Chapter 173
As the Bahamut familia descended into the depths of the dungeon, they finally reached the 17th floor.
Upon their arrival, Michalis nearly stumbled when he caught sight of the massive silhouette of a Goliath, encased in a shimmering crystal display.
“Whoa! Is that what we’re going to fight? Can we still back out of this, Draco-nii?” Eleni exclaimed, her eyes sparkling with a mix of excitement and trepidation.
Eleni wasn’t alone in her apprehension; the aura radiating from the dormant Goliath overwhelmed the others, filling them with an instinctive dread.
“Well, you can all back out, but trust me, the Goliath is way easier to deal with than a green dragon,” Draco replied, his tone casual as he cocked his head in confusion at their fear.
“I mean, isn’t there an easier opponent around our level? Maybe something like level 3?” Michalis suggested, his voice tinged with anxiety.
“Hmmm, there are, but the Goliath is still easier. It’s seven of you against one opponent. Why the complaints?” Draco countered, shrugging as if the situation was completely normal.
‘Ugh, that’s not the point, Draco-nii. We’re fighting a level 4 giant monster,’ Vasiliki thought, feeling a knot of worry in her stomach.
The others remained silent, acutely aware that Draco wouldn’t lower the difficulty no matter what they said.
His high expectations loomed over them like a heavy weight.
“Relax, everyone. We can do this. We’ve studied our opponent and made the necessary preparations. So let’s rest until the battle begins,” Dimitra said, finding a sturdy rock to sit on.
Her calming words seemed to have an effect.
They had indeed prepared well, and with Draco watching over them, they felt reassured they at least wouldn’t die.
With that reassurance, the group found places to sit and meditate, focusing their minds and bodies in preparation for the impending fight.
‘That’s the spirit. To grow, you must struggle against near-impossible odds. It’s the only way to avoid stagnation,’ Draco thought, fully aware of the challenge ahead.
The seven of them were at their peak as level 2 adventurers, while the Goliath towered as a level 4 opponent, so their fear was understandable.
‘I hope there will be no external interference,’ he added, sending a pulse of energy to scan the surrounding area.
Draco was not only there to support his familia but also to watch for potential ambushers, especially since the Evilus were very active lately.
……………………………………………………………
Time passed in silence as each member of the Bahamut familia entered a meditative pose to clear their minds and prepare their bodies until…….
Thump!!
A sudden thump reverberated through the cavern, breaking the stillness.
The sound of a giant heartbeat echoed through the cavern, causing Clair, Michalis, Eleni, Nikolaos, Dimitra, Vasileios, and Vasiliki to scramble to their feet, quickly assuming their battle formations.
Draco immediately moved to the sidelines, ensuring his presence wouldn’t interfere with their battle.
Rumbling!!
The cavern began to rumble as the crystal display cracked, signalling the Goliath’s awakening.
Loose rocks, debris, and shards began to rain down from the walls and ceiling. Anticipating this, Vasiliki conjured a semi-circular ice dome to shield her comrades.
Crack! Boom!
With a violent explosion, the crystal display completely shattered, scattering shards across the room.
Vasileios stepped forward, using his shield to block the incoming projectiles coming their way.
Thud!
With a sudden thud, the Goliath's massive body fell to the stone floor, causing a mild tremor due to its weight and size.
As the tremors ceased, the sound of slow heavy breathing echoed in the room.
The Goliath slowly tried to stand, steadying itself in a prone position.
Disoriented from its rebirth, the Goliath slowly raised its head, until it’s eyes locked onto the seven tiny intruders before it.
In an instant, a wave of bloodlust enveloped the cavern as the Goliath’s dungeon monster instinct to attack intruder’s surged forth.
Roar!!!
The Goliath unleashed a roar that shook the very walls of the cave, a display not just to signify it’s rebirth, but also an intimidation tactic against its opponents.
The sheer force of its voice was enough to strike fear into the hearts of it’s challenger’s, even paralyzing them.
Clair tightened her grip on her spear, Michalis gripped his dagger, Eleni readied her sword, Nikolaos lifted his spiked maul, Dimitra drew her bow, Vasileios held his short sword and shield, and Vasiliki prepared her magic staff.
The Goliath’s roar and overwhelming presence sent chills through each of them, paralyzing them in fear.
“Uryaaaaa!” Vasileios immediately shouted, summoning his willpower to break free from the Goliath’s intimidating aura.
Clang! Clang!
He bashed his sword against his shield, stirring the others into action.
‘That’s my boy,’ Draco thought, relieved to see Vasileios rallying his teammates.
He had felt a twinge of panic when he saw them frozen in fear before the battle even began.
Once freed from the intimidation, the Bahamut familia sprang into action.
The Goliath remained on its knees, underestimating the seven adventurers—a perfect opportunity for them to strike hard and fast.
Dimitra and Vasiliki quickly distanced themselves from the Goliath.
Dimitra moved to the left, while Vasiliki took the right side.
As backline ranged fighters and commanders, they couldn’t afford to be caught in stray attacks.
Vasiliki would lead the right side, and Dimitra would command the left.
“Vasileios!” Vasiliki shouted, signalling him to initiate their offensive.
With his shield raised, Vasileios charged forward until he stood directly in front of the Goliath.
He steadied his stance and activated his skill ‘Durability Augmentation,’ a silver glow enveloping his body to bolster his defence.
Then, he unleashed his taunting skill, ‘Thymoeidis Kraugi,’ drawing the Goliath’s full attention while buffing his strength and endurance.
The Goliath, unable to comprehend the sudden turn of events, turned its ire toward Vasileios.
Without hesitation, the Goliath raised its colossal fist, ready to squish Vasileios like the bug it viewed him as.
Normally, Vasiliki would have used her ice magic to help him block or mitigate some force from such a devastating attack.
However, Vasileios had insisted on testing his limits first, believing that knowing how much damage he could take would allow Vasiliki to conserve her magic for offence.
“Oraaaaaa!” Vasileios yelled, his voice ringing through the chamber, as the Goliath's fist collided with his shield.
Boom!
Vasileios felt his body rattle from the impact; his legs sank halfway into the stone, his joints creaked, and his nose bled, but he managed to tank the hit.
“Heh, hehehehe,” Vasileios laughed, a wild grin spreading across his face as he felt a rush of energy, a certain skill had been triggered.
“Revenge Counter!!” he murmured in a low voice.
Just then, silver spikes erupted from the front of his shield, impaling the Goliath's fist, before dispersing.
The Goliath immediately retracted it’s fist, covered in medium puncture wounds, lifting its head, it roared in pain, desperate to pull away.
But still under the effects of Vasileios’s taunt, it was forced to remain.
It could only lash out again, angered and confused by the tiny adversary before it.