C424, 425, 426
Chapter 424: Teaming(2)
The sealing of active skills.
No need for lengthy explanations—it’s one of the worst penalties imaginable.
Well, even so, it’s probably better than ending up blind like James Carla.
‘It might have been better if I’d lost an arm like old Didi instead.’
A penalty so crippling that losing an arm might’ve been more advantageous in terms of combat effectiveness.
But there’s nothing to be done.
What can I do when the dice I’ve thrown have come up like this?
I can only hope that the enemy’s dice results are messed up too.
‘Besides… aside from my penalty, it’s not bad.’
In fact, the [Soul Extraction] pattern is quite a tricky one.
Especially for positions like support type or mages. Being damage dealers, they must have landed many finishing blows, and now they have to fight and win alone without the frontliners they’ve always been with.
But…
‘I guess all have them have lived kind lives’
Both priests made it out safely. Three out of the four mages are awake, and among the support type, only Akuraba is still unconscious.
‘Perhaps the fact that our mages spent a long time at the Mage Tower worked in our favor.’
Considering this, the gamble seems to have paid off.
Even though we were comrades who endured this expedition together, I have no idea what kind of lives these people have lived before.
Clack, clack.
The sound of hard footsteps echoed through the ice cave. As we moved to get as far away from the entrance of the Glacier’s Eye as possible, I noticed movement on one of my shoulders.
“…Mister…”
“You’re awake…”
Feeling deep relief, I carefully set down Erwin.
She stumbled slightly, but seeing that she could balance herself, it seems her legs weren’t taken as a penalty.
“How do you feel? Is there anywhere that hurts?”
“I’m not sure….”
Erwin looked dazed. Something must have happened inside the trial, but I didn’t press her for details. Right now, figuring out what her penalty is comes first.
“Damn it.”
After testing for bad penalties among the random ones, I let out a big sigh.
“The eighth one….”
Unfortunately, Erwin was also on the unlucky side.
「All resource recovery for Erwin Fornacci di Tersia is now restricted.」
No resource recovery—simply put, her MP, natural power, or any other reserves could only be spent, not replenished.
“…Save your strength unless it’s absolutely necessary to protect yourself.”
“Yes… I’m sorry…”
“There’s nothing to be sorry about. It happened that way; it’s fortunate that you even woke up.”
Anyway, as time passed, the others who had fainted woke up one by one.
“I’m sorry for the inconvenience. I will walk on my own from now on.”
Fortunately, Melend Kaislan received a minor penalty.
“Ugh…! Why is this…”
Ravien, who was restricted from using weapons, placed her hand on her sword and shuddered as if electrocuted.
“Um… Why is everyone not speaking?”
Tsion Iriven, the archer from Team 2, had lost his hearing.
“That place… it was truly horrifying.”
Akuraba’s face was ghostly pale.
Now, only two remain…!
When 25 minutes had passed since the [Soul Extraction] pattern began, there were only two people left.
Amelia and the mage from Team 2, Mackelly Rayathers.
“Please… wake up. We need you…”
As time ticked away, the team members cast anxious glances at the two still unconscious.
I felt like I was going crazy too.
“Why on earth is she not waking up….”
She definitely didn’t die there. If she had, her heart would have already stopped.
Thump, thump.
Time continued to tighten around my heart. How much more time has passed since then?
“Mackelly, there’s only one minute left now. Please, hang in there….”
At the time when there was one minute left until the [Soul Extraction] pattern ended.
“Mm…”
“Emily!”
Amelia finally opened her eyes. And…
“……Damn it.”
The other one could not open his eyes.
***
Eighteen survivors.
However, the number of combat-capable individuals is much smaller.
Because many team members, including myself, received significant penalties. It’s fair to say that our fighting power has been cut by more than half.
“Then how is it on the other side?”
Just as they say happiness is relative, so is misfortune.
「The Glacier Wizard Kariadea gains new power proportional to the total amount of souls absorbed.」
It was now over 30 minutes since Phase 2 had ended.
How many of them were still alive on the other side? And what kind of penalties had they received?
‘Frankly, I hope they all just died fighting the boss.’
…But realistically, that’s unlikely.
Kariadea isn’t a monster that pursues beyond the Glacier Eye’s perimeter.
The place where we were fighting was the summit of the Glacier’s Eye.
I don’t know how many have woken up, but by now they all must have left the Glacier’s Eye.
“Dragon Slayer… I wonder what happened to that bastard.”
Well, I don’t know.
Because he is the one who killed the ancient dragon who acted as the elder of the Dragon Tribe.
Even back then, it was only thanks to an ambush that he succeeded, so there’s a possibility he couldn’t win even in a half-weakened state.
In the first place, it’s not like he would only fight the ancient dragon, right?
I don’t know, but he must have killed in the thousands.
“Wait, hold on.”
While thinking briefly about the Dragon Slayer, my body suddenly stiffened.
“Shit, then in that guy’s field, Dwalki must have appeared too, right?”
The thought alone soured my mood.
At the same time, another thought crossed my mind.
The people who appeared in my illusion-couldn’t they have been someone’s one and only precious loved ones?
“…Maybe this is because of [Soul Extraction]. I’m overthinking everything.”
I shook myself off these thoughts and opened my eyes.
