"..."
The silent, empty street seemed particularly desolate under the cover of darkness. The Red Dragon had excellent night vision but saw nothing unusual. After a pause, it turned its head and continued down the main road.
Generally, such a large monster would prefer to stay in its lair rather than move around, but this one was walking about with a certain laxity, as if patrolling or searching for something. In this city that had long lost its former glory, it was like a tyrant who had lost its subjects.
Only when the tremors gradually faded into the distance did everyone finally let out a breath.
"So that's the Red Dragon... It's truly astonishing!"
Senshi gripped his double-bladed battle-axe tightly. Only now that he relaxed did he realize his palms were covered in sweat.
"If I were alone, I would never challenge a monster like that. It's no different from suicide... Laios, how did you guys manage it before?"
That's right, Laios's party was a legendary team that had once "slain a dragon"—and more than once!
Although Laios's own combat power wasn't particularly outstanding, he had almost never made a mistake as a commander. Even a large monster like a dragon could be dealt with by a team of six or seven—provided they were fully prepared and didn't encounter it suddenly.
"Falin... my sister, would cast defensive magic and fire resistance, along with timely healing magic, to prevent us from being one-shot by the dragon. The dwarf from our previous team and I would take turns drawing the dragon's attention, Marcille would use magic to weaken it, and during the battle, Shuro would find an opportunity to aim for the [reverse scale] and end the fight."
Tank pulls aggro, healer keeps everyone up, DPS goes all out, and then the longsword main goes for the head?
Indeed, we longsword mains are just too cool!
"That's a very conventional method."
"Conventional is best. A dragon is a powerful monster. Its scales are as hard as armor, its monstrous strength is something even a dwarf warrior can't block, and it can spew flames more powerful than a mage's—we must use a method with a higher margin for error."
Laios frowned. "But the dragons we've encountered before weren't super-sized like this Red Dragon... To be honest, I don't have much confidence. There are too many unknowns!"
"But we're very lucky that the dragon has come to this floor for some reason." Ryu took over the conversation, drawing everyone's attention to himself. "Given the Red Dragon's size, it can only move along a few main avenues, and it moves in straight lines. This means we can easily track its route."
"Ah!" Chilchuck clapped his hands. "A trap! That's right!"
"A trap... one that can hold a Red Dragon? With just a few of us, how could we build such a facility?"
Laios was lost in thought. As he aimlessly scanned the distant city, a flash of inspiration struck him.
"That's it! We don't have to build it ourselves. This Dungeon has already provided me with enough materials!"
"Using the buildings in the town?"
"So that's a thing!"
"But how do we deal with the Red Dragon's breath?"
"I know some defensive magic, but the temperature of dragon's breath... I can't guarantee it."
"How about using my pot to block it?"
"Using a cooking pot to block dragon's breath?"
"Then... let's use a lure."
Ryu spoke again. Everyone fell silent, looking at him and waiting for his next words—they had grown accustomed to taking his lead on this journey.
"I noticed a 'Familiar Creation' spell in the grimoire while I was reading."
Ryu spoke eloquently, "We have the materials. The flesh and blood of the Dire Wolf, blade fish, and Sea Serpent from the previous floor, along with the mana-rich lake water, should be enough to create some small familiars."
"Familiars... right, familiars will do the trick!"
Marcille became excited. "The Red Dragon can't fly. If we use flying familiars, luring it over shouldn't be a problem!"
"Make a few more, so we have backups if they get burned by the dragon's breath," Ryu reminded her.
"Mm-hmm, you're right!" Marcille clenched her small fists, suddenly filled with motivation. "Ryu, you've even read the chapter on 'familiars'? You learn so fast! But... that's great, thank goodness you're a genius!"
"...You're too kind." Ryu's tone was modest, but he couldn't help but feel a stir in his heart.
It was no exaggeration to say he was indeed a genius:
Although he used the Cyberpunk "computation processor" and "language and graphics analysis program," the profession of a mage has a research-oriented aspect to it, so being good at using tools was actually praiseworthy.
On the other hand, the two fixed traits, [All-Attribute] and [Grinder King], allowed him to learn various types of magic regardless of school, and once learned, he didn't have to worry about his skills regressing, allowing him to immediately move on to the next spell.
For Ryu, once he mastered something, it was mastered. He didn't need to deliberately seek inspiration; his proficiency would only increase, never decrease!
Moreover, his mana was also very abundant, far greater than that of an ordinary person, and he could even recover it through [Scene Transition].
He had specifically tested the recovery speed. If he only consumed a quarter of his total mana each time, a single scene transition could completely replenish it!
Incidentally, the "mana" in this world is active, understood as a collection of countless tiny beings called "sprites."
(Translator's Note: This should probably be 'fae' or 'sylph,' a different concept from long-eared elves.)
They usually exist in a free-floating state, scattered throughout the atmosphere and various substances. The density of their numbers is what the world commonly refers to as "mana concentration."
Occasionally, a large number of sprites will gather, giving birth to pure elemental beings—like Undine.
Humans also have mana in their bodies, but an individual's capacity is negligible compared to the external environment. Therefore, the basis of spellcasting is to "mobilize external mana," with the caster only consuming a small portion of their own.
This is why, in the original work, a weakened Marcille could replenish her mana just by drinking "Undine soup"—they share the same origin.
