The Queen (1)
The queen of the Lili tribe, Erillia.
The place where she resided brimmed with an especially vibrant life force from the forest.
It was due to the authority she possessed.
Flah-shhh!
The moment her hand touched it, the vines that had encircled the area like a fence began to grow even larger and thicker, surpassing their natural limits.
This was the power she wielded.
Dawn of Life.
A force that unlocked the potential of plants, transcended their limits through evolution, maximized their vitality, and allowed for resonance.
"Mm."
Having just used Dawn of Life on a single vine, she clutched her head and staggered.
"Your Majesty!"
"Are you alright?"
The Lili tribesfolk following behind rushed over in alarm to support her.
"I'm fine."
She arduously straightened her body.
The faces of the Lili who held her were filled with worry.
"Your Majesty, please don't push yourself too hard."
"This is really dangerous."
Erillia responded to their concerned words with a gentle smile.
That smile seemed poignant.
I know. But...
Kaaaaah...
Samaaaah...
Ferocious roars echoed from beyond the fence.
They came from the giant mantises surrounding the Lili queen's abode—the tribe's sanctuary.
If she didn't reinforce the outer walls like this whenever she had a moment, the defenses here would crumble before long.
"You've all been through so much because of me."
"N-no, it's not like that!"
"Please don't say that!"
"We've never once thought this situation was your fault, Your Majesty."
Erillia gazed at the Lili reassuring her and felt a swirl of emotions in her chest.
Gratitude, guilt, pity.
And at the same time, a warmth in her heart from their care for her.
"Let's hold out with everything we've got until the end."
"Yes."
"Of course."
"We'll stand with you, Your Majesty, in life or in death."
Erillia felt deep gratitude once more for their loyalty and turned her head toward the outskirts where the ferocious roars came from.
What about our people outside... I wonder how they're faring.
She hadn't been able to look after the other Lili tribesfolk while evading the beasts coming for her.
She hadn't seen it with her own eyes, but nine times out of ten, it was one of two fates two outcomes.
Dead, or enslaved.
Wasn't that why they pursued her and the Lili so relentlessly—because of her Dawn of Life authority and her ability to produce the Essence of the Forest?
I'm sorry, everyone. Truly.
As she thought of her people suffering outside.
A single clear teardrop fell from her eyes.
Ziiiiing!
The barrier opened, revealing the Lili village.
"Ahh..."
"S-Savior..."
Countless Lili bowed in gratitude toward Archeron.
Keron. Is the Lili queen not here?
"A-Are you... here for the queen...?"
A young man who seemed to be the village representative asked cautiously, his face pale with fear.
He looked worried that Archeron might be a pursuer after their queen.
I am searching for the queen at the request of Lucien and Railin to ensure her safety.
"Ah! Railin!"
Railin.
The representative of the second Lili group Archeron had rescued.
He knew who she was.
"She... sent reinforcements."
His face brightened at the mention of Railin's name.
"I'm Lukario. The queen isn't here, but I know where she is."
Archeron's eyes flashed at the young Lili's introduction.
Keron. Where is that place?
"Southeast from here..."
Archeron memorized his explanation without missing a detail, inputting the coordinates into its memory.
Keron. I will definitely rescue your queen. And if you wish to move to Elatrium, say so now.
"What's Elatrium...?"
As Archeron explained Elatrium, Lukario's eyes widened like saucers.
"I-Is there really such a place?"
Affirmative.
"The queen... will come there too, right?"
I will make it so.
"Th-Then, please take us too."
At those words, Archeron summoned the shadow wolves.
The number of Lili here was quite large.
Over 150.
The shadow wolves loaded them up tightly and began moving.
Keron. If you encounter monstrous lifeforms en route, do not engage—flee immediately.
The giant wolf-spiders they'd encountered earlier.
That warning was with them in mind.
Awooooooo—!
Awoooo!
The shadow wolves let out long howls as if to say not to worry.
Their essence was shadow.
No one could catch a shadow.
Their pride was evasion maneuvers.
In that regard, they boasted overwhelming ability no one could match.
Keron. I leave them to you.
With that, the shadow wolves set off.
Paat!
The shadow wolves raced like phantoms.
Looking at them, even if the giant wolf-spiders spotted them, pursuit would be difficult.
Unless it was someone on Karmarks's level, their tails wouldn't be caught easily.
Keron. Moving to the queen's location.
Archeron began moving immediately.
Kuuuung—!
Flames burst from the thrusters on Archeron's back.
Shweeeeeek—!
