Before the giant tree.
The group gazed at the massive tree before them.
"This tree is emitting mana; it's a magic tree!"
The battered Croton also braced himself.
Although this dungeon had almost no treasure, there was no shortage of such fixed-asset-like valuables.
After all, this was the surface layer.
While magic trees were not rare in this world, their value was no less than the copper mineral vein from the previous floor.
They approached with caution.
However, even as they reached the foot of the great tree, the imagined danger did not arrive.
Beneath the tree, amidst the vines, a pitch-black cave was hidden.
Croton stepped forward, hacked away the obscuring vines, and peered inside, but it was nothing but darkness.
Their goal was to explore and go deeper, so they naturally could not stop at the fourth floor.
Croton quickly had his subordinates form a formation and carefully ventured deep into the cave.
Upon reaching the bottom of the cave, a vast stone grotto appeared before them.
A layer of stagnant water covered the floor of the grotto.
Roots from the giant tree above had penetrated through the cracks in the ceiling, growing along the walls in all directions into the ground.
At the end of the grotto, atop a rough, rectangular stone pedestal, sat an ancient wooden treasure chest.
Moss grew where the chest and the pedestal met, looking as though it had slept here for untold ages.
In an instant, even Croton's heart began to pound wildly.
A dungeon treasure chest!
Who in this world hadn't grown up listening to stories of dungeon treasures?
Magic tools, magic equipment, wondrous items, and wealth that could never be spent in a lifetime.
He had never actually seen a dungeon treasure chest before.
This was a new, unexplored dungeon; wasn't this exactly his purpose!
Greedy heartbeats and the sound of swallowing echoed within the cave.
Just as Croton was about to step forward, the rock wall on one side of the pedestal suddenly trembled.
A massive treant peeled itself away from the wall.
It stood three meters tall, holding a copper-skinned wood shield in its left hand and a copper-edged wood sword in its right.
It wore heavy wooden armor adorned with red copper rivets and plates.
Its massive body moved slowly, the greatsword carving a ripple into the water on the floor that spread in all directions.
A raspy voice emerged from the monster's mouth.
"Despicable, greedy thieves, daring to covet and steal the Master's treasure."
"The Well of Eternal Imprisonment shall never forgive you."
"The Exiled Sentry of the Well of Eternal Imprisonment shall claim your heads to appease the Master's wrath."
As the monster spoke, it raised its greatsword.
The raspy, angry voice echoed through the cave, seemingly vibrating within their very souls.
In an instant, Croton and the others understood this monster's true name.
The Exiled Sentry of the Well of Eternal Imprisonment.
The Wandering Twin Tree Demon.
And the name of this dungeon was finally revealed to the intruders.
The Well of Eternal Imprisonment.
Croton would never give up the treasure before him; he raised his sword and faced the monster.
"I shall purge you all!"
The monster no longer wandered; the greatsword sliced through the air, cleaving straight down.
Croton's pupils constricted as he rolled across the water-logged ground, narrowly avoiding the heavy blow.
The earth cracked under the massive impact, splashing water everywhere.
As Croton rolled to his feet, he roared in a raspy voice.
"Attack from both sides!!"
The group scrambled apart, circling to the flanks.
Croton met the monster head-on, his broadsword slicing through the air and leaving a silver afterimage as it hacked heavily into the chest of the Exiled Sentry.
The Exiled Sentry's massive body shifted, raising its shield to block the strike.
The broadsword was deflected, but the shield was also torn.
Croton used the force to spring into the air; the Exiled Sentry swung its greatsword, slashing at him.
Croton twisted his body lightly in mid-air, dodging the horizontal sweep of the greatsword.
He landed on the ground, kicking up a spray of water.
His gaze remained locked on the Exiled Sentry, only to find that the gash he had just made on its shield was growing and recovering at a visible speed.
How is this recovery speed possible!
In the moment Croton was dazed, the greatsword swung down again with unquestionable power.
Croton shouldered his sword to slide off the attack, and the greatsword shattered the ground once more.
