"Haaap!"
I let out a full-throated yell.
Whoosh!
The move I had practiced countless times with Hiresia, to cut down an enemy behind me in one swift motion, was executed perfectly in real combat.
Crack!
The bodies of the two skeletons were shattered in half at once. Broken bone fragments scattered in all directions.
Tremendous power.
Indeed, it was the greatest thrill I could currently experience. The 20% proficiency gained through training further doubled its power and speed.
Moreover, this strike had no blind spots.
An added description to the evolved strike.
'I think I get it now.'
My eyes sparkled.
Originally, the Executioner's Strike had power but was too simple to instantly respond to attacks from behind.
It was difficult not only to be accurate but also to properly channel power.
However, I just did it. Perfectly, at that.
It was the ability brought by the evolved strike. Now, I could perfectly respond to enemies from all directions, not just the front.
Literally, the Executioner's Strike now had no blind spots.
"Phew... Th-thank you, senior."
Annette thanked me with a face that barely survived.
"Enough of that. If you don't want to end up in such a situation again, start singing."
"Ah."
"Quickly."
"Yes!"
Annette hurriedly began to sing.
Her voice was clear and pure.
A beautiful melody.
The song, utterly out of place on the battlefield, spread around us. Of course, it wasn't just any song. It was imbued with a mysterious and holy power.
The Song of Healing.
"Does this really work?"
Kamian was skeptical.
"Do you still not trust me?"
I chuckled. No need to wait. The effect had already begun to show.
"Grrrrr!"
The painful screams of the zombies.
Clatter, clatter!
The bones of the skeleton soldiers seemed to shrink. They were suffering due to the power of the Song of Healing.
Lower-level undead affected by such a severe debuff? Now, they were easy prey.
"You're finished, you scum."
Whoosh!
Crack!
The Executioner's Strike obliterated five undead at once.
The feeling was immensely satisfying. It was a pity I couldn't use it consecutively.
Well, these creatures were not worth wasting energy on now; the Imperial Style 8 was enough to sweep them away.
Crack!
Thud!
The Imperial Style 8 decapitated zombies and shattered skeletons, but they couldn't resist as before due to the powerful debuff.
"What, what's going on? Why have these guys become so weak?"
Kamian muttered incredulously. Naturally, he felt the undead had become significantly weaker.
"I told you to trust me, man."
I casually slapped Kamian on the shoulder.
"Se-seriously, I didn't expect it to be this effective..."
"Right, right."
Annette agreed. No, you're not supposed to agree right now. The song will stop.
"Hey, junior Annette. The song, the song."
There was a hint of humor in Gwen's expression.
An emotion that could not be found in his past filled with nothing but steely malice.
Indeed, the saying that the environment makes the person is not wrong.
"Thanks again. You are our benefactor."
"It was a task accomplished by everyone risking their lives."
"Haha, you're something."
Gwen chuckled and took a swig of his drink. Then he opened his mouth again, his expression now serious.
"But the human hunter was not there."
Even amidst joy, he made sure to check on important matters. That's why he could be a leader.
"Are you talking about that vampire who tried to kill us when we first fell here?"
"Yes. She's the human hunter, Riel."
"I see. But that woman probably wasn't a resident here from the start."
"Not a resident?"
Gwen cast a questioning look.
"Before that bone captain died, he mentioned that if Riel had come up, it would have been us who died."
I roughly paraphrased it for convenience.
After all, it wasn't information worth sharing with anyone at the moment.
Especially concerning Riel's master, who could become our greatest adversary in the future.
"Come up...? That means..."
"Obviously, it means there's something below, doesn't it?"
"Umm..."
Gwen groaned with a serious look on his face. He must have guessed it.
Not just him, but most of the residents probably suspected it as well.
That this wasn't the end.
But suspecting and having it confirmed as fact are entirely different things.
Now, we had to seriously consider how to deal with this unknown place.
"So it was true. There is something below. Then..."
"Ah, don't rashly look for a way down."
It was good timing for me to bring up what needed to be said.
"Hm?"
"It means don't recklessly go down when we don't know what dangers lie ahead."
"Indeed, that's a valid point."
Gwen nodded.
Even the 10th underground floor was this dangerous, so the 11th floor would likely be no less hazardous.
There was an overflowing probability that it would be even more dangerous. He understood that.
"We'll need to prepare thoroughly."
"Sound advice. I'm willing to cooperate for that."
I shared with Gwen the support items I had been thinking about earlier.
"That much? Can you really prepare all that? Is it even okay for us to accept such things?"
Gwen looked surprised. It must have been an unexpectedly immense support.
"Of course."
I immediately responded.
This wasn't just beneficial for them.
It was also advantageous for me to gain their cooperation. So, it was a choice that required no second thought.
"Ha, I don't even know how to express my gratitude. It almost feels shameless."
"Don't feel burdened. You all said you would help us uncover the secrets of the underground space. It's about helping each other."
"Hmm, even so..."
I raised my hand to cut off Gwen's words.
"That aside, there's something more I'd like to ask."
"Speak your mind."
"You all have certainly gained tremendous experience in combat. But there's something lacking."
"Of course, there would be something lacking. What is it? Please, enlighten me."
Gwen wasn't offended by my words that were almost like a critique.
He recognized my skills and judgment from what we had been through.
That's why he was willing to seriously consider what I had to say.