“What is that up ahead?!”
Li Xiuman stowed his wand as he spoke, turning toward the direction of the shout.
By now, the party had reached the latter half of the bridge of light.
The lake's surface began to churn violently. As if defying gravity, streams of water flowed upward, converging into a massive water monster.
Composed entirely of flowing water, various aquatic monsters swam within its liquid body.
The water monster swung a huge palm formed of rushing water, slamming it down toward the party on the bridge.
“Tier 2 Magic—Storm Molten Spear!”
A three-layered magic circle expanded, and fire, rock, and gusting wind intertwined into a spinning lance that shot forth.
In an instant, the descending palm was pierced through, collapsing back into water and splashing into the lake.
However, a moment later, the creature's watery torso wriggled, and a brand-new arm regrew instantly, utterly unaffected.
It immediately swung at them once more.
“Here it comes again!”
The palm made of flowing water slammed down once more.
“Dodge first! Help Miss Xiuman save her mana!”
“I told you, stop adding 'Miss'!”
“Understood, Miss Xiuman.”
“...”
Li Xiuman no longer had the energy to argue.
By now, the energy in his two arms had begun spreading through his body. Though the pain wasn't intense, it was still deeply uncomfortable.
Using magic to fight an unkillable monster in this state wasn't wise; dodging was indeed the right choice.
“Tier 1 Magic—Great Fireball!”
Li Xiuman hurled a massive fireball at the water monster's palm, then dashed toward the other end of the bridge alongside the party.
Perhaps because the water monster's body was so massive, it wasn't particularly agile.
Unable to retract its palm in time, the water monster slammed directly onto the bridge of light.
The violent impact caused the bridge beneath their feet to tremble.
“No way, you can deal physical impact?!”
“Shouldn't a fantastical bridge of light be immune to physical collisions?!”
“This totally ruins your high-and-mighty entry, your grand appearance, and my expectations!”
Li Xiuman complained in his heart.
Misfortunes never come singly, however, as the bridge beneath their feet underwent another change.
The heavy blow made the bridge's light dim significantly, rendering the lake's surface visible through the fading glow under their feet.
Li Xiuman himself wasn't particularly worried about whether the bridge vanished.
After all, he had pretty, pristine white wings.
But his walking ten thousand gold coins were terrified.
Besides, logically speaking, if the light bridge vanished, would that count as a failed challenge and cause the small island to sink?
That was how standard RPGs usually designed these encounters.
“Look behind us!” someone shouted in alarm.
Li Xiuman was startled. What kind of time was this to be looking around?
Still, he reflexively glanced backward.
He saw the far end of the bridge dissolving into specks of light at a visible rate, rapidly disintegrating toward them.
So it really was vanishing!
“Hurry! The bridge behind us is disappearing!”
Everyone picked up their pace even further.
“Tier 2 Magic—Fire Arrow Rain!”
Li Xiuman opened a crimson magic circle once more, raining down an area-of-effect deluge of flaming arrows.
The surrounding monsters howled as they tumbled into the lake.
However, the giant water monster remained entirely unaffected; the flaming arrows struck its body like matches dropped into an ocean, failing to stir a single ripple.
It even raised both of its massive hands, slamming both palms down toward the bridge of light.
“We can't dodge! If it keeps hitting the bridge, it'll collapse completely!”
Humans truly were quick at figuring things out; someone quickly realized the mechanics of the fight.
This... felt somewhat familiar.
Was this an escort quest? He could almost see a notification popping up above his head saying Quest Accepted.
Protect the Bridge of Light and prevent it from collapsing.
The Heavy Warriors raised their battered shields, forcibly rallying what little energy they had left.
“Fortress Protection!”
With a synchronized roar, golden barriers flared from their shields, joining together to withstand one of the giant palms.
“There's another one!”
“Leave it to us!”
Brad tightened his grip on his longsword, his focus and spirit reaching their peak in this moment of crisis.
“Sword Qi Infusion! Spirit Energy Infusion!”
“Dragon-Felling Slash!”
A fiery crescent of sword qi sliced outward with his swing, severing the water monster's giant hand.
“Tier 1 Magic—Gale!”
Li Xiuman brandished his wand, instantly blowing the severed watery palm away from the bridge.
“Goddess of Light above...
...I pray to You.
Tier 2 Magic—Mass Muscle Enhancement!”
Golden holy light burst forth, enveloping everyone in the party.
“Tier 2 Magic—Wind Caress!”
Li Xiuman raised his wand as well. Underneath a cyan magic circle, a gentle breeze swept across the entire party.
In an instant, everyone felt their bodies become significantly lighter.
“Miss Xiuman's buff spell! My body feels so light! Charge!”
“As expected of Miss Xiuman! This feels amazing!”
“Protect Miss Xiuman! We can't lose, victory is right ahead!”
“...”
Li Xiuman couldn't even be bothered to argue anymore.
Besides, who's protecting who here, you walking ten thousand gold coins?
“Wait, what about my holy light?! Why is nobody praising me?!”
Mia—who had completely drained her remaining holy light to cast that group buff—didn't possess the absurd mana pool that Li Xiuman had.
Her face was currently deathly pale.
“...Ah, Mia's holy light is pretty great too.”
“What's with that half-hearted tone?!”
“This isn't the time to chatter! Don't let your guard down, push forward!” Brad barked out orders, and the sprinting party accelerated once more.
“Wait, something's wrong!”
“Look at the end of the bridge!”
Now, the group could finally see the far end of the light bridge clearly.
It was a massive golden doorway, woven from countless gathering rays of light just like the bridge itself.
And right in the center of the doorway was a round golden groove.
“A key is required right now?!”
Brad's face turned ashen.
By this time, the entire back half of the bridge had dissolved into specks of light, leaving them with no retreat.
“Or maybe we can just yell 'Open Sesame'?”
Li Xiuman's sense of humor spread like cancer cells—and that's not a compliment.
“Under these circumstances, there's only one possibility left.”
Li Xiuman turned his gaze toward the giant water monster.
Defeat the boss to enter the next stage, huh?
“Found it. The key.”
Li Xiuman locked his eyes deep within the water monster's liquid head.
An inconspicuous orb floated inside.
[Ding! Constitution +1, Strength +1.]
Is it finally over? I can finally unleash my full strength.
Crap, that internal monologue line was stupidly cool.
“I'll go get the key.”
Li Xiuman walked toward the water monster. All of this was for the ten thousand gold coins.
“I'll come too!”
“Me as well!”
Miss Xiuman, all of this is for the sake of our bonds.
“Alright, draw its attention and create an opening for me.”
“The bridge won't last much longer. Make sure to protect it!”
Rate on N.U.
