The centaur cavalry charged impressively across the plains, kicking up dust clouds. Their ferocity seemed intent on proving this was floor 60, the final plains tier and location of the boss monster.


    Thanks to Grace''s warning, the first thing we noticed was their greatly increased numbers. These weren''t opponents for adventurer parties but rather army-level threats, and their numbers had grown roughly 1.5 times larger.


    Ah, this must be why the Goddess''s quest specifically told us to bring the Ice Cross Knights. Though quantity-based concepts were common in RPGs, experiencing it felt rather shitty.


    "What''s that on their backs?"


    "Goblins? But they''re bigger - are they operating like real cavalry?"


    "They might throw bombs or use magic or curses. Everyone be careful!"


    They had goblin-like creatures riding on their backs.


    Usually goblins were green-skinned dwarf monsters about elementary school height. But these ones on the centaurs'' backs were larger, with middle-school height and abnormally long arms.


    While viewers debated whether they were hob goblins due to their size, they were likely just mutant goblins created by dark magic.


    And these mutant goblins naturally engaged in ranged attacks via throwing. Like goblin infantry enhanced by orc javelineers, the centaur cavalry gained goblin slingers to become mounted archer units.


    In other words, they were using those long arms to swing leather slings and hurl stones at us.


    "Goddess, grant us protection!"


    Their stone throws could easily shatter steel helmets on impact. But mere stones without mana couldn''t penetrate the Saint Candidate''s barrier.


    Still, their numbers made them threatening. As fist-sized rocks pelted the brightly glowing divine barrier like raindrops, I thought without the barrier a couple knights might have had their skulls cracked and needed urgent healing.


    "They''re still just goblins! Trust in the barrier and they''re no different from lower floors!"


    "Everyone, charge-!"


    Though Irene''s power could block such minor damage for hours or even a lifetime, the Ice Cross Knights charged forward with grim expressions, intimidated by the barrage.


    They''d underestimated mere centaurs as weaker than northern monster waves until the stone shower hit. My assessment that a couple would have had cracked skulls without Irene wasn''t far off.


    Their knightly pride was wounded after nearly being knocked out by intermediate-tier mutant goblins they''d looked down on. So as the knights rushed forward, Irene cast quick protection spells on them.


    "Besides the stones, they don''t seem much different?"


    "No, they''re bigger and more muscular! Their individual specs must be higher, don''t let your guard down!"


    "Still just intermediate level that can''t handle aura, haah-!"


    Getting teased for charging at the front seemed unfair, but that''s normal for groups of twenty-something men.


    "These mana stones look strange."


    "The goblins''?"


    "Not just goblins, the centaurs too. Looking closely... see, they''re purple?"


    While the Ice Cross Knights busily teased their divinely-healed companion, our group started examining mana stones from the ground.


    Thanks to a sharp-eyed viewer''s report, our genius mage Hanna discovered the stones were purple rather than blue. Hearing this, Grace and Katie also picked up stones to hold against the sunlight.


    The purple tint was so subtle it seemed impossible to notice from ground-level stones - the difference only visible when held directly to sunlight. Had some evolved human with RGB detection implants been watching the stream again?


    Still, the non-blue color was clear in sunlight, so we kept gathering stones while discussing:


    "Purple mana stones, could it be...?"


    "Could what be?"


    "You know... those dark purple crystals made with dark magic. So these weird goblins and muscular centaurs might be monsters created by dark magic too?"


    -So normal mobs are blue, boss mobs red, and dark magic mutants purple?


    -lol How did someone spot purple through dust on stones on the ground?


    -So not just an army but one mass-produced by dark magic? Seems like another foreshadow


    -Then the boss is more likely a dark mage than a general? Generals usually appear as named elites


    -Could be opposite? Boss general with dark mage subordinate producing troops


    What kind of boss awaited on floor 60?


    People always enjoyed speculating from minor clues, filling the chat with various opinions. Though human thought processes were similar enough that discussion eventually focused on whether the general was the boss with a dark mage subordinate, or vice versa.


    The interesting topic kept coming up with each battle since all floor 60 monsters were clearly enhanced.


    Bulked-up centaurs with longer reach and stride, deformed long-armed goblin slingers wearing explosive belts, orcs becoming smaller but more agile while using elemental bombs, and orc longbowmen deploying not just bows but crossbows and ballistas at checkpoints.


    While annoying as hell to fight, viewers enjoyed the increased spectacle, laughing about the improved entertainment.


    At least the safe zone and fake safe zone mechanics hadn''t changed, letting the first day on floor 60 pass naturally amid irritation and annoyance.