It was exactly as Crayford had said. Once his party had managed to clear all the traps from a particular area and set camp, they were attacked by monsters. Being a low level floor, it wasn’t the quality of the monsters but their numbers. The monsters who attacked them weren’t particularly strong. Most were normal monsters like bats and goblins. However, they numbered in hundreds.

It would have been easy to use a large scale spell to wipe them clean however as they were operating in a cave, they had to maintain the integrity of the structure. A sudden explosion could cause a cave in – killing everyone including Crayford. Therefore, Crayford’s party had no option but to deal with the mobs with small scale damage magic.

The three massive warriors were swinging their swords wildly. With a single sweep, nearly twenty monsters were hacked to death. However, it was not as easy as it appeared. The monsters were using proper battle formations, raising shields whenever Claire launched arrows or moving in unison and not going into too deep.

Fortunately for Crayford’s part they had set camp in a space with only two narrow passages. The number of monsters that could attack them at any given time was limited. Overall given, the locational advantage and the strength of the party, they were quick to defeat the mob attack.

“heh.” One of the three big warriors grunted as he hacked away the last of the flying bats. He carried a smug look on his face which was meant to show Crayford – ‘see this is not a big deal. We can take care of it.’

However, before he could show that smug face to Crayford, he was preoccupied with another problem. More Mobs.

“GET READY THIS IS THE SECOND WAVE!” Crayford shouted frantically.

This wave was definitely stronger than the first. The goblins wore armour and carried weapons made of iron. The last group of goblins wore simple cloth and wooden-stone weapons.

“Big deal….” The warrior said. So the tiny ants wore paper to shield them? Did it matter? Ants are still ants and paper is still paper. The goblins may have worn a bit of armour but doesn’t change the fact that they are only goblins with low level armour. Why was Crayford panicking?

The other three also shared this sentiment. Crayford was not being himself. They were used to seeing him clam and collected. However, ever since he stepped into this dungeon he has been acting weird….though they wondered if it could be related to the matter they were about to pursue after this dungeon….after all this was the last step before their grand scheme came into effect.

The first wave of Goblins had come from the passage way which the explorers had yet to explore. The second wave also came from there however Crayford stationed himself and Claire to the rear.

“Crayford….why are we moving to the back?” Claire asked.

“We need to guard the rear…” Crayford muttered.

“But there is nothing…” Claire began but stopped midway. She could sense monsters approaching from the rear.

“As expected of Master, to be able to anticipate the enemy’s plan so well.” Claire could be heard muttering to herself.

Although, Crayford correctly anticipated the attack he did not expect the rear wave to be stronger than the frontal assault of goblins. The rear wave was filled with several hundred hobgoblins and one large Orc.

“That must be the Boss of this floor.” Crayford told to Claire as he pointed to the orc.

“Leave it to me.” Claire said as she positioned herself and steadied her bow.

Crayford engaged the Hobgolbins and one of the bulky warriors stepped in to help. The duo were very skilful with their sword and not a single monster was able to touch them. Most monsters were lying dead on the floor before they even knew what happened.

Claire took aim and fired her multiple arrows in rapid succession. The total number of arrows she launched in a single second were sixteen. Furthermore, her attacks weren’t simple bow and arrow attacks but were melded with magic. The arrows zoomed like hurricane, destroying any monster that stood in its path. Even if a monster wasn’t in the path of the arrow, just being in the vicinity was enough to get killed. It were as if the arrows were surrounded by an invisible force. Heaps of hobgoblin flesh was churned up into the air as the arrows whizzed by.

Her single attack killed over a hundred hobgoblins and injured several hundred more. The hobgoblins grew weary of the party. They weren’t as unintelligent as the goblins, and they certainly wouldn’t rush towards their death – fear had been seeded deep into their minds.

Crayford and the warrior didn’t miss that opportunity to kill more goblins in each swipe.

The arrows hit the orc’s head and blew it away. The massive orc’s body stood still for a moment then hit the ground with a loud ‘thud’ sound.

The Hobgoblins were now frightened out of their wits. They turned around and began scampering for their lives.

However, Claire was only getting started. In the next five seconds, Claire launched a total of eighty arrows. None of the Hobgoblins was able to get away from her fearsome attacks.

The second wave had concluded. Crayford and the warrior were breathing heavily. They weren’t tired from killing the monsters but rather they had to use advance skills to dodge the arrows Claire fired.

“Troublesome whimps…” The warrior with the rectangular sword said as he finally sat down.

However, this was certainly not over for them.

Trumpets could be heard in the distance.

The warrior began to frown. “What another wave?”

Even Crayford’s eyes displayed a hint of despair. They had been in this dungeon for more than 24 hours and they hadn’t had a chance to rest. They were only tired but nothing out of the ordinary….but if this were to go on for another few days, none of the party members were sure if they could keep up. The three warriors were finally beginning to accept the words, ‘chip us away little by little…’ They thought Crayford was needlessly worrying, but now it made sense.

“Tulda, Hems. Take the front. Boze, Claire with me at the rear.” Crayford ordered as he readied himself for the next wave.

If the first wave could be described as easy, and the second and difficult, then the third would qualify as ‘insane’. The third wave consisted of Orcs only. Full body armour, and high quality weapons. This wasn’t an ordinary dungeon wave. This was like being attacked by an army.

Other than Crayford, the other four felt their hearts despair. This was turning into a nightmare.

‘The scene of the Orc armies attacking from the LoTR movie’ - flashed in Crayford’s mind as he saw the charging orcs. He was the only one who was excited seeing the third wave.

“Release your limitors.” Crayford told the others as he charged towards the wave of orcs.

“Bring it on.”