To the Madrosa Kingdom (4)
Calix quickly steadied the chaotic atmosphere.
"Alright, everyone, check your personnel first."
"First squad, all present!"
"Second squad, all present!"
"Third squad has two minor injuries, but nothing serious."
"Fourth squad has one minor injury, but he's fine."
"Fifth squad, all present!"
He glanced at Yurin, who spoke on behalf of her attendants.
"We're all good here too."
Calix nodded and approached the passage from which the spiders had poured out.
Krout swiftly fell in beside him.
"The passage has collapsed."
"Was it like this from the start?"
"No, it collapsed recently. Look how sharp the cross-section is."
"Hmm... Why would they collapse it?"
"Collapsing a passage is basically a 'keep out' sign."
"S-simple, huh."
"Why tell us not to come this way, though?"
"Maybe because this leads to the ruin's core reward?"
"Nah."
"How do you know?"
"There's a signpost over there."
Calix jerked his chin toward a bronze plate etched with a few pictographs.
Krout scratched his head sheepishly.
"Uh... they're being awfully polite."
"A facility this size couldn't have been a personal lab. There must've been at least dozens, maybe hundreds of people here."
"Ah, so that's why they put up signs."
"Shall we push on a bit more? This isn't enough to grasp the overall structure yet."
"Understood."
The next day.
"Huh?"
Sensing something off, Krout whipped out his sword and hurled it.
Shiiik—thunk!
The blade shot like an arrow and embedded itself in the ruin's wall.
Black blood trickled from the shadows, revealing a humanoid monster.
"It's a Sand Wraith!"
Known also as desert specters, Sand Wraiths were undead raised from desert-dried corpses infused with yin energy.
"Everyone, activate your light orbs!"
Pop-pop-pop!
The light artifacts, unused until now due to the decent visibility, activated in unison.
A dozen glowing orbs floated above Calix's group, illuminating the area brightly.
With the shadows banished, the Sand Wraiths revealed themselves.
"Gah!"
They were a step too late.
The wraiths had already infiltrated deep into their formation.
Melee chaos erupted.
Calix felt a chill and twisted his body.
The Sand Wraith was draped in the long cloths typical of desert tribes, only its eyes exposed—or rather, the empty sockets where eyes should have been.
A spindly wrist flashed past him, dried to the point of resembling a wooden stump.
Calix swung his sword upward to sever it.
Clang!
But the wraith's flesh was far tougher than expected. The blade bit into muscle but didn't cleave bone in one stroke.
A wrong move, and the blade could get stuck.
Calix gripped the hilt two-handed and kicked the monster's gut.
The Sand Wraith flew off his foot, tumbling into a corner.
It weighed less than anticipated.
He wanted to rush in for the kill, but another charged.
Calix met the curved blade calmly.
Ka-clang—skree!
Yellow sparks danced between the clashing swords.
In that instant, Calix's blade tilted sideways.
With the opposing force gone, the curved sword slid along his blade.
The wraith's chest gaped open.
Calix drove his knee up without hesitation, grabbing its head with his free hand.
Crunch!
A living foe would've blacked out, but undead didn't work that way.
Forcing a finisher could've backfired.
Calix retreated two steps, recovering his sword.
The Sand Wraith pursued relentlessly, as if unscathed.
But as Calix leveled his sword at eye height, it impaled its own forehead on the tip.
Already cracked from the knee strike.
The blade pierced smoothly, stirring the brain—undead's classic weak point.
Thud.
Just one down, and fatigue already crept in.
But emotionless undead offered no respite.
Shiiik—
Another curved blade fell toward him.
This time, his response differed.
Stepping in, the hilt clanged against his shoulder guard.
Clunk!
The curved sword yanked free, spinning to the floor.
Disarmed, the wraith hesitated.
Endless slashing, then suddenly weaponless—it faltered understandably.
But not for long.
By undead instinct, it gaped its jaws.
Kyaha—slash!
Its head flew, rolling across the floor.
Calix's lightning-quick strike.
"Ugh, tiring."
Their rock-hard bodies demanded intense focus for a one-shot kill.
"Ease up a bit. Use rotation."
Calix muttered at the next approaching Sand Wraith.
As it entered range, he unleashed his coiled body in a storm whirl.
Whoosh—slash!
Craaack—
The monster split in half, collapsing to either side.
No more charging. He scanned the area.
