“Eh!?”
Captain Meld suddenly knocked Endo aside and swung his sword in a circular motion. There was a clang of metal, and then he spun his body, using centrifugal force to unleash a beautiful roundhouse kick against the shaky space.
Bang! The sound of flesh hitting flesh echoed, and the shaking space was kicked back, leaving countless claw marks on the ground five meters ahead. The opponent was probably using claws to slow down.
Seeing that scene, Endo, who was sitting on the ground, turned pale and murmured:
"How, how is it possible that he caught up so quickly..."
Those words acted like a signal, and the monsters that had cornered Endo and his companions began to appear one after another.
The enemy had caught up earlier than expected, and Endo, shaken, sat on the ground, unable to stand up. On the way here, Endo had used the "Assassin" skill to eliminate all traces of his presence, scent, and residual magic. Since the female demon was searching for Kouki and the others while moving, it was impossible for her to catch up so quickly, as Endo had rushed straight here.
Then, the nightmarish woman appeared and answered Endo's question.
"Hmm, only one person?... I thought if they were going to escape, they'd go to this room with the teleportation array... Judging from the situation, they must be hiding somewhere."
The demon woman lifted her hair anxiously. Seeing her appear on the back of a four-eyed wolf, Captain Meld and the others immediately prepared for battle.
From her words, it seemed she assumed Guanghui and the others had fled into the magic circle, and so had come here without searching. Since her prediction had failed and she would have to search for Guanghui and the others again, the witch seemed quite unhappy.
It also meant that Kouki and the others were still safe. Endo and Captain Meld breathed a sigh of relief, a faint smile on their faces. The sharp-eyed female demon noticed their expressions, snorted, and then sneered:
"Never mind, I still have my original mission to complete... Let's just get rid of you quickly and start looking for someone."
The monsters rushed forward together.
The Chimera rushed over shaking the space, the black cat closed the distance like a gust of wind, the Pseudo-Brutal approached with a war club, and the four-eyed wolf waited in the back for them to reveal a flaw.
"Form a circle! Defend the transfer formation! Kousuke! How long are you going to remain in a daze?! Hurry and stand up... and run to the ground!"
“Eh!?”
Captain Meld and his men quickly formed a formation, working together to repel the monster's attack. Their swiftness commanded praise, a testament to the kingdom's most elite knights. Based on the monster intelligence Endō had shared with them, they realized their offensive power was insufficient and resorted to a thorough defensive and parrying strategy.
Endo couldn't help but feel puzzled by Captain Meld's request to flee to the surface. He thought that if they wanted to escape, they could just flee together; since they were leaving here, his mission wasn't to flee to the surface, but to return to Kouki and the others and convey the captain's message.
"Don't be in a daze! Tell the people on Earth about the demon!"
"B-but Captain, you guys..."
"We...will fight here until the very end! Kousuke! Once you reach the other side, destroy the teleportation formation! We'll buy you as much time as possible!"
“W-Why is this happening…”
Captain Meld's thoughts were clear.
Even if you want to escape to the ground, if no one delays, the monsters will immediately move to the ground. Then there will be no way to escape from the pursuers, and you will most likely be caught up and killed.
Therefore, the best strategy was to have one person escape while the others stayed behind to buy time. By stalling for time and partially destroying the thirty-layered teleportation array, they could completely escape pursuit. Since the teleportation array was carved directly into the ground, it could be easily repaired using the "Refinement" technique. Once they had escaped pursuit, informed the troops stationed above ground of the entire situation, and then repaired the teleportation array, allowing Kouki and his men to use it.
Endo was the one chosen to be in charge of the escape.
Captain Meld had just said he would abandon them and save only Kouki, but now he sacrificed himself, allowing Endo to escape alone. Endo could not help but feel confused and he was unable to take any action.
Captain Meld fought fiercely, shouting out his heartfelt words and request to Endo:
"I'm sorry I'm so weak! I'm sorry I can't save you! I'm sorry, I have no choice but to make a choice! Even though I'm so useless, this is my last request! Kosuke! You have to promise me!"
