Toypus Mine (5)
'The first case is with new monsters... in other words, monsters in the shallow sand. If you encounter this while exploring the tunnels, you must exit the mine immediately.'
'Then the mine...'
'We abandon it.'
'......'
'The second case is when the monsters have all wiped each other out inside the cave for some reason. We can't confirm this midway, so we'd have to check every tunnel. And the final third case.'
I figured the second option was the best for us. It was the safest, even if it took time. But it wasn't guaranteed safe. To verify the second case, we'd have to find areas with deep sand and deliberately make noise and vibrations—which meant anything could happen in the process. But if I trusted the Holy Knights, and they trusted their own skills, the third method would be easiest.
'The third... when the end of the northeast tunnel connects to the area near the east tunnel. When the deep sand we saw yesterday links up and the monsters have moved northeast. In this case, we have to fight. But it'll be a tough battle.'
'A tough battle...'
'First, we lure the monster out onto the deep sand and start the fight. What to watch out for during combat is making sure the monster doesn't hit the mine walls. They can't collapse. And one of you Holy Knights needs to head to the deep sand in the east tunnel and stand by.'
'Ah, because if they're connected, we don't know when the monster might cross back over.'
Tecus's eyes lit up as he replied.
'Exactly. So in the third scenario, combat is inevitable. Prevent the monster from colliding or escaping. That's the plan.'
After explaining my hypothesis like that, we reached the end of the northeast tunnel.
And there—we found the monster nest.
"Let's begin. My lord count, please stay back."
"Got it."
Tecus confirmed I was safely retreating, then walked to the center of the cavern.
"Gaban, you must block the monster from hitting the walls."
"For the guardian knight of the saintess, failure is not an option."
After a brief exchange between Tecus and Gaban, Tecus unleashed his Divine Power.
Blue Divine Power emerged from his body. Pel's blessing enveloped him, gently gathering around his sword. Soon, the blade took on a heavenly blue hue.
And with Tecus's will, that sword swung down into the deep sand.
"Come out, you rotten monsters...!"
-Thud.
The sword buried in the sand spewed Divine Power, creating noise and shockwaves. Tecus's precise control limited it to just this cavern.
-......
"......"
A second passed after Tecus's sword struck the sand. Then two.
Silence.
But past the third second—
-Rumble rumble rumble.
-Shhh shhh shhh.
Something heavy yet swift swam beneath the sand toward us.
"It's coming. Gaban, get ready."
"Yes...!"
-Rumble rumble rumble...!!
The crashing grew louder than the swimming sounds, like the monster's massive power slamming the sand.
And then—
-Grrrraaah!!!!
A single monster burst from the deep sand, revealing itself.
Squint, and it looked like a piranha. But up close, no fish—this thing had at least five pairs of eyes plastered across its face. Its head was half its body size, mouth gaping wide with saw-like teeth.
Roughly three meters long.
The monster charged Tecus at blinding speed.
"Not so fast...!"
-Clang!
Tecus's sword clashed with the monster's teeth, locking into a contest of strength.
"Haaah!"
Tecus immediately channeled more Divine Power into his blade, slashing a sharp blue sword aura into the monster's head.
It couldn't even screech anymore—its magic stone split in half inside its skull, and it died.
"Whew, pretty damn fast..."
"Sir Tecus, more are coming!"
No time to regroup after one down—
-Rumble rumble rumble!!
-Rumble rumble rumble!!
The charging sounds erupted from below again.
"Hoo. Just block the walls!"
Tecus didn't falter, resetting his stance to brace for the next wave.
The real fight was just beginning.
...
"Hah... hah..."
"Hooah..."
The Holy Knights, Divine Power nearly spent, collapsed onto the sand, catching their breath. No more monster charges echoed.
"Good work, Holy Knights."
I pulled out a canteen to hand over, but my sweaty hands made me wipe them on my shirt first.
That was nerve-wracking. The mine almost collapsed a few times... Gaban's got skills, that knight.
Too many monsters for Tecus to handle solo. Midway, some broke off toward the walls, but Gaban and the others threw themselves in harm's way to stop them.
"Ugh, fighting in the mine... it's several times harder."
"That's why terrain matters. Still, you all did outstanding..."
-Flash. Flash.
As I handed Tecus the water, the tunnel lit up twice with a sparkle.
"Damn...! Trouble!"
I'd tasked the knight in the east tunnel with two things: kill any monsters crossing over, signal once with Divine Power light if clear, twice if problems.
This was the latter.
"My lord... count..."
Tecus tried to rise but couldn't muster the strength. Same for the others.
I had to go.
"I'll handle it. Rest up... join when you recover."
"My lord...! Alone is too danger—!"
I bolted before Tecus finished, navigating the jagged tunnel to the main passage.
There—a monster thrashed in the shallow sand of the big tunnel, sword lodged by its head, flopping toward me.
Slower than the charges I'd seen, but sensing death, it heaved its whole body, aiming to flee back to deep sand via my tunnel.
Through the space it churned, I spotted the east tunnel knight—leg wounded, crawling desperately to catch up. But pain and exhaustion won; he face-planted and passed out.
"Sh, shit..."
Me. I have to...
Tecus's side couldn't move. One knight down and out. Me? Untouched, full stamina.
But a normal guy like me, how...?
I can't do th—
"—Like hell I can't! Kyu-ing! We have to!"
-Kyuuung!
Just a tough-ish normie with a pea-sized Divine Power like Kyu-ing.
Luckily, it was watching—reacting to my will, no more hiding.
"You're all I got, for real!"
-Kyuuuung!!
In this mess, Kyu-ing was it. Divine Power. Recalling Tecus wrapping his body in it earlier—Kyu-ing coiled past my arm to my legs too.
No clue why it grew, but who cares. Key was: my body was buffed now. And that charging monster.
"You bastards cost me my money...!! Eat shit and die!!"
I screamed, locking eyes on the approaching beast. Its heavy flops shook the tunnel—had to end it quick.
-Whoosh!
Boosted legs let me flank it. Grabbed the sword in its head.
-Grr!!
My grip tore the blade through its scalp. Agony hit; it thrashed to shake me off.
-Thud! Thud!
It slammed me into the wall to dislodge me. Hurt it too, but me worse.
"Cough... f-fuck... ah..."
Unlike Arthur's punches, this was kill-me-now pain. First time for Yuran La Toypus.
Dazed, grip slipping—
-Kyuuuung!!!!
Kyu-ing held me steady.
"Thanks, Kyu-ing... When we get back... I'll kiss you silly..."
-Kyu-ing...?!
Grateful to my blackout-preventer, I clenched the sword tighter. Waited.
For it to slam me again.
-Grahh!!
Now. Used its wall-slam momentum to drive the blade deeper. Stabbed the magic stone inside.
-Squelch!!!
"Die, die, DIE!!"
Shatter the stone, and it's done—no matter the rest.
In bone-crushing agony—
-Crack, zzzt, pop!!
I split the stone.
"Ah... fuck, that hurt..."
Then I blacked out.
-Kyuuuung!!!!!!