CHAPTER 534: THE RAVENOUS MAW [II]

The dwarves started rushing through the tunnels. There is no time to waste now that the Maw of Stones has changed its body composition into the Mythril, which will also allow their acids to work effectively against the Maw of Stones and deal with it before it becomes a headache to deal with.

Elaina did not complain and also ran alongside them as they got into the tunnel, deeper and deeper.

As they got deeper underground, the shaking around the mines starts to get really dangerous and strong now that Elaina could tell that they are getting near the Maw of Stones, and anytime now, they would meet that monster.

"Get ready and don’t jump straight to where the Maw of Stones is. Relax and wait for the Maw of Stones to be in a favorable position before we attack so that if it retaliates, we won’t be at a disadvantage. We also have to make sure that its attacks won’t cause the mines to collapse in the process. Everyone here will die if that happens, and the Maw of Stones will just shrug the collapse as free food," the village chief gave his command, and the dwarves responded with a "YES!" as they continued running.

Soon enough, they arrived at floor 200, and right where they could enter floor 200, the Maw of Stones just passed by, devouring the minerals on its way without even caring what it passes through in any way.

"There it is!" Some of the dwarves readied their weapons as they entered the floor 200 and quickly went to formation with their acid-spraying devices ready to go.

Elaina has seen the Maw of Stones in the past, but only its corpse after it was killed, and has never seen it alive. But now that they are going to be facing one, Elaina has a good chance to look at it closely.

Just like its name, it is a creature with a body made of stones compiled together and formed into a cube form of stones. It would have been fine to look at it if its mouth is closed, but the moment it opens its mouth and begins its usual work, then it is a different story.

Although it is mostly covered in stone, there is one part of the monster that is not covered in stone, and obviously, that was its mouth, or the "Maw" of the monster. It is covering at least half of its body features, making this monster look like it was made by a child’s imagination.

Thanks to the minerals it has eaten, the body it has that was formerly made of stone has transformed into Mythril, causing it to turn dark blue in color, and its stony body has also become a lot smoother due to the stones turning into Mythril.

"Just looking at that ravenous monster makes me want to hit it with my pickaxe and mine its body until everything is fully mined and gone. Sad that this monster is resistant to pickaxe and repels them if it knows it is being attacked by one," the Village Chief said with a hint of lamentation in his voice.

"I kinda agree on that sentiment, chief. That big chunk of moving mythril really looks so good to be struck with a pickaxe and mine all the ores it can, even chip off," Elaina commented.

"It’s kind of a bummer, really. But anyway, we have to ensure the monster is taken down today. Everyone, go to your positions and get the Maw of Stones soaked with the acid!"

With the command of the Village Chief, the dwarves positioned themselves around the mines, making sure that they were far from the Maw of Stone’s pathway while also able to spray it in the process without actually getting too close to the monster itself.

"Miss Elaina, please remain here with me and let the dwarves do the work. Observe and gauge the situation, whether we need to intervene or do we just stay in a regular situation and let the fellow dwarves do their task."

Elaina nodded as she also didn’t want to be soaked in acid if she decided to go near the Maw of Stones. Even though the acid is specialized only for melting mythril, that doesn’t mean the acid is not corrosive to the human skin. They are just less problematic, but they are still corrosive and dangerous.

"Get ready and fire the moment the Maw of Stones enters your line of fire!"

With the confirmation and signal of the Village Chief, the dwarves start to fire off their sprays to the Maw of Stones in quick succession. With the body of the Maw of Stones essentially a Mythril now, the acid that is currently soaking it is very effective against it, causing it to start thrashing around in pain.

"Its body is melting fast!" Elaina exclaimed, seeing the monster that was previously a perfect cube, now riddled with various melted edges and holes all over its body. One can even say that it looks like a cube of blue cheese now.

"Do not let your guard down! Fire at will! Don’t pity the monster! It won’t pity us if it is our turn to be eaten!" the Village Chief shouted, rallying the morale of everyone.

Everyone did not stop and continued to spray the Maw of Stones despite it thrashing wildly. Every time one dwarf empties their spray, another one fills up their position as they continue to spray it with the acid. No side of the Maw of Stones is safe from the acid as it continues to roll around, trying to get the acid melting its body off its body surface.

Elaina did not have to do anything for the Maw of Stones to be reduced to a sorry state. Its previous perfect cube has been reduced to melted form, revealing what the Maw of Stones is inside its cube body. It is secreting a blue liquid on its butt, seemingly the way it is currently causing the regular stones to turn into mythril slowly.

"I didn’t expect the Maw of Stones to have a soft and vulnerable body inside those rocks." Elaina was not expecting how grotesque the worm form of the Maw of Stones was. And just seeing its flesh form with its big mouth attached, it looks like it has been stripped of its identity, and now it is only a bundle of flesh, trying its best to survive and to repel the acid itself.

Elaina steps into the cave. Now that the main shell is gone, it is Elaina’s turn.

"Let’s get this monster to disappear forever," her sword clanks a little bit as its handle raises itself from the scabbard, before Elaina decides to cut down the struggling and crying Maw of Stones. Its ravenous appetite has finally been stopped before it is too late.