My Reincarnation Skills Are “Playing With Dolls” and “Playing With Clay”, but What Am I Supposed to

Chapter 51: Labyrinth Worm

The ship slowly advances towards the deepest part of the labyrinth's fifth floor.

In the previously tumultuous cave, now as calm as if the battle had never happened, the sound of the ship's screws cutting through the water echoes.

Ahead lies a mysterious accumulation of mud-like substance, forming a tiny piece of land that could be called a shore, with a faintly glowing barrier just beyond it.

When the ship's hull reaches the sediment, I use clay to create a path-like walkway over it. While the discernment skill doesn't indicate whether the sediment is made up of monsters, it doesn't seem wise to step on it directly. It looks like we might sink into it, considering how muddy it is, maybe filled with decaying magical plants.

With Lina, who we found could be immediately retrieved with "Return Home," leading the way and Larouque following, we walk in a single file with caution. Even though the sediment has been solidified with clay, it still sinks considerably with all of us walking on it. It feels like it's made up of not just the original underground soil but also decaying remains of magical plants.

Once we reach the barrier, Carrena takes the lead again. With Beth's increased level, it seems she can neutralize the worm's barrier magic, but it comes with high MP consumption.

Today, since none of us have suffered significant physical injuries, Carrena has enough MP, and if needed, she can use meditation to recover it.

We all have an intuition that this barrier marks the end of our journey.

Nervously nodding to each other more than usual, Carrena chants "Exorcism" and moves forward.

The barrier feels thick and dense as it envelops us, and as we pass through it, we finally arrive at our destination.

Before us is the gigantic wall resembling the empty shell of the labyrinth worm that we have seen many times before.

However, this time, it is not an empty shell; it shines with a dull white hue and slowly wriggles.

Displayed above it is "<Labyrinth Worm LV20>."

What we see is merely the tiny tip of the giant, an incredibly massive worm-like creature that is beyond our level of comprehension. We are just in a small space that fits its body snugly, so we can't see the whole picture, only the surface of the white, glowing part of the worm.

An intense stench, miasma, and an ongoing low-frequency vibration resonate around us.

We are overwhelmed by its presence and the dense magical power it possesses.

We can't even whisper, fearing it might awaken the colossal monster. Instead, through our party connection, with Bess acting as the intermediary, we convey our thoughts to each other.

Even with Larouque's skill, we can't discern the worm's skills or special abilities. It's likely that it is protected by some kind of barrier-like existence.

Carrena's strong determination reaches us.

Everyone locks eyes, and the cramped space expands to its limits. After confirming that, Carrena raises her right hand.

The battle begins.

Greon and Cecily thrust their swords with all their weight, but the blades bounce off like striking rocks.

Beth concentrates her magic power and fires a close-range beam of flames, which heats up the pale outer surface but doesn't penetrate it.

Beth continues the barrage of fire, aiming for the cavity in the center or maybe its rear end? The moment she reaches that spot, the massive white creature reacts.

Is it effective?

At that moment, the surrounding cave shakes violently, and debris falls from above.

Quickly, I summon a ceramic shield to protect everyone's heads. A mere motion from the worm causes an earthquake; it's an inconceivably huge creature.

But that's not the end of it.

Perhaps for the first time realizing that we attacked it, the worm's magical power around us suddenly surges. As Bess shoots fire again, the worm's rear end lifts up.

"Watch out!"

Larouque yells.

The amount and force of the worm's mucus spew surpass even Naga's breath from earlier.

I hastily create a mass of clay to plug its rear end, but it only buys us a moment. The clay itself is ejected like a projectile, mixed with the mucus, and slams into the magical barrier Beth had erected.

Crash! The magic barrier shatters with a loud noise, and all the mucus strikes the second layer of the ceramic wall, fortunately holding up.

Hissing and corroding even reinforced ceramic, the part I'm supporting starts melting from the edges.

"I can't hold it!"

"We need to retreat!"

Carrena says as she breaks the worm's barrier once again.

While Lina supports the ceramic wall with me, the others retreat through the barrier. I continue to produce and reinforce clay, engaged in a race against corrosion. My MP is rapidly depleting.

Finally, Greon jumps into the barrier on the other side, and I release the wall and return Lina through the gap in the barrier.

Acidic fluid splashes onto my back, causing excruciating pain as if being burned by intense flames.

When I regain consciousness, Cecily and Greon are supporting me, and Carrena is casting healing magic on me.

Everyone seems to be safe, but the labyrinth's ceiling and walls are shaking vigorously, and the water's surface in front of us ripples.

It seems Bess is casting earth magic to prevent the ceiling from collapsing.

"Beth, we're done retreating! Use 'Return Home'!"

Following Larouque's signal, Beth changes her chanting. Her expression has turned pale, and it seems her MP is running low again.

Suddenly, slime and debris stuck to the ceiling start falling.

While lying down, I create a dome-shaped ceramic wall to cover everyone. My MP is about to run out too. By absorbing the remaining ship, I barely manage to squeeze out more MP to maintain the wall.

During that time, everyone holds hands, and Cecily grips my hand.

"Return Home!"

Bess's incantation completes, and the surrounding space begins to warp.

We manage to escape, barely holding on to our lives.