Clash of Automatons and the Palace Swarm
He completely let his guard down, moving both hands behind his back. The leopard, its fangs lodged in the outer armor, couldn't dodge this time and was seized by the guardian's massive hands.
The guardian slammed the leopard hard against the wall. The crash of rock and metal echoed deafeningly through the passage.
The instant he hurled the leopard, the guardian charged forward shoulder-first. His enormous bulk crushed down on the leopard just as it struggled to rise.
Boom!
It was like a bomb detonating. Fine gravel sprayed in every direction.
Shiba, instinctively shielding his face, watched in admiration.
"Oh. Fascinating."
"Is it really okay for a priest to enjoy watching a fight like that?"
"It's just an automaton, isn't it? And no one dislikes watching mechanical beasts clash in battle."
"Maze City does have official gambling rings where they pit 'em against each other like that. They even broadcast it on TV, it's so famous. Though horse racing's still the best."
Allen, monitoring the leopard's status from afar, reacted to a particular word.
"Horse racing?"
"It's so much fun... Hey, hands off. For real. What're you doing anyway? Focus on the leopard, not me. You gonna lose like this?"
"It's fine for now. All noise, low damage."
As Allen said, the leopard was unscathed. It had slipped free like an eel right before impact, leaving the guardian's shoulder to pulverize an innocent wall.
In the moment the guardian shook off the shock, the leopard—now at its side—unleashed a barrage of forepaw strikes. The 3-meter colossus staggered slightly.
Strikes enhanced by [Acceleration], [Power], [Enhancement], and the circuit spell Crush penetrated deep. The exterior looked fine, but the internals were surely grinding down bit by bit.
The guardian swept its arm wide, flinging the leopard away, then reclaimed the hammer from the floor.
"A man needs his tools, after all."
Taylor's words drifted over, unclear if he was cheering anyone in particular. They were soon drowned by the clash of the two automatons.
Gripping the hammer two-handed, steam rose from its head. The guardian swept it low in a horizontal arc, like brushing dust with a broom.
The leopard leaped cat-like, barely evading—but the guardian's ploy wasn't over. The hammer's steam thickened, then...
Bang!
It exploded, shaking the surroundings. The blast hurled the leopard nearly to the ceiling, its belly charred black.
As the guardian swung to swat the still-airborne foe, the leopard gaped its jaws. A red gleam flashed within.
The intense heat ray bored into the nape. The tattered outer armor, chewed by fangs, offered no resistance. The light was so fierce that red glows leaked from the guardian's armor seams.
Thud!
And that was it. The guardian dropped to its knees and froze.
Taylor clapped at the sight.
"Now that was fascinating."
"Brother Taylor."
"Yeah?"
"Automatons seem pretty useful as allies. Why doesn't anyone keep 'em around?"
"Maintenance and repair costs. The DT-10 at camp only activates when needed, but an explorer's automaton can't stop—drains power like crazy."
"Ah... I see."
"They're not totally absent, though. You'll start seeing a few from the primordial forest on. Should be cooled off now—let's dismantle it."
Taylor, loading key loot onto the cart, called out to Allen inspecting the leopard.
"What's up?"
"Swapped in the DT-10's mana furnace and added mana sword function to the claws, but it won't activate. Is this the issue...?"
Allen tapped the leopard's paw, and finally, a blue blade snapped out. The glow that could shred steel plates was beautiful yet lethal.
"Circuit was just a bit twisted. Without that, it could've ended without the heat ray."
"Upgrading every time I look. This'll make short work of palace guards."
"Still a ways off. I'd need to match Chairman Marshall at least to be satisfied."
"Am I misunderstanding 'at least'? Well, bigger dreams are better."
At last, the 20th layer was unlike any scenery they'd seen before. Black mist still filled the air, but instead of cave rock, buildings formed the walls.
It was a maze built from structures as walls—no exaggeration. Lantern light piercing windows or door cracks revealed desolate interiors, like abandoned houses coated in cement and left to rot.
Allen, poking into corners, declared:
"No need for a clearing—we can camp inside here."
"Right. Everyone who makes it this far does."
"Can we even call this a cave? Underground city fits better than some plain label."
"Structure-wise, yeah. But folks have their names for it, and habits die hard."
Taylor, leaning against the cart for a break, gestured as he explained.
"Looks like excavating an ancient city buried in dirt, right? Roads are paved, ceilings intact, though."
"19th layer was 5m; here it's 6-7m."
"No real difference from above. Just a cosmetic shift—still a maze. But buildings mean ambush spots, so watch for underground dwellers or bandit scum."
