Chapter 128
Thereafter, the Expedition Team smoothly began descending further and further.
This was because they had changed their tactics.
“Saint, you are the most important person in our Expedition Team. You are the only one with the ability to neutralize variables when they arise, and the only way for us to survive if we suffer a major injury. Therefore, you must conserve your strength for any eventuality and should not be recklessly placed on the Front Line.”
Old Man Ban reiterated why the Golden Company was escorting me, a person whose transcendent Combat Ability everyone knew.
“However, simply conserving the Combat Ability you displayed in the last battle places an excessive burden on the Expedition Team. We don't ask for much. Just provide Firepower Projection once whenever Magic Beasts appear. Even that much will allow the Expedition Team to save a lot of bullets.”
There were no objections to Old Man Ban's suggestion.
As for me, just sitting idly and receiving an Escort was quite irritating.
So.
What was my role, you ask?
“Saint! You broke it!!”
Upon entering Basement Floor 2, the size and threat level of the Magic Beasts increased significantly.
Magic Beasts capable of wielding multiple Magic Phenomena, due to the larger Magic Stones within their bodies, began to appear.
As soon as the enemies appeared.
I stepped out and approached the massive sling, made from ropes and the hide of a Magic Beast caught on Floor 1, to throw it.
Inside the leather pouch of the 3-meter-long sling, a sizable boulder, broken into smaller pieces by a Squad from the Golden Company, was placed.
I gripped the ropes with both hands, looked at the Magic Beasts charging towards the Expedition Team, and began to spin my body.
*[I'll handle the Ballistic Correction and acceleration at the moment of release. I'll calculate the timing and tell you, so just release your left hand then!!]*
With Kon's help, as I spun my body, the 3-meter-long rope and the leather pouch at its end began to rotate with terrifying centrifugal force.
The sling, gaining rotational force with a Horrifying Sound from my Super Strength, soon...
*[Now! Release!!]*
It was released at Kon's command.
With a *CRACK!* as the rope's end broke the sound barrier, hundreds of fragmented stone pieces, previously contained within, were launched towards the Monsters charging at us.
Accelerated by Kon's Psychic Power, Telekinesis, the stones sliced through the Mid-air at terrifying speed, then impacted, completely pulverizing a certain area.
“Direct hit!”
Dozens of the charging Magic Beasts exploded outright, unable to even scream.
They were Magic Beasts with both Barrier and high-speed maneuverability, but they were too slow and fragile to block the stones I projected.
“Fire away!!”
Next, it was the Golden Company and the Hunters' time to shine.
Heavy Machine Guns and 10-gauge Shotguns.
And the Bolt-Action Rifles of the Golden Company spat fire.
As for the Hunters...
They handled the Magic Beasts as if accustomed to it, while the Golden Company, new to the Great Labyrinth, skillfully dealt with the Magic Beasts under Old Man Ban's command.
“Legs! Aim for the legs first! Their heads have tough bones, so you can't kill them that way. It's more efficient to break their legs! Shoot!!”
The Elite Forces, handpicked from among the Empire's finest marksmen.
The Golden Company's Sniping Ability had reached a level superior even to that of Hunters who made their living with guns.
Old Man Ban actively utilized the Golden Company's abilities.
Once the Golden Company weakened the vital points with Sniping, it was the Hunters' turn.
The Magic Beasts, unable to walk properly, were mercilessly shredded into bloody chunks by Heavy Machine Guns and Shotguns.
“They were nothing special!”
When Ban uttered that phrase in Northern dialect and Imperial Common Language, it meant the battle was over.
The Veteran General's skillful command and crisis management subtly boosted the Expedition Team's morale.
The Hunters gained psychological stability from having a legend of the past with them, and the Golden Company, new to the Great Labyrinth, performed their roles well under Ban's command.
After the battle, I treated the few Wounded and we moved on.
The expedition proceeded with surprising ease, almost too smoothly.
It was so smooth that it only took two days to pass through Labyrinth Floor 2 and all of Labyrinth Floor 3.
The Lucifer Followers, whom we had worried about, hadn't appeared even once since they provoked us on Floor 1.
Just like this, continuously.
I wished the expedition would continue quietly, without any incidents.
Of course.
