Chapter 103 : Behemoth (2)
Chapter 103: Behemoth (2)
Clank.
Rattle.
The sound of ancient chains shifting pierced their eardrums.
High in the air floated the skeletal head of a long-horned stag.
The rest of its body was completely submerged in pitch-black darkness, making it impossible to see.
It looked as though only its head floated in midair.
Which made it...
Far more terrifying.
The sound of its breathing.
The way it slightly tilted its head while staring at its prey.
It squeezed at their hearts.
Blurring the boundary between life and death.
Boom!
Every step Behemoth took ignited black flames beneath it.
“H-Has it already caught up to us?”
One of the knights muttered with a face stained by despair.
“This... is the worst.”
Even Scarlett spoke while forcibly steadying her trembling hands.
They had wasted around ten minutes fighting the Apomets, but if Behemoth could catch up because of something as insignificant as that, then there had never been any hope to begin with.
Forget reaching the highest floor.
They wouldn’t even have escaped the second floor where the expedition currently stood.
“No.
This is fortunate.”
Only Kang Yohan found hope amidst the despair.
The chains wrapped around Behemoth's neck.
[Tithe Offering]
If one-tenth of the total people died, a ‘Safe Zone’ would be created on every floor.
At the same time, Behemoth's movements would halt for one hour.
In other words, sacrificing a few would open a path for the many to survive.
This was probably thanks to the Rabbit Foot’s effect.
However, it was nowhere near enough to be considered perfect luck.
-However, the luck granted cannot exceed its Acquisition Difficulty.
An extension of their lives.
That was the most it could offer.
Well, from their perspective, even that was fortunate enough.
‘Either way... for now, all we can do is hope we’re among the ninety percent.’
Kang Yohan poured mana into the Elemental Spear.
The others also assumed battle stances.
At that exact moment—
Behemoth moved.
It began with flames.
Whoosh!
Blazing fire engulfed the center of the expedition.
[Advanced Scroll ‘Winter’s Sigh’ has been activated!]
The expedition’s hidden trump card, prepared for just such an emergency.
An Advanced Ice Spell created a transparent barrier.
On top of that, countless support spells cast by the mages layered themselves over it.
But—
Bang!
The instant the flames touched the barrier...
Everyone there realized something.
No matter how much they prepared.
No matter how desperately they struggled...
None of it would matter.
Rooooar...!
The infernal flames pierced through the barrier and devoured their fragile bodies.
More than twenty soldiers burned alive.
Not even a single scream escaped them.
Their lungs had already been incinerated long before they could cry out.
“Ghk!”
“Aaaagh!”
Blood poured from the mouths and noses of the supporting mages.
The mana flowing backward had twisted their internal mana circuits.
“Don’t stay clustered together!”
Robert roared until his throat nearly burst as he unleashed his aura.
Screeeech!
His sword, wrapped in blue light, carved into Behemoth’s body.
Something was definitely scraped.
However, because everything was shrouded in darkness, no one could visually confirm the damage.
Still, just as expected from an ability regarded as superior even to [Sword Aura], it managed to leave a wound on Behemoth.
The problem was...
It was pitifully insignificant.
Rumble!
The darkness surrounding Behemoth swelled dramatically.
‘Is it using [Shockwave]?’
If they were far away, it was merely a wide-area stun.
But at close range, like where Robert stood...
It was impossible to survive.
Dangerous.
Kang Yohan released the mana he had prepared half a beat earlier.
[Void Magic ‘Black Flame’ has been activated!]
[Lowest-tier Skill ‘Acceleration’ has been activated!]
Acceleration overlapped with the black flames.
Crackle!
[‘Black Gale’ has been activated!]
What followed was a streak of black light.
A perfectly straight trajectory.
The power of the Void, launched at maximum speed, interrupted the Shockwave.
BOOOOM!
Behemoth’s antlers shook.
‘Did that work... even a little?’
He thought so for a brief moment.
Then—
Slowly.
Those endless, empty eye sockets turned toward Kang Yohan.
Damn it.
It hadn’t worked at all.
Instead...
He had merely attracted its attention.
[Behemoth activates ‘Annihilation (滅絶)’!]
Not a projectile.
An instant-cast skill.
One that transcended space itself to burn its target alive.
‘Tch!’
Just before Annihilation activated, Kang Yohan barely managed to escape into a safe zone.
And by ‘safe zone’...
