Chapter 128: The Anomaly of the Horse Talisman

"We have arrived. This is the room of the floor boss, Goliath."

The lively Tiona beamed a passionate smile at Roland, acting not at all like a first-class adventurer, but rather like a mere follower.

This is the most prominent characteristic of the Amazon race: once they set their sights on someone, they will do everything in their power to please the other person until they have won them over. If the gap in strength is significant, many will even resort to forceful means. In Orario, many farcical crimes are caused by exactly this.

Unfortunately, while Roland was not a stickler for propriety, he would not show an overly intimate attitude at this moment. He simply gazed at the grotto before him with a look of suspicion.

Unlike other floors, the eighteenth floor was a colossal stone chamber. Viewed as a whole, it resembled a perfectly flat rectangular prism, with walls, ceiling, and floor all formed from rough-hewn stone.

But on one side, the structure of the wall was completely different. It was as flat as the surface of a block of ice and as smooth as polished marble. It stood silently at the front left of the corridor, awaiting the arrival of challengers.

Such a special room only appears on specific floors, much like a dedicated boss battle in a dungeon. The monsters generated from within are extremely powerful, but conversely, their respawn time is much longer.

In terms of level, a floor boss typically possesses potential equal to the monsters of that floor plus two levels. The monster known as Goliath was roughly equivalent to a Level 4.

However, as evidenced by his title, "The Lonely King of the Labyrinth," looking at him solely in terms of level would only result in a painful lesson.

The template of a floor boss dictates their difference from ordinary monsters. While nominally only a Level 4, in terms of attributes, Goliath’s level actually reached that of a Level 5. Level 4 was merely his nominal challenge rating—intended for a party of elite Level 4s to challenge together and share in the glory.

To face him alone was a feat only possible for high-ranking adventurers who had long since surpassed that level.

As Roland walked into the grotto, the members of the Loki Familia stopped and watched the hero entering alone.

Just as Roland reached the center, the smooth, massive wall seemed to be stimulated by something. A terrifying crack appeared from top to bottom, as if it had been cleaved by a giant’s axe.

As gravel rained down with a rustling sound, massive waves of sound surged, eventually exploding with a roar.

"Boom!"

With a thunderous shattering sound, the wall burst open, revealing the behemoth whose shadow could not be hidden even by the billowing dust.

A giant, resembling a human in shape, stepped out slowly. His skin looked like grayish-brown rock, his muscles were knotted, and his body seemed forged from steel. Long, black hair hung over his hunched back, and his joints were covered in jagged purple crystals. The sight was terrifying, and even the light within the grotto was eclipsed by his monstrous physique.

Then, he let out a shrill, mournful roar that sounded like weeping, the sound waves turning into a shockwave that surged outward.

Once the roar subsided, Goliath quickly locked onto Roland, who was standing before him. With cruel eyes fixed on his opponent, he charged at Roland without hesitation, moving like a mountain, each step carrying an incomparable rumble.

But at this moment, the members of the Loki Familia behind the battlefield displayed expressions of worry and shock, without exception.

It was not that they doubted Roland’s strength, but the situation before them was far too abnormal.

"Have those purple crystals on Goliath ever appeared before?" Tiona asked first, looking at Riveria beside her.

"They have never appeared before. At least, not in all the times I have hunted him."

Although she appeared to be a beautiful woman, Riveria was one of the veterans of the Loki Familia—a woman for whom age was a taboo subject. If even she said so, there could only be one answer.

"Has the anomaly in the lower levels of the Dungeon started to affect the floor bosses?"

Finn’s expression grew increasingly grave. "Judging by his current power, this Goliath is already at a Level 5 level. If these anomalies continue and spread to ordinary monsters, we’re going to have trouble."

"Then what are we waiting for? Let's go help him," Tiona said anxiously, and Ais had already drawn her sword.

A Level 4 floor boss requires at least a Level 5 to handle steadily; a Level 5-tier threat would require the support of Tiona and the others to be safe. Leaving Roland to face such an mutated monster alone was clearly different from what had been agreed upon.

"Wait... Riveria, prepare your magic first. If an accident occurs, be ready to attack Goliath."

