Chapter 225: Chapter 225 Dungeon Time Part 02.

Soma and his team began to enter the maw. The entrance of the place was cold and a bit dim. The wall has a rocky structure that seems made naturally by nature but it was still a mystery how the dungeon built itself. The dimly lit room was only lightly moderated by the moss and some small crystals that let out light by absorbing the surrounding mana.They were inside a long, straight corridor that led toward a small opening where there was a stair that descended. A slightly large group of footsteps that echoed into the surroundings sent an alarm that stung their senses inside the rocky structure of the dungeon.

Soma, who observed his surroundings, clearly felt the tension that started to build up around him, especially among the first-year students who were in line with him. Many of them are having a hard time concentrating. Their mind began to become distracted because of the agitated situation they were in.

"Everyone stand still, Mental enhancement".

Kaori's sudden voice jolted everyone's nerves as they started to turn into statues. Still, warm light permeated from her place, and it began to float toward the surroundings, giving a sense of tranquillity for people in the team to regain their calm minds.

"Have you guys calmed down?".

Akane, the team's captain, stopped their advance as she realized that her group was not doing great. She scanned her team members who were slightly in not good condition, especially the first year, and she could only spot one person who seemed still relaxed even in this situation.

She began to recall yesterday's spar when Soma easily overpowered the second-year students, making him look more outstanding than the rest.

The team she was responsible for was filled with a first-year who clearly had inexperience in this situation. But

"Soma!".

"Yes, captain?".

"You walked in behind the group and made sure to protect them from the ambush that came out of nowhere. As for the second year, make an encirclement to create a barrier that protects your juniors".

"Yes, captain".

As instructed by Akane, the second-year students began to let the first-year students enter the middle line as they got to the safe spot in line. However, the one who is experienced in dungeon diving knows too well that there is never a secure place in the dungeon, only a safe floor.

Soma, who stood one in the back, shrugged his shoulders as he saw the line begin to proceed again as per Akane's instructions. He exhaled while activating his instinct skill to the max, alerting him if there was something bothering him.

Suddenly, his senses were tingling with danger; he jerked his head to the source only to find Akane was silently watching his condition. Soma nodded his head slightly to give her a brief confirmation as he saw Akane turn her gaze away. "What's her deal?".

The team continued their exploration as they descended the rocky stairs that would lead them toward the real dungeon. After descending the stairs, which took no longer than a minute, they faced a long corridor with a heavier atmosphere from the earlier floor.

"Everyone, keep your eyes open".

Akane and Kaori who experienced this situation, tensed their muscles while the other second year also followed suit. As for Soma, he was observing the dungeon wall and structure, as it was the same as the dungeon he entered in Meiji Jingu, but this place still retains its mysteries while the Jingu has already cleared.

Their group advanced slowly and filled with many shortcomings. The faces of the first-year students were tense even after Kaori had blessed them with her beginner Light magic.

Light magic mainly deals with healing and buffing. It also possessed the capability to attack, but it did not have good power, unlike the other elements, except toward evil or something related to darkness, for these two were depicted as each other natural enemies. One other thing that made light magic excel at its speed.

However, all of that starts from the person who wields it because there is no such thing as a weak element.

"Everyone halt your movement".

After passing the corridor, the group finally encountered their first wide space, which was shaped like a dome. In the middle of the space, there was a small red-hairy creature. They had hideous faces and sharp teeth like monkeys that walked on bipedal feet. On their back, they have pointy tails within their tailbone, holding while its hand small clubs in their hands as weapons. Sёarᴄh the novel(F~)ire.net website on Google to access chapters of novels early and in the highest quality.

"Gremlin".

Kaori uttered those words softly as if to prevent the monster from noticing them. Gremlin is a Rank-F monster, the same as goblin, and their attack primarily uses the club, but sometimes, on rare occasions, there are some who also mastered the path of magic even though they were classified as Rank-F.

