Chapter 168: The Wilderness of Dinosaurs Part 1

The Random Dungeon, where we had battled human players during that event, was a peculiar place. Normally, its entrance would sporadically appear in the field and vanish after some time. The only thing evident at the entrance was the appropriate level for conquering it, while the interior remained a mystery until one entered. During the event, it seemed the name of the dungeon was also known before entering, but since its implementation in the game after the event, that too was unknown. Was it meant to be an enjoyment of the unknown?

Though often difficult to conquer with our current party formation and the items we had, I had heard that the items obtainable inside were exceptionally rare. It seemed worth the try.

“I agree with going, but what’s the appropriate level? If it’s too high, it might be impossible.”

“Don’t worry. The appropriate level listed was 30~40.”

So, it was nearly the same difficulty level as the “Gale Plains” where we were currently hunting. It didn’t seem too difficult to go in nor too difficult to conquer. Then, there should be no problem.

“Alright! Let’s head to this Random Dungeon!”

“I’m excited!”

“I wonder what kind of monsters we’ll encounter?”

“I hope we~ find some good materials~ .”

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After adding Hanna and Roja to our party, they led us to the entrance of the Random Dungeon. The entrance was like a hole of wriggling black space. It felt quite strange to have something like that in the middle of a grassy field.

As we bravely stepped inside, our surroundings instantly shifted. And we found ourselves in a drastically different environment.

“The ‘Wilderness of Dinosaurs’… It’s a field-type dungeon.”

The dungeon we entered seemed to be called the “Wilderness of Dinosaurs” Though termed a dungeon, it was actually an expansive wasteland stretching to the horizon. The ground was parched, with barely any weeds growing. Moreover, there was a constant swirl of dust in the air.

It seemed this place was similar to the “Shura Plains” created by Jigoro, meaning that our objective was likely to defeat a boss located somewhere in this vast field.

“Wow~, it’s so vast!”

“Yes, it is. But our destination is clear.”

“It’s pretty obvious.”

What everyone was looking at was a lone hill in the middle of the wilderness. It was the only hint to our destination, and unless something troublesome happened, we would inevitably head there.

“Let’s set off… Oh, it looks like we have some company first.”

Hanna, who had a higher vantage point due to being on horseback, spotted enemies approaching us first. Upon seeing their forms, I couldn’t help but widen my eyes in disbelief.

“Is that… a dinosaur?”

“Yes, it is! That’s a Velociraptor!” Eiji added.

The creature was indeed a dinosaur. It had red scales, feathers of the same color on its forelimbs, and well-developed claws on its hind limbs. Apart from the color, it resembled the dinosaurs I had seen several times in movies and other works of fiction. There were six of them in the pack, all dashing towards us with ferocious speed.

I was a boy too, and the sight of a living, breathing embodiment of the romanticism of dinosaurs excited me more than a little. However, Eiji was even more thrilled.

“You really know your stuff. Do you like dinosaurs?”

“I loved them as a kid. I went to the museum countless times! Seeing them alive like this is just amazing!”

“Even though there are VR movies…”

Shishu murmured to herself. There were already several VR films, tours, and experiential adventures set in prehistoric times. Therefore, opportunities to experience the grandeur and power of dinosaurs with full realism were surprisingly common.

But pointing that out would be tactless right now. Because that’s just how men are. They never lose that part of them that remains forever young. Moreover, it’s a fact that seeing them as aggressive enemies, ready to attack, is something rarely seen in other works.

Yes, a battle was about to unfold. As usual, I started with [Appraisal]!

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Race: Fire Raptor Lv32~36

Job: Gladiator Lv2~6

Skills:

• [Sharp Fangs]
• [Fire Claws]
• [Tail Strike]
• [Tough Scales]
• [Health Enhancement]
• [Strength Enhancement]
• [Agility Enhancement]
• [Dexterity Enhancement]
• [Intelligence Enhancement]
• [Fire Magic]
• [Fire Resistance]
• [Coordination]

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“Their race is Fire Raptor and their level is in the 30s range. They’re speed-oriented warriors who can use [Fire Magic]. Be cautious as they also have the [Coordination] skill!”