“This is Demon's Peak. It's the Passageway down to Floor 4, and........ a place where an Ambush is highly likely to be waiting.”
That was not to be.
***
Demon's Peak.
It was simply a large, towering hill.
The problem was that the entire peak was densely packed with trees, to the point of being dizzying just to look at.
And according to Old Man Ban's explanation, the terrain within the forest was also rugged and unpredictable, with sudden steep slopes appearing after deep depressions.
“Due to the terrain and dense trees, movement speed is extremely slow, and visibility is severely limited, while the enemies have many places to hide. The Followers of Lucifer departed before us, and if they have any sense, they would have certainly set up an Ambush with their Troops there.”
The Hunter Guild Masters supplemented Old Man Ban's words.
“Furthermore, they might bring in High-Risk Magic Beasts from Floor 4. Don't forget that the main power of the Followers of Pride is their Taming Ability.”
Captain Jerome closed his eyes tightly, as if troubled by the words, then opened them again.
“Is there a safe way to pass through?”
“There isn't. No matter how careful we are, casualties are inevitable here. This is a place where the side that ambushes first has an absolute advantage. Moreover, we are pressed for time. We need to reach Labyrinth Floor 7 before the Lucifer Followers. We must push through quickly, even if it means taking risks.”
“What are the estimated casualties?”
“Even with the most conservative estimate, we should expect about 10% casualties.”
Captain Jerome's expression hardened.
The Hunter Guild Masters' expressions weren't good either.
But they remained calm.
“It's actually stranger that not a single person has died until now. Once you enter the Great Labyrinth, you're essentially always putting your life on the line.”
“Once we've taken the money, we must complete the mission. Even if it means sacrificing our lives. That is the rule of this Labyrinth.”
Mayor Ragot let out a wry chuckle.
“We are well aware of the situation. We have been thoroughly informed that only by recovering the God of Courage can all of Humanity be safe. We have no complaints about sacrificing our lives for such a great mission. Please allow us to do our part.”
No one here was forced to come.
Of course, Cecilia had paid generously for the expedition, and if they succeeded and returned, the success bonus would also be substantial, but none of the Hunters who had come this far were here simply for money.
They understood.
What their expedition truly meant.
Their calm willingness to sacrifice their lives was quite solemn, but I, unfortunately, had to break the mood.
“I'll go in. I'll go in alone, deal with the Demon Worshippers ambushing inside, and then you can proceed. That way, there might be no casualties at all.”
At my words, the Hunter Guild Masters' eyes widened.
“Saint. You can't do that.”
I cut him off after hearing just that much.
“I've fought against Three Demon Lords alone before. Moving alone is something I'm used to, and even prefer. Besides, I have Kon. I believe everyone here knows about his Detection Ability. It's possible within half a day.”
Demon's Peak, to put it nicely, was a peak; to put it less nicely, it was a mountain the size of a common neighborhood mountain in the Republic of Korea.
Considering Kon's Area Search Ability, half a day would be enough to detect and deal with the Ambush.
“The moment you, Saint, are injured or incapacitated, the Expedition Team loses its meaning.”
“It's the same if more than half of you are injured; the meaning is lost. Whatever awaits us on Labyrinth Floor 7, I don't want to create a situation where I have to face all the Followers alone. I'll handle the Demon King and the Evil God. And you all must handle the Followers. I'm not the only important one; you are all equally important.”
I stood up.
Now was the time for me to be firm.
“I don't want any of you to die. I am the only one capable of entering that forest and clearing the Ambush. Wait here. After the Ambush is dealt with, I will return. At that time, please resume my Escort. That alone will be enough.”
Having a Main Force to Escort me, unlike when I moved alone, made a huge difference.
Because it meant there would be people to protect me while my body, overloaded from using my Authority, rested.
At my firm tone, everyone fell silent.
They seemed to realize they couldn't stop me.
Old Man Ban looked around at everyone after my words.
When he said something in Northern dialect, the Guild Masters began to chuckle wryly.
Immediately, the Guild Masters stepped back.
“We will do as the Saint says.”
Captain Jerome seemed to ponder the Guild Masters' words for a moment, then nodded.
“Just return safely. We will fully take charge of your Escort while you recover your strength.”
“That's enough.”
I looked down at the Psychic Amplifier.