Woosh—!
Warm flames crackled nearby.
The priest knelt in front of the flames and recited prayers repeatedly, while the others offered silent tributes.
This was, at least, one silver lining.
We now had the luxury to hold a proper funeral for our fallen comrades.
Crackle, crackle.
The flames infused with the mages’ firepower instantly melted flesh and skin, and the remaining bones were subjected to distortion magic. Then the warriors crushed them finely and stored them in pouches.
After hoping that this would provide even a small comfort to his surviving family.
“…..”
With that, the brief funeral was over.
The warmth of his body, briefly retained by the intense flames, dissipated in the cold wind.
So, it’s time to return to reality.
“……Jandel, what will you do now?”
As Kaislan spoke to me, the gazes of the team members focused on me.
After all, the plan I had shared only covered up to this point.
That when the [Soul Extraction] begins, the first ones to awaken were to grab the others and flee. There were no instructions beyond that. But…
“If we continue to keep our distance like this, we might be able to hold out until the closing date.’
Judging by the stony expression on his face as he spoke, Kaislan already knew what I was thinking.
Perhaps that’s why he tactfully brought it up first, so that I could speak more comfortably.
“But Jandel, you must know. Even if we run away like this, in the end, we’ll reach a cliff.”
“A cliff? What do you mean? Isn’t this all over now?”
At Kaislan’s words, one team member flinched and raised his voice.
“You said we could hold out until the closing date, right? Isn’t that enough? What are you worrying about?”
I’m sorry to those who really thought this was the end, but we haven’t overcome the most critical hurdle yet.
If that were the case, I wouldn’t have called this a ‘gamble.’
“….”
As Kaislan gave me a silent glance, I smiled bitterly and stepped forward.
Yes, no matter how capable Kaislan is, I can’t leave this to him.
“We will not run away like this. Or rather, to be precise, we cannot run away.”
As soon as I finished speaking, the team members’ eyes widened.
Gazes filled with shock and doubt.
“…What’s the reason?”
It’s simple.
“Because the enemies that appeared from behind earlier are the Rose Knights.”
“Are you saying we won’t be able to shake off their pursuit?”
“No, that’s not it.”
“Then what do you mean…?”
Since they didn’t seem to understand my words, I continued.
If we returned alive, the royal family would have brought out the excuses they had prepared, saying that something happened to the main force, so they couldn’t come to rescue us—but they’d still be glad we managed to return on our own.
They would have pretended not to know, trying to cover the sky with their hand.
And…
Ignoring the truth—that was our only way to survive.
“Ignore…? What do you mean?”
“If we pretended not to notice that we were being used as expendable pawns, the royal family wouldn’t take extreme measures.”
It might be cowardly, but that was my plan.
“But we can’t use that method anymore.”
“……”
“Once the Rose Knights report what happened here to the royal family, they will surely try to eliminate any potential troubles.”
“…Couldn’t they try to negotiate with us to silence us?”
Well, yes, that possibility exists. But…
“Do you really think so?”
“….”
There was no reply.
Then someone else brought up a new question.
“So, what now? If we’re not going to die here, shouldn’t we at least make it to the city?”
It was Puta Rickerburn, a member of the Duke of Keallunas’s family.
I found it somewhat commendable and amusing.
“I didn’t expect someone who was giving up to say that.”
“You dragged us here by the scruff of our necks. After all that hardship, do you think we’d give up here?”
Well, he’s the guy who showed his resolve by cutting off his own arm when breaking through the Glacier’s Eye.
It wouldn’t be fair for him to die. I smirked.
“It was a compliment, so don’t take it too sensitively. And I never said we should give up in the first place.”
“Ah…”
At my words, he realized and opened his mouth, and I quickly continued.
“Don’t worry too much, everyone. There’s a way.”
“A way?”
“Yes, if no one returns alive, who would know what happened here?”
Of course, they might suspect, but there’s a clear difference between having circumstantial evidence and having actual proof.
Therefore…
“From now on, we will kill both the Noark people and the Rose Knights.”
From now on, we will be the ones to cover the sky with our hands.
Will we run away like this?
Or will we stand and fight once more?
Reaching a consensus on this was quicker than expected.
“I… I don’t know what the right choice is.”
“Haha, it’s nothing unusual. Most of the situations we’ve faced so far have been the same.”
“But in every moment, he made the decision.”
“Bjorn Jandel, trusting your choice—that’s my choice.”
“Same here. It might seem a bit cowardly in your eyes, but for someone like me, that’s more comfortable.”
With the expedition’s decision made, everything became clear.
We wandered inside the cave, deploying detection magic in various places, and hunted monsters using distortion magic to secure food supplies.
“This is… surprisingly edible?”
Monster meat was unexpectedly edible, although some were so terrible that we deemed them inedible.
“Never mind the taste, but it’s a shame to waste these by-products. If we could take them, we could sell them for a high price.”
“We have no choice. We need to lighten our load as much as possible now…”
We had to discard all the valuable by-products obtained through distortion magic, holding back our tears.
We didn’t have the luxury to carry such things when we had to carry our comrades who had difficulty moving.
It was when half a day had passed like that.
“Mr. Jandel! Mr. Jandel!”
Marone, the mage from Team 5, came running, urgently calling my name.
