Hehehe.
Now that I know even the eel is no match for me, there's nothing in the Middle Layer that can beat me!
Ah, Mother doesn't count.
Obviously I can't beat her.
But honestly, the eel was absurdly strong even for the Middle Layer, and I don't think there are any other Monsters here that could be my enemy.
The Lower Layer might be a different story, but the Middle Layer is more like the terrain is your worst enemy—the Monsters themselves aren't all that impressive.
There are plenty of Monsters around the catfish class, but once you get to the eel class, they're few and far between.
Actually, it's pretty much just the eel.
Which means a me that can hunt the eel is basically undefeated in the Middle Layer, right?
So I decided to actively hunt even in the lake of magma.
Once I paralyze the eel, it's easy pickings, and for most opponents, the fight's decided the moment they're paralyzed.
I'd been wanting a new restraint method since I can't use Spider Silk right now, so taking the Evil Eye of Paralysis was the right call.
Speaking of Evil Eyes, I leveled up and got more Skill Points, but this time I decided to save them instead of buying a new one.
That's because the remaining Evil Eye lineup has gotten pretty niche.
The Evil Eye of Destruction, which might include self-destruction.
The Evil Eye of Petrification, which mass-produces inedible body parts.
Since I already learned Heterodox Magic, the heterodox-type Evil Eyes have lost most of their appeal.
So I'm saving up for now to grab a higher-tier Skill.
I already have a specific one in mind, though.
Ah, I'm looking forward to getting that one.
Kufufu.
I advanced across the lake with a spring in my step.
But after the first eel, no Monsters attacked.
They were all hiding beneath the magma.
Hmm.
Maybe I went a bit too flashy?
The eel was basically a boss-class Monster in the Middle Layer, and I took it down without breaking a sweat.
Yeah.
If I were a Monster living in the Middle Layer, I definitely wouldn't pick a fight with me either.
Well dang.
I might've overdone it.
If they hole up inside the magma, there's nothing I can do from out here.
Oh well, I guess.
I'd like to farm Experience Points and level up, but they have their own lives too.
If they attack, I won't hold back, but if they're staying put, I'll let them be.
You should be grateful, you know?
I was thinking all this as I moved forward, when my Danger Detection triggered.
I searched the source of the danger signal with my other detection skills.
Target located.
Beneath the magma, roughly 100 meters away and about 30 meters below the surface—I spotted a massive fish silhouette.
No good.
This one's clearly bigger than the eel.
It looks like it could be twice the length.
This one... looks like trouble.
Body-type role, magic-type role, prepare for interception.
『Won't you run?』
{Isn't it better to flee with how bad the footing is?} Ah, believe me, I want nothing more than to do exactly that, but the other guy doesn't seem interested in letting me go.
That Monster must have some kind of skill in that vein, because other Monsters were moving into position to cut off my escape routes.
I think it's safe to assume they have no intention of letting me leave.
『Looks bad?』
Very bad.
{Judging from the Monster deployment, their intelligence seems pretty high too?} Yep.
And then, slowly, the thing poked its face out of the magma ahead of me.
『Elrogenesoca LV17 Status HP: 2331/2331 (green) (details) MP: 1894/1894 (blue) (details) SP: 2119/2119 (yellow) (details) : 2315/2315 (red) +264 (details) Average Attack: 1999 (details) Average Defense: 1876 (details) Average Magic: 1551 (details) Average Resistance: 1528 (details) Average Speed: 1657 (details) Skills "Fire Dragon LV9" "Reverse Scale LV2" "HP Auto-Regen LV2" "MP Recovery Speed LV1" "MP Cost Reduction LV1" "SP Recovery Speed LV3" "SP Cost Reduction LV3" "Flame Attack LV5" "Flame Enhancement LV3" "Destruction Enhancement LV2" "Blunt Force Enhancement LV4" "Coordination LV5" "Command LV7" "Accuracy LV10" "Evasion LV10" "Probability Correction LV8" "Presence Detection LV4" "Danger Detection LV7" "High-Speed Swimming LV7" "Overeating LV8" "Blunt Force Resistance LV6" "Heat Immunity" "Life Force LV1" "Burst LV8" "Endurance LV9" "Brute Force LV1" "Toughness LV1" "Mage LV4" "Protection LV4" "Dash LV5"
Skill Points: 11250 Titles "Monster Slayer" "Monster Slaughterer" "The One Who Commands"』
What appeared there was a dragon.
A proper, dragon-shaped dragon in the truest sense—even more so than the eel.
Judging from its Skill loadout, it's probably a further evolution of the eel.
This one can hardly be called a fish anymore.
It's a pure, honest-to-goodness fire dragon.
Oh yeah.
This is one of those things I shouldn't mess with.
Compared to Earth Dragons or Mother, it's still more manageable, but it's strong nonetheless.
Can I win?
Reverse Scale is an upgraded version of Dragon Scale, with simply better effects.
I used to not worry about it, but Dragon Scale interferes with the composition of magical formulae, weakening their power.
The eel's scales didn't have enough power to interfere with my techniques, which had reached the pinnacle of magical mastery, but with this fire dragon's Reverse Scale, even my magic might get suppressed.
The Accuracy and Probability Correction combo that tormented me during the eel fight is fully intact here too.
And now Evasion is thrown into the mix on top of that.
To make matters worse, it's loaded with fire-attribute attacks, which I'm weak against.
And the most troublesome part of all—the Coordination and Command Skills.
My detection was picking up Monster after Monster emerging from the magma.
Coordination and Command do exactly what their names suggest.
Coordination boosts cooperative ability, and Command grants control over subordinates.
It's a Skill you get from the "The One Who Commands" Title, and that Title itself is a real piece of work.
This Title has the effect of slightly boosting the Status of all subordinates.
I was completely surrounded by a horde of Monsters.
And leading them was the fire dragon.
The battle between the Spider and the Fire Dragon horde had begun.