Lily playfully stepped on the leader's foot in response; their camaraderie was clear.
"Okay then, can we enter the dungeon?" I asked, and both Lily and the leader nodded in agreement. Taking a deep breath, I stepped into the dungeon. The treasure map drawn by pirates led us to a dim and fishy-smelling place. Phoebe's light illuminated our path, but the leader warned me that there were quite a few traps, so I proceeded with caution.
In the dim light, I spotted a glimmering wire… and beyond it stood a skeletal monster, armed only with a weapon coated in some viscous substance.
"What kind of trap is this?"
The wire was positioned at chest height for an adult male. Was the wire itself sharp enough to injure, or were there other traps in play?
"Lena, the skeleton noticed us!"
"Everyone, step back!"
At Phoebe's command, we fell back, redirecting our focus from the trap to the skeleton. Perfect—let's use the skeleton to test the trap!
As the skeleton made contact with the wire, it snapped with a sharp crack. Suddenly, three arrows launched from the darkness behind the skeleton!
They zipped through the gaps in its bones and shot toward us!
"No way!?"
I managed to deflect one arrow with my shield, but two others struck me, one in the shoulder and the other in the knee, vanishing as they pierced. A sharp pain shot through me, like a prick from a splinter.
Yet, despite the damage, the skeleton advanced…
"Regenerate!"
"I won't back down!"
As I prepared to counterattack the skeleton while receiving Phoebe's healing, my vision unexpectedly spun 180 degrees, and I found myself aiming my weapon at Lily instead!
"Oh, right—it's the confusion poison on the arrows. I'm sorry, I need to heal you!"
However, Lily calmly avoided Archie and splashed herself with the potion, feeling her body regain its freedom.
"I'm so sorry!"
Without hesitation, she deflected an attack from a skeleton looming behind her and smashed Archie's skull, crushing it to pieces. The skeleton collapsed with a clatter.
"Confusion is terrifying... I need to be more careful."
The thought of her body turning against her and attacking her sister sent a shiver down her spine.
"Don't worry. As long as we're here, we can cure most status ailments. I've got potions for everything—aging, childishness, even petrification."
"Thank you, I really appreciate it... Is there really a potion for going old or becoming a child?"
While taking in Lily's words, she remained alert and pressed on.
Next came a pendulum trap with a massive blade, along with two skeletal archers loosing arrows from behind it.
Fortunately, the arrows were slow, and so was the pendulum's swing. After ducking under the pendulum, Lily swiftly dealt with the skeletons.
She retrieved a vial that seemed to contain poison from one of the fallen undead.
"Hmm, a poison that decreases agility... So they were planning to slow me down and make me an easy target for the pendulum. It's quite clever, especially considering the confusion arrows Lena fell victim to earlier."
"Do you want it?"
"No, thanks."
The leader assessed the poison, but when Lily offered it, she was promptly turned down.
As I pressed on, a fork in the path appeared, and I instinctively chose the left route. Moments later, I was ambushed by a trap and a skeleton wielding a sword infused with paralysis effects, while a massive clod of earth rained down from above.
While battling the skeleton, the earth tumbled onto me, burying both the skeleton and myself beneath the dirt. Being a game, I only lost some HP, but in reality, such an encounter might have left someone with a broken neck. This simple yet dangerous trap vanished as the clod hit the ground, ensuring I wouldn't be buried alive. The skeleton was crushed beneath the rubble, disappearing in a swirl of red effects.
"Are you okay, Lena?"
"I'm fine… but I could use some regeneration."
After receiving healing support from Phoebe, I moved forward, only to find a dead-end with a chest containing a bit of money, forcing me to retrace my steps. Had I chosen the wrong path and the right one was to the right? Lily and the leader had assured me that it was the correct choice, but surely a dead-end meant failure…?
As those thoughts crossed my mind, I continued down the right path and emerged into a grand chamber, lavishly decorated and illuminated by twinkling adornments—so bright that lights seemed unnecessary.
"Is this… a boss fight?"
"Typically, the larger areas in dungeons signal a boss encounter. Phoebe, since the traps are behind us, why not return to my pocket?"
"Let's do it!"
Phoebe slipped something into her chest pocket.
"Maybe when we get closer to that treasure chest, the boss battle will start. We should be careful."
"Got it."
The leader pointed to the treasure chest in the center of the hall, clearly our target. Yet, approaching carelessly felt dangerous. We steeled ourselves and entered the hall, inching closer to the chest.
"Who dares to covet my treasure...?"
As we approached, a chillingly low voice echoed around us—it was clearly not our own.
"I will not yield my treasure! Curse you, grave robbers! Lose your flesh and become my hands and feet! I am Gao! The master of this tomb!"
Suddenly, skeletal figures emerged from the ground. These skeletons were larger than those we'd battled in the dungeon, armed with giant swords. Though rusty, their armor resembled the plate armor worn by our leader. Gao, the apparent owner of the treasure, was absurdly heavily armed for a pirate... If he fell into the sea, he'd drown! But perhaps he hadn't drowned; maybe he was buried deep within the dungeon.
"I refuse. I'd rather die than work in a place like this. Lena, how about we give him Archie for a proper burial?"
As the leader waved his staff, a pure white aura began to emanate from our weapons.
"Hold on, leader! Archie isn't for burying! He's for starting a fire!"