When she is like this, there is only one reason.
“Did the detection magic activate?”
“Yes, yes…! It activated!”
The news Marone brought fell into three categories.
First, the good news.
“It’s the Rose Knights. Only ten of them are left!
Their numbers had been significantly reduced. It seems they suffered significant damage, probably because they killed people as easily as eating meals…
“What was the condition of the remaining ones?”
“Well, that is…”
The second was ambiguous.
“Four of them were being carried by their comrades as if they were in bad shape. One was limping on one foot.”
Just as a third of our expedition suffered severe penalties, they also suffered considerable damage.
Does this mean the penalty scores are tied? Well, since we don’t know the actual situation, it’s too early to say for sure.
“Anyway, that’s not what’s important!!”
The third and final piece was bad news.
And not just any bad news.
It was news that could be called the worst.
“For some reason, those people are moving together with the Noark people…!”
Water and oil have mixed.
----------------------------------------------
Chapter 425: Teaming(3)
Teaming.
A term often used in online competitive games to describe a temporary alliance between players who are labelled as enemies in the game.
“Hah, they’re teaming here?”
Different game companies have different views on teaming.
Some consider teaming as part of the game, while others see it as cheating and actively penalize it.
Of course, intentional teaming is regarded as cheating on par with hacking or exploiting bugs, as it severely disrupts the game’s balance and causes significant harm to regular players…
“Damn it, what are the admins doing? Not catching these bastards.”
A grumble escaped me.
I had somehow managed to create a three-way standoff, but now they’re teaming up.
Wasn’t Noark and the royal family supposed to be mortal enemies?
Things have gotten complicated.
‘At this rate, defeating them one by one is impossible…’
Plan A has been derailed from the start.
Come to think of it, that’s usually how it goes.
Should I say that incidents are never resolved with the original plan? I’m not even the type to make overly optimistic plans, but somehow things always turn out this way.
“Um…”
Hearing Marone’s cautious voice, I snapped out of my thoughts.
“Oh, sorry, I got lost in thought.”
“No, it’s fine.”
“So how many are on Noark’s side?”
“Six people.”
“Who are the members?”
Even though she didn’t know their names, perhaps because she’d fought them before?
Marone briefly described the members, focusing on their abilities.
“Well… there was the mage who shot black spears, the woman who ran like lightning. Ah! And the bald boxer…”
Also, there was a priest of Karui.
A dark mage.
And lastly…
“Regal Vargos, he was there too?”
“Y-Yes…!”
The Dragon Slayer, Regal Vargos.
It might sound anticlimactic, but I thought he might have died from [Soul Extraction]. But somehow he managed to survive.
“Even though it’s the mental world and the body would have fully recovered, it wouldn’t have been easy. Is the ancient dragon weaker than I thought?”
“It’s fortunate that he’s alive…”
When Marone’s report ended, Ravien, who was beside me, muttered in a strange tone.
“…Huh?”
“Because to save Pen, we need his heart.”
“Ah…”
I’d completely forgotten about that.
It was the young dragon Pen who cursed Regal Vargos. As a price for casting such an excessive curse, her body’s time had stopped, rendering her unable to take a single step out of the Dragon Temple for the rest of her life.
“…Judging by your expression, you just remembered.”
“Sorry, I have a lot on my mind.”
“Still, you should pay attention. If you save Pen, you might receive my father’s protection.”
“Can’t I get your protection?”
“I have no authority within the clan. But my father is different.”
In simple terms, if I complete this quest, I could gain the entire Dragon tribe as allies.
In reality, I don’t know how things will turn out, but in my situation where I have to confront the royal family, it’s a quest I can’t miss.
“I’ll keep it in mind.”
“That’s enough. But don’t overdo it. There will always be another opportunity, as long as you’re alive…”
What is she saying? To stay alive, I have to kill that guy.
Still, I fully understand what she meant.
Whatever I do, don’t forget my top priority.
“Alright, let’s keep moving!”
We continued setting up detection spells as we moved through the passages.
They’ll think we’re running away.
To fight as advantageously as possible, I need to lure them to the battlefield I’ve chosen.
Time passed like that…
Day 70.
Five days until the Labyrinth closes.
While wandering inside the cave, we settled at one point.
“Everyone, rest as much as possible. This will be our last rest.”
It was time to prepare for battle.
The last detection spell had shown them munching on jerky.
“Probably the food that the Rose Knights had.”
Both envy and frustration bubbled up.
While we were stuck eating monster meat, they enjoyed proper meals.
Well, that might be why their pursuit isn’t gaining speed, but…
‘But if this drags on, we’ll be the ones at a disadvantage’
Thanks to the monster meat, survival isn’t an issue.
However, it is impossible for everyone to eat to their fill, as the meat is only available when the distortion magic is successful.
We’re not starving, but we’re getting hungry with each moment.
So if we’re going to settle this, it should be before we become more exhausted—meaning now.
“Mr. Jandel, it’s cold over there; come here!”
I obeyed Maronne’s call and walked towards the fire.
Teams no longer held any meaning.
Like campers around a campfire, all the members gathered in one place to bask in its warmth.
“Ah, grilled meat is the best! Jandel, want some?”
Refusing meat would betray my barbarian pride, so I eagerly accepted and bit into it while listening to the group’s conversation.
