Chapter 303: Disarming the Traps

Chapter 303

Disarming the Traps

Ellie was summoned back not because she was needed for the battle, but simply because the eldest young lord wanted her to take a break. It seemed he knew about her troubles at the institute. Despite believing she could overcome them...he was worried about her overexerting herself with her studies. Thus, he used this excuse to call her back.

However, upon learning that they were going to challenge to ascend to the 7th floor, Ellie expressed her desire to join them. She had plans to have more bonded plant and heard about the immense benefits of being in the first group to take on the challenge.

History had shown that every participant in such challenges received blessings, sometimes enhancing their bloodline or providing other significant benefits. These were powers that couldn’t be obtained by just anyone but only by the first courageous group.

The Setter family’s greatness was partly due to their ancestors having advanced through the floors first. Naturally, they sought this strength again, knowing its value...

For safety reasons, Ellie was supposed to stay in Set City as the eldest young lord initially intended. However, she stubbornly insisted on joining the challenge. Though it seemed a bit overambitious, the potential rewards of this risk were exactly what she sought:

Strength, power, and turning point!

Because of that, when she met with the eldest young lord, she requested to accompany them. Unable to refuse her requests as always, he couldn’t stop her determination this time either. As a result, the Setter family had to meticulously plan their battle strategy. The eldest young lord provided Ellie with numerous magic scrolls for protection. Despite her saying she needed no more, they insisted on giving her valuable items for safety.

Not only did the Setter family need to prepare, but so did Ellie. She spent her time creating stratagems, concocting potions, and making other preparations. She summoned all her magical tools, including Little Apple, who had been training separately, and recalled more than half of her dispersed spores. These combined to form a higher-level little Purple Mushroom.

- Small Purple Mushroom, Level 5: If fed sufficiently, it can transform into a mother mushroom.

Action Panel

Option One: Disperse into small spores.

Option Two: Attack target with a potent poisonous acid.

Option Three: Digest the target and convert it into food.

Option Four: Enter a weightless state (special feature from ancient rune).

Option Five: Cancel operation. -

This Purple Mushroom increased its efficiency with each level up, unlike the little Apple, which had "special" symbols in its details. Every level increase for the little Apple enhanced its abilities. After following Eldest Young Lord Owen for a short period, upon returning...Ellie found that her little Apple had reached a higher level.

Although Ellie didn’t plan to use the little Apple under her name, some of its special powers were unknown to outsiders. Thus, Ellie could keep the little Apple hidden nearby, even shrinking it to the size of a fly. Instead of using its poison for attacks, she could use its air blast to neutralize poison.

- Manchinel Blue Poison or the Blue Apple of Disaster, Level 4 (Special): An apple resembling a frog, with alternating blue and black colors.

Action Panel

Option One: Expand the body to act as a protective shield.

Option Two: Shrink to hide.

Option Three: Detonate the poison bombs on its back; currently can be used 4 times a day (+1 extra poison bomb spit per day from ancient rune).

Option Four: When used in conjunction with purple mushroom spores, it can send poison bombs into the enemy’s body.

Option Five: Blow up the Toxic Wind Bomb to neutralize poisons within a 10-meter radius from itself. Usable 2 times a day. -

In the recent level up, the little Apple increased the usage of its Toxic Wind Bomb to neutralize poisons from once a day to twice a day, as Ellie had hoped. She felt she had benefitted from the eldest young lord’s luck; otherwise, the little Apple might have only increased its Toxic Wind Bomb’s range.

The power of the little Nocturnal Rabbit remained the same, and Ellie estimated it would take some time before it leveled up. Thus, she focused on forming a new bond. After extensive research, Ellie had already identified the plant she was interested in...

The preparation time was limited since the Setter family had been preparing for a long time. Within just 2 days of gathering, everyone was ready to depart. Ellie rode on a Masqueraded Steed controlled by the eldest young lord. The skilled and important members of the Setter family had gathered there. Some used other beasts as mounts, forming a grand procession that caught the attention of many spies.

"Ellie..." As Owen was guiding the Masqueraded Steed forward, Ellie was called again by the family head, who was not joining the journey this time. He needed to stay back to prepare for potential issues. Yes...this elder was very concerned for the little girl. If he could...he would have asked his son to persuade her to stay. But he knew his words wouldn’t hold as much weight as the little girl’s own wishes.

This wasn’t just a casual journey, so it was natural for the middle-aged man to be worried. All his capable sons were joining this fight. If anything went wrong, the Setter family would be risking everything...However, if the little young lady stayed back in the kingdom, she might be able to help the Setter family in some way. At the very least, her knowledge of herbal cultivation, or any other, could be beneficial. He never imagined Owen would allow the girl to accompany them in such a situation...

"You...you must be very careful," Steven swallowed nervously. On the day everyone was set to embark on this significant battle, could he, as the family head, tell her, "You don’t have to go"? If he did, how would the others in the family feel? Wouldn’t they think they were all going to their deaths?

"Understood," Ellie responded simply. But Steven’s expression didn’t improve. He wanted to ask her if she truly “understood.” If she did, why was she so insistent on risking her life in this fight?!

