They took their longest rest before continuing with the remaining mobs, Theo had just managed to reach 2k mana, he was now very eager to try time step but scared about how everyone would see him, what if they were to learn the reason he was improving so much was that he had control of a secret artifact.
By the time his team was finished consuming mana cores and improving themselves, all the mobs had been cleared, they didn´t have a chance to fight their remaining mobs as the other teams killed the other ones.
"Listen, everyone has to pull their weight, because your team didn't reach the quota your share will reflect that," Everette said as he addressed Theo´s team, they had taken too long, they all nodded and kept their heads down.
"Ok we´ve now reached the end, that there is the Boss´ Lair, it is being guarded by 9 Wolf Spiders" Everette addressed the garrison, they could see a 3-meter opening covered by webs with 9 Wolf Spiders in front of it.
"We´ll be going with the 3 rows strategy once again, we´ll face them head-on, ready yourselves!" Everette ordered, "Hey, you ok? took you a while to fight the Wolf Spiders right?" Ferdinand asked Theo as he came over to where he was standing, "Yeah, it got harder, good thing we didn't have to face the mobs where they had two of them" Theo said.
"I´ll be right behind you casting fire spells, don't worry I'll have your back," Ferdinand said trying to reassure Theo, "Thanks" Theo answered, It had been a fast-paced adventure for Theo so far, from being in a small town where the biggest thing that happened to him was to get picked on by the bigger kids, to being in a dungeon dive where he had now faced off against C rank monsters, he had been handling things very well considering.
As the garrison got ready they began approaching the last of the Wold Spiders, Theo and Olan were in the middle row, Ferdinand, Amber, Fester, and Flynn were in the back row, in charge of casting spells so as not to let the front row tank freely.
Everette was also in the middle row as he shouted "Advance!" they went steadily at a slow pace, the garrison holding back their nerves, only Everette, Ferdinand, and Everette´s two aides had battle and dungeon experience, the rest were all trainees.
As soon as the Wolf Spiders sensed the garrison, took an offensive stance and rushed to attack them, "Garrison stand, let them come to us!" Everette roared, and the garrison stopped but it was uncoordinated, the front line and second line stopped short or long, leaving gaps all over the strategic formation.
The front line tried to rearrange itself but they just didn't have enough time, the wolf spiders broke through quickly, and some of the frontlines were blown away by the stampede-like attack, "Theodore, you must go back to fighting with your teammates, gather them up" Prim advised Theo, he didn't think twice, "Amber, Fester, Orlan, Flynn, Ferdinand!! on me!" Theo screamed as he distanced himself from the Wolf Spiders, and they all followed suit, Ferdinand also called his teammates with them, but only 2 responded as the other two were likely blown away.
"Ferdinand follow us and support us!" Theo screamed, his nerves were trying to immobilize him and he couldn't stop shaking but he steeled himself, he gathered with Orlan and attacked one of the Wolf Spiders, Amber and Flynn already providing support, everyone acting beyond their years.
Another Wolf Spider rushed and then another, and they were suddenly facing 3 Wolf Spiders at the same time, Ferdinand acted quickly, as he cast flame wall a tier 4 spell, all around them to let them deal with the 3 Wolf Spiders before more of them came along.
Theo was too nervous and scared to be able to cast anything, all he was doing was defending against the Wolf Spiders, Ferdinand started targeting one of the Spiders making it keep its focus on him, he could deal with one letting the rest of them deal with the other two, Amber and Flynn took advantage of this, Flynn could cast water thread attaching it to the Spiders´ legs and then Amber would cast Ice breath freezing them, Orlan would take advantage and go on the offensive going for the Spiders´ head, but the Spiders were too strong and the ice threads could only hold them for a few seconds.
"Theodore you must get a hold of yourself, there are only two of them, bide your time and look for an opening, your Arc Slice is already rank A if you overcharge you can cut the head clean off" Prim cautioned Theo, Theo gulped, Prim was right, he could overcharge Arc Slice which would cost him 800 mana, if he did it at the right time the Spider would die.
"Amber and Flynn focus on just one of the spiders I need 15 seconds, Orlan and you two, distract the other Spider" Theo beckoned them to follow his order, they did as he asked, Amber and Flynn once again casting and immobilizing the Spider, they focused on making as many threads as possible giving Theo enough time, Theo then began to overcharge Arc Slice, he couldn't use this move too much so he had to be precise and aim true at the Spider's head.
As the Spider was being swarmed with Ice Threads, Theo finished overcharging Arc Slice, waiting for the right moment, just as the spider was about to break the threads once again Theo unleashed his Arc Slice spell, and it flew straight at the spider it had no time to move, the spell cutting the head clean through.
As they had just killed one, Ferdinand joined as he had taken care of the other, now it was 8 vs 1, they finished the last one but Amber and Flynn were drained of mana, Theo had used almost half of his mana on one attack, "Quickly recover yourselves, we have 30 seconds then I´ll release Flame wall so we can help the others", They all nodded and quickly used mana regeneration, Theo was still reeling from what had just happened his chest was pounding fast and hard, his hands couldn't stop shaking.
Even with all his nervousness in the critical moment, he had come through, it was no small feat for a trainee with no real battle experience to be able to handle himself in a life-and-death situation.
As their 30 seconds were up, Ferdinand released the flame wall, what they saw wasn't what they were expecting, there were two dead spiders in front of them but 6 bodies lying on the ground, only Everette, his two aides, and a fourth were batling 4 Wolf Spiders.
