The darkness was achievable with just a few steps. Relying on the bright light of the torches, we placed ourselves in a dense formation. The surroundings were filled with disgusted eyes.
What are you looking at?
Hundreds of eyes bloomed in the darkness. It seemed as if we had entered a cruel fairy tale characterized by a dark and strange atmosphere. Of course, only the atmosphere was like that. The result depended on us. If we overcame this adversity, it would become a story of hope. If we collapsed, it would still be just a cruel tale.
Wiiip!
The punch-shaped shadow embedded in the shield was torn off and returned to darkness. This had already been repeated several times. This bastard had to be shy or something because he only fired simple shots from afar.
I guess it turned out well since we are here to entertain ourselves too.
Thinking that, I checked the status of my equipment. The shield had holes everywhere. The warrior next to me murmured: «You'll have to start with a new shield when you leave».
Words with the premise that he would return alive. I smiled with satisfaction and said, «Oh, I should buy a new one».
We would survive, at least one more of us.
Slip...
After the four continuous regular shots, I heard a sound from the darkness.
So, had we finished testing the waters yet?
slide.
Soon, with the sound of a creepy breeze, it appeared. He was about two meters tall and wearing only a tunic that looked like something the dead would wear. He didn't even have a gun. Its outline was that of a basic human form, except that, as if it were a spirit-shaped monster, only dark blue smoke swayed in the exposed parts outside the robe.
Flash!
The place where the head should have been, above the neck, was covered by a hood. Only one red eye flashed from her. It was undoubtedly different from a human form. First of all, there was only one eye that emitted light. Furthermore, it was huge, as if the entire head was made up of a giant eyeball.
«Avoid eye contact as much as possible», Kyle said.
As soon as I confirmed his appearance, I fixed my eyes on his shoulder. The reason was simple.
«Don't be afraid».
The moment you encountered that eye, you fell into a state of Fear Abnormality with some probability.
«Look at me».
When Fear piled up nine times, the character in question became a servant of the Lord of the Abyss forever. Like the countless monsters in the labyrinth, they became enemies and attacked us.
It's a cursed pattern.
It was actually safe to say that it was a conditional instant death, as the monstrosization was not released even after the boss was eliminated.
Well, our goal is not to clear it but to last ten minutes...
I doubted anyone would reach the Monstruation in ten minutes, but we still couldn't feel relieved. We hadn't come fully prepared, after all. There were no fear-related adjustments. To put it simply, the Fear of State Abnormality itself was threatening enough.
«Ugh...» A warrior next to me grabbed his head and groaned. It seemed like he had encountered the monster's eye. If he had been provoked by Fear he would have dropped his weapon and fled or attacked us.
«Bjorn!»
«Be careful!»
As I checked my comrade's condition, a shadow spread from Berzak's chest. The punch in question had hit my shield again and again. However, I was using a slightly different pattern than before.
Whiiip.
The terrifyingly flying shadow split into dozens of pieces and spread over me like a net.
Splat.
The shadow clung to my body like the suction cups of an octopus. I could feel him pulling me from everywhere. His intention was clear. Since the normal blows were going to take too long, I must have been planning to crawl into the darkness.
Ha, we're not that clumsy.
«Ecovir Iheran Ifoun.» Kyle fired the magic he had prepared beforehand, rank 7 Attribute Grant auxiliary magic. For reference, the attribute was one that was unfriendly to a dark attribute monster.
Whoosh!
A pure white flame combining fire and divine attributes swallowed everyone's weapons except those of the knights. The reason he didn't use it on them was simple.
Cut!
With an aura, it was possible to deal damage to the monster without Attribute Granting.
«Save Bjorn!»
The moment my body was chained by shadow, the warriors ran forward and cut or crushed it with weapons engulfed in flames. My body was released in an instant. However, without a moment to catch their breath, dozens of shadows jumped back from the bastard's body.
Whiiiiippppp!
This time it was a new pattern. The bastard wasn't just targeting me, but everyone. I hurriedly grabbed my shield.
Has started.
The official battle was beginning.
