BHDGB-Bab 414

Chapter 414: Ill Fated (4)

62nd day in the Labyrinth, at the Red Dragon’s Sanctum.

We were about thirty minutes away from the portal leading to the Eighth Floor.

The ring has detected the character’s fate.

The traffic light ring lit up.

“Old Man, it’s… it’s a red light!”

Right, so there are only negative events ahead of us?

I thought there’d at least be a little green mixed in.

Hah, how discouraging.

“…What should we do? Shouldn’t we change direction now?”

Erwen muttered in an anxious voice.

Of course, until now, whenever the ring turned red or Sven Parab’s Sixth Sense activated, we would immediately change course to avoid the event.

But…

“Erwen, changing our destination now won’t make a difference.”

“That… may be true, but…”

The entire area is covered in crimson flames.

If we try to flee elsewhere, the flames will just close in and suffocate us.

There is only one way to escape the flames.

To risk everything and push through them before it’s too late.

“Parab, what is it?”

The Goblin who had approached my side trailed off with an awkward expression.

“Well… I feel that it’s safest next to you, Captain…”

‘Safest,’ he says.

A bit offensive, but I’ll let it slide.

He has been a great help so far, after all.

“So, how are you feeling now?”

“I can barely breathe. It’s… it’s like walking into a burning forest.”

“Is that so? You’ve been unusually quiet. You usually insist we run somewhere else at times like this.”

“Well… I do have a bad feeling, but I can’t shake the thought that this is the right path.”

Right, so that’s how it is.

“The Portal is just ahead. Everyone, pick up the pace!”

I immediately began a final spurt.

And then, after some time.

“It’s the Portal!”

I could see the Portal shimmering in the distance, scattering a five-colored light.

And…

“…Enemies!”

Using the light of the Portal as a source, I could see them.

The enemy.

A detachment of about forty men.

They were also heading toward the Portal.

“It’s those bastards from the Royal Family!”

“They really came this way!”

Just as we saw them, they spotted us and shouted.

Hmph, how did they know to come here?

Just as I wondered that, I saw a familiar face among the enemy.

“You bastard…!!”

The Dragon Slayer, Regal Vagos.

“That’s right, I knew you’d come this way!”

So you know a little about me, just as I know about you.

This truly is a tenacious, ill-fated connection—

“Your days of running like a rat are over!”

What is he talking about? They just got here themselves.

Anyone hearing that would think they had the path completely blocked.

‘Good thing I picked up the pace.’

I praised my decision from twenty minutes ago.

If I had hesitated for even a moment when the ring glowed red, they would have already blocked our path.

We would have had to make a huge sacrifice.

“What are you waiting for! Run!”

Beyond a final spurt, I moved my legs with all my might.

The current situation is simple.

The expedition is heading east toward the Portal.

The Dragon Slayer and his friends… let’s call them the Dragon Slayers, are running north toward the Portal.

“Ruuuuuuun!!”

Whoever arrives first gains a massive advantage.

Perhaps because the other side knows this too.

The Dragon Slayers also ran desperately, closing the distance to the Portal.

However…

‘Good, we’re faster.’

It was obvious at a glance that we were currently closer to the Portal.

“Damn it, what are you all doing! Attack!”

In an attempt to slow us down, the Dragon Slayers began a ranged attack.

It was a tactic they could employ because they had more people.

Their plan must be to have the ranged attackers, who need to cast in place, provide cover from a distance, while the melee-types, skilled in close combat, seize the Portal.

Whoooosh- Kraaack-!

Thududududu.

Phew, this feels like a real battlefield.

Countless arrows and Supernatural Abilities rained down from the sky.

“What are you doing! Move faster! If you fall behind, it’s over!”

“My… my legs won’t…”

“Agh, this is driving me crazy! Damn it, get on my back!”

“But…”

“Hurry!”

I could endure such wide-area attacks with my bare body and keep moving, but not everyone on the team could.

“Keuk-!”

A team member was injured by a stray arrow.

And…

“Just hang in there! I’ll heal you soon!”

Another team member carried the injured one and pressed on.

‘Damn it, at this rate, a few more are going to die right here…’

As that thought made my jaw clench on its own.

A shadow with a feminine silhouette appeared above us as we ran.

Erwen Fornachi di Tersia summons [Dark Spirit King Diclore].

The strongest summon, the one that earned her the nickname Blood Spirit Marquis.

Dark Spirit King Diclore.

Diclore immediately began to pour giant dark orbs onto the enemies.

Kwakwakwakwakwang-!

Overwhelming firepower that even Akuraba, a burst damage type, could not produce.

However, its duration was short.

The available time when pouring all its power was about five seconds.

But five seconds was enough.

“Run!!”

“We’re fine here, go in first!”

In the moment the Dragon Slayers paused to block the counterattack, one by one, starting from the front group, they pushed themselves through the Portal.

