Allen's group was traveling through the Gate of Scale's second level, mounted on Bird B summons. The first level took them 3 days, and they spent 3 days on the second level so far.
The second level also had multiple disconnected spaces like the first level.
The main difference were traps on the floor, which caused lightning strikes when stepped on.
That was why they rode on summons to avoid stepping on the floor, though some traps were unavoidable.
Click
A Wraith A summon stepped into a magic circle, which made a weird sound.
"Ah, I'm sorry. I don't think that's a teleporting one."
As Allen apologized, a bolt of lightning shot down from the ceiling, hitting the group.
That had happened multiple times already, so they were used to it.
"Healing Rain."
Kiel quickly healed everyone. The lightning halved their Strength and paralyzed them, but the Grass C summon's Awakened Skill [Aromatic Vegetable] cleansed it.
"Haku, are you okay?"
'Gyau!'
Kurena sounded worried, but Haku replied energetically.
The enemies on that level also used lightning attacks, which made the hits more painful.
"I still feel bad being the only one like this…"
Only Kiel had was not taking so much damage.
"Well, we need you to heal us as fast as possible."
Allen looked at the yellow band on Kiel's waist. That was a [Lightning Band] they found on the first level, changing the wearer's defense to lightning element.
It fit well with Kiel's white and gilded robes.
Allen had found other similar bands in the first level.
[Bands obtained on the first level]
-Fire Band x2
-Stone Band x1
-Aqua Band x2
-Lightning Band x1
-Light Band x1
They all changed the wearer's element. Light was a high level element, so Kurena would wear it to fight the next Gatekeeper.
For now Sophie wore the Light Band though, as it also offered protection from lightning.
Sophie also had a healing role, and the frontline could easily take care of the enemy monsters.
S Rank monsters could cause a lot of damage to Sophie, Kiel, or Cecile if the attacks hit.
The remaining bands were in Allen's Inventory.
The Wraith A summon stepped on another magic circle and vanished. That was not a trap.
Cecile was thinking of what Kiel had said, so she spoke to Allen.
"There really are a lot of good accessories around here."
They had already obtained many orichalcum weapons in the previous gate, which could be used by the armies.
"Do you think there's even more types of accessories we haven't found yet?"
"Probably. I tried checking auctions before, but there were never anklets there. I wonder why?"
There were no such bands or anklets for sale at auctions.
"Think how necklaces have only started circulating recently. There's probably too few of such accessories, and royal families might be hoarding most of them."
After more people went to the S Rank Dungeon, necklaces had started being sold at auctions.
Allen had never seen one back when he was in the Academy.
"I see."
Cecile could understand that answer.
Many accessories were not common enough to be traded.
Even earrings only became accessible after Allen went to Prostia.
Usually precious items like that were hoarded by royalty or local lords, kept in their vaults until an emergency arose. Sometimes they did not even know what the items did.
(I guess some might be lost when adventurers die while wearing them.)
Some items could be destroyed too, unless they were made of orichalcum or adamantite.
Other items were very specific to some locations, like the Gates of Trials.
They continued moving through the second level while talking about that.
"Oh? I wonder what's in there."
There was a treasure chest shining in the distance.
(A golden chest. I've never seen one like that.)
"Oh! There's a treasure chest!!"
Kiel's eyes lit up, but he was also riding on the Bird B summon, so he could not run off.
It could easily be a booby trap too, so Allen wanted to be careful. There had been chests on the first level too, but half of them turned out to be A Rank monsters known as Abyss Boxes.
This one looked different from all the previous ones though.
"Okiyo, if you could do it."
'Right away, heehee.'
When the summon touched the treasure box, it leapt up into the air.
'Gyogyogyo!!'
A large serrated mouth opened.
"It's an enemy."
'Kekeke!!'
The Wraith A summon tried attacking the monster, but there was only a high pitched clang.
'Gyo!!'
The attack was brushed off and the monster attempted to body slam the summon in retaliation, sending her flying far back.
(Hm? That's a lot of power. Maybe it's an S Rank monster.)
"That's a tough enemy, stronger than an Abyss Box. Go Kurena!!"
"Got it!!"
In response to Allen's shout, Haku and Kurena charged at the monster.
Clink
'Gyo?!'
Kurena's greatsword swung down onto the treasure chest monster.
There was an even louder sound than before and the monster was sent flying.
The monster had clearly taken damage, sounding more restless and desperate.
"Alright, it might drop something good. Everyone, surround it!!"
Now that Allen knew they could win, he told everyone to attack.
'Gyogyogyo!!'
The monster noticed they were circling around it, so it ran to a nearby magic circle to leave.
(Hm? It's..!!)
"I think it ran away."
Kurena turned around.
"Chase it! It'll drop something good, I know it will!!"
Allen quickly gave the next orders.
"Really?!!"
Kiel was pleased to hear that.
"Do you have any proof of that?"
"I just know it. Enemies that drop good loot or experience always run away! Always!!"
Cecile was baffled by that unfounded answer. They all went into the magic circle.
"Where is it!!"
Kiel looked around, his eyes gleaming with avarice.
'Gyo.'
The monster was right next to a magic circle. Once it saw Allen's group was chasing, it went into the circle and went to another location.
"Over there! Go after it!!"
"Yeah, don't let it get away."
Allen and Kiel shouted loudly.
"This is obviously a trap!!"
They continued a wild goose chase, going through multiple different space, but Allen wrote down the path they took so they could retrace their steps later.
After going through numerous magic circles, the chase finally came to an end.
'Gyogyogyo!!'
The monster was dancing on the stone floor, seemingly assured of its victory, a distance away from Allen's group.
Around the treasure chest monster were many large monsters stopping Allen from approaching.
They were clearly S Rank monsters, undeads, ghosts, and haunted armors.
The treasure chest monster had lured the group there.
"Alright, time to kill all of them and stop the chest from running. Merle you focus on the bigger ones."
"Got it, let's go Tam-Tam!"
'Understood. Enemies in sight, exterminating.'
Tam-Tam's voice had gotten more elaborate, and its eyes started to glow as it dashed with Merle riding inside.
"Megaton Puuuuuuunch!!"
Tam-Tam's fist rushed onto a large ghost holding a scythe.
'Gugyaaaaa?!'
The monster shrieked loudly as it was torn apart.
The other monsters noticed that and seemed intimidated, but they surrounded Tam-Tam who had gotten separated from the group.
"Alright! Bring out the Pentapods Tam-Tam."
'Activating Pentapods.'
The 5 Pentapods appeared and started attacking the enemies.
"Hmm, so not even S Rank monsters can stand up against Tam-Tam now that he became a Bullet Gear."
(Bullet Gear sounds so damn cool. This is what life is all about.)
Tam-Tam had grown a lot while going through the Gates of Trials. Now S Rank monsters could do nothing against Tam-Tam.
[Name] Tam-Tam
[Nature] Bullet Gear
[Ability] C
[Pilot] Merle
[Rank] Hihiirokane
[Strength] 25000 + 20000 + 3600
[Mana] 25000 + 20000 + 3600
[Attack] 25000 + 20000 + 3600 + 30000 (Strengthening Stone Slab)
[Endurance] 25000 + 20000 + 3600
[Agility] 25000 + 20000
[Intelligence] 25000 + 20000
[Luck] 25000 + 20000
[Functions] Strengthening (6), Power Output (6), Acceleration (6), Flare, Camouflage, Preemptive Action, Inventory
[Nature Progress] 50'000'000 / 1000'000'000
Even when surrounded by S Rank monsters, Tam-Tam easily defeated all of them.
