After Hinata-san summoned the Goblin Guarder, Gobu-taro, we resumed our trek through the forest.
A few members of our group still looked visibly shaken, but I felt the exact opposite. I was buzzing with excitement.
Before long, we encountered another pack of monsters.
However, it wasn't just Blade Horns this time. There was a new monster species present—our first sighting of them in this dungeon.
Saito-san and the Professor, who were leading the formation, immediately called out a warning.
"Kobolds! Everyone, stay sharp!"
"As you can see, there is a high probability that these individuals are strengthened compared to those found in standard dungeons. Exercise extreme caution when engaging them."
The meaning behind the Professor’s words was evident the moment I saw them. Right before our eyes, something was happening that would be virtually impossible in any normal dungeon.
"Takeo-kun, is that...?"
"Yeah, Hinata-san. No matter how you look at it... it looks like the Kobolds are hunting the Blade Horns."
It was a battle between monsters.
Regardless of species, monsters in a standard dungeon generally didn't fight one another. Yet here, a pack of eight Kobolds was in the middle of systematically slaughtering a group of Blade Horns.
By the time we arrived, only three Blade Horns remained. I didn't know if that was all there had been or if the others had already been killed.
The Kobolds surrounding the Blade Horns were terrifyingly efficient. Even before we could close the distance, they had weakened the three Blade Horns with arrows and spear thrusts. Finally, a sword-wielding Kobold stepped in to slit their throats and deliver the finishing blows.
Their movements were coordinated and waste-free, like a group of veteran hunters.
The slain Blade Horns vanished into particles of light. When one of them dropped a magic stone, the sword-wielding individual picked it up and—
"Gah! That thing just swallowed the magic stone...!"
"What's the point of that?"
"Wait, look. Is it just me, or did he just get bigger?"
Mayurin-san, Ikegami-san, and Tamaki-san spoke up in rapid succession.
As Tamaki-san noted, the Kobold who swallowed the magic stone did seem to grow slightly larger. If that was the case...
"Did he just level up? No, they don't have levels here... so he was strengthened?"
In this dungeon, monsters grew stronger by fighting one another. That was what the Dungeon Master had mentioned in his video. Whether they grew stronger simply by defeating others, or if they needed to consume the magic stone, or if both contributed to their growth—I wasn't sure which was the correct answer yet.
"—They are coming!"
Naturally, the Kobolds had noticed us as well. Even though they had just finished their battle with the Blade Horns, they showed no intention of retreating.
Wait, no—
"Sage-kun!"
"I am aware!"
One of the eight Kobolds suddenly spun around and bolted into the brush without looking back.
The Professor barked out a sharp command, and Saito-san responded with immediate intensity, unleashing a spell. It appeared to be a Fire Arrow.
An arrow of flame manifested at the tip of his raised staff and shot forth with blinding speed, soaring through the air.
Calling it "blinding speed" wasn't a metaphor. The projectile was literally too fast to track with the naked eye. All I could see was the lingering afterimage of its trajectory. It was less of a Fire Arrow and more like a high-intensity laser.
The arrow impacted almost the exact moment it was fired, piercing the fleeing Kobold in the back. The resulting shockwave blew its entire upper body to smithereens.
What?!
What kind of firepower is that?! A Fire Arrow is supposed to be a basic attack magic spell... As expected of Sage Saito-san. That’s some monstrous destructive power!
While reeling from the sheer strength of a true top explorer, I readied my sword. Even though one of their comrades had been obliterated in an instant, the remaining seven Kobolds didn't falter. They fanned out into the forest and began their approach.
I should probably offer a brief explanation of Kobolds here.
In most fantasy fiction, the Kobold is a bottom-tier mob alongside the Goblin. They are usually depicted as bipedal dogs—and that held true for the dungeons on Earth as well.
However, they weren't cute in the slightest.
The Kobolds on the shallow floors, like Floor 1 or Floor 2, are short like Goblins, but their faces look like rabid dogs. Their expressions are so twisted with pure malice that even the most dedicated dog lover would recoil in disgust.
Furthermore, as they grow stronger, their bodies enlarge until they look more like Werewolves than Kobolds. They have grey fur and hunched postures, yet they stand over two meters tall with visible, rippling muscle beneath their coats. Their claws are razor-sharp, and the fangs peeking from their muzzles are enough to make anyone’s blood run cold.
