Reconnaissance Mission (1)
“Territorialization? You don’t mean...”
Chloe’s expression turned grave.
Territorialization. I recalled the term from the Demon King Slayer setting and my lessons at the Pantheon.
High-grade monster dungeons of 2nd form or above followed the same expansion process as lesser ones.
They opened a gate and built a dungeon like this one inside. Then, subordinate monsters would periodically burst out from the gate, hunting living creatures to steadily increase the dungeon’s Demon Aura.
But with a boss of far greater caliber, the hunting speed was unmatched. If not subjugated in time, the Demon Aura in such high-grade monster dungeons swelled at an alarming rate.
And the moment the boss monster grew strong enough to be rated as a plus-grade...
Territorialization begins.
Even in dungeons with bosses and subordinates of 3rd form or below, the strict hierarchy remained the same.
But territorialized dungeons were on another scale entirely.
Territory. The word for land granted by a lord. A territorialized dungeon could draw far more Demon Aura from nearby Kaotic Gates.
Demon Aura itself measured a monster’s power. Its grade became incomparable to ordinary dungeons.
And it gains a command structure like a human territory.
Moreover, every subordinate monster and beast gained elite soldier-level command capabilities. Attacking them became far more difficult.
But the greatest threat was the territory’s materialization. When the Demon Aura density exceeded the critical point, the surrounding real space would be overwritten by the dungeon.
The result? A hellscape unfolding in reality. Ordinary people exposed to the Demon Aura would die on the spot. The land turned uninhabitable.
Such highly dangerous territorialized dungeons were commonly called monster nests in the Empire.
“You’re right, Count. A dungeon with this much Demon Aura could easily be a nest. Probably about twice the Demon Aura of a standard 2nd form dungeon, right?”
“No. Exactly three times.”
At my words, Chloe closed her eyes briefly and focused on the fan she always carried.
The fan’s tip began to tremble violently.
“If the density is really this high, it’s nearly three times a standard 2nd form dungeon. But how did you detect it without a magic detection tool?”
Chloe looked astonished. Her fan was likely a magic tool highly sensitive to Demon Aura.
But I had gauged the density purely with my raw senses, without any tool.
“Relying only on tools isn’t always best. Some things become clearer when you open your senses.”
Chloe’s eyes gleamed with interest, appraising me like a merchant eyeing a contract—like when she drafted Cecilia’s agreement.
“Even so, my fan isn’t some ordinary trinket. It’s an exquisite piece infused with alchemical essence. As expected of Reinhardt blood—you can’t fool it. Hehe.”
She openly showed how much she coveted me, her gaze almost flirtatious. Just then, Rozette returned.
“Th-this is bad. Subordinate monsters everywhere, no matter where I go. Most look like 3rd forms. Should we follow for now?”
We hurried after Rozette to higher ground. She’d found a particularly tall tree there.
Chloe and I quickly climbed it. Dawn had broken in the dungeon, so from the treetop, we had a wide view.
In the distance lay a village. A medieval-style human settlement, partially destroyed. Monsters and beasts prowled between the ruins.
“The monsters’ movements are organized. They even have sentries.”
Chloe swiftly assessed the situation. As she said, the clustered monsters didn’t move mindlessly.
The village had become a small fortress. Monsters were deployed in groups throughout, with sentries posted thickly around the outskirts.
A territorialized dungeon was different indeed. Lesser dungeons were for hunting and clearing. But territorialized ones meant war.
Chloe said, “As you said, Count Yulian, it’s already territorialized. Scouting to the boss area won’t be easy like that. No—impossible. Our divine power is sealed, after all.”
She was right; breaking through with just three people seemed tough. Dungeon scouting difficulty was typically divided into three grades.
3rd grade: outer perimeter recon. 2nd grade: checking subordinate monster deployments inside.
And the final 1st grade: boss area recon.
Naturally, I aimed for 1st grade. Success there would upgrade the reward.
The platoon leader insignia from the power evaluation ranking. Its tier would rise by one. This time, Rozette spoke.
“No gaps anywhere. Looks like they’ve even built watchtowers. For beasts with that level of intelligence? Territorialization must’ve boosted their smarts too. Tricky.”
“At that scale, it’s territorialized but still baron-level territory at best. Not quite a viscount nest... Still, breaking through with three 3rd tiers won’t be easy. The Demon Aura’s dense too.”
Both women turned to me.
Instructor Mithers’ orders to our group of three were simply to survive. No recon mentioned. Spending the night here like yesterday was challenge enough.
