Chapter 97 : Gate: Arena of Demonic Beasts (2)
Chapter 97: Gate: Arena of Demonic Beasts (2)
Mary.
An intelligence agent of the Hestia Empire and the bartender of Running Rabbit.
She cautiously approached Yohan.
It felt as though he were looking at a ghost.
If the assassins of the Heavenly Demon Cult had truly been responsible...
There shouldn't have been a single survivor.
“What happened? I heard you were attacked.”
“We were. A man named Jin Hoa came.”
Mary mentioned the culprit.
The moment Yohan heard the name, he stiffened.
He knew him.
The captain of the Blood Wind Division, one of the Heavenly Demon Cult's assassination units.
Yohan had crossed paths with him countless times in previous runs.
“We were all supposed to die... but somewhere along the way, he changed his mind. He demanded our absolute obedience in exchange for sparing our lives. I wouldn't have cared if only I had died... but I couldn't sacrifice the younger ones who came with me.”
Recalling the past, Mary bit her lip tightly.
“Obedience... don't tell me....”
“I swallowed a Venom Parasite. Right now, I've managed to suppress it temporarily with a sedative provided by an alchemist... but it'll wake up again in a few minutes.”
Tsk.
So that was how they'd chained her.
A brutal method frequently employed by both the Divine Cult and the Demonic Cult.
Once implanted, a Venom Parasite would immediately release deadly poison throughout the body if its host disobeyed an order.
No matter how strong someone's willpower was...
No one could endure it.
[The target is currently being suppressed by a powerful venomous parasite.]
The information displayed by the Eye of the Prophet confirmed that Mary's words were true.
“The Martial World wants this expedition to fail. In fact... I'm the one who poisoned the food and water.”
Wait...
What?
“Miss Mary... you're the culprit?”
“Yes. Even if it was because of the Venom Parasite... I've committed a sin that can never be washed away.”
One person's chaos always became another person's opportunity.
While everyone tore each other apart...
The Divine Cult intended to reap all the benefits.
'At least we've identified the mastermind behind this.'
And yet...
Something still felt wrong.
He couldn't quite explain it.
But his instincts kept warning him that something wasn't right.
There was no way to verify that immediately.
So he set it aside for now.
“I heard one of the Protectors is currently inside the Empire. Do you know who it is?”
It was information Yohan had learned during his wager with Cain over the smile badge.
If he wanted to prepare for the future...
He needed to know this as well.
“It's the Left Protector. I don't know where he is right now, but Jin Hoa mentioned him once.”
The Left Protector...
'Yeommaak.'
He had hoped it would be the Right Protector instead.
This was likely to complicate things in more ways than one.
“Thank you. This information really helps.”
“It was nothing. If I manage to suppress the Venom Parasite again... I'll bring you more information.”
Mary gave a small nod before disappearing back into the darkness.
With the food and water problem resolved, the expedition resumed its advance as soon as dawn broke.
To close the Gate...
They first had to defeat the Boss Monster inside.
Fortunately, the Rangers had already determined its approximate location.
After marching for half a day...
They finally arrived at an ancient temple.
“It's enormous.”
“I never imagined a place like this existed.”
Everyone stared in astonishment.
The seven-story temple standing before them was both grotesque and magnificent.
Somewhere inside...
The Boss Monster awaited.
“What about the Rangers?”
“They located this place... and then all communication ceased.”
“So they were wiped out....”
Robert's expression grew even grimmer.
The Rangers he had sent were among the Empire's elites.
Yet not a single one had survived.
No wonder every expedition before this one had been annihilated.
[Ben Emers activates the Low-tier Skill 'Light'!]
[Ivan Fair activates the Low-tier Skill 'Fire Breath'!]
The mages illuminated the path ahead.
Although it was still broad daylight...
The jungle's thick vegetation was so dense that support magic remained necessary.
“I-It's really scary here. Eek! A ghost! Isn't that a ghost over there?”
