Chapter 70
Chapter 70
Mad Black Mage's Tower Strategy
Chapter 70
After the battle with the Mana Leeches.
Taebaek's investigation team, having escaped from the fissure, arrived at a vast cavity glowing with blue light.
A space where giant mushrooms and luminescent plants emitted gentle light, creating a dreamlike atmosphere.
So-yul shone her mana illumination here and there to check for safety, then stopped the exploration team.
"We'll rest here."
After checking the map, this place was a crossroads where each route of the Great Cavity converged.
It was a safe zone where they could rest or camp, and also served as an intermediate rally point for the investigation teams.
"Ugh, my back."
"I thought I was going to die."
Released from tension, the team members finally began unpacking their luggage and inspecting equipment covered in sweat and mucus.
Seo-jin also threw his heavy backpack to the ground and plopped down on the floor.
'Damn.'
Never again would he disguise himself as a porter.
Having arrived at the safe zone, So-yul began checking the damage situation in earnest.
"Is everyone safe? Any injuries?"
"Five minor injuries including three with Mana exhaustion. There's some equipment damage, but no casualties."
Fortunately, there were only a few team members with minor injuries and no one with fatal wounds or deaths.
The team members changed out of their sweat-soaked clothes and chewed on emergency rations while catching their breath.
Meanwhile, Dr. An gazed lovingly at the Mana Leech samples in special containers—or more precisely, the writhing pieces of flesh—with eyes full of madness, muttering to himself.
"KEKEKE, you guys are treasures, treasures."
Team Leader Jung approached Dr. An cautiously and asked.
"What's so valuable about this?"
Dr. An explained.
"I explained the value of Mana Sacs earlier, right? These Mana Leeches operate on a similar mechanism. Though aggressive, they're essentially living Mana Sacs."
If they studied and bred them well, it could potentially lead to the discovery of a semi-permanent energy source.
They were literally no different from treasure troves.
"Doctor, please put that away for now. We can't let other investigation teams see it."
"Ah, right."
At So-yul's command, Dr. An hurriedly stuffed the container with samples into his backpack.
The Mana Sacs and Mana Leech samples obtained this time were precious resources that couldn't be acquired without the crazy act of voluntarily entering a fissure.
If other foreign investigation teams found out, the advantage of having secured them first might disappear.
It was while the investigation team was reorganizing.
"Since it's just the entrance, there's nothing much as expected."
"We'll need to go deeper to get results."
Voices chattering in the distance could be heard, and gradually the presence of people approached.
Shortly after, China's investigation team from the Yellow Dragon Mage Tower appeared from beyond the passage.
Zhang Wei-an, who was at the head of the investigation team, spotted Taebaek's investigation team and said.
"There were already guests here."
Zhang Wei-an wore modified silk people's clothing.
Despite the long exploration, he showed not a single sign of dishevelment. The team members following him also looked much neater than Taebaek's team.
Thanks to reaching the rally point without any particular hardships, unlike Taebaek's investigation team that had fought the Mana Leeches.
"Hah. What a sorry sight."
Kang Jin-tae looked Taebaek's investigation team up and down, who had become ragged due to the Mana Leech fluids, and let out a mocking laugh.
So-yul's face hardened coldly at his sarcasm, but she didn't bother to respond.
There was nothing to gain from mixing words with such a lowly person.
Moreover, having obtained the great achievements of Mana Sacs and Mana Leeches, there was no need to respond to such petty provocations.
However, Kang Jin-tae continued to chatter even more arrogantly, as if to repay the humiliation he had received at the previous banquet.
"From the looks of it, you seem to have gone through quite an ordeal. How about returning for safety's sake?"
"......Safety?"
When So-yul frowned and asked, Kang Jin-tae smiled nastily and replied.
"That's right. The Gamma Route has extremely unstable ground and frequent Mana backflow phenomena. Aside from your safety, recklessly rummaging around such dangerous places could seriously harm the mana stability of the Great Cavity."
His words contained a subtle intention to shift the responsibility for disasters that could occur during Great Cavity exploration onto Taebaek, especially Han So-yul who had chosen the most dangerous route.
That wasn't all.
Seo-jin silently watched the situation and fell into thought.
'Those guys infiltrated Taebaek Mage Tower's underground passage just before the Great Cavity exploration and secretly entered the underground ruins, stealing artifacts used to maintain the ruins' seal.'
Although the fragment of time distortion magic book that they stole was a 'fake.'
