Aldo and his companions continued to follow the path through the dungeon. They soon reached the point where Aldo and Clara had previously ventured.
Blocking their way were rock spirits and slime-like ghosts that were resistant to physical attacks. It seemed impossible to proceed without defeating these spirits.
โIris, why donโt you use some magic to take care of them?โ Clara encouraged Iris, placing her hands on the girlโs shoulders from behind.
โOkayโฆ here goes,โ Iris replied.
Iris focused, sensing the mana around her and circulating it throughout her body. She prepared to cast a spell and then unleashed itโ!
โCyclone!โ
The magic Iris unleashed tore through the rock spirits and slimes, shattering them into pieces. The rocks were chipped away, and the slime-like spirits scattered and vanished.
Even after the spirits were destroyed, Irisโs magic continued to rage, gradually weakening before finally subsiding.
The sheer power of the spell left both Aldo and Clara gaping in astonishment.
โWas that okay?โ Iris asked.
Previously, Clara would weaken the spirits with magic, and Aldo would deliver the finishing blow. But now, Iris had single-handedly wiped them out with her overwhelming power. Her strength was far beyond what ordinary spirits could handle.
โThat was amazing, Iris!โ Aldo exclaimed, ruffling Irisโs hair. Iris beamed, her eyes narrowing with joy as her lips curled into a wide smile.
โHehe, was it really that great?โ
Just moments ago, Iris had been downcast because she couldnโt heal Aldo. But now, she had completely bounced back, her face radiant with happiness.
As the father and daughter celebrated, Clara clenched her fist. Irisโs magic was on an entirely different level. Although Clara wasnโt specialized in magic, it was still unbelievable that Iris had surpassed her in just a few days.
She had never encountered a child with such immense magical talent. It was both awe-inspiring and terrifying.
If Iris used her powers for good, the world could benefit greatly. But if she strayed down the wrong path, Clara wondered if there would be any way to stop her.
โAlright, today Iโll make whatever you want, Iris! What do you feel like eating?โ
โHmmโฆ hamburgers!โ
Claraโs worries quickly dissipated. There was no way such a pure-hearted girl, who adored her father, would ever go down the wrong path. Seeing this heartwarming scene, Clara felt reassured.
โHey, you two. We should collect the fragments of the spirits we defeated. Itโd be a waste to leave them behind.โ
โOh, right. Iris, letโs see who can gather the most!โ
โOkay!โ
Clara never expected to witness such a heartwarming family moment in a dungeon. She had thought dungeons were all about tension and stress, but having a mood-maker like Iris around made the experience much more bearable.
In truth, delving into dungeons often took a greater toll on oneโs mind than body. Battling spirits could drain oneโs life, and the loneliness of exploring alone could be overwhelming. Companions werenโt always trustworthy, and there was always the risk of betrayal or having resources stolen.
Iris was undoubtedly a valuable asset with her magical abilities. But more than that, she was an ideal companion who brought smiles to her teammates. Before entering the dungeon, Clara had been worried about Iris, but now she realized that if she wasnโt careful, she might end up being the one Iris worried about.
Clara resolved to work harder so she wouldnโt fall behind Iris.
With Irisโs magic in top form, the party easily dispatched the spirits one after another. Now that their group had grown to three members, things became much easier, and Aldo and his companions finally reached the deepest part of the dungeon.
โIris, be careful. This is the deepest part of the dungeon. That spirit is the strongest enemy here.โ
Iris gulped as she saw the spirit before her. It was a blue-furred wolf spirit, towering in size, with a height not much different from Irisโs.
This was the first time Iris had encountered a dungeon boss. She couldnโt help but feel a little intimidated.
โWe have to fight that?โ
โDonโt worry. Iโll protect you,โ Aldo said, gripping his sword tightly. Clara also assumed a fighting stance, ready for battle.
โIris, if we defeat that spirit, the dungeonโs guardian spirit will be freed. Letโs do our best for its sake!โ
โOkay!โ
โRooooar!โ
The wolf howled, and a crackling sound echoed from nowhere. It was the sound of the air freezing. Ice began to form around the wolf, encasing it in an icy armor.
โThatโsโฆ blue magic. Blizzard Wear. Itโs a spell that enhances the user with an ice armor.โ
โBlue magicโฆ Can you use it, Clara?โ
โI havenโt mastered it yet.โ
Blizzard Wear was one of the red magic attributes. It could be countered with fire-based attacks. However, the only one with an affinity for red magic was Iris, who hadnโt yet learned any red magic spells. After all, she hadnโt met anyone who could teach her.
โGrrโฆ huโฆ humansโฆ?โ
The wolf spirit spoke, its words broken and halting.
โWait, spirits can talk?โ Iris exclaimed, her eyes wide with surprise. Neither Aldo nor Iris had ever encountered a spirit capable of speech before.
โThatโs right. Lower-level spirits canโt speak, but spirits and ghosts are fundamentally the sameโboth are spiritual entities. Just as spirits can speak, higher-level ghosts can too. But this one seems to only speak in fragments,โ Clara explained.
โI see. Youโre really knowledgeable, Clara. So, if it can only speak in fragments, does that mean itโs stronger than lower-level spirits but not overwhelmingly powerful?โ
โExactly. You catch on quick. Itโs probably a mid-level spirit.โ
โHumansโฆ die!โ
The spirit lunged at them, baring its hostility. Aldo raised his sword to block the spiritโs biting attack.
A metallic clang rang out as the spiritโs icy aura seeped into Aldo, sending a chill through him.
โAldo, be careful. If you stay too close, the cold will damage you,โ Clara warned.
Hearing this, Iris realized Aldo was in danger. She quickly cast a spellโ!
โWind!โ
Iris unleashed a wind spell. A stronger cyclone might have risked catching Aldo in its vortex, so she opted for a milder wind spell. Still, it was powerful enough to blow the spirit away, creating distance between it and Aldo.
โThanks, Iris. You saved me.โ
โHehe, you can rely on me more, you know!โ
Iris puffed out her chest proudly. The spirit landed on all fours, slightly off-balance but quickly regaining its footing.
โHumansโฆ die! Spirit magicโฆ Garou!โ
The spirit chanted a spell, summoning a pale blue wolf-shaped spirit that shot toward Iris.
โIris!โ
Aldo instantly sensed the danger to his daughter and unleashed the power of his Swift Blade. Moving at incredible speed, he positioned himself in front of Iris, taking the brunt of the spiritโs attack.
โUghโฆโ
The Garou spell struck Aldo in the abdomen. He staggered slightly but managed to steady himself, though the pain was evident as he breathed heavily.
โHaahโฆ haahโฆโ
โDad! Are you okay?โ
โYeah. Are you okay, Iris?โ
โIโm fine.โ
Aldo was more concerned about Iris than himself.
Clara rushed to Aldoโs side.
โApat!โ
She cast a healing spell to mend the spiritual damage Aldo had sustained. It was a type of spirit magic that Iris couldnโt use, and it gradually healed Aldoโs wounds.
โThanks, Clara.โ
โYouโre amazing, Dad! Sacrificing yourself to protect your daughter is so noble!โ
Despite being in the middle of a battle, Irisโs expression darkened. She couldnโt use the same healing magic as Clara, even though it was something anyone should be able to do. If only she could, she would have been able to heal Aldo herself.
Iris felt frustrated and helpless, knowing that Aldo had been hurt because of her, and she couldnโt do anything to help him.