Dungeon And Slave: The Lustful and Violent Slave Harem of the Guard and Students Chosen as Testers for the Succubus Dungeon - Chapter 86: 8th Floor Guardian Battle

Chapter 86: 8th Floor Guardian Battle

Tester Life – Day 35 – Afternoon – 8th Floor – Yagumo Sanada

“So, which path?”

With about 80% of the 8th Floor map filled, we’re at a fork with 20% left to explore.

Both paths lead to uncharted areas, but I suspect one leads to the Guardian Room.

Choose the right one, and we find it today. Pick wrong, and it’s tomorrow.

It takes over three hours from the Transfer Room to get here, so I’d prefer to hit the mark. Should I set up a stick and go where it falls?

“Rock, which way do you think?”

He’s a dog, so maybe he’ll sniff out the right path like “dig here, woof woof”?

“Sniff sniff… Wafun?”

Rock smells both paths but tilts his head, unsure.

It looks cute, but the bulky Black Iron Full-Body Armor he’s wearing makes it jarring.

I bought that gear last night for 80,000 DP. No headgear fits his shape or size, so his head’s exposed.

Saizou’s holding Black Iron Daggers coated with purple poison in both hands, 10,000 DP each.

Spending 100,000 DP on their gear dropped my balance to 750,000 DP, but I can’t afford to lose Rock after all this training.

“Sayaka, what do you think?”

Since Rock’s clueless, I ask Sayaka behind me.

“Eh? Me? Well…”

Surprised, Sayaka pulls out the 6th and 7th Floor maps I gave her, comparing them to the 8th Floor map.

“Guardian Rooms tend to be near the center of the deeper floors, so I think left.”

“Wouldn’t right take us toward the center?”

We’re on the west side from the Transfer Room. Right, toward the east, seems like it’d get us closer to the center.

“Comparing the 6th and 7th Floor maps, this area’s layout is very similar to the 6th Floor’s east side. If it’s a mirrored design, the right path likely dead-ends. Going left, there should be multiple forks ahead, and taking right turns should lead to the center.”

“Got it, let’s go left.”

Her explanation’s surprisingly convincing, so I choose the left path without hesitation.

Makes sense—maybe the dungeon’s built by patching together sections. Creating each floor from scratch would be a hassle, so it’s plausible.

As we proceed left, we hit multiple forks, just as Sayaka predicted.

We handle a rush while turning right at two forks, emerging into a passage lined with small rooms.

We advance, defeating goblins spawning from the rooms.

It’s a straight path, so no back attacks. We’re checking every room and moving faster than the respawn rate.

Six to twelve goblins at a time from the front? Easy.

Saizou disarms traps, confirms safety, then Rock charges. Sayaka and I handle archers, and we keep moving.

Two rushes at forks since going left, and now this room-heavy passage.

We might’ve hit the jackpot.

Thinking so, I have Sayaka conserve mana as we proceed.

An hour later, there it is.

“Nice call, Sayaka. Well done.”

“Hehe, thank you!”

Looking up at the green door ahead, I grin and praise Sayaka.

She makes a small fist pump in front of her chest, beaming.

Sheena stares at her, lips slightly softened—probably praising her inwardly.

I shift my gaze to the door, about three meters tall, carved with a giant goblin larger than normal ones.

The goblin’s in leather armor, holding a sword.

“Is this… a Hobgoblin?”

I mutter, and Sheena nods at the edge of my vision.

So, the 8th Floor Guardian is a Hobgoblin.

Just a big goblin, though. We’ll manage.

I activate Physical Enhancement, push the door lightly, and it creaks open inward with a “gigigi” sound.

As usual, a mysterious barrier blocks the view inside.

“Rock, enter with your shield up.”

“Wan!”

At my command, Rock raises his greatshield and steps in slowly.

Saizou follows, then me, Sayaka, and Sheena.

Inside the Guardian Room, wall torches light up sequentially from front to back, as always.

More torches than the 7th Floor Guardian Room, so it’s not as dark.

The room’s a 30-meter-square stone chamber. At the back, a black gate, and in front, a fat Hobgoblin as tall as Rock, eight goblins with rusty swords, and two bow-wielding Goblin Archers wait.

