Learning from my experience on the fifth and the tenth floors, I tried to obtain myself useful skills that could help me on the fifteenth floor.
Let us see if my training paid off.
[Maha Bhumi Jwala]
Threads of crimson and brown mana seeped into the ground of Sagonda Plaza upon my chant.
['Unified Grand Magic 'Scorching Earth (★★★★)'s has been activated!]
[Caster - 'Serafina (★★★★)']
The earth beyond me rippled like ocean wave. Towering pillars of fire burst out from the wide crevices the ripple formed.
Thousands of charging infected were devoured in the phenomenon. Crushed by the earth ripple, scorched by the fire pillars.
A vast burning gorge was now formed between me and the ocean of infected.
But that did not stop the rabid corpses from advancing.
They all plunged into the fiery landscape and sprinted toward the Sagonda Plaza once more.
[Maha Jalagnih]
I spread my mana once more and made it penetrate into the artificial valley.
[Erupt]
From under the chasm, burst forth streams of molten lava.
The dense hot substance quickly flooded the gorge and drowned the many infected within. The undead were decimated in the infernal pool.
The legions of undead were now hesitant to cross over.
They tried to find a way around to reach us.
[Rift] [Flow]
I then expanded the molten earth-filled gorge around the Sagonda Plaza till it almost completely surrounded the area.
Because of the burning divide I created, now the army of infected had to charge around the plaza, over its northern and southern sides, and head straight to the west, toward the harbor.
Just as I intended.
Kroaahh!!!
Crash!!!
The hundreds of thousands of infected had now clashed against the blockade around the harbor and engaged the Jherendal soldiers in fierce battle.
[Enemy Relationship Formed!]
[Mad Undead versus Human Soldiers]
My comrades witnessed this confrontation between our opponents with gaping mouths.
"Fina, the enemies! The harbor!"
Jonah shouted with a smile.
I nodded to him.
"Let's escape this forsaken city!"
[Time remaining until the decimation of the city:]
[00:09:59]
"To the harbor!"
I shouted to my comrades as I activated another enchantment stone.
['Serafina (★★★★)' is casting temporary enchantment.]
[Elemental Attribute, Penetration]
[Party 1's strength, agility, and stamina have increased by 12 for the next 10 minutes.]
Upon my command, our fifteen golems formed a rank in front of us and began stampeding toward the blockade bordering the harbor.
My comrades, the prince, and I positioned ourselves behind the moving statues and dashed to the harbor with them.
[Human Knight Lv.13 x61]
[Human Soldier Lv.11 x879]
The archers standing atop the wooden blockade nocked their arrows upon the sight of our charge.
They immediately redirected their attention away from the ocean of infected once they saw His Highness, their target.
Anticipating this move from the enemies, I slowed myself down and separated myself from my comrades and the prince.
My next set of spell would not be suitable to be casted among allies just yet.
[Maha Indra]
My mana pulsed from my vessel to the tips of my fingers.
The particles clashed with each other at the accumulation points, generating intense energy.
[Strike]
With a flick of my hands, streaks of lightning burst forth and struck the wooden blockade.
Crash! Boom!
The gate construct in front of us collapsed, felling dozens of the archers stationed right above it.
[Spread]
The bundle of energy then dissolved into dozens of smaller lightning which claimed the Jherendal soldiers manning the blockade around its gate.
The rest of the barricade rattled in the strike. The hordes of infected that tried to march in were able to punch through new holes into the barrier.
"Enter the harbor!"
I ordered promptly after the successful assault.
With our pack of golems leading the way, our party rushed through the ruined blockade and into the harbor, our objective.
[Time remaining until the decimation of the city:]
[00:08:51]
"Stop them!"
Cries of soldiers resounded upon our entry.
Dozens immediately gathered to intercept us.
[Human Knight Lv.13 x20]
[Human Soldier Lv.11 x126]
More would had joined to surround our party, but the rest of the soldiers were fighting off the infected that had breached into the blockade.
Even so, over a hundred soldiers were still formidable number. They were not just rotting moving flesh, after all.
But it was for this instance I labored myself in the alchemy lab.
"Let the golems take care of the soldiers! Head to the pier!"
I ordered my comrades as I sent the moving statues leaping into the enemy ranks and wreaking havoc.
We moved on through the harbor as the golems intercepted the soldiers trying to block our way.
Kroaahh!!!
[Mad Undead Lv.??? x18]
[Mutated Undead Lv.23 x1]
Since we had destroyed the blockade, we bounded to encounter more infected in the harbor.
My golems were all occupied holding back the soldiers.
But my comrades were not completely powerless compared to them.
['Shanny (★★)' has gone berserk!]
[Ring of Malaikat (A) is taking effect!]
Repeating the previous strategy, Shanny charged at the forefront, aiming for the giant beast.
Jonah and I crippled the giant with our spear and spell.
While Darius and Devisha cleared out the smaller infected blocking Shanny's way.
Slash!
As easy as facing a level one goblin Shanny slayed the mutated infected and removed our obstacle.
The young prince flinched the moment the huge corpse fell to the ground.
[Time remaining until the decimation of the city:]
[00:06:47]
I threw my gaze around the pier, toward the ships mooring themselves by the harbor, spying for the vessel suitable for our escape.
My eyes eventually caught sight of a large ship that had anchored itself way off into the Great Katcha Lake.
I recognized its frames enough to know it was not an ordinary water vessel.
If we could just get ourselves to the pier…
"Stop!"
I suddenly instructed our group.
My comrades knew why I halted our escape. They quickly readied their weapons for another confrontation.
Standing at the edge of Tsuchi's pier was a row of black-armored knights.
The insignia of a single-horned crimson bear was engraved on their glimmering enchanted armors.
I immediately prepared a spell at the sight of them.
[Viulan Knight Lv.21 x15]
"They look tough, Serafina."
Shanny said as she tightened the grip on her sword.
I nodded to her comment.
"They're supposed to be the best knights in the empire. In the entire world. Some of us would likely die if we were to engage all of them head on. More if we try to protect the prince in the process."
Despite my words, Darius was ready to send his arrow flying to the enemies.
Devisha was staring at them over her veil as sharp as the scimitars tightly gripped in her hands.
Shanny was ready to stain her sword with their blood.
While Jonah was prepared to hunt the knights with his spear.
"How do you suggest we fight them, Fina?"
The shepherd asked.
I smiled at his question.
"We don't."
I said as I activated my spell. A dimensional spell.
A bright light suddenly consumed my party.
Our surrounding shifted into the deck of a large vessel floating in vast water.
The Tsuchi harbor plagued in chaos by the infected and our golems was in a slight distance to our east.
We had teleported ourselves to the ship I was aiming for.