33 Large Tree Labyrinth

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Sorry for the month hiatus...

Anyways, I don't know if I'm fully returning to this novel, but I had been looking through my library and I reread the last few chapters, and for the moment I'm interested in trying to get to the plot that I had thought up for this novel.

Will this be a consistent upload?

It might be once or twice a week, and even then who knows, so sorry in advance again if this ends up on the very very back of all backburners.

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I had carried Kallasa back to the camp with the help of Ais, and we got the woman situated in my designated tent, before I grabbed Kallasa and I a portion of the prepared meal.

Waking the Amazon up, I made sure she ate before she fell asleep again, likely exhausted from our rigorous lovemaking just an hour prior.

As for me, I was feeling refreshed, but with the opportunity to hold a beautiful woman to sleep?

I slid into our bedroll and took liberties with the unconscious woman, who eventually woke up and begged me to take her again, which I obliged.

When we fell asleep again, we didn't wake up until Ais shook me awake the next morning, the golden haired girl staring at us in confusion.

"Why... are you so tired?"

Giving Kallasa a smirk, I stretched before getting up, enjoying the way the Amazon rolled her eyes as I displayed her love bites from the previous nights.

Glancing at Ais, Kallasa said "I'll be fine, so don't worry. It's just... this monstrous woman wore me out last night..."

Grinning at her, I packed up my gear and helped her up, enjoying the groan that escaped her lips as she stood up.

Taking a deep breath, she muttered "Ah fuck it..." before pulling out a yellow potion, downing it instantly.

Puckering her lips, she shook her head before sighing, glaring at me for a moment before flinching as I smirked again.

Stepping out from the tent, I watched as the Loki Supporters tore down the tents in mere minutes, while the Dian-Cecht Familia provided everyone a 'hearty' meal.

I say that because...

Staring at the bowl in my hands, Kallasa and I exchanged glances as we took a whiff of the heavy medicinal scent coming from the brown stew, before we both took deep breaths and downed it in a few gulps.

It was worse than a potion; extremely bitter, gooey, and lukewarm.

In other words; terrible.

Though filling, I wanted to never taste that again, and I grit my teeth as the aftertaste kicked in.

Shaking my head, I handed the bowl back to the Dian-Cecht girl who gave it to me, washing it down with a gulp of water.

Ais seemed unperturbed by the medicinal sludge, and she finished it quickly as well.

When we had all 'eaten', Gareth stood on a wooden crate and shouted "Alright, we depart in a few moments; if you need to do any business, nows the time!"

I followed behind Ais as she approached the dwarf, and we discussed what we would be doing on Floors 19 to 24, also known as the Great Tree Labyrinth.

I had been here just a week earlier, but the Dungeon was ever changing; one week a Floor might be overrun with Monster A, and the next week it'll be completely diverse with Monsters A through D.

In other words, completely unpredictable and ready to chew on the corpse of any idiotic Adventurer who thought otherwise.

Getting everyone rallied up, we made our way towards the stairs leading down to Floor 19, Ais and I taking the Vanguard again, while Narvi and Gareth took the rear.

Walking down into Floor 19, I took in the unfamiliar sight of the gigantic rooted room, the various plants and shrubbery filling the giant cavern with lush greenery.

Some of which was truly alive...

Gathering on the path below the stairs, Gareth took a look at the lush cavern, the Chienthrope girl standing beside him.

"Hmm... are we going by the rule that more monsters means more valuables?"

Gareth nodded at the petite girl, who returned to observing the sprawling Cavern.

"Well... that waterfall there, that flows down to the next Floor, is a... focal point of sorts for this batch of monsters; it seems like... Battle Boars and Lizardman only, but a lot of them."

The dwarf nodded again, before turning back to the waiting group.

"We're making our way to the waterfall over there! Dian-Cecht, Hephaistos Familias, as the gatherers of the Expedition, remain in the center; Loki Familia, we will be protecting them while we go from area to area, so be prepared! Belle says that Battle Boars and Lizardman are the most common by the waterfall, so be prepared. Alright, lets move!"

