Chapter 236: Wizard of the Downpour
Translator: RaidenTL
Chapter 236: Wizard of the Downpour
From the moment Yernil first entered the Labyrinth as a slave of the Magic University and joined his team.
The wizard had demonstrated an innumerable, almost miraculous, ability to solve problems.
Of course, his own overwhelming talent played a huge part.
Things like high-speed casting or silent casting.
But his achievements were largely founded on his tactical ability.
Looking back, it always felt like he was saying, "Actually, I thought this might happen from the start, so I prepared for it."
For example, when the monster wave broke on the 3rd floor and a snowfield wolf was about to tear into Caleb’s forearm.
"You shouldn't have shot that Stair Scroll at me."
Caleb had said that later.
Because at that moment, Caleb could have driven the wolves away with a heatwave spell. Yernil’s independent action had, in fact, introduced an unwanted variable into his strategy.
And on the 6th floor, when Back Attack failed to kill Richard.
"I'm sorry for acting on my own."
When Back Attack, uncharacteristically deflated, bowed his head and apologized, Caleb replied.
"It's fine. I thought that might happen."
Even the rogue's impulsiveness and unilateral decisions were within the scope of the genius wizard's plans.
But this… even for him…
How was this possible?
"Caleb…?"
Yernil stared at Caleb, her mind going blank.
It felt like a dream.
Caleb was definitely dead!
She was suddenly reminded of the Gourmet Whale eruption incident.
Back then, even while under attack by the Labyrinth Master, Caleb had doggedly continued his assault on the Gourmet Whale, using both a Moisture-Absorbing Magic Circle and a Blood-Sucking Magic Circle.
In the end, Caleb had died, but the party had succeeded in escaping. They entered the 1st floor of the Labyrinth with his ossuary and brought him back to life.
And Caleb had said:
"I believed in you."
Did Caleb know he was going to die back then? Did he also know that Yernil and the others would resurrect him?
Then this time, too?
Had that wizard truly designed a plan that extended even beyond his own death?
But I wasn't the one who saved him. There was no one on the 10th floor. And we didn't have the ossuary…!
As Yernil reeled from the mental shock, someone came into view.
It was a fox spirit who looked like she could snatch a person's soul in an instant.
She had eight tails.
Her eyes were cold, her lips proud, and her expression overflowed with grace.
Yernil knew her. She had seen her before on the 3rd floor of the Labyrinth.
Hyedam!
"We've arrived on the 1st floor, Caleb."
Hyedam gently rested her head on Caleb's shoulder and looked outside.
Her eyes met Yernil's.
"Pathetic creature."
She immediately drove a dagger into Yernil's heart.
"Abandoning your party member to save yourself."
Yernil froze as if she'd been stabbed, and behind her, a shocked Aimus and Back Attack ran forward.
"Caleb!"
"Boss!"
Krom crossed his arms and nodded.
"I see. There were corpses of Silver Dagger monsters on the 10th floor. Burned to death."
The eight members of Caleb's party and Blackdog's party who had witnessed the scene realized someone else had been there.
And Caleb must have recognized it. It was foxfire.
If what Yernil saw on the 10th floor was correct, Caleb must have judged that when he committed suicide by Lightning Shock after being stabbed by the Gumiho, he could receive help from Hyedam, who was somewhere on the 10th floor.
Though she didn't know the exact details.
"No… it can't be…"
Then, Yernil realized one more thing.
A moment ago on the 10th floor, she had been on the verge of becoming the Exit Boss. She had heard the Labyrinth Master's whispers. And two 'walls' had already risen.
Why? If Hyedam was there, shouldn't she have been the strongest adventurer on the 10th floor?
No.
Because Hyedam had said she was a possessor, too.
"..."
That Fox Spirit Deep Layer Shaman truly had a lot in common with Caleb in many ways.
CRASH!
But there was no time to be lost in thought.
The walls of the tower's 1st floor collapsed one after another, and monsters poured out from within. Their numbers were staggering.
Each soldier of the Deep Layer army was powerful, and their numbers were enough to make any observer despair.
"All units, assemble!"
