Of course, the cart wasn't designed to carry people, so it didn't have seatbelts. Aster turned to Argus and smiled as he gave his command.
"Alright, buddy. You're in charge of clearing all the monsters around us!"
Aster would be pulling the cart while Argus, equipped with the EXP Share (Equal) ability, would handle the monsters. This arrangement would not only shorten their total travel time but also ensure everyone gained experience safely!
*Arf!*
The little husky barked in acknowledgment of his task, and Aster tightened his grip on the cart's handles, starting to move forward.
Although the cart was floating using Electromagnetic levitation, it wasn't exactly easy to pull. The magnetic forces interacting beneath the cart created a "cushion" of eddy currents, making it feel as if he were pulling the cart through thick mud.
"Ugh...!"
However, like any other vehicle, once a certain level of momentum was reached, movement became easier. Aster gradually increased his speed, and within a minute, he was moving at the same pace as the average running speed of a girl!
*CRACKLE!* *BOOM!*
As Aster pulled the cart, Argus darted around at twice his speed, clearing all monsters within a 100-meter radius. The little husky didn't limit himself to any particular method; he used every skill at his disposal—biting, claw attacks, and even lightning bolts falling from the sky. Every monster he encountered was swiftly dispatched!
"Woah!"
After just 30 minutes of running, Kali's voice rang out in surprise. Her body glowed, signaling her level-up!
"This is fantastic!" Kali beamed. "But I feel bad for the little guy, doing all the work."
"It's fine," Aster reassured her with a clear grin. "Argus enjoys moving around. This doesn't even tire him out!"
Just like Argus, Aster hadn't broken a sweat despite running for half an hour. With his CON stat over 30, it was nearly impossible for him to get tired from such exertion.
Despite their efforts to avoid forests that would slow them down, they were traveling faster than anyone else. In just one hour, they had covered more than 20% of the distance, a feat that would normally take others over 8 hours!
Argus was thrilled to be "playing" again after a long time. He was running around energetically, relishing the freedom and the abundance of monsters to engage with.
With their ample budget for supplies, they could comfortably stay in the dungeon for a week without any issues!
After their meal and a short rest, they continued their journey.
As promised, they spent 1 hour walking before resuming their ride on the cart. It didn't take them another hour to reach the end.
Everyone disembarked from the cart and readied their weapons, preparing to face the boss. Once they were all set, Aster led them toward the portal at the other end.
As they approached the portal, the boss began to materialize.
"I wonder what we'll encounter?" Aster mused aloud.
Eventually, the boss monster appeared. It was a massive wolf, twice the size of a Dire Wolf, and it looked extremely formidable. Aster could immediately tell that this wasn't a boss typically associated with the 5th floor's challenge!
"This is... Dire Wolf Alpha?!"
Kali, who was quite knowledgeable about monsters, recognized it instantly. "No way. That's a boss monster for the 15th floor, not here!"
*CRACKLE!* *BOOM!*
In an instant, a bolt of white lightning struck the wolf. It was so swift that the creature didn't even have time to react before collapsing to the ground, dead.
"..."
Everyone stared at the culprit—the adorable dog at Aster's feet.
*Arf?*
The dog tilted its head, puzzled by the attention it was receiving. Aster picked him up and patted his head lightly with a sigh. "Well, I expected as much. Good job, buddy."
Although they missed out on a proper fight with the boss, having it easy was preferable to battling through a tough encounter.
With mixed emotions, the party entered the portal and moved on to the next floor.