Page 94

(Walson)

After entering the waterway, we descended along the turbulent water flow.

The ancient-style building that was contaminated by [Block] was gradually being replaced, becoming more like [Blocks] contaminated by the ancient style.

...What kind of transformation is happening here?! The feeling of unease keeps spreading in my heart.

Since the moment of reincarnation, everything related to Minecraft that I've encountered, apart from myself, has been nothing but trouble. And it is connected to one thing: where did those [Wither Skeleton Skulls] come from?!

They appeared inexplicably in places they shouldn't be, causing a lot of trouble... I wouldn't foolishly believe that the commonality between these two incidents is a mere coincidence.

A light appeared ahead in the dark waterway.

Derisha, standing at the bow of the boat, didn't say a word, but I could sense a vigilant and murderous aura from her silhouette.

With splashes of water, we burst out of the waterway.

The floating sensation didn't last long, and we heavily landed on the water surface. However, the scene that greeted our eyes made both Derisha and me furrow our brows.

The sight that greeted us was just another tall rectangular stone pillar and waterways , it was no different from before, but...

The ancient civilization building materials that were used to make these stone pillars had long been replaced, replaced by countless [Prismarine] block materials.

It was undeniably a massive underwater temple... And where there's a temple, there would also be the guardians protecting it.

"Walson."

"Yeah, I know."

On the mini-map, the red dots representing hostile creatures started approaching us, but they stopped and started circling the boat... Wait, just as I suspected, are those the kind of creatures!?

"Wait, Derisha, don't engage in combat..."

Before I could finish my sentence, the boat suddenly experienced a tremendous impact, almost launching me into the air. Numerous cracks appeared on the bottom of the wooden boat, and water started gushing in.

In the water, I saw beams of light coming from all directions, gradually turning red...

Crash!

"OOOOOO──[Storm's Retribution]!"

I couldn't help but admire this girl's agility.

Despite the violent shaking of the boat, she didn't lose her balance at all.

She even managed to complete the incantation for a [Arte] in such a situation──The Valkyrie of the Wind of the City of Water, she's truly fitting to be called as such.

The seemingly calm water surface around us was immediately torn apart by the storm unleashed by the swirling strikes of the furious winds.

As the surface of the water, ripped apart by the fury of the wind, a bizarre-looking fish was cut in half by Derisha. Its basic shape was square, but it had a long tail, resembling a square-shaped pufferfish.

At the same time, I immediately realized what it was and started the engine of the speedboat. There was no time to waste here; if we engaged in battle, the ship would eventually be sunk.

Without the ship, we would lose our lives.

"We're going for it! Hold on tight!!!"

The speedboat raced forward, leaving behind a long beam of light. These beams gradually turned red──I quickly threw up a stone wall behind me, which exploded with a muffled sound before sinking into the water.

[Guardian_LV80_HP 2717/2717_Status: Curse of the Wither(I)_Title: None]

The square-shaped pufferfish behind us had only one eye, and after missing an attack, these eyes once again emitted beams that represented their aiming lines.

"Get down!!! [Storm Rush]!!!" Derisha shouted, and I immediately lowered my head.

The wind blade, surrounded by lightning, pierced through with tremendous force.

I didn't know what happened, but I knew that the water would become much clearer behind us under the conductive conditions.

As long as there is targeting assistance, these creatures' long-range attacks are accurate whether in water or on land. It's impossible to evade their aim, so the only method of dealing with it is to find cover or shelter.

The speedboat swiftly dashed forward, swerving in different directions, using the massive stone pillars present as cover to evade the pursuit of the targeting lines.

"OOOOO, OOOOOOO──[Raging Gale]!!"

At the same time, Derisha's second attack was ready.

Based on her wind magic, she infused it with the lightning from the Thunder Magic Stone attached to the [Anti-Melon Spear Prototype 1.0]

"I have to say, you're truly an outstanding, no, the world's top craftsman!" Derisha's spear continued to spin in her hand while she shouted that praise.

Her voice was diluted by the roaring wind caused by the speeding boat, but I could still hear it clearly. Despite the successful combat at this moment, if the boat sank, we would be doomed.

For now, these are just small monsters, which is fortunate in unfortunate circumstances—damn it! I mustn't jinx it!

The speedboat's speed was fast, and ordinary Guardians couldn't catch up.

But the ones that could catch up were approaching.

"GRAAAAA!!!!"

"Monsters!" Derisha's roar alerted me to the dire situation behind me.

I glanced back for a moment and nearly fainted.

[Purgatory Terror Fish_LV96_HP 9155/9155_Status: Frenzy, Curse of the Wither(I)_Title: Ancient Water Monster]

What the hell is this thing! It's a common fish species found in the maze, but its size... Just the sight of its gaping mouth is enough to swallow a monster like Arkon whole!!!

Several targeting lines shot out amidst the splashing water... Two of them aimed at Derisha.

I threw out a thread and quickly pulled Derisha into my embrace. Immediately after, the boat experienced intense shaking, and a large amount of water flooded into it—worse still, our speed slowed down.

Because the redstone motor was destroyed.

"Walson! That's the entrance to the next level!" My thoughts were interrupted by Derisha's shout. I saw a massive opening ahead, and despite the boat's reduced speed, it maintained its inertia and rushed into the passage.

Once again, I took out one of the sealed weapons, [EX-ARMA] from my inventory. But this time, I won't injure myself like before.

Originally, the [EX-ARMA] was a prototype weapon created before the creation of the [ARMA] After the Aqua Titanus incident...

I redesigned [EX-ARMA] barrel into an independent system and added a piston at the rear. When fired, the barrel retracts inward, using the piston as a buffer to disperse the recoil. I also added a shoulder stock to absorb the recoil and developed specialized ammunition for experimental purposes, enchanting it with the [Infinity] enchantment.

It has considerable power but can't be fired in rapid succession.

Although it still has a long way to go to become a true gun, it will eventually reach that stage.

As for why I brought out this weapon, it's because we couldn't shake off the monsters chasing us as we entered the passage to the next level.

Let's see what this thing in my hand is capable of.