"...Even down here, souls reject Mother's teachings? Truly tragic."
Shiba, who'd been listening quietly, sighed.
"Gear's good on explorers who reach here. Risky to tangle with, but prime spot for a big score. Worst case, hole up in the primordial forest till it quiets."
"Primordial forest seems livable, surprisingly."
"Hunt beasts for food, river for water. If you're tough, way better than mazes or caves. Hold up—where's Allen...?"
"Here."
Before Taylor could stand, Allen emerged from an inner room.
"What're you up to?"
"Checking the house layout. Traces of plumbing, pipes for some power source. These aren't just props."
"Told ya, underground city. Scholars once crunched numbers: square it out, it's about 30km per side."
The ruins spoke of past glory—if a real civilization had built it.
"Who created the Labyrinth? Hiding cities like this, down to the details..."
"That bastard's a pervert."
"Why?"
"Think about handcrafting a city this size. What kinda head's he got?"
"Stubborn dedication and passion?"
"..."
Whatever Taylor thought, Allen pressed on.
"Some say built here, others that it's from another dimension—no underground dweller traces outside."
"Can we drop this? Head's starting to hurt..."
Shiba nodded too. Allen led the group into the passages.
The 20th layer felt eerily quiet. Save for underground dwellers strolling plazas like people or bursting from buildings, it could've been empty.
Their armament was meager: some weaponless, their accompanying automatons more pet than fighter.
"Like regular civilians."
"That's why some explorers get the creeps. I'd ignore 'em too, but they attack if you let 'em."
"Fair point."
Who'd meekly bare their neck? Allen cleared his mind—overthinking helped no exploration.
Deeper in, the ruins shifted from slums to upscale districts.
Exiting that zone revealed a colossal door reaching the ceiling. Half-collapsed now, easing passage, but intact it'd have been imposing.
Taylor halted the group.
"We call that the palace. Cross it, and the real fun starts. Exaggerate if you want: no breaks."
End
"Run! Eyes off the loot!"
Taylor's first words upon entering the palace. He led, Shiba mid-pack, Allen on the cart bringing up the rear.
The initial area was a grid of corridors, wide enough for two trucks abreast.
Boom!
Before they could scout, an explosion rang out. Casings clattered from Taylor's auto-shotgun. Before they hit with a clang, another blast.
"Kamikaze bees!"
Fist-sized bees swarmed everywhere, spewing ominous smoke.
Fragile and unstable, a lead pellet set them off. Weaker than Allen's spiders, but their numbers were the problem.
Even drizzle soaks clothes. As Taylor cleared the path, Shiba chanted a holy spell.
"Merciful Mother, with hearts unbowed by fierce storms, protect your children..."
Pop!
A bee burst near Shiba. No damage, but it shattered his focus and chant.
"...Next part? Forgotten. [Embrace of Mercy]"
Skipping the incantation, Shiba unleashed the holy art. White waves pulsed from him, coating Allen and Taylor like a shield.
Allen glanced at Shiba briefly, then away. Heavily abbreviated, but it worked.
The hasty white barrier did its job. Stray bees piercing the barrage stuck to skin but exploded with mere stings.
With breathing room, Allen tracked the kamikaze bees' flight paths, pinpointing their source.
Beyond the mist, there.
Black fog hid it, but he gauged the spot.
200m ahead, ceiling.
Drawing his magic bullet launcher, Allen aimed ahead and fired nullification rounds. They burrowed into the mist, sparking with a crackle.
Thud!
Something heavy hit the ground. Mid-run, its identity soon appeared.
A bull-sized queen bee thrashed on the floor, machine gun at its rear hinting at its role.
The ceiling hive dangled kamikaze bees, direct hits leaving them limp. Some dropped and popped, but no real threat.
Taylor ignored the loot.
"Brother! Just leaving it?"
"They'll keep coming if we stop! Don't stop till I say!"
True enough. Allen glanced back, hearing endless wingbeats through the mist. Aimed the launcher rearward, fired again.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
Struck bees rained down in chain explosions.
Clearing the corridor, Shiba raised his voice.
"Totally different from the city!"
"Enemies outside the palace were weak. Think of 'em as palace guards."
Allen, with some spare attention, replied.
"Where to next?"
"We don't decide."
Indeed. Spot the automaton swarm, head for the thinnest density—that became the path.
Shiba glanced back wistfully.
"Loot's a waste. One mana stone feeds ten for free meals..."
"Not all, but snagged some."
Allen gestured; the nimble cart extended a drawer like a tongue. Inside: pried mana stones.
"Knew it'd come to this, should've brought the house"