Chapter 206
After meeting Nikki, we joined forces quite naturally. Since she was almost certainly an Ally, there was no reason to reject her.
Thanks to this, I was able to form a rather *unusual Party Composition*. Two Manifestors, one former Branch Leader, and one Prisoner. You wouldn't find a Party Composition like this anywhere in the World.
Feeling curious, I first asked Nikki for the *Full Story*.
Nikki mumbled with a wry smile. Seeing her, I silently understood.
Indeed, if she just stayed put, her situation wouldn't change. Even if people forgot her over time, the shattered perception of her would remain forever.
So, she took the risk and stepped forward. If she performed well here, or at least showed her earnest efforts, people's perceptions might change. Even if the probability was slim, it was better than doing nothing. She was still craving recognition from others, as if it were her life's goal.
Her appearance felt a little pitiful, but since it was her choice, I didn't say anything more. Instead, I asked about something else.
Come to think of it, Sephiroth was indeed one of the more gentle Branch Leaders. He probably knew many of the Followers. Since both the Extermination Squad and the Followers were in an uncomfortable relationship, he likely didn't want to come.
After that brief Q&A, we started walking again, guided by Maira.
Perhaps because we were focused on walking, the lively conversation we had at first gradually dwindled. Only light idle chatter broke the silence.
And then I learned an interesting fact:
Nikki and Livia's relationship was quite awkward.
“Ah, Livia, seeing you here is quite something. How unusual...”
“Ahaha, yes, it is, isn't it?”
It was strange. I knew both of them had been in the Criminal Group as *Key Executives* for quite a long time, yet they could be so awkward.
Well, neither of them has a particularly good personality.
I thought this sight was, in a way, natural.
We walked for a long time like that. It was only when the sun was high in the sky that we reached our *Destination*. The *Residence* where those guys gathered and rested within this massive *Labyrinth*. That *Residence* was a bright, circular *Open Space*. *Tents* and belongings were visible everywhere.
“What? Who are you?” “Have the Extermination Squad bitches already made it this far?” “Where's Lord Jurgen? Where's Lord Paimon?”
Indeed, Maira's words weren't a lie; as soon as we arrived, numerous people greeted us.
Approximately a hundred *Personnel*. There was no fierce momentum like a *Last Stand Squad*. Most of them looked disheveled, and their eyes were heavy with fatigue, as if they hadn't slept well. It was as if they were always terrified of enemies who could attack at any moment.
They were literally *Remnants*, merely held captive by Jurgen. Now, they had no particular reason to fight to the death. So, I stepped forward and spoke to them.
“Jurgen is dead. If you lay down your weapons and surrender now, we won't do anything harsh.”
“Th-that's right! It's better to be locked in *prison* than to die!”
Maira, who was beside me, also offered her support.
“Tch, Maira, why is that bitch over there?”
“That damn *Traitor*...”
The *Follower* who saw her hurled *curses* at Maira. But that was all; they quickly lowered their weapons and signaled their surrender. If Jurgen had indeed been captured, their chances of winning would have been practically nonexistent.
Thanks to this, we were able to wipe out the remaining *Remnants* without a fight.
Tie them all up and gather them next to Maira.
Thus, we easily occupied the *Residence*. While we rested for a moment, I heard the *People*'s laments about their ruined lives from nearby.
“Damn it, Maira. You big-breasted *Informant* bitch. What do you mean by bringing these guys here?!” “Quiet down. So, you're saying I should have died there with Lord Jurgen? Everyone was half-forced to stay because of Jurgen anyway.” “So, you're surrendering now? You'll rot in *Prison* like this.” “Rotting in *Prison* is better than dying. And since we surrendered, we might even get a reduced sentence...”
I listened to their voices like a symphony, waiting for Paimon.
Fortunately, it didn't take long for her to arrive.
I see her.
A languid-looking *woman* was walking slowly in the distance.
Seeing her *opponent*, Livia immediately shot *magic* into the *sky*.
Whoosh-
Like a *fireworks* display, a fast, sharp sound spread through the air.
In fact, the *magic* she performed was no different from *fireworks*.
A *Fireball* with a long tail ascended into the *Sky* and then suddenly burst with a *pop*.
Colorful lights spread in all directions, so dazzling they could swallow even the midday sun.
As she said, it was *Magic* visible from many miles away.
In other words, it was the signal for the *Extermination*.
Seeing that, I immediately darted towards her.
*Thwack!* It was now time to tie her down.
*Pwoong-!* (Explosion sound)
...What was that?
A sudden burst of colorful light appeared in the air. Hanbyeol first tilted her head at the sight. There was no such signal in her memory.
Did the Knights launch it to gather *people*?
For reference, she was wandering alone. Due to Paimon's rampage, she had also fallen out of the *Extermination Squad*. It was practically being stranded, but she didn't pay it much mind. After all, *people* had scattered dozens of times even before her. The *demon* Paimon was eroding *people* truly cunningly.
So, she was walking aimlessly, worried that they might be defeated *Piecemeal* like this... when suddenly, *Fireworks* shot into the air. She didn't know what it was, but it probably wasn't a projectile fired by the enemy.
*Should I go check it out?*
So, Hanbyeol Shin turned her steps in the direction where the *Fireworks* had been launched.
She wasn't the only one.
“Older Sister, do you see that?” “Of course. My eyesight might be bad, but I can see that much.”
