“Now, let’s head down to the 3rd floor.”
Having rested enough, we finished preparing to go to the 3rd floor and stepped onto the stairs. The stairs descending to the 3rd floor were dimly lit, just like the ones we took down to the 2nd floor, but we felt at ease as we descended.
Most dungeons had a boss room on the 3rd floor, after all.
“We’re finally on the 3rd floor…”
“What kind of monster is the dungeon master…?”
“Since there was a two-headed creature… could it be Cerberus?”
“No way. If that’s the case, we’d have to turn around and run. We’d be in big trouble.”
Ignoring the chatter behind me, I noticed a faint light at the end of the stairs. Is that the end?
“We’re on the 3rd floor now. Everyone, stay composed.”
At my words, everyone fell silent. Suddenly, the air felt incredibly heavy. I told them to be tense, but I didn’t mean to the point of suffocation.
No, this level of tension is just perfect for these rookies.
We quickly exited the silent passage and arrived at the front yard of the 3rd floor. The 3rd floor had a structure blocked by walls and doors, with sparse foliage and trees near the walls. What kind of boss is waiting inside?
We stopped in front of the boss room door and exchanged thoughts.
“Could it be a beast-type monster?”
“Isn’t it possible for something completely random to pop up? The wood dungeon had Lizardmen wandering around, but the actual boss was a werewolf, right?”
“That’s true. I think I heard something like that in Dungeon Studies. Sometimes, a boss that doesn’t match the dungeon’s overall concept shows up.”
“They said that happens less than 10% of the time, so I think the chances are low this time too.”
“10%…”
It’s a small number if you think of it that way, yet could be significant otherwise. In games, most monsters from the minions to the bosses are aligned with their themes.
What’s going wrong here?
Mixing game knowledge with reality?
That’s not a comforting thought. It means my knowledge from games might not apply 100% here. If I dive into a dangerous situation with false information…
I need to gather more information thoroughly.
“Everyone, listen up. I’m going to tell you what to be cautious about before we enter the boss battle.”
These guys probably only have experience from the dungeon set up for final exams, so it’s right to go over this once. I racked my brain, considering how to explain it, and began.
“First, no matter what the boss does, do not panic. Stay calm and assess the situation.”
Losing composure is one of the most dangerous things. The boss won’t let any openings slip, so being calm in response to its attacks is fundamental.
“Secondly, never break formation. If the formation collapses, even the elites will die like ordinary soldiers.”
That’s the same in dungeon exploration. There’s a reason we have a tank, a damage dealer, and a supporter. While it may not be 100% applicable in reality, in a world with clear roles, it’s definitely worth considering. After all, dungeon explorers value party composition when forming teams.
“Lastly… do not hesitate when giving orders. That hesitation could cost your companions their lives. Got it?”
“Yes, sir!”
“Yes!”
Everyone nodded earnestly at my words.
We’ve done well so far, so we should do fine this time too. Still, I feel a bit uneasy. Theory and practice are entirely different, after all. Nonetheless, it shouldn’t be worse than the crack boss.
…It can’t really be Cerberus, right?
That’s something you meet well into the game.
“Then, I’m going in.”
I placed my hands on both sides of the door and slowly pushed it open. With a scrape on the floor, the door began to inch open. I didn’t fully open it, just peeking through the crack inside.
“…Shit.”
It’s really Cerberus.
The sleeping form of Cerberus was visible far away. Thankfully, it didn’t seem to have any minions with it; it was alone in the vast boss room.
I quietly pulled my hands away from the half-opened door and took a step back, signaling my party to follow me.
“If anyone knows about Cerberus, raise your hand.”
…What? They all know?
Then maybe there’s no need for an explanation…?
“Sif. Tell me about Cerberus’s characteristics.”
“Uh, Cerberus is a beast-type monster with three heads! And it’s almost as intelligent as a human… Each head is famous for using a different breath attack.”
“Correct. Viola, what are the attributes that Cerberus uses?”
“The order differs per individual, but it’s said that each head can use fire, ice, and lightning breath. But… can we really take it down, mister…?”
“Who knows? It depends on you guys. Lewis, what is Cerberus’s weakness?”
“Cerberus is a monster that primarily relies on powerful melee attacks and breath attacks from its heads. However, due to having three heads, it becomes a bit easier to deal with if their judgment gets tangled due to confusion.”
“Being a beast, it’s sensitive to smells, which could also be considered a weakness.”
“That’s right. Sif, how do we attack Cerberus?”
“Uh, the standard method would be to suppress its sense of smell and then shield ourselves while taking out one head at a time, right?”
Sif’s answer was on point. To kill Cerberus, we must eliminate all three heads, so finding a way to block its breath is essential for a stable takedown.
