Chapter 35
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 35
Chapter Title: Fate
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[Checkpoint]
Rumble rumble—
Boom!
The ground erupted.
Gremlins' bodies floated into the air from the blast.
Fragments of earth then pelted their flesh mercilessly.
Some were blocked by their protective gear, but shards that slipped through pierced skin and burrowed into innards.
The battlefield turned into a hellscape in an instant.
Kieeeek!
A single spell had killed or incapacitated twenty gremlins.
A few survivors screamed and fled, but Aiden and Maya chased them down and finished them off.
The gremlins remaining up front soon sprawled across the cold floor.
"Whoa..."
Colton snapped out of his daze, as if a cannon had just landed in front of him.
"You're insane, mage! When the hell did you learn a spell like that?!"
"Had a bit of an enlightenment recently."
"Hah! Impressive!"
Colton’s reaction made Jun swallow a reflexive chuckle.
It reminded him of their first meeting.
'Few techniques dazzle the eye like a mage's spell. But...'
That didn't mean he should get arrogant.
Jun could cast spells like this precisely because others risked their lives up front to hold back the enemy.
'And lately... what’s the word...'
Peaceful.
He’d tried to ignore the thought, fearing it would jinx things.
'Too peaceful?'
Since the strategy battle ended, he and Aiden had spent a full month together without facing any real crises.
Of course, it hadn’t been easy.
They’d skipped checkpoints entirely, camping outdoors most nights.
Rations ran out, forcing them to forage locally, and they’d gone filthy like beggars without proper baths.
And that was just the start.
Aiden trained his swordsmanship and skills daily, while Jun honed his reincarnator memories and fourth-circle magic, skimping on sleep.
But had their lives ever truly been in danger?
'Not really. Just hurdles we overcame without much trouble.'
Facing the golem in the Black Forest, handling the Goblin Lord’s irregular, or even during the strategy battle—nothing too dire.
Now, that very smoothness started to unnerve him.
'Is my fate really supposed to be this calm...?'
And the deeper they delved into the dungeon, the more that thought festered.
They’d suffered every hardship on the first floor, yet the second floor’s opening operation had gone far too smoothly.
Aiden eyed Jun’s troubled expression curiously.
"Senior, you don’t look so good."
"Hm... Just feels like the dungeon’s progressing too smoothly."
Aiden gazed at him with pity, like he was looking at someone truly battered by life.
How much hardship had this man endured to develop such an attitude?
Anxiety in the absence of threats... It was like a power-hungry noble fretting over assassins.
But the moment passed.
They say unlucky thoughts summon misfortune.
"Damn it, Iron Larva!"
As if answering Jun’s worries, the dungeon bared its fangs right on cue.
* * *
Iron Larva were common monsters in this ashen wasteland.
Giant earthworms that burrowed underground, feeding on minerals to grow.
They ignored meat usually but fiercely defended their territory.
To the unfamiliar, they were grim reapers.
The slightest vibration meant one lurked beneath your feet.
And now...
Normally the size of four adults combined, but this one bursting from the ground was three times larger.
"An irregular."
"Whoa..."
Colton wasn’t sure whether to cheer or curse.
Irregulars dropped [skill books], but a boss-level one was undeniably dangerous.
Then Jun spoke up.
"Per our contract."
"Huh?"
"It’s one-fifth."
"...?"
"Its skill book share, I mean."
"Wooooah! You hear that, you idiots?! The gods have sent us a bonus!!"
The reward outweighed the fear.
Boss monsters had a high chance of dropping high-grade [skill books].
"Ooooh!!"
Colton’s mercenaries, stunned by the giant larva’s arrival, erupted in cheers.
"Let’s gooo!!"
"Don’t skimp on mana, everyone!"
"Got it, Captain!"
"Hold out till the mage supports from the rear!"
The mercenaries formed ranks around Colton, with Aiden assisting.
'Fast!'
Colton and his crew locked into position before Aiden could blink.
Their unity was impressive, meshing perfectly.
'Different from the strategy battle!'
Back then, everything was chaotic, worsened by the Fairy Queen’s awakening.
But in a proper environment, Colton’s team moved with sharp intelligence.
Years together let them read even minor combat habits.
'No wonder Colton chats with his crew so much...'
Aiden glanced at Maya, radiating bloodlust, then back to Colton’s group.
Days traveling with them made their formation crystal clear.
'Keep the monster’s eyes off senior. Grip it tight.'
Two or more held the Iron Larva’s front, while others targeted the rear.