The eye monster I killed earlier, Abyss Watcher, was a summoning ability used by Berzak to select the next victim after a battle. When thrown, it was summoned throughout the cave, after which the Watcher wandered in search of a sacrifice. Once you ran into him, it was the end. There was no way to break the aggro, so I killed the eye without hesitation. If no one attracted the main aggro, it was impossible to attract it.
As could be deduced from before, until my comrades first attacked the monster to save me, the bastard only recognized me as his enemy.
While we were strategizing, someone had asked: «So wouldn't it be better for someone to step up and sacrifice?».
Realistically, it was an impossible option. Aside from the question of who would fill that role, Berzak's vision radius was one mile. If we couldn't hold out until the expedition team escaped from that radius, everything was meaningless.
Ten minutes.
Kyle estimated that time at about ten minutes. If we were defeated before that time, he would pursue the expedition team again and continue with a massacre without rules.
Boom!
That's why I resisted, not only, but with the magicians and warriors who followed me here.
«Behell-ahhhhhhhhh!»
Wielding flaming weapons, we resist the darkness. It was not an easy task.
Wiiip!
Regular hits came from punch-shaped shadows with high penetrating power. Normally, he could have reacted to this without difficulty. Although I couldn't tell how long it would last, as long as I blocked it with my shield I wouldn't suffer serious injuries.
This damn game.
The problem was that I couldn't see in front of me. Since my gaze was fixed down to avoid eye contact, I was not able to react in time. For reference, it was like that in the real game.
[Do not look into Berzak's eyes].
If this command was applied to the character, no matter how high his agility was, his evasion rate and defense success rate plummeted, just like right now.
Stab!
The shadow dug deep into my shoulder.
[The body is regenerating rapidly due to the Recovery effect (high).]
It was to the point where potions were not enough. Even though the aggro dispersed, the main aggro focused on me.
«Agh, ah!»
Even in the midst of this, the shadows weren't just stabbing us. They also flew in the form of a net and dragged my companions into the darkness. We had been diligently cutting through the shadows and blocking them until now, but we couldn't stop it forever.
Damn.
Finally, the first sacrifice occurred.
«Sillian!»
Sillian Neroff was the guy who kept telling us that it would be great to tell this story at drinking parties later.
«Aghh! Agh! Ahh!» Terrible screams followed one another in the darkness to which he was dragged. It made me feel very strange. In the game, I thought it was just a performance to create atmosphere.
Anger boiled over me, but the more I did it, the more I had to be alert. Once again, someone needed to do it.
«For.»
«But...!»
«If you leave, you will die too».
If it had already been absorbed, saving it was impossible. At our current level, at least.
«Damn!» A warrior vented his anger.
It wasn't that I couldn't understand it. We couldn't even see with our eyes the death of a comrade we had fought with all day. We could only hear the sounds from beyond the darkness. I felt helpless. It was something he had felt countless times during the day. But whether I felt helpless or not, the battle continued.
[The body is regenerating rapidly due to the Recovery (high) effect.]
Berzak also used an ability, Call of the Abyss. He gathered all the trash mobs in the bastard's vision radius in one place.
«Grk! Greuk!» The Abyssal Goblins who received the call released a bunch of monsters, summoned more, and set traps everywhere. One person died because of this.
Shoop!
The traps activated and the monsters jumping out of the bundles ran amok, starting a hand-to-hand battle. A punch-shaped shadow pierced the body of a comrade. Not even wizards who had been using mana shields from time to time to prevent mortal wounds could react to that.
Collapse.
One more died like this.
«Kyle! How much left?!»
«Four minutes.»
What, four minutes?
«Four minutes have passed.»
Gosh, I almost got excited.
Crunch!
Just then, the first variable occurred.
«He's a troll! Make him back!»
One more died. The cause of death was the troll summoned right under our noses. The problem was not the troll, but that the deceased was a magician.
Damn.
The death of a warrior was considered inevitable, but that of a magician was different. They were put in the middle to protect them no matter what.
If this is the case, the mana will soon run out...
It was the worst possible scenario. Even thinking that, I continued moving my body. Time passed like this again.
