I went downstairs. Even with the torch and after activating the magic of the light sphere, the darkness seemed endless. It was like walking through an abyss.
"Let's speed up a little more." In Brown's opinion, we increased our speed as we went down the stairs. How much time had passed?
"Ha...."
"And to think there was such a large space under the sewer."
"Hahaha! Humans alone aren't enough for a construction like this. I don't know why it was built, but it must have been the work of my ancestors," Hikurod laughed.
Finally, when we stepped onto the last step, an open cavity appeared. The ceiling alone was over six meters high, giving an incredible sense of openness for a basement.
"For now, there's only one visible path." Brown looked around and then pointed to a spot. Upon closer inspection, he found a passageway behind an unidentified stone statue that had suffered damage over the years. "That woman's scent lingers here as well. If my predictions are correct, we'll likely encounter her soon."
Okay. "I'll take the lead from now on." Since it was a straight passage, I decided to alter the formation. I took the lead, and Brown followed to help me navigate. I sent Hikurod to the rear to be ready for any unexpected surprises.
"Dwalkie, stay close to me," Missha called.
"I will do that".
Missha's role was to protect the center mage and actively support both the rear and the front.
"Then let's go."
As soon as we walked through the tunnel, we came to a fork in the road. I didn't know the way, but that wasn't a problem; Brown Dognose was with us on our journey.
"She must have gone that way." We took the path to the left, following her scent.
But what was this, now? "…It's another fork in the road." This time, we had a whopping five options. "Rotmiller?"
"Ah, he's a bit vague. He must have gotten lost because each passage has its own smell."
"Does that mean we can no longer follow him?"
"That's not it. Go that way. It has the strongest smell, so it must have passed through there most recently."
"I see." Pathfinding and manhunts weren't my area of expertise, so I gladly followed the expert's instructions.
What the hell is this place?
Soon a new fork appeared in the path. Little by little, I began to get an idea of what this space was like. I had no idea what the hell this place was designed for, but it was a labyrinth.
"Hikurod, do you know what the hell this place is for? You're a dwarf."
"Hahaha! To think that all dwarves are versed in architecture is a narrow view. So... Dwalkie, what do you think? You're a wizard, after all."
«Do you believe that all magicians are enlightened and wise beings? As for why people of the past deliberately created a space like this underground, I have no idea».
Confusion spread among the team. Before she became more upset, I cut them off. «Enough talk. Whatever this place was for, all we have to do is catch that bitch and come back».
«It's true, but...»
«If you are very curious, you can ask at the administrative office. That would be more accurate than our guesses».
The three of them closed their mouths at my words. Why did I, as a barbarian, have to play law enforcement? The only one he could trust was Brown. He was the only one who always did his job calmly.
«Bjorn, stop», he said.
«What's happening?»
«The smell has suddenly become stronger. It's not a scent trail, but ... » Brown suddenly interrupted himself and sniffed the air once more. His gaze changed. «I'm sure. It comes from the other side». Brown pointed to the second fork on the left.
To think that she herself would come to greet us. It was a little sudden, but first I checked the important things. «Time?»
«I'm not sure because I can't tell you the speed».
«Not even an estimate».
«... I would say about two minutes.»
«Did you discover us first?»
«I don't think so. This is just a guess, but ... I think she may be lost for whatever reason. »
Hmm, that was definitely a plausible assumption. I made a plan on behalf of Hikurod, who could only open his eyes during the entire conversation. «Prepare everyone to fight. We will hide and attack when she arrives».
First, we hid at the nearby crossroads. Brown began winding his crossbow and Dwalkie prepared for a surprise attack spell. Just as this process was over, we heard footsteps in the distance.
step step.
The sound was getting closer, but at some point it stopped.
Step.
What happened?
Just as I patted Brown on the shoulder and asked this question with my eyes, the sound of urgent footsteps echoed through the tunnel.
«Bjorn!» missha whispered, and I closed my eyes.
I was confused because the buzzing was very loud, but when I focused on my ear, I could tell. She wasn't running towards us. «He's running away».
«It seems like he's realized we're hiding», Brown said urgently.
I also agreed. What else could be the reason for a sudden U-turn and sprint after walking normally until now?
«What are you going to do?»
«Do you feel anxious?»
«I'm not sure.»
In that case... «What are you doing? Take the initiative.» In the Witch's Forest, we were in the position of being chased, but the tables had turned. «We must catch her and kill her before she runs any further.»
***
Karui: A being called an evil god, or even a dark god. He was as rational as he was capricious. Blind faith always came with a reward.
«I offer this blood, flesh and soul, please show me the way!»
It was thanks to the god's divine nature that Elisa was able to survive in the Witch's Forest. After offering sacrifice to the three explorers he found by chance in the cabin, he received advice that burning a corpse would increase his rest time and learned a new power called Deadify. If she used that power, she would not be attacked by any monsters, and even came with immunity to the Witch's Forest field effect.
