Chapter 96 : Gate: Arena of Demonic Beasts (1)
Chapter 96: Gate: Arena of Demonic Beasts (1)
Step.
As Yohan took a step forward, the rippling surface of the Gate swallowed his entire body.
[Entering the 'Arena of Demonic Beasts'!]
[Heat Resistance of all races except the Demonic Beast Race is reduced by half!]
As the darkness covering his vision faded...
An entirely new world unfolded before him.
It resembled a fusion of desert and jungle.
The area surrounding the Gate entrance was covered in soft sand that swallowed every footstep.
Whoosh.
An overwhelming wave of heat scorched his lungs.
“Urgh!”
“Cough!”
Both the soldiers and Hunters instinctively stopped breathing.
None of them had imagined that simply breathing could be this agonizing.
Now they understood why Robert had warned them about how harsh this place was.
Temperatures exceeding 40 degrees Celsius were torture even if one simply stood still.
“It's a little warm.”
Scarlet opened her parasol.
Everyone looked at her with envy.
As an added bonus, Rodbrock cleared his throat and unsuccessfully tried to squeeze his enormous head underneath it.
“According to the Rangers' reconnaissance, there's a campsite approximately seven kilometers inside the jungle where everyone can rest. Maintain formation and begin the march.”
The moment the order was given, everyone hurried forward.
However...
They hadn't even traveled one hundred meters before everyone learned firsthand...
Why this place was so infamous.
Why every expedition that had confidently entered before them had been completely annihilated.
“AAAAAH!”
“Damn it! Something's beneath the sand!”
In an instant, one soldier was dragged beneath the sand.
Crunch!
Bright red blood soaked the white grains.
Black pincers.
Razor-sharp fangs.
It was an Antlion, a monster commonly found in desert terrain.
In the blink of an eye, Antlions burst from every direction and devoured four more people.
“KEEEEE!”
Elsewhere, a giant Poison Scorpion over three meters long emerged.
Bloodsucking tsetse flies.
Enormous venomous snakes capable of swallowing humans whole.
Countless monsters greedily targeted the expedition.
“Close formation!”
“Shield-bearers! Rotate the front line and wear down the snakes!”
Still...
The elites truly were elites.
Centered around the Imperial Knights, they immediately formed defensive formations and prepared scrolls and potions suited to each monster's attributes.
Most importantly...
They knew exactly when to attack and when to endure.
The Hunters handled themselves just as skillfully.
'Hmm.'
Yohan carefully observed every battle.
Who was useful.
Who would become dead weight.
He intended to learn all of it.
Just then—
“KIEEEEE!”
One Poison Scorpion suddenly targeted Yohan.
Seriously...
It couldn't even tell predator from prey.
Well...
At least he'd get a chance to stretch a little.
[Void Magic 'Black Flame' is activated!]
Fwoooosh!
Black flames ignited.
[Lowest-tier Skill 'Acceleration' is activated!]
A support spell increased the projectile's speed by five percent.
At that very moment—
['Black Gale' is activated!]
A crescent-shaped black blade engulfed in blazing flames materialized.
Slash!
The giant scorpion charging toward its prey was instantly cleaved in half.
'Nice.'
The Elemental Spear was only about seventy percent complete.
Yet even so...
Its power exceeded expectations.
Void Flames burned fiercely along the severed cross-section.
As soon as they got a chance to rest, he'd have to ask Faden to finish it as quickly as possible.
Rustle!
The sand beneath Yohan's feet split apart.
Black pincers shot upward, attempting to seize his legs.
However...
Yohan reacted much faster.
[Lowest-tier Skill 'Ice Prison' is activated!]
This time, he cast a spell that reduced movement speed by five percent.
“Kek!”
The Antlion lurking beneath the sand slowed ever so slightly.
Perhaps because its Star Rank exceeded the First Moon...
The actual effect was only around two percent.
But that tiny delay was all Yohan needed.
[Partial Spatial Recreation 'Blood of the Empty City' – Bloodline Sword is activated!]
A sword forged from blood emerged through a magic circle.
From above...
To below.
The crimson blade pierced straight through the Antlion's head.
Having eliminated two monsters in moments, Yohan smiled with satisfaction.
'Combining different types of magic really is enjoyable.'
How could he create even greater synergy?
How could he exploit elemental affinities or coordinate with allies to create opportunities?
That process of building combinations...
That was the true beauty of being a mage.
Eventually...
The first battle came to an end.
“These creatures show signs of having been domesticated.”
