Chapter 17 - Star Quality (2)
Chapter 17 - Star Quality (2)
"This place..."
The place the Player led us to was deeper underground.
It wasn't some makeshift burrow, but a proper fortress carved out of bedrock.
And there, countless coffins were laid out.
These were the coffins where the weakest vampires, the hybrids that had just rushed at us, had been lying.
"Since we've come this far, we have to see it through to the end and collect the rewards."
I raised the sword I hadn't sheathed and pointed it forward.
As everyone's gaze turned that way, the enemies who seemed to have been waiting there finally revealed themselves.
"Pure-blood vampires."
Unlike the hybrids that rushed at us without rhyme or reason—grotesque and barbaric monsters—they looked very much like humans.
They were properly equipped with clothing and weapons, and intelligence dwelled in their glowing eyes.
'Are there no Legion Elites?'
I'd been tense just in case, but it didn't look like there were any specimens worthy of being called elites.
The battle with the Kabotoros still remained a hair-raising memory.
The moment I thought I was going to die first.
In fact, if a few factors hadn't luckily overlapped, I would have been split in half and died right there.
There are many such strong individuals in the Underworld, but it seems there aren't any in this fortress, at least.
"But don't let your guard down. They are definitely stronger than Xenomorphs, and instead, they are numerous."
"It looks like... about 6 of them."
Rosaria's voice was trembling, perhaps because she was nervous.
It was a natural reaction.
Unlike the Swarm, it was true that only I was familiar with the Underworld vampires that didn't reveal themselves on the barrier; most people here had only heard of them through legends or old records.
"To think you managed to find the existence of this place and even break through against hybrids several times more numerous. That must be proof that you possess outstanding skills."
Finally, they started to move first.
They leaped up and began to land in front of us one by one.
The one who spoke first was a large, bald man who appeared to be their leader.
As he opened his mouth, sharp fangs stood out.
"Th-they talk!"
"They speak our language?"
The other Pioneer Corps members placed in the back murmured with surprised expressions.
It seemed surprising that the vampires possessed intelligence, and that the words they spoke were heard in a language we could understand.
I saw some of the vampires smirk mockingly at the sight of those Pioneer Corps members.
"The God has ordered us to purge you."
I, who judged that I had to keep my wits about me to not be overwhelmed by the momentum, did not show signs of surprise like the others.
I already knew.
Furthermore, I had fought fiercely against them and had even been destroyed by them. Or, I had made some of them my units or test subjects.
By the way, momentum? That wasn't even a consideration in the game.
'So, what do you want me to do now? Make a decision quickly!'
Although I had proudly declared by aiming my sword at them, the Player had only brought us here this time as well.
No detailed orders were given, such as to kill and exterminate them, or to neutralize them and take them as prisoners.
It was clear they were trying to test my self-driving again.
"..."
I, who had become dumbfounded, pressed down on the uniform cap I was wearing and cursed inwardly.
I had wanted them to set me free, but that was only for control.
I didn't mean for them to leave me alone entirely, abandoning their own work too?!
Even how to deal with the vampires in front of me would play a very important role in the Player's future build.
"God, you say... Kid, you look a little different from the others. What is your name?"
"Leon Leberk. I am a Guardian of the Divine Pioneer Corps."
The bald vampire asked for my name as if he were interested.
Answering obediently wasn't because I was being relaxed, but a type of rapport-building in preparation for an unforeseen situation.
"I am Baren of the Redish clan."
Then, he grinned and pointed at himself, obediently telling me his name as well.
I didn't care about the individual names that the AI randomly generated for each playthrough, but I knew the name Redish.
"If it's the Redish clan, you should be doing quite well after the rebellion, but seeing you buried here, it seems you all aren't that great."
"How do you know that, you bastard...!"
So, it was hard to resist showing off that I knew.
At the same time, astonishment and embarrassment spread across their faces, which had looked relaxed all along.
"They're coming. Prepare yourselves!"
What I said was like a trigger button.
And I didn't even think about using the Redish clan bastards.
They are famous in the Underworld for being radical and extreme nutjobs, and they are that difficult to coax or tame.
If the Player tried to use these guys, I would have stopped it.
"Tell me your identity!"
Baren, who leaped off the ground in one breath, drew his sword and swung it at me.
