Moments before Erik's team enter the gate.
Erik fumming in anger while his colleagues trying their best to calm him down.
"When vice captain will return? He should be came by now." One guy spoke in hesitation.
"See there he came as you spoke. He must plan something to go in such hurry. Finally captain will cool down." Senior member point out at vice captain who running at them while carrying explosives and reassure team as he was only one who can restrain their angry captain.
'Aah!!!'
"Stop throwing tantrum or you will break something here then we get fined again." He speaks as catching his breath.
"Why you dragging last incident when you clearly know who provoke us first. Also answer when did you become such coward to fearing mere fines and laws?" Erik still burning in rage question him.
"It's not that I became coward but you who can't see surrounding situation. Don't you see guards behaviour abnormal these days. Moreover those usual troublemakers became suddenly obedient or not seen in sector."
He pause and attract all members attention before continuing.
"After talking to some officers I able to confirm it was new head's doing. He wants to tighten his control over us so even on minor conflicts or breaking trivial rules he is banning team and then used lifting the ban as bargain chips from their respective guilds for so called compensation. That's guy is overly greedy and ambitious."Vice captain warn him dead serious tone.
"Why don't you inform me before?" Captain question him.
"I was investigating this matter thoroughly before telling you. Also I still have my own doubts to have complete surety but today's guard was sole focus on you during conflict confirm it. So don't act rash and forget to teaching lesson that guy inside as he had special identity which will give reason for that head to take action and mess with us. But don't worry I think something." He explained to everyone then give meaningful look to Erik.
He understands meaning behind words and laugh heartfully.
Back to present situation.
For last six hours they were all hunting the wolfs.
Vice captain bought large amount of explosives than usual to attract all wolfs at entrance were they created barricade with debris left behind by explosions.
They'll fights in different formations and efficiently killing all wolfs at sight. Erik was commanding all hunters also as main tank of team he stopped monsters from destroying barricade and attacks on archers, mages at backline.
Few hours later
Except for ocassional panting and sound of heavy breathing tunnel became dead silent as they killed last wolf. All of them exhausted by current battle but no one was injured or died.
"We rest now for three hours then start collecting all corpses and glowing crystals." Vice captain informed everyone and setup magic barrier with help of artificat to stop charging more wolfs towards them.
This was plan he suggest to Erik as they kill almost half of monsters in one go so rest of them became more agitate, agressive and moving in group which will definitely kill that guy as finds.
He asked all guards on clearance post before to find out Lawrence identity was mere support class hunter which practically useless in fighting with large group of monsters.
Even any spell or artificat can't help in such situation and they will not charge or suspected for his death.
As someone kills a other hunter then there are residual mana traces of victims remain on them for long time and as every individual has unique mana traces to them so with enough time perpetrator can be identified.
That's why hunters may beat pulp of eachother but never kill other party or their guild put large penalties on them.
Other than fear of penalties Lawrence unique identity having offical name forced vice captain to think such roundabout plan.
"Vice captain how did plan such thing quickly?" It was new member of team question him in curiosity.
"It was not my original plan. It's old school trick hunters use to kill competitors back then. Normally as we only 30-40% needs monster's corpses to fillup our quota.
So we only few kill large and medium size groups and leave rest of monsters for various traps and mines we setup. But if kill significant amount of monster in one go then gate goes on high alert. Monsters became more vigilant and d kill or severly injure off guard enemy for us." Vice captain explain to him and Erik nods in understanding.
"But we also have to face those extremely aggressive monsters won't create trouble for us??" Newbie ask cautiously.
Everyone laugh at his question like some joke.
They were elite team in clearing E rank gates. Erik agrees to such dangerous plan because he is confident that his team can easily handle such situation without causality.
High causality rate on both perpetrator and victim teams sides was reason to create strict rules on this practice.
"Today you regret for life and I crush that arrogance of yours." Erik thought it and laugh again.
At a same time somewhere deep inside in these cobweb of tunnels.
Lawrence moving fast speed and try to find something. He was already too much far from boss room and heading northwest direction towards dead ends.
Entrance of gate is located at south direction and boss room in opposite direction. In straight line distance between them fifty kilometres but gate's labyrinth like structure increases drastically it.
Lawrence clearly understand what they are plotting. His mentors warn him such underhand methods so he also don't any kind intentions for them anymore.
"There must be it." He spoke and start destroying nearby ground and wall.
He was after this gate's origin code. It hidden somewhere nearby as he see some basic poison traps. Even if just E rank anomaly but no one finds it's origin code. It was mainly because gate is giant labyrinth so exploring every corner of it makes nearly impossible.
He was able locate origin code this gate during his multiple play throughs back on earth.
Lawrence check nearby and start flatten this section at that moment he detects some abnormal high concentration of mana beneath his feet.
Lawrence jump moment sensing it and just fraction of second later roof collapse create deafening sound. As balance his body he see a giant monster staring at him immense killing intent.
It was extremely large, unlike rest of monsters in gate it was anything but a wolf. Apperance of this guy was hideous and malformed with irregular teeths, long claws, four or so eyes. This beast was last defence line for origin code.