Seo Changhee casually remarked after examining the scorpion's shell.
He had found marks where a saddle had once been attached.
'Spirituality. Even this airhead has surprisingly sharp eyes.'
The Arena of Demonic Beasts wasn't infamous simply because its ecosystem was brutal.
It was dangerous because of the countless monsters living here...
And the beings who tamed them.
The monsters they had just defeated were probably nothing more than scouts sent to test them.
The moment their enemies concluded the expedition looked manageable...
The real battle would begin.
“We're moving again!”
At Robert's command, the expedition resumed its march.
Two more hours later...
They finally reached the first campsite.
And there...
An unexpected problem arose.
“Cough! Gghhhh....”
“Urgh... Gurgle....”
Rice balls and water distributed to satisfy everyone's hunger.
The soldiers who ate and drank them suddenly began coughing up bloody foam.
“Poison!”
“D-Don't eat or drink anything!”
Poison?
The food and water had been managed separately in the rear.
There was no possibility that monsters had contaminated them.
“So...
It happened... from within our own ranks.”
Robert's face hardened.
A murderer hidden among the expedition...
That was the worst possible scenario imaginable.
An enemy inside was far more troublesome than one outside.
“You Hunters!
Was it you?!”
Naturally...
The accusation was immediately directed toward those who had once fought alongside humanity.
Resentment still lingered from the First War between the Hestia Empire and the Hunters.
Shing!
Clang!
The Imperial Knights and soldiers drew their weapons.
“Wait! It wasn't us!”
“Think about it logically! We came here for the rewards too! Why would we intentionally sabotage the expedition?”
Food and water were shared resources.
Sabotaging them was no different from suicide for the Hunters.
Every argument they made was perfectly reasonable.
The swords hesitated.
But...
The seeds of distrust had already taken root between both sides.
＊
Tsk.
This was becoming a real headache.
Yohan examined the poisoned corpses.
'A mixture of Old Leaf Mushroom and Fertang Sap.'
The proportions had even been adjusted so the poison would act instantly.
Whoever had done this possessed considerable expertise in poisons.
'It's not the Requiem Cult.'
The faction Yohan had been most wary of after entering the Gate had been the Requiem Cult.
Yet...
He hadn't sensed even the slightest trace of their characteristic demonic energy.
Then who had done this?
And why?
Either the Imperial forces...
Or the Hunters...
Anyone could be the culprit.
“Got any brilliant insights from Spirituality?”
“Hmph! I've already identified the culprit. Other than that man, no one else could have accomplished something like this.”
“Really? Who?”
“I cannot say. Information is like the butterfly effect. The more it spreads, the more it becomes distorted.”
...So he had absolutely no idea.
Judging by the cold sweat forming on his forehead while he avoided eye contact...
If Yohan pressed him any further, he might actually get sulky.
Meanwhile...
Seo Changhee's only companion, Evelyn, stared at him with sparkling eyes.
'As expected.'
'Master Changhee truly is different.'
Her admiration practically radiated from her face.
Well...
At least the shark girl existed.
Even an idiot protagonist needed someone gullible around to preserve his dignity.
“Great Warrior. That bearded knight over there just announced that anyone who secures food and water for the expedition will receive a tremendous reward. Interested?”
“If it's some kind of medal, I don't need it.”
“They're offering Skill Books and Skill Stones bestowed by the Imperial Family. Weren't those exactly the kind of things you go crazy over?”
“…!?”
Of course he went crazy over them.
He had been planning to step forward once the Empire grew desperate enough.
Apparently...
Their patience had run out much sooner than expected.
“Then we should prepare to move as well. If we search the jungle, we're bound to find something eventually. Kuhahaha!”
“No.
There's no need.”
There was no reason to wander far in search of food or water.
He already knew a way to resolve this entire crisis.
Leaving the others behind for a moment, Yohan headed directly toward Robert's command tent.
Naturally...
The interior was filled with heated arguments.
Some were even insisting that the mission should be abandoned altogether.
That alone showed how desperate the current situation had become.
“Commander.”
“What is it?!”
Robert shouted at both Yohan and the guard who had entered the tent.
“This Hunter claims he can solve the current crisis and requested an audience with you, Commander.”
“What? Is that true?”
Robert's expression softened slightly.
“I heard that everyone here has been deeply troubled because of this incident. I thought I might offer a little assistance.”
“Speak.
Tell me what assistance you can provide.”
No need to waste words.
“If the food has merely been contaminated with poison...
Then all we have to do is remove the poison, correct?”