And…

Kwaaaaaaang-!

After throwing the last dark orb, Diclore was unsummoned, and Erwen staggered.

“Old Man, you were here…”

“Did you think I would leave you behind?”

“…Of course. Because you’re you, Old Man.”

“Good work.”

All the team members except the two of us had already gone up to the Eighth Floor.

I picked up the exhausted Erwen and quickly ran toward the Portal.

And after a short while?

“You think I’d let you go!”

From right behind me, I heard his voice.

He sure is fast for an agility type.

When did he get so close?

Well, it was already too late anyway.

Tatat.

The moment I threw myself forward as if sliding, the light of the Portal warmly enveloped my body.

You have entered the Eighth Floor, the Land of Dawn.

As I rolled on the ground and opened my eyes, I saw our team members waiting in front of the Portal.

“It’s… it’s the Captain.”

Seeing my face, the team members lowered their weapons, their tension clearly easing.

But that was only for a moment.

“The… the Portal is glowing!”

As soon as I got up, the relieved team members raised their weapons again.

Of course, since our entire expedition had already entered.

It was obvious who would be coming through the Portal now.

‘Hah, to think he’d follow me all the way here.’

Is he fearless, or has he just lost his mind?

Either way, there’s no need to be scared.

Why else did we run like our lives depended on it?

“Prepare for battle!”

“Kill them all as they come through!”

“They’re… they’re here.”

“Kill…!!”

Blocking the entrance is invincible.

***

I stood before the Portal.

No, to be precise, I stood guarding it.

A hammer in one hand, a shield in the other.

“…”

Alongside the team members, who were ready to use their skills and swing their weapons at any moment.

“…It’s too quiet. It’s making me anxious.”

More than an hour had passed since we started blocking the Portal.

During that time, the Portal had spat out an enemy only once.

Just after I entered the Eighth Floor, when the Dragon Slayer and his subordinates came through at the same time.

‘It would have been better if I had killed him then.’

I killed eight of his subordinates, but unfortunately, I let the Dragon Slayer get away.

After getting beaten up by our entrance blockade, something he’d never experienced before, he abandoned all his subordinates and fled back to the Seventh Floor.

Since then, things have been quiet.

It’s like the calm before the storm.

‘They’ll probably try to rush in all at once when they’ve gathered enough troops.’

When that happens, entrance blockade or not, we won’t be able to defend this place.

Well, I never intended to block the entrance forever anyway.

What I wanted was just some time to regroup.

Just like this.

“Shuits, the injured have all recovered.”

“Food and supplies?”

“Everything we have and everything we need has been gathered and loaded onto the sleds.”

In short, it means we can enter Ice Rock right now if we choose to.

However, I decided to push it just a little more.

“We’ll watch this area. Have everyone rest in shifts.”

“…I will.”

Kaislan had the team members in the worst condition rest first.

Seeing this, Akuraba approached me.

“Shouldn’t we be leaving soon? It’s dangerous to stay here.”

Though it was peaceful, Akuraba’s expression was grim.

Her gaze repeatedly darted behind her, betraying her anxiety.

It was obvious what she was worried about.

“…Shuits, you know as well as I do that we don’t know when they’ll be back.”

Noark’s elite forces, who are currently inside the Eighth-Floor Rift.

If they clear the Rift and come out, we’ll be surrounded on both sides.

‘Still, luck is on our side for now.’

In fact, my biggest worry was entering the Eighth Floor to find the elite forces waiting for us.

The chances were as slim as being struck by lightning on a clear day, but it was a possibility I couldn’t entirely rule out.

‘The problem is that we have no idea when they’ll be back…’

It’s like lying on a field with a random chance of instant death.

If we’re unlucky, they could emerge from the Rift right now and lead us to a dead end.

But…

“We’ve been on a forced march for days without proper sleep. If we enter Ice Rock like this, we’ll be wiped out before we get very far.”

There is no other choice.

Knowing this, Akuraba reluctantly agreed and left.

And then, about twelve hours later.

Shwaaaaaa-!

The Portal shimmered and spat out one of Noark’s Explorers.

The Explorer, who wasn’t even properly equipped, was instantly killed by the forces guarding the front.

“Just one person…?”

“…A scout, perhaps.”

It was a very Noark-like response.

If the one they sent as a sacrifice died, it meant we were still blocking the entrance.

If not, he would return alive and report back.

‘But even for Noark, they won’t keep sending people recklessly.’

After a moment of thought, I made a decision.

The next scout would arrive in one to three hours at the earliest.

Besides, we’ve had at least a minimal amount of rest.

“Everyone, pack your things, get up, and get dressed!”

Thirteen days left until the Labyrinth closes.

“We’re entering Ice Rock!”

It’s time to head into the final chapter.

***

The Eighth Floor, the Land of Dawn.

A peaceful place with green meadows and hills.

However, the atmosphere there was far from peaceful.