And just like Goblins, only the low-level normal variants fight without proper equipment. The Kobolds currently approaching were clearly high-level equivalents, and each of them was outfitted with weapons and armor.
Of course, when it comes to monster hunting, it's first come, first served.
I narrowed my eyes to observe the pack. I was hoping for a Special Variant—and there he was!
It was the sword-wielding individual who had swallowed the Blade Horn's magic stone. I watched as his form began to melt into the air, vanishing entirely.
He likely possessed a Hide-type skill similar to Concealment. That alone wouldn't guarantee he was a Special Variant, but Hide-type skills were usually reserved for classes like Thief, Assassin, Shadow, Scout, or Ranger. It certainly wasn't a skill a sword-wielder should have. Most importantly, his form had vanished while I was looking directly at him—something that shouldn't be possible even with the Concealment skill.
There was no doubt. That one was a Special Variant!
"Hyah-ha! I choose you!"
I locked onto my prey and lunged forward.
Since Gobu-taro was present, I didn't need Fighting Spirit. With Goblin Genocider constantly active, I triggered Asceticism, Blue Sky Beyond the Clouds, and Sword Aura, racing through the chaotic forest toward my target.
You might have a mysterious Hide-type skill, but too bad for you! You can't fool my Danger Sense-sensei! Even if your body is invisible, you're covered in a bright red light. I can see right through you!
The invisible Kobold was circling around, attempting to flank Sakura-san while she was occupied with a spear-wielding Kobold. Sakura-san, the Yamato Nadeshiko beauty in her shrine maiden outfit, hadn't noticed the Special Variant's presence yet.
The invisible predator closed in behind her and raised his sword—
"Hand over your experience points!"
I slammed into him from the side at high speed, swinging my blade downward.
Whether he didn't realize I'd spotted him, was being careless, or simply couldn't react in time, the Special Variant failed to defend or evade. My aura-infused mini-Great Blade, powered by a mere 3 HP, cleaved right through him.
His skill deactivated, and the Special Variant Kobold collapsed to the ground, spilling blood and viscera.
Simultaneously, a massive surge of experience points flowed into me. I checked the logs later, but the total from that one kill was a staggering 9,360,000. That’s... that’s insane!
However, I didn't have time to celebrate the numbers just then.
"—Eh?!"
Startled by the sound of someone being cut down behind her—or perhaps by how close the enemy had gotten—Sakura-san spun around. Her eyes went wide when she saw me standing over the dead Special Variant.
That created a fatal opening. The spear-wielding Kobold she had been fighting thrust its spear, glowing with Spear Aura, directly at her.
"—Watch out!"
I reacted in an instant, lunging toward Sakura-san. I pulled her close by the shoulder with my left hand, shifting my body to step in front of her as I parried the incoming spearhead with my right hand.
Oh no, I messed up...!
I immediately turned to apologize to her.
"I'm so sorry, Sakura-san."
"Eh?! Wh-What?"
"I ended up blocking that Kobold's attack, so the experience points are going to be split fifty-fifty. I am truly, truly sorry...!"
Even if it was an accident, I had effectively stolen half of someone else's precious experience points. Being a leveling fanatic myself, the guilt was overwhelming!
"Eeeh?! I—I don't mind that at all, but...!"
Sakura-san, still held against me by the shoulder, stammered in a lovely, bewildered voice. Her eyes were darting back and forth in confusion.
At least she wasn't angry. That was a relief, though she did seem remarkably flustered.
Since she wasn't in any state to resume the fight immediately, and the experience points for the remaining Kobold wouldn't change regardless of who finished it now, I decided to handle it.
I let go of her shoulder and faced the Kobold. I parried its next thrust with enough force to knock its weapon upward. As the monster lost its balance, I stepped into its guard and ended it with a single flash of my blade.
Once the battle was over and the area was clear, I turned back around.
"Um, thank you for saving me...! You are so incredibly strong, Takeo-sama...!"
"Eh?"
With her cheeks flushed a soft cherry-blossom pink, Sakura-san was looking up at me with shimmering eyes.
Takeo...-sama?
I stood there, dumbfounded—and in the next instant:
"GRRRROOOOOAAAAAARRRRRRRR!"
A roar filled with pure murderous intent erupted from the side as a figure charged at me. I barely managed to catch the incoming sword strike with my own blade, coming face-to-face with the attacker.
"Wait... Gobu-taro?!"
It was Gobu-taro.
Why?! What are you doing?!