Chae-rin Yu and Haneul Im, side by side, also saw it.
Doesn't it look exactly like that? The *Magic* Livia uses. It seems like it... Livia? When did you two get so close? Let's head that way first. There might be others!
They headed towards the source of the *Fireworks*.
“What is that...?” “I don't know either. It doesn't seem like something the *Demon* would use...” “It might be a call for *Reinforcements*. Let's go.”
The remaining *Extermination Squad* and Knights also headed there.
From the start, *People* had been waiting for a *Landmark*. Wandering aimlessly in this empty *Labyrinth* was quite boring. The *Fireworks* display in the air was enough to give *People* a *Destination*.
Thus, the People scattered throughout the Labyrinth gradually began to gather in one Place.
Towards a single point in the Labyrinth, where the fierce battle with Paimon was about to unfold.
*
I haven't met that *Demon* Paimon very often, but I've learned two weaknesses from fighting her so far.
One is that she must always speak an incantation aloud when performing something. And the other is that when she issues a command, she can only issue one incantation at a time.
Of course, given the *Power of Command*, it wasn't a major drawback, but it was certainly a weakness.
At least enough for us to tie her down with a *Combined Attack*.
I just need to stop her from flying.
In a way, this moment was the most crucial. We had to prevent her from flying into the air while waiting for potential *reinforcements*.
There was no *Mage* who could stop her from ascending into the air; we had to stop her with our bodies alone. To prevent the single word, '*Fly*', from leaving her lips, we had to relentlessly clash with her. So, we charged in with all our *Forces* from the start.
*Thwack!* (Sound of impact)
The *First Strike* was mine. My dark spear, imbued with blue *Sword Aura*, surged towards her.
As much as I wanted to immediately unleash *Blood Force Art*, I wasn't injured at the moment.
Stop.
Naturally, she blocked the *Attack*.
Thud. My body stopped at the single, haughty word she muttered. My physical form felt beyond my control; I couldn't move even when I exerted force.
She didn't stop there and tried to issue an additional command to me. As she extended her palm forward, it was probably an *Attack Command* like '*Pierce*' or '*Shatter*'.
However, Nikki's penetration was faster.
Kii-iiing-Her sword let out a bizarre wail. It was the *Sound of Metal Deformation*, caused by the heat she generated leading to the deformation of metal.
It was literally a *High-Heat Sword*. In some ways, it was dozens of times more dangerous than my spear, which merely had *Sword Aura* wrapped around it.
Paimon seemed to realize this, as her attacking hand turned towards Nikki instead of me.
And the incantation had changed.
*Water Bomb*.
*Kwaaaah-!* (Sound of rushing water)
At her words, a cold stream of water poured from Paimon's hand.
Nikki was pushed back by the surprisingly powerful water pressure.
Around this time, I was slowly able to move my body.
Fly—
Feeling a sense of crisis, she immediately tried to escape her position. That was the incantation I had been constantly wary of. Just like a dirty *Mage*, she tried to create distance as soon as two melee fighters closed in.
However, there was a *Mage* here too. And it was a *Mage* with excellent offensive power at that.
*Pee-eek-*
Suddenly, a *Fireball* flew past from behind me.
A white *Fireball* with a long tail trailing behind it.
Outwardly, it looked insignificant, but I knew now. That tiny *Fireball* was a bomb made of hundreds of condensed sparks.
And Paimon blocked even that. Thoroughly, as if she couldn't allow even a single scratch on her royal body.
...*Barrier*.
At her words, a translucent *Barrier* appeared in front of her. Like an umbrella on a rainy day, the sparks merely pattered against the *Barrier* and couldn't even touch Paimon's body.
And I had charged again by this time.
*Kwaaaang-!!!* (Loud impact sound)
The spearhead, with its densely condensed mana, collided with her *Barrier*. With a loud sound, the air vibrated with a *zing*. It was a *Strike* driven purely by brute force.
*Crack...*
...!
It had some effect. Surprisingly, her *Barrier* had cracked, if only slightly. In our third encounter, this was a sight I was seeing for the first time. It was probably because she had hastily muttered the incantation and hadn't gathered enough magic power.
*Enhance*.
Of course, the cracked *Barrier* immediately returned to its original state with a single word from her. Well, it wasn't a bad trade since it forced her to use one incantation.
The battle continued similarly after that. If one of us was blocked, the other would step forward and force her to use an incantation, mainly for self-protection.
Fly and crush.
Of course, she wasn't just passively taking it. Occasionally, she would launch an *Attack* at us. Fortunately, the incantations she shouted served as hints, making it possible to dodge them.
*Pierce*.
Pwoosh! (Stabbing sound) Except for these occasional, annoying incantations.
*...Still, these aren't as powerful as I thought.*
The time it took to prepare a command was also one of her characteristics. After all, *Mages* also need a long *Incantation* to prepare *Great Magic*.
As we fought like that, eventually...
What, Yor? You were already fighting!
People began to gather. Hanbyeol Shin hastily joined the battle.
“*Hero* appears!” “...Ah, come on.”
Chae-rin Yu and Haneul Im, looking as usual, also arrived.
I continued fighting and asked,
“Where are the others?!”
“I don't know! We got separated and just found our way here!”
“But they're probably gathering!”
That was enough. I chuckled slightly at the good news. Paimon's languid brow furrowed slightly.
This was our third encounter with her. Now, it truly felt like the *Extermination* was properly underway.