Knight Squad Rout

"Have they found out what caused the earthquake?"

Earlier, just as they had entered the second level, the entire Dungeon had suddenly begun to shake violently. Though the tremor had quickly stopped, the abnormality had drawn Mark's attention.

Ever since entering this Dungeon, every sign had pointed to it being far from ordinary.

Whether it was the mutated monsters or the maze-like terrain of the first and second levels, everything had made Mark increasingly concerned about this Dungeon.

This Dungeon might even have been a large-scale Dungeon, like the one that had created the entire High Rock Kingdom and still provided the kingdom with vast resources to this day.

"Not yet. However, the lord has already sent mages over. They should find the cause soon."

"I understand."

Mark nodded and said no more. His instincts told him that if he wanted to uncover the truth behind these abnormalities, he would have to venture deeper into the Dungeon.

More than ten minutes later.

The entire knight squad had finished resting. Mark took the lead at the front as they continued deeper, while the nine knights spread out around him, staying close enough to support one another at any moment.

Drip... drip...

In the dim passageway, Mark suddenly stopped. He walked to the wall and pressed his ear tightly against it, listening carefully. A few seconds later, he waved at the knights behind him, and everyone instantly prepared for battle.

After rounding a corner, Mark's gaze sharpened. A small spring appeared ahead, containing only a thin layer of pale blue liquid. The mana was so dense that it had condensed into a faintly glowing mist.

"Captain, look! There's a treasure chest over there!" One of the squad members suddenly pointed at a stone chest beside the spring, his voice full of excitement.

"Everyone, stay alert."

Mark licked his slightly chapped lips and drew the greatsword from his back. A place with treasure was bound to have monsters guarding it. Before they cleared them all out, even the slightest carelessness could bring danger.

Within the dark cavern, guided by the weak light of glowing mushrooms, Mark and the others cautiously approached the Mana Spring and treasure chest. Yet even when they were only three meters away, no monsters appeared.

Just as Mark began to think they had gotten lucky and encountered no monsters, he caught sight of several suits of iron armor standing in a shadowy corner to the side. White fungal threads crawled across their surfaces.

Almost at the same moment, scarlet light lit up in the eyes of the four suits of armor. They turned into blurs and lunged at the three nearest knights.

"Enemy attack!!!"

As he shouted the warning, dark red battle aura erupted from Mark's body. Flames burst to life on his greatsword as he charged forward, the blade cutting through the air and leaving a dark red trail behind it.

Clang.

Blades collided, and dazzling sparks exploded. Mark seemed to teleport in front of the knights, sending two charging Death Iron Skeletons flying with a single strike. At the same time, he crouched and lashed out with his left foot, kicking another Death Iron Skeleton in the chest.

Spikes struck his iron boot, forcing Mark back several steps. The stabbing pain in his sole made him frown slightly.

"These armor monsters again."

They had encountered this kind of monster earlier while exploring the Dungeon. Someone had even been injured due to carelessness. Now that four had appeared at once, even Mark found them troublesome.

Though these monsters were still weaker than Formal Professionals, their steel bodies, spikes covering every joint, and fearless combat instincts made them monsters in every sense of the word.

"Encirclement formation. No one lets their guard down!"

"Yes!"

The nine knights answered in unison and surrounded the four Death Iron Skeletons. Three knights formed a group to hold off each one, while Mark took the remaining one himself.

Flame Cross Slash.

The flames on the greatsword grew increasingly violent, and the blazing heat sent the surrounding temperature soaring. Mark stepped forward with his left foot and leaned forward, gripping the greatsword in both hands as he dragged it behind him. Cracks spread across the ground beneath his feet.

The next instant, Mark shot forward. His greatsword dragged a stream of sparks across the ground. As he neared the Death Iron Skeleton, he leaped high into the air and swung his blade in a crossing slash.

Boom!

With just one strike, the Death Iron Skeleton was sent flying. Its steel body was cut into four pieces that fell to the ground.

"Whew..."

Mark let out a deep breath and turned his eyes toward the other three Death Iron Skeletons. To end the fight as quickly as possible, he had opened with a killing blow. In a place as perilous as the Dungeon, he had no time to slowly trade blows with his enemies.

All that remained was to work with the others to take care of the last three monsters. Then the treasure chest and Mana Spring would be theirs.

"Finish them in one go."

The moment he spoke, Mark charged toward the nearest group of three. With one slash, he forced the Death Iron Skeleton before them back, letting the three knights assist while he became the main attacker.

Boom.

"Ah!"

The ground suddenly shook, and a knight let out a shrill scream. Mark instinctively looked over and saw that the three knights closest to him were lying on the ground, pinned beneath a massive black ball.

Thud.

The enormous Steel Slime leaped several meters into the air before crashing down again. The screams of the three knights instantly fell silent. Blood flowed from beneath the Slime, and the three had already been crushed into knight paste.

"It's a Steel Slime."

"But why is it so huge?"

The remaining knights cried out in terror at the sudden monster. Especially when they saw their dead companions beneath it, the full plate armor that had once given them courage and security had now become a coffin.

Thud, thud, thud...

Dense sounds came from the darkness. Steel Slimes appeared one after another before them, mixed among them were many ordinary water-blue Slimes.

"Damn it!" Mark cursed. The situation had completely exceeded his expectations. He swung his greatsword fiercely and roared, "Everyone retreat! Get out of here first!"

Bang!

Just as Mark finished speaking, the gigantic Steel Slime, several meters tall, shot forward like heavy artillery. The three knights standing in its path could not even slow it down before they were sent flying.

"You three, run! I'll cover the rear."

With that, Mark pulled a bottle of scarlet potion from the pouch at his waist, tossed it into his mouth, bit it open, and swallowed it. His skin flushed red as nearly tangible battle aura erupted from his body.

Frenzied Lion Flame Slash!

With one downward swing, raging flames condensed into a roaring lion of fire that charged at the swarm of monsters ahead. Mark, having unleashed the strike, did not even look back before turning and fleeing.