Archeron cleaved through the forest like a beam of light.
He reached the coordinates Lukario had given in an instant.
Keron. Multiple enemies detected.
In that moment, countless presences were captured on the detection net.
Their numbers exceeded a thousand—an overwhelming scale.
Archeron instinctively knew the Lili queen was there.
Kwaaaaa!
Archeron's thrusters spewed intense flames, accelerating further.
A little earlier.
"...!"
Velgram, watching the outer wall of the Lili sanctuary crumble, furrowed her brow deeply.
Jalares?
She silently called her mate's name in her mind.
But no response came.
Velgram was a female mantis. Her mate, Jalares, was male.
They had formed a family bond, and she had taken his essence into her body.
Through that, they shared a deep connection allowing her to sense his life or death.
But now, that connection was cold and silent.
"..."
Velgram's brow twitched faintly.
Few things here could threaten Jalares.
But if there was one?
The magic golem that had supposedly struck Karmarks unexpectedly.
...He fell to that thing.
Jalares hadn't listened to her.
She had clearly told him to report to her immediately if he found the magic golem, without pushing himself.
Why?
Why had he disobeyed that order?
Various thoughts flashed through her mind.
Probably for merit.
Jalares had always harbored a slight inferiority complex about his lower position compared to her.
That complex must have led to this reckless action.
...Tch. Pathetic.
Her first thought was pity for Jalares.
They had bonded and she had accepted his essence, but it was a duty to produce offspring.
There was no true affection.
...Even so.
Superficial or not, Jalares was her mate.
The resolve to avenge her mate with her own hands set her heart ablaze.
Ghostly flames like embers rose in Velgram's eyes.
Wait here.
If he'd encountered Jalares, that magic golem would likely arrive here soon.
"All units, halt."
"Sama?"
"Samat."
At her command, the giant mantises smashing the outer wall stopped in confusion, turning their heads.
"What is it?"
Two division commanders who had been focused on breaching approached Velgram.
They were Rekar, 1st Division Commander of the Mantis Legion, and Calomir, 3rd Division Commander.
"The enemy will come soon. Prepare to receive him."
Velgram issued the order in a voice colder and more ruthless than ever.
Crunch!
The sweet aroma of Shine Muscat filled my mouth.
"Whoa, that place really looks like where the Lili queen would be."
I muttered while gazing at the sanctuary wrapped thickly in vines like a fortress.
The atmosphere was extraordinary at first glance.
My keen intuition whispered strongly. The Lili queen was there.
"Munch, munch. Mm. Indeed. It fits the Lili queen perfectly."
Azkai replied slowly while chewing Glacial Fruit.
"Right? You think so too?"
"Munch, munch. Yep. Mm. A place like that... munch munch. Sorry, let me finish eating first."
"No, eat up. Enjoy it."
Azkai, that guy.
After trying one Glacial Fruit, it suited his taste perfectly.
He and Dania were devouring them nonstop.
Azkai seemed more focused on the Glacial Fruit than on Archeron searching for the Lili queen.
He's at that age where he eats a ton.
Maybe because of his youthful appearance.
The sight of him eagerly grabbing Glacial Fruits looked adorably gluttonous to me.
"Munch, munch. Huh?"
Bellerin, who had been grabbing handfuls of Shine Muscat beside me, suddenly cried out in surprise.
At her shout, everyone turned to the exploration craft's screen.
"...!"
And like her, we all wore shocked expressions.
Keron. Massive enemy force detected.
As if waiting for Archeron, a wave of giant mantises appeared before him.
Their numbers surpassed hundreds, reaching thousands—an overwhelming horde.
Most striking were the three mantis humanoids at the front.
Their presence alone marked them as commanders leading the pack.
Velgram
Deputy Commander of the Mantis Legion
Lv 335
Rekar
1st Division Commander of the Mantis Legion
Lv 279
Calomir
3rd Division Commander of the Mantis Legion
Lv 260
Crazy.
I screamed internally.
Every one of them boasted insane levels—formidable foes.
Deputy commander and division commanders.
Two like the Jalares we'd faced earlier, and though lower than Karmarks, there was even a deputy commander-level over Lv 300.
"This is seriously dangerous, right?"
I said with a nervous expression.
But Bellerin beside me replied in an unexpectedly calm tone.
"It'll be fine! Archeron can now activate Combat Stance Level 5!"
What the hell was Combat Stance Level 5 that both Archeron and Bellerin were so confident?
Honestly, even one or two steps up from Level 4 didn't seem enough to overturn that overwhelming force gap.