Those sprites, deactivated by heat, become pure mana substance, which is then assimilated by the sprites in her body and utilized.
And Ryu discovered that his [All-Attribute] had a subtle effect here: sprites of any type had a natural affinity for him and were very willing to listen to his words, whether they were requests or commands.
Why could Ryu cast the Light spell without chanting?
Because he accidentally recited the spell in his mind, and the "light sprites" heard it, leading to a success out of nowhere. After that, he mastered the "correct casting method" for this spell.
This not only made his casting speed different from ordinary people's but also increased the power of his magic by about thirty percent!
—Damn it, after nearly twenty years of transmigration, this trait is finally being put to good use!
Although it's a bit like a cliché cheat from a trashy light novel, I have to say, it feels great!
'Hey~ Calm down!'
Phew—
Taking a few deep breaths, Ryu quickly calmed his mind, his brow furrowing slightly at the same time.
He wasn't sure if it was just his imagination, but it seemed the deeper he went into the Dungeon, the more he was affected by those three negative buffs.
[Arrogance], [Greed], [Dullness].
Ryu had been able to perfectly suppress them before, but they had flared up several times since entering the Dungeon. Although no losses had been incurred yet...
And among the three, [Arrogance] was clearly the dominant one—it seemed to be related to Ryu's own personality.
This made him wonder if his judgment would be affected without his knowledge if he continued deeper.
No matter how confident he was in himself, he shouldn't take that risk!
Tsk!
He really had to solve the problem on the Fifth Floor!
"Chilchuck, you halflings are light on your feet and don't have much of a scent, making it hard for the Red Dragon to notice you. You'll be in charge of finding a high point and mapping out this floor.
Marcille, after Chilchuck finishes the map, I'll tell you where to set up the magic traps.
Senshi, you and Laios are stronger and familiar with monster characteristics. Go search for supplies on this floor. We need to prepare as many familiars as possible."
Ryu methodically gave orders to everyone, his tone calm and convincing. "And I'll be responsible for preparing some small tools to distract the Red Dragon at the critical moment.
If all goes well, let's enjoy a full dragon meat banquet after rescuing Falin, everyone!"
"Alright!"
"That sounds very promising!"
"Ryu is right."
Grrr~~~
Perhaps because she had mentally relaxed, Marcille's stomach let out an uncooperative growl, causing the Elf girl's face to instantly flush red.
"It's not! I'm not that hungry... I think."
"Ha!"
Everyone laughed, and Senshi took the opportunity to say, "Since it's come to this, let's eat first~"
—
The dragon is a large monster, and the Red Dragon is a standout among them, already a hegemon in the Dungeon!
Although this creature can't fly or use magic, its powerful physical strength and indestructible scale defense allow it to easily crush even a team of a hundred men.
Its stomach stores combustible gases produced by the fermentation of consumed food. By spewing them out in large quantities and igniting them with sparks created by striking bones at the base of its tongue, it can create an exaggerated sea of fire covering half a street. It can be said that the chances of a human defeating it in a frontal assault are zero.
But it is not truly without weakness!
Its entire body is impervious to blades and spears, and ordinary weapons can hardly harm it. However, there is a single reverse scale under its jaw that is unprotected, and it leads directly to a vital point, allowing for a one-hit kill!
So, slaying a dragon is also very simple. One just needs to meet a few conditions:
First, survive the dragon's breath;
Second, withstand the dragon's attacks or restrict its movements;
Third, make the dragon expose the weak point on its lower jaw and have a means to hit the reverse scale!
—Easier said than done.
After Ryu assigned the tasks, everyone enjoyed a vegetable medley porridge and stewed Treasure Chest Monster. Then, they spent a full day scouting and designing traps, a process that took even longer than exploring an entire floor.
But it was all worth it. Afterward, Chilchuck, with his professional eye, carefully reviewed every detail and felt it was a sure thing, with a very low chance of problems.
"I can't believe we actually made it to the Fifth Floor in just three or four days, and now we're about to challenge the Red Dragon!"
"It's truly incredible. This is all thanks to Senshi and Ryu's help. If it were just the three of us, our strength would have been far from enough."
"Not at all~" Ryu waved his hand politely. "I just did what I was supposed to do."
"No, we can never thank you enough." Laios gave Ryu a thumbs-up. "Once I rescue Falin, let's chat about stories from the East!"
"...Sure." Ryu blinked, wondering if that counted as raising a death flag.
Chilchuck, who looked like a child but was actually a middle-aged uncle with a wife and daughters, also complained, "I'm already considered old among halflings. I really can't do this kind of exciting work anymore. After we rescue her this time and return to the surface, I'm going to consider retiring."
Ryu: "..."
"Falin must be so scared right now." Marcille held her staff, her gaze firm as she said, "Let's rescue her quickly, and everyone can go home soon!"
"Yeah, seeing you all so confident puts my mind at ease."
Senshi smiled. "I'm also looking forward to it... It's my first time cooking dragon meat~"
Ryu: "..."
What's wrong with these people? They're raising death flags more smoothly than the last!
Fine, if that's how it is, I won't hold back either—
"My parents have always wanted me to settle down. This trip might be my last. To have met all of you at the end is truly my great fortune."
—Ryu revealed an extremely brilliant smile under everyone's blessings.
"Actually, I have a lover back home... Yes, I'll propose to her when I get back this time."
Bring it on! Let the jinxing be even more ferocious!
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