*[...Well, I figured you'd do something like this.]*
Kon's resigned voice made me chuckle.
There wasn't much to prepare.
Due to the nature of the Great Labyrinth, the Range of skills was severely reduced, making it impossible to cast Time Stop over an entire area, but it was possible to wrap it around my body.
After wrapping Time Stop around my body like armor and lightly applying Body Modification, all preparations were complete.
“Until the Saint returns! Everyone, be on alert!”
Hearing the shouts of the Hunter Guild Masters and Golden Company Members from behind, I began to run towards Demon's Peak.
*[Amael.]*
“Speak.”
*[They like Hell, don't they?]*
“They do.”
*[Let's send them to Hell.]*
It was a quip I liked.
My footsteps towards Demon's Peak began to quicken.
***
The Lucifer Followers were familiar with the Great Labyrinth.
For the Followers of Pride, who specialized in dominating others, the Magic Beasts of the Great Labyrinth were incredibly appealing weapons.
They frequently frequented the Great Labyrinth to acquire more powerful and formidable Magic Beasts, so they knew its geography and characteristics as well as any Hunter.
Demon's Peak.
Here, they intended to inflict maximum damage on the Expedition Team heading for Labyrinth Floor 7.
*‘Why aren't they coming in?’*
The Demon Worshipper, hidden inside a space carved out of a tree trunk by a Magic Beast under his command, realized that something was going strangely.
The Expedition Team, which had arrived at Demon's Peak a while ago, had stopped and wasn't climbing.
*‘They should be anxious, shouldn't they? Don't they think they need to get ahead of us?’*
Nine Teams, each consisting of 10 individuals, were ambushing along each of Demon's Peak's main Climbing Routes, waiting for the Expedition Team.
All sorts of traps.
They had thoroughly mastered ambush strategies using the Magic Beasts under their command and were just waiting for the moment to act, but as time passed meaninglessly, both their bodies and minds grew increasingly uneasy.
*‘This won't do.’*
In principle, communication between Teams was forbidden to reduce the risk of detection the moment the Expedition Team appeared at the base of Demon's Peak.
However, no matter how long he waited, there was no sign of them climbing, so the Team 3 Leader broke the rule and secretly sent a message to Team 1, the Reconnaissance Team.
A small Insectoid Magic Beast on his chest moved and attached itself to the Team 3 Leader's ear.
“This is Team 3. Team 1. Is the Expedition Team still not climbing?”
He asked cautiously in a low voice, and a moment later, a message was relayed through the insect.
*[They're not moving.]*
“Why aren't they climbing?”
*[We don't know why.]*
“Can't you get closer to check?”
*[It's impossible. The Golden Company's Sniping Skill is too exceptional. Moreover, that Saint's Detection Ability is so good that there's a risk of being detected if we get too close. We have no choice but to observe from a distance.]*
“What in the world is going on...?”
The Team 3 Leader, muttering in frustration, suddenly had to frown sharply as the Insectoid Magic Beast let out a piercing scream.
“What is it?”
Small Magic Beasts, each connected by Telepathy, sharing the sounds they heard.
“Team 8. Team 8. Hey, what's going on?”
The Team 3 Leader's expression hardened as he sent a Telepathy message in the direction from which the shared scream of the Magic Beast had come.
“Team 1. Can you send a Reconnaissance Team towards Team 8?”
*[What's happening?]*
“A scream was just shared. It seems the Telepathy didn't reach your side because of the distance. Something bad seems to have happened.”
*[Moving now.]*
The Team 3 Leader clenched his fist.
Please, let it not be.
Please, let his ominous premonition be wrong.
Just that something unfortunate had happened with Team 8.
That it was due to a Magic Beast just brought from Floor 4 not being properly controlled yet.
He wanted to believe that.
But unfortunate premonitions always coming true was the same for Demon Worshippers.
*[S-Saint!! The Saint is moving!.........]*
With a *CRUNCH*, the communication from Team 1 was cut off.
The Team 3 Leader burst out from the tree he was hiding in.
“Everyone, break Ambush! The enemy has Detection Ability! There's no point in hiding!”
The situation had changed.
They were no longer the hunters.
“Move to Team 8! We need to fight that Monster together, as a group!”
They were the hunted.