Ignoring his father’s anxious expression, Owen urged the Masqueraded Steed forward immediately. Many people lined the streets of Set City to see them off, praying for their safe journey. Even the priests came to bless for their smooth mission.

Prince Joseph personally came to bless them, along with other royal family members. Even Jason was there, watching Ellie, Aman, and Koross, who were like his friends, hoping for their safe return. Professor Medik, Professor Lucien, and Professor Nico also took time from their busy schedules to be there. Though they didn’t speak, Ellie could feel their deep concern.

Everyone’s eyes were on them. Ellie felt nervous but didn’t look back. She didn’t want to add to her own fear. No matter what, she intended to return safely!

Finally, the figures of the Setter family members disappeared one by one into the Tower of Eternity...

The fighters understood the gravity of this journey. Everyone maintained silence and focused deeply. Ellie, with Owen, Aman, and Koross by her side, felt reassured. It didn’t take long to travel from the city in the 6th floor to the Steps of Challenge.

"Up ahead is the beginning of the challenge for the 7th floor. You should know that once you enter, there’s no turning back. So...this is your last chance to decide. If you want to come inside, follow me. But if you want to go back, no one will blame you for your decision." Owen wasn’t much of a talker, but as the highest authority here, he couldn’t ignore the lives of everyone in the family.

His words caused people to look at each other before they burst into laughter.

"Haha, Eldest Young Lord, are you underestimating us?"

"Indeed, reaching this point means we have no intention of retreating."

"Yes, we must win this battle. I want to be part of the history that will be told to future generations, that I was one of the conquerors."

"Eldest Young Lord, we’ve been preparing for this day for months. No one will back down now. Lead us inside; everyone is ready to fight and win this battle."

"Nothing stirs the blood of the Setter family like a fight. This is our way of proving our existence!" Everyone expressed their opinions with excitement, and many elders laughed heartily as if Owen’s question was just a joke.

The corners of Owen’s mouth twitched slightly. Although these people acted as if victory was within reach without even knowing what they would face, he didn’t resent their display of confidence.

"Good! Then follow me." Owen didn’t say much more. He urged his Masqueraded Steed forward, with the little girl sitting in front of him, trotting ahead. A single burst of lightning elemental power was enough to activate a protective barrier for all the warriors of the Setter family. Everyone was slightly startled by this powerful display, which only boosted their confidence further.

"Yeah!!!!" The hunters of the Setter family cheered. Even though their future patriarch wasn’t great at conversing and rousing speeches, the instant he used his power instead of words, all the hunters became excited.

The barrier in front was the line between the doors of the 6th and 7th floors. Once the first person entered, it would be sealed off within 5 minutes, with the only exit being the door to the 7th floor.

If they couldn’t succeed, they would have to leave their lives at this door. Certainly, many had tried before the Setter family. The remains of countless lives were left here, and it was impossible to even bring them back for proper burial according to their beliefs. Lives and souls within this place couldn’t leave; they were counted as treasures between the floors.

Rumble. Rumble. Rumble!!!

The sound of thunder roared the moment a human dared to challenge it, simultaneously welcoming and intimidating them. If someone with a weak mind entered, they might feel like they heard the mocking laughter of the floor’s guardian and go insane...

"Be careful," Owen whispered. The little girl nodded and sent her spores ahead, alongside the Setter family members who knew their roles well. He directed his magic power forward to detect traps around them. Ellie also used her power to assist. The Purple Mushroom that had been waiting in her spirit appeared, its massive body drawing a lot of attention.

"Is that the lady’s power?"

"Indeed, supported by the Eldest Young Lord. In just one year, her power has grown significantly."

"A mushroom over 2 meters tall...it looks quite dangerous too." They whispered among themselves, and Ellie heard every word.

Aman grinned with satisfaction upon hearing what everyone was saying about his sister-in-law. Finally, Ellie had shown everyone that his brother’s judgment wasn’t blind!

Boom!!!

Boom!!!

Whoosh, whoosh, crack. Boom!!!

The sounds of many traps being triggered echoed around. Part of it came from the magic power of the Setter family’s detector. This man used his water elemental power to transform his magic power into a mud human. As it walked along the path and triggered the traps, it effectively disarmed them.

Another part came from the efforts of Ellie’s not-so-small Purple Mushroom. While the water elemental power of the detector worked well in disarming many traps...the trap setters weren’t fools. They knew that those who entered might use decoys to destroy the traps as seen. Hence, they had set up another layer of higher-level traps to deal with intruders. Ellie wasn’t sure how they worked. She had her Purple Mushroom follow the same path as the mud figure, yet hidden traps managed to shatter her Purple Mushroom into tiny pieces scattered around.

After the little Purple Mushroom was shattered, it reduced from a 2-meter giant to just 20 centimeters. The mushroom scattered around and disarmed all the traps, causing continuous explosions for over 10 minutes. The little spores then rooted themselves around and confirmed that all the traps had been destroyed.By the time Ellie realized she might have overdone it, she turned to see the stunned faces of the Setter family members...