“This will… probably be our last fight, right?”
A woman hugging her knees nervously.
It was Periton Eriavosti of Team 5.
She was a priestess of the Heindel Church, raised in an orphanage before becoming a priestess. She also had a husband in the city—a clerk she met through church volunteer work.
‘…She said she has a child too, didn’t she?’
It was a change that occurred as we reached the end of the long expedition.
After facing deadly crises together multiple times and spending time together, we came to know each other so well.
“I’m going to… return alive. I can’t let my child grow up the way I did.”
A precarious, yet firm determination.
Silence filled the air.
Crackle, crackle, crackle.
Only the sound of sparks flying filled the silence, and the next to speak was our team’s mage, Ashid.
“My wife would manage without me. She’s strong… but… she’d surely cry.”
“You… were married? You never mentioned that.”
“Well, you never asked Mr. Aldidi.”
“Huh…”
Old Didi opened his mouth as if he’d been betrayed, but the next to speak was Puta Rickerburn
A pitiful fellow who was thrown here with the bait of retirement after working as a fixer for the Duke of Keallunas.
“The more I hear, the more miserable I feel.”
“…Pardon?”
“If we were to pick the most insignificant person among us, it would be me.”
“All of a sudden?”
“That is, I have never married, and have no one waiting for me in the city. I was sick of such a life and hoped for retirement, but I ended up in this mess. If God chooses someone to die, it will surely be me.”
“……”
“But even so, I’ll survive. I refuse to let this miserable existence define my life.”
It was like a dam bursting.
In the anxiety that this might be the last time, they poured out the resentment they’d hidden deep inside where no one could see.
“You, of all people, shouldn’t be saying that after you shouted it was all over.”
“Well… could you just forget about that?”
“Hahaha! I don’t know—maybe not for free?”
Still, the atmosphere remained bright.
Even among those speaking now, some of them probably won’t be able to greet tomorrow together.
Even so, everyone talked about the future.
“Yandel, what will you do when you get out? Of course, you’ll seek revenge, right?”
Some talked of revenge.
“Ah, forget that; I really want to eat cake…”
Some spoke of trivial desires.
“I’m worried about my grandmother who’s at home…”
Some thought of the people they wanted to see and steeled their resolve.
“Above all, I wish I had a drink.”
“Indeed.”
At this point, everyone desperately needed a drink.
In that atmosphere, the conversation continued endlessly.
“Um… How about forming a clan when we get back to the city?”
“A clan?”
“It’s… fate that we’ve met. And… we might not be able to stay where we were before… So… I thought that if we all work together, we could manage somehow in the city…”
Not just my future, but ours.
“Carla, what kind of person was your friend?”
“Rick… was…”
“Come to think of it, we didn’t get to talk with him much.”
Not only our stories.
But also the stories of those who are no longer here.
We talked aimlessly, trying to remember and commemorate them, pouring out our regrets.
After how much time had passed like that.
“Mr. Jandel…”
Marone called me with a tense expression.
“The detection magic has been activated.”
At that one sentence, we smiled bitterly and stood up. We extinguished the fire that had been blazing at our center.
“……”
It was time to return to cold reality.
***
The plan is simple.
No, to be precise, there’s no plan.
We chose the place to fight, and here we will fight the enemies desperately.
And the side that survives will be the winner.
“They’ve… entered.”
“The numbers?”
“They match.”
Erwin, with her ear pressed to the ground, provided the confirmation we needed, but I waited a little longer just to be sure.
After about a minute.
Tap, tap.
They got close enough that I could hear their footsteps, and soon they appeared around the corner.
But the number is a bit strange.
Seven from the Rose Knights and six from Noark.
A total of thirteen enemies.
“Did they leave behind those who aren’t helpful in battle due to penalties?”
No, that doesn’t make sense either.
Even without the cold, this is a labyrinth where monsters pop out everywhere.
“Did they leave them behind, or abandon them…”
It was a fittingly ruthless move for them.
“……A dead end?”
The woman leading the group tilted her head as she observed our defensive formation.
She was glad to have finally caught up with us, but seemed to sense something was off.
“Don’t tell me you were waiting for us.”
As expected of someone who has been through many battles, she was quick to grasp the situation.
Well, nothing changes, though.
“Carla!”
At my shout, James Carla activated his skill.
“James Carla has activated [Nimble Hands].”
Due to the penalty, he’s as good as blind, so it’s impossible for him to hit with an attack skill, but that’s not what we were hoping for.
[A skill has been used within range.]
As the skill was activated, the ground trembled.
[The trap is activated]
Boom, boom!
Boom!
A massive collapse echoed from the direction the enemies had come from.
An area that occasionally appears while traversing the ice cave section.
“Th-The path is blocked!”
Once the trap is activated, the only entrance is covered with ice, and this place becomes a sealed room until it melts after a day.
But while the Noark members were flustered, the Rose Knights remained calm.
Among them, especially the woman who seemed to be the leader.
“Why did you make such a choice?”
Her question carried a tone of detached curiosity.
If I were to answer, it’s quite simple.
“Because there’s no paradise in retreat.”
Of course it was—it came from my favorite author.
“On that note, I have a question for you.”
“My name is Six.”
“…What?”
