75 Chapter 75 - Lucius vs Amphisbaena! 01.
Chapter Size: 2070 Words.]
Third Person POV
Somewhere, Orario.
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As Lucius entered the dungeon hall, he noticed a small crowd forming in one corner. Quickly, he realized the reason behind the commotion: two prominent members of the Loki Family were present, including an executive.
Riviera awaited Lucius at the location, and with her green robe and magical staff in hand, she began to attract everyone's attention, becoming the center of focus. People in the area speculated whether they were about to embark on a deep exploration, but it was evident that it wasn't the case, given the limited number of members present.
Upon grasping the situation, Lucius calmly approached through the crowd. "Yo!" He waved, drawing the attention of both the elven princess and the woman beside her.
"Lucius, you finally made it," greeted Riviera.
"We set up this meeting, but I'm surprised to see Tiona here. Not that it's a bad thing," he commented, directing his gaze at the smiling Amazon.
"Riveria told me you're going to kill Amphisbaena; I really want to see that!" Tiona exclaimed, her eyes shining with excitement. The anticipation was evident in her expression, eager to witness Lucius's skill.
"Haha, of course, you're always welcome. Shall we then?" Lucius asked, smiling, as both Riveria and Tiona nodded. Together, they headed for the dungeon, drawing the attention of those around them, who commented on the unusual presence of the Hestia Family mage accompanied by Loki Family elites.
"Lucius, I really want to see you defeat Amphisbaena. Do you plan on dropping any crystals on him too?" Tiona expressed her enthusiasm as they entered the dungeon.
"I hope not. I almost got crushed last time, but now I have lightning spells, which will come in handy against the aquatic dragon," explained Lucius. His expression conveyed a mix of confidence and caution.
"I see... That reminds me of the hooded stranger who appeared last night. I heard he shoots lightning from his hand..." Tiona reflected, drawing a glance from Lucius to Riveria, with one eyebrow slightly raised.
"She's a bit slow..." Riveria commented with a touch of irony.
"Anyway, let's move forward." Lucius spoke, taking the lead and guiding them into the dungeon. Riveria, maintaining her characteristic silence about her feelings, simply nodded, focused on the journey ahead. The trio continued descending through the floors, facing monsters, challenges, and mysteries that the dungeon offered, while their dynamics unfolded in intriguing and unpredictable ways.
Lucius, Riveria, and Tiona moved through the dungeon corridors with impressive skill, eliminating any threats that dared to challenge them. The trio swiftly advanced through the initial floors without resistance. Lucius, lost in thought, created numerous fireballs around him, eliminating anything that dared to defy them.
"Amazing!" Tiona looked with admiration at Lucius's magical abilities.
"Shouldn't we grab the magic stones? WHAT? HOW DID YOU DO THAT?" Riveria broke from her usual calm demeanor, surprised to see Lucius using the catch-loot magic.
"It's a trick I learned a few days ago." Lucius looked at Riveria and winked with one eye, maintaining a casual tone.
"Tell me everything about it. Is that the legendary spatial magic?" She seemed genuinely surprised and immediately wanted to know how Lucius's magic worked. Her expression revealed a mix of fascination and curiosity as she eagerly awaited an explanation.
As Lucius explained the spatial magic, Goliath's room lay ahead, with the newly born Monster Rex. A group of level-two adventurers faced the creature with some difficulty.
"Should we intervene?" Tiona asked, observing the battle.
"I don't think so. We can't interfere in other people's fights without their consent." Riveria spoke, maintaining her thoughtful stance.
"Help!"
"I think that was the cue." Lucius said, and began casting dozens of firebolts on Goliath. His magical abilities were over 4,000, and even with a relatively weak spell like firebolts, it took only 36 fireballs to eliminate the monster in less than 20 seconds, all without lifting a finger.
"AAAAAAAAHHHHHHHH!" Goliath was burned alive by the barrage of firebolts created by Lucius and disappeared.
Silence fell over the area.
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"Whether low-level adventurers or even his companions, everyone looked in shock at Lucius at this moment."
"What's wrong? Wasn't I supposed to kill him?" He asked, not understanding the surprised reactions around him. Lucius's expression denoted a mix of surprise and confusion at the others' reactions, while he still held his staff, and the flames from the last firebolts faded around him.
"You didn't even let me fight..." Tiona muttered, her face expressing a slight frustration, her eyes somewhat disappointed.
"Well, you could have at least mentioned that you could kill a Monster Rex in a few seconds. I wouldn't be so surprised then..." said Riveria, still a bit dazed. She watched Lucius with an expression of someone trying to understand this peculiar human who seemed to bring something unusual with him.
"Let's go, you can keep the crystal, goodbye." Lucius shrugged with marked indifference and continued the journey to Rivira. The group leader looked at Lucius with a lost expression as he walked away with the two girls.
"Thank you..." the leader murmured, thankful for the unexpected luck that brought such a powerful adventurer.
"Should we stop in Rivira?" Tiona asked, showing concern for the group's well-being.
"No, I have supplies with me, don't worry. I want to face Amphisbaena before resting." Lucius spoke with palpable determination, and they headed for the stairs without stopping in the safe zone city.
Lucius still had an advantage in areas where there were insects with fire magic; it didn't take long for his spatial space to fill with crystals. He became even more satisfied when they reached the capital of the waters.
"Riveria, a levitation spell would be very useful, wouldn't it?" Lucius suddenly spoke to the princess, demonstrating his strategic mind.
"Levitation spells are rare; no mage has mastered it in hundreds of years..." She spoke in a neutral tone, revealing a deep knowledge of magical abilities.
"Maybe I'll be that mage after hundreds of years?" Lucius smiled, his expression reflecting confidence and a hint of playfulness.