"No, I wasn't thinking about that kind of setup! Let's go, Phoebe!"
"Okay, power up! Speed up! Element boost!"
As I reacted to Lily's silliness, I started my attack with Archie, only to be deflected by Gao's massive sword.
"Wide Aging!"
I was hit by a wave of energy released from Gao's hands. Suddenly, my vision shot up, and I felt an unsettling change.
"Whoa!? Lena just got bigger!?"
"What's happening? A positive effect?"
I had expected paralysis or poison, but instead, my body had transformed from child to adult. My limbs were now lean and strong, and I had grown to the same height I had in reality. Of course, my swimsuit had also adjusted, probably for game mechanics.
Phoebe's eyes widened in surprise.
"I have no interest in bullying kids! Die in that form!"
"Is this what they call underestimating?"
With my grown body, I could swing Archie like a feather. I would make them regret giving me this advantage!
"Wait, Leader, what about healing? I want to save on the old-age cure since it's so expensive!"
"....Cree , ugh... this armor is heavy..."
In the background, I could hear Lily and the others. Their voices sounded hoarse, almost like they were aging. Given that I had matured, it made sense—they must be in an aging state from Gao's wave.
I don't know why I'm the only one who has become an adult, but right now, I can't rely on either of them. With Gao glaring at me, I can't turn my back, and as for Lily in her elderly state... well, I have a strange curiosity about her, yet I'm hesitant to look. Seriously, Lily, don't skimp on recovery items in a situation like this.
"With this, I've sealed your powers! I'll start with you!"
"Don't underestimate me!"
I swing Archie with one hand and launch an attack at Gao. If I were an adult, I might crave another Archie, but there's no point in wishing for what I don't have. I thrust Archie towards Gao in rapid succession, like a spear. Yet the armor blocks my strikes, and the exposed bones are barely protected by the massive sword, leaving me dealing almost no damage.
"Clear!"
"Alright, I'm back! Thanks for waiting, big sister! Die, you filthy boss! Assault Pierce!"
Lily darts past me with incredible speed, stabbing Gao's armor with the Lena-Phoebe Sword, sending him flying! He stumbles back but manages to stop without slamming into the wall. But to think that one strike didn't even crack his armor... that armor is ridiculously tough.
"Ugh... to think that one sword could have this much power… but a normal strike won't be enough to defeat me…"
"Oh no… I forgot that Clear removed the leader's holy attribute as well."
"Seriously, don't dash in like that, Lily! Just wait a moment while I reapply the holy enchantment!"
The leader begins casting support magic on Lily again. Meanwhile, since my enchantment is still active, I decide to attack Gaou.
"Phoebe, lightning!"
"Got it!"
If he's protected by solid metal armor, then a shock of electricity should be damaging!
"Don't underestimate me, kid! Sleep Blade!"
Gaou swings a massive sword, coated in purple energy, striking at me fiercely. His growth has made him more accurate; a single hit could inflict a debilitating status effect. It's hard to advance while trying to avoid his attacks, so I maneuver carefully, using back steps to dodge.
"Aqua Shield!"
A sudden Aqua Shield expands around me, resonating with a crackling sound, revealing Phoebe's intent. I slam the lightning-enveloped Archie against the Aqua Shield, sending arcs of electrified water flying towards Gaou!
"Guuuh!"
"Now!"
Drenched in the electrified water, Gaou hesitates—the wild swings of his weapon halt. Seizing the opportunity, I leap forward, bashing Archie into him repeatedly. Each collision between the metal armor and Archie sends jolts of lightning damaging Gaou.
"Don't underestimate me! Power Break!"
"Guh!?"
Struggling against the paralysis from the lightning, Gaou lashes out with his arm instead of his sword, launching me back with tremendous force. I'm sent flying, but thankfully, Lily catches me, sparing me from crashing into the wall.
"Thank you, Lily…"
"I'm sorry it took so long! Next time, we'll coordinate our attack!"
With a splash, a healing potion was thrown over me, instantly restoring my HP to full and removing the negative status effects from the recent blows I had taken. My body transformed back into its original childlike form.
"I'm applying a debuff! Let's go all out!"
Our leader stepped forward, deflecting Gao's massive sword with a knife while casting some kind of magic with their staff. I could see Gao's armor visibly deteriorating and his movements slowing down…
It was an obvious opportunity.
"Quick Step into Assault Pierce!"
"Archie!"
"Analyze End!"
Each of us unleashed what seemed to be our ultimate techniques… Lily darted around to the opposite side of the enemy, executing a fierce thrust attack! My own move was simply a thrust, but thanks to the resonance effect, it delivered a powerful surge of lightning!
I couldn't tell what our leader's technique was, but it appeared as if the knife extended like a whip and pierced through Gao's head…
"Ugh… you've got to be kidding me… me…"
The treasure's owner, Gao, crumbled and collapsed to the ground.
"I'm… so tired…"
Though my HP was full, I felt mentally exhausted.
"Great job, Lena! You were incredibly strong for an intermediate class."
"Really? Well, it was a blessing that the aging status worked in our favor this time."
"Maybe I managed to resist just enough to grow up. If things had escalated, Lena could have ended up in trouble, too... I got a little careless, relying on my everyday strength to nullify most status ailments, and I forgot to cast the spell to prevent them. Well, powerful spells often have longer cooldowns or restrictions, so it's probably for the best I didn't have to use it repeatedly."