Chapter 357 - 357: Trap
"Lower level dungeons would certainly be smaller just like higher level dungeons would be bigger."
"That's why Lower Level Dungeons reach their Monster Index faster, which lets the monsters leave the Dungeons. It's much harder for higher level dungeons," Alicia informed Uzuki as she continued walking behind Lucifer and Cassius.
As they went deeper inside the Dungeon, they were able to see battle marks everywhere. At some places, it seemed like fierce battles took place.
"There are so many battle marks here. But there's no blood or body?" Uzuki asked, wondering what use was this battle if someone wasn't killed.
"I'm sure quite a few Dungeon Dwellers were killed here," Lucifer responded, noticing some signs. "I think Hunted Union members fought some beasts here. Since we don't see those beasts, they were certainly killed."
"Where are the bodies then? Don't tell me Hunter Union took their heavy bodies with them? Ignoring how stupid that would be, even if they did that, there would have been a blood trail, right?" Uzuki questioned.
"Do you want to explain?" Lucifer asked Cassius, shaking his head.
" They didn't take the bodies. The bodies were absorbed by the Dungeon," Cassius started explaining.
" Absorbed by the Dungeon? What the heck?" Uzuki exclaimed in surprise. "This Dungeon is alive?"
"It's not a big secret actually. If you study about the Dungeons, you will find this information easily," Cassius let out.
"Let me give you the basics, so you understand better. The amount of Monsters inside the dungeon and their strength decide the Monster Index of the dungeon."
"If the Monster Index reaches a certain limit, the barrier at the entrance stops working, as if telling Monsters to leave so monster numbers could decrease and their Index could come back to normal," Cassius explained.
"So Dungeon isn't a living being. Instead, it's like our Immune System. When it senses a problem, it takes steps to solve it. When the Monster Index becomes too high for it to contain, it lets them out."
"Similarly, if monsters die, it absorbs them, which in turn decreases the Monster Index, even if it's by a little. Moreover, according to some estimates, the barrier of dungeons becomes slightly stronger as the dungeon absorbs more dead monsters."
"That's why Hunter Union was established. Its whole purpose was to kill Monsters inside the dungeons whenever the Monster Index reached near the danger levels."
" In a way, the Dungeons and the Hunter Union work in sync. Hunter Union helps the Dungeons by lowering their Monster Index while Dungeons help the Hunter Union by keeping the monsters inside the Dungeons."
"So you understand now?" Cassius asked as he finished his explanation.
" So Dungeons clean up the monster bodies, and that's why we see none. I understand," Uzuki nodded.
"It's good then. We won't have to waste our time facing the Dungeon Dwellers. Hunter Union already killed them. We can just get straight to them," he let out.
"Not quite. Monsters aren't our only concern. There are things that are much more dangerous than the Dungeon Dwellers, including some traps," Alicia responded, shaking her head.
" Moreover, there might be some monsters that Hunter Union avoided when going in. We can't be careless. The Dungeon we're currently in is known as the most tricky Dungeon in Elisium for that," she continued, reminding everyone to stay alert.
"What kind of traps?" Uzuki asked, but he suddenly stopped as he heard a clicking sound.
He wasn't the only one who heard that sound. Everyone else glanced at Uzuki where that sound came from.
They all looked towards Uzuki's feet, noticing he had stepped on a certain part of the ground which was pressed, making this sound.
"Ah, that kind of trap!" Alicia exclaimed as she started looking around, wondering what was going to happen. What did this trap trigger?
"Is that it? It does nothing at all. So much for worrying," Uzuki let out, laughing. Even after so long, nothing had happened. "Let's continue."
He raised his foot from that spot to move ahead. The ground returned to its original position with another click sound, but that's when something happened.
A massive trap door opened under everyone's feet, making them fall.
As Lucifer could fly, he hastily grabbed the hands of Uzuki and Yaliza before flying up. However, the trap door was closed by now.
Lucifer tried using his wind blades to cut the doors apart, but the wind seemed to be useless against it.
"Wait a minute. Let me do it." Lucifer was about to use his strength when Cassius stopped him.
Cassius was still hanging in the air, grabbed by his left hand.
He used his left hand to bring out his sword which was hanging on his back inside a sheath.
He started using his Divine Sword Energy, making the sword shine before he made a few slashes, attacking the trap door.
As his Divine Sword Energy was so powerful, the trap door instantly split apart, creating an opening for them.
Through the opening, Lucifer flew up, carrying Yaliza and Cassius. All three of them landed on the ground.
Behind them, Alicia also came out, carrying Uzuki.
As Uzuki landed on the ground, he realized that everyone was staring at him.
He couldn't help but smile wryly as he replied, "You can't blame me for that. That was a really clever trap that even you all didn't notice. It's just a coincidence that I happened to land on them instead of you all."
"Just be careful from now on. This shouldn't be the only trap. We can't afford to get hurt from another trap like this," Cassius reminded Uzuki as he kept his sword back in its sheath and started walking ahead with Lucifer.
It had only been a few minutes since he had reminded Uzuki to be careful when another click sound came.
Everyone looked at Uzuki.
"Hey, it's not me this time!" Uzuki let out, rolling his eyes.
"If not you, then who?" Cassius wondered as he looked at everyone's feet, only to realize it was someone he hadn't expected.
Lucifer was standing with his foot on top of the similar trap as last time.
Lucifer avoided everyone's gazes as he looked elsewhere. He simply commented, "Uzuki is right. These things are hard to differentiate."
"See? I told you!" Uzuki exclaimed, smiling.
"So, what should we do now? If he takes off his foot, the ground will once again disappear," he asked.
"Simply stay prepared in advance. It's not a risky trap. Everyone, move five meters away from Lucifer. You'll be safe. And he can fly so he won't fall either," Alicia suggested.
Everyone stepped away, leaving Lucifer alone.
Lucifer removed his foot, realizing that something was wrong. The ground didn't open this time.