Chapter 151: Not Bad

Chapter 151: Chapter 151: Not Bad

The moment Ares and Ji Won stepped through the C-Rank Gate, the scenery on the other side changed completely.

A vast stone chamber stretched out before them, illuminated by pale blue crystals embedded throughout the walls. Several wide corridors extended from the chamber, some descending deeper into the dungeon while others disappeared around corners, creating a maze-like structure that was considerably more complicated than the D-Rank dungeon they had explored before.

The air was cool and slightly damp, carrying the faint smell of stone and something much less pleasant from somewhere deeper inside.

The Guardian Guild party had already begun moving.

The two A-Rank Awakeners took the lead, with the Tank maintaining the front position while the Warrior stayed slightly to his side, ready to intercept anything that attempted to get around him. Three B-Rank Warriors followed closely behind, forming the main combat line, while the B-Rank Archer kept several meters of distance between herself and the frontline.

The B-Rank Mage and Healer remained near the center of the formation, protected by the other members, while another B-Rank Supporter maintained the party’s enhancement spells and kept a constant watch over everyone’s condition.

The three C-Rank Awakeners also had their own positions.

One was a Warrior who moved between the frontline and center, reinforcing whichever side required assistance. Another was a Mage who remained behind the Warriors, ready to provide additional firepower, while the final C-Rank Awakener acted as a Scout, moving ahead whenever the terrain allowed and reporting anything he discovered.

It was a well-balanced formation.

Nobody was standing around simply because of their rank.

Every member had a specific responsibility, and their movements showed that they had enough experience to understand exactly when to perform it.

Ares and Ji Won remained farther behind.

Their large backpacks contained recovery potions, food, water, spare equipment, magical supplies, and empty containers for the materials they would collect inside the dungeon. They were not part of the combat formation, and their job was to keep the expedition supplied while staying out of unnecessary danger.

Ji Won adjusted the straps across his shoulders as they followed the party.

"Stay close to me once we get deeper inside. C-Rank dungeons aren’t something you want to wander around in by yourself."

Ares glanced toward him.

"What’s there need to worry about?"

Ji Won smiled.

"I’m just making sure. Once the party starts fighting, things can get chaotic."

Ares nodded.

He looked ahead.

The Scout had stopped.

One hand was raised.

The entire party immediately came to a halt.

The change was subtle but unmistakable.

The Tank lowered his center of gravity and brought his shield forward.

The A-Rank Warrior loosened his grip on his greatsword.

The B-Rank Warriors spread slightly, making sure none of the surrounding passages were left completely uncovered.

The Archer drew an arrow.

The Mage began gathering mana.

The Healer tightened her grip around her staff.

Even the three C-Rank Awakeners became more alert.

Ares could hear something approaching.

Heavy footsteps.

Then another sound followed.

A low growl echoed through the corridor.

The Scout carefully moved toward the corner before returning.

"There are seven."

The party leader looked at him.

Nobody appeared surprised.

The Tank nodded once.

"Formation."

The party moved immediately.

Ares and Ji Won moved a little farther away from the combat area.

The footsteps grew louder.

Then the first orc appeared.

It was enormous compared with the goblins they had encountered previously, standing well over two meters tall with a thick, muscular body covered in scars. Its gray-green skin was reinforced by natural layers of dense muscle, and unlike the weaker monsters from lower-ranked dungeons, this one carried a large iron axe.

Six more followed behind it.

Two carried broad swords.

Two wielded axes.

One carried a massive club.

The final orc held a spear.

Seven monsters.

The first orc spotted the party.

It roared.

The others immediately charged.

The Tank stepped forward.

The first axe came down.

CLAAAAANG!

The shield absorbed the impact.

The force pushed the Tank backward several centimeters, but he held his position.

The A-Rank Warrior attacked from the side.

His greatsword swept upward.

SHRAAAK!

The orc raised its weapon to block.

The collision forced it off balance.

One of the B-Rank Warriors immediately entered the opening.

His sword struck the orc’s exposed side.

SHING!

The creature staggered.

The Mage released her spell.

"Fire Lance."

A concentrated spear of flame shot across the chamber.

BOOM!

It struck the orc directly in the chest.

The creature was thrown backward.

The B-Rank Warrior followed without hesitation.

One final slash.

SHRAK!

The orc collapsed.

The remaining six charged harder.

A spear-wielding orc attempted to bypass the frontline.

