The Goblin Forest was the brightest of the 2 floors. Even if it was still dark, the countless stars that covered the sky served as a source of light to some extent. But still not as much as now.

*Ears!*

Dozens of light balls hovering in the air illuminated the surroundings as brightly as during the day. It was like an illuminated stadium at night.

How much mana do they have?

That alone was enough to make my heart ache at the dramatic difference in levels, but now was not the time to think about it.

"Yandel, these guys...

— "Scientist of Destruction" and "Corpse Gatherer." And I don't know the second one.

I stared straight ahead, briefly sharing information with the warriors who followed me.

"Oh, it looks like you didn't come alone after all?"

The Beastman, whose identity had not yet been determined, chuckled. He seemed to be in a good mood.

"It's going to be a lot of money, even if you divide it between the three of us.

His greedy gaze swept over us as if we were easy prey on a sweet hunt.

Ha, and I was hoping they could just congratulate us and let us go.

"What baseness.

The gray-haired elderly Magus, the Scientist of Destruction, clicked his tongue disapprovingly.

"Why?" Isn't that why you agreed to stay? The Beastman asked.

The Scientist of Destruction did not answer, as if he was annoyed.

At this moment, the Corpse Collector joined them and laughed.

"Hee-hee, you still don't know this old man?" Spoils of war or not, he most likely just wants to return home as soon as possible.

"Hmm, really?" Then only the two of us are low people.

"Ha, what are you saying?" Do you think I'm here to pick up the gear?

— ... Then why?

Beastman tilted his head when he heard the Clown/Corpse Collector's words. I listened too, pretending not to notice, deciding that by learning their individual motives and goals, I could increase the number of options for action.

Hmm, yes, that's exactly what I thought.

"Of course, it's because I thought it would be fun!" The clown shouted exaggeratedly loud, just like at the Round Table. "An opportunity to kill the explorers who made their way down this difficult path with just a shred of hope!" What could be better?

The Scientist of Destruction frowned again.

"What is that tone?" It was as if you suddenly started playing a role.

"Oh, this?" I thought that if I was lucky, one of them might recognize me! Hee-hee.

"Find out...?"

"Click, it doesn't matter. I've always wanted to kill them, but it's not fun to kill them so easy, right? At least the dying should know who I am to make it more fun!

"I have no idea what you're talking about. Do what you want. I'll rest.

The Scientist of Destruction looked like he couldn't understand, but I was different.

Crazy psychopath.

This guy was hoping that one of us was a member of the Round Table and that we would recognize him, so he even put on a mask and revealed who he was. In a sense, it was a gesture that showed his determination to leave no one alive.

"Hmm, but there are many more of them than I thought.

The Beastman, who was chatting quietly as my comrades passed through the portal in real time, looked at us with a questioning expression, but didn't look the least bit nervous. The royal troops left us. He was sure that he could deal with us, no matter how many of us were here.

It's even better this way.

I decided to think about it as positively as possible. If these guys had decided to start shooting at point-blank range as soon as we passed through the portal, the situation would have been even worse. It's good that the enemy underestimated us.

"Hee-hee, since no one else is going up, I guess that's it?!"

Whether it was arrogance or not, we just need to use it.

"If there were more of them, it could have been a problem, but everything worked out.

"Hee-hee, what are the problems?" Clown, a high-level necromancer who was called the One-Man Army, snapped his fingers.

*Ears!*

A huge subspace opened up in the air, and...

"Gryuhhhhh!"

An army of more than a hundred corpses poured out.

'Behella

It was what I had been waiting for. It's time to start the final battle.

***

An army of corpses was advancing in front.

They looked well-built as they were well equipped. They looked very frightening.

"Hey, if we win this battle, we can come back, right?"

However, no one ran away, at least not around me.

"Well, at last we can fight properly.

The warriors, already exhausted, laughed as they drew their weapons.

"I can finally save face. In any case, my rank is higher than yours.

Everything was completely different than when we cleared the path on the 1st floor. Various weapons, such as swords, hammers, axes, and maces, emitted a bright light.

[Alexandro Graham Bell cast [Fire Fury]].

[Ralph Kell cast [Wind Blade]].

[Milton Teterud used [Battle Flag]].

[Energy consumption during combat has been significantly reduced].

These were skills that could not be used until now due to the field effect.

"Ahh

"Let's go!"

Like people waiting for this moment, the warriors rushed at the army of corpses. I joined their ranks using [Gigantization] as well. Yes, maybe we didn't have HP, but we did have MP.

*Kwaaaang!*

There was an explosion as the front ranks clashed with an army of corpses, a sound that should rightfully accompany the battle of the explorers.

*Whoosh, whoosh, whoosh,*

As soon as the advance of the corpse army was stopped, support arrived from the rear: flying arrows, offensive magic of various attributes, and special long-range abilities.

Of course, the enemy did not sit idly by either.

[Abed Necrapeto cast [Curse of Petrification]].

During the battle, the bodies turned into stone statues.

[Abed Necrapeto used [Corpse Explosion]].

Corpses, modified for self-destruction, burst out of the ground and tore apart their flesh.

*Boom!*

The power of the explosion was around the 6th rank of fire magic. This was not enough to instantly kill these warriors, who had become stronger and more agile thanks to active skills, but...

