Chapter 190
Chapter 190
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Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 190
Chapter Title: Chapter 57. Zakum (5)
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13.
“Gaaah!”
It was an accident.
“T-This is...!”
Leka, Heinz’s disciple and one of the Ellinia mages following him, unleashed an Ice Strike skill that engulfed not anyone else, but the comrades right beside him.
A whopping fourteen mages froze solid under the attack.
All of them suffered critical injuries.
Four even died on the spot!
It was, needless to say, a gravely serious accident.
The moment those fourteen mages’ spells halted, the onslaught against Zakum had no choice but to stop as well.
And that wasn’t the only problem.
“Bishops!”
To deal with this sudden crisis, the Bishops who had been moving at full speed now had to rush toward the mages in droves.
It was a gravely serious situation.
The bait keeping Zakum’s attention took fatal wounds with every hit.
Without the Bishops’ swift support, their lives were in danger.
But now the Bishops were pulled away?
It meant someone who shouldn’t die would die.
This was a massive accident.
Naturally, everyone’s attention turned to the mage who caused it.
“Bem!”
Leka called his name, and at the call, the mage Bem replied.
“I-I’m sorry.”
His voice trembled more than ever.
It was only natural given the situation.
Who could have ever imagined such an accident happening?
And it wasn’t a minor mishap—it was a fatal one that could ruin the battle against Zakum right now.
Falling into panic was only natural!
“I’ve committed a grave sin deserving death!”
That was why Bem dropped to his knees right there, begging for forgiveness with a face full of despair.
Of course, it was an accident.
A tragic accident.
Punishing Bem now wouldn’t bring back the dead mages or heal the injured ones.
“Bem!”
At that moment, Viola shouted from the front lines.
“Restrain him!”
She ordered them to seize Bem, who was in the middle of apologizing.
Not a few people were taken aback by her words.
But some were different.
Especially Red Fencer Ri! The moment Viola spoke, she nocked her bow without hesitation.
Thuk!
The arrow she loosed buried itself in Bem’s shoulder.
Seeing that, the others felt bewildered.
‘It was an accident, right?’
Bem had certainly made a huge mistake, but was it really something that warranted judgment like this?
But that doubt didn’t last long.
“He’s a traitor!”
Because it wasn’t an accident.
At those words, Bem’s expression changed in an instant.
“Heh heh!”
He let out a chilling laugh, then shouted.
“Cold Beam!”
He began unleashing magic on his surrounding comrades.
And he wasn’t the only one.
“Flame Orb!”
“Poison Mist!”
“Magnum Shot!”
Members of the Abandoned Mine expedition scattered everywhere started blasting skills at none other than their comrades.
That wasn’t all.
“Brave Slash!”
Some of the members on the front lines battling Zakum swung their swords, spears, and polearms at their comrades.
And it didn’t end there.
“The Bishops are under attack!”
Their assault targeted no one else but the Bishops—the most crucial force in the party.
In that moment, everyone realized.
‘It’s betrayal!’
This wasn’t some spontaneous accident—it was a deliberate attack.
‘Followers of the Black Mage!’
And who these people were.
It was a situation that called for boiling rage!
But in this moment, no one succumbed to anger. No one flew into a fury.
Far from it—everyone’s faces turned pale, ashen.
Because they felt it.
‘It’s the worst.’
The Zakum raid had essentially failed.
Everyone here would meet their end, and this place would become their grave.
That was why.
“Everyone, fall back!”
Viola issued the order for an immediate retreat.
She knew it too.
‘The damage is fatal.’
Retreating from here wouldn’t magically solve anything.
‘Running will only make it worse.’
Above all, Zakum wouldn’t let the fleeing Abandoned Mine expedition go with a smile and a wave.
There would be even greater losses in the escape.
If they were to fight, it would be better in terms of manpower to keep fighting now.
‘If we’re to die, we leave a testament.’
Yet she ordered the retreat not for victory, but to leave a testament for those who would come later.
It was a vital task, and one every Cygnus Knight was prepared for.
That was why there was no hesitation in Viola’s command.
“While the Knights buy time, everyone else escape! Scatter in all directions!”
Thanks to her command, the Abandoned Mine expedition managed to withdraw without greater losses despite the traitors’ attacks.
Thud, thud, thud, thud, thud!
Zakum, left alone, drummed the ground with his remaining five arms.
As if celebrating victory.
“Ah.”
To the ears of the Abandoned Mine expedition hearing it from afar, it sounded like a requiem.
Everyone there shuddered in despair.
There was only one exception.
“Five left.”
14.
“Five left.”
The moment they heard El Pam’s words, Dibo and the others beside him had nothing particular to say.
They couldn’t even muster a “You’re joking too much.”
‘It’s the worst.’
The scene unfolding before their eyes was so devastating it left them speechless.
‘To think it would end like this.’
Honestly, El Pam’s companions had thought the Abandoned Mine expedition would succeed when they saw them hunting Zakum.
Their party play was astonishingly flawless.
The pace was good too.
Yet seeing all that hope crumble in an instant—if that wasn’t devastating, what was?
“Not bad.”
“Huh?”
That was why everyone wore looks of sheer disbelief at El Pam’s follow-up words.
