Chapter 122
Chapter 122
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 122
Chapter Title: The Warrior Becomes a Rider
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Just before the trap activated.
The moment Balak encountered the top administrator, he was struck by an unknown attack and plummeted to the ground.
But did he actually like this situation?
He shouted at the being who seemed to have attacked him!
"Enemy! What is your name!"
"No name to give a prisoner!"
Oooo!! An enemy with convictions!
Moreover, the white armor he wore looked like top-grade gear at a glance!
It didn't seem much different from what I had.
That meant a real battle was finally waiting.
It had been a long time. So long.
Crack! Crack, crack!
As I loosened up my body, the white guy opened his mouth first, looking at me like I was something strange.
"Why are you so happy about this?"
"Heh... You wouldn't get it."
"Tch, just like a barbarian."
"Thanks for the compliment. But... you really won't tell me your name?"
"I don't like repeating myself."
"Fair enough then."
Boom!!!
KABOOOM!
I unleashed a barrage of serious punches toward where he was.
Those red-glowing masses of power shot forward like ignited shells.
But unlike the others, the white guy didn't block or dodge.
Instead, he advanced—
Slash!
And erased it with his sword!
He pointed his sword at me with momentum, about to say something.
"Did you see that! This is the difference between you and—"
KABOOOM!!
What was there to say to enemies whose names I didn't even know!
Besides, the battle had already begun.
I temporarily pinned down the enemies with punches.
Then gathered all the weapons around me, coated them in sword aura, and made them float around me.
The white guy who had blocked all those attacks shouted,
"You coward!!"
Was he only getting mad at that?
That meant his fuse was pretty short.
All preparations were complete, so I assumed the stance the old man had taught me first.
Thud!
I lowered my stance like rooting myself to the ground, spreading my feet wide.
My breathing was concise.
But my muscles were taut!
Woooong!
As I drew up my power, the surrounding debris began floating bit by bit.
But did the white guy have no intention of fighting me 1-on-1?
The plague triplets I'd just fought and the surrounding white mobs started moving.
"Yes! I was looking forward to a chaotic melee like this too! Come on!"
"Everyone, kill him right now—!"
Just as we were about to dive into battle.
Fweeeeeeen!
Suddenly, an intense light began emanating from the floor.
And what was this?
I'd just felt an incredibly bizarre sensation.
It was like there was a delay in my movements....
Anyway, the moment the anomaly appeared on the floor, all the beings in the sky vanished with a poof.
Even the hole in the sky was gone?!
While I was standing there dumbfounded, not knowing what had just happened.
"Balaaaaak!!"
"Bellesa?"
The succubus came rushing toward me from afar.
***************
As the trap imprisoning the administrators successfully activated, the command center erupted in cheers.
"Ze-zero entities escaped the magic circle just now!"
"Success! A huge success!!"
"Kyaaaa! As expected of our director!!"
Waaaaaa!!!
While everyone was celebrating, they quickly began post-battle cleanup.
"Casualties from the fight just now?"
"About 1800 bodies."
"And their souls and bodies?"
"Thanks to the magic tools that auto-eject on fatal wounds, the bodies are well-preserved, and the skeleton mages have the souls secured."
"1800.... Good thing our revival facilities are plentiful. Proceed with the revival ritual immediately."
"""Yes sir!!"""
Even with thorough preparations, nearly 2000 entities had died from the swarm attack and suicide bombings.
In fact, about 30% of the combat personnel were now combat-ineffective due to injuries.
"We can't underestimate them...."
"Alterion, even without us stepping in, taking this little damage in such a massive city is pretty impressive, isn't it?"
"We can look at it that way."
Most of the 90nd-100th floor bosses had deliberately sat out this battle.
Of course, they held emergency reserves or key roles like Zarkan.
But to test defense limits without their strongest, they'd been assigned to command or reserves.
"If we'd moved even more thoroughly, we could've halved this damage. We'll need to reinforce the defenses further."
"The lich is right. And if they keep hammering us with swarms like that, it'll be a frustrating slog for us."
"But there were no chimeras this time."
"Shiren, you're back?"
Shiren, leader of the strike teams, along with Rahel and Shaiyel who'd been handling the aerial battle, entered the command room covered in enemy blood.
"Hoo, feels like all the boredom from the past year is gone."
"If you're that bored, just go hang out where the champion is."
"Ooooo!! Lady Rahel, that's a great idea!"
"Lord Shiren, that'd be blatantly slacking off...."
"Ahem...."
Now everyone was gathered.
They needed to quickly decide how to handle the administrators panicking in the back dimension.
The powerful ones who seemed to be their leaders were trying to escape the back dimension.
"If we're not careful, the ones we just trapped will break out."
"How long until they tear through the space?"
"Ten hours at most, five if they're fast."
The dungeon's interior was unpredictable from here on.
To secure numerous cards in the clash with the administrators, they had to capture them, risks and all.
But with their leader and lieutenants, they wouldn't break easily.
"We'll have to take them out after all."