Especially since Cerberus’s first move is a breath attack. The breath launches every 20 seconds or so, which needs to be blocked or avoided. However, avoiding it isn’t an option.
For Sif and Viola, being magic users and alchemists, dodging isn’t nearly feasible.
Blocking it is also impossible.
“…But we don’t have a means to defend against Cerberus’s attacks.”
“That’s right. So what do we do?”
“Well…”
It may not be a Hydra or a bear cub, but it’s an annoyingly challenging opponent. If we engage it head-on, it’s bound to demand a significant sacrifice, which is why I had no intention of fighting Cerberus openly.
That bastard, according to the game, has a ridiculously large body and is fast, making it an infuriating foe.
Only knights who can manipulate aura can charge in recklessly against such a creature.
So, it’s time to devise a plan to easily take down Cerberus.
“…I’m going to tell you a plan to catch Cerberus easily, so follow my instructions. Understood?”
“Cerberus, right?”
“Yes.”
“Is that really possible?”
“I’m going to explain how it’s possible. Everyone, head over there and listen closely to what I’m about to say.”
——————
Creeeaaak-
At the sound of the door opening, the three-headed Cerberus slowly stretched and woke up from its slumber.
As it blinked several times, it spotted the four approaching foes and licked its lips, leisurely rising. Its prey, seemingly tense. Seeing the fearless prey approaching, Cerberus opened its three mouths.
Fire, ice, lightning.
Breath from the three attributes began to coalesce in the air.
‘Can I really withstand this?’
Sif gathered all her magic power. Johann had instructed Lewis’s party to either offset or block Cerberus’s first breath. Sif began to chant the strongest magic she could prepare, staring up at the growing breath.
The spell she was using was the 3rd-grade magic, Flame Blaster.
A beam concentrated with flames that turns enemies to ashes, boasting the greatest power among 3rd-grade spells.
In comparison to Cerberus’s breath, her magic seemed insignificant, but it was still no spell to overlook.
Thus, Cerberus’s left head was glaring at her.
“That thing is gigantic…”
Viola cursed as she pulled out all the reagents she had.
Explosive agents, ignition agents. And the box handed to her by Johann.
‘I can do this!’
Reassuring herself, the alchemist with the steel arm took off running toward Cerberus. A reckless charge that seemed foolish at a glance.
There was almost no possibility of inflicting meaningful damage on Cerberus with these reagents.
However, what she needed to do wasn’t to deal damage. It was to disrupt as much as possible before that breath is launched. Viola, suppressing her fear, ran towards Cerberus alongside Lewis.
To hit the reagent, they’d need to approach within at least 10 meters.
30 meters.
Lewis infused his sword with as much aura as he could muster. A blue aura began to form on his sword, gradually becoming noticeable enough to glimmer.
A sight that befits the word aura. His target was the legs.
With a swift charge, he made a dash toward Cerberus’s foot to inflict a wound. However, as expected of Cerberus, the right head lifted its foot with a menacing grin.
As if to squash a bug.
20 meters.
Sif quietly stood next to Sif, prepared to retreat with her if things went awry. Simply hiding her body in the pit Johann had dug, but Sif wouldn’t have the stamina to flee.
10 meters.
Viola’s reagents and Lewis’s aura twirled in the air. The box, too heavy to manage, fell short of 5 meters.
Still, their combined strength managed to distract Cerberus briefly. Viola felt a chill, immediately dodging to the side, while Lewis charged right in, going for the jaw.
But because the heads were so high, the injury Lewis inflicted was just a scratch. Cerberus seemed intent on crushing the audacious intruder and lunged down swiftly. Lewis, sweating profusely, barely escaped under Cerberus’s body and swung his sword at its side.
Yet again, just a scratch.
Lewis’s aura was insufficient to inflict meaningful harm on Cerberus.
‘Damn!’
At this rate, he wouldn’t manage to draw its attention.
But thanks to Lewis’s interference, it had bought a precious few seconds of delay to the breath attack.
5 seconds.
A short time, but sometimes that’s all it takes.
Sif’s spell was ready.
“Flame… Blaster!”
In a close rush, Sif’s fiery magic surged toward Cerberus’s head. A breath combined with three attributes that would turn everything to ashes.
The winner was clear.
At least, Cerberus thought so.
And then,
Cerberus would belatedly realize that its judgment was wrong.
“…Shit.”
Its massive body suddenly tilted. The wayward breath broke through the ceiling and vanished.
Caught off guard by the sudden twist, Cerberus couldn’t help but tumble into the pit.
“!@&!$(#!(*$!!”
“Shut up, mutt.”
Eye to eye.
That was the last sight of the central head among the three-headed beast.
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