Finn stopped his subordinates and looked at Riveria. If Riveria were given enough time to chant, even a mutated Goliath could not escape an attack from a Level 6 mage.

Riveria nodded and began to chant.

"Captain, why..." Tiona asked, puzzled, her toes scuffing the ground restlessly, though she ultimately did not defy Finn’s orders.

Gareth, standing to the side, spoke in the tone of an experienced veteran.

"Since you wish to pursue that hero, listen to Finn. Otherwise, your interference will only make Roland resent you."

"Eh?"

The dwarf looked toward the young man standing motionless in the center of the battlefield, explaining in an expectant yet seasoned tone.

"Although we didn't see it with our own eyes, if Roland truly defeated Ais with raw strength, then perhaps this current battle is more to his liking. Therefore, until the situation changes, we should just bear witness."

Hearing this, Finn also smiled with interest, staring at the crystals on Goliath’s body with a contemplative expression.

Roland frowned as he looked at the purple crystals on Goliath. He did not have the experience of fighting Goliath as many times as the Loki Familia, but that did not prevent him from realizing that this floor boss was different from before.

Within those purple crystals, he felt a faint, lingering presence of soul energy. It was this substance acting as a fuel, stimulating Goliath to become stronger.

Yet, the divine power of the Sheep Talisman made it clear to him that there was no such thing as a soul within this monster.

Then why would a monster generated by the Dungeon show such an anomaly? Was the same true for monsters in the deeper levels? What exactly was the true nature of this so-called "Contract Spirit" that could fill the weaknesses in Roland's soul?

Roland had many questions in his heart.

However, these were things to consider later. Goliath, having charged right in front of him, clearly did not intend to give him that much time.

Therefore, there was only one response he needed to make.

"I’ll just have to hack you into pieces first."

Roland slowly raised his head and lifted his hand, his eyes turning calm and indifferent.

The Spirit Mark on the back of his hand suddenly flared, causing light particles to converge into a dazzling humanoid figure.

A mysterious and noble girl with a petite frame, appearing as if sculpted from a gemstone, emerged from the radiance and reached her hand out toward Roland.

"This is..."

"——A Spirit."

Even though she had already seen the Holy Sword transformed by Est, seeing a hero fight alongside a Spirit with her own eyes still left Riveria in a daze.

Finn, Gareth, Tiona, and the others were dumbfounded, and even Bete, who had been acting impatient, was stunned.

"Roar—!"

Goliath roared, swinging his massive palm down at Roland with savage force.

As Goliath’s most outstanding strength attribute, this attack, combined with his immense size, caused one deafening boom after another. A terrifying hurricane, accompanied by the shadow being cast downward, lunged forward. Wrapped in a violent roar, the attack stirred up circles of stark, blinding ripples, instantly drowning out every escape route Roland might have had.

But Roland had no intention of fleeing. He simply stared at the gale, which was as sharp as a blade, his cold voice unwavering. He grasped Est’s hand and chanted the contract incantation.

"——Cold Queen of Steel, Holy Sword that slays demons! Become the Blade of Steel here, and grant me your divine power."

Est’s figure slowly dissipated into the radiance, and Roland gripped the beam of light at its core tightly.

Then, the instant before the violent power capable of crushing a Level 5 adventurer descended, a light even darker than darkness flashed mercilessly, like the breath of a dragon.

The next moment, a brilliant radiance climbed upward, dispelling the shadow cast by the palm and piercing the clouds, like a scorching sun rising.

Amidst the gorgeous golden light and the thunderous roar that echoed in all directions, the sound of steel and iron tearing through flesh rang out repeatedly.

Goliath’s palm, which had been striking down, was severed cleanly from his shoulder, flying into the sky above the grotto before crashing heavily onto the ground.

Goliath’s skin, which ordinary weapons could not even scratch, and his tough, strong muscles were as fragile as thin paper before the Holy Sword capable of slaying a Demon King.

"Oh, oh, oh, oh, oh, oh!"