Soma saw there were more than a dozen of those things, pacing around in the middle of the room, still unaware of the incoming group, but it was only a matter of time.

"Gyk?!".

One of the Gremlins noticed the group as the sound that came from its mouth echoed, alarming the other monsters.

"Everyone, ready your weapon!".

Akane, holding a dagger in hand, charged forward, followed by the other second-year who brandished their weapon; as for the first year, they were still petrified by fear of the appearance of the Gremlins. However, this was also a part of their training to observe their seniors in combat on the first day of exploration.

Soma, who stands behind, makes sure to pry open his eyes wide to prevent that no monsters will pass his defense. The battle ended anticlimactic as the Gremlins were annihilated one-sidedly by the senior strength.

They began to search the surrounding area to make sure that no other monster would spawn. After making sure everything was safe, Akane gestures to Kaori.

"Kaori led them in!".

"Okay, everyone, let's go".

Kaori began to lead the way, followed by the remaining first-year students, who still felt fidgety about this place. Akane, who bent her body, picked something that lay on the ground before she showed it to the first-year student.

"Listen, everyone, you know what this is, right?".

"...Is it a Mana core?".

"Yes, some of you are probably already aware of it, but regardless, I will give you a brief moment to explain…".

Already aware of the thing, Soma threw his gaze away and slowly detached himself from his group while scanning his surroundings.

He found a trace of charred ground in some place, indicating that the group before them had already used their magical power to blast the monster away. He focused his senses and found nothing major to consider, then walked back to his group.

However, the moment he enters the group, his body slightly trembles as his gaze goes far away toward the next corridor that will lead them toward the other place. "What was that?". Soma knit his brows while having a bad feeling about this.

***

The other group, Team B with Serafina, who was in the lead, had the more leisurely pace, for there was no monster or trap that was already being disabled by Team A.

However, even though they had it easy, the atmosphere in their group was much worse than Team C, for their members were filled with females.

Hina and Xiao Lian, who were told to walk in front by Serafina, occasionally looked back and saw the distressed expression on their faces, especially the first-year students.

They can do nothing about it but get used to it and break free from their chained fear.

"Senior Sera?".

"Yeah, I feel it too. Hina helps me as usual".

"Okay".

As the one who possessed Mana's capacity second to Serafina, Hina had been tasked by Serafina to help her on the front lines.

The target on their front is five Gremlins who are still unaware of their arrival. Hina began to gather mana around her palm and created a spark that began to intensify before turning into a small ball of flame that floated slowly in front of her.

"I'm ready, senior".

"Good, throw it!".

As Serafina instructed, Hina threw the ball, and it flew in a straight line; with the light approaching them, the gremlins finally realized that there were people who had invaded their turf.

"Too late".

With a wave from her hand, Serafina generates a generous amount of Wind that slightly gathers around her, swaying her uniform before she controls the wind current to devour the flame ball.

"Gyk!!".

The tiny flame that floated in the air transformed into a ferocious serpent, dancing in the air with its mouth open, devoured the gremlin's heads one by one and took their life away, leaving only a tiny mana core on the ground.

After finishing its task, the serpent disappeared, and the room began to turn slightly dim again. However, hidden behind the rock, one Gremlin appeared, and it was ready to spit fire that accumulated in its mouth.

"Senior?!".

"?!".

"Finally showed up!".

Serafina creates a small gale in her palm before launching it to the gremlin from its side. With an invisible attack that slammed its body into the wall or rather squashed by the sheer pressure from the gale, Serafina had released before it burst apart, becoming dust.

Everyone in the place was stunned in silence as they saw how amazing the control and power of the magic Serafina had.

"Fuuh, that is worth my frustration. I hate when someone tries to ambush me. Hm?!'.

From the disappearing Gremlin, the wall cracked under the earlier pressure before it crumbled into dust, revealing a new room that was dark but invited the curiosity of the explorer who saw it.

"Is that?!".