The Second Son of The Marquis Runs Away from Home ~ Lacking Talent, He Abandons Everything and Becomes an Adventurer ~ - 176

Chapter 176: Maze of Steel

The transformed arm took on the shape of a circular saw, spinning rapidly. The approaching saw, with its ear-piercing noise, aimed for us, but I intercepted it by targeting the wrist without the saw blade with my sword.

However, the Metal Skeleton, with its strength surpassing its appearance, attempted to push the saw forward. I countered by hitting its elbow with a fist adorned with a gauntlet, sending it flying.

“Wind Echo Shockwave!”

As its arm rose, I fitted a gauntlet onto my right hand and slammed it into its torso. With the sound of metal grinding and scraping, the Metal Skeleton recoiled, and its jaw transformed, aiming a black cylinder towards us.

“Serena!”

As I shouted, Serena deployed a shield of water between us and the Metal Skeleton. Immediately after, flashes and explosions erupted from the cylinder.

“So it did have guns.”

Bullets continuously collided with the water shield. After a while, the sounds of gunshots and small metal cylinders hitting the floor ceased, and the attacks stopped.

At that moment, Aria and I moved. I pierced its chest with my cavalry lance, while Aria severed its head with her flaming sword. The Metal Skeleton swung sharp claws towards me, but soon its eyes went dark, and it turned into a magic stone.

“That was tough.”

Muttering as I picked up the magic stone, its size was the same as ours, but its durability, resistant armor… and most troublesome of all, the gun, made it challenging.

The power to pierce through ordinary armor with those small bullets—if hit continuously, only Serena and I would probably be able to withstand it. While it was possible to dodge in wide spaces due to its linear trajectory, it would be troublesome in narrow spaces or when faced with multiple enemies.

“…But there are fewer than below.”

“Really?”

“There are fewer signs coming on the wind compared to below. At least we should be able to avoid those roaming around like before and proceed.”

“Then, even if it’s a bit of a detour, that’s the way we should go.”

This level had a more complex structure compared to the lower one, with many passages. We should minimize risks and move cautiously. As I was considering this, the lanterns in the passage suddenly flashed red, and a mechanical voice resounded.

“Guard machines destroyed. Based on security system, labyrinth structure will be altered.”

“Security system…?”

Before we could even ponder the meaning of the unfamiliar term, the floor shook, and the walls began to move, signaling what was about to happen.

“Everyone, watch your surroundings and beneath your feet! There’s a chance we might be separated!”

Remaining vigilant against the shaking and moving walls, the walls started closing in from both sides. Holding my staff horizontally, it acted as a brace, slowing down the movement of the walls.

“Now!”

Aria and the others quickly moved forward to escape the walls closing in. Releasing the staff, I managed to slip past the approaching wall, seeing it wedge into the walls closing in from both sides.

As the staff vanished, the walls closed completely. When the shaking and movement subsided, we found ourselves in what seemed to be a reasonably spacious room.

“…Well, they won’t let us progress easily.”

“Intruders detected. Eliminate.”

In the room were three entities resembling the guard machines we encountered before, walking towards us with arms transforming into guns.