This man, whom he respected like an older brother, conveyed his final request to the bewildered Endō.
"Live!"
After hearing this, Endo understood everything.
Captain Meld didn't want any of them to die. If one person had to die to keep the others alive, they'd rather sacrifice themselves. Not just Kouki, but all the students. The "choice" he told Endo was filled with painful struggle.
Endo bit his lip, turned, and ran towards the transfer formation. If he couldn't respond to Captain Meld's feelings and awareness at this moment, he wouldn't be worthy of being a man.
"Don't even think about running!"
The demon woman ordered the black cat to pursue, and she also cast a spell. The black cat shot out its tentacles from behind with powerful speed, like a bullet, and the stone spear flew through the air on the wind of killing intent.
Endo managed to sever the tentacles with his short sword and twisted his body to dodge the attack, but he couldn't avoid the stone spear that followed. It seemed to have calculated the position of the tentacles in advance, and with perfect timing and direction, it flew after them continuously.
Endo gritted his teeth, bracing himself for the impact. He was determined to keep running even if he got hit, and he jumped directly into the transfer formation.
However, the expected impact did not arrive. A knight rushed out from the circle and used his body as a shield to block the attack for Endō.
"Mr. Allen!"
"Grr... Leave me alone, just go!"
The knight known as Allen, with a stone spear lodged in his abdomen, swung his sword to fend off the monster's attack. He said this to Endo with a manly smile. Endo bit his lip so hard that it almost bled and ran towards the teleportation formation.
"Tsk! He's just a piece of crap, yet you're still so stubborn! Focus your attacks on that boy!"
The female demon gave new orders anxiously, but it was too late.
"Ha! This is our victory! Don't underestimate the knights of the Heilig Kingdom!"
As Captain Meld roared with a smug smile, Endo activated the teleportation array and disappeared.
The female demon ignored Captain Meld's words and ordered the monsters to rush towards the teleportation array. Monsters can directly manipulate magic power and activate the teleportation array without the trouble of starting the chant, so she thought it was still in time. However -
"I told you not to underestimate us!"
Captain Meld and his companions relied on the clever techniques and coordination that the students lacked, as well as the swift movements gained from experience, to frustrate the monsters. Although outnumbered, their defensive abilities and endurance were truly commendable.
However, no matter how hard Captain Meld and his men fought, the enemy monsters were outnumbered and powerful, and they couldn't hold out for long. First, Knight Allen, pierced through the abdomen by a stone spear, finally gave in. Unable to withstand the monster's attack, he lost his balance and fell to his knees. A chimera, seizing an opening, broke through the defenses and reached the transfer formation.
As the Chimera disappeared, the magic circle also lost its light.
"Damn it, one of them moved there... Kosuke... please don't die."
Captain Meld's voice was drowned out by the monsters' roars. Seeing Endo flee, the female demon, venting her hatred, commanded the monsters to attack Captain Meld and the others.
"Hmph, since we've already decided this is our burial place, all that remains is to fight to the bitter end. Brothers, let's show the enemy the fighting spirit of the Knights of the Heilig Kingdom!"
"""""Whoa whoa!"""""
At Captain Meld's command, his knights responded with a mighty roar. Though it was only for a brief moment, the aura they radiated intimidated even the surrounding monsters.
ten minutes later……
Silence returned to the room on the 70th floor where the transfer array was located.
“Wa ...
Endo let out a cry that was indistinguishable between a wail and a shout, and rushed out of the teleportation array on the thirtieth floor of the Orcus Great Labyrinth. He immediately swung his dagger, attempting to destroy the magic circle beneath his feet.
"W-What!? Hey! What are you trying to do?!"
"Stop it!"
"Hold him down!"
The black-clad youth who emerged from the teleportation circle suddenly roared, wielding his dagger to destroy the magic circle. The surrounding people, dressed in the formal attire of the Knights, froze for a moment, but roared in anger as they rushed towards Endō, trying to stop him from destroying the magic circle.