There was only one.
“Hey, you son of...”
Park Yeri cursed the moment she realized Kang Yohan had moved behind her.
Then she was swallowed by flames.
Fwoooooosh!
Otherwise known as the Friends Shield.
The heat was intense enough to leave not even bones behind.
Yet Park Yeri, the owner of the Rabbit Foot, did not die.
“Cough! Cough! Ughhh...”
She merely coughed out black smoke.
Her burns weren’t severe.
“You still have the Rabbit Foot with you, right?”
“Is that seriously the first thing you say to someone who almost died? Shouldn’t you ask if I’m okay first?”
Why was she being so dramatic?
Coming from a homicidal maniac who literally carried around spare lives.
More importantly...
‘The difference in strength is this overwhelming...’
Honestly, he had expected at least Void Magic to leave a meaningful wound.
Things were becoming increasingly hopeless.
But he didn’t even have time to dwell on it.
This time, Behemoth targeted the Hunters.
“R-Run!”
“Damn it! It caught us!”
The mercenaries of Black Rain Corporation desperately tried to flee from the approaching Behemoth.
However, Behemoth moved like drifting smoke.
There was no escaping that speed.
[Shockwave]
Rumble... BOOM!
The pillars within a twenty-meter radius snapped like dry twigs.
Dust and smoke exploded into the air.
Human silhouettes disappeared within them as though they had never existed.
[Tithe Offering has been fulfilled!]
[Safe Zones have been created on every floor!]
[Time Remaining: 0H : 59M : 59S]
Someone died.
And someone else was guaranteed survival.
For now, the cruel rule that demanded sacrifice had yet to reveal its true horror.
But...
Would that still be true one hour later?
What about the hour after that?
Soon enough, everyone’s most primal desire would emerge.
The instinct...
To survive.
To breathe just a little longer.
Yes.
Just like what Ryuhei had done in the corridor...
There would inevitably come a time when blades and magic were turned upon their own allies.
“……”
Behemoth devoured the dead.
Like savoring appetizers before an extravagant feast.
Slowly.
Leisurely.
Crunch.
Crack!
The corpses gradually disappeared into the darkness.
“We... move.”
Robert spoke while his body trembled with rage and helplessness.
Only after forty minutes had passed did they finally reach the Safe Zone on the third floor.
At least here...
They could rest without worrying about the monsters wandering outside.
“Huff... Huff...”
“Water! Give me water first!”
“Anything to chew on would be nice.”
No one even had the luxury of reorganizing their formation.
All they could do was rest their legs for even a little longer and steady their breathing.
The porters began unpacking their supplies.
Using consumables here would lighten their load somewhat, though not enough to make any noticeable difference.
‘Fortunately, no one has fallen behind... yet.’
Kang Yohan surveyed the expedition.
Despite sprinting at full speed for forty minutes in complete battle gear...
Everyone had somehow reached the destination.
Though they had merely overcome the first obstacle.
Twenty minutes.
Once that time passed...
Behemoth would begin moving again.
While the ordinary soldiers and Hunters rested, Robert gathered the leadership for an emergency meeting.
A total of seventeen people assembled.
The representatives of each guild.
And the Rankers whose abilities had already been proven.
Flap!
A rough map was spread across a makeshift table.
“The Safe Zone on the fourth floor is approximately five kilometers from here. It isn’t terribly far, but according to our detection magic, we’ll have to pass through waterways that reach up to our thighs.”
Water would soak their clothes and slow their advance.
The worst possible obstacle awaited them.
“If we prepare traps using Ice Magic and Lightning Magic...”
“What if we use an Illusion Barrier?”
The Imperial strategists offered one proposal after another.
None of them seemed particularly promising.
“Tch.
Don’t you realize this will never work?”
Ryuhei clicked his tongue as he interrupted them.
His eyes gleamed with murderous intent.
“You have to abandon what needs to be abandoned.”
The most important thing in the world was life.
Money came second.
A heavy silence settled over the room.
No one voiced it aloud.
But everyone agreed.
At this rate...
Their chances of survival were slim.
Total annihilation.
Or allowing at least some people to survive.
A choice had to be made.
“What exactly are you proposing?”
“The people who still have plenty of stamina and can move quickly should skip the fourth floor entirely and head straight for the fifth. That way, they won’t have to pass through the waterways. Meanwhile, those heading toward the Safe Zone on the fourth floor will serve as bait... buying us several times more time.”