*Chhhhh*

However, since the corpses were controlled by the Poison Necromancer, those who were nearby and were drenched in their blood instantly melted.

"Ahhh!"

At that moment, one of the trio, a beastman, made a huge jump and landed in front of me.

"Hey, barbarian! Are you in charge here?

His appearance was completely different than before. With fangs sticking out ferociously, fur covering his entire body, and a blue mane, with a height and physique that rivaled me in [Gigantonization], this bastard had turned into a beast that resembled a lycanthrope.

No wonder he didn't have any equipment.

I took a look at it and did a quick analysis.

Type of boost?

The unique ability of the beastmen was the Spirit Beast. Apparently, this guy belongs to the type of reinforcement, like Misha. Among the unique abilities he had gained by leveling up a Spirit Creature over and over again was the [Transformation] skill.

Then what essences did he absorb?

As this was to be found out later, I threw aside my natural curiosity and covered my face with a shield. The bastard swung his huge front paw at me.

*Bach!*

A heavy, bone-shaking blow rang out.

His Power is higher than mine.

As expected, the fight will not be easy.

*Ears!*

Just as I was about to escape the power struggle and retreat, someone swung a sword. But not in my direction, but in the direction of the wolfman.

"I'll take care of this guy, and you go away!"

It was Melter Fend, the head of the Nartel clan.

"Do you want to take over it?"

"It's Mister Kyle's order.

Well, if that's the case, okay.

I obediently obeyed and stepped back. The round peg should fit into the round hole. Fend was the only researcher of the 3rd rank in our expedition. Until now, he had saved his strength for the battle on the 2nd floor.

According to him, he once served as an apprentice knight. He's much better than I am at fighting people.

[Yandel, can you hear me?]

The moment I left the Wolfman Fenda and turned around, I heard Kyle's voice from the Message Stone.

"I hear you."

"[Excuse me, I was delayed because I was dividing the troops].

"Stop apologizing, let's get to the point.

"[You're going to focus on leading the people against the Corpse Gatherer.

"Bluemane?"

"[Oh, you don't know? He became famous during the conquest of Noark. He was the heir of the Blue Wolf tribe, but it seems that he was hiding in Noark after committing a crime and escaping].

Hmm, so he's not a member of Orcules. No wonder no one came to mind.

"Good. I'll take care of him.

"[Excellent. Then I'll use all my strength to stop this old man].

By "old man," he must have meant the Destruction Scholar. Perhaps he was the target of Kyle's revenge.

"All right, then I'll entrust this matter to you," I said, as if to end the conversation, and swung my mace at the corpses that littered the forest.

At that moment, I heard Kyle's voice again:

"[Yes, and one more thing].

— …?

"[Your teammates will arrive soon].

"What?"

—[…]

There was no answer.

*Crunch!*

I crushed the head of the corpse covered by the shield.

*Colic!*

The adamantium sword plunged into the temple of the corpse that was aiming at my side.

"From now on, we will help!"

"Bjorn!"

They were Einar and Misha. The melee sisters naturally stood behind me on either side and took a fighting stance. The Apple Narak team often used such a formation.

"You're not going to be stubborn again and try to fight alone, are you?"

Turning around, I saw Raven riding the beast summoned by Mr. Bear, the Iron Bear.

No, wait, if Iron Bear is here, it means...

When I checked the surroundings, as expected, Mr. Bear also came.

"You have to be in the rear, why are you here...?"

Maybe they're just hand-to-hand combat sisters, but why are these two here too? It would be much safer in the back.

Mr. Bear replied by placing an arrow on his large crossbow.

"Shooting at a high angle is not my specialty.

Well, that's true, but it's not a fact that it's the real reason.

We'll need to feed him [Moment of Jump] as soon as we get to the 6th floor.

Thinking about feeding the essence to Mr. Bear later, I waved my mace.

However, the corpse collapsed before I could reach it.

*Ears!*

A fiery arrow pierced between his eyebrows.

"Uncle!"

So you've come too.

It seems that her sister, Daria, was also here. Did she try to protect Ervena from danger, but changed her mind and decided to help us? I wasn't sure, but it wasn't bad.

"Protect the leader!"

Fend and the members of his clan created their own territory on the battlefield and diligently beat the wolfman.

"You bastards...!"

Judging by this rave review, the strategy worked, although I was a little worried that the Scholar of Destruction side was silent.

Let's trust him.

If something happens, Kyle will make sure to stop it. And all I have to do is do my job, so...

—…

I looked around. It wasn't difficult to find the Clown in the state of [Gigantonization]. This bastard sat on top of the corpse of the giant monster and watched the battlefield as if it was a truly pleasant sight for him.

There is a limit to underestimating people.

I couldn't help but chuckle.

To think that the Dragon Slayer had the same look when we first met.

"Misha, Ainar." Let's clear the way.

I began to penetrate the army of corpses in earnest and move forward.

Objective: Corpse Collector.

Task: Crush his skull and check if he has problems with his head.

"Yandel!" Yandel is up to something again!

"Is he going after the Corpse Gatherer?"

"Follow the great warrior!"

"Come on!"

Researchers began to gather around me.