Chapter 158: Struggle
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 158: Struggle
Rosier, holding Sion in her arms, could not take her eyes off the Plaza Section.
She felt a gnawing anxiety that the moment she looked away from that monster, a blade would sever her neck.
This must be some kind of Ability. It was an Ability with an effect similar to a wide-range taunt. The moment one looked away or succumbed to panic, the attack would come.
“……”
Leah’s legs gave out, and she sank to the ground, trembling.
The sheer killing intent and pressure radiating from the monster had stripped her of her will to fight. Her mind went blank, and the only thing churning in her chest was a desperate, primal urge to survive.
Yuria was no different. Even after witnessing the Druid Club President being sliced in half right beside her, she couldn't bring herself to move.
The moment she moved, she would be cut down.
From a distance so great the monster was barely visible, it overwhelmed everyone in the Central Section. Its flickering killing intent alone was enough to choke the life out of them.
The Druid Club President, considered their greatest power, had been killed in an instant.
The enemy had started by tearing out the throat of the strongest. The only ones left who could even hope to buy time against that monster were Mabel—whose magical power was depleted and whose right arm was sealed—and Rosier.
Slowly, the Demon King approached.
It ground the High Orcs in the Central Section to dust.
It slaughtered every living thing in its path.
The Demon King was coming.
“…”
Ainhel, who had entered the Labyrinth as a slave, shook like a leaf. It was instinctive terror. The moment he laid eyes on the personification of death, Ainhel was forced to recall the nightmares of the Labyrinth he had experienced long ago.
The scent wafting from the distance was far too similar to the scent of those monsters he had encountered on the 7th Floor.
We’re going to die. Everyone here… is going to die.
Ainhel swore he would not die. Even if everyone else perished, he alone had to get out of here alive. He muttered this vow to himself over and over, carving it into his soul.
The extreme desire for survival rooted deep within him was a result of the contract he had made with the Roahs as a condition for escaping the 7th Floor.
If he were to die before seeing the end of the world, his soul would be dragged down to the 8th Floor by that contract. This fact had forged in him a relentless tenacity and an obsession with life that knew no surrender.
Ainhel was the only one capable of breaking free from the Demon King’s terror.
Because the Roahs of the 8th Floor were far more terrifying than any Demon King. Ironically, he overcame fear with an even greater fear.
I have to survive… but running away alone won't solve this horrific situation.
He had to survive by any means necessary. Ainhel expanded his thoughts around this central premise.
Killing that monster is impossible. With our current strength, stalling for time is the best we can do.
However, it was difficult to place any hope in Mabel. She had exhausted her mana for the summoning ritual of the Three Villainesses, and even her remaining magical power had been poured into the barrier to block the second impact.
The Druid Club President was out of the question, having died before he could even call forth his prized summons.
As for Rosier, her combat style was a poor match for that monster.
I… I have to stall for as much time as possible… and wait for the Saintess to arrive.
The Saintess had gone down below the Layer Division. If she returned here and bought them time, perhaps they could live.
If I can just buy time until the Saintess arrives… and if someone can go up and call for help during that time…
If all the forces remaining in the city descended, they might actually be able to kill that monster.
Of course, he didn't know that the Demon King could only stay in the Underground City for a mere two hours. In fact, no one here knew that.
That was why the idea of stalling for time even seemed viable. The problem was that the monster wouldn't simply let them stall.
During the short two-hour window, the Demon King’s goal was to kill as many people as possible, destroy the pillars, and crush Sion’s corpse so thoroughly that he could never be resurrected.
Yes, simple death was not the goal. The goal was to completely obliterate the body so it could never be revived, then stash it in a subspace pocket to be annihilated.
It was the exact same method Sion had used—stuffing the corpses of the heretics into a subspace pocket and dragging them out of the Labyrinth so they could never be resurrected.
The Demon King’s objective was to pulp the body to prevent resurrection, then drag it down to the 7th Floor to reduce the possibility of revival to zero.
The malice of the Labyrinth was thick.
Because of this, the people here were essentially secondary targets. If the Demon King killed Sion, its ultimate goal would be achieved.
Stalling or similar tactics wouldn't work. What truly needed to be done was to protect Sion.
If he died, the Villainesses bound to the pillars would naturally be released.
They had to figure out the Demon King’s objective—what it wanted to kill most.