The Consul rushed out, commanding his troops.
"From this moment, we defend Sohen with all our might!"
"Those with parties, return to your parties!" Delphin shouted.
Caleb…
"Yernil!"
He ran over to Yernil, Aimus, and Back Attack.
With Hyedam by his side.
"I know Hyedam's magic better than anyone. So the five of us will move together."
Hyedam scanned the three of them with a displeased expression.
Her gaze was filled with doubt, wondering if she could really trust these people who had no loyalty to their party members.
Yernil felt herself shrink and lowered her gaze.
"Yernil."
Caleb called to her, getting her attention.
"And everyone, listen up."
*
Right now, the Labyrinth Master is commanding a continent-wide war. Sohen is just one of many fronts.
He is directing battles in Labyrinth Cities across the world—Madurai, Cruaden, Wyndham, the Fairy Forest, the Artisan's Citadel, and more. And he himself will likely engage in a party-level battle with Wizus. Therefore…
"The Labyrinth Master will not personally intervene in the battle for Sohen."
I glanced back at the tower.
When I was inside the tower, I could see the Labyrinth Master and his army with a grand strategic view.
But now that I was out, my vision was blocked.
It was like not being able to see inside the Ethereal Galaxy.
Still, I was certain the Labyrinth Master wouldn't come out.
Because when I last saw him, the Labyrinth Master was in the middle of creating the 2nd floor with magic.
CRASH!
His spell was now complete.
A new level was stacked atop the tower's 1st floor.
The tower, with just its 1st floor, had already been taller than the West Tower of the Magic University, Sohen's tallest building. But with the addition of a 2nd floor, its presence was on another level.
The Labyrinth Master must be ascending the stairs, taking the Black Lion—his greatest asset—with him.
He'd probably pick up the Trap Cobra and the One-horned Ox on the way.
To be honest, I can't figure out exactly what the Labyrinth Master is after.
The Hourglass is already broken.
The Labyrinth Master must have noticed that.
So why is he heading for the Ethereal Galaxy?
What Wizus is preparing is also a mystery.
I need to climb the tower too, before they reach some conclusion to a scheme I know nothing about.
To do that…
"First, let's clean up Sohen."
WHOOSH!
The words had barely left my mouth when an axe flew past my nose.
It was aimed at a mage from the Silver Dagger Alliance who had been targeting me from the opposite side.
"Steel Thunderb—"
Krom stomped over to the mage, who collapsed with the axe buried between his eyes before he could finish his incantation.
"You're one tough bastard to kill, Caleb."
He chuckled as he passed by me.
"Good to have you back alive."
"Good to see you're safe, too."
It felt strange to think that this was the same orc who'd nearly killed me in the casino, the same casino I'd ended up destroying.
To think we'd end up fighting together like this.
"We're strong even without Blackdog. But your party…"
Krom glanced at Yernil and snorted.
"It seems they still can't manage without you."
I had to agree with him on that.
*
'This is my chance to redeem myself.'
The Consul gritted his teeth.
Deceived by the Labyrinth Master's strategy, he had almost wandered the 7th floor until Sohen was annihilated.
Caleb truly had the air of a savior, just as the countless adventurers who had explored the Labyrinth with him unanimously praised.
Thanks to him, they had all made it to the 1st floor, returned to the surface, and earned one last chance to protect Sohen.
"Field Cleaver."
The Consul's sword sent four Black Iron Knights flying at once. But despite his overwhelming swordsmanship, the Deep Layer monsters did not fall easily.
CRUNCH!
The Consul plunged his sword into the chest of a rising Black Iron heavy infantryman.
Execution of Justice!
The divine power erupting from the tip of his blade shattered the target from within, as if a grenade had gone off in its stomach.
Drenched in the exploding gore, the Consul roared.
"Listen up, everyone! Sohen will not fall like it did 12 years ago!"
The Consul was prepared to burn away all of his strength and conviction right here, right now.
"Slaughter every last enemy! Don't let a single one of them return alive!"
A golden light poured from the tip of his sword.
"Do not retreat a single step!"
This was the most important skill that had brought Peterson to where he was today.
