Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Chapter 36
Catacombs of Doom (3)
'The numbers are tremendous.'
As they went deeper into the catacombs, the number of undead continued to increase.
The number that Luciella and Maria had already killed had surpassed three hundred.
"Quantity over quality? I'm starting to lose the thrill..."
As she said, while the numbers increased, the number of high-level forces like Death Knights or skeleton magicians was noticeably decreasing.
"It seems the one inside isn't particularly strong after all."
The enemy appears to have chosen an aggressive outward defense rather than concentrating its main forces inside to protect itself.
'I suppose that's why the cemetery keepers were defeated....'
Even unskilled cemetery keepers who hadn't awakened to magic wouldn't have been easily defeated by simple undead.
"This is getting boring... Shall we go see the face of the one hiding deep inside?"
"I'll clear the way."
Even with Luciella's dialogue worthy of a third-rate hoodlum, Maria accepted it naturally without being flustered.
WHOOSH!
As Maria began to use her power in earnest, the inside of the catacombs began to shake slightly as if an earthquake had occurred.
"...Oh?"
"Since there don't seem to be any worthy opponents, I'll handle them all at once."
SQUEEZE!
When Maria tightly clenched her hand, which was dyed golden, all the undead around them began to crumble.
Witnessing this spectacle, Luciella exclaimed with shining eyes.
"...Amazing! Is that the true power of psychic abilities?"
Such precision to harm only enemies without causing the slightest damage to nearby companions!
Even in the Psychic Luminous, there wouldn't be more than three telekinetics who could demonstrate such proficiency.
CRUMBLE!
When Maria released her telekinesis, only the powdered remains of skeletons were left in the vicinity.
CLAP! CLAP! CLAP!
"It's as if a great magic has passed through. Excellent!"
"It was nothing."
While it was truly nothing to Maria, Luciella's eyes shone like a child discovering a new world.
'...What about us?'
Rudian and Elvin, who had completely become side characters, followed behind them with empty eyes.
The two had managed to use their swords against the undead because there were so many, but all the "big fish" had been monopolized by the two women in front.
'Oh my, this is trouble at this rate.'
In the original work, the protagonist's group discovered two things in the deepest part of the catacombs.
One could be given up without concern, but the other was something Rudian absolutely needed to recover for the future.
But at this rate, Luciella and Maria would take most of the rewards for clearing the dungeon according to imperial law.
While Rudian was trying to figure out a solution to this situation.
BAAAAAAAA!
A strange cry like a mountain goat came from the deepest part of the catacombs.
"How noisy."
"...A sheep's cry? How peculiar."
The group frowned as they looked toward the direction of the sound.
Although it was the cry of a sheep, the demonic energy mixed in it could blind the eyes and deafen the ears of an ordinary person.
Of course, it was absolutely not enough to affect the group.
"Shall we go, Lady?"
"Very well, Princess."
The two walked amicably toward the deepest part.
"......"
Elvin and Rudian remained alienated.
***
When the group set foot in the innermost part of the catacombs.
"...Was there such a place?"
Luciella involuntarily frowned at the space that was too vast to simply exist inside a cemetery.
"We'll have more to investigate when we return."
A huge dome-shaped excavated place.
No one would have thought that such a massive space existed beneath the capital.
The edges of the corners, stacked like steps, were layered with human skulls, and a rough estimate would put their number at least in the tens of thousands.
"It's like a colosseum."
"No, rather it's like..."
Luciella muttered with a serious face.
Rudian opened his mouth, seeing her expression.
"You thought it looked like a public execution ground, didn't you?"
"...That's right."
This place seemed as if it was made to secretly kill prisoners.
'Then those skulls are not the audience but executed prisoners.'
While Luciella was thinking this, the master occupying this space revealed himself in the air with a curse.
-Damn humans, how dare you destroy my half-year effort...!
"That, that is!"
Elvin recognized the being that appeared and opened his eyes wide.
"Ba, Baphomet?"
"A minion of the Netherworld King!"
A demon with the head and legs of a mountain goat, the upper body of a human, and the wings of a fallen angel.
Widely known to the public as a being from the demon realm, but in It was a direct subordinate of the Netherworld King, the symbol of death and god of the netherworld.
"I expected something because of the sheep's cry, but..."
"A bigger figure than expected has appeared?"
Baphomet sent forth spiritual words toward the surprised Rudian and his group.
-How did you know I was here? The security was perfect.
The one who responded first to those words was, surprisingly, not someone from the group but Diablo.
-Kukuku, your body is tattered from passing through the dimensional gate.
'Tattered?'
Baphomet's enormous height of 6 meters appeared to be perfectly fine without any visible wounds.
-These guys are stiff even to us demon kings because they have the Netherworld King backing them. If he were in his normal state, he wouldn't be wagging his tongue first against humans.
'I see.'
If he's someone who can defy beings like Diablo, his normal combat power must be comparable to that of a demon king.
-I guarantee, that cunning one will attempt to negotiate with you using fascination and seduction. The moment you fall for it, it's over.
As soon as Diablo finished speaking, Baphomet's roar shook the underground interior.
-You damn humans, I'll kill you all!
"......"
Rudian looked at Diablo's sword spirit with a dry expression.
'Sir?'
-...He seems to have a quick temper.
Diablo's embarrassment was conveyed.
