You promised to wreak havoc on the dungeon, but instead you've got Dragon Slime!

The entry description appears:

[Time Rift LV3]:

This ability allows the wearer to trigger "Time Rewind" at the moment of imminent destruction, resetting their status to the position and state 10 seconds prior. It can only be used once per battle.

"Time reversal?!"

Ron's pupils contracted slightly, and he exclaimed in a low voice:

"This effect...it's simply incredible! It's like having an extra life!"

Recalling the [Dragon Scale Simulation LV3] he had previously obtained, he remarked:

"The LV3 entry... it really has begun to touch upon the power of the rules."

He carefully stored these two ridiculously powerful LV3 attributes deep in his warehouse.

"This powerful weapon should be saved for future 'big occasions'."

With everything arranged, Ron leaned back comfortably in his chair and picked up the "Crimson Rose" cocktail that his butler, Lester, had brought him.

The liquid in the glass resembled congealed blood, yet its edges shimmered with a jewel-like translucency.

He leisurely watched the "performance" that this elite squad was about to put on through the control panel.

…………

Black Language Grottoes - Rear Entrance

"Descartes".

Mikael, walking in the middle of the group, gave the order in his usual relaxed tone:

"As usual, let's explore the last third of the way first and see what 'little cuties' are waiting for us."

In E-level dungeons, the monsters' skill set is pitifully limited, making it impossible for them to possess anti-stealth abilities.

Therefore, thieves are absolutely "ghosts" here.

"Don't worry, boss!"

The sound of Descartes echoed faintly while he was in stealth mode:

"I could do this job with my eyes closed."

It wasn't that he didn't want to advance quickly, but the debuff that came with the Stealth skill—a 70% reduction in movement speed—was like an invisible shackle.

However, in an E-level dungeon without anti-stealth measures, this limitation is negligible.

A dimensional reduction attack, nothing more.

Descartes controlled his phantom-like figure as he moved slowly forward.

Soon, he noticed a slender, warm-colored dark green vine slowly wriggling on the ground. It looked non-aggressive and even somewhat "docile."

“A young black vine larva... poses no threat.”

Descartes, having made his own judgment, simply ignored it and continued exploring forward.

After traveling a little further, an exceptionally bright red vine came into view.

Unlike ordinary black vines that lie dormant, it raises its "head" like a snake, seemingly searching for something in the air, appearing exceptionally restless.

Descartes noted this scene down and continued his stealth journey.

We've finally reached the deepest part of the dungeon!

A treasure chest emitting faint magical fluctuations lay quietly in the corner, surrounded by several fire elementals of various shapes and sizes.

This was the completion reward that Lilith placed down during her last inspection.

Several fire elementals stood out particularly:

It was an exceptionally tall and robust creature with flames on its head like torches.

A creature engulfed in eerie, ghostly green flames;

There's another one... with a sleep symbol on its head, its flame faintly snoring?!

After surveying the surroundings, Descartes' curiosity was piqued.

"What will be the final reward in this strange dungeon? Will it be...something special?"

He decided to take the risk.

The thief's [Skilled Lockpicking] skill gives him the confidence to "steal" treasure chests right under the monster's nose!

He held his breath and focused intently, manipulating the phantom carefully to slip through the gaps between the patrolling fire elementals and slowly approach the tempting treasure chest.

My fingertips were about to touch the cold lock of the treasure chest...

A sudden change occurred!

The largest of the fire elementals, with a torch burning on its head, suddenly turned in the direction Descartes was sneaking!

The flames above its head suddenly burst forth with a strong detection beam, locking onto the blurry phantom like a searchlight!

Descartes, focused on unlocking the lock, was only startled when a terrifying, scorching wind, carrying an aura of destruction, descended upon him!

Chapter 24 The Tragic Death of Descartes

At the critical moment, the thief's agility saved his life!

With his honed fighting instincts, he rolled to the side at an incredible angle!

"Boom——!!!"

The massive fist of the fire elemental, burning with blazing white flames, slammed down hard on the spot where he had just been standing!

The ground cracked open, sending debris and scorching sparks flying everywhere!

However, the crisis is not over!

A muddy fire elemental burning with eerie green flames seemed to have anticipated his dodge direction, and another viscous fire fist followed closely behind, slamming into his face with a nauseating stench of decay!

"They can see me?!"

Descartes was horrified!

How could a level 1 fire elemental have the ability to detect invisibility?!

A close call!

Descartes demonstrated the reaction speed of a top-tier thief.

Before the muddy fire elemental's fist and body could even reach him, the poisoned dagger in his hand, [Viper's Kiss], had already transformed into a ghostly green light, precisely piercing into the core of the opponent's burning body!

puff!

The moment the dagger pierced through, the mud fire elemental's body twisted and swelled violently, emitting a muffled gurgling sound—a sign that its elemental core had been destroyed and it was about to self-destruct!

But something even stranger happened!

The dagger that pierced the muddy fire elemental seemed to sink into an incredibly viscous asphalt swamp!

A powerful suction force came from the wound, gripping the dagger tightly, and no matter how hard Descartes tried, it wouldn't budge!

"Damn it!"

Descartes acted decisively, releasing the dagger handle without hesitation! His body once again rolled backward in a disheveled manner!

"boom--!!!"

Almost at the same moment he let go, a fist burning with ghostly blue ice flames slammed down on the spot where he dodged for the second time!

Fragments of icy blue flames mixed with freezing air scattered everywhere!

Descartes stood up, still shaken, when a tiny, fingernail-sized piece of icy fire splattered onto his leather arm armor with a hiss!

Just as he was about to breathe a sigh of relief, an extremely cold, bone-chilling cold burst forth from the point of contact!

Visible icy blue frost patterns spread rapidly across the entire body from the arm, as if they were alive!

It felt as if my limbs and bones were frozen by eternal ice, my blood congealed, my joints stiffened, and even my thoughts seemed to be frozen and sluggish!

"Holy crap! What the hell is this flame?!"

Descartes had explored countless dungeons, but he had never seen such a illogical phenomenon.

Fire can actually cause a freezing effect?!

His scalp tingled, and for the first time, his composure vanished, replaced by boundless horror and panic.

With the last of his strength, he screamed hoarsely in the direction he had come from:

"Captain! Help me—!!!"

The moment the incident occurred, Michael and his companions' pupils suddenly contracted!

Like Descartes, who was in dire straits, they were also experiencing a great deal of turmoil in their hearts!

—The level 1 monsters in the E-level dungeon actually have the ability to detect stealth?

—And what's more, it was the fire elementalist who detected the thief's stealth?!

This completely overturned their understanding of the dungeon monster system! But at this moment, any surprise or doubt seemed pale and powerless.

Save them! It's urgent!

"Brom!"

Michael's voice was more urgent than ever before:

"Push forward! Draw aggro! Quickly!"

The dwarven berserker Brom roared, his muscles bulging, and the heavy Mountain Barrier shield slammed forward!

He no longer strolled leisurely as before, but instead charged madly toward the end of the cave like a war machine that had been started, his strong legs stomping the ground with earth-shaking strides!

"Sherphine!"

Michael's gaze locked onto the Frost Elf:

"Follow Brom! Cover fire! Suppress those damn fire elementals!"

Without the slightest hesitation, the icy elven mage, Shefnir, transformed her slender figure into an icy blue afterimage, her staff [Sapphire Focus] already in hand, and charged after the dwarf's steel fortress-like back!