«Five minutes left... four minutes!» As if to boost morale, Kyle announced time with each passing minute. «Now we only have to last three minutes!».
Since the wizard's death, there had been no more victims. As veteran scouts, their combat prowess gradually began to accumulate. However, something happened at the eight-minute mark.
«I can't use magic anymore. I can barely maintain the magic of bestowing». Kyle gave this warning.
So we have to survive without the support of a wizard, huh?
It was happening sooner than I expected, but it couldn't be helped. A magician had already died. To leave enough mana to activate that magic circle, there was no other option.
«Keeeeeek!» When the wide area magic ceased, the monsters protruding from the bundles piled up.
In a situation of greater burden, with a reduced number and the absence of magic, Berzak shot into the shadows like arrows without rest.
Shoop!
That's how another person died.
I don't think I can keep that promise.
In the midst of such a fierce battle, there was no will left. Whether the enemy was a monster or a human, they were not kind enough to give us time for that. So we had talked beforehand.
«If you can take my equipment, take it to my colleagues». That was the will left by the guy who had just fallen. But like I said then too, there would be no chance for that.
«Ahh! A-help me!» The guy next to me was swept away by the shadow and disappeared into the darkness. «Ahh! Ahhh!»
Hearing the loud screams, I bit my lip.
«Give the news to my son. If it's you, you'll surely be famous when you go out. The child will like it».
I thought I could keep this one, if I could get back alive.
«I'll use the magic circle now!»
There was one minute left until the ten-minute goal. The magicians activated the magic circle they drew in advance. I waved my mace frantically. My shield was nowhere to be found. Oh, right. I threw it away earlier saying it wasn't necessary. It was impossible to repair anyway, so it didn't make me so sad.
«Yandel, come here!»
Oh, is it done yet?
Suddenly, a bright light emanated from the ground. Berzak seemed alerted by this, as he stopped attacking and just watched us. The same thing happened with the other monsters. It was only a moment, but the battle had stopped.
I quickly scanned the surroundings. I couldn't see all the corpses. It was to be expected. Some were dragged into the darkness.
It has to be close!
At the limit where the light ended was the body he was looking for. I quickly ran towards him and retrieved his sword and shield. I had to use quite a bit of force. Even though he was fallen, his eyes were still open and his gun in his hand.
«Bjorn!», someone shouted, and I rolled on the ground to enter the magic circle. The warriors didn't ask why I did that.
«That... yes, we promised».
«Your colleagues will be grateful».
When I quickly got up, I could see the monsters approaching us. For a moment they were startled by the light emitted by the magic circle, but they soon seemed to judge that it was not a threat.
«Bothering us until the end!»
«Hey, wizard! I think we should go now!»
«Just a little more!»
I stared straight ahead. I could see Berzak.
«I've seen you».
What the hell have you seen?
I fixed my eyes on the bastard and recited the names of the deceased in my head.
Silian Neroff. Neil Feymez. Paul Agmus. Garfen Gulan. Matt Elvans. Refrey Siaberus.
Six people in total.
Yes, I will see you again someday.
Riakis, the Lord of Chaos, the Dragon Hunter Regal Vagos, and Berzak. I hoped these bastards knew I wouldn't run away forever.
[Kyle Pevrosk has launched rank 4 Multi Teleport space magic.]
***
When I opened my eyes, there were people around me. So we came to the right place.
«How much distance have you done?»
«It must be about two miles. Now that we're totally out of sight, he won't be able to follow us. Well, if we meet the Abyss Watcher again, that will change things».
I looked behind me like a man possessed. I didn't see any of those damn eyes in the dark. It meant that we had actually managed to teleport that long distance.
«Incredible».
«Not really. If we had not entrusted the coordinate designation device to this side, even I would have been unable to reach this distance. Oh, and I received shared mana from the other wizards».
Even if he said it so humbly, it wasn't something anyone could do, no matter how much help there was. It was not easy to use magic like that in a place where mana efficiency was reduced by a quarter.
«...Then I'll move first.»
«Without resting?»
«I can rest on the go».
