"Why must I always be right!?"

I quietly complained to myself after taking note of the two-type resistances the Boss had, wondering what sort of crime did I commit in a previous life to deserve this sort of treatment today...

"He has an 80% physical damage reduction and a 60% elemental magic resistance according to the goddamn skill page..." - I said to the two waiting for an answer

[What!?](Alexa)

[Damn! This will be tricky...](D)

The huge monster with stone wings, continued to defy gravity while its stupidly heavy (probably) body was hovering at about 10 meters above our heads. He was looking down upon us with disdain, just as a human would gaze at an insect.

While that might piss me off usually, I didn't have the leeway to do so this time.

"I will take point and engage as the tank while the two of you will deal damage from behind. There isn't any friendly fire option so just shoot everything you’ve got at it. Don't hold back, otherwise we might get buried here forever!"

[Roger!](Alexa)

[Understood master!](D)

When comparing sizes, mine was smaller (surprisingly) for a change, given its seven to eight meters body and that’s without taking in consideration the wings. Since it doesn't have any offensive skills in its Status Page, it should mean that any attacks coming from it will involve close quarters combat.

"And with those huge claws of his... Damn! Why must this be so 'thrilling'!? I can live with a normally boring life! There is no need for the extra 'heart-thumping' action! I would prefer not to be crushed into meat paste..."

"Screw it! Let's do this! Activate Imaginarium! Custom Desert Eagles! Infuse lightning attribute mana!"

Imaginarium realized!

Custom Desert Eagles V.2 created!

Pandemonium activated!

Infusion of new lightning attribute... successful!

Seeing the, once again, strange and unusual notification made me realize what the change was about: the rings had the option of saving specific combinations!

Like for example, for the Imaginarium, the Dome of Protection V.1 was probably considered the standard version with its round shape covering us and the wind-infused attribute whirling around it. The second version was the pyramid shaped one. For the Desert Eagles is the same thing, the difference being between the attributes used.

"Let's see what this can do then! Fucking giant chicken, fall down from the skies for your daddy!"

*Bang!* *Bang!*

With two loud gunshots, two bullets infused with lightning attribute mana exploded forth, aimed at the wings of the Gargoyle Boss. When they met...

Damage inflicted! -253HP Damage inflicted! -353HP!

Paralyzing status inflicted for 4 seconds!

"Bingo! Attack now girls! Use your strongest spells!"

Strange enough, as soon as those words escaped my lips I instantly regretted it for some reason, while my body shuddered ominously. I realized that this was due to the chaotic tendencies and scared me into thinking that the Boss might have something up its sleeves that can threaten my life, even while paralyzed.

"Maybe it's his roar from earlier on. It might be a soul-type attack or something even more fearsome..."

[Alexandra, we are using it!](D)

[Eh? That? We're really using that, big sis'? Really?](Alexa)

[Mhm!](D)

'That'? Why does hearing her saying that word sends shivers down my spine and not in a good way? Also, why is Alexandra so excited, while Decarbia is more serious than ever!?

"Wha..."

[While enemies are still standing in front of me, I swear to drown them in a hell of eternal ice! Through this oath, I offer my blood and my magic as a means to teach the world, the meaning of true despair!](Alexa)

[While enemies are still standing in front of me, I swear to drown them in a purgatory of eternal flames! Through this oath, I offer my blood and my magic as a means to teach the world the meaning of true despair!](Decarbia)

Whatever questions I might had in the beginning were forcibly stuck in my throat. This time however, it wasn't because of the chant that a middle-scholar with a personality disorder might say when still half-asleep, but because it felt that the entire mana in the floor was gathering at the location of the two and churning violently.

I swallowed unknowingly because of the sentiment of utter oppression that took over me and obviously, the Gargoyle Boss as well. The creature sensed the tremendous pressure the two skills the girls were using and was struggling to get out of the paralyzed status I inflicted.

Seeing how he was very close to moving, but the girls were still gathering the mana of the floor with pale faces devoiced of any trace of blood, I realized I must do something to chain this bastard down.

"Chain... Chain..."

"Imagiarium reform! Chains of the Underworld! Pandemonium activate! Infuse earth and fire attribute mana!"

Imaginarium realized!

Pandemonium successfully activated!

Chains of the Underworld reached a compatibility of 95% between the two Pandora's Gifts!

Effectiveness of the skill improved by 250%!

MP required to support the skill: 2800

Supplementing remaining amount from the total HP of the user: 1104

As the more than surprising notification reached my ears, pain assaulted my senses while a set of three black flaming chains slithered on the ground heading for the Gargoyle. Everywhere they passed, the earth would be scorched to the point of turning it into molten lava, making the stone eyes of the boss to widen, obviously scared.

