Chapter 227: Devastating Eruption
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 227: Devastating Eruption
He was no longer Blackdog.
Nor was he the White Lion.
Long black hair. A thick mane below his neck.
The eyes and fangs of a beast.
He had abandoned Sohen to stand with the Labyrinth, a faithful agent of the Labyrinth Master.
“I’m sorry,” he said, his nails glinting like sharp blades.
“I believe the Labyrinth Master is right.”
“Wise.”
The Labyrinth Master patted his shoulder.
“I will give you the 10.5th Floor.”
“No, I’m telling you, the Dwarf Governor was a monster! Anyway, that’s why I’m taking all the forces from the Artisan’s Citadel to fight the Labyrinth.”
“Don’t be ridiculous!” the Minister of the Dwarf Delegation shouted. “We only listen to the Governor’s orders! You can’t move the Artisan’s Citadel’s forces as you please!”
“Foolish ones!” the Eastern Emperor of Wyndham rebuked loudly. “I, myself, descended into the Labyrinth and witnessed the whole truth with my own two eyes, yet you dare to question me!”
“Who the hell are you, you idiot!”
“An idiot!”
“How dare you!”
“Such disrespect to His Majesty!”
“Your Majesty, please wait. This girl will teach that ruffian some proper manners!”
The Emperor’s generals were up in arms.
“Calm yourselves, my generals. Who am I? Am I not the hero who personally descended into the Labyrinth and defeated the strongest demon of the 9.5th Floor, the ‘White Lion’? There is no need to make a fuss.”
“Indeed, Your Majesty!”
The Consul felt a sense of fatigue at the small commotion on the surface, but on the other hand, he also felt a sense of relief.
The South and the East had joined Sohen.
They were each using long-distance communication magic to issue orders to the Artisan’s Citadel and Wyndham, commanding them to assemble all their forces, as the Labyrinth’s great eruption had been confirmed and could escalate into a highly dangerous situation.
The North and West have yet to join.
Lizard, Orc, Barbarian, Frostian.
None of the lords representing those regions had emerged yet.
But no matter who joined, the most important was, of course, Sohen.
This was the center of the continent, where the quality and quantity of adventurers were the best.
“We are ready, Consul,” Professor Isilof said to him.
Putting aside the leaders of other races from other Labyrinth cities, the total mobilization of Sohen’s forces was crucial.
One by one, heroes who followed the Consul’s will were assembling before the Labyrinth Union.
Cardinal Servan and Bishop Azello of the Order of Nathaniel.
Below them, all the high-floor paladins and priests.
From the Magic University, the faculty—including Meldini, Isilof, Hailey, and Isel—along with graduate students and all upperclassmen.
From the Public Security Headquarters, Consul Peterson, Magistrate Delphin, Krusla, and Irha, along with all personnel at the inspector level and above.
In addition, there were the forces of Blackdog.
Although Blackdog himself and key members like Krom, Nimue, and Rococo weren't present, all the wanted criminals who had been hiding underground had come out.
This was because Peterson had made an unconventional offer: “I will grant you a pardon if you join the war.”
Although the organization was usually at odds with the Public Security Headquarters, they would join forces when Sohen was in crisis.
And then there was the Adventurer’s Guild.
Countless adventurers who freely explored the Labyrinth as members of the Adventurer’s Guild, unaffiliated with specific organizations like the university or the security headquarters, had joined the war.
The Labyrinth Union, the Berten Estate, the auction house, and the Magic University’s Labyrinth Exploration Support Center had brought out every magic item they possessed.
Before the finest elites of Sohen, fully armed with these items, the Consul began his speech.
“I remember that day 12 years ago.”
“The day our beloved families and friends were brutally murdered by the demons that came out of the Labyrinth.”
The assembled forces made not even the slightest noise.
Everyone was focused on the Consul’s speech.
“As you all know, the Labyrinth gave us power, treasure, and fame. It was the lifeblood that nurtured Sohen and countless other Labyrinth cities. But now, the Labyrinth is about to erupt in a manner far more ferocious and devastating than 12 years ago.”