Yohan gathered mana at his fingertips.
Then—
[Trait 'Holy Flame' is activated!]
Fwoooosh!
A dazzling holy radiance blossomed forth.
“Holy Power?”
“Are you a believer of the Light?”
“And an exceptionally accomplished one at that. Even our priests cannot perform miracles at this level....”
The once-chaotic tent instantly fell silent.
The only thing shared between the Empire and humanity...
The Faith of Light.
That religion, transcending dimensions themselves, had connected the Hestia Empire and the Vatican.
It had also played a crucial role in ending the First War.
Naturally...
Priests and Holy Knights capable of wielding Holy Power received great respect throughout the Empire.
Even if they were Hunters from outside.
Yohan picked up the contaminated rice.
“However... even with Holy Power, you would first need to identify the poison's composition before purification could be—”
[All poison contaminating the food and water has been completely removed.]
“Gasp!”
“T-This can't be....”
Everyone witnessing the miracle of the gods gasped in disbelief.
“When the Light rising in the East drives away the Darkness of the West...”
Yohan folded his hands together, wearing a gentle and compassionate smile.
“Until that dawn arrives, this humble servant shall gather grains from the barren earth.”
Immediately...
Everyone present instinctively recited the next verse.
Once again...
Choosing Holy Flame had been an inspired decision.
There were simply too many opportunities to use it.
It was also incredibly useful for pretending to be a saint.
“Saint Joanna Sciondark once told me...
The Empire is filled with faithful servants of the Light.”
“Surely... you don't mean the Saintess of the Vatican? You're acquainted with her?”
“We happened to meet in Daejeon. She was an exceptionally warm and kind person.”
The only problem...
Was that she had been warm enough to drain nearly every drop of blood from his body.
Still...
It was true that they had joined hands during the battle against Gluttony.
“Ah....”
The expressions of the Imperial Knights changed completely.
“Thank you.
Thanks to you, we've overcome a major crisis.”
Even Robert now smiled warmly.
“I merely did what had to be done. However... there remains the matter of an offering in exchange for invoking divine power....”
“I shall grant you two Low-tier Skill Books, two Lowest-tier Skill Books, and the Skill Stones necessary to use them.”
Two?
That wouldn't do.
After all the effort he'd put into staging this performance and displaying such overwhelming faith...
Did they really expect him to leave with only that?
“The God of Light bestows grace upon those who show compassion.”
“Ahem! W-Well... that's certainly true....”
“They say misers are the first to incur the wrath of the Divine. If there were just one more commander like you, there wouldn't be a single grain left for this world to gather.”
“I'll... also include one Intermediate Skill Book.”
“Let's make it two while we're at it.
One for me.
The other shall be offered to the God of Light.”
“…….”
“If that's still unsatisfactory...
We could always make it three in honor of the Saintess.”
“Two.
We'll make it two.
I... sincerely appreciate your generosity.”
Grinding his teeth, Robert silently cursed the merciless priest with his eyes.
＊
“Please choose whichever ones you desire.”
Following the soldier's guidance, Yohan arrived at a wagon filled with Skill Books.
Ahhh.
Now this was the feeling.
No matter how many times he experienced it...
There was nothing quite as satisfying as taking the treasures someone else had painstakingly gathered.
Humming cheerfully, Yohan browsed through the collection.
[You have learned the Low-tier Skill 'Burning Sword'!]
[You have learned the Low-tier Skill 'Detecting'!]
[You have learned the Lowest-tier Skill 'Light'!]
[You have learned the Lowest-tier Skill 'Alarm Magic'!]
Good.
That took care of those.
Now for the truly important prizes—
The Intermediate Skill Books.
Since he had been building his skill tree around Ice-type Magic...
Naturally, continuing down that path was the best choice.
[You have learned the Intermediate Skill 'Frozen Orb'!]
[You have learned the Intermediate Skill 'Ice Explosion Spear'!]
Frozen Orb was an area-of-effect spell that scattered countless blades of ice across a wide radius.
Ice Explosion Spear, on the other hand, targeted only a single enemy.
Its intense cold made it difficult to control.
However...
If it landed successfully...
It could inflict a stun lasting anywhere from half a second to three seconds.
'There'll be plenty of opportunities to test them.'
Tonight...
He'd better remember to brush his teeth before sleeping.
Everything was so sweet...
He felt like he might get cavities.
Just then—
“We meet again.”
Something completely unexpected happened.
“You... How are you...?”
Someone he had believed to be dead...
Appeared before him.