Only by grasping that could they find a way to avoid total annihilation.
“Everyone, get a hold of yourselves! Are you just going to die like this?!”
Ainhel, the first to break free from the state of terror, shouted at the group. He immediately reached out his hand and summoned a pitch-black, amorphous lifeform.
Ainhel’s summon lunged at the charging Demon King. In that instant, the Demon King’s Ability momentarily flickered.
At Ainhel’s desperate struggle, some of the adventurers flinched and reacted. Those who had been overwhelmed began to break out of their paralysis.
“It… it won’t be able to stay for long. There’s no way a monster like that can stay on the 5th Floor forever!”
Lafnel, having snapped out of her terror, spoke up immediately.
She kept her eyes fixed on the Plaza Section while clutching something wriggling on the ground.
It was a strand of the Labyrinth Vine Beans she had planted in the Labyrinth through Sion earlier. By holding it, she had determined the mana concentration of the Underground City.
According to her knowledge, if a monster from below regressed to a higher floor, it would inevitably weaken or fail to endure in a place with low mana concentration. That was why they had sent other monsters up ahead of time—to raise the concentration.
The opponent wasn't just any monster; it was a horror on par with a Demon King. Even if the giants had raised the mana concentration of the Underground City, it wouldn't be able to hold out for long.
“Two… two hours… or maybe two and a half… if we can just endure that long…”
The Demon King would naturally weaken. Or it would flee back down.
Since it was a monster created from a human base, the malice of the Labyrinth filling its body would eventually drain away.
Lafnel quickly realized that they only needed to hold out for two hours.
At the same time, the Tower Lord, who had been unable to think straight due to the iron stake in her right arm, writhed in pain as she deduced the Demon King’s goal.
“That… that is the malice of the Labyrinth… It’s targeting Sion. Even if the pillars are destroyed… if Sion survives, the Underground City will eventually fall into the hands of humanity… Its ultimate goal is likely… Sion’s absolute death…”
“We have to protect Sion for two hours. Or… we have to escape with him.”
Even if everyone else died.
As long as Sion survived, there was a chance to reclaim the Underground City.
Of course, the Labyrinth had no intention of letting that happen.
BOOM—!!!!
Another wave of sword qi flew toward them.
There was no one left to block the howling Demon King’s attack.
As a result—
“La-Lafnel!!!!”
Lafnel threw her entire body forward to block the attack aimed at Sion.
“Ah… Aaah…”
The Vine Beans were torn apart, and Lafnel collapsed, her body a battered mess.
They were no match for it.
Rosier, who was holding Sion, rushed forward. Simultaneously, Roy also sprinted toward the approaching Demon King to save Sion.
As if folding space itself, the Demon King had already reached the Central Section.
Only these two, sensing the movement, threw themselves forward to block the attack.
Sion must not die.
The moment he died, it was over.
CRASH—!!!!!
Roy, as he charged, didn't even realize he was dead.
The Black Iron Golem that made up Roy’s body was instantly shattered into pieces. Rosier, who had swung her greatsword at the Demon King’s back, was sent flying all the way to the Garden Section by a single kick.
“Caesar… where are you… do not hide… come out… it is I… your old friend…”
The Demon King continued to mutter an unknown name.
It glared at Sion and took one step, then another, slowly closing the distance.
“F-Fuck…”
“Pant, pant, pant…”
“Young Lady… please… you at least… must run…”
Yuria, standing to protect Sion; Leah, whose body was frozen; and Rika, trying to protect her master, all realized the truth.
In this situation, they were the only ones left to protect Sion. And they also realized that, like the two before them, they wouldn't last even ten seconds.
In the face of this calamity, they were nothing more than insects.
The few who could actually fight had been swept aside in less than three seconds. Every adventurer present lost the will to fight.
“This is madness…”
Finally, Erika, who had been slumped on the ground, burst into tears.
There was no hope.
The malice of the Labyrinth seeped into her heart.
And it whispered.
You are all going to die here.
“No… no…”
“Erika!”
As one person began to crumble, darkness whispered into the hearts of the gathered crowd.
Just run away.
Or just kill yourself.
That would be better.
The darkness of the Labyrinth sought to break the adventurers' spirits.
No, they were already broken.
The Demon King wept and laughed simultaneously.
Looking at the faces of those about to die, it raised its pure white sword.
“Why is everyone crying in such fear?”
