Liam was battling twenty Rank C+ humanoid golems. The golems attacked in a coordinated fashion; Liam dodged their blows and sliced through them with a wave of his hands.
Scattered bursts erupted amidst the fog as the beautiful witch hurled fireballs at the white projectiles fired by the red-eyed golems.
The explosions were barely visible, appearing only as momentary flashes of lightning amidst the clouds.
Two Rank C+ crab-like golems took turns generating regenerative bubbles. Each time the bubbles burst, the golems would rise again at regular intervals, forcing their human adversaries to test the limits of their endurance.
Despite the grueling situation, Liam remained calm, just as his master had taught him.
...
In a park, a man dressed in a white shirt, black shorts, and black sandals was drinking a canned soda while watching—on a tablet—Liam facing off against the golems; from the perspective of the broadcasted video, the mist was thin, ensuring everything was visible and making the battle all the more interesting to watch.
The masked man smiled faintly.
"Your disciple is quite skilled, and it seems he has plenty of room for improvement," said a beautiful, ethereal female voice.
"Hahaha, that's exactly why I chose him; not just anyone is worthy of such a position. Hahaha."
"Forget it."
"You're too cold."
"..."
The Primordial finished his soda, then crushed the can in one hand—transforming it into a metal sphere—and tossed it into a nearby trash bin, all while continuing to watch his disciple battle the many golems.
...
Liam's movements were precise; he used exactly the right amount of mana for his spells, wasting not a single motion on a futile attempt.
It was a dance of dodging and striking. Once he grasped the patterns of the humanoid and crab-like golems guarding the Bubble-Producing Crab Golems, he stepped back.
The golems lunged at him. After creating some distance, Liam infused his hands with mana and magic, then leapt toward the golems that were closing in.
It happened in a flash—a matter of seconds—yet streaks of mana traced lines through the mist. The golems crashed to the ground, sliced to pieces; the white projectiles and water bullets were severed as well. Liam dashed toward the Bubble-Producing Crab Golems, intent on striking before the bubbles could burst again.
When the two C+ Rank Crab Golems were just meters away, he didn't hesitate; he unleashed two magical slashes, then leapt into the air, slicing through every bubble—and even the energy contained within them.
The bodies of the Crab Golems collapsed to the ground, severed.
Once again, the mist began to gradually dissipate. He knew all that remained was to wait for the fog to clear or for the three beautiful women to finish off the many golems still standing.
...
This time, the fog took over four hours to clear, and in the end, Margaret destroyed the red-eyed golems with her magical energy spears to avoid any complications.
Liam approached Sirem and looked at the bruise on her cheek.
"You really are tough," he said, noting that she wasn't complaining despite having been struck.
"Thanks, but even if you value our skills, don't go letting us die. I still want to keep fucking you for a long time," she said with a mischievous smile, even though she was undeniably exhausted.
He also approached Vivian; after confirming that both women were alright, he helped Margaret finish collecting the cores and life-core fragments.
Once the cores were gathered, Liam announced that they would rest for two days before continuing to conquer the remaining dungeon floors.
[Mission: Clear Rank C Dungeon]
[Dungeon Floors: 45/100]
[Play Points Earned: 1300]
[Play Points: 655]
...
Only a day had passed.
The witch watched the lake; its surface churned violently, as if a storm were raging over a tempestuous sea.
Deep underwater, Liam slashed, moved, and dodged, just as he would have if facing an enemy.
He utilized both his magical power and physical strength to adapt to the aquatic environment.
Liam planted his feet on the lakebed, then leapt, slashed, or darted through the water, mimicking the evasion of fresh enemy attacks.
Several hours passed this way before Liam finally emerged from the lake.
"Husband, you're pushing yourself so hard. If you didn't hold back your power, you could clear this dungeon in no time."
"I know, Margie. But that isn't what my master desires. This is a trial I cannot take lightly."
Knowing that Liam's master possessed power beyond her comprehension, she simply nodded at her beloved's words.
He sat down beside her, and she cast a spell to dry his clothes and cleanse his body.
Liam pulled her toward him, and she sat on his lap.
He rested his head against her breasts, still covered by her black dress.
"Destroy the majority of the red-eyed golems on the floors ahead."
She stroked Liam's hair.
"Do you think they can't handle the golems?"
"This is beyond the limit they can handle. The fog alone is enough to classify this floor as exceeding Rank C difficulty. Maybe Rank B-?"
"It's very likely," she replied.
Liam realized that even though none of the golems exceeded Rank C+, that didn't determine the dungeon's overall danger rating. Even the dungeon's environment could be a factor in establishing its danger level.
"Lovebirds, the food is ready!" Sirem called out to Liam and Margaret; both stood up and walked over to the area near the small campfire where Sirem had prepared the meal that Vivian was now serving them.
...
"The upcoming floors will pose a greater challenge; from now on, use a group strategy if necessary. The fog is clearly becoming an increasingly critical factor, so you must not let your guard down at any point. Bear in mind that, despite the difficulty, this is also a great opportunity to hone your skills. If you have any questions, don't hesitate to ask."
After the meal, Liam spoke with the three women; he wanted to carefully plan the conquest of the dungeon's upper floors.
The women focused their questions on the fog and the red-eyed golems. Liam outlined a strategy in which Margaret would take out those golems if the need arose. They asked if there was a way to prevent the golems from regenerating; he replied that it was possible, but would be a futile effort at this stage.
"Once we clear the 50th floor, I'll explain how to prevent certain enemies from regenerating, but for now, let's focus on the floors we still need to conquer."
The women agreed with Liam, and after discussing the strategies a bit further, Sirem and Vivian decided to go get some rest.