Ais and I nodded, and we readied our weapons as we led the Expedition down the long, twisting paths of the Great Tree Labyrinth.

Keeping my eyes roaming, I took measured steps as we delved further into the Dungeon, my senses reaching as far as they could as I tried to lead us deeper.

Ais was also quiet, her footsteps silent as she glanced around, her rapier at the ready.

Reaching an intersection, we halted the group and waited for Belle to approach, the Chienthrope guiding us towards the waterfall.

"Stay with us, Belle; guide us when we reach the bottom level of this Floor."

Hearing my serious voice, she nodded, her ears twitching as she looked around, a dagger in her palm.

Remaining behind Ais and I, she stiffened a few minutes later, alerting Ais and I to a monster approaching.

Stamping out from our left were three Battle Boars, who stood at six and a half feet at just their shoulders.

The charcoal hide of the Battle Boars was streaked with crimson, and their long tusks were a gleaming white, the ivory sharpened to a deadly point.

Their beady red eyes focused on us, and each let out a huff as they stamped their large hooves into the soft earth below us.

Lowering my stance, I heard everyone behind us move further back, Narvi taking the Tank Role as she hefted her large shield and prepared to block any charges that slipped past Ais and I.

Glancing at the golden haired girl besides me, I said "You want the one on the left, then meet up in the middle?"

Giving me a sharp nod, I watched as Ais crouched down, a small green energy surrounding her calves.

Grinning, I turned my eyes back to the huffing Battle Boars, mirroring Ais.

"Ready?"

My voice held mild excitement, and I was anticipating the feeling of lancing my spear through muscled monster flesh again.

Giving me another curt nod, Ais waited, before launching herself towards the Battle Boars as I said "Go!"

Her speed was incredible, and she appeared before one of the charcoal beasts in a moment, her silver rapier raised high.

Tearing my eyes off her, I dashed forwards as well, marveling at my new speed.

I hadn't been able to truly go all out yet since I had updated my Status, and the improvements...

Grinning, I jumped above my Battle Boar, the thing squealing in anger as I remained out of its reach, and lanced my spear down towards its thick neck.

Konahrik sang in my hands, the spear slicing through the air and easily piercing the muscular neck of the Battle Boar, making the monster let out a pained screech as I severed its spine.

My spear cut all the way through the monsters neck, digging into the earth below us.

Twisting the haft, my grin widened as the monster turned to dust, leaving behind a large purple crystal.

Looking up, I just barely caught sight of Ais dismembering her Battle Boar, her rapier easily slicing through its thick hide and tough muscles, resulting in thin red gashes appearing in the monsters hide.

Jumping away, Ais flicked her blade, and that pale green glow escaped from the cuts, turning the monster into dust swiftly.

Both of us turned towards the remaining Battle Boar, which was stamping its hoof nervously.

Letting out a squeal, it looked between us before deciding to charge towards Narvi, making Ais and I frown.

Launching ourselves forwards, we intercepted the monster.

Standing between Narvi and the rampaging Battle Boar, I planted the butt of my spear into the earth, preparing to impale the monster using its own momentum, while Ais jumped gracefully onto its neck, her blade flickering.

Grunting as it ran into my spear, I watched as Ais stabbed her rapier deep into its skull, killing it.

Feeling its weight disappear from the spear, I sighed before standing up, grinning at Ais.

"That was a good warmup, wasn't it?"

Tha Sword Princess gave me a swift nod, her expressionless face turning towards the thick forest around us.

Chuckling, I rejoined her as we resumed our journey, both of us wary for another monster attack.

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Did I lose my touch with Danmachi, or is it still good?

I forgot some of the finer details, so...

Anyways, again, this might not remain a regular thing, but I THINK I can at least do one a week....

I hope.

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