The stench of blood emanated from the bodies of the Explorers filling the area.

“Say that again. Keil Elbard Geneger. What did you just say to me?”

“Give up, Lord Vagos. We’ve already lost them.”

“What!”

The Dragon Slayer lunged forward and grabbed the man by the collar, but the man did not shut his mouth.

“No matter what you do, nothing will change. Following them into Ice Rock without any preparation is a suicide mission.”

“What are you talking about! We have several times more men than they do! Are you saying we can’t do what they did?”

“You say that because you don’t know Ice Rock. Having more numbers will only hinder our movements there.”

“…”

“And in case you were about to ask if we should go with only the elite, I’ll tell you beforehand that that’s also dangerous. The only reason they’ve been fleeing until now is because they were surrounded by enemies.”

“Are you trying to say that if we follow them with just our group… we’ll be the ones to get ambushed?”

“Yes. They are… especially their leader, that man, he’s an incredible monster—”

The man answered the Dragon Slayer’s furious question firmly, and immediately felt pressure on his neck.

“Keuk…!”

“You piece of trash.”

As he said that, the Dragon Slayer’s eyes, choking the man, were filled with nothing but Killing Intent.

But no matter how reckless his personality was, did he not expect to be killed?

The choked man hurriedly continued speaking.

“If… if the Captain finds out about this—”

“The Captain, that damn Captain.”

“Keuk-!”

“Who do you think the Captain would choose between you and me? Do you think he’d kill me for killing you?”

“N-no…”

The blood flow to his head was cut off, and the choked man’s body went limp.

A few more seconds, and he would surely die.

But…

“Ptooey.”

The Dragon Slayer threw the man carelessly to the ground and spat.

He’d done it because he was angry at the man for constantly overstepping his bounds, but he couldn’t kill him.

Aside from being talkative, the man was useful.

That was why the Captain was particularly fond of him.

“Damn it.”

Even after taking out his anger, the Dragon Slayer clenched his fist, his rage not subsiding.

The other subordinates all glanced at him and lowered their gazes, but the Dragon Slayer’s mind was cold.

‘…He’s not wrong.’

If he couldn’t overwhelm them with numbers, following them like this was dangerous.

It wouldn’t be a problem if they were all on his level, but even the so-called elites were still trash.

The man who had just fainted was the best of the lot.

If he pushed himself and had to use the Dragon Tongue, his barely recovered body would break down, and he might have to rest for months.

‘And that damn Captain will throw a fit.’

In many ways, it was a situation where loss was certain.

But…

‘So, I’m just supposed to let that bastard I want to chew to pieces go?’

He didn’t like it.

It wasn’t just a matter of feelings; it was an emotion born from experience.

Looking back, it had been the same in the Labyrinth of Larkaz.

[Should I tell you why you always lose money? You just follow along, betting only as much as you need to.

Even when you need to make a decisive move.]

He had given up one thing after another to avoid losses, and in the end, it had led to that state.

His body was broken, and he lost his memories, forcing him to live like a cripple for over a year.

And now, he was supposed to just let the source of it all go?

The more he calmly organized his thoughts, the more the scales of his heart tipped toward not letting him go.

It was no longer a simple matter of revenge.

‘He’s a man who grew this strong in such a short time.’

What would it be like the next time they met?

He destroyed the Eye of the Sky, so the Royal Family would surely bestow a great reward upon his return.

If that man grew even stronger here.

Would I be able to defeat him then?

Regal Vagos finally made his decision.

‘…I have to do it now.’

I can’t give him any more time.

No matter the cost, I have to end this ill-fated connection with him.

That is the wise choice.

Gwaak.

The moment he made that decision.

As if the heavens themselves were cheering him on.

Shwaaaaaa-!

A warm spring breeze blew fiercely, swirling into one spot and forming a halo of light.

It meant only one thing.

“…A Rift! The Rift is opening!”

The elite unit that Noark was secretly cultivating with all its resources.

Don’t they say they won’t even consume Essences below Rank 4?

Within Noark, there were even rumors that once they began to operate in earnest, a generational shift would occur within Orculis…

‘Lucky bastards born in the right era.’

That was the Dragon Slayer’s assessment of them.

After all, while others struggled and climbed up from the First Floor, these guys received immense support simply because they had potential and many empty Essence slots.

‘Well, still, this is good.’

Apart from his jealousy, the Dragon Slayer smiled and walked forward.

Soon, the portal opened, and the raid party emerged.

They were worn and battered, as if they had fought a hard battle.

“You are… Regal Vagos? What is happening here?”

The Dragon Slayer grinned and replied to the raid party’s question.

“The Eye of the Sky has been destroyed.”

“…What? The Eye of the Sky?”

“And the bastards who broke it have fled to Ice Rock over there.”

“Then why are we…”

“The Captain’s orders are for me to lead you in pursuit.”