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Over the Infinite Chapter 20 Part 3

 

-3-

 

[ Infinite Corridor, 20th Floor ]

A huge old man… no, a Huge Lizard, emerges from the magic circle.

This creature, capable of swallowing us whole, is the floor boss of the 20th level of the Infinite Corridor. Its peculiar and imposing presence is truly befitting a boss monster… What was that panda all about?

It’s about as tall as an enhanced Minotaur, but that’s because it’s crawling. Considering its total length, it’s the largest creature we’ve faced so far.

We’re a team of three. The old men are there, but they’re just observers, not lending a hand.

Normally, a six-person party is expected to challenge this boss, and the same goes for the 30th floor.

But the first 30 floors of the Infinite Corridor are just the beginning. If we can’t break through with just three people, we stand no chance in the rookie match.

The Huge Lizard attacks with its long tongue, wrapping and devouring its prey. It also uses its tail for striking and its massive body for charging.

It jumps and crushes with the same huge body, causing tremors. Somehow, this dungeon actually shakes.

「Scatter! 」

The Huge Lizard’s tongue extends at an incredible speed.

The speed itself is already an attack. Moreover, if it wraps around you, you’ll be swallowed whole. Not chewed up, but slowly dissolved by digestive juices. Terrifying.

 

――――Action Skill ((Power Slash)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((High Power Slash)) ――

 

I dodge the tail strike and attack it with my skill.

((High Power Slash)) is an advanced sword technique taught by the old man, an upgrade from ((Power Slash)). It has a long charge and recovery time, but its power far surpasses that of ((Power Slash)).

Its activation conditions are almost the same as ((Power Slash)), and it’s easy to chain from ((Power Slash)). It has the characteristic of being easily combinable.

However, the lizard’s skin, protected by its race skill ((Hard Skin)), was tough, and even a double strike using the Great Sword obtained midway through the dungeon barely inflicted any damage.

Ideally, I would like to connect it to ((Whirlwind Slash)) after this, but the timing from ((High Power Slash)) is too tight, and I’ve only succeeded once so far.

 

――――Action Skill ((Rapid Rush)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Poison Edge)) ――

 

From somewhere, Yuki also strikes the lizard’s back with a double skill chain. He has also become capable of executing up to two consecutive skills smoothly.

((Poison Edge)) enhances the probability of poison occurrence, so it won’t activate without a method of poison attack, but he has (Cobra). Phew.

Yes, I can confirm it’s poisoned. Poison really is universally effective.

The Huge Lizard, lacking poison countermeasures, seems like it would end just by enduring, but our attacks don’t stop.

Despite its massive size, we continue to hammer it with attacks and skills.

Yes, the two of us are definitely getting stronger, honestly and rightfully so.

 

――――Action Skill ((Mach Jab)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((One-Two Combination)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Lightning Knuckle)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Magnum Straight)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Chase Kick)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Drop Kick)) ――

――――Skill Chain ((Tornado Kick)) ――

 

What’s odd is him. Why is he executing a seven-skill chain? It makes no sense.

Sure, the (Martial Artist) system is known for its combos, but even so, this is a bit excessive.

Each hit inflicts small damage, but they all connect, and the latter ones deal substantial damage, especially ((Drop Kick)) into ((Tornado Kick)).

((Tornado Kick)) is a jumping kick technique like ((Drop Kick)), so why use ((Drop Kick)) as a landing point for ((Tornado Kick))?

…Well, whatever. It’s reassuring.

「Leader. Practicing skills on that huge body is good, but I’m getting bored. It’s not leading anywhere, so I’ll go in. 」

「Eh, what are you talking about? 」

The battle had stabilized, and just as I took a bit of distance, Sarges landed and started saying something weird.

He’s poisoned, so we could just leave it, and he’s already near death from your absurd combo.

「In this case, I’ll ((Purge)) and plunge into its mouth, destroying it from the inside.

Don’t worry. I’ve done it before, and if I take off my clothes, the equipment won’t get damaged. 」

No, that’s not what I’m worried about. It’s just pointless.

You just want to ((Purge)), don’t you?!

「Here I go!! 」

「Wait, just wait… 」

 

――――Action Skill “Purge” ――

 

At that moment, the suit Sarges was wearing burst into a flash of light.

