Outside the Lair (3)
The crushing pressure of mana bore down on me.
Even with the protective bracelet on, the force felt brutally intense.
For a split second, a chill ran down my spine.
But that moment passed quickly.
Tap!
I stepped outside the lair.
“It feels different coming out with Master.”
『Wow! The Elatrias!』
『Keron.』
Azkai, Lulumiel, and Archeron followed me out one after another.
That was the entire exploration team.
The rest?
『I wanna go too-』
Dania.
I barely managed to stop her from coming out.
She was still low-level.
Only 148 now.
Considering the levels of the enemies roaming outside, it was safer for her to stay in the lair.
Then what about me, a mere level 60?
‘I have to go myself, even if it’s because of the dragon lair.’
The place we were heading to might contain another dragon lair.
If we found one and discovered an egg inside, we would need to form a pact.
That was why I had risked coming out.
- The barrier built into the mana-pressure bracelet can block up to two surprise attacks!
Bellerin had thoughtfully engraved an automatic barrier formula into the bracelet while making it, thinking of my safety.
A rechargeable barrier that could activate twice a day.
She said it could even stop attacks from a Commander-class insect, so it was like having extra lives.
Even though it had required the highest-grade Supreme mana stones to craft, the cost was worth it.
『You are… the Dragon’s… oath-bearer…』
『This is… our first… direct greeting…』
『It is an honor… to meet you… great one’s oath-bearer…』
Groooaaar-!
Deep, resonant voices echoed from every direction.
The massive ancient trees bowed their heads toward me in greeting.
“Yes. It’s good to see you.”
I wanted to talk with them longer, but I had no time to spare.
“I’ll greet you again next time.”
As I prepared to move, a howl rang out.
“Awooooooo-!”
From afar, Khan, the shadow wolf leader, appeared.
“Awooooo.”
“Woooooo-“
A long line of shadow wolves followed behind him.
They clearly recognized who I was.
They sat down, lowered their heads, and assumed a posture of submission.
The hierarchy was unmistakable.
『Keron. Khan wishes to escort Master.』
Oh.
I had been planning to ask the shadow wolves to take us to the northern Glowing Canyon anyway.
For him to volunteer first was unexpected.
My fondness for Khan rose another notch.
“Then I’ll be counting on you.”
“Awooooo-!”
Khan let out a low howl at my words.
It sounded as though he were saying it was an honor.
Tap.
I climbed onto Khan’s back.
We began our journey in earnest.
Shhhhhhh-!
Khan raced like the wind.
His speed was tremendous.
If I had still been an ordinary person instead of a level-60 superhuman, the wind pressure would have been impossible to endure.
‘Is this what riding the wind feels like?’
It was incredible.
Like floating on a soft cloud.
Lulumiel sat in my arms.
Azkai and Archeron ran alongside me, shielding me.
‘Alright. Let’s go.’
***
Centria.
Second Commander under Vermith.
She stepped into the Glowing Canyon.
Wuuum!
A massive barrier unfolded before her eyes.
In front of it lay the rotting corpses of countless giant centipedes.
“Krrrrk.”
Centria ground her teeth at the sight.
Shrrrrrr!
Her lower body writhed violently, expressing her displeasure.
She had never felt affection for the giant centipede soldiers, but they were still her subordinates, her limbs.
The destruction of what belonged to her filled her with fury.
“The Crystal Warden. So that creature appeared here?”
“Yes! That is correct.”
At her question, the First Division Commander, Carsera, answered immediately.
“Summon him.”
“As you command!”
Carsera bowed his head and replied with vigor to her enraged order.
It was not only Carsera.
Vice-Commander Lexanid.
Second Division Commander Malasaka.
Third Division Commander Argor.
Fourth Division Commander Telemus.
The vice-commanders and division commanders began moving in perfect unison.
“Find the entrance to the barrier again!”
At Carsera’s command, the centipede soldiers threw themselves forward once more, searching for a living passage.
The one they had found last time had shifted position after time passed.
“Kiiiiiiik!”
Flash!
Hissssss-
Flash!
Hisssssss!
The same scene repeated.
The centipede soldiers hurled their bodies about, hunting for the entrance.
Before long, they found it.
“We found it!”
Rumble.
At the report, Centria and the other commanders gathered in front of the passage.
“He will appear soon! Be ready-“
The centipede army waited for Kalision to show himself, just like last time.
And then—
Whooooooosh-
A powerful presence descended from above.
The Crystal Warden, Kalision, appeared.
“There he is!”
“It really is the Crystal Warden.”
Centria stared at Kalision with cold eyes.
Centria
Vermith’s 2nd Commander
Lv 353
『This is the King’s domain. Withdraw.』
Duuuuung.
A powerful sonic wave burst from the crystal floating beside Kalision.
Guuuuoooo.
Kwaaaaaaaa!!
Carsera flinched.
Wasn’t that the same sonic attack that had wiped out the centipede army last time?
A flicker of fear crossed her face.
But—
“How dare you try such a petty trick.”
The situation was different now.
Centria was here.
Her compound eyes glowed crimson.
Guoooo.
At the same time, her hair—soft like black silk but actually made of chitin—shone red and shot toward Kalision.