"So who goes in?"
"I'll go first."
"Thanks, Shiren. And... everyone worked hard this time, so I'll join too."
"Zarkan?"
"Lich, doesn't feel right for special forces to just spectate, does it? Besides, looks like we have guests."
Everyone followed Zarkan's gaze, and there were Bellesa and Balak approaching from afar.
***********
After hearing what had happened from Bellesa, Balak nodded.
"I see...."
"I'm really sorry. You seemed so excited...."
"No need to apologize. Even if I'd won just now, the surroundings would've been wrecked, and in a long war, that'd be defeat. It was the right call."
Tch, the steam went out, but no helping it.
This was basically wartime now—acting on my whims could ruin the whole board.
Besides, I was essentially a mercenary at this point.
Even in history from my past life, weren't major operations ruined by mercenaries plenty of times!
History is the answer to life.
Just act opposite to recorded trolls, and you're halfway there.
I followed the succubus's guidance to the current command center.
"All of you were gathered here!"
"Balak, you did great."
"Hahaha! That was an incredible show just now!"
Good thing no one got seriously hurt in this battle.
I also heard good news.
"My brothers are safe too?"
"Yeah, Lord Ferguson got pretty banged up, but he was full of energy."
"Still, no telling, so I had Carrian hospitalize both."
If Carrian took them, no issues.
Anyway, they seemed to be in some meeting—what were they discussing?
A hook floated above my head, and the dragon I'd met briefly yesterday explained.
"Ah, so you're planning to capture the ones you caught this time."
"We can use them as negotiation chips, research their powers, endless value. And don't worry—we'll treat the prisoners properly."
"But what's the problem?"
"Take a look at this."
The dragon showed me a video magic tool.
In the footage, the guys who'd been about to fight me were up to something strange.
"That's...."
"In a few hours, those beings will shatter the space we trapped them in."
"Then doesn't that make capturing them pointless?"
"That's the issue...."
Whisper whisper....
Oooo....
Oooooo!!
"I-is that for real!"
"So Balak, what about you?"
"Absolutely... absolutely, I'll do it!"
"Hahaha! Straight to the point as always!"
"Uh... Lord Zarkan, what exactly did you just say?"
"Just asked if he'd like to come along when we clean them up. Riding on my back, that is."
"""What?!"""
Everyone was shocked at Zarkan offering Balak a ride on his back.
And just like that, Balak became a dragon rider.
***********
Preparations proceeded smoothly for the second battle against the administrators in the back dimension.
"Director, what's this necklace?"
"That telekinesis necklace you bought last time—he doesn't wear it anymore. So imagine wearing it around your neck and holding a spear in hand."
Ping!
"Oho."
"You'll get infinite spears like that, so use them as javelins."
"Thanks!"
Balak secured ranged weapons for this battle.
Clack clack clack!
Thud!
"At your service! Selected the top 100 chimeras from the training grounds!"
The bio-weapons, the chimeras, arrived for test runs.
Along with giants and ancient beings whose combat power was intact after using the magic circle.
Demonkin, a battle race rivaling demons, and other elite troops assembled.
"Glad to be on the same battlefield this time!"
"Hahaha! Same here! And everyone else too, right?"
"Bored to death."
"Hah... It's been ages since a large-scale battle like this, post-god war."
Everyone yearned for fierce combat.
But prep time was unavoidable.
They ended up spending a very boring stretch.
"Life force enhancement, glow enhancement, blessing, mid blessing, high blessing, mental protection, barrier, fortress—"
"Uh... Director, when does this end?"
"Still a lot left. Divine protection, essence plunder, warrior's roar, armor protection, regeneration enhancement, instinct enhancement, attack nullification, heresy attack nullification—"
Led by Alterion, the mages piled on buffs like crazy.
Everyone wasted a bit of time adapting to their altered bodies.
But no time was meaningless.
And the saddle for Zarkan, who was going with Balak, was completed in a flash.
Balak, test-flying, maneuvered around in the air, clearly liking the ride.
"Balak, any issues with movement?"
"Hmm... A bit awkward since it's my first time... but even if your body gets bigger here, it should be fine."
"Then hold on a moment."
Fwoosh!
"How about this size?"
"Perfect!"
Now that Balak had adapted somewhat.
Everyone finished prepping for the back dimension and stood within the massive magic circle.
Meanwhile, someone shouted to the chimeras from the side.
"Listen up! Even if you get badly hurt or die in there, you'll auto-transfer back here for treatment or revival! So prove your worth in this battle!"
""""Yes sir!""""
The chimeras were going into battle for the first time.
But their hellish training hadn't been for nothing—their eyes burned.
Zarkan, watching them, jokingly spoke to Balak.
"So Balak, you ready?"
"Kuk, always am."
Their casual chit-chat didn't last long.
The countdown began.
[ 10 ]
[ 9 ]
[ 8 ]
.
.
.
Thus, Balak had no idea how this battle would go.
But he was determined to settle things with that white guy.