Max stayed at the front with Charlotte in the middle and Stelle at the back. It was a good formation as Max could deal with the enemies coming from the front while Charlotte could support both of them from the middle.
As for Stelle, she was positioned at the back for any sneak attacks. After all, the tunnels were a complex maze and who knew what kind of enemies were lurking in the dark.
The pair of skeletons had noticed their group and came running towards them. Max was also ready to intercept them with his dull blade unsheathed.
He had read and developed many techniques and martial arts in his previous life to use them for his novel. Now, he was using those same martial arts and techniques to fight the monsters.
Granted, it wouldn't have been easy without his adaptation skill, and he had also been fighting life-and-death battles with the monsters, so he was learning quickly.
Smiling at the incoming skeletons, Max dashed forward, parried an incoming sword slash from a broken sword, and went right for the spinal cord of the skeleton.
However, this time the skeleton had support and was also powerful.
The second skeleton also punched at his chest, forcing him to change his stance and attack the ribs instead of the spinal cord.
The ribs cracked and white fragments dropped on the ground. However, the wound swiftly closed up and the two skeletons were upon him once again.
All of a sudden, however, their speed slowed down slightly, making Max smile. He took advantage of the opportunity created by Charlotte and sliced at the skeleton's weakness.
It took two hits for it to be destroyed, but he managed to take it down. That left only one more skeleton.
[You have slain Level 7, First-Grade Monsters, gained 8 EXP]
Dealing with the second one was far easier with no obstacles, and he quickly performed a set of sword moves to confuse the skeleton and sliced at its weakness.
[You have slain Level 7, First-Grade Monsters, gained 8 EXP]
Max cracked his neck after slaying the skeletons and said, "Let's speed up!"
"Understood!"
With that, the trio began running in the damp tunnel maze with the two ladies following Max's orders clearly. After all, only he knew the way out of this maze.
They found many undead soldiers along the way, some weaker and some powerful enough to force all three of them to fight together. But that didn't slow down their speed in the slightest.
[You have slain Level 8, First-Grade Monsters, gained 15 EXP]
"That's the highest amount of EXP I got aside from that Level 9 one," Max gasped for breath, as the battle wasn't an easy one.
But the rewards made him too happy, so he didn't mind the fatigue that followed. Taking a minute to give his body some rest, he looked at his status.
...
[Status Screen]
Name: Maxwell Corelhelm
Rank: Level 5, Bronze
Overall Level: 5
EXP: 87/90
Health: 90%
Stamina: 68%
Energy Reserves: 80%
...
"Damn! Almost Level 6 and I have just started wandering around here," Max exclaimed. "At this rate, I'll achieve Silver Rank before leaving this floor."
He turned around to look at his companions, and they were in far better condition than him. Only Stelle seemed to have sweated a little because of the many monsters coming from behind and from the sides.
"How long do you think they will take to reach the Black Knight?" Charlotte asked.
"Shouldn't take more than half an hour. It's more than enough to let them know about the undead skeleton's weakness. Once they get to know of it, they'll easily reach the Black Knight," Max explained, standing up.
"We don't have much time then," Charlotte muttered. "It's already been more than twenty minutes. How far away is the castle anyways!"
Instead of answering her, Max looked around and whispered, "Doesn't seem far away. Let's go!"
The trio once again began their journey to the castle. As they got closer to the castle, they encountered fewer soldiers, making their journey faster.
'The majority of the soldiers fought in the battle, and those who wanted to escape... we already fought them in the tunnels. Now, we can just hope the Black Knight doesn't visit the castle!' Max thought, as they passed by an entrance leading to the surface. It was closed, but if they tried, they could get out of there.
But Max didn't stop at that. The entrance would just take them into the battlefield where they would be swarmed by the skeletons and, worse of all, the Black Knight.
Finally, they encountered a undead monsters again. This time though, it wasn't a skeleton but a bestial monster in the shape of a dog.
Viscous liquid dripped from its terrifying fangs, its red eyes fixated on the trio. There were lots of wounds on its body, and they could even see its bones protruding out of its dead flesh.
[Name- Guardian of Marcus]
[Rank - Level 9, First-Grade]
[HP - 100%]
[Aggro - 100%]
"Oh boy! To think a Level 9 would be hiding here," Max frowned as they came to a halt.
They had defeated a Level 9 First-Grade Monster previously, but it was more so because they had already found its greatest weakness and made it lose control over its body.
But things were different here.
"A Level 9... do you know its weakness?" Charlotte asked, as she pushed Stelle forward and got ready for the battle.
Max didn't answer immediately, as he wracked his memories to remember when he had created this monster.
'Damnation! The first thing I should have made was a device or skill to give me photographic memory,' Max cursed and said, "I can't remember clearly, but if I have to guess, it is weak in eyesight."
That was mostly just his guess, knowing himself. If he had made such a monster, he would have definitely gone for its eyes.
"Better than nothing, let's go blast this one too," Stelle grinned and said, having her hammer on her shoulder. "Things are different this time around."
Indeed, things were different. Not only was Stelle nearly at Level 8, but Max himself was at Level 5 now. They could definitely win this.
The dog snorted at them, as if mocking their confidence, and lunged forward at an incredible speed.