“No, boss. Not bad? How?”
“The Abandoned Mine expedition broke three arms. That’s beyond expectations.”
El Pam’s words weren’t some bluff to lighten the mood—they were sincere.
‘As expected of those with renowned fame. To show such outstanding teamwork in such a short time.’
He was genuinely impressed.
But his companions didn’t see it that way.
To them, it was the worst, plain and simple.
‘If the boss is saying this...’
‘He has a plan.’
Of course, at the same time, El Pam’s companions realized.
“As expected of the boss! You had an ace up your sleeve ready!”
At their eager anticipation, El Pam replied.
“I always have an ace ready.”
His words, more reassuring than ever, changed his companions’ expressions. If he was saying this much, there had to be a way!
“So what do we do next?”
“First, we join hands.”
Everyone nodded at his words.
“Of course.”
The Abandoned Mine expedition had taken losses, but they still had considerable forces left.
Teaming up with them would greatly boost their chances of victory.
“With the remaining Abandoned Mine expedition members, there’s no reason we can’t take down that Zakum bastard!”
No, it wasn’t even about high chances—it was the bare minimum.
“We’re not joining hands with the Abandoned Mine expedition.”
“Huh?”
But El Pam thought differently.
“They won’t help.”
“W-What do you mean?”
“Exactly what I said. At this point, teaming up with them is more dangerous than anything.”
Because he knew.
“The Black Mage’s followers are still in there. Teaming up in that state? It’s like putting a gun to the back of our heads.”
“Ah!”
Hearing El Pam’s explanation, his companions all grasped the situation.
‘It really is the worst.’
Naturally, their expressions hardened even more miserably than before.
As mentioned earlier, teaming up with the Abandoned Mine expedition was the baseline for them.
But now, it meant their chances were even lower than that.
‘Wait.’
That was when the question arose.
“Then who are we teaming up with?”
El Pam didn’t answer that question.
Thud!
A sound rang out.
“Zakum?”
The ruler of this place moving once more.
Thud!
And the sound didn’t stop at one—it came repeatedly, relentlessly.
Everyone immediately grasped what it meant.
“Someone’s fighting Zakum!”
Naturally, everyone’s gazes turned to Zakum, and soon they all saw it.
Thud!
“One person?”
A single adventurer facing Zakum alone.
‘Polearm?’
And the massive golden polearm the adventurer wielded.
The moment he saw it, Dibo blurted out.
“Isn’t that crazy bitch nuts?”
It was an utterly valid statement.
To charge alone against Zakum of all things—the same Zakum that had devastated the Abandoned Mine expedition—with nothing but a polearm meant one of two things.
“Does she think she’s the Polearm Hero Aran or something?”
Either crazy, or the Polearm Hero Aran.
On that, El Pam said.
“You’re right.”
“Right? She’s nuts, right?”
“No, something else.”
“Huh?”
“She’s the Polearm Hero.”
The identity of the adventurer charging in now was Aran, one of the great Six Heroes who sealed the Black Mage.
At his words, his companions all stared in stunned shock.
It wasn’t disbelief. If it were, they’d be sneering, not gaping.
In other words, they all believed El Pam.
And it was only natural to believe him.
After all, they’d not only seen the Phantom Thief Phantom multiple times but even shared meals with him.
‘The Polearm Hero Aran is here?’
In such a situation, another of the Six Heroes appearing wasn’t strange at all.
Of course, a sliver of doubt remained. It was impossible to instantly believe such shocking news.
But that doubt didn’t last.
Because the Polearm Hero Aran, facing Zakum, showed them.
Thud, thud, thud!
She dodged Zakum’s relentlessly smashing arms with such ease, such triviality.
And that wasn’t all.
Leap! The leaping Polearm Hero Aran demonstrated.
“Aero Swing!”
Not only dodging Zakum’s incoming arm mid-air, but counterattacking as well.
Overwhelming Zakum completely!
‘It’s Aran!’
A feat impossible without being the Polearm Hero.
‘The Polearm Hero!’
In that instant, no doubt remained.
‘With the boss here too...’
‘No reason we can’t take it down.’
No doubt about victory.
“We aid the hero.”
That was why, the moment El Pam gave the order, no one hesitated to move.
They charged toward Zakum, helms in place.
Especially Dibo—he dashed toward Zakum faster than ever, faster than anyone.
‘Huh?’
Of course, the others followed too.
“Hey, why’s everyone charging in?”
Kiri, as well as Miner and Ralph!
Kiri made sense, but the other two rushing in was a bit hard to understand.
The two replied.
“Five arms left, so five of us need to go at it!”
“Helping Aran means rewards will pour down! We must help as much as we can!”
At that, Dibo smirked.
“Whatever, just stay back and watch. Today’s the day I go wild.”
Dibo’s eyes blazed with fighting spirit as he grinned.
‘I’ve always wanted to see the Polearm Hero!’
Fighting spirit at the chance to clash skills with a great hero!
‘I’ll show my best.’
But regrettably, Dibo’s resolve didn’t last long.
‘A drawn-out fight won’t help. We end it in 20 minutes.’
El Pam pulled out his gauntlets and shouted.
“Element Amplification.”