"Now!"
Having blocked it by swinging my sword as well, I gave instructions to my colleagues as well as the entire Pioneer Corps.
"Burn!"
"Throw the Molotov cocktails!"
The Elf shamans used fire-type spells.
The alchemists threw medicine bottles that called for flames, and the people from the Technology Bureau shot them with guns to ignite them accurately.
They didn't aim at them. They wouldn't be able to hit them anyway, and it would only be a hindrance.
They aimed around the fairly wide fortress to eliminate blind spots for escape and limit the battlefield.
"Ugh?!"
"These guys have fire as a weakness too. Though I wonder if there's any creature that's fine after being roasted by fire."
Both I and Seira used fire magic to fill the surroundings with flames and light.
Like the hybrids, the pure-bloods are weak to fire and light.
Furthermore, light above a certain intensity also plays a role in blocking the blood magic they use in advance.
If we had a Sanctuary imbued with divine power here, we'd be ready, but we don't have the ability to create a Sanctuary yet.
"Let's go. They have strong regenerative powers, so you must cut their necks in one blow without letting your guard down. If that's difficult, aim for their limbs. It takes time for them to regenerate such serious injuries anyway."
"O-okay."
Afterward, I rushed at them first with Rosaria.
Baren's sword, flustered, flew in one after another, and I, who had kicked off the ground, twisted my body and parried all those swords.
"You, what on earth are you."
Baren asked for my identity, with his eyes widened, as [Limit Break] had already been activated.
There were a great many possibilities for an answer, but I didn't bother to say much.
"A self-driving Guardian."
My sword pierced his chest, his expression confused as if asking what on earth that meant.
It's time for the swordsmanship proficiency, which I've been thoroughly building and honing to the limit from the beginning—a level no unit at this time could possibly possess—to shine.
"Strong...!"
Rosaria, gritting her teeth, twisted her spear shaft to barely deflect the enemy's attack, and struck his face with the spearhead, making him spray blood.
But right next to her, another enemy rushed in and aimed a sharp dagger at her.
Rosaria discarded her spear, drew her sword, and slashed the enemy's body.
If the arrow Hermann had shot from behind hadn't been embedded in the enemy's shoulder, Rosaria would have been pierced by the enemy's blade.
'Every enemy I meet in the Corrupted Land is strong and new every time.'
Monsters, vampire hybrids, even pure-blood vampires.
In just a few days, Rosaria and the Pioneer Corps had been fighting new enemies continuously.
She thought that this was what it meant to temper a person while they were alive.
The harsh training she had done at Eisenblut was child's play compared to actual combat.
'I can feel the proficiency building up even faster thanks to the [Martial God] trait.'
If she could just endure like this, she could grow further and become stronger, but if she couldn't endure, she would break just like that.
'Leon, how are you...'
Rosaria, who was panting, looked at Leon, who was fighting in front.
Leon, who was fighting three enemies including Baren at the same time, was not being pushed back by the enemies.
With his signature silver hair dyed red by the heat and light of the flames blazing all around.
He was dealing with magic and swords at the same time, cutting down the vampires.
"..."
The past, when she had once considered Leon younger and thought she should lead him as she would have better skills, felt awkward.
It was the same at Eisenblut, but since coming to the pioneer land, Leon was becoming stronger and more amazing the more crises he faced.
Nominally, the leader of the Guardians was Rosaria, who was from the instructor cadet class and the oldest, but now everyone knew who the real leader was.
Even Rosaria herself had no doubts about following Leon's instructions when it came to combat situations.
"Leon... seems to know something more."
Seira, who had approached her side at some point, opened her mouth quietly.
"It was like that from the academy."
"Is that possible?"
"I think perhaps God recognized his talent and gave him a more special mission. The Leon I knew was definitely just a timid little child..."
Unlike Rosaria, Seira, who had known Leon since he was young, had already sensed that Leon was strange.
It was just that speculating that it might be the influence of a miracle that even the priests of the Divine Order, who were chosen and revealed by God, didn't know, was all she could do.
"Kuhak..."
In the end, Baren, who had held out until the end, had both arms and both legs severed by Leon's sword, and the battle ended.
On the floor, the bodies and body parts of vampires groaning while suffering severe injuries were rolling around.