«Oh! That woman is...!»
«What are you all doing! Hurry, run away!»
Therefore, when he encountered Hikurod's group in the forest, he was able to chase them to the end. Without the field effects, the Witch's Forest was just a forest. But unfortunately, the chase ended in failure. As her targets advanced to the fourth floor, she followed them in a hurry, but the color of the portal had changed in the next heartbeat and she was sent to a different location.
For ten days, he endured the monsters in front of the portal using Deadify (Death). Then he returned to the city.
«Priestess Behenk, where are you going with all that luggage?»
He immediately grabbed everything he needed and ran. Many times, she had seen the fate of an apostate. Now, for her, the city was a more dangerous place than the Labyrinth. But even when the sky fell, there was always a way to survive.
There were also the advice of a capricious and evil god and the sewers full of filth and despicable fugitives. The city that lay beneath her would accept her.
«What the hell! That's my place! Get lost!»
With the guidance of the evil god, finding the hidden door in the sewer was not difficult. The homeless man who had settled there first wasn't a big problem either.
Offer a sacrifice.
The capricious evil god did not even tell him how to open the door. Therefore, he wandered through the sewers, collecting and offering dozens of sacrifices. In return, he learned to open the door and went down the stairs.
What the hell is this?
However, the roads were too complicated. He wandered for hours in the dark. The temperamental and evil god had no intention of showing him the way until a sacrifice was made.
At the same time, the Call of the Evil God that he had installed with the remaining vitality of the sacrifices, just in case, had skyrocketed. From then on, he had a strange feeling of anxiety. It could be a tracker sent by the temple. He wandered through the maze, looking around a little more carefully.
«¡Kehehehehe!»
Suddenly, the evil god began to laugh. With an ominous feeling, he stopped walking. In cases like this, danger and difficulties are often in the way.
Is he a pursuer?
He paused for a moment, concentrating on his ear. In the silence there was a faint sound of breathing coming from the other side of the road he was heading towards. As soon as he detected it, he started running in the opposite direction. Maybe it wasn't a mistake, because shortly afterward she heard the sound of someone chasing her.
«What are you doing? Take the lead. We must catch her and kill her before she escapes any further». The words were cut off, a voice that was somewhat familiar.
«Bjorn! Be careful! That evil bitch could have set a trap!»
She soon realized who those people were: Bjorn Yandel, an inconsiderate barbarian who had attacked her with a mace even after she revealed that she was a priestess, and her companions.
Isn't he a temple tracker?
Realizing his identity, he stopped without realizing it. She didn't know how they knew and they followed her so far.
But it's better this way.
Soon, he stopped walking. Last time, she was defeated and had to flee, but that was when she had consumed a lot of power by resurrecting herself.
[Elisa Behenk has summoned the Demon Mirror Gate.]
If both sides were in perfect condition, there was no way she would lose.
***
Just as the distance between us began to reduce, the sprint sound that echoed in the darkness ceased.
¡Dash!
A strange sound echoed through the passage and quickly approached.
«¡Kyaaaaah!»
«¡Kekekekeke!»
Suddenly, sound entered the torch radius and dozens of four-legged monsters appeared.
It is the Gate of the Dead.
Honestly, I was amazed. It was definitely different than when he didn't use his powers after the resurrection.
[Elisa Behenk has summoned a Shadow Guard.]
It could almost be described as a difference in quantity. Besides the Gate of the Dead, which spilled monsters for a few minutes, summoned random shadow guards, and the momentum was truly like a tsunami.
«What are you doing? Go destroy it». There was no reason to be afraid. This didn't change anything.
Elisa laughed. «Hahaha! Barbarian! It was a shame to leave you behind, but to think that you would crawl up to me willingly! This time I won't let you escape».
Escape my ass. You will say that.
«This time, I'll have your head broken!»
A battle began with an exchange of resolutions. It was different from last time, which had to be fought for a few hours.
Cut!
His shadow guardians had a fairly high level of physical stamina. Every time Missha brandished her dual swords like a maniac, they were slashed helplessly. «... Was it always so easy?»
That was because he now had the bonus of an ice attribute. Furthermore, the curse that bothered her at that moment no longer applied.
[Elisa Behenk has launched Low Level Decline.]
[Elisa Behenk has released Diminished Force.]
[Riol Warb Dwalkie has released Level 7 Auxiliary Magic Glow. All evil attribute effects granted to group members are removed].
Thanks to the last time I won the lottery and following my orders to learn a curse removal spell, Dwalkie returned with the powerful glow purification magic. «Haha, what do you think?»
«It's great». I complimented the now cocky Dwalkie. For some reason, it seemed like he took what I said the other day personally.
Anyway, I slowly joined the battle. It would be enough for a single person to build a shield wall and block the front, but it was not efficient.
«Behell-ahhhhh!» With my cry to the ancestor gods, I could feel the energy flowing throughout my body.
[You used Wild Burst. Your threat level is multiplied by 3, and your physical value increases in proportion to that value].
