45 The Lower Levels of the Elro Great Labyrinth

The path I walk is unusually wide.

Wide enough for a bee nearly two and a half meters long to move freely through the air, and a giant mantis measuring about five meters in length to move without restraint.

『Failed to鉴定 Elro Gresecard LV7 Status』

The giant mantis intercepts the swarm of bees with its two scything arms.

Unlike ordinary mantises, it possesses six limbs.

It resembles an asura.

The bees attempt to attack from midair, but cannot penetrate the reach of its scythes effectively. The battle reaches a stalemate.

I observe the scene from behind a rock, concealed.

Neither combatant shows signs of awareness of my presence.

Stealth ability is functioning as expected.

I peer carefully, then attempt another鉴定.

Erlorogresiguard: A mantis-like fiend inhabiting the lower levels of the Erlor Great Labyrinth. Excels in powerful physical attacks using scythes.

A single bee was severed in two by the scythe.

Ugh, cut in half with one strike... incredible sharpness.

If it cuts with that kind of edge, it might sever my thread as well.

Well, she doesn’t seem to have noticed. I’ll just slip past quietly here.

More precisely, there is another word in the鉴定 result that cannot be ignored.

Lower Levels of the Elrow Labyrinth: Area located between the middle and lower levels of the Elrow Labyrinth. Numerous powerful monsters inhabit this region.

Hmm, I see.

This is the lower level, then.

Wait—there’s something even lower?

There are many powerful monsters here.

…Perhaps I didn’t want to know.

Incidentally, I tested the middle and lowest levels as well. For some reason, no connection was found with Elro, resulting in the output: 'middle layer', 'layer positioned lowest among layers with structure'.

Useless.

But then I thought this was the lowest layer—apparently, there's something even lower.

The lowest layer? Only one image comes to mind: an overwhelming number of extremely powerful monsters.

After all, this is the lowest layer of the world’s largest labyrinth.

In dungeons, enemies grow stronger the deeper one goes. If the current lower level is already filled with powerful monsters, that assumption seems reasonable.

Monsters of Earth Dragon class, scattered everywhere.

Just imagining it is terrifying.

But then again.

Probably, the area I came from was the upper layer.

A region accessible to humans, connected to the surface.

Then again, the exit might not be far at all.

Ah— I avoided humans, but maybe I should’ve followed their footprints instead?

But no— even if I followed them out, my current form wouldn’t work.

In the end, even if I escape the labyrinth, as a spider, I’d still have to hunt like a monster to survive.

Still, none of that matters now.

I have to escape this lower layer, no matter what.

Even if I escape here, the middle layer lies between me and freedom.

I don’t even know if this path leads to the middle layer.

I’d rather not go to the deepest layer.

Ah— another bee was taken.

Looks like the bees are losing.

Mantis— impressive.

Wait— isn’t it clearly stronger than the snake?

Strange. In my records, snakes were always the boss monsters.

Compared to the earth dragon, it’s weak—but that mantis is still quite strong.

My personal ranking of snakes plummets sharply.

Could it be that snakes aren’t particularly strong here, in the lower layers?

Still, it’s too early to conclude that.

The mantis might just be exceptionally strong.

There was a time I thought that myself.

Just after bisecting the third bee, an unforeseen event occurred with the mantis.

Its body was torn apart by the sudden appearance of a massive spider’s fangs.

Huh?

No way.

Seriously?

‘Failed to identify Greater Taratekt LV18. Status assessment failed.’

Wow.

My super-evolved form.

Seriously?

‘Greater Taratekt: evolved form of the spider-type monster Taratekt species. Carnivorous, possesses potent venom in its fangs.’

Oh.

So this is what I become if I keep evolving.

Smaller than the colossal spider known as My Mother, but still around ten meters in length.

The mantis appears tiny.

Then again, I killed it with fangs alone—no silk used.

Is my physical capability becoming excessive?

I’m still only Level 21.

How many evolutions does it take to reach this state?

For now, retreat quietly before being spotted.

There’s no way I could win against something like that.

Yes, but I understand now.

This lower level is dangerous.

Dangerous how?

Exactly as it appears.

Enemies swarm here—so many that victory is uncertain even if I build a nest.

Seriously, my Life skill relies entirely on stealth.

Was I too hasty?

Maybe I should’ve forced a breakthrough at the hive instead.

But still, I don’t feel that overwhelming sense of crisis like with the Earth Dragon.

Moreover, there are monsters strong enough to be felled even by a bee. So it's not absolutely impossible.

The mantis and the giant spider seem formidable. But the others—perhaps they could be managed.

If a monster appears manageable, use it for sustenance. Otherwise, proceed with stealth as standard.

Current red total stamina gauge remains unchanged.

If this notation is accurate, no urgency is required. Observe the target carefully. Proceed methodically.

Avoid reckless actions that might draw a creature of Earth Dragon class. That would be undesirable.