They were Captain Meld's subordinates, responsible for protecting the magic circle on the 30th floor. Due to their lack of strength, they could only serve as guards on the 30th floor at best.
Because one strike was not enough to destroy the magic circle, Endo slashed a second and third time. Just when he was just one step away from destroying part of the magic circle, unfortunately... the knights finally managed to stop Endo from destroying the magic circle.
"Let me go! We have to destroy it quickly! They're coming! Let me go!"
"What! You're a member of the Hero's group!? Why would you…"
Seeing that the person who was committing such a mad act was actually a familiar brave fellow, the members were shocked and confused, and could not help but relax their strength. Endo took advantage of this opportunity and swung his dagger, trying to destroy part of the magic circle, but he was a step too late.
The magic circle activated again, emitting a shimmering light. The next moment, a shaky space burst out from the circle and attacked Endō and the others.
"Damn it! Get back!"
“What is this!? Ughhhhhh!!”
Endo immediately warned and jumped back, barely avoiding the Chimera's attack. However, one member, still confused about the situation, was unable to evade and was caught off guard by the Chimera's claws, slicing through his body and armor.
Seeing their comrades suddenly spurt blood and die, the members were shocked. Endo shouted to them anxiously:
"It's the enemy! Watch out for the shaky space! If we don't destroy the magic circle, they'll keep coming out!"
Hearing Endō's scream, the members snapped back to their senses. At that moment, another person was slain and fell.
There were seven members in total guarding the 30th-floor transfer array, two of whom had been killed.
This realization made Endo grit his teeth in regret. Using his "Assassin" skill, "Shadow Dance," he dashed across the ceiling, intending to destroy the magic circle from above. However, the Chimera sensed his intentions and leaped up to meet his attack.
"Damn it! What the hell is this monster!?"
Although the members did not understand the situation, they knew what they should do now. They rushed towards the Chimera that attacked Endo.
However, to them, the Chimera looked like nothing more than a swaying space, so they certainly didn't know how it would attack, nor did they know what to guard against. Therefore, those who attacked the Chimera from behind were bitten in the neck by its tail, while those who attacked from the side were struck hard by its wings, falling to the ground.
Even so, their actions weren't entirely in vain. The Chimera's slight loss of balance allowed Endo to dodge its claws in a critical moment. Although he didn't completely avoid it, suffering lacerations on his shoulder and flank, Endo managed to sever the snake's tail just as they crossed paths, and then fell to the ground.
The Chimera flapped its wings to regain its balance, landing a little further away. At the same moment, despite its shoulder hitting the ground, Endo immediately stood up, raised his dagger, and prepared to strike at the part of the teleportation array that had just been damaged.
The Chimera used the reaction force of landing to rush out at a fierce speed, ready to kill Endo.
However, Endo had already thrust his dagger into the magic circle with all his might. A crisp sound, like clapping hands, confirmed the destruction of the magic circle. The residual magic power used to shift the magic circle dissipated.
“That’s it… uh, Aa ...
After successfully destroying the teleportation array, Endo breathed a sigh of relief, believing no more pursuers were coming. But the next moment, the Chimaera's teeth bit into his right hand, causing him to scream in agony. The Chimaera's powerful jaws prepared to bite off Endo's right hand.
"Don't even think about it!"
"Quickly separate the monster from him!"
The knights rushed over, following the momentum of the charge, and thrust with all their might, preventing the Chimera from biting off Endō's arm. The Chimera, pierced in the side by the reinforced lance, unconsciously relaxed its jaw.
Taking advantage of the moment when the Chimera loosened its grip, Endo pulled out his right hand, smoothly took out the throwing dagger hidden in his left sleeve, and stabbed it into the Chimera's eye, which was exposed by the blood spray.
The Chimera attacked recklessly in pain, and two knights who approached to stab it were torn to pieces by its claws. Endo threw the dagger, but the Chimera, despite losing an eye, still dodged it with its wild instincts.
Then, a knight suddenly let out a mournful cry.
