Ren's group had reached the Sixteenth floor, and all throughout the expedition Ren never even needed to lift a finger to fight. Hilda on the other hand started to help Lara on the twelfth floor onward since she noticed that Lara was getting hurt more often.
Even though she was there to simply observe, she couldn't let Lara just get hurt like that. Also in her eyes Ren was pretty much useless. At this point both she and Lara had a lot of scratches in their armor, but because of Lara's healing spell they wasn't a scratch on their skins. While the two girls were fighting with their lives on the line.
Ren was still looking at the layout of the Dungeon and actually found something really surprising. Though there were some differences here and there, but the layout as well as the materials used in making the Dungeon was similar to the fortresses the humans build back in his previous life.
It was at the time when Ren who was still Demon Lord Kretos was facing off against his fourth hero. The humans had finally found a way to fortify their walls with a material hard enough to withstand a bombardment of magic, and also stop magic senses from prying.
Yet even with this advancement they couldn't stop Kretos from his march. The material used was hard enough to stop a bombardment from dozens of Master class magicians, but they were still unable to stop Kretos, whose power at that point in time was at its peak.
The materials used to make the walls of this Dungeon felt similar to what was used that time, but it was also different. The materials used in those fortresses back in his previous world were able to withstand a certain level of magic, but these ones were able to negate a certain level of magic.
The properties of this material were like those of Valdel's new sword Zwei, yet this was made with something similar but weaker. Still it does its job quite well if you're trying to fend off weaker level opponents. Also even without the effect of magic negation the material used in building the Dungeon is sturdy enough to last a millennia.
While Ren was still contemplating about what all these could mean, the girls were having a very thrilling battle. The two were fighting a giant suit of armor standing at least ten feet tall. This monster was called a steel golem, it's classified as an subjugation monster that needs at least five A rank adventurers to beat it.
Yet seeing as Lara and Hilda were stronger than a regular A rank adventurer they were able to somehow fight evenly with the monster. The two ladies fought with good coordination, as Lara supported Hilda with magic, and enchanted arrows. Hilda on the other hand fought up close and personal using her spear, deflecting the incoming attacks and creating openings to exploit.
...
The two had been fighting the steel golem for more than half an hour and they still couldn't beat it. You think at this point Ren would have helped them but no, he continued to look around without a care in the world.
It wasn't because Ren didn't care about them. It was actually because he trusted them that he didn't help them. This battle against an opponent with a slightly greater power, was needed to surpass their limits and be able to grow stronger. To Ren no matter how long you train and no matter what technique you learn, none but true battle could help you grow.
Still Ren was always ready to help them, just in case they truly needed him. So while Ren was thinking that he was an awesome teacher, the two ladies have finally changed tactics. The two ladies started to attack a singular spot with all their power.
The two chose to attack the center of the body of the steel golem. For some reason that seem to be the weakest part of its armor. At first the two didn't notice it, since they couldn't even damage the monster, but after hitting that area a few times. They noticed that the steel golem actually started to defend that area.
So with that simple observation the two ladies started to attack that spot without relent. Since it wasn't like they had any other idea. Showing how in sync they were with each other, the moment Hilda attacked she would shift the defensive position of the steel golem by redirecting its arms to the side. When the opening is made Lara fired arrows in quick succession.
The two repeated this process until finally they made a hole in the armor. When the two saw that they finally succeeded. Hilda doubled her efforts to make the steel golem focus on her. Lara on the other hand started chanting and made a dozen delayed spells of [fire ball]. When she was ready Lara waited for the opening she needed to attack.
Hilda who noticed Lara was done, pushed the steel golem a bit backwards by throwing her spear infused with mana. That attack gave the opening Lara needed to send all her delayed [fire ball] spells into the hole of the armor.
Once Lara's delayed [fire ball] spell was inside the steel golem, she made all the [fire ball] spells explode at the same time. This move was able to blow up the steel golem from within. When the two saw the steel golem explode and its body becoming mana once more, they knelt on the ground panting heavily.
"Good job both of you." Ren started to clap at the two ladies achievement. The two who heard what Ren had to say, felt two extremely different things.
Lara looked at Ren while panting and she felt extremely happy. Her face was still showing the same stone cold look, but inside she was having a celebration.
'YAY! Ren praised me! It's been so long since he praised me! Does that mean I grew even more powerful today? So that means I'm getting closer to him?' Lara was still panting heavily but the joy of getting one step nearer to her beloved was exhilarating.
Hilda on the other hand who was also exhausted, glared at Ren. 'What the hell does he mean good job? We nearly died, and he still didn't lift a finger! What is wrong with this guy's head?'
"So you two just rest here for awhile. I'm going on ahead and will be clearing the path for you two."
Hilda wanted to say something but she was too exhausted to even speak. So she helplessly watched Ren going deeper to the next level of the Dungeon. Her mind was a mess, she didn't really like the arrogant boy but she didn't want him to die.
She tried her hardest to stand up and follow Ren. So that she could stop him from going deeper into the dungeon by himself, but no matter how hard she tried she couldn't put any strength into her legs. She had no choice but to wait for her to regain just enough stamina to be able to move.
'I hope you're still alive when I get to you.' Those were Hilda's last thoughts before she went into a meditative state.
Lara on the other hand just directly went to sleep. Since in her eyes Ren was invincible and worrying about him felt idiotic.