"I-I'm fine. Just lost in thought for a moment. If they do charge at us we should stray too far from the stairs since the area opens up and gives them more opportunities to use their superiority in numbers against us."
Pascal seems to have somewhat recovered. Let's hope some of what I said stuck and helped.
"But we can't just wait for them to lose their patience. I doubt Clink will allow us to go home during this dungeon dive so unless we want to be stuck here for a week, we need to go to them."
Maribelle works under Clink so she definitely knows best. Peter does too but since he doesn't comment I assume he agrees with Maribelle's statement.
I pull up my dungeon map almost out of habit and surprisingly it works. Midway through I thought it wouldn't work since we are in a rival dungeon but it does display, albeit with the restriction that it only seems to show the area one of us has been to.
And since Peter has taken a secret look at our enemies twice, the area around the stairs is reasonably well mapped. Based on what I see, the three tunnels branching off of the large area beyond the stairs all turn into narrow passages. If we want to suppress the enemy's numeric advantage as best we can, we need to get into one of those tunnels.
"Earth to Guy, you still with us?"
"Yes, Peter, I'm still with you. I took a look at the map and the best chance we have to restrain their numbers is to quickly push into one of the tunnels."
"Wait, the map works? I thought it wouldn't-"
"It's limited to what we've explored but thanks to Peter we have an idea of what awaits us. Now, Pascal, think you can push forward in a tunnel filled with branti? And Maribelle, think you can delay the groups from the other two tunnels if they stream into the third tunnel?"
Both nod as the outline of my idea dawns on them. Peter doesn't say anything so I just assume he either left or hasn't understood what I intend to do.
"The problem is, I don't think we are fast enough. Even with the speed potions. They are waiting in those tunnels right around the bends and they'll easily charge out of the passage before we've cleared the open area. At that point we'll be surrounded."
"I could try to hide us with an illusion? Nevermind, Navi says my level in illusion magic is too low to cover all of us effectively."
"I have a spell I've been developing but I'm not sure how effective it will be. It should send them reeling back or at least throw them off balance. If I use it we might make it into the tunnel before they fully recover."
"Any demerits to that spell of yours?"
"It's an area of affect spell that spreads in a semicircle in front of me. So long as you stay behind me, you should be fine."
"I don't like the should be but alright. Just don't get it wrong because if you fail, those things will be on you before I can take a single step to help you."
"I'm fine either way since I don't stand on the ground and from Peter's silence he'll probably be off along the walls somewhere. I'll also swim ahead and try to thin out the lines at the mouth of the tunnel so you have an easier time to get inside. Which tunnel should we take?"
"Why are you guys still talking? Those things are about to lose their patience ! Just take the left one and be done with it. Let's go!"
Peter once again pops up and hurries us along. The left tunnel is as good as any since we don't know where to go, so-
"Don't make decisions in a hurry! We obviously need to take the center tunnel since that way guys spell will impact them when the stream out. If we head to the left, those at the far right might escape the semi circle of effect!"
Pascal makes a good point. Only by heading towards the center can we maximize my spell's effect.
Since I'm the one in front and we really should get going, I break into a sprint towards the center passage. I barely make it three steps before the tide of branti reacts and starts gushing out of the passages.
My instinct yell for me to cast my spell but I hold back for now and just hold the pattern for my spell at the ready. It's still too early to cast it!
Only when the first few branti are almost upon me do I push my mana into the pattern and then into the ground.
"Ground wave!"
I usually cast silently but since I have allies, I should at least warn them.
My mana rushes into the ground as my foot hits it and from around my footprint a semi circular wave moves along the dungeon floor.
The ground is raised slightly wherever the wave passes and the branti are thrown into the air left, right and center. Hundreds of dull thuds echo as they hit the ground where they wiggle around while disoriented.
I smoothly draw my daggers and start cutting a path while reaping as many lives as possible. And then I realize how dumb we were. Yes, these monsters outnumber us by a terrifying degree but we are only on the second floor…
They're weak. I cut through them with no effort and my movement speed far supersedes theirs.
You could have said something!
"Proceed with the plan, we can practice for later."
The others have also realized by now but Maribelle's suggestion does have a point. After she sees me nod, Maribelle suddenly accelerates and passes me from above. Flying is really useful, isn't it.