[ You encounter Last guardian. ]
Status
Name : Last guardian
Title : None
Level : 7
Race : Cannot detect ( maybe lifeform is undergone extreme mana mutation. )
Physique : None
Bloodline : None
Stats
Strength : 60
Endurance : 58
Agility : 47
Intelligence : 38
Vitality : 56
Mana : 42
Skills :
Precise vision (D+), Sharpest claws (EEE), Berserk (EE+)
This beast not even considered as living being as it's only goal is kill everything at sight and protect the code without any own thoughts or instincts. He is even bigger than boss monster werewolf who is already minimum seven meters in height.
'Bang!!!'
Lawrence throw flash grenade at beast and swiftly target his legs. His main focus was stop his mobility. Swords barely pass through his flesh and required multiple slash to injured him.
It takes him some time but cut off his forelegs. Even after losing his mobility beast was still trying attack him as he feels nothing.
Lawrence ignore the guardian and focus on ground where he mana fluctuation before. Code must use large amount mana to strengthen the guardian so it can't hide his mana traces now.
He chuckle at last struggle of origin code and activate his active skill.
[ AAA rank active skill Art of Conversation activated. ]
[ What are you waiting for bastard??? ]
After system's usual notification a cold voice echoes in tunnel. Compare system's indistinguishable etheral voice it was unnatural or maybe much more artificial.
It was his only active skill and most powerful one even than his unreasonable strong regeneration. Skill's description is very simple, as long other party has traces of any form consciousness and intelligence he can freely communicate with them. It was very vague description but he understands this skill's potential.
Even though code was not alive but it has some sort consciousness and intelligence that enough for skill.
"I am much stronger for your gate so forget about kill me. Let's talk about some other business." He said indifferently.
His mana drain very fast to maintain this skill so he goes straight to point.
[ I can sense it, your strength surpass than those at entrance. I don't know how you can do it or what skill is it but I am not any worth other than my monster and resources for you. ]
Code speak in breaking voice. While there is no sense emotions from his words but Lawrence can feel how desperate as he wants him leave alone.
"See I don't like those guys as they are after my life so I want to give them a horrible death. You can already sense their strength right? So help me deal with them and you will get their bodies to increase your power."
Lawrence speak with eloquent tone.
[ You have strength to kill them all. But in that case other humans chase after you so using me to keep your hands clean. ]
Lawrence nods him with smile. Even though he doesn't show it on face but he was taken back by this origin code's intelligence.
He already try this on rats, insects and some low intelligence monsters but all of them takes too much time to understand, talk to him.
While thinking it Lawrence realise point he missed before. All his previous test subjects short lifespan compare to this centuries old origin code. Also their interaction with humans too limited to understand them or have any own thoughts about human other than basic instincts.
This experiment he originally plan to do it later not involving other hunters. But because of Erik's actions Lawrence want to confirm results as soon possible.
If this code agree now he will interact with him regularly so will get extra pairs of eyes in this gate in future.
Code was long time and speak.
[ Tell me want I need do.]
As code speak he hears system's voice again.
[ A rank passive skill Art of negotiation lock the target. ]
It's his second class skill. Unlike first one it is passive one so it doesn't consume mana. Art of negotiation mainly increase his chances to striking a successfully deal. Also under this skill other party can't deny his offer in any negotiation from start and it's lock them to essentially honour their part of deal.
Upon hearing it a cold smile appear on face and he starts to laugh wantonly.
It's already 24 hours to them in gate and Erik's team already collected all corpses and other things.
Unlike Lawrence they have carry themselves so they'll are processing corpses to reduce overall weight. Erik was quite good mood thinking Lawrence must be died by now and chatting with others over meal.
Despite being having all those fresh meat of wolf no one try it and eat some kind nutritious jelly provide them by their guild.
As except for abnormal large size they look like wolfs found in wilderness but they're foundation is of pure mana photons. So consuming them recklessly can cause severe mana poisoning.
For next three days they continue move towards boss room while divide into small group and place all sorts of traps to attract and isolates remaining monsters.
This way team don't need to waste on personally killing remaining mobs and directly fought with boss werewolf.
Unaware to them Lawrence tracking all activities of them and note down time they take. While doing it he also seal main tunnel towards entrance and deliberately letting all narrow, long paths open.
After that he again used active skill.
[ Everything is ready. I already released my remaining control on monsters so they don't suspect anything. You can meet to werewolf right now as I already put him in deep sleep. But are you really wants me keep him barely alive for few days?? ]
Code question him in hesitation.
"It is important because if I kill him now then within 9 hours gate start closing but as they only in midway to boss so those guys naturally more chance to escape. Moreover while I want kill them I don't want waste my time or entangled myself deeply with them. This much is enough." He speaks in meaningful voice.
Lawrence plan was he will leave werewolf on brink of death and code focus all his mana to keep that state few day and before Erik's team arrives in boss room code will release it which will starts restoration cycle. This caught them off guard and trap in gate.
He already try with last guardian and it still count as kill so he is quite confident in this method. With it his foolproof plan complete.
But on other side unaware to Lawrence's scheme group was walking closer to their very death with each passing day.