Endo couldn't help but look in that direction. He saw the knight who had just been knocked to the ground, bitten by the severed but still living snake on his neck. The skin where the knight was bitten had turned purple. He struggled in pain, and in the blink of an eye, he lost his life.
"hateful!"
The last knight, seeing this, rushed forward to slay the snake, but it was a fatal mistake. The Chimera, sensing its back turned, pounced. Endo, wounded and battered, summoned his last strength and, while the Chimera was attacking the knight, delivered a fatal blow to its neck.
“Go to hell, ahhhhhhh!!”
Endo was forced to separate from his companions, leaving Captain Meld and his crew behind, and the members he knew were killed. His cry contained all kinds of anger, and then he launched a fatal blow, exerting all his strength, severing the Chimera's neck and killing it instantly.
Endo jumped out from the side and, following the law of inertia, crossed paths with the dead Chimera, then fell heavily to the ground and rolled several times.
Endo endured the pain in his shoulder, right hand, and side, supporting his upper body with only his left hand as he stared at the Chimera, trying to confirm whether it was dead.
The Chimera's camouflage had been removed, and its neck, severed in half, lay still on the ground, seemingly completely dead. But Endo's expression was far from joyful; he seemed almost weeping, his heart pounding as he cried out, "Damn it!"
In front of my sight was the last knight charging towards the snake's tail.
The knight lay on the ground, his right hand gripping a sword, his face purple. Beside him lay a snake cut in half. He had probably cut the snake off before being attacked by the Chimera, and the snake's venom had sprayed his face.
The knights stationed on the 30th floor were completely wiped out. Endo, tears streaming down his face, repeatedly cried out, "Damn it!"
Endo cried for a moment, then realized he would bleed to death if he continued like this. He immediately took out the highest-grade wound and recovery potions from the item bag given to him by Captain Meld and the others and took them. After bandaging his wounds with the first aid kit, he silently carried the knights' bodies and arranged them in the corner of the teleportation array room.
Endo stared at them for a long moment, then slowly turned and walked away, moving toward the ground. His face was as pale as a ghost, his eyes empty and powerless.
——And I was the only one who survived.
Such thoughts were like heavy, cold chains, tightly constricting Endo's heart. Now, he could only rely on the responsibility entrusted to him as a support, moving his legs mechanically, and continuing to move forward.
Volume 4, Chapter 4: Testing True Value
“Ah ...
On the left is the [Leisen Grand Canyon], and on the right is a vast grassland. The magic-driven two-wheeled vehicle "Xiu Tai Fu" and the four-wheeled vehicle "Blijie" are sandwiched in it, with their backs to the sun, speeding towards the west.
Despite stirring up dust on the highway, Britje at least continued to move forward along the road; but Hutford was different. He went back and forth between the wastelands and grasslands of the canyon, galloping happily.
"...Shia's in such a good mood, she's actually cheering like some thugs from the end of the century."
"...Hmm, I kind of want to give it a try."
Hajime sat in the driver's seat of the Blije, one elbow resting on the window frame, the other hand on the steering wheel, his face a look of defeat at the hands of Shia. As Hajime had said, Shia was not riding in the Blije, but was driving the Heuvel alone.
She had always loved the feeling of riding the Huracán, but recently, with the increase in the number of people, taking the Brijet has become the mainstream, so she has always been a little dissatisfied.
Although she could lean out the window and feel the wind, it still felt a bit unsatisfying. Furthermore, in Britt's car, Hajime's seat was Yue's, so Shia couldn't cling to Hajime's body like she did on the Hyutaif. So, she might as well learn how to drive and try riding the Hyutaif herself, so she begged Hajime to teach her.
As long as one could manipulate magic directly, a magic-powered car could be easily controlled. Even without using the steering wheel, one could still use magic to steer. Therefore, it wasn't difficult for Shia. She quickly learned how to do it, and then she was captivated by the charm of Heuvel.
She let out strange cheers, swerving left and right, drifting, wheeling, and other tricks, including jackknifing and piggyback riding, displaying skills that even professional extreme motorcycle riders would be astounded by.
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