I was worried not just about victory, but because I didn't want to see Archeron get hurt anymore.
Keron. Commencing battle.
Kiririk.
Clank.
Archeron's gun barrels locked onto the enemies.
Still maintaining the earlier Combat Level 4.
Cannon ready.
The red glow in Archeron's eyes shifted to purple.
Flash—!
Kwaaaaa—!!
Purple flames erupted explosively from the gun barrel.
Kwagagagagagaga—
Kwaaaaaang!!
The straight-firing purple laser beam raged intensely, seeming to annihilate everything in its path.
"...!"
"Insane...!"
The two division commanders seemed to recognize the power in that beam.
Frozen in shock on the spot.
If it grazed them like this, they could be dealt with as easily as Jalares.
However.
Pat—!
Kwaaaaaang—!
The laser beam flying straight suddenly veered off trajectory, bouncing into the sky.
Velgram.
The deputy commander herself had reached out and deflected the bombardment.
"So this is what got him. At least he went without pain."
Velgram, who had stood dazed, muttered to herself enigmatically.
Watching her, Archeron was certain.
Combat Stance Level 4 was insufficient against Velgram.
So without hesitation, it activated Level 5.
Keron.
Combat Stance Lv 5 Activated.
Entering Transcendent Combat Mode.
Kwaaaaaaaa!!
In that instant, Archeron's energy core fully awakened, surging with explosive energy.
Intense white light and deep purple energy burst forth, making even the surrounding air tremble.
Archeron's body now exuded an overwhelming pressure incomparable to before.
North, Glowing Canyon.
There, thousands of centipedes moved in perfect unison, scouring every corner of the canyon.
"KeeEEK!"
A sharp cry rang out among the centipedes, and the horde halted.
What they had found was a dazzlingly glowing barrier.
The moment she saw it, Carsara swiftly stepped forward.
"This is the place."
Carsara's eyes gleamed sharply.
Beyond the glowing barrier lay the hidden dragon's lair.
She was certain. Now, all that remained was to find the entrance to this barrier.
According to Perinsia, to find the entrance, one must first locate the Life Gate.
Normally, that would require dismantling and analyzing the barrier to trace the Life Gate's position.
But there was no time for that now.
Carsara made her decision.
"Analysis is a luxury. Now is the time to use our strength."
"KeeEEK!"
At Carsara's command, one centipede slithered toward the barrier.
The light barrier held immense light energy on its surface.
Everywhere except the single spot called the Life Gate was a Death Gate.
If one touched a Death Gate carelessly...
Flash!
Chiiiiiik!
The centipede's body turned to ash in an instant, scattering beneath the barrier.
The barrier's light energy was that powerful—merciless enough to annihilate with a single touch.
"Not here. Next."
"KeeEEK!"
Another centipede crawled toward the barrier.
Flash!
Chiiiiiik!
Carsara issued cold orders without a single furrow in her brow.
"Next."
Flash!
Chiiiiiik!
"Next."
The monotonous act repeated endlessly.
The centipedes sacrificed themselves to find the Life Gate.
In the process, the massive centipedes' numbers dwindled exponentially.
But they rapidly identified each Death Gate on the light barrier.
And finally, after thousands of centipedes were incinerated.
"KeeEEK!"
One centipede wailed and stopped before the barrier.
Found it. The Life Gate.
Carsara's eyes flashed.
However, finding the Life Gate didn't mean immediate entry beyond the barrier.
Beyond lay a complex maze of paths.
She had no idea how many more sacrifices navigating that path would require.
Even so, Carsara didn't hesitate.
They knew their advantage: human wave tactics.
Overwhelm with numbers, endure countless sacrifices, and reach the barrier's center no matter what.
"Move faster. The barrier must not close before we arrive."
At Carsara's command, the centipedes moved in unison once more.
"All of you, in sequence..."
As Carsara began directing the remaining centipedes methodically.
Goooooo...
An intense, scorching energy began swirling from above.
Startled by the alien energy, he raised his head.
And there, he saw it.
A sturdy yet elegant physique, a body like crystalline armor.
An entity radiating mystical, overwhelming aura as it hovered nobly in the sky, reflecting light.
"You... why are you here..."
The moment Carsara recognized it, he let out a groan mixed with a sigh.
That entity was.
The highest-ranking being under the Outer God of the mountains slumbering here.
The crystal magistrate, Calishion.
Calishion's eyes gazed down coldly.
That gaze alone spread his presence overwhelmingly, like the energy enveloping the barrier.