The Consul pointed toward the city of Sohen.
“This Labyrinth eruption will not stop until it has killed every single person on the surface. The army of the Abyss is powerful, and the Labyrinth Master’s strength is overwhelming even for Deep Layer adventurers. But!” he shouted.
“We will not be defeated like we were 12 years ago!”
He clenched his fist.
“I will protect Sohen! I will stand at the very forefront of this war! No one shall violate our city without getting past me!”
“…”
“Stand behind me! Protect Sohen with me! I will not lie and say you will all be safe. Instead, I promise that I will protect your families.”
The Consul’s voice rang out.
“Offer your lives to Sohen!”
He drew his sword.
“Today, we will kill the Labyrinth Master and seal the Labyrinth forever! Do not let those demons set foot on Sohen’s soil! All forces!”
The adventurers raised their weapons high, following the Consul.
“Charge into the Labyrinth!”
“They’re going to fail.”
Bipa moved quickly. The Labyrinth was currently closed off. The Consul’s army had to enter.
It was similar to how a moving company reserves an entire elevator when they’re moving furniture.
The Labyrinth Elevator was now inaccessible to outsiders.
However.
“That’s not enough.”
Despite the numbers and unity of the Consul’s forces, Bipa rated their chances of success very low.
“Let’s go.”
At the misty cliff where Lilweed had installed a temporary elevator.
Only a few Public Security guards were protecting the elevator. For Bipa or Mugol, it was a piece of cake. They didn’t even need to kill them.
One puff of Amhyangsoyeong and they were all ‘dazed.’
“Let’s go down to the 3rd floor and get ready.”
Bipa and Mugol stepped onto the elevator.
“Hyedam is doing okay, right?”
“Probably.”
Fuck. Fuck. Fuck. Fuck.
We’re fucked! We’re so fucking fucked!
“We… we have to retreat for now…”
Everyone, terrified, began to back away.
The Black Lion.
It was fitting to call it that.
A shocking scene was unfolding behind the Inter-floor Lord of the 10.5th Floor.
“We have to run!”
Everyone knew it instinctively.
It wasn’t because of the Labyrinth Master. Nor was it because of the Black Lion.
Monsters were rising from the bottom of the Abyss.
Like bubbles forming in a pot of boiling water.
One by one, from the dark mire of the Abyss.
It was the Labyrinth Master’s personal guard, with silver daggers embedded in their chests.
The Order of Black Iron.
And their numbers were immense.
“Get to the 10th floor!”
Yernil, Back Attack, Aimus, Krom, Nimue, Rococo.
The entire party started running like mad.
“This way!”
I led them, setting the direction.
In the direction the compass was pointing.
That was the exit. The stairs to the 10th floor would be there.
“Follow me…”
CRACK!
Just as Back Attack yanked me aside, a cold gust of wind brushed past my side.
A black iron greatsword, thrown from behind.
“…”
He’d made a super save, but Back Attack’s expression was anything but relaxed. He gritted his teeth in tension and fear.
The greatsword had cut my ‘clothes.’ The flap of my coat that fluttered over my right shoulder. The wool outer fabric, the interfacing, and the lining were all sliced through like tofu.
Fuck.
It was a stark reminder of just what kind of army the thousands now ascending were.
The blade of the black iron greatsword was as thin and sharp as a few atoms, yet its hardness was so great that it wouldn’t be damaged even if it clashed with Aimus’s iron staff.
“Steel Thunderbolt.”
Steel javelins rained down from the sky, cast by a mage from the Silver Dagger Alliance.
BOOM!
Aimus blocked it by opening his parasol, but surprisingly, a javelin pierced halfway through the parasol and got stuck.
“Blood-red Fortress.”
A crimson wall began to shoot up ahead of us, an obstacle to block our escape. It was incomparable to something like a modern police barricade.
“Flames of the Abyss.”
Fireballs began to fall from the sky.
“Shadow Leap!”
Back Attack moved me to safety.
“Coming of the Ice Age.”
Nimue cast an area-control freezing spell.
“Haaaaah!”