Kwaaaaaang!
Hundreds of tendrils struck Kalision and the crystal.
Unlike before, the crystal shattered into pieces before it could fully unleash its power.
Kalision, however, spread a curtain of light etched with runes across his body and blocked the tendril attack.
『You reject the King’s mercy and choose punishment instead.』
Kalision’s eyes burned red.
Then—
Ziiing.
Kwaaaaa——!
A beam of light erupted from his hand.
The air ignited, and the destructive force burned everything in its path.
Last time, even a graze from this beam had set centipedes ablaze.
Shrrrrrr.
Centria’s hair-tendrils gathered and formed a massive fan-shaped barrier.
Kwaaaaaaaaang!
The beam exploded in a brilliant flash.
The destructive power was so great it set the surrounding air on fire.
Yet—
“Kuk, kukuk.”
Only faint scorch marks appeared on Centria’s tendrils.
She was far more intact than expected.
“As I thought. The King has not yet awakened.”
After exchanging one exchange with Kalision, she understood.
Normally, the Crystal Warden should have possessed power enough to overwhelm her and her army.
But that was only possible when his King was fully awake.
Right now, the Crystal Warden could not fully manifest his strength.
“Push forward!!”
“Kiririririt!”
“Kirararararara-!”
At her command, thousands of centipede soldiers waiting behind her charged toward Kalision.
Shrrrrrrrrrr!
A black tide surged toward him.
Duuuuung.
Giant crystals formed around Kalision.
Flash- Kwaaaaa!
He scattered smaller beams of light, burning the charging centipedes.
“Kirararara!”
“Kiiiiiiii!”
But the centipede army used the burning corpses of their comrades as stepping stones and rushed forward even faster.
Crunch!
Crack, crack-crack!
Finally, the centipede soldiers overwhelmed him with sheer numbers and clung to Kalision, biting into his armor.
Flash-! Kwaaaaa!
Another brilliant beam of light burst forth.
It incinerated every centipede clinging to him.
The damaged sections of his armor were instantly restored when the crystal above his head flashed.
『Crystals may shatter, but the will of light never breaks!』
With his cry, an even more radiant light exploded from his entire body.
At that very moment—
Crack-!!
Centria’s tendril, which had approached stealthily, successfully pierced Kalision’s body.
Gugrgrgrgr!
Centria’s tendril glowed green.
Hissss-! Under the intense poison, Kalision’s body began to melt.
“Kukukuk. Got you.”
At Centria’s triumphant cry, the light in Kalision’s eyes began to fade rapidly.
The Crystal Warden.
A being of the highest rank under the King of Light.
It seemed he would perish like this.
But then—
Flash-!
Kwaaaaaaaaaaaaaa-!
A tremendous light erupted from deep within the Canyon of Light.
Ordinary centipede soldiers exposed to the light melted away without even having time to scream.
“Krrk.”
“Uuuuugh.”
“Kuhk.”
The division commanders also staggered under the heavy blow.
“Krrk.”
Even Centria, the Centipede Queen, stumbled backward.
And then—
Ziiiiiiing.
Fwoooosh!
Kalision rose again, burning away the tendril that had pierced him.
“Aaah…”
Centria let out a deep sigh at the sight.
There was only one meaning to this situation.
The King of Light, Luminarc.
That great being of light had awakened from his slumber.
***
Shhhhhhh-!
We raced forward like streaks of light.
The Glowing Canyon Chuchu had told us about began to appear in the distance.
“We’re almost there. Just a little more!”
I encouraged everyone while mentally preparing myself for the canyon we would soon reach.
“An unknown presence is approaching from ahead.”
『Keron. Unidentified entity detected.』
Azkai and Archeron spoke at the same time.
At that moment, a small silhouette appeared in the distance and grew larger.
“······!”
When we drew closer to the figure, I couldn’t help but be shocked.
Because—
The being was none other than another of Vermith’s commanders, just like Karmarks and Arachne whom we had faced before.
“Grrrk… You… bastards…”
And there was another reason to be surprised.
The commander named Centria was not in normal condition.
Her entire body was covered in burn marks and scorch wounds, and her giant centipede-like lower half was half-severed, dripping blood.
She looked half-dead—almost completely spent.
One good push and she would collapse.
“Kyaaaaaaaak!”
Where had that strength come from?
Centria let out a shriek and charged straight at us.
It was as if she intended to devour us and restore her power.
However—
Bang!!!!
“Hmph. Insects truly have no manners.”
Azkai, who had been beside me, had already slammed Centria into the ground and planted his foot on her back.
“Krr… rrgh…”
The impact left her looking as though she were on the verge of death.
“Shall I finish her?”
Azkai asked innocently, and my mind snapped into focus.
“Wait!”
I stopped Azkai.
Then I raised my hand and aimed at Centria.
Why?
‘If I take her down myself, won’t I level up too?’
I looked at Azkai and said,
“I’ll handle it.”
With those words, wind began to swirl violently in my hand.
“Gale Lance.”
A sixth-circle wind-attribute spell.
The gale spear, Gale Lance, shot toward the center of Centria’s forehead.
Thud-!!!!