At the moment of total despair, light dawned upon the Plaza Section.
“Did you know that since ancient times, Sigil Magic has always been more effective with prayer than with mere magic?”
BOOM—!!!!!!!!
A holy light enveloped the adventurers.
Simultaneously, the sword qi that had cut down the Druid Club President in a single stroke was blocked by a barrier and vanished.
Hope flickered in the expressions of those who had been shrouded in despair. Erika, who had been weeping, lifted her head to look at the approaching figures.
“S-Saintess…”
A single ray of light pierced through the Labyrinth filled with darkness.
Raphael held the severed head of the Saint in Black.
Paramel chanted prayers to cast wide-range healing, and Abram followed, drenched in the blood of monsters.
The Saintess and the Command Team had returned.
After slaughtering every monster that stood in their way.
It was the return of the front line, the only ones capable of withstanding the Demon King’s assault.
“I almost died… I really almost died…”
The Tower Lord muttered, breaking into a cold sweat.
Her role was to hide behind the front line and exploit the enemy’s weaknesses, not to block a Demon King’s attacks with barriers.
Everyone had their role. The same went for the supporters, Lafnel and the Druid Club President. If the front line collapsed, everyone died.
But now, they could breathe.
The breakwater that would block the approaching calamity had finally arrived. The Tower Lord felt her resolve surge once more.
“Many will die today. So, let us call upon the Goddess here. Inquisitors, do not die even if you are killed. You must endure with your will. The Goddess shall protect us.”
The Saintess began her incantation. The Saintess, who usually manifested Sigil Magic through Shadowless Spear, poured her divine power into her rosary and called upon the Goddess.
Then, the overwhelming amount of divine power within the Saintess’s body ignited, forming a single shape.
At the cost of the Saintess’s lifespan, the Goddess began to manifest.
A secret technique she had sworn never to use again was activated.
The signs of resurrection spread throughout the entire Central Section.
“It seems I won’t be living long either.”
Her lifespan began to wither away.
The manifestation of the Goddess in the Labyrinth forcibly stitched together the severed body of the Druid Club President.
And Sion, who had been unconscious, opened his eyes.
A temporary Sanctuary of Resurrection had been established.
Even if they died, as long as the Saintess’s divine power did not falter, death would be postponed.
The Labyrinth struggled. The darkness deepened.
Since the opponent had cheated first, the Labyrinth responded by pouring out its curses.
In a modern era where miracles had vanished, a battlefield from the age of myth was being reconstructed.
“Two… two hours… if we can just hold out for two hours…”
It would be the adventurers' victory.
The Demon King increased its speed.
The monster entered the Plaza Section and sprinted toward Sion.
The Saintess blocked its path.
“Paramel!!! Wake Sion up no matter what!!! Abram! You and Raphael support me!”
The Demon King’s third strike.
The Saintess’s entire body was shredded.
Raphael took the brunt of the impact. Abram rushed forward with great effort to follow behind him.
“Kuaaaaah!!!!!”
Even as she screamed in pain, the Saintess pushed forward until the very end and gripped the Demon King’s throat.
Was it the audacity of one who had summoned a Goddess? Or the reckless courage of a madwoman?
The Saintess’s smile was twisted.
Madness enveloped her. The pain vanished. All that remained was a boiling fighting spirit and an exhilaration as if she had become a god.
Her lifespan was decreasing in real-time.
“Tower Lord!!!! What are you doing?!”
At the Saintess’s cry, two massive fireballs flew toward the Saintess and the Demon King.
Confident that she would not die, the Saintess had turned herself into a snare to hold the Demon King.
The two fireballs exploded.
“Cough…”
The Tower Lord coughed up blood from mana depletion even as she forced her magical power to rise, and the mages behind her fainted as they transferred their own mana to her.
“W-What we have to do is…”
“We have to protect Sion… Look over there. The darkness is coming.”
Yuria and Leah retreated.
If they were caught between the Demon King and the Saintess, they would die.
Unless they were at least at the level of Platinum Badge adventurers, they would be torn apart the moment they stepped onto that battlefield. Even Rosier could barely withstand the Demon King’s attacks.
Ultimately, they headed toward Sion.
The balance had been destroyed by the Goddess’s intervention.
In the end, the Labyrinth itself drew its sword to kill Sion. The monsters of the Underground City began to move.