At this time, the attendants on both sides of the Exiled Sentry launched rapid attacks, their blades stabbing deep into the gaps of the armor.
"Despicable thieves, your weakness is the very reason for your downfall!"
With an angry roar, the Exiled Sentry's massive body leaped.
Croton's eyes widened, and as he rolled backward, he screamed a warning.
"Get back!"
The Exiled Sentry leaped into the air and slammed down violently; an attendant who failed to dodge in time was instantly crushed into pieces.
The lower body of the Exiled Sentry also tore open under the impact, covered in cracks.
Croton didn't have time to mourn his fallen companion; he thought this was an opening to attack.
To his surprise, green toxic mist erupted from the Exiled Sentry's shattered lower body in the next second.
The two attendants attempting to follow up were engulfed by the toxic mist, and a sense of paralysis quickly spread through their bodies.
Croton's eyes nearly burst with rage; as he pulled back, he unslung the crossbow from his back and aimed it at the Exiled Sentry.
Whoosh! Whoosh!
Arrows fired from the fully drawn crossbow, their powerful force instantly piercing the Exiled Sentry's wood armor.
However, the Exiled Sentry showed no sign of being affected, moving its body within the toxic mist.
Fresh green wood fibers began to rapidly grow over its shattered lower half, mending the gaps.
The greatsword was raised high and brought down heavily.
A paralyzed attendant was cut directly in half.
The attendants outside the toxic mist unslung their crossbows and fired in unison, but it did nothing to hinder the Exiled Sentry's movements.
"Aim for the head!"
Croton shouted, drawing his crossbow to the limit and aiming for the head.
After taking a heavy hit to the head, the Exiled Sentry's body swayed slightly.
It then raised its shield to protect its head and, holding the greatsword in one hand, slammed it down toward another immobile attendant on the ground.
After the attendant was crushed to death, something happened that made Croton grit his teeth in fury.
The Exiled Sentry did not immediately leave the poison mist to pursue, but instead held its shield aloft, hiding within the mist and waiting for its shattered lower body to recover.
Croton and the others had no way to pursue into the toxic mist and could only helplessly fire arrows from outside.
However, the arrow attacks had virtually no effect on the Exiled Sentry.
If they were extraordinary beings with elemental resistance, they might have been able to endure the toxic mist to pursue.
Without being extraordinary, without a qualitative change in life, one remains within the realm of humanity.
Unless they used alchemical potions to resist the paralyzing toxic mist, they simply couldn't get close.
At this moment, Croton cursed himself for not bringing a couple of alchemical potions to counter toxic mist.
Fortunately, the situation wasn't entirely hopeless; the toxic mist had begun to slowly dissipate.
By the time the mist cleared, several people had already exhausted their arrows.
Arrows were stuck all over the Exiled Sentry, its lower body had fully recovered, and it charged toward Croton, raising its sword to strike.
Croton dropped his crossbow and dashed to the side, dodging the attack while trying to use his speed to close in on the Exiled Sentry.
Sensing Croton's intention to close the distance, the Exiled Sentry quickly prepared to jump, intending to use its Crushing Leap again.
Croton hastily pulled away, gnashing his teeth in frustration yet feeling powerless.
He could only coordinate with his two remaining companions, interweaving their attacks in an attempt to wear down the Exiled Sentry's health.
However, the Exiled Sentry didn't feel the pressure at all; relying on its self-healing ability, its health only seemed to increase as the fight went on.
Once its health was fully replenished, it suddenly charged at an attendant and leaped into the air.
It was another high-altitude Crushing Leap!
The prepared attendant dodged the slam, but failed to escape the toxic mist that sprayed from the shattered lower body a moment later, becoming paralyzed and losing all movement.
The Exiled Sentry took the opportunity to quickly swing its sword, instantly smashing the attendant into a pulp.
It then hid back within the toxic mist, waiting for its shattered lower body to recover.
Croton had never seen anything like this!
This was too disgusting!
Just what was going on with this dungeon!
Rate on N.U.