Throughout the history of the Public Security Headquarters, only a few swordsmen had ever been able to use it.
Tier 8 Skill, 'Justice'.
The Consul's magically enhanced sword could cut through anything. Not figuratively, but literally.
"Your fighting spirit now is Sohen itself!"
DONG—!
A bell tolled from the sky above.
It was summoned by Professor Meldini.
"Professor!"
Several first-year mages from the university ran up and handed Meldini a staff.
It was the Staff of the Apex.
Meldini hadn't taken the staff with him when he joined the subjugation force, because "the students must be able to learn magic." But…
"Thank you!"
He had no such worries now. For even if he fell here, someone would be there to retrieve the staff.
A wizard like Caleb, for instance.
"Ascended Wizard!"
Meldini's body began to turn ethereal.
DONG!
The warning bell continued to toll.
Clink.
And Cardinal Servan of the Order of Nathaniel held a bible in one hand and a baculus in the other.
"Anointment with Holy Oil."
His fingers drew a holy sign.
"Mark of Salvation."
He would not let a single person in Sohen die today, not until the Order of Nathaniel itself went bankrupt.
SHWAAAAA!
Behind the 1st floor of the tower, a stream of ethereal mass was flowing.
It was the most powerful summon permitted to a human wizard.
"Lord of the Spirit Tower."
Professor Isilof aimed his wand like a gun and leaped into the battlefield alongside the Magic Tower Lord.
"WAAAAAGH!"
Shouts and the clang of steel echoed from all directions.
The number of Deep Layer monsters was immense, but the adventurers of Sohen were filled with fighting spirit.
*
'This is bad.'
To Eulparyeong, who had experienced a Labyrinth eruption once before, the scene unfolding before him was somewhat familiar.
"This… we can't win like this."
30,000 years ago, did Bimungol lose because it lacked 'resolve'?
The continent's greatest adventurers, the last survivors of each race, had gathered in that place. Those refugees, screaming in indignation.
They too had been desperate to protect their final, remaining bastion.
They even had powerful artifacts like the Stele of Mass Annihilation.
But what was the result?
RUMBLE!
The ground shook.
That demon's power wasn't just in his army. It bolstered the morale of the monsters that rose from the Deep Layer, gave them immense strength, and pushed their enemies into a bottomless abyss of despair.
The Labyrinth Master's true power lay elsewhere.
'Active Volcano!'
The ground exploded. Flames began to surge upwards.
It was a power that could destroy the world.
"This is…!"
Flames erupted from all sides, and lava poured out.
The warriors of Sohen still had a sharp fighting spirit, but this was no good.
This was the exact same scenario as 30,000 years ago!
No matter how much humans struggled, they couldn't stop that—
"Cumulonimbus."
The voice came from behind a monk who was pushing back the Black Iron Knights with an iron staff.
And beside an elf archer laying down a screen of fire.
And in the middle of a rogue fighting a chaotic melee alongside seven clones.
Back-to-back with the Fox Spirit Deep Layer Shaman, the wizard's magic erupted.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus.
Cumulonimbus…!
An endless procession of clouds began to blanket the sky.
As if to pass judgment on the tower that dared to build a staircase toward the Ethereal Galaxy.
Or as if to crush the heat of the flames burning on the ground.
SHWAAAAA—!
Its scale was even greater than the 'natural rain clouds' that had formed during the Gourmet Whale Labyrinth eruption.
Because it was concentrated in a small area.
The downpour was less like rain and more like a waterfall. The space between the falling drops was so narrow that some of them merged into fist-sized clumps.
They were literal water bombs.
Masses of water rained down from Sohen's sky like a carpet bombing.
CRACK!
And lightning.
CRASH! BOOM!
Lightning tore through Sohen's night sky and struck the ground.
Like the fingers of a god, meticulously crushing the ant-like Deep Layer monsters one by one.
CRACK!
Amidst the pouring lightning and the storm.
"Dalstream…"
Meldini realized it in the midst of the rain.
"Was that boy the wizard you were looking for?"
The wizard aimed his wand toward the sky.
"Magic Circle of Ethereal Concentration."