After traveling south from the Kingdom of Austin and entering the Kingdom of Portiana, we next headed for the mountainous region where the Fire Giants were said to be.

「I see it. That red mountain is the 『Fire Dragon Mountains』.」

Saki said as she checked the map.

「Ohhh, ......, this is it. It is said that everything burns and even iron melts in these mountains. ......」

Selma said in fear, but I guess it's just folklore taught in the dark elf village.

「All of you, check your status to make sure that your 【Fire Resistance】 is maxed out.」

「「「Copy」」」

It's a skill I've already taken in the desert, so it'll be useful here as well.

We climbed up the mountain path where the ground looked shaky from the heat.

「Monsters! Three of them!」

On the way, a fiery cow demon appears and rushes towards us.

「Ha!」「Seiyahh!」「Oraa!」

The vanguard group slashed at it with a counter attack, but it couldn't be killed with a single blow. It's quite a tough enemy.

I'll have to appraise it just in case.

〈Name〉 Fire Buffalo

〈Level〉135

〈HP〉 11486/22486

〈Status〉 Excited.

〈Description〉

A cow that wears flames.

When it sees something fluttering, it rushes at it.

It has a rather ferocious personality.

Non-active.

It's level is over 100. If it were in a dungeon, it would be treated as a boss, but here it's in a herd, so it's probably just a small fry.

Is there a larger range of enemy levels in this world than I thought?

If that's the case, then it's possible to hunt down strong enemies, gain experience, and level up further.

I think I'm beginning to see a path to be able to defeat the unstoppable Emperor Gilan.

「Clear!」

It took us a while, but we were able to finish the battle without getting into any trouble.

I had been thinking about the fight with the boss of this place, a giant named Kirks, but I soon realized that ...... that was a mistake.

「There's a new one! Eight of them this time!」

Monsters with four wings like dragonflies appeared, but they were probably about the same level as the enemies from earlier ―― that's why I didn't do the 【Appraisal】. No, even if I had, I'm sure I wouldn't have taken any special action just because they?breathed fire.

「All right, we should all scatter and take out these things together――Whoaa!?」

Jouga and the other vanguards thought so and headed towards their respective enemies, but we were too late to realize the horror of being surrounded in a circle.

The monsters were spraying burning flames at us all at once.

The area in front of us became a literal sea of fire, and we were swallowed by the massive wave of flames.

Of course, if you have 【Fire Resistance Level 5】, you can prevent the heat.

However, the flames deprived us of oxygen, causing us to run out of oxygen.

「D-damn, I'm having trouble breathing, huh? My consciousness is ......! I can't get any strength into my legs! Kuhh, it's getting dark in front me ......!」

The members' movements slowed down.

「Tsk.――」The four great spirits are sylphs, let their wings flap in a gust of wind! 【Wind!】」

I cast a wind spell.

If I didn't have the 【Suffocate Resistance】 skill, it would have been a bit dangerous.

「All right, I can breathe again!」「Easy peasy!」

「Clear!」「Phew.」

「Everyone, take 【Suffocate Resistance】 as well.」

「「「Roger!」」」

After defeating the mob, we headed straight for the top of the mountain and finally found the cave where Kirks was said to be.

In the cave, lava flowed down the center of the cave, making it look like a river.

「Ohhhh, ......, the cave of the red river that needs no light, it really is just like the lore. ......!」

Selma is impressed, did the people from the Dark Elves' village also come here?

If so, they are higher level than I thought, but ...... Selma's level is not so high.

I felt a little stuck, but now I have to focus on Kirks.

「Selma, you stay here.」

「Kkhh, that's really pity I couldn't follow you there, but I understand.」

「Everyone, check your equipment and the potions. This is where the real thing.」

「「「Undestood!」」」

『Black Cat of the Wind』 clan members head into the cave.

It's the sixth trial.

We headed deeper into the cave, feeling a definite response.