It was a counterfeit that couldn't affect either the underground ruins' seal maintenance or the Great Cavity's mana composition, but they must believe what they took was genuine.
'They plan to weaken the underground ruins' seal to make the Great Cavity's mana stability unstable, and shift all responsibility for the resulting problems onto Taebaek.'
Provoking So-yul at the banquet to ultimately guide her into choosing a dangerous route was also part of that groundwork.
Unless they wanted everyone to die buried together in a Great Cavity collapse, they wouldn't start trouble, but if their scheming succeeded, Taebaek would suffer a blow close to guild dissolution.
Meanwhile, So-yul suppressed her anger and replied.
"......I don't know what intention you have in saying such things."
He stepped back and shrugged.
"Nothing as grand as an intention. All teams participating in this Great Cavity exploration are in the same boat, so it's just a suggestion to be careful for each other's sake."
So-yul's eyebrows twitched.
Just as she was about to respond coldly.
Another presence was heard from a different passage.
This time it was the European Union exploration team.
Among them, Shelly, a middle-aged woman with graying hair who appeared to be the leader, calmly assessed the situation and asked.
"This appears to be the intermediate rally point. I'm glad everyone is safe. Have the other teams not arrived yet?"
"As you can see, it's just our Chinese team and the Korean team."
Zhang Wei-an answered with a gentle but unreadable smile.
Thus, starting with China and Europe, investigation teams from various countries arrived at the rally point one after another.
However, even after quite some time had passed, Japan's investigation team had not arrived.
Perhaps because they had chosen the flattest and fastest Alpha Route. It seemed they had passed by the rally point.
If left alone, they might monopolize all the Great Cavity's resources.
'That can't happen.'
They couldn't let them reach the center of the Great Cavity first and take the Energy Core.
CRACKLE-.
Seo-jin spoke quietly into his communication terminal.
[From now on, I'll act independently.]
Independent action had already been discussed with So-yul.
This was why Seo-jin had joined the Great Cavity investigation team. Now it was time to raise hell.
[W-wait a moment. You're leaving now?]
[Yeah, handle the rest yourselves.]
Thanks to the previous incidents, Han So-yul's leadership had become solid.
The team members' coordination was on track and morale was sky-high.
They had obtained sufficient results, so if it was judged too dangerous, they could return.
There was no longer any need for Seo-jin to remain with the investigation team.
CLICK-.
Seo-jin whispered one last word into the communication terminal and slipped away from the bustling crowd.
***
The Great Cavity's Alpha Route.
A passage where crystal-like shining minerals emitted brilliant blue light.
The Alpha Route chosen by Japan's Yamato Guild was structured like a giant crystal palace with gently stable mana flow.
At the head of Yamato Guild's investigation team stood guild leader Kusanagi Kenshin.
He was an extremely rare Magic Swordsman among climbers.
He wore combat clothing made of the latest materials, reinterpreting samurai armor in a modern way, and at his waist hung the sharp-gleaming longsword 'Kirisame (Mist Rain).'
Behind him, Gu-ren, who bore a name bordering on arrogance, walked leisurely.
BEEP BEEP- BEEP-.
Wearing a red robe embroidered with phoenix patterns in splendid gold thread, he gripped the game console in his hand and grimaced.
"How much longer do we have to go?"
Though he had participated in this exploration at the government's request, he harbored tremendous dissatisfaction internally.
That rumored supernova was running wild in the lower floors receiving all kinds of spotlight, while what was this situation for him?
Rather than being able to find and magnificently beat up that guy, he was stuck in this boring tunnel exploration.
"It would have been better to take the Gamma Route that the Korean team went."
Rather than going through such a boring and peaceful path, it would have been better to take a more dangerous route.
At least it wouldn't have been boring.
At this, Kusanagi at the front frowned and looked back.
"Gu-ren-san, I'll say this again, but complacency is forbidden. This exploration is a mission where not only Yamato's honor but national-level competitiveness is at stake. Until exploration is complete, you must follow my commands."
"Do as you wish."
Though Gu-ren's attitude was utterly poor, no one dared express dissatisfaction against Japan's greatest mage.
Fortunately, there were no problems even in such situations, so Yamato's investigation team was smoothly advancing deep into the Alpha Route.
"Hmm?"
Gu-ren, who had been concentrating on his game, suddenly raised his head.
Something like a mana signal had been caught by Gu-ren's 'Mana Sensitivity.'
THOOM- THUD-.
Faint battle mana felt from the distance.