-Ahem! Anyway, be careful if you fight. He is proficient in curse-based abilities. You might be protected by those eyes of yours, but the others won't be. The moment just before reverse summoning is especially dangerous.
'In other words, he's good at desperate last stands.'
The calculation was complete.
The essence that he possesses. If possible, it must be obtained.
Usually, the image of Baphomet was one wielding a staff and casting all sorts of magic, but.
BOOM!
In his grasp, instead of a staff, was a massive greatsword that seemed to easily exceed 3 meters in diameter.
-Just four humans. Perfect prey!
BAAAAA!
Baphomet's aura, like a predator before its prey, was transmitted.
"Whew!"
Elvin whistled with a mix of admiration and fear.
The physical force emanating from that huge greatsword would be fatal even with just a graze.
-Regret not answering my words!
Baphomet attacked the group, freely wielding his massive greatsword.
The first to respond to the attack was naturally Maria, the strongest in the group.
"Hmph!"
Maria created a telekinetic barrier to protect Rudian, who Baphomet had targeted first.
Trusting Maria's barrier and Diablo's strength, Rudian boldly received the attack head-on.
BOOM!
Rudian was pushed back several steps and frowned.
'I can handle this!'
Without Maria's barrier, he would have been slammed into a corner despite blocking, but now it was manageable.
"HAAAAH!"
While Rudian was blocking Baphomet's attack, Luciella and Elvin dug into Baphomet's flanks.
-You annoying things!
If Baphomet were in his complete state, he would have killed the two with a single strike using powerful magical force, but now he had to receive those attacks with only his physical abilities.
SLASH!
Elvin's magic sword pierced through the skin, and Luciella's aura sword left a huge gash.
BAAAAAAA!
Baphomet let out a scream filled with pain.
"Hmm, less impressive than I thought."
Maria muttered quietly while measuring Baphomet's power.
Rudian caught that small voice and slightly clicked his tongue.
'That's because you're too strong.'
Initially, Rudian had planned to use Diablo to kill him.
After all, his combat power was absolutely unmatched by normal standards.
As his capabilities increased, Baphomet's stats that he couldn't see when he first obtained the eyes now appeared clearly.
-Name: Dugo
-Race: Baphomet
-Age: 14,666
-Titles: Slaughterer of the Netherworld, Servant of Curses, Minion of the Netherworld King, Hope of the Clan
-Strength: 992(-822)
-Agility: 650(-530)
-Vitality: 1,270(-1,079)
-Magic Power: 660(-630)
Total Combat Power: 12,780(-100,220)
Characteristics: Currently, most abilities are suppressed due to dimensional pressure.
'Damn...'
Combat power of 110,000...
It's fortunate that he's been heavily debuffed, dropping his combat power to the tens of thousands.
Of course, even that level is sufficiently catastrophic.
"It's similar to the demon I faced before, but it seems to be under some major restrictions. Let's deal with this before it gets annoying."
Maria accurately perceived Baphomet's current level.
"And... Somehow it seems to be guarding something."
"Guarding?"
At Rudian's question, Maria raised her finger to point upward.
"Perhaps that?"
At the center of the ceiling of this arena, there was a massive crystal orb that looked like it was covered in black mist.
'What is that?'
Although he hadn't noticed it because no magical or spiritual power was felt, it was clearly an extraordinary object at first glance.
"Whether it's guarding or whatever, we can kill him and find out at our leisure, right?"
"We're of the same mind."
Rudian and Maria looked at each other and grinned.
At the scene, Elvin and Luciella were still fighting happily with Maria's support.
Luciella was swinging her silver sword with a "hohoho" laugh, clearly enjoying herself.
"If I had known it would be like this, I would have brought my 'Giardlica' too!"
"...You even named your sword?"
Rudian's sword also had a name, Diablo, but that was because it was an ego sword from the beginning...
'Well, I can't dictate others' preferences.'
Rudian launched himself forward.
-If possible, drive the blade into his heart. His magic power should be quite tasty.
'If I can!'
In the current situation, there was no need to use Diablo's power.
Just slowly wear him down to death!
Rudian, Elvin, and Luciella blocked or diverted his struggling attacks and calmly accumulated damage.
-You bastards! You damn bastards!
Being cornered like this by humans who would normally be less than a handful to him, Baphomet seemed about to lose his mind.
-Those damn demons who trapped me here! These damn humans are trying to kill this noble body! I won't forgive any of you!
-Hmph, a mere pawn of the Netherworld King dares to use the term 'noble body'?
Diablo sneered, mocking Baphomet's anger.
As warned beforehand, Rudian alerted everyone to the precautions.
"Don't charge in head-on. He might use a powerful curse when he's about to die."
Even Maria's psychic abilities probably wouldn't block curses.
"I'll keep that in mind."
"Understood."
The two responded to Rudian's words while wiping away sweat.
Although he thought there would be no opportunity, the battle with Baphomet provided Elvin with valuable practical experience.
-How dare...!
With continued attacks, Baphomet's entire body was now covered in wounds.
It was only natural since his attacks were being blocked by an invisible barrier, while the opponent's attacks were steadily inflicting damage.
Despite Baphomet having the face of a sheep, everyone could easily see the dismay settled on that face.
"Come, let's finish this quickly."
-W-wait!
Thick beads of sweat rolled down Baphomet's forehead.