Scarlet clung tightly to Yohan's sleeve.
She had acted the same way last time too.
She was single-handedly destroying the dignity of every True Ancestor.
“I'd rather be chased by loan sharks again.”
Faden's face had turned completely pale as his body trembled.
A blacksmith who had wagered his life for three gold coins could do nothing except pray.
Then—
“……!”
Yohan's gaze shot upward.
Rustle!
At that exact moment...
Countless vines lashed toward the expedition.
“Gah?!”
“Above us!”
Everyone reacted.
But it was already too late.
The soldiers caught by the vines were lifted high into the air.
Their cheeks visibly caved inward.
Their desperate cries for help quickly became meaningless.
Sluuuurp!
Blood vessels bulged grotesquely.
Then...
Every drop of bodily fluid was drained from them.
“Gghhh....”
“Urgh....”
In mere moments...
Three soldiers became shriveled corpses.
“You vile monsters dare lay hands upon His Majesty's soldiers?!”
The Imperial Knights activated Aura and severed the vines.
“Wood-attribute monsters are weak against fire! Don't let them get close!”
The mages unleashed a barrage of fire spells.
“What a lively welcome.”
The Hunters also skillfully weaved through the vines while attacking the enormous trees.
“Kuhahaha! I'll chop every last one of you down and turn you into Christmas trees!”
Rodbrock swung both axes like a madman.
His entire body became drenched in green sap.
Yet rather than minding it...
He looked more excited than ever to finally have a proper battle.
“The winter that has befallen me shall soon end, and even the harshest cold cannot prevent the coming of spring.”
Seo Changhee's performance, accompanied by another quote from his collection of famous sayings, was equally remarkable.
Each flash of golden light sent another gigantic tree crashing to the ground.
Eventually...
Every Groot, a 5-Star monster of the First Moon, had been defeated.
“Well, well.
This batch is actually stronger than the last one.”
A young girl standing atop one of the trees gracefully descended to the ground.
She was around 160 centimeters tall.
Dark skin.
Yellow tattoos.
Yohan narrowed his eyes.
It's been a while.
'Beast Tamers.'
A race in which every member possessed the Taming trait.
The superior species that ruled this Gate.
“If you're not human, don't expect mercy just because you're young.”
One of the Empire's Decurions drew his sword.
A faint blue aura shimmered along the blade.
It wasn't a true Knight's Aura...
But he possessed enough skill to imitate a fragment of it.
“Mercy?”
A sinister smile spread across the girl's lips.
“Who...
Is showing mercy to whom?”
Whoosh!
Her figure disappeared.
She moved so quickly that almost no one could react.
She reappeared directly before the Decurion.
BOOOOM!
Her hand burst through his abdomen...
Emerging from the other side.
Drip.
Drip...
Crimson blood trickled from her fingers.
“As expected.
Humans are so soft inside.”
Riiiip!
The girl tore the Decurion cleanly in half.
A fountain of blood erupted everywhere.
Strong.
Far stronger than any monster they had encountered inside this Gate.
'Her Physical Attack is at least 140.'
Or perhaps...
She possessed equipment capable of ignoring Physical Defense.
Either way...
That wasn't normal strength.
“Capture her!”
Robert shouted.
The moment the order was given...
Three mages immediately began chanting.
BOOOOM!
CRAAASH!
Fire.
Ice.
Lightning.
The three elements engulfed the spot where the girl had stood.
However...
As though she had anticipated everything...
She had already slipped deep into the expedition's formation.
BOOM!
One of the White Rose Knights immediately intercepted her.
Despite wearing heavy armor...
His movements were astonishingly light.
Aura streamed from his sword as it slashed toward the girl's arms and legs.
Clang! Clang! Clang!
The longsword and dagger collided repeatedly, filling the air with countless intersecting trails.
“You're different from the others.
So you're one of those Knights?”