Krom activated his Giant War Machine skill and broke through the blood-red fortresses in front of us.
“Stay sharp!” Rococo yelled.
“The stairs are right ahead!” I yelled back.
“Cumulonimbus.”
I summoned a downpour to complement Nimue’s magic.
A single cloud wasn’t enough to create a large icy path. It could delay the enemy’s pursuit for a moment, but it would ultimately be useless.
Still, I was saving the hourglass.
Because I couldn’t use it now.
Why?
Because the Labyrinth Master hadn’t moved yet!
That bastard was completely relaxed.
He was waiting for my turn. After I unleashed my magic, he would use a tailored strategy to fuck us up all at once.
I can’t use the hourglass until we’re on the stairs!
Thud! Thud! Thud!
Something was racing through the Labyrinth.
The Black Lion.
A rogue-type is a natural enemy to a wizard.
Leaping Ambush.
Once again, the target was me.
CLANG!
Someone barely blocked the blade that grazed my neck. It was Back Attack again.
I felt a sense of déjà vu, like a moment I’d seen before. When we fought the White Lion on the 9.5th Floor.
Back then, the White Lion had also used Leaping Ambush on me, and Back Attack had blocked it.
But what was different this time was…
It’s being cut!
The Black Lion’s blade was cutting into Back Attack’s.
BOOM!
But just before the blade was severed, an arrow fired by Yernil flew in and sent the Black Lion flying. He turned into smoke and vanished.
“The stairs!”
With life-threatening attacks coming every second, we ran like crazy and found the stairs.
I knew they would be close.
Because I had been tracking the stairs within the ‘illusion.’
“Jump into the stairs!”
As I shouted, I still didn’t take my eyes off the Labyrinth Master.
That demon didn’t take his eyes off me either. But he didn’t cast any magic, just wore a cunning smile.
Normally, when crossing the stairs, you have to enter one person at a time at regular intervals.
Otherwise, you can’t pass through the gate.
But this time, all seven of us passed through the gate at once.
How was this possible?
Probably…
Because the Great Eruption has begun.
The army of the Deep Layer numbered in the thousands, even tens of thousands.
For the monsters to flow backward up the stairs, the stair gate was allowing all people and objects to pass through without restriction.
“Run!”
So there wasn’t a moment to rest.
The monsters would immediately chase us through the gate.
“Pant… pant…”
My legs, which had been running forward, were losing strength. I was starting to get out of breath.
“Caleb. I’ll carry you.”
Aimus lifted me up and tucked me under his arm.
In the other party, Krom carried Nimue on his back.
Our speed improved slightly, and I had some time to think.
The Labyrinth Master hadn’t attacked while we were escaping one by one through the stairs.
Why?
He had let us be, even when we bought time with magic like Coming of the Ice Age.
Why was that?
There were so many possibilities.
Perhaps because everyone would die eventually due to the already-started Labyrinth eruption.
Or perhaps, after casting a major spell and then initiating the eruption, his Action Points were actually depleted.
Or maybe…
He didn’t need to settle things in the Deep Layer.
Fuck.
That’s it.
“Labyrinth Master!”
The monster had crossed the stairs.
That demon was no longer bound to the Deep Layer space.
“Run!”
“To the 9th floor!”
“Find the exit room!”
“When are we gonna find an exit room, you idiot!” Rococo and Krom yelled as they argued.
“What should we do, Caleb!?” Back Attack shouted.
I took out the Void Vortex Orb.
Normally, I could have used this to escape like I did from the primeval altar, but I couldn’t use it now.
The vortex orb also had a cooldown.
And I had used it not long ago. I had sent the Gumiho’s fox bead to the fountain, after all.
Therefore, we had to…
“Follow the compass!”
The stairs to the 9th floor were in the same direction anyway. We had to find the 10th-floor fountain. And I had to get the fox bead back.
“Do you need the fox bead right now?” Yernil shouted.
Honestly, it felt meaningless to worry about my past when we were all about to die, but still.
I had a feeling that fox bead could be the breakthrough we needed in this situation.