I wasn’t asking for her name, but before I could voice my confusion, she continued.
I gave her an awkward look, and the woman who said her name was Six turned away without any change in expression.
“So what is it you want to ask?”
She seemed a bit embarrassed, but there was no need to point that out here.
I just asked what I wanted to ask.
“How could you possibly cooperate with them?”
The answer came from an unexpected place.
“Oh, that?”
Regal Vargos, the Dragon Slayer, swaggered forward as if he had recovered somewhat.
“These women must’ve realized they needed our help to kill you.”
Hmm, from the Rose Knights’ perspective, that makes sense.
Their mission would be their top priority.
But still…
“Even so, you have no reason to accept their proposal.”
I said this while looking at the bald boxer, not at the Dragon Slayer.
While Regal Vargos might make a stupid choice out of his grudge against me, the real leader seemed to be that guy.
“Do you really not get it? Once we’re down, you’re next.”
A question with the clear intent to sow discord.
At this, the bald boxer finally opened his mouth.
“The Rose Knights are famous for never breaking an oath sworn in the king’s name.”
Ah, so that’s how it is.
I thought oaths were just a cheat code for us barbarians.
The fact that it’s famous is funny too—this is the first time I’ve heard of it.
“Besides, we had no choice. We ran out of food while chasing you. Our only option is to team up, capture you, and secure provisions.”
Now the situation is becoming clear.
How these two groups came to cooperate.
“So, have all your questions been answered?”
Then the woman who seemed to be the leader spoke as if to end the conversation, and I shook my head.
“No, not yet.”
“……”
“You said your name was Rephless ? I’d like to make a proposal.”
At my words, the bald guy smirked.
“Don’t tell me you’re trying to persuade me?”
Oh, how did he know?
I nodded obediently.
“That’s right. Join us. We’ll provide you with food.”
Though it would be monster meat.
“…What did you say?”
He seemed genuinely surprised to receive such an offer.
I quickly continued.
“Well, the royal family has abandoned us anyway. I’m thinking of switching sides entirely this time. What do you think?”
“There’s nothing more foolish than trusting the enemy.”
“If you need an oath, I’ll swear one. On the honor of a warrior.”
Just as the Rose Knights used their cheat code, I used ours.
“Are you… serious?”
Then the bald guy began to ponder with a confused expression.
Of course, his hesitation didn’t last long.
Come to think of it, there was a spoiler.
“Rephless , don’t be deceived by the enemy’s trickery. That guy has broken an oath before. He’s an oddball who doesn’t care about the honor of a warrior.”
The Dragon Slayer, who had been backstabbed in Larkaz’s mage, revealed his story, and the bald guy firmed his resolve.
“Regrettably, I must decline your offer. Besides, there’s no way to control you once you’re inside the city.”
Hmm, so it’s not going to work?
“That’s unfortunate.”
“……”
“Looks like we’ll have to kill you all.”
I looked at them, shielding my upper body.
Since I couldn’t use [Gigantification], my eye level was somewhat lower, but it didn’t matter much.
If you don’t have teeth, chew with your gums—that’s the barbarian spirit.
“Erwin!”
The moment I called out Erwin, her body form became blurred.
[Erwen Fornacci di Tercia has cast [Spirit Form]
Given that there were plenty of aura users around, of course, the attribute was earth.
[Damage received from fire attributes is reduced by half]
[Damage received from water attributes is doubled]
[Immune to poison]
[When using blunt weapons, a strong bonus is added to destructive actions]
“Physical resistance stats have greatly increased…”
“……”
As my physical resistance stat soared, the second stage of the [Evolved Armor] activated even without [Gigantification].
[Character’s physical resistance stat is over 350]
[Damage from piercing attacks is reduced by 50%.]
Alright, let’s do this.
[Bethel—raaaaa!!!]
I’m quite confident when it comes to brawls.
---------------------------------------------------
Chapter 426: Like Ice (1)
The Glacier Eye’s narrow path, where four people standing side by side could completely block the way, was a far cry from where we now stood.
The current place was more like an open space with all sides wide open.
The vanguard’s area of responsibility had expanded, but the number of expedition vanguards had actually decreased.
‘Me, Jun, Goblin.’
The pure tank line now consisted of just the three of us.
But amidst this, Jun’s leg was crippled, making it difficult for him to perform to his full potential.
Therefore…
‘Puta Rickerburn, Kaislan, Ravien, Amelia.’
Our melee vanguard fighters spread out, forming a barrier at intervals. Of course, there were too many gaps to call it a barrier…
There was no point in complaining about it, though.
We had already chosen the best we could under the circumstances.
Now, all that’s left is to see the result.
Swoooosh—!
A black mist spreads in all directions, covering the open space.
It’s the work of a dark mage.
Though it did have debuff effects, its true purpose was likely to obscure our vision.
[Visible range is about 1 meter]
My warrior’s body, with its narrowed vision, becomes sensitive.
And in that situation.
[Grrrrrr]
Various undead monsters emerge from the darkness, baring their teeth and swinging their claws.
They are all summoned by the priests of Karui.
All summoned by the Karui priest.
In the Glacier’s Eye, the narrow path made numbers meaningless, but now that’s not the case.
Crash—!
I swing my hammer here and there, pushing back the approaching monsters.