A hint of crimson flashed in Goliath’s pitch-black pupils, his eyeballs bulging slowly, expressing the rage within. Lacking high intelligence, he had no tactics even after his enhancement. With his savagery fully ignited, he merely hunched his body, tensed all the power in his legs, and then stomped his massive legs down, intending to trample this small figure who was far smaller than himself.

But Roland simply raised the holy sword in his hand again amidst the whistling wind. Under the constant infusion of magic, the light on Est’s blade flickered incessantly.

"Bang—!"

Roland shattered the ground, releasing his magic wantonly. An indescribable storm erupted suddenly, mixed with shattered boulders and swirling dust.

The terrifying shockwaves spread out behind him like a gushing flame, bursting in all directions with sharp, vibrating sounds.

In a span shorter than a blink, Roland had stepped on the air and arrived in front of Goliath, looking down at the giant, whose pupils were only just turning to follow him.

Then, he flipped his wrist and swung his sword from top to bottom, toward the firmament!

Just this movement alone stirred up a massive air current. A spiral of light flickered on his hand, and a shrill, high-pitched scream rang out suddenly.

A sword light that pierced the sky and the earth swept out. The Holy Sword of Steel cut through everything that dared to stand in its path. The wind pressure of the aftermath solidified into a massive fan shape, blowing away and crushing everything in the vicinity.

"Clang—!!!"

In the crisp tearing sound, the unstoppable sword light slashed the massive Goliath into many pieces, causing a screen of blood like a rain cloud to splash out repeatedly.

"Ah, ah, ah, ah, ah—!"

The giant had only just finished the footstep that shattered the earth; all he could do was let out a dying scream.

Then, the moment the light extinguished, his wails came to an abrupt end.

Following that, Goliath’s flesh, which was still spurting blood, turned into ashes amidst a series of explosions and drifted slowly toward the ground. After the body vanished, the Magic Stone, as large as a person, fell heavily, serving as the prize for the victor.

The entire scene fell into a sudden silence.

The members of the Loki Familia looked at Roland, who was slowly lowering his Holy Sword amidst the ashes, having wiped out a mutated floor boss in such a short time, all of them falling into a state of bewilderment.

Riveria, who had been prepared to rescue him in case of danger, had not even finished her chant.

"Only one strike..."

"Was he able to jump onto Goliath’s head without even using magic?"

Just like the rumors about him defeating Ais, Roland had once again defeated a floor boss in a very short time.

But the fact that truly made Finn clench his fists, feel his worldview overturned, and his mind begin to spin was that Roland’s strength went far beyond what he had just displayed.

Even the stubborn Bete had to admit this, although his face was already turning shades of green and white, completely twisted.

"Hero..."

For a moment, only Ais’s whisper remained in the scene. She gazed at Roland, the light in her eyes shining like stars.

Roland also descended gradually, looking at the massive Magic Stone in front of him, which was taller than himself. He felt no self-satisfaction, but instead looked with gravity at the things that had fallen behind the Magic Stone.

Pieces of purple, murky crystals, like glass, landed on the ground, shattering into tiny fragments.

"They didn't disappear?"

In the Dungeon, monsters killed would turn into ashes and dissipate, returning to the source. Apart from Magic Stones and materials, they would not drop anything else.

Yet, this Goliath had broken that rule. Although his body had vanished, those purple crystals that had once granted him power and were attached to his joints had remained intact.

And these things were clearly not in the category of loot.

Roland picked up a piece from the ground and carefully sensed the chaotic power within it.

Although it was thin, this was indeed power transformed from a soul. The Dungeon seemed to have little experience with such unorthodox techniques, and it would not leave behind such flaws that defied the laws of operation.

In other words, these purple crystals...

"Are they the product of a Contract Spirit?"

Roland mused for a while. Before he could investigate further, the surrounding purple crystals instantly turned into beautiful, crystalline dust and dissipated in the wind.

The one in his hand was no exception. Much of the dust brushed directly over him, but this scene left Roland, who had not even flinched when facing Goliath, feeling somewhat distracted.

Because he realized one thing.

Just as the dust scattered, the divine power of one of the talismans within his body had instinctively activated.

At this moment, in Roland's eyes, the mark belonging to the noble Horse was shining continuously, repelling all ominous external forces.