“Rock! Keep your shield up! Sayaka, full-power Water Wall forward! Sheena, guard her! Saizou, flank and skirmish!”

I issue orders quickly.

I rush because the Hobgoblin group is closer than expected.

They’re right in front of the black gate, in the plaza’s center.

“Gya gya gya!”

As I finish, the leather-armored Hobgoblin raises its longsword and roars.

The Goblin Archers ready their bows, and the subordinate goblins charge.

We’re less than 15 meters apart.

“Water Wall!”

When they’re about five meters away, a six-meter-high, four-meter-wide Water Wall appears.

The goblins and Hobgoblin crash into it, slashing, but the wall repels everything.

Arrows fly over their heads but can’t breach the wall.

Of course—Sayaka poured three times the usual mana into it.

Still, it’ll last two to three minutes at most.

That’s enough.

While the Hobgoblin group, blood rushing to their heads, fixates on the Water Wall, Rock and I flank left and right.

“Fire Bullet!” “Fire Bullet!”

I shoot flame bullets at the two archers, hitting head and chest.

“Voooon!”

Simultaneously, Rock’s charge slams into the Hobgoblin group attacking the Water Wall.

The Hobgoblin dodges, but half the subordinate goblins are blown away.

Saizou, already in position, finishes off the scattered goblins.

Five goblins and the Hobgoblin remain.

“Fireball!”

From behind Rock, who’s finished charging and now shields me, I extend my left arm and launch a Fireball at the subordinate goblins.

Being close, it lands perfectly, engulfing three.

“Waterball!”

Three water orbs arc around the Water Wall, targeting the Hobgoblin and two goblins.

They hit the goblins, making them writhe, but the Hobgoblin slices the orb with its sword.

“Fire Bullet!”

I fire a Flame Bullet at the Hobgoblin’s opening.

It hits its torso, piercing the leather armor, but the Hobgoblin only grimaces—no major damage.

Should’ve doubled the mana. I signal Rock to charge.

But the Hobgoblin, sensing danger, closes the distance and swings at Rock.

A “gakin” rings as the sword hits Rock’s greatshield. Rock’s Black Iron Short Spear jabs from the shield’s side, aiming for the Hobgoblin’s flank.

Despite its bulk, the Hobgoblin backsteps swiftly, the spear grazing its leather armor but missing a solid hit.

Then, in an instant—

Saizou appears behind the Hobgoblin, slashing its neck with a dagger.

“Gi!”

Saizou’s weak strength can’t behead it, but the poison takes effect.

Rock charges again, blowing the Hobgoblin away.

It tries to stand but its legs fail.

The neck wound’s poison works fast.

Saizou’s thrown knives pierce both of the Hobgoblin’s arms.

“Wan!”

Facing the Hobgoblin, unable to stand or lift its sword, Rock holds his greatshield and barks, head turned to me.

“Sayaka, finish it.”

“Yes!”

At my command, Rock and Saizou pin the Hobgoblin.

Sayaka, with Sheena, runs up, Black Iron Dagger in hand, and plunges it deep into the Hobgoblin’s neck.

“Gi…”

The fatal blow lands, and the Hobgoblin’s body goes limp, turning to black particles.

“Good work, Rock, Saizou. Nice moves.”

Thanks to them, I didn’t have to fight the Guardian directly.

Rock wags his tail, and Saizou kneels, bowing his head.

This guy’s always so formal.

“Sayaka, solid support. Cutting their numbers made it easy.”

The Water Wall alone was great crowd control, and her Waterballs thinned them further.

“Thank you. I’m glad I could help.”

Sayaka beams. Sheena places a hand on her shoulder, gazing softly—probably commending her.

At the Hobgoblin’s spot, an E+ Magic Stone, like the Goblin Assassin’s.

Saizou’s E+, Rock’s D-rank—no way we’d lose.

Taking out the minions early was key. Solo, I’d have struggled more.

With three people and two summons, I barely had to act.

Numbers really stabilize things.

Thinking this, I watch Rock and Saizou gather magic stones while leading Sayaka and Sheena to the Copper Treasure Chest that appeared before the black gate.