Yesterday’s shelter did its job. Without it, exposed outside, we’d have been ambushed at midnight.
The shelter Chloe and I built. It blocked some Demon Aura and masked our group’s scent and presence through the night as much as possible.
Even on the dungeon outskirts, this was monster territory. Without that shelter, we’d have retired at dawn.
Knowing this, Chloe and Rozette looked thoughtful.
The party had two choices: stick to the outskirts like before to buy time and survive, or push aggressively for recon.
We had to choose. And as current party leader, it fell to me.
“We move. We’ll conduct recon.”
“Really?”
“Yulian! For real?”
Their expressions grew complicated.
The extra evaluation’s goal was proving platoon leader worthiness. A reckless scout leading to retirement could cost the insignia.
Endangering the platoon is grounds for disqualification.
Even with our rapport, denying them platoon leader status was separate. Both were top Gold Wing cadets with pride to match.
And representatives of their divisions.
So they could see my decision as reckless bravado. Their combat experience far exceeded mine, after all.
Still, I had to convince them.
These two would be in my party for the Autumn Nest raid. For the Binding spell later, they needed full trust in me.
I spoke calmly. “Of course I mean it. No bluffing. True, compared to you two, I haven’t earned Pantheon recognition yet. And...”
I emphasized I wasn’t chasing reckless feats.
“This is an artificial dungeon, not real. Even if we ‘die’ here, it’s not true death. A 2nd form dungeon is worth the risk to boost my eval. But I won’t stake your lives on it.”
I shared my true intent.
“The key is scouting to the boss area. I think we can do it. Three variables make it possible.”
They listened intently as I explained fully.
“First, my Reinhardt senses.”
Chloe nodded immediately. “I just confirmed that. Your sensitivity to Demon Aura outdid my fan. No doubt.”
I nodded back, looking at each in turn. “Second, your exceptional skills. Representatives of magic and alchemy divisions. If you follow my lead and cooperate properly, the boss area isn’t out of reach.”
They glanced at each other. Not the best of friends, but rivals knew each other’s prowess well.
“Plenty of possibility. Will you trust me once?”
Chloe hid behind her fan.
“Fine. If it’s you, Count, I’ll hear you out. Though I can’t fully trust that arrogant witch.”
“Same here! But if it’s you, Yulian, I’ll listen.”
That reaction sufficed. If I guided their legs, it was enough.
Their efforts would skyrocket 1st-grade recon success—boss area scouting.
“Good. Let’s move quickly. This dungeon won’t wait for us to dawdle.”
The three pressed on, skirting the outermost edges to find a village with lax monster watch.
Rozette had just flown up on her magic wand to scout nearby monster and beast positions. I’d hear her intel and move.
“I’ll go in first through that gap. You two follow my signals exactly after.”
“You’re really going in alone? It’s dangerous!”
Rozette exclaimed in surprise.
“Don’t worry, Rozette. It’ll be fine. Cast stealth magic?”
“Yeah!”
Her wand glowed blue. A 3rd tier wide-area stealth spell enveloped me, Chloe, and Rozette simultaneously.
We could still see each other—no issue perceiving movements.
I entered the village alone under stealth. My task: clear an entry path for the group.
Stealth neutralized the watchtowers’ visual watch. But it only blocked sight.
So, accelerate internal mana even more...
I heightened my senses to the max. My constant mana cultivation method sharpened them perpetually.
Through its breathing, I felt the Demon Aura flooding around me.
But this level was detectable by any mana user with senses. I aimed to discern it more sharply.
In other words, maximize Demon Aura resolution. Then I could slip through the village undetected.
I focused mana from my Mana Heart. Its 3rd tier polyhedral structure usually produced high-output refined mana.
But I ramped circulation speed without emission. Increased flow opened my Mana Heart senses wider.
Suddenly, the world of Demon Aura lines appeared.
Perfect. I see it. As expected of me.
Not a real dungeon, but a 2nd form—territorialized and deadly. In its heart, I broke new ground.
A realm ordinary mana users couldn’t perceive. One only Reinhardt blood could sense.
Each monster’s emitted Demon Aura traced before my eyes.
Even those invisible to the eye—full perception now possible.
Demon Aura lines drawn. Gaps untouched by them. Found it.
At the boundary, I tensed my mind to avoid detection. Mentally mapped a safe recon route. Signaled the group with my hand.
Follow only my path carefully.
Thus, I began bare-handed breakthrough into the enemy heart.