Not a glance spared for Jun.
Yet not too far back—if it broke through, they could intercept instantly.
'Precise.'
Aiden took his spot up front, closest in.
"Hahaha, impressive as ever."
Colton read Aiden’s move too.
If the larva turned rearward, Aiden would strike first.
Meanwhile, Maya guarded Jun’s side, dual daggers drawn.
Jun studied her face intently.
'Hard to read when she’s stone-faced...'
Still, days together paid off—he spotted her eyebrow twitch.
'Something’s bothering her.'
In the game, Maya had sharp instincts.
Not quite [Dawn of the Pilgrim] from the goddess Hermetes, but excellent danger sense.
Jun stayed alert, glaring at the Iron Larva.
Its metallic body screamed for lightning magic.
But the area was littered with metal scraps—stray bolts could hit allies.
'So my role is...'
Support while his comrades handled it.
[Enchantment: Elemental Armory]
[Attribute: Metal]
Enchantment magic coated his comrades’ weapons.
Infusing mana into weapons was twice as hard as body enhancement, with greater consumption.
Jun eased that with enchantment spells.
And more.
Sensing threat, the Iron Larva burrowed toward favorable ground.
[Rock Hold]
Earth-binding magic unfurled—just as it slammed its head underground.
Panicked by the unfamiliar spell, it thrashed its tail wildly.
Bam! Boom!
"Its strength is no joke!"
"Don’t rush—take it slow!"
"We strike when its stamina drops!"
Of course, Jun’s [Rock Hold] couldn’t restrain it forever.
Its steel-hard teeth churned the earth, shredding the spell pattern.
It burrowed free quickly.
Jun cast again.
[Scan]
[Detecting Target]
[Rock Hold]
Scan pinpointed its location, Detecting Target aimed, then Rock Hold again.
Jun repeated this cycle relentlessly.
Thud! Thud!
Its underground frenzy echoed, but the Iron Larva yielded first.
Realizing the earth no longer favored it, it dragged itself out.
Roooar—!
It traced the attacking mana back to its source: Jun.
Their eyes met.
"Block it!!"
Colton’s shout sent his crew charging.
The larva countered, thrusting massive fangs threateningly.
Its charge alone was a weapon.
Even enchanted arms wouldn’t last a second against those teeth.
Instead, Aiden flanked and slashed its side.
Steel-tough hide, but not enough for [Flashing Sword].
Skin split along the blade, green fluids bursting forth.
———!!
Its ultrasonic screech rang out.
Iron Larva weren’t full adults—mere larvae, cowardly by nature.
Fury toward Jun shifted to Aiden instantly.
Bam! Bam! Bam!
Frantic, desperate flailing to survive.
By then, Colton’s crew had adapted to its movements.
"Focus one spot relentlessly!"
"Hey, pretty boy! Keep making wounds—we’ll dig ‘em out!"
"Yes! A-And I’m not a pretty boy!"
Aiden and Maya inflicted wounds faster than the mercenaries could.
Days of fights confirmed the pair outclassed them.
Boom! Boom!
The larva tried shaking them off in rage, only widening gashes.
Too fixated on Aiden and the mercs, perhaps.
It missed the stealthy shadow.
"Die."
Maya erupted from the shadows, bloodlust thick as she swung her twin blades.
Her viscous killing intent plunged into its wounds.
At that point, subjugation was all but done.
As the exhausted larva paused, Aiden moved for the kill.
[Charge] [Bash]
Like wind, Aiden surged forward, his sword flowing to strike.
'I see it!'
Team-made wounds formed paths guiding his blade like muscle memory.
When Aiden emerged opposite, a long diagonal slash crossed its body.
Thud!
The Iron Larva collapsed limply.
"It’s over!!"
As Colton whooped in victory...
"...Wait."
Jun’s murmur, staring at the corpse, froze the celebrants.
"The body... isn’t dissolving."
Dead monsters should particle away, yet it held form.
What did that mean?
"...!"
Maya ignited her aura first—raw hostility, clearly marking an enemy.
Crack, crack.
Sinister sounds emanated from the corpse.
A foreboding red haze seeped from its body.
Jun shouted urgently.
"Erosion phenomenon! Weapons up, everyone!!"
No need—mercs already gripped theirs, Aiden redrew his sword.
Maya crouched, poised to spring.
Knowing her history with erosion, Jun muttered inwardly.
'Of course. What kind of fate did I expect...'
This was <Blackout>.
Recalling the old player saying, Jun began chanting anew.