As soon as the chains touched the wings, a sizzling sound came out of the (at least what I thought it to be) stone, as an incredibly loud shrill was issued from the mouth of the creature. The chains did not show any mercy though as they continued to shackle the Gargoyle, that let moaning sounds of agony again and again.

At the same time, blood began to trickle from the right corner of my mouth and my body felt as if it would crumble into dust any second now, proof of the HP supplemented by the usage of the two rings. Soon enough, a sense of impending doom came from behind me where the two girls were still preparing their spells.

"You two!!!"

The sight that welcomed me at the point where I turned around… made me shiver in fright. Both of them were covered in blood, bleeding profusely from multiple wounds while the skills they activated finally manifested.

Seeing the Gargoyle still shackled to the ground and unable to move, I broke into a sprint towards the girls that were severely wounded.

[I am alright Michael...](Alexa)

[Hahaha... that is not very convincing when your face is full of blood Alexandra.](D)

[You're not the one who should talk big sis'... aren't you the same?](Alexa)

[Indeed... I didn't expect the Ultimate Skills to be this taxing...](D)

When I heard the two words, my body froze. Ultimate Skills, the skills both of them received when all their attributes broke through the 100 realm. While they are tyrannical in nature as it could be seen from the mana they devoured, they inflict so much damage on their user?

"Are they similar to the Chains of the Underworld? Wait… actually, what's with that name?"

Thinking about how it automatically came to mind, I realized that it might be something more than just chaotic tendencies.

My thought process was swiftly interrupted by a whistling sound of something passing right by my head at high speeds, while a sensation of scorching heat and a feeling of freezing cold assaulted my wavering senses.

"This..."

The aftermath of the two skills landing on the poor Gargoyle Boss? Complete and utter annihilation!

First, Alexandra's Ultimate landed on the ground around the creature and swallowed greedily everything in that area. From the look of the blades of grass on the ground solidifying and then crumbling into small bits of dust, it was obvious that it was the type of freezing that went way down to the molecular level. The entire body of the Gargoyle, including the wings boasting over 20 meters in length, was fully devoured by the ice-attributed magic transforming it into a sculpture.

"Strong!" ­­- I exclaimed in shock

Then, without skipping a beat, a rain of hell flame dropped down on it. When ice and fire meet, usually there are vapors released into the atmosphere because of the opposing heat. This time however, there wasn't anything. Just silence...

"It actually liquefied it!?"

Realization dawned upon me when I saw how the body of the monster, as well as at least 3 meters deep worth of earth was scorched into nothingness. Not even ash remained...

"The fuck was that!? How can skills be so stupidly overpowered!?"

[Well, it is not like there was not a price to pay for them master...](D)

"True... with wounds that horrible, it would take you at least a week to fully heal."

[She wasn't referring to that Michael. There is a cooldown on the Ultimate Skills.](Alexa)

"Makes sense really... To be able to use this sort of skill often by abusing the fact that we have Alice to heal... that sounds quite masochistic and inappropriate for various reasons... How long?"

[3 months...](Alexa)

"THREE!? That long?"

[Mhm! I was expecting it to be at least one year though...](D)

I looked at the site where the floor Boss was wiped out from existence and ignored the city behind that was utterly demolished by it, after it threw over half of the buildings at us. Nevertheless, there was something strange...

"No item drops? Actually, there wasn't any experience gain either..."

[Me neither master... And that window that usually shows the damage inflicted didn't appear either.](D)

"Alexandra?"

[Same for me Michael...](Alexa)

After some silent contemplation, I shook my head and dropped the matter. I really have no way of knowing exactly what the fuck was going on here and decided not to let it bother me. Seeing a flight of stairs descending and the film covering the entrance behind me, I decisively took the two girls in my arms and bolted for the exit before something else happens.

----------------------------------------------

Outside the Earth Dungeon

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[They ventured further down the deeper floors so long ago... It's already nightfall... Commander Laurence, do you think...](random elf no 26)

[Don't even say it! There is no way that those three can encounter any danger down there. Is more likely that they kept crushing floor after floor and they lost track of time. Big sister Mia, don't listen to the nonsense of this moron! I am sure they are fine!](Laurence)

After fiercely glaring at the person who just talked, giving him a meaningful look, he turned to the frail girl to his side that didn't move her line of sight from the dungeon's entrance for more than 4 hours now.

