Dungeon And Slave: The Lustful and Violent Slave Harem of the Guard and Students Chosen as Testers for the Succubus Dungeon

Chapter 62: The 7th Floor Guardian

Since overcoming the second Goblin rush, Rock and I were advancing through an unexplored passage located northeast from the Transfer Room.

Yes, a second rush. After the pincer attack, we encountered another three-wave Goblin rush.

The second time, they all came from the front, so we handled it easily, but I’d never faced consecutive Goblin rushes before.

This might just be something, I thought, and as we turned the final corner, there it was.

“Rock, we hit the jackpot.”

“Wafun!”

I smirk in front of the large wooden door looming before us. Rock, tail wagging furiously, bangs his spear against his shield, brimming with fighting spirit.

The door is carved with a Goblin wearing clothes and a hood, holding daggers in both hands, looking somewhat like an assassin.

A speed-specialized Goblin, huh?

Magic will be hard to land, I think, as I reach for the door and open it. As usual, the interior is pitch black.

Cautious of a repeat of the Sword Rabbit incident, Rock and I enter with shields raised, covering both sides.

Like the 6th Floor Guardian Room, torches on the walls light up, but there are fewer, leaving the room dimly lit.

Tch, cheap tricks!

Cursing inwardly, I activate Physical Enhancement. My vision sharpens, night vision kicking in, and I scan the back of the room.

A black gate, and in front, a black-clad Goblin with daggers in both hands. Plus eight Goblins with Rusty Swords.

“Rock, turn off the headlamp.”

I instruct Rock to kill the light and give a few more orders before stepping forward, using Rock as a shield.

“Gyagya!”

As we advance, the assassin-like Goblin—let’s call it a Goblin Assassin—issues orders to its minions.

The Goblins spread out in a wide, fan-shaped formation and charge toward us.

The spacing is wider than on the 6th Floor, limiting Fireball’s effectiveness.

Giving up on grouping them centrally, I shift to drawing them in and picking them off with Wind Cutter from behind Rock.

But then, I notice the Goblin Assassin is missing among the approaching Goblins.

Where’d it go? I focus on the oncoming Goblins, and at that moment—

Sparks fly from the side of Rock’s greatshield, raised forward.

Clang!

“Waoooon!”

“Wind Cutter!” “Wind Cutter!”

Rock, barely blocking his neck with his arm, roars in intimidation. I fire Wind Cutter at the Goblin Assassin retreating after its failed attack.

But the Assassin leaps, dodging it skillfully.

I admit my aim was off in the heat of the moment, but it’s faster than expected.

Hah, this is getting interesting.

My lips curl at the challenge of a worthy foe.

Glancing at Rock, he seems uninjured, but there’s a liquid on his armored arm that blocked the attack—not blood.

Poison, huh.

Recalling the Status Ailment Recovery Potions from treasure chests and the Assassin’s presence, I reach that conclusion.

“Rock, drink a Status Ailment Recovery Potion just in case.”

I shove the potion bottle into Rock’s mouth as he holds his shield.

Rock downs it, and I take another for myself, drinking it as a precaution.

It should last through the fight.

Meanwhile, the fan-shaped Goblins gradually close their spacing, half-encircling Rock as they approach.

I catch glimpses of the Assassin darting swiftly behind them.

They’re probably aiming to take out the heavily armored Rock first.

As the Goblins raise their swords in unison, I shout.

“Rock, now!”

At my signal, Rock flips on his headlamp.

“Gya!”

Blinded by the LED’s intense light at close range, the Goblins freeze. Even the Assassin, farther back, shields its eyes with its arm.

“Waooon!”

Rock doesn’t miss the chance, roaring and charging at the Goblins in front.

I scatter Wind Cutters to support Rock and slash at the Goblin on the far end.

The blinded Goblin can’t block my machete and is cleaved from shoulder to chest.

I cut down a second, and spotting the Assassin lunging toward Rock in my peripheral vision, I fire a Wind Cutter.

“Gi!?”

My Wind Cutter grazes the Assassin’s arm, knocking its poisoned dagger to the ground.

Looks like I returned the favor for its sneak attack.

The Assassin retreats quickly without retrieving the dagger.

Between my initial Wind Cutter, Rock’s charge, and my attacks, only three Goblins besides the Assassin remain mobile.

“Rock! I’ll take the Assassin!”

I call to Rock and chase the Assassin.

Rock barks in response, enduring the three Goblins’ sword strikes and occasionally countering with his spear.

“Gyagya!?”

The Assassin turns, startled to see me right behind it.

“What’s wrong? Surprised I caught up?”

Too bad for you. I’m higher rank and have Physical Enhancement active.

“Whoa, you’re full of tricks.”

I laugh, deflecting a knife the Assassin throws from its pocket with my small shield while fleeing.

As if giving up, the Assassin stops running, hurling knives in succession, then closes in with another poisoned dagger.

It’s probably aiming to exploit the moment I block the knives, but that’s naive.

I raise my shield, charge at the Assassin, and fire Wind Cutters to its left and right.

It’d likely dodge a direct shot, so I’m cutting off its escape routes.

I advance with my shield, Wind Cutter blades on both sides.

As planned, the Assassin, trapped, hesitates for a split second before leaping. That hesitation proves fatal.

“Too slow!”

As it tenses to jump, I charge, deflecting its knife with my small shield and slam into it.

“Gya!”

The Assassin is light.

It flies farther than I expected.

“Wind Cutter!” “Wind Cutter!” “Wind Cutter!”

Seizing the chance, I fire wind blades at the airborne Assassin like shooting a sitting duck.

Each hit elicits a “Gya!” until the third silences it.

Checking on Rock, he’s already finished the third Goblin and is delivering killing blows to the writhing survivors cut by my Wind Cutters.

No noticeable injuries.

Just to be safe, I head to the Assassin. It’s already dead, turning into black particles.

Its strategy of avoiding direct combat and aiming for sneak attacks was entertaining enough.

But for someone like me, who fought in forests, a sneak-attack-focused approach was a bad match.

I pick up the Goblin Assassin’s magic stone as it vanishes into black particles.

“Same E+ Magic Stone as a Goblin Soldier, huh.”

Hmm, a sword-trained Goblin versus a speed-specialized, poison-dagger-wielding Assassin. The Assassin’s trickier, but it lacks strength and durability.

In a straight fight, it’s probably weaker than a regular Goblin. But it compensates for low strength with speed, poison daggers, a darkened Guardian Room, and constant sneak attacks. Anyone but me would’ve struggled.

This’ll likely kill a few testers following behind.

If Yuki’s team clears the 5th Floor, I’ll share info on the Guardian.

They’re a valuable information source, after all.

“Wan!”

“Nice work, Rock. You’ve gotten strong.”

While reviewing the Guardian fight and examining the Assassin’s magic stone, Rock brings over the collected magic stones.

I praise Rock’s efforts, patting his shoulder.

Thrilled by the praise, Rock wags his tail furiously, drooling in a state of bliss.

Gross, I think, but since I want Rock to keep being a solid tank, I don’t say it.

I pull a towel from my Magic Pouch and roughly wipe Rock’s mouth.

“Come on, Rock, let’s check the loot.”

“Wan!”