It was then.
[Mister…!]
As soon as Erwin’s warning, in her spirit form, pierced my ears,
Whoosh—!
With a short piercing sound, a sharp blade from the darkness aimed for my neck.
Clang—!
Clang—!
Due to my narrowed vision, my reaction was slower than usual, but somehow I managed to block it with my shield.
But at that moment,
Whooooosh—!
A pure white light emanated from where my heart should be.
At first, I was startled, wondering what it was, but I quickly grasped what was happening.
[Periton Eriavosti has cast [Unquenchable Light]
One of the priestess’s buffs.
In the game, it only raised mental stats and wasn’t particularly useful.
However…
‘Did she use it to secure visibility? Smart.’
I couldn’t help but chuckle.
Swoooosh—!
The white light blossoming from my heart pushed back the darkness.
I now have a visibility radius of about three metres.
Of course, the darkness filling the empty space still remained.
I can barely make out Sven Parav and Amelia on my left and right.
But——.
Even if their faces are obscured by darkness, the light burning from their hearts flicker clearly.
Like fireflies floating in the darkness.
“Aaaaaargh!!”
I knock away the blade flying at me with my shield, swing my hammer frantically, and at the same time, I check the lights rising around me in real time.
Swoooosh—!
Lights shaking and flickering, signaling that they are fighting fiercely.
To enemies hidden in the darkness, they may be easily visible targets, but to us, they are markers.
That my comrades next to me are still alive and fighting.
Proof of our trust.
[Erwin Fornacci di Tercia has cast [Focused Fire]
Arrows pierced the darkness.
[Benjamin Orman has cast [Purifying Moon]
Light particles falling from the sky seep into our bodies.
And as time goes on,
Thud—!
Wounds accumulate on my body.
The woman who introduced herself as Six spoke as she looked at me.
“…You’re much weaker than before.”
Well, I can’t use [Iron Skin] now.
Even though I activated Alibaba (Earth) mode, my ability to block aura attacks has greatly decreased.
No, is that all?
I don’t have the strength bonus from [Gigantification].
I can’t use my only attack skill, [Swing], nor [Eye of the Storm], to occasionally counter opponents’ moves.
But…
I grinned.
“So what?”
“If you think I’m weak, try killing me.”
“……”
“I will never fall.”
More precisely, I made up my mind to make sure of it.
In this kind of fight, the last one standing is the winner.
“Are you trusting that priestess?”
Well, she’s not wrong.
If it weren’t for the heals coming in at this very moment, it would be hard to endure.
But…
‘What are you splitting hairs about.’
Funny woman.
“Is it wrong to trust my comrades?”
‘Dungeon & Stone’ is a team game, after all.
Bang—!
I swing the hammer down toward the direction of the sound.
There was, of course, no particular sensation that the hammer had struck a living target.
“For someone who trusts his comrades, you seem rather impatient.”
Ah, she’s really talkative.
“Are you anxious? That I’m the only one here dealing with you?”
Her intentions are obvious.
To agitate me and make me reveal even a small gap. If that weren’t her purpose, this ice-cold woman wouldn’t be babbling like this.
The problem is… it’s working a bit.
Whoosh—!
I swing my hammer once more.
Despite this, my unease lingered.
Where are the others? I was expecting some of them to gang up on me. That way, my comrades would have an easier time.
“Aaaaagh!!”
Amidst the sounds of weapons clashing, someone’s scream reached my ears.
“Bjorn Jandel, you’re the last one.”
Whose scream is that?
“I already realized back then that you don’t fall easily.”
Enemy? Or an ally?
I don’t know.
But…
“So, until then, I hope you don’t fall-”
I forcibly calm my overheated thoughts.
I can’t just run over to check right now.
“Bethel—raaaaaa!!”
I can only trust and do my part.
***
When he was a child, the archbishop who took him in said.
[You have no parents now; your only parent is the glorious sun, Tobera].
[Abandon the heart of man, for earthly affections are meaningless to an agent of God].
[Now, from this day forward, you are a jun. ]
Jun, former Inquisitor of the Tobera Church.
The day he abandoned the surname Arshen.
From that day on, he lived as an animal, an agent of the gods, not a man.
[This is something you must do. Aren’t you a man?]
He suppressed his desires while reciting prayers.
[Ah, it hurts…!]
[You still have a human heart remaining.]
He underwent daily training that was akin to torture.
[You can stand up. As long as the light of the sun is with you.]
At times, he wished he would break, but the warm sunlight forced him to heal.
By the time he became an adult, he was no longer something that could be called a human.
He had no doubts.
He just did as the church told him, performing work for the world in the name of God.
But…
‘Why..’
The sky was cloudy, but the sunlight touching his skin was warm. But that day, as Jun Arshen was blankly looking up at the sky, he had a question for the first time.
‘Am I righteous?’
A question that was late, too late.
Even now, he didn’t know why such a question suddenly arose.
Perhaps the sight of a family of three walking down the street, radiating happiness, had left too deep an impression.
But one thing was certain: from that day, his beast-like life came to an end.
[—What, what! How can you do that!]
He renounced his position as an interrogator and returned to being a regular member of the church.
Though his steps were backward, only after doing so did he feel disillusioned with the church.