The C-Rank Warrior stepped into its path.

CLANG!

His sword caught the spear.

The orc pushed forward with tremendous strength.

The C-Rank Warrior’s boots slid backward.

He gritted his teeth.

"Strong..."

Before the orc could force him back any farther, one of the B-Rank Warriors stepped beside him.

The two attacked together.

The B-Rank Warrior knocked the spear upward.

The C-Rank Warrior immediately struck the orc’s abdomen.

SHRAK!

The creature bent forward.

The B-Rank Warrior finished it with a downward slash.

The Archer’s bowstring snapped.

TWANG!

An arrow struck another orc directly in the eye.

The creature roared and turned toward her.

The Supporter raised one hand.

"Enhancement."

A faint glow passed over the A-Rank Warrior.

His movements immediately accelerated.

He closed the distance.

The orc raised its axe.

CLANG!

The greatsword knocked the weapon aside.

The Warrior stepped forward.

SHING!

His blade cut through the creature’s shoulder.

It fell before it could recover.

Another orc charged toward the center.

The Tank intercepted it.

The creature’s club crashed against his shield.

BOOM!

The Tank’s feet dug into the stone floor.

The Healer immediately raised her staff.

A warm light surrounded him.

The strain on his body eased.

"Hold."

The Tank pushed forward.

The A-Rank Warrior moved around him.

The orc swung again.

The shield blocked.

CLANG!

The Warrior struck.

The B-Rank Warriors followed.

The C-Rank Warrior attacked from behind.

The orc attempted to turn.

The Mage’s spell struck its side.

BOOM!

It staggered.

The Tank slammed his shield into its chest.

DOOM!

The creature was knocked backward.

The A-Rank Warrior finished it.

SHRAAAK!

Only two remained.

One attempted to retreat into the corridor.

The C-Rank Mage raised her hand.

A magic circle appeared beneath the orc’s feet.

"Bind."

Blue restraints erupted from the stone floor and wrapped around its legs.

The orc roared and struggled.

The Archer fired.

THUD!

The arrow struck its throat.

It collapsed.

The final orc charged.

It was larger than the others, carrying a broad sword that looked almost too large for an ordinary human to lift.

The Tank stepped forward.

The orc swung.

CLAAAAANG!

The impact shook the chamber.

The Tank’s knees bent.

The A-Rank Warrior moved to assist.

But the orc suddenly twisted its body and swung toward him.

The Warrior raised his greatsword.

BOOM!

The force drove him backward.

One of the B-Rank Warriors immediately attacked the orc’s exposed flank.

The creature turned.

The second B-Rank Warrior struck from the opposite side.

SHING!

The orc roared.

The C-Rank Warrior rushed in.

He struck its knee.

The monster’s stance faltered.

The Tank saw the opening.

He drove his shield forward with all his strength.

DOOOOOOM!

The orc was thrown backward.

The A-Rank Warrior followed.

His greatsword rose above his head.

The Mage’s spell struck at the same moment.

"Flame Burst!"

BOOOOOOM!

The explosion engulfed the orc.

When the flames disappeared, the creature collapsed onto the stone floor.

Silence returned to the chamber.

The party remained alert for several seconds before the Scout finally lowered his weapon.

"Nothing else."

The Healer relaxed her stance.

The Archer lowered her bow.

The Mage released the remaining mana around her hands.

The first battle of the expedition was over.

Ji Won slowly exhaled.

"They really make it look easy."

Ares looked toward the fallen orcs.

"They worked well together, what a perfectly balanced party."

Ji Won smiled.

"A C-Rank dungeon isn’t necessarily difficult for Awakeners like them, because every individual monster is overwhelmingly strong. The danger comes from what happens when you make a mistake, especially when several monsters attack at once."

He glanced toward the party.

"That’s why experienced parties don’t rely on one or two strong people. Everyone has to cover someone else."

The Guild members began collecting the magic stones and useful materials from the corpses.

The porters moved forward once the area had been secured.

Ji Won opened one of the containers.

The Scout had already begun checking the next corridor.

After confirming that the path was clear, he signaled the party to move.

The formation assembled again.

The Tank and A-Rank Warrior returned to the front, the B-Rank and C-Rank Warriors took their positions around them, while the Archer, Mages, Healer, and Supporter settled into their respective places.

Ares and Ji Won picked up their packs once more.

The deeper they went, the more orcs they would encounter.