The Black Sky Pirate Laughs Beneath the Moon. The Crimson Mage Howls at the Stars (26)

"Mimino, Non, farther in!"

Dantes-san ran behind the two of them, while I brought up the rear at a sluggish pace atop Cat-chan.

Just after Non-san and Mimino-san leaped into the next passage, the first tentacle gecko sprang at me.

I struck it once in the snout with 【Fire Magic】, and it fell to the ground with a screech I couldn't identify, flailing helplessly.

"Ugh, that's gross."

Leon had somehow already drawn his longsword. With a smooth swing, he cut the gecko's body clean in two, and it rolled away. Long intestines spilled from its body, along with what looked like a stone from its stomach. Was it eating rocks?

Even so, Leon's sword was incredible. He lightly pierced the crown of a charging tentacle gecko, then cut down another as it came flying at him with dancing steps.

The whole sequence looked like a dance—and I realized this was the strength of the Pure Gold rank.

Of course, the weapon's strength was a factor too. It was a masterwork longsword that could cleave through a body even with stones inside it. It didn't seem to contain mithril, but it wasn't made of ordinary metal, either.

"Reiji, hurry!"...