It wasn’t hatred toward God.
Because in the question that came to him like a revelation, he felt God’s presence closely for the first time.
Rather, his faith became even stronger.
‘I… was not righteous.’
Despair overtook him more than anger.
The weight of the sins he had committed in the name of God weighed heavily on him.
A normal life seemed impossible.
But that made him want it all the more desperately.
Yes, perhaps that’s why.
[I have one last favor to ask of you].
Jun Arsen accepted one last mission to sever his ties with the archbishop… no, now a cardinal.
It wasn’t like the usual mission to fabricate nonexistent sinners. This time, it felt like a mission for the world.
He thought it could at least be a little atonement.
And time passed…
Boooom—!!!
Now, here he was.
“Retribution.”
Perhaps this is punishment.
Punishment for being a foolish bastard, manipulated by those who have bent the will of the gods and was manipulated by the wicked hearts of men.
Yes, at times he thought that.
But now he could say.
If this is truly his punishment,
“You are… wrong.”
Even if he had dragged himself out of his beastly life, this was not right.
“AAAAAGH!”
“H-how did they make it this far?!”
The light in his heart extinguished. The light of those who wished to move toward the future.
Step.
Dragging a leg that refused to move, he staggered forward.
Step.
His movements were unsteady, as if he might collapse at any moment, yet he pressed forward.
Step.
It was only as he moved forward that he came to understand something.
It might sound like mere wordplay, but…
Step
Those who wish to move forward can always find a way.
No matter the circumstances.
“Perhaps, if it weren’t for that man, I never would have known.”
Just then, he heard a sound from behind.
“Jun! Wh-What are you doing!”
Priestess Periton Eriavosti.
A woman who had lived a life so much brighter than his, upholding pure justice unlike himself. A woman who burned with determination, vowing to live on for her beloved child.
But it wasn’t just her.
“Barhatun Viar!”
The bearded mage had a wife he cherished.
「Gerold Aldidi has used [Nullify].」
The old man who had lost his child had a long-standing wish to fulfill.
[‘Titana Akuraba has cast [Vampiric Awl]
The dwarf has an unwavering cause.
Suddenly, Puta Rickerburn’s words from before the battle flashed through my mind.
[The more I hear, the more pathetic I feel. I don’t know, but if we were to pick the most insignificant person among us, it would be me.]
His words were wrong.
Among the eighteen people who survived until now. No, even counting the original thirty who started.
The most insignificant of them all was probably—
No, without a doubt—
‘It’s me…’
At last, Jun realized his role.
“Hurry, this way!”
Born with nothing but a parent’s name.
Becoming an inquisitor.
After wandering aimlessly, arriving at this frozen place.
Everything he had seen, heard, and felt on this journey—
“Is simply to do my duty.”
It was all for this moment.
It felt like a revelation.
The moment he realized it, his mind grew clear.
Fear no longer gripped him.
Nor did it feel like this moment was a trial.
Even his immobile leg felt like an inevitability, something meant to bring him here.
“To think there’d be a vanguard even here.”
“His leg is useless.”
“Is that why he stayed here?”
“Eliminate him quickly.”
Enemies emitting a blood-red aura rushed at him in unison.
Jun raised his shield.
Clang, Clang, Clang—!
Two daggers pierced through the shield.
And then…
Stab—!
Two daggers pierced his lungs.
He felt no pain.
For the first time, he was grateful. Grateful for the grueling training he had endured as a child.
「Jun Arshen has used [Divine Descent].」
The power of God enveloped his body.
He felt like he could do anything.
And then he let out a shout.
It might not be a shout befitting a paladin, but…
“Bethel—raaaaaaa!!”
He might never atone for his sins anyway, so perhaps just once would be okay.
Yes, just once.
To scream simply because he wanted to.
“Let’s help Jun!”
The rear ranks who had retreated behind him—priest, mage, archer—began to do their best to assist him with their skills.
But even so, the flame of Jun Arshen’s life was quickly fading.
Clatter.
The shield slipped from his arm, his tendons severed.
Thud, thud, thud—!
Daggers tore into his torso.
Jun Arshen neither blocked nor dodged anymore.
He simply focused on staying upright.
Seeing this, the Rose Knights exchanged puzzled remarks.
“He should’ve died a long time ago.”
“…So why hasn’t he fallen?”
“He has already wasted more than three minutes. Finish him quickly.”
The attacks grew more ferocious.
Thwack!
The blood pooling beneath him formed a puddle,and his mind became hazy.
How many minutes had he been standing?
His sense of time was distorted, and he couldn’t see the enemies’ faces clearly anymore.
But even so, there was something he could see clearly.
Swooooosh—!
Lights flickering individually in the darkness.
Among them, surely he would be there.
Bjorn Jandel.
He was probably doing his job even at this moment, steadily moving forward.
“Clan…”
Did they say they were going to create one in the city?
Death held no fear, but a pang of regret surfaced.
When the idea was first mentioned, he hadn’t said anything thinking it wasn’t his place.
‘It sounded like it would’ve been… fun…’
Surely, it would have been.
Even if the royal family, Noark, and the countless other groups that had abandoned them—
Even if all of them became their enemies—
Thunk—!
A sharp blade pierced his lungs.
Jun Arshen instinctively realized.