The fight was wrapping up.
A few soldiers lay bleeding, though.
He knew it was unavoidable, but it left a bitter taste.
After slaying all the Sand Wraiths, Calix stood before a branching passage.
"Collapsed again."
Krout's armor was soaked black.
Impossible to guess how many he'd cut down.
"Yeah, most monsters we faced probably wandered in from outside. Collapsing passages must've connected to the exterior."
"That explains it... Felt like too many for a dungeon. But we'll keep going like this? No telling what waits at the end."
"To the end. It'll be worth it, I bet."
Days later, Calix's group faced the deepest chamber.
A massive bronze golem knelt on one knee before them.
"Think you can take it? FYI, immune to class 6 and below magic. Only Sword of Light wounds it. Smash the core like other golems."
"Won't know till I try!"
Confident words, but Krout's dejection was palpable.
Even Calix felt daunted by the guardian's overwhelming presence.
Worlds apart from game graphics.
Kneeling, it towered over five meters.
Arms outstretched wouldn't span half its thigh.
Palm like it could sweep dozens aside.
Intricate runes and ornate decorations bordered on art.
Of course, Calix had zero intention of fighting it.
He'd have to dissuade anyone rash enough to try.
Thankfully, none did.
They retreated about a hundred meters to a large spring and set up camp.
They washed with clean water for the first time in ages and ate heartily.
Everyone was exhausted.
They'd pushed to the end through hardship, only to face an insurmountable wall.
That evening, Calix spoke to the gathered group.
"I have a plan."
"Ah... please! Not 'I'll handle it alone' again?"
"Exactly. Only one suit of armor anyway."
"Armor? What's special about it?"
"Enables underwater breathing. You swim?"
"Urgh..."
Krout pursed his lips, clearly a beer-bellied landlubber.
"I'll ask Edirn to cast a spell."
"Sadly, no. Magic unravels midway."
"That deep?"
"Deep, yeah, but... gotta pass a mana-neutralizing barrier."
"Ugh."
"Mainly, you'll get why you can't follow once you see the entrance."
"Where is it?"
The spring they'd used for water.
One side hid a narrow passage, barely wide enough for one person.
Calix was right—Krout's bulk wouldn't fit.
"See? Why I have to go."
"Sigh... dangerous?"
"Nah. Just go in, do my thing, come out. No worries."
"You say that every time, then suffer hell."
"And? Ever failed?"
"When you put it like... no, my lord."
Krout was sulking hard.
Calix patted his back soothingly.
"Wait a bit. I'll be quick."
Calix changed into pre-prepared thin leather garb.
Over it, he donned Mora's Breath.
Type: Light Armor
Material: Blue-Horned Sunfish Leather
Passive Effect: Protects wearer from heat.
Active Effect: Forms air membrane for 2 hours, maintaining breathability in any condition. However, membrane is highly vulnerable to mana-infused attacks; no protection expected.
A suit of armor crafted from the leather of the exceedingly rare sunfish.
He moved a few times—fit snugly, felt good.
"How's it? It's what I wore as a kid..."
"A bit loose at the hips and chest, but wearable."
"Gaaah!"
Laila clawed at her hair.
Mora's Breath
A faint membrane formed around Calix with the system log.
He cautiously dipped a foot into the spring.
Walking slowly toward the underwater passage, water rose from knees to waist, chest, and finally chin.
Calix held his breath and submerged fully.
Oddly, the icy water felt merely refreshingly cool.
Exhaling slowly, he inhaled—air flowed normally.
Confirmed. Next, membrane durability.
He pressed his ankle dagger against it; it merged like soap bubbles, untouched.
Then, fist to the spring bottom.
Membrane held.
'No breakage from bumps or scrapes then. Just avoid mana attacks...'
Once started, no turning back midway.
Cautious it was.
Calix eased into the passage.
No snags, thankfully.
Wider than expected, smooth passage.
Hands on walls, he advanced slowly.
Suddenly, the passage widened, current surging.
'Whoa!'
Startled, Calix groped for holds, but the flow slipped them away.
Ahead, pillars crossed the path.
'Damn!'
Arms forward, spread wide—desperate drag.
One pillar grazed past perilously.
Collision could've crushed bone.
'Should've brought cushions...'
Standard method: inflated leather pouches, deflate one by one.
But spotting this armor in the royal vault, he'd figured easier sans prep.
Regret for the haste.