guardian is a Gargoyle; be careful, its first attack is always a sneak attack." Replied Yuki seriously as her piercing yellow eyes scanned the cavern's walls, looking for any signs of protrusion.
Just as I was about to say something, the stone wall I was looking at suddenly opened its eyes and spread its wings as a stone gargoyle launched itself off the wall and lunged toward Yuki from behind while powerfully flapping its wings. Seeing that, I filled my body with mana and moved right behind her as I crossed my two greatswords, blocking the gargoyle's claws before pushing the monster off me, flinging it back several meters.
'This monster is much stronger than that centipede.' Mused Alexander with a slight frown as he eyed the gargoyle, while Yuki instantly turned around when she heard the clash.
"Good news, found the monster, Yuki; so, how do you want to handle this?" Asked Alexander, lowering his swords and sidestepping as he dodged the monster, allowing Yuki to stop its lunge with her mighty shield.
"I'll keep it occupied; you kill it!" Declared Yuki in a deep voice as she flung the gargoyle away before charging toward it, while Alexander nodded.
"Sounds good."