 

“Narration”

Sarges’ ((Purge)) is a deadly technique where he strips off all his armor and morality, inflaming his sense of shame and explosively increasing his physical abilities!!!

By removing his clothes, the ultimate masochist now descends as the strongest pervert!!!

 

What is this narration! Where is it coming from?! Who is this?!

「What, what is this?! Why are you getting naked?! There’s no need for that! 」

Yuki-san, from a distance, noticed and shouted this way.

「Here I gooo! 」

Sarges, now down to just his boomerang pants, started running.

 

――――Action Skill ((Tornado Kick)) ――

 

What followed was the lunging kick ((Tornado Kick)).

The skill, boosted by both ((Purge)) and ((Immoral Boost)), was already a different beast from the one previously activated.

The tornado-like ((Tornado Kick)), pushed to its limits, struck directly into the open mouth of the Huge Lizard.

The Huge Lizard let out a roar at the unforeseen event, and our jaws also dropped in astonishment.

Sarges, having infiltrated its body, seemed to be attacking from the inside, as a glow appeared deep in its mouth.

Then, as if to finish it off, another ((Tornado Kick)).

Piercing through the Huge Lizard’s body and soaring high into the sky, Sarges stylishly landed on the ground. As he landed, the ((Purge)) activation time ended, and his suit began to regenerate automatically. That alone looked somewhat cool. The rest was a mess, though.

 

[ Infinite Corridor, 20th Floor, Floor Boss Huge Lizard Defeated]

 

The system message of the dungeon’s conquest appeared.

Ah, yes, the Huge Lizard is certainly dead.

「W-w-why are you naked?! There’s no point in that! 」

Yuki returned with vehement protests.

More than whether it was tactically meaningful, he was upset at being unexpectedly exposed to something he didn’t want to see.

Sarges did have an unnecessarily good physique.

「…I’m sorry, Yuki-san. At that time, it was the only way. 」

Sarges hung his head in regret, but it was completely pointless.

You knew what you were doing.

「But you, you didn’t take any damage. Isn’t ((Purge)) supposed to activate only after taking damage? 」

「No, it can still activate with reduced ability values and shorter effect time. 」

Even less meaning, then.

It was probably not the ((Purge)) but the ((Immoral Boost)) that unnecessarily powered you up earlier.

「Well, that was refreshing. 」

It shouldn’t be refreshing. What’s with that satisfied smile?

「You guys are quite something. 」

The old man approaches and comments, but the only one who is ‘quite something’ is Sarges, not us.

I wish he wouldn’t lump us together.

 

-4-

 

「So, this, this, and this are the spoils of war for this floor. 」

Inside the portable cottage we use as a rest area, a member of the dwarf race, Topopo-san, lays out items in front of us. She’s only as tall as a toddler and looks like one too, but she’s apparently an adult and even older than Sarges.

Yet, watching her move around so busily, she seems so cute I want to hug her.

Yuki, seen from the corner of my eye, seems unable to resist and is fidgeting with his hands. Sarges, on the other hand, doesn’t seem interested.

「If you can’t carry them all, just give them to Pelshe. Well then, I’ll go ahead and explore this floor. Good luck with your special training—bye! 」

She left.

「Ah… she’s cute. I want a few like her in my room. 」

She’s not a pet, you know. She’s a person older than us, albeit a dwarf.

「You don’t find her cute? 」

「I don’t understand, but I have no intention of criticizing others’ preferences. 」

You certainly don’t have the right to do that.

However, the spoils of war Topopo-san brought are plentiful. The Dungeon Master forbade us from receiving anything but essentials for dungeon dwelling, but we’re allowed to keep anything we find in the dungeon.

We already have a considerable amount from the first 11 floors. Anything not for dungeon use is usually left with Pelshe-san.

We train in each floor until the time limit, moving to the next floor via the shortest route at the last minute.

During this time, the small Topopo-san, apparently a (Scout), is in charge of mapping the dungeon.

In addition, collects all the dropped items and treasures we find along the way and provides them to us.

The old men say that the items obtainable on this floor are completely unnecessary for (War Arms), but they’re valuable to us.

In most cases, they can be exchanged for a decent amount of money, so it’s not entirely useless. The old men are just being considerate.

I really don’t know how much to thank those people.

Not just the old man, but also Pelshe-san and Topopo-san, who have no reason to help us.