[Mhm...](Mia)

Seeing such a weak reply, he sighed and looked himself at the entrance that was suddenly blocked about 10 minutes ago, when a notification told them they can't enter temporarily. Even Mia herself had no idea as per why it was so suddenly closed and could only infer that it has something to do with those three.

[If they don't come out in the next half an hour, we are to go inside and retrieve them!](Mia)

[Miss Mia... even with all of us here, the third floor is outside the scope of our abilities, like you already saw. Not only that, but the dungeon is also closed out right now... I'm afraid we can only wait for them to...](Laurence)

At that moment, the film covering the entrance suddenly bulged out and expelled three bodies out of it. When the people hit the ground, everybody noticed in horror how their clothes were covered in blood and they were barely holding on to their consciousness.

[MASTER!!!](Mia)

With a shrill scream, Mia prepared to bolt towards the trio but was grabbed by Laurence that had a look of shock and worry on his face. If the injuries were too grave...

[Alice! You're up! Focus on big sister Alexandra and big sister Decarbia!](Laurence)

[Laurence, you!!!](Mia)

Seeing the reproaching look on Mia's face he could only smile bitterly and couldn't decide how to explain that, even if he also wanted to rush the healing of Michael first, the person himself already declined it. Seeing that steadfast gaze of his emanating an oscillating but still strong pressure, he knew that he wasn't in any mortal danger. The two girls on the other hand were the ones with heavy wounds that required immediate attention.

[It's alright Laurence, I can use the area-type heal. It came off cooldown some time ago.](Alice)

[That's great!] - he sighed heavily

After Alice exhausted all her mana, even up to the point where she was close to fainting, the breathing of the two girls stabilized. Under Mia's instructions two stretchers were quickly assembled (after a certain someone refused to be carried by the girls in the group) and the entire dungeon unit returned to the camp.

Upon reaching their home, the previously jolly and lively elves were left dumbstruck by the sight of their hero returning on a stretcher next to the demoness that everyone acknowledged being even stronger. Not only that, but even Michael looked heavily injured.

Seeing that the situation turned heavy, everyone was told to gather for dinner where the events that perspired in the dungeon will be explained.

"And that's pretty much the gist of it. While the fifth floor is quite dangerous, with sufficient people we can easily overcome it. Today were caught off guard and therefore the current situation. Nevertheless, this stands to show just how much we lack strong people. Alice, Laurence and Claudia will immediately join us in future dungeon dives as permanent members of the party. But we need even more than just them..."

[If I may, I would like to recommend Adrian Greenwood to join the new team you want to create sir.](Laurence)

"Adrian Greenwood? He's a regular member of the dungeon diving unit, isn't he? What's the reason for your recommendation?"

[Today we tried to enter the third floor...](Laurence)

"Huh!? Are you people courting death? Didn't I tell you that you can't handle it yet?" – I quickly berated

[Haha... we got cocky after clearing the slimes with relative ease and wanted to try our luck. However, when we fought against the lizard-like creatures inside there, even if we repelled the first couple of waves, their numbers were too great. Fortunately, when we were pushed into a corner Adrian picked up the Vortex Lance I dropped in a fight and used its special skill turning the tables on them. The creatures were caught by surprise and after some heavy fighting, we managed to somehow clear the floor, albeit with many injuries. If we did not have miss Alice and the rest of the healers, we might've even lost people. It was my mistake to allow the rest to enter, however without Adrian we wouldn't have made it out alive even with Alice's help...](Laurence)

"Haaaaah... I really hope all of you learned your lesson through this. This is not a game and lives can be lost with ease in the dungeons, even mine or Alexandra's. Without sufficient strength, it is better to play it safe and grind in the lower floors until you reach a level that is high enough to allow one to survive later on. I won't seek out punishment for the ones that ignored my order this time, but I won't be lenient the next time. Adrian! Good job this time! Here's your reward!"

With a light throw, the Necromancer Job change skill book dropped in his hands, under the envious gazes of many. I wanted to use this as a way to lift the heavy mood, but also push them to work harder for the future rewards they might gain. Scold them first, reward them after. A carrot and the stick system always shows good results.

[Thank you Michael, sir! I will do my best to help the camp in the future!](Adrian)

"Mhm! I'm looking forward to it!"

With a bright light the skill book dissipated, showing signs of Adrian having used it already. But the surprises didn't end there...

"What now..."

The World Tree began churning and the leaves on its branches wildly swayed, giving one the impression that they might be removed any second now. Then, the entire space seems to have suddenly came to a halt, World Tree included.

A bright glow enveloped the World Tree, as if it was undergoing an evolution of sorts, giving me a really ominous feeling.

"Shit... Where's Mia when I need her!?"