"Let´s go quickly!" Ferdinand ordered and we followed suit, as we ran past the bodies, not knowing if they were still alive, the situation kept Theo in a disarrayed state, he just wanted it to end, the pressure was getting to him, as soon as he was within distance he overcharged his Arc Slice, Ferdinand saw this and did the same, when they had lined up the targets they released, Theo once again managed to land his spell, cutting clean through another Spider, he managed to recharge to 1.6k mana he now only had 800 mana left, as Ferdinand's attack was released, it was a fired Arc Slice almost twice the size of Theo´s it landed on another Spider cutting it almost in half as the fire began to consume it.
As Everette saw this he took advantage focusing on another Spider killing it with a thunderous attack, it was incredibly fast and powerful, then the rest of the garrison gathered killing the last of the Wolf Spiders´.
Everyone was panting, now on the ground resting, Theo was tired beyond belief, only having used two spells but as they were now more powerful he was happy with the results, "You did well Theodore, you must remember, in times of battle, you must be able to control yourself, the situation mustn't control you" Prim comforted Theo, Theo appreciated Prim, not only for the power he had and advice, but he was constantly comforted by her, he could rely on her and it did not feel like he was alone.
As they looked around there were 12 of them resting, 6 bodies lying in the vicinity, and 2 unaccounted for, it certainly wasn't what they were expecting, things started going wrong as soon as they entered the 3rd floor this was not a D rank dungeon.
"I´m going to see if they´re dead or paralyzed, Everette we also need to find the 2 unaccounted bodies," Ferdinand said, he spoke to Everette as an equal, which his two aides didn't like but Everette didn't seem to mind.
"Arial, go scout and see if you can find the other two, we must gather ourselves and decide what to do next" Everette exclaimed, "After we rest and see how the others are we are leaving this dungeon and going to the nearest town to treat everyone!" Ferdinand chastised Everette´s words and spoke in a commanding tone.
The two aides got up and faced him, "You are not in charge, we do as the captain commands, and mind your words, you used to be a noble but no longer, you are just as common as the rest of the garrison, know your place" one them snarled at Ferdinand.
"You are correct Ferdinand, that is one of the things we could do and the safest option, but let us see first how our force is doing, I believe we can still finish the dungeon, and we´ve already cleared all 3 floors with just the boss room left, it would be a waste to not reap the spoils of our efforts" Everette articulated, as he said this almost everyone agreed, they were excited to finish and reap the rewards of the dungeon, even Flynn agreed with this, only Ferdinand was upset but he no longer spoke his mind.
As they gathered the bodies and found the two others, 2 had died and 6 were paralyzed, one of the ones that were thrown away landed on a sharp rock that pierced and killed him instantly, and the other was the other girl in the garrison, she was 16 just one year older than Theo, her body wasn't able to handle the poison and her heart stopped beating from the strain, having her receive a scary and slow death.
Theo seeing this learned how fragile life was, one second you were there, and the next you could be gone.
"Well our forces have been cut in half, the paralysis can last for a day if their ability to hold out, so with the 12 of us it will be decided by a vote, raise your hand if you would like to finish the dungeon" Everetter stated, Theo thought that it was good that they were being given a choice, Ferdinand was not happy about this.
"These were only the boss´ guards, you know it could very well be a B-rank monster in there, there are only 12 of us the chances we all walk out are slim, we should cut our losses and leave, as the leader you make the choice, don't have 8 people who have never dungeon dive before and are seeing a prize so close that will surely cloud their judgment, make the right call as the captain of this unit" Ferdinand interjected, what he was saying was right, if things went wrong Everette would not deal with the responsibility as he was putting it up for a vote, making everyone responsible for their choice.
Ariel approached Ferdinand menacingly "I already told you to know your place, one more outburst and I´ll shut you up for good, understand?" Ariel threatened him, "I´d like to see you try meat head" Ferdinand taunted him.
"Enough! this will be decided by a vote, everyone has a say, if you don´t wish to continue you may remain here with the paralyzed trainees, if we return victorious you will not be entitled to anything" Everette exclaimed, Everette was covering himself, as a highborn, he had been taught politics early on, and knows that the responsibility of possible decisions that may affect him negatively should not be put entirely on himself.
Everette then raised his hand along with his two aides, the other trainee, Flynn, Orlan, and Fester also raised their hands, Ferdinand, his two remaining teammates, Amber and Theo did not raise their hands, it was 7 for and 5 against.
"Very well, let´s go then" Everette stated, Ferdinand knew that Everette would jump ship if the monster was too powerful and his two aides would protect him, the rest would surely die.
"All right, we´ll go, but if things turn for the worse at the first chance we will run" Ferdinand exclaimed, it be better if he were there, with his firewall he could hold off the boss so everyone could leave safely, instead of letting them all die.
As Ferdinand turned to look at the ones that abstained from raising their hands, they nodded, approving of his decision.
As they finished resting and filling up their mana cores they approached the entrance, ready to go inside, as they passed the 3-meter arc they stumbled on a wall made purely of webs, Ferdinand consumed them with his fire magic and they went inside.
There seemed to be nothing, just monster corpses it was incredibly dark, as they approached the middle of the room, a big monster showed itself, hanging from the ceiling, as it screamed and seemed to be pulling on a web, and the room moved, everyone was now entangled on a giant web, all of them trapped.
The monster was a B-rank Queen Wolf Tarantula, covered by white hairs on its eight legs with a giant body 4 meters across, making it an imposing foe, as the garrison were all lamenting themselves, even Everette was now second-guessing his decision.