bookpower Chapter 409: Dilemma (6)
Chapter 409: Dilemma (6)
Chapter 409: Dilemma (6)
Luring the Dragonslayer and his men out of their base was easy.
There's a saying that the most dangerous enemy is the one inside your own ranks.
We had 'Enlightened', the Noark explorer who had been converted by Jun, send a false message to the Dragonslayer, and he took the bait immediately.
[...You're saying there's a group of thirty explorers from the royal faction?]
"Yes! They must have crossed Ice Rock!"
[You said you were following them, right? Stay put. I'll be there soon.]
"Yes, sir!"
He fell for it again.
He was a naive one, in a way.
Back in Lalkas's Maze, if he hadn't given up on 'Tempered Desire' and given me time to recover, he wouldn't have lost his sword.
"Alright, let's move."
After luring the Dragonslayer away, we headed south, towards the Dragon's Lair.
We didn't have to worry about running into them.
We had Enlightened.
[What's your current location?]
"We're in the western region of the Dragon's Lair."
[Still heading west. Are you going to Ironfalls?]
"It seems like they are, sir!"
[Alright. We're heading that way too. Let me know if they change direction.]
"Yes, sir!"
By the time the Dragonslayer reached Ironfalls, we would be at his base.
Even if he received the message and turned back immediately, we would be long gone.
"Enemies ahead."
"Halt. We'll wait for them to pass."
After two days of forced marches and minimal combat, we arrived at a vast plain.
Our vision was limited by the darkness...
But that wasn't important.
"Finally, the Gray Plains."
The Gray Plains.
The central region of the Dark Continent, located between the Dragon's Mountain Range and the Dragon's Lair.
And...
The location of Noark's base.
"It's surprisingly deserted. I expected more activity around their base."
"It means the main force is doing a good job distracting them."
Our mission was a diversionary tactic.
The royal forces had entered the Dark Continent through the Ghostly Canyon and were engaging Noark's main force near the Dragon's Mountain Range.
Our role was to strike from behind while they were distracted.
"We'll slow down from here and move stealthily."
"I'll have the scouts spread out. We need to detect them early."
"Alright, I'll leave the details to you."
We moved cautiously through the Gray Plains, but couldn't avoid all combat.
The labyrinth was full of monsters.
Even if we avoided the explorers, we couldn't avoid the monsters.
「Void Ant defeated. EXP +4.」
「Dark Crystal defeated. EXP +6.」
「Minum defeated. EXP +5.」
「Hell Ghoul defeated. EXP +4.」
「Zambet defeated...」
「...」
Monsters emerged from cracks in the barren ground.
There were even 3rd-grade monsters among them.
"Vol-Herchan!"
It was the monster I needed for my final build.
But the battle was easy.
"What are you all waiting for? Spread out!"
"Warriors, focus on defense! The mages will finish them off!"
We had fought three 3rd-grade monsters at once in Ice Rock.
And we were well-fed.
Boom!
The Vol-Herchan, known for its high defense, put up a good fight... but it eventually fell and turned to light.
「Vol-Herchan defeated. EXP +7.」
It didn't drop an essence, but I wasn't disappointed.
I already had one.
'It's ironic.'
I never imagined I would get the essence before killing it for the first time.
The order of things was different in reality.
'The snowball effect from absorbing the Ogre essence in the early game?'
That thought crossed my mind, but the true starting point was the Corpse Golem essence.
If I hadn't absorbed it, I wouldn't have been able to kill Vampire Duke Cambormier.
"Schuitz, the scouts found their base."
We had been marching for about a day through the Gray Plains when we finally received a report.
A giant tower, guarded by about a hundred explorers.
It was definitely their base.
But there was one problem.
"...They're outnumbered."
"It seems the Dragonslayer took more troops with him than we expected."
"I see... We'll gather information first."
"I'll send out the scouts again."
"What about the others?"
"Tell them to rest and prepare for battle."
The enemy formation was shattered.
The monsters, sensing the weakness, charged through the gap.
"Damn it! Where are they?!"
"Aaaaargh!"
"Block them!"
They tried to regroup, but we didn't give them a chance.
"Kaislan, again!"
We bombarded them with ranged attacks, and they finally located us.
But...
"There they are!"
"They're over there!"
It was too late.
Kaboom!
Boom!
Whiiiiiish!
We continued our barrage.
Buzz!
My message stone vibrated.
I knew who it was.
He was the only one who had been contacting me.
Click.
I answered the call.
[Where the hell are you?!]
He roared.
He must have received my last report, about our location.
[I'm at the spot you mentioned, but there's no one there! And I'm receiving reports of a battle near the Sky Eye!]
Sky Eye was the name of the mana wave emitter.
'So they've already attacked it.'
I understood why the royal family was so obsessed with destroying it. It had caused them significant losses.
[Are you ignoring me?! Answer me! Where are you?!]
I decided to be honest.
"Your backyard."
A little psychological warfare never hurt.
I waited for his reaction, but he was silent.
Then he spoke, his voice flat and emotionless.
[...Who are you?]
What the...?
"You'll find out if you come here."
[...This was your plan all along.]
"Of course. It's obvious, isn't it? Anyway, I'm busy, so I'll see you later. Enjoy the view while you're there."
[You won't die peacefully. I'll make sure of that.]
He threatened me, but I ignored him.
He had already used that line before.
"Yeah, good luck with that."
[What? You think this is a joke? You think I won't—]
I ended the call.
It was time for the next chapter.
Akuraba reported.
"Schuitz, we've cleared most of the monsters!"
The enemy had finished dealing with the monsters.
It was our cue.
"Charge formation!"
"Warriors, forward...!"
We stormed the battlefield, our veteran warriors leading the charge.
"Charge!"
"Wipe them out!"
The enemy tried to block us with a shield wall... but it was futile.
"Ugh!"
Our warriors broke through their lines, and we poured into their formation.
They were overwhelmed.
"They're heading for the Sky Eye!"
"Stop them!"
They realized our target and tried to stop us, but it was too late.
"Kaislan, again!"
We bombarded them with ranged attacks while our warriors held them off.
"Halt!"
We reached the Sky Eye.
We formed a defensive circle around it, protecting it from the enemy's desperate attacks.
But...
"Schuitz! Over here!"
"Hurry! We have a problem!"
Akuraba called for me.
What? A problem?
"Gregson, take over."
"Yes, sir!"
I left my position and rushed to the back.
Akuraba was standing awkwardly in front of the Sky Eye.
"What's wrong?"
"I-I've tried everything, but I can't contact the main force!"
This is bad.