That his flame had completely burned out.
“……”
As the noisy surroundings grew silent, his vision turned black. The flickering lights in the distance faded away, leaving smudged traces.
And then…
Swooooosh—!
The darkness receded, and all around was filled with light.
As if someone had come to greet and take home a child who had completed his mission.
A light that warmly embraced his entire body.
“Puh, puhehehe…”
Jun Arshen smiled.
Even if this was nothing more than a hallucination before death.
Even if it was a futile hope or faith.
“Save a wandering soul like me…”
Without punishing this foolish sinner with the lash.
Please, take in this weary, exhausted spirit.
“Please, hold me…”
It was the moment he had longed for.
***
There was neither strategy nor tactics.
Just a continuous struggle, fighting to survive.
Boom—! Slash, Thud—!
A chaotic battle filled with explosions, the clashing of weapons, shouts, and screams.
The skirmish continued for minutes, a situation where it would surprise no one if anyone survived or died by its end.
Swooooosh—!
The fog that had been surrounding us began to dissipate.
It couldn’t be that the dark mage’s magic had already run out…
‘Did someone kill the dark mage?’
Well, I’ll find out soon enough.
As the fog cleared completely, our narrowed field of vision returned to normal.
The first thing I saw was a woman frowning.
And then…
‘When did he get all the way over there?’
Far ahead, deep within the enemy’s rear lines, was a knight furiously swinging his sword.
Melend Kaislan.
Around him, a frail-looking man in a robe lay fallen with his neck severed.
‘Reckless move, but not bad.’
After that, I looked around.
For now, none of our vanguards had died.
But everyone’s condition was a mess.
The most serious was probably Ravien.
She had said earlier that she was confident in fistfighting, but without her sword, she was in bad shape.
‘Good, no one has died yet.’
Then how about the rear?
I’d heard a scream from there earlier.
‘It sounded like someone shouted the name of our ancestor god.’
I’m not sure.
There were so many explosions around.
Taking advantage of the moment when the enemy woman put some distance between us, I quickly checked behind.
Contrary to my expectations, that place was the most devastated.
Three Rose Knights were standing in front of our rear line.
“……”
A corpse lay on the ground.
My heart sank at first glance, but on closer inspection, it was a Rose Knight.
And then…
‘Jun blocked them.’
I saw Jun standing in front as if protecting the rear.
As soon as I spotted him, the conversation we had before the battle suddenly flashed through my mind.
[“You want me… to hide in the rear?”]
He didn’t seem to like my request.
But when I persuaded him that the real fight would be after returning to the city, and that I needed his strength later, he reluctantly nodded.
But…
‘A guy who couldn’t even walk properly ended up like that…’
I sighed bitterly after checking Jun’s appearance.
His body was so covered in blood that it was harder to find an uninjured spot.
He probably made a decision too.
That now wasn’t the time to hold back for the future.
‘If it weren’t for him, the rear would have been completely destroyed.’
The thought made me shiver, but relief followed.
Still, thanks to Jun’s fighting spirit, our rear managed to kill a Rose Knight in return—
Thud!
A sense of unease came belatedly.
“Why…”
Jun was standing upright.
He no longer held a shield in his hands.
Yes, he was upright.
But…
“The light is out, isn’t it?”
Unlike the others, his light wasn’t lit.
And though my heart raced, my mind quickly came to the conclusion.
He was dead.
“……!”
I wasn’t the only one who was late to notice his death. The Rose Knights who were fighting right in front realized Jun’s death belatedly and dashed forward to ambush our rear line.
But their daggers didn’t reach their intended targets.
Clang—!
Amelia, who moved as soon as she checked behind, deflected two daggers along with her doppleganger…
Thud—!
But perhaps she was too distracted; she got stabbed in the back.
Thanks to that, I snapped back to my senses.
‘…I was wrong.’
I focused on defense with the mindset that if I just held on, we would win.
Since my active skills were sealed.
I thought it was best to not be greedy, act as a meat shield, and do my part steadily.
But…
[Mister…!!]
Was this really the best I could do?
Was that really all I could do?
Until just a moment ago, I thought without a doubt that I was doing my best.
But now I couldn’t think that way.
Because I had seen it.
With his injured leg, until the very end.
The paladin who, burning all he had, protected his comrades, and even after death, was standing upright blocking the enemies.
It’s a phrase that can only be used in such circumstances.
The phrase “I did my best.”
Clenching my fists tightly, I made up my mind and gave an order to Erwin.
“Erwin, change the element.”
Using Earth Mode, specialized in defense, would only increase the damage.
Yes, so…
[Huh? To which one?]
As soon as I told her the desired element, a change occurred in my body.
Swooooosh—!
An element that was neither water, fire, earth, nor wind.
Erwin’s main attribute, known as the Blood Spirit.
[An evil spirit of darkness dwells within the character’s body]
A dark shadow, ominous in its intensity, bloomed over my skin.
Named…
[All resistance values are fixed at 0]
[Holy resistance is fixed at -200]
[Darkness resistance is fixed at +800]
[Blessing of the Abyss bonus applied]
[Immune to all types of status ailments]
[All types of attacks receive an unavoidable hit adjustment…]
“…”
Elemental Barbarian (Dark) Extreme Offense Mode.