“I am Benhyde, a Knight of the White Rose Knights.”
“My name's Daphne.
A proud member of the great Demonic Beast Race.
And...
I have the refined hobby of tearing apart reckless humans like you.”
[Daphne activates the Unique Ability 'Snake Dance'!]
The pair of snakes coiled around Daphne's arms shot outward like whips.
“Poison won't work on me!”
Ignoring the snakes entirely, Benhyde continued charging.
With Aura fully activated...
Ordinary poison simply vaporized before it could affect him.
But—
“You're wrong.”
Daphne's snakes weren't specialized for injecting venom.
BOOOOOOM!
An overwhelming impact bent Benhyde's body into an L-shape.
Despite being no thicker than ordinary whips...
They struck with enough force to dent his armor.
Whiiish!
The snakes wrapped themselves around Benhyde's arm.
Crunch!
“AAAAAAAH!”
His arm twisted into an impossible angle.
Benhyde screamed at the top of his lungs.
“Hahaha.
You acted so confident.
Looks like everyone will get to see your bright red insides soon.”
Daphne slowly licked her lips.
She intended to split him in half...
Just as she had done moments earlier.
Hmm.
Yohan had expected an ordinary Knight to at least put up an even fight.
Instead...
He had underestimated the Beast Tamer simply because she looked like a young girl.
'Saving one Knight should earn me a few points with Robert.'
Getting on good terms with the commander of the Imperial Central Army certainly wouldn't hurt.
Yohan swiftly rearranged his mana.
A brilliant magic circle appeared above the crystal embedded in the Elemental Spear.
[Low-tier Magic 'Burning Sword' is activated!]
[Trait 'Holy Flame' is activated!]
A flaming sword emerged from the magic circle.
Pure white sacred flames enveloped it.
BOOOOM!
The blazing white sword pierced toward Daphne's neck.
Or rather...
It should have.
“That's enough.”
Another Beastfolk male intervened at the very last instant.
Unlike Daphne...
He stood over two meters tall.
Barehanded, the giant deflected Yohan's summoned sword before stepping beside Daphne.
“Zakan!”
“Silence, Daphne.
You haven't forgotten our mission, have you?”
“Well...”
At Zakan's words...
Daphne hesitated.
Then she turned toward the expedition behind them.
“If weaklings like you enter that temple...
You'll all die.
Unless you want to become my prey...
Stay where you belong.”
The two Beast Tamers disappeared into the depths of the temple.
“Why did you stop me?
I could've handled them myself.”
Clearly wounded pride echoed in Daphne's voice.
“The King ordered us to receive the invaders from our assigned positions.”
“Tch.
Since you were here too, we could've just finished them all.
I'd handle the Knights.
And some pathetic mage couldn't even scratch your skin.”
“I merely chose to minimize unnecessary risks and fight where we hold the advantage.”
“Were there really any opponents dangerous enough to worry about?
To me, they all looked about the same.”
“Perhaps...
Ten of them will prove troublesome.”
The swordsman radiating holy brilliance while reading from his book.
The girl wearing the shark-shaped hood.
The man with heavy dark circles beneath his eyes.
Several Knights clad in splendid armor also possessed abilities completely different from the previous expeditions.
Of course...
That was where the threats ended.
His body possessed an innately overwhelming resistance to magic.
Because of that...
Zakan specialized in slaughtering mages—the masters of wide-area destruction.
Once they were eliminated...
The expedition would lose its greatest advantage in numbers.
No matter how hard the remaining swordsmen struggled...
Conquering the temple would become impossible.
Just then—
Throb!
Zakan frowned mid-step.
A sinister sensation...
Burrowed deep into his bones.
His clenched fist still bore the wound left when he had deflected the sword covered in white flames.
Surely not...
'Did a mere mage actually wound me?'
The unfamiliar experience made his heart pound violently.
'There's one more.'
It wasn't only the swordsmen who posed a threat.