Dimensional Codex System: I'm really not a cultist!

Chapter 910: Chapter 909: This Level Is a Killer...

Upon hearing the system notification, the previously listless girls suddenly jumped up.

”The Lord has been defeated!”

”We can go to the sixth layer now!!”

”Let’s go!!”

Crying out in excitement, the girls headed to the Teleportation Crystal and swiftly teleported to the starting town of the sixth layer, as per Fang Zheng’s command. Although the path would open immediately after each battle, most players would not proceed to the next layer right away, preferring to wait for others to scout ahead and return with accurate information.

Fang Zheng’s girls, however, were the most adventurous. Being both skilled and courageous, they were further instructed by Fang Zheng to proceed to the sixth layer as soon as the fifth layer Lord was defeated to scout ahead. They didn’t need to battle the boss, so they were able to conserve their strength and were now full of spirit as they reached the sixth layer.

”Let’s not take any quests for now. We’ll scout around first and see what kind of creatures spawn here.”

Everyone was familiar with Fang Zheng’s search protocol. Upon reaching the sixth layer, Asuna immediately issued the order and quickly made a decision.

”Miss Ester, take Aoba, Seven Seas, Shinong, Leafa, and Miss Lingyin to handle the swamp area. I’ll take the others to the forest. Do not stray too far from the safe zone, and return immediately if you encounter enemies after assessing the situation. We’ll regroup here in thirty minutes.”

”Understood.”

Upon hearing Asuna’s command, Ester nodded and led her group out of the town toward the swamp, while Asuna took a deep breath and led the other group to the forest.

The sixth layer map differed from previous ones, enveloped in a dense fog like a haze, reducing visibility to only two or three hundred meters. Objects in the distance loomed faintly through the mist. Fortunately, this was a game, and everyone had their in-game maps; otherwise, getting lost inside might mean no way out.

”Ugh... this place feels so eerie... The swamp is so disgusting...”

Stepping on the slippery swamp ground, Leafa made a grimace, and Ester glanced at her.

”Be careful. There might be a Bottomless Swamp here.”

”Huh?”

Leafa was taken aback by Ester’s warning.

”Is there really such a thing as a Bottomless Swamp?”

”In reality, there is.”

Surveying the surroundings, Ester spoke calmly.

”But in this world, it’s uncertain. Still, it’s better to be cautious. We’ve seen a girl almost get pulled into a Bottomless Swamp before and nearly unable to escape.”

”Ugh...”

Shivering at Ester’s words, Leafa cautiously glanced at her feet. Although it was unlikely for a Bottomless Swamp to appear in the game world, considering the game’s notorious nature... who could say for sure?

”Ester has a point. Better to be cautious.”

Lingyin smiled while patting Leafa’s shoulder, casting an exasperated look around.

”But, the fog on this layer is so thick. I wonder what kind of creatures are here...”

”In any case, caution is paramount.”

Gripping her Long Spear, Shinong remained silent, occasionally glancing behind to ensure the group’s safety while quietly warning.

”Our visibility here is poor, and the swamp conditions aren’t good either. The ground is slippery and soft, making it unsuitable for quick actions. We must report this back to Mr. Fang Zheng.”

”Ugh...”

Seven Seas, in a half-asleep state, wandered beside the group.

”Monsters, come out quickly. The longer they don’t appear, the more uneasy I feel...”

Muttering to herself, Leafa stepped forward again, only to feel that what she was stepping on was not the soft, slimy swamp but something that was moving...

What was it?

Curiouser, Leafa looked down, raised her foot, and glanced below. Her face instantly changed color. Beneath her feet, several enormous centipedes were crawling around, and a few had already climbed onto her shoes!!

”Centipedes!!!”

With a scream that nearly pierced eardrums, Leafa bounced up as if on springs, frantically shaking her foot to fling off the centipedes. Yet the centipedes ignored her struggles, climbing leisurely up her leg.

”Help!! Help!! Shinong!!”

The crawling sensation of the multi-legged bugs on her skin made Leafa go limp, clutching onto Shinong with a force that nearly strangled her.

”W-wait, don’t hug so tightly...”

Struggling to free herself from Leafa’s ”bear hug,” Shinong also tried to swat away the centipedes. But they clung to Leafa as if determined to stay.

”Aoba, come help me pull her off!!”

”I’m coming, I’m coming!!”

Aoba hurried over upon hearing Shinong’s call for help, but just as she approached, a slight sound emerged from the dense fog nearby.

”Click-clack-click-clack...”

What’s that sound?

The group paused in confusion, turning to look—and were met with a terrifying sight. Three or four human-sized centipedes emerged from the mist, raising their upper bodies with dozens of densely packed legs wriggling around, paired with realistic mouthparts and twitching antennae...

”Centipedes!!!”

This time, Aoba screamed, wildly swinging her weapon as she retreated and collided with Lingyin, almost knocking her over... she was practically petrified with fear!

”.....?”

Awakening drowsily as if just roused from a nap, Seven Seas tilted her head, observing the chaos before picking up her weapon.

”...Should we fight?”

”Prepare to engage.”

Ester glanced at the chaotic rear before issuing the command, however, the situation was already spiraling out of control...

”Get down!! Stop climbing on me!!!”

”Don’t hold onto me; I can’t fight like this!”

”Centipede!! Centipede!!! Huge centipedes!!!”

”What do we do? What do we do? What do we do?”

Chaos had descended upon the rear section.

”......”

With a silent glance at the disordered team behind her, Ester raised her Longsword.

”Seven Seas, protect them. I’ll handle these enemies.”

Before the words even finished, Ester lowered her posture and charged at the incoming centipede creatures.