He was right.
If everyone headed directly to the fifth floor...
Behemoth would catch them on the way.
But if someone stayed behind on the fourth floor to buy time...
The others could reach the fifth floor through the shortest possible route.
Most importantly...
The bait heading for the fourth-floor Safe Zone would believe they were making the best decision for their own survival.
Faithfully carrying out their role.
Sacrificing themselves for the greater good.
As a strategy...
It deserved ninety-three points out of a hundred.
‘It’s exactly the kind of efficiency-obsessed plan I’d expect from him... but he overlooked the most important thing.’
Robert was a proud knight of the Imperial Central Army.
Would a knight personally invested by the Empire really choose such a path?
Probably not.
Most likely, he would refuse.
And yet—
“Very well.
We’ll proceed with that plan.”
Robert accepted Ryuhei’s proposal.
“Hahaha! A wise decision. As expected, you understand what truly matters.”
Ryuhei laughed in satisfaction.
Until Robert continued speaking.
“However, I’ll be the one serving as bait at the Safe Zone on the fourth floor.”
“What...?”
Disbelief spread across Ryuhei’s face.
“Sir Robert.”
“You can’t possibly...”
Everyone attending the meeting reacted the same way.
“As the supreme commander of this expedition, I possess the authority to send individuals into deadly situations for the sake of the mission. I can decide who lives and who dies.”
He spoke calmly.
About what it truly meant to be a commander.
“But if I myself lack the resolve to walk into certain death... then who would ever follow my orders?”
True authority did not come from rank.
It came from the absence of hypocrisy.
Only when everyone willingly chose to follow...
Could a commander truly fulfill the role of commander.
“Sir Robert! I’ll go instead!”
“You cannot take such a risk yourself! You must head to the fifth floor!”
The strategists immediately tried to stop him.
However...
Robert had already made his decision.
“If I don’t go myself, someone may begin to doubt. But if I lead from the front... everyone will continue fighting until the very end.”
Yeah.
Just as expected.
Kang Yohan had hoped that, just this once, Robert would simply follow Ryuhei’s proposal and head to the fifth floor.
At this rate...
He might have to make a truly insane choice.
Fifteen minutes later.
The expedition split into two groups.
Assault Unit: Consisting mostly of the strongest members, supposedly organized to hold Behemoth back.
In reality, however...
They would head straight to the fifth floor.
Fourth Floor Safe Zone Group: Consisting of porters, ordinary soldiers, and the weaker Hunters, making up roughly eighty percent of the expedition.
As discussed during the meeting...
They were the true bait.
Kang Yohan stood before his companions.
He had already explained the contents of the meeting to them.
“You all head directly to the fifth floor.”
There was no reason for everyone to take the dangerous path together.
Only one person needed to accompany Robert.
“What are you saying? Are you telling a Noble of the Night to choose the coward’s path?”
Without the slightest hesitation, Scarlett stepped beside Kang Yohan.
“Kuhahaha! Mighty Warrior! Trying to have all the fun by yourself? Not a chance!”
“My brother is right. We stayed together until the very end even in that damned amusement park. This time will be no different.”
He had wondered this for a long time.
Calling someone by their surname followed by their profession...
Sure, he could understand that.
But why did they keep calling a mage a warrior?
He’d have to ask once they got out of here.
“A story cannot exist without its protagonist. Besides, I can’t afford to lose such a brilliant supporting character.”
Seo Changhee blurted out another unbearably cringeworthy line without the slightest filter.
Kang Yohan had assumed he would never choose the option with the lower survival rate.
This...
Was unexpected.
Maybe he should tease him a little less from now on.
“You know?
Evelyn will help too!”
Like a buy-one-get-one deal, Evelyn stood beside Seo Changhee.
“Hahaha... Well then, I guess I’ll just quietly slip away... Yeah. That’s not happening, is it? Definitely not.”
Of course not.
No matter who else might be spared...
Park Yeri, the owner of the Rabbit Foot, was the sole exception.
“Haah... I really feel like I’m being sold off to debt collectors...”
The blacksmith Faden Rigger sighed in complete resignation.
In the end...
Everyone boarded the same ship.
Even though they had an easier path available...
They still chose to walk willingly toward certain death together.
If that was how it was going to be...
Then let’s survive.
Because...
He had started to genuinely like this group.