Though he noticed late due to some unknown interference, it was the first powerful mana wavelength he'd felt since entering the Great Cavity.
Gu-ren, who had been stretched out and irritated, hardened his face and commanded in a cold voice.
"Rei, take out the talisman."
At Gu-ren's command, Rei hurriedly took out a talisman and checked the situation.
The talisman that had been glowing faintly was now emitting violent red light like blazing flames.
"H-how?"
The mana felt through sensation was extremely stable, but the talisman was showing danger signals.
Before her cry even ended, Kusanagi reflexively placed his hand on his sword and shouted loudly.
"Everyone, immediate alert stance! Cast defensive magic!"
But the response was too late.
Before the mages who heard the command could even draw up their mana.
RUMBLE-!
The floor they were standing on began shaking violently.
The entire floor undulated like giant waves, and crystal veins embedded in walls and ceiling began pouring down.
"Urgh!"
"Wh-what?! Is it an earthquake?!"
"Keep your balance!"
The investigation team screamed and staggered, losing their balance from the unexpected violent tremor.
CRASH-!
Suddenly, the ceiling collapsed and huge crystal chunks poured down like rain.
Yamato's mages hastily deployed defensive magic, but it was insufficient to block the impact of the falling giant crystals.
"S-save me!"
Team members screaming at the sight of falling debris. At this rate, everyone would die.
Even the arrogant Gu-ren threw aside his game console and instinctively drew up his mana.
"Shut up and gather around me!"
Bringing his hands together as if in prayer to compose mana, then extending his hands upward.
WHOOOM-.
Red mana that burst from his hands generated a sphere-shaped barrier protecting the investigation team.
CRASH- BANG-!
Debris from the crystal palace poured down randomly onto Gu-ren's barrier.
Even while blocking those heavy fragments, he calmly analyzed the situation.
"This isn't a simple collapse. We're inside something. Kusanagi."
At Gu-ren's words, Kusanagi nodded and drew his sword to slash the air.
[Spatial Severing Slash]
RIIIP-.
A gap to the outside was created through the torn space, and Gu-ren manipulated the barrier surrounding the exploration team to safely escape outside.
Having escaped from the collapsing crystal palace, the true identity of the Alpha path they had been walking was finally revealed to their eyes.
Hundreds of eerie compound eyes that shone like crystal. And below them, joints and legs that writhed organically.
[GROOOOOAR-!]
With a horrific roar that shook space, an unprecedented being revealed itself.
A giant centipede monster armored with carapace that seemed made by stringing together countless crystals.
[Yaogou Xuanchong (Enchanted Mysterious Insect) LV.200]
"......!"
The crystal passage they had admired was the sleeping beast's esophagus.
The Alpha Route they had traveled so far was itself part of the giant centipede.
Gu-ren looked up at the giant centipede and smiled wickedly.
"So that's why the mana flow was stable."
Because the beast's hide and organs served as a kind of physical barrier, protecting the inside from the Great Cavity's chaotic mana flow.
Gu-ren drew up his mana and smiled inwardly.
'Heh, finally something worth playing with has appeared.'
He had been bored to death, so he couldn't help but be pleased that a good toy had appeared.
"Everyone prepare for battle. Assume disaster level 7. Gu-ren-san, please provide rear support......"
"Get lost. That thing is mine. Don't touch it!"
Just as Gu-ren was about to charge at the centipede, ignoring Kusanagi's command.
FLASH-.
Suddenly, a black and white vision filled the space.
Like lightning covering heaven and earth, a black flash descended and drew everyone's attention.
Right after that.
RUMBLE- BOOM!
An explosive thunder sound burst forth, and the aftermath of mana swept over Yamato's investigation team.
"Urgh."
And an unbelievable scene unfolded.
The Yaogou Xuanchong's movement suddenly stopped.
DRIP-.
Soon, a long line appeared in the middle of the beast's body, and light shone through the gap.
RIIIP-.
The body split in two seemed to pause in mid-air for a moment, then slowly crumbled to both sides of the passage.
CRASH-.
Shattered crystal fragments and blue bodily fluids poured down like a waterfall over Yamato's investigation team.
"Wha......?!"
Kusanagi, Rei, and even Gu-ren who had been about to cast magic couldn't close their mouths at the surreal scene before their eyes.
The giant monster that had threatened the investigation team's lives just moments ago had been split in half in an instant.
"......"
In the silence where even time seemed stopped.
From beyond the bisected giant corpse, a man revealed himself.