I opened a potion bottle and poured it over my head. While the other warriors received treatment, I advanced.
Before long, I found the people I was looking for, Garfen Gulan's companions. They were very close, close enough to have come to the front to try to keep him away from the hardships that were experienced there.
«You are...» They also recognized me and stood still. His eyes locked on the sword and shield I was holding.
«Take them».
«...Is he dead?» An explorer asked tearfully, and I remained silent. It took him a while to open his mouth again. «I'll take this... But take this». After picking up the sword, the woman handed me the shield. «You'll need it, I think».
«...Thank you.» I did not refuse and accepted the shield. After all, I had lost mine. Rejecting it would only make it more painful for them too. «Then I'll go.»
I kept going. Moving like this, I caught up with my companions.
«Any injuries during my absence?»
Nobody answered my question. They just looked at me without understanding. Missha's hands were even shaking.
Oh, are you going to scold me for hurting me? I should run, fast.
«If you're not hurt, then. I'll go...»
«For. Please stop and get some Rest. You've done enough. Hmm?»
«Yes, Mr. Yandel. Do as Miss Karlstein says. Going to the front in your state, it won't help at all, anyway. You said there could be a big fight later, right?»
I also let go of my stubbornness. Raven was right. Even after going through all that, there was still one mountain left to climb. I better keep my stamina.
Walk walk.
While other warriors cleared the way on the front lines, I followed the procession with my comrades and regained my resistance.
After a long time had passed like this, instructions came to stop the procession from the message stone. «Stop!» I sensed that we had reached our destination.
«Is the portal open?» Kyle asked.
His voice was followed by that of Teterud, the leader of the Dwarf Clan who had been entrusted with the front. «Is open».
So we had come to the right place. Somehow, my legs felt weak. If this place was destroyed too, I really would have lost it.
«Raven, take care of this side.»
«Yes, go. You'll go, even if we stop you, anyway».
I passed through the explorers and headed to the first line. As soon as I arrived, Teterud greeted me. «Now what are you going to do? Will you enter immediately?»
«As soon as the preparations are finished in the back».
«Are you going to address us again?»
«Is there any reason? You guys are going to continue right away, anyway. »
«Haha, that's true.»
Soon, I stood in front of the portal. After about ten minutes, I received a message from Kyle through the message stone. «The preparations are complete. You can now enter».
I closed my eyes and caught my breath. Even I could feel that my breathing had become labored, but the more I did it, the more I thought about the positive.
There couldn't be anyone there.
Noark's side would have thought that even if someone came out alive, it would be a small number.
It is more beneficial for them that we return to the city, testify to what the royals have done, and create disorder.
Of course, that was just a possibility. They could have deployed troops and planned thoroughly to wipe out even the few survivors.
I'm sure they didn't leave that many behind.
Regardless of how much equipment they gobbled up on the first floor, they couldn't make a living from it. The main forces would have gone directly to search for mana stones.
Damn.
Even as I thought that, I felt insecure. However, I put my foot forward.
It wasn't the first time.
How many times had he been sure before? Anyway, we had no choice. Even if we waited here patiently, our numbers would only decrease because of the Abyssal Goblins.
Walk.
I took another step and entered the portal.
[You have entered the Goblin Forest on the second floor].
My vision went black for a moment. It wasn't long until I felt my body floating. When I opened my eyes, I saw a green forest.
«Damn».
There was good news and bad news. The good news was that there were not many troops nearby. And the bad news...
Damn, are they still here?
My expectation that the main force would have gone up to search for mana stones was wrong.
Splat.
Finding balance and landing on the ground, I observed the three people in the forest. He could tell who they were just by looking at their clothes, at least two of them.
«The first survivor». This was the one who destroyed all the portals, Fallen Scholar.
«Haha, I told you I'm sure someone would show up if we waited here. Hey, barbarian! Congratulations. It was a tough trip, huh?» an unknown beastman asked.
«Oh? We meet again». The last man was still wearing the white mask from before. «I guess we're destined? Pshehe». With his eyes fixed on me, the Corpse Collector smiled.