The passage was narrow and it was impossible to follow it with Gigantization, but the effect was still sufficient.
«Grrrrrrrr». The summoned beasts sensed a threat and began to run towards me recklessly.
It's like playing some kind of hack and slash.
As if to alleviate past regrets, I brandished the enlarged mace like a madman.
Hit! Hit! Hit!
The guards exploded with each blow despite their physical resistance. A strange sense of pleasure arose as he suddenly remembered the good times when he fought a few goblins. Yes, it was because of this feeling that I played RPGs.
Stab!
«¡Aaagh!»
As the aggro was drawn towards me and the guards dispersed, Brown shot a crossbow arrow and Hikurod made a temporary path using the Lightning Bolt combo. I rushed through these.
«Bjorn, it's dangerous to go alone-»
«¡Behell-aaaaaaaaaaah!»
Beasts summoned blocking the path or not, the distance narrowed rapidly. Finally, I could see that bitch Elisa's face well.
«O-this is not possible...» It seemed like he was watching something incredible unfold. Why, I never imagined such a unilateral defeat?
I shouted in advance: «Dwalkie, now!»
«Now?» Dwalkie asked confused.
I was a barbarian who didn't repeat the mistakes of the past, you see. «Hurry!»
«Okay!»
As Missha and Hikurod came to my side to help hold me, I continued drilling forward. One hundred feet, fifty, thirty, the distance was rapidly narrowing. I jumped towards Elisa's slut as I slid, but the moment I reached out to grab her, Elisa's body became translucent and began to float in the air.
[Elisa Behenk has launched Spiritization].
It was an advanced mobility spell that granted physical immunity bonuses.
«Bastards! I will never forget this shame!»
Don't forget what, exactly? If you think we are the same as before, when we could only watch helplessly as you escaped, you are wrong.
«¡Dwalkie!»
As soon as I called the back, I heard: «It's done!» The prepared magic was finished and fired, a spell for which Dwalkie paid a whopping 1.3 million stones to learn from the magic tower.
[Riol Warb Dwalkie has released Class 8 Curse Magic Materialization].
When hit correctly, Materialization nullified the enemy's physical immunity. In other words, it made even an unarmed warrior capable of hitting a spirit-type monster. Of course, if it failed, it was useless.
[Riol Warb Dwalkie has cast level 8 Support Precision auxiliary magic].
But our Dwalkie was slowly emerging from his half-dumb wizard stage.
«¡Uh, ah! ¡Kyaa!»
At the same time that Spiritization was released, a sensation was transmitted to the tips of my outstretched fingers. It was similar to the first time I fought a goblin. It didn't matter if it was the wrist, ankle or neck; I just grabbed the neck tightly or whatever I could and slammed it to the ground with all my strength.
¡Pum!
I immediately climbed on top of his upper body. It seemed to damage her until she was groggy, trembling and furious.
«Ugh! Uh, ah, ugh, mm....!» It seemed like he was shouting some swear words, but I figured he hadn't fixed that speech of his yet. Of course, he had no intention of letting his guard down just because the opponent was now a cretin. It was the same person who rose from the ground like a zombie even when his skull was shattered.
Deslick.
I immediately lifted the dough, but just as I was going to hit it with all my might, Dwalkie hurriedly stopped me.
«Wait! If you want more rewards, wouldn't it be better to take her alive?».
Hmm, the wanted signs definitely said that, but I didn't think this guy would care about something like that. Was it the result of having tried money? Now he was truly an explorer.
«Certainly, it would be a waste to kill her». I got up from Elisa. I then had Dwalkie cast a Poisonous Paralysis spell and, without any personal feelings, hit Elisa's arms and legs with the dough.
Punch! Punch! Punch!
I crushed his bones and flesh cleanly.
«... Is it necessary?» Hikurod frowned.
«Could escape». In this area, my general theory was that it was better to have excess than not have enough. In that sense, after tying the crippled Elisa with a rope, I carried her on my shoulders as if she were luggage.
Taking care of the few remaining summoned beasts, Missha muttered in a raised voice: «Now we have become strong. I didn't think we would beat her so easily...».
I also agreed. Less than three minutes passed from the start of the battle to the end. Having fought this enemy in the relatively near past, we had a better idea of our growth. However, it wasn't too late to praise and thank us later at the bar.
"Rotmiller, take the lead." With that, I patted Brown on the shoulder. I had accomplished all my objectives. It was time to leave this creepy underground space.
Hmm? What the heck is this? Why isn't it moving?
I called Brown again. "…Rotmiller?" Again, there was no answer. That's when I realized the anomaly and rushed to check on the other team members. "Missha? Dwalkie? Hikurod?"
No one answered. I wished they would say "Surprise!", that it was just a game, but I was sure that wouldn't happen.
Suddenly, a suffocating silence surrounded me. I muttered under my breath, "We're screwed."
It didn't surprise me that things were going so well until now.