“Understood!”

I quickly summarized the results of my [Appraisal] and shared them with everyone else. After hearing everything, Eiji stepped forward with his shield at the ready. Through the gap in his helmet, his eyes shone with a brilliance reminiscent of Jigoro when facing a formidable enemy.

“”””Gyagyaaaahhhhh!!!””””

“Hmph! Shield Bash!”

“”””Goegahh!?””””

Eiji confronted three Fire Raptors who were lunging at us as if to tear us apart with their hooked claws. He blocked them all together with his shield and then, using his martial technique, he struck them hard. His shield that was reinforced with true steel and his overwhelming strength sent the Fire Raptors flying like cannonballs.

“Compared to the Spartoi monsters; these are light.”

“Hanna and Roja, circle to the back. Shishu, attack from the right. I’ll hold the left. Wool, can you try putting them to sleep?”

“Here I go.”

“Leave it to me!”

“Alright~.”

Hanna and Roja immediately dashed to flank them from behind. Shishu quickly attached to one on the right, striking with her sharp limbs and fangs. I also restrained the one on the left of Eji with the Holy Ring of [Holy Magic] which I set using [Trap Magic]. It seemed we could easily defeat them this way.

“Meeh~, meeh~. This works well.”

However, the battlefield was dominated by Wool’s bleating. Perhaps due to their lower stats and lack of resistance, each of his cries lulled one monster after another into sleep. His cries were devastatingly effective against most ordinary monsters, not just against these Fire Raptors.

“Oh? This is very easy.”

“Gegeeh…”

“Is this Wool-kun’s power?”

“Gyoohh…”

Hanna and Roja charged forward with momentum, having taken a running start. The Fire Raptors who were unable to move even slightly since they were sleeping were defeated one after another, either pierced by Hanna’s halberd or crushed under Roja’s hooves. That’s what happens when you’re fast asleep in front of an opponent with a drastically higher level.

The noise and impact of the assault seemed to have awakened the remaining creatures, but it was already too late. Upon waking up, what they must have seen was a mix of magic, blades, fangs, and hooves coming their way.

“…That was rather easy.”

“Well, they were lower level opponents. It’s only to be expected.”

Eji appeared somewhat dissatisfied. He likely harbored mixed feelings about the dinosaur-like monsters being weaker than he had anticipated. However, given the level difference between us and them, it couldn’t be helped. To encounter a challenging battle, the opponents needed to be on the same level as us at the very least.

“More importantly, the materials! Shiitake and Iris will be thrilled!”

“Yeah, that’s true.”

Shishu’s point was valid. Therefore, I quickly pulled out a skinning knife from my pocket and stabbed it into one of the Fire Raptors. Now, what would drop from these guys?

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• Fire Raptor Scales – Quality: Good, Rarity: C (Common)

Scales of a dinosaur imbued with the fire element.

They are relatively thin, making them lightweight.

They are suitable for crafting armor with high resistance to the fire element.

• Fire Raptor Claws – Quality: Good, Rarity: R (Rare)

Claws of a dinosaur imbued with the fire element.

The iconic claws of the Fire Raptor boast a sharpness akin to that of a blade, even without any processing.

They are suitable for crafting weapons with the fire element.

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As expected, we obtained scales, claws, and fire-element magic stones. Skipping over the magic stones, the remaining materials seem to be suitable for crafting weapons and armor with elemental properties. This was a great find! Indeed, the primary attraction of a random dungeon was the chance to acquire items that wouldn’t normally drop in that field.

Although the quality of these drops seemed inferior to those from the “Black Death Ice Forest” it was understandable given the lower level of the monsters here. It would be unreasonable to expect weak monsters to yield powerful items anyway.

“The scales seem perfect for light armor. Perhaps they’d be good for Usaji?”