"I hope so, you have potential." She admitted, surprising Lucius with her genuine praise.
"You should say something like I'm not capable, then we'd make a bet that would end in a date..." Lucius didn't miss the opportunity to flirt with this woman, his smile containing a hint of teasing.
"Hahahahhahaha! How funny!" Tiona laughed, appreciating the group's good humor.
"Quiet, focus on the path. We have several floors to descend to the twenty-seventh." Riveria said in her stern tone, despite a red spot on her face indicating that Lucius's comment affected her in some way.
"Let me show you a way." Lucius suggested and started casting Clairvoyance. His face expressed focus as he concentrated on the magic, wanting to avoid unwanted encounters on the way.
'Show me a path where I won't encounter Marie.' He thought, and the light began to form, indicating a safe and efficient route. He didn't want to meet the mermaid at that moment, especially with Riveria and Tiona by his side; it would be too risky.
They continued on, with Tiona taking a more active stance for the first time, as Lucius still had some difficulty dealing with the monsters on these floors. However, it wasn't difficult to reach the lower floor of the waterfalls, and Clairvoyance's light guided them smoothly.
"You still haven't talked about your developed ability. I want to hear about it." Riveria suddenly asked in the middle of their walk.
"Is it that impressive?" Lucius asked curiously.
"How wouldn't it be? Do you know how hard it is to acquire an ability? You're saying you created one in just a week reading my notes; you haven't even started studying with me really..." She spoke in a serious tone.
Sighing, Lucius began to talk about this ability.
"I developed a peculiar magical ability that I still haven't fully mastered, as you know," Lucius began, his gaze reflecting the seriousness of the discovery. "I call it 'Mana Zone.'"
Riveria, intrigued, fixed her eyes on the human mage, waiting for more information about this new facet of his magical abilities.
"It's as if I can create a magical zone around me, connecting me more deeply with the ambient magical energy. I can sense previously imperceptible magical patterns and manipulate the mana around me in surprising ways to my advantage," Lucius explained, light gestures accompanying his words.
The elven princess, with her usual insight, absorbed the information. "An intriguing ability, Lucius. I've never heard of it as you describe it. How did you develop it?"
"While facing the challenges of the dungeon, I noticed a subtle change in the density of magical energy around me, starting with meditation. After gaining a certain sensitivity with my spells, the 'Mana Zone' began to manifest naturally, providing me with a deeper connection to ambient mana," shared Lucius, unveiling part of the mystery. Still, he knew something was missing because it wasn't very effective beyond sensing mana and using a bit of it to enhance his spells.
Riveria, curious, inquired, "Do you think you can master it completely?"
Lucius, with a gleam in his eyes, replied, "Of course, Riveria. I'm sure I can enhance my understanding and explore its full potential, but I'll need more experience, perhaps more of your books." He said, and she nodded in understanding.
As Lucius, Riveria, and Tiona advanced through the dungeon corridors, the atmosphere around them began to change. The soft, distant sound of flowing water indicated the proximity of the lake where the formidable dragon Amphisbaena dwelled. The light penetrating the rocky walls revealed the vastness of an underground scene, illuminating a majestic underground lake before them.
The lake, reflecting deep shades of blue, extended as far as the eye could see. The calm surface broke the monotony of the cavernous rocks around, creating an impressive yet threatening environment. In the depths of the lake, shadows moved, indicating the presence of aquatic creatures and, of course, the aquatic dragon Amphisbaena.
At the edge of the lake, the imposing silhouette of Amphisbaena began to emerge. Its iridescent scales captured the reflections of ambient light, creating a spectacle of vibrant colors. Membranous wings extended elegantly, indicating its majesty as a truly formidable creature. Reptilian eyes watched attentively, revealing an intelligence and cunning that few would expect from such a colossal beast.
Amphisbaena's features were truly remarkable. Its body was long and serpentine, with two heads rising in search of air. Each head was equipped with sharp fangs, ready to tear apart any intruder daring to challenge it. The deep roar of the dragon echoed through the dungeon, a formidable warning that the approaching battle would not be easy.
Lucius, Riveria, and Tiona, standing at the lake's edge, observed the legendary creature before them. Riveria's expression remained serene, but her eyes revealed inherent caution in the presence of Amphisbaena. Tiona had an excited smile, while Lucius maintained a determined expression, mentally preparing for the unfolding battle between him and the creature.
"It seems I got lucky; Amphisbaena is there." Lucius said with satisfaction, his face illuminated by the sight of the aquatic dragon in front of him.
"Wow! I want to see you face Amphisbaena!" Tiona expressed her excitement, her eyes shining with anticipation.
"Are you sure you don't need help?" Riveria asked, concern evident in her expression.
"It's okay; I can handle them. You'll be surprised." Lucius spoke with confidence, turning to face his next opponent. His countenance revealed determination as he prepared for the imminent confrontation.
There was a system message, something he would welcome once he finished with the dragon.
[- **Monster Rex Mission:** Defeat Amphisbaena Alone! | **Progress:** Incomplete (0%) | **Reward:** 1,000,000 Points.]
There was still the hidden condition, which Lucius hoped to uncover by defeating the dragon at level 2. He mentally prepared to finally face this formidable being.
"Leave this space; I'll deal with him alone," Lucius calmly said.
Riviera and Tiona stepped back to a strategic position as they watched Lucius's fight in case he needed help. Amphisbaena, now aware of the intruder, raised its heads and growled threateningly. Lucius, recovering quickly, wielded his slightly cracked sword. Amphisbaena didn't seem to like a single human facing it as if underestimating it. With its heads still raised, the serpent's roar echoed through the corridors, marking the beginning of a confrontation in the depths of the labyrinth.
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