“I agree. As for the claws, they’re likely to be in high demand.”

“Fortunately, these opponents aren’t too strong, so we should keep defeating as many as we can. There might be more places to gather materials. Let’s proceed with an eye on the ground too.”

“Alriiight!”

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We then advanced towards the hill while facing numerous attacks along the way. The majority of these assaults were by herds of Fire Raptors, though occasionally we confronted different monsters. These rare drops were the result of those fights.

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• Rock Pachycephalosaurus Skull: Quality: Good, Rarity: R (Rare)

Skull of a dinosaur imbued with the earth element.

The skull is characteristic of the Rock Pachycephalosaurus, is exceptionally thick, and boasts a hardness surpassing metal.

It serves as a material for crafting weapons and armor with the earth element.

• Aqua Spinosaurus Dorsal Fin: Quality: Good, Rarity: R (Rare)

Dorsal fin of a dinosaur imbued with the water element. It is shaped like a fan.

The hollow bones are surprisingly sturdy, and the membrane’s texture is remarkably pleasant.

It serves as a material for weapons with the water element and could also potentially be used in crafting high-class dresses.

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These were materials we obtained from the Rock Pachycephalosaurus and the Aqua Spinosaurus, respectively. Along with scales, each dropped magic stone was imbued with the creature’s respective element. Since the description of the elements was the only difference in the materials, I’ll skip the details here.

The Rock Pachycephalosaurus was a monster that charged with its smooth, hard skull thrust forward. Its body was larger than the Fire Raptor and it was quite terrifying when it approached us while looking for something to eat. Its charge was so powerful that Eiji initially refused to confront it head-on, so it was quite a struggle when we first saw it.

However, its fatal flaw was that it had no other method of attack besides charging. Once we dodged its initial charge, it exposed its vulnerability while slowing down to make a U-turn. As it also required time to accelerate, we eventually settled on the best strategy: evading and then finishing it off with long-range attacks.

Well, the one we had just defeated was actually beheaded by Hanna in a passing blow. As expected from the strongest cavalry player.

The Aqua Spinosaurus was a creature with a magnificent fin-like organ on its back. According to Eiji’s knowledge, the real Spinosaurus used this large protrusion for body temperature regulation. However, this being a game, its use was completely different.

The fan-like dorsal fin acted much like a staff for a mage. Each time it used magic, this part would glow faintly. It also sprayed water from the bones that passed through it, giving the impression that it was stronger than its level suggested.

We did see other monsters, but they fled immediately upon seeing us, so we couldn’t obtain any items from them. Such things happen when there’s a significant level difference. It’s easier this way, but it’s a drawback of being too far above the appropriate level. It’s unfortunate that the amount of dropped items decreases.

“Anyway, the dinosaurs here seem quite different from real ones,” Eiji said.

“It must be because they’re monsters after all…”

Throughout our journey thus far, every monster we encountered was carnivorous. Even the Pachycephalosaurus which should have been herbivorous by nature and the monsters that fled upon seeing us that we also knew were carnivorous, since we witnessed them preying on other monsters beforehand. It seemed that this “Wilderness of Dinosaurs” was indeed a terrifying place where the law of the survival of the fittest reigned supreme.

Having managed to acquire several rare drops along the way, we finally reached the top of the hill. Like the plains, this was a barren land, completely devoid of vegetation.

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You have entered the Dungeon Boss Area.

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However, our suspicions were confirmed. A system message informed us that this was indeed the Boss Area. As we silently braced ourselves upon hearing the notification message, the large rock sitting atop the hill began to move.

“BUOOOOOOOOOO!!!”

The rock turned out to be the boss and upon detecting intruders, it unleashed a mighty roar. It seemed somewhat grumpy; possibly it had just awakened from its sleep. And thus began our boss battle in this Random Dungeon.

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TN: The reason mc and others were surprised about the dinosaurs even though the name of the dungeon suggested that dinosaurs were going to be inside is because: the term “dinosaurs” in Japanese literally translates as terror beasts.