Chapter 105 : Behemoth (4)
Chapter 105: Behemoth (4)
How would people react when confronted with unavoidable death?
“H-Hic...”
Some fainted.
Some wet themselves.
“It’s... impossible now.
I can’t go on anymore.”
Some simply gave up.
“Haha.
When I wake up tomorrow morning...
I’ll have warm soup and bread first.
I’m not going anywhere today.
I’m just going to rest.”
Others denied reality.
And then...
“Go get every spare potion the Empire still has left.
Scrolls too...
And every consumable we can still use.”
There were those who continued searching for another path until their very last breath.
Those who searched for even the slightest possibility while everyone else had already given up.
Thud!
Kang Yohan climbed down from Rodbrock’s back.
He hadn't recovered completely.
Still...
Thanks to the True Ancestor trait, his condition had improved to a level incomparable to that of an ordinary person.
‘A prolonged battle is impossible.’
Throb!
A sharp pain shot through his heart.
He had certainly overexerted himself by repeatedly unleashing high mana-consumption spells.
Just then—
The soldiers positioned on the flank became enveloped in black smoke.
Their bodies slowly rose into the air.
Crunch!
Crack!
Armor and flesh blended together inside the darkness.
Blood poured down like a waterfall through chunks of mangled flesh.
That damned bastard.
After devouring so much already...
Was it still hungry?
‘This group isn't enough.’
Scarlett, who shared the responsibility for dealing damage, was on the verge of collapse.
Lagerseh had long since been taken out.
Seo Changhee was relatively unharmed.
But with only two Dealers...
Breaking through that monster and reaching the Safe Zone was impossible.
At minimum...
They needed ten more Dealers and Tankers possessing at least the rank of the Second Moon.
Having Mages or Priests would make things even better.
But...
Was that even possible?
In such an exhausted state...
There was no way anyone capable of standing before Behemoth once more could still remain—
BOOM!
“Aaaagh!”
“Uwaaah!”
Even now, the Hunters suffered another devastating loss.
Those swallowed by the black clouds evaporated without leaving even a trace behind.
Then—
“As expected...
You intend to do something.”
Robert approached together with his closest aides.
“My name is Veman Sherfon.
I'm a battlefield mage of the Empire's Third Mage Corps.”
“I'm Roan Kylant.
A knight of the White Rose Knights.”
“My name is Michelle Beatrice.
I'm a Priestess who serves God.”
Two Mages.
One Priestess.
And seven Knights.
Their numbers were small.
However...
Every one of them possessed a rank above the Second Moon.
The battlefield mage even held the rank of the Third Moon.
“The Safe Zone is exactly thirty meters away.
We don't need to defeat it.
Just one minute.
If we can buy that much time, everyone can reach the Safe Zone.”
“Do you already have a plan?”
“The chains.
They're the only weakness restricting its movements.
If we can immobilize it...
I'll aim for the gaps in the chains around its neck.
If we use Holy Power...
There's a chance.”
After hearing Kang Yohan’s explanation, Robert smiled faintly.
Every second was precious.
He seemed relieved that this hadn't been a wasted effort.
“Everyone is terrified.
Naturally.
Even if I ordered them to charge such a monster...
Who could possibly obey willingly?”
If the enemy was one that could actually be defeated...
Then courage could be inspired.
However...
Against a natural disaster...
No speech held any meaning.
In that case...
Only those capable of doing so should fight.
Those capable of overcoming fear and advancing forward.
“With the magic I possess...
I believe I can hold its attention for about three seconds.”
Sherfon spoke first.
“During that time...
We'll surround it and divide its attention.”
The knights tightened their grips on their shields.
“Then...
The final step will be up to you.”
Beatrice looked toward Kang Yohan.
[Sacred Flame.]
A divine authority that invoked God's blessing.
Against Dark-attribute Demonic Beasts like Behemoth...
Holy Power was the most effective force available.
However...
The knights serving as distractions...
Would die.
Behemoth possessed several instant-kill attacks.
Including [Shockwave].
At least half of them.
Perhaps all of them...
Would never return.
A breakthrough that sacrificed their strongest combatants.
A truly insane plan.
Yet everyone understood.
This was both the best...
And the only path available.
Once the strategy had been finalized...
The orders were issued.
After drinking the distributed potion, Kang Yohan stood before his companions.
Their side had also been assigned two people to serve as distractions.
“I won't tell you it'll be okay.
It's going to be extremely dangerous.”
“……”
The warrior who normally laughed with booming “Kuhahaha!”s remained silent.
Rodbrock merely looked at Kang Yohan with calm, unwavering eyes.
He clearly had much he wanted to say.
Yet he swallowed every word.
“Everyone has their own role in battle.
Whatever happens...
I'll trust you and follow your lead.”
Then, speaking quietly...
He placed a hand on Kang Yohan's shoulder.
That hand felt unusually heavy.
And warm.
As though trying to leave one final trace upon his very soul.
“We begin!”
The spell signaling the start of the operation activated.
[Veman Sherfon activates his Unique Ability ‘Binding Winds’!]
Eleven support scrolls.
Combined with every last drop of mana within his body.
A Wind Spell.
Raging winds wrapped themselves around Behemoth's antlers.
[Behemoth's movements are restrained for 1.5 seconds!]
Not even half of the three seconds they had hoped for.
There was no time to complain.
Dash!
Boom!
Robert and everyone else kicked off the ground and surrounded Behemoth.
At that exact moment—
[Behemoth summons ‘Predator's Sword’!]
Clatter!
An arm wrapped in chains emerged from the abyss.
It wielded an enormous greatsword lined with vicious serrated teeth.
Craaack!
“Gaaaaah!”
A knight's armor was torn apart entirely.
Power beyond imagination.
A knight whose body could withstand a battering ram with his bare flesh...
Died in a single strike.
Then...
[Shockwave] activated.
BOOOOOOM!
Smoke instantly swallowed everything.
The surrounding area shook as though struck by an earthquake.
At this rate...
There was hardly any point in dividing its attention.
Hummmm!
Kang Yohan gathered mana while anxiously watching for the perfect opportunity.
He needed an opening.
If he fired now...
The spell would accomplish nothing.
Boom!
Behemoth turned once more toward the expedition.
Seeking another feast.
“Not...
Not yet.
I'm...
Still here.”
Roan Kylant.
The knight of the White Rose Knights stepped forward in place of his fallen comrades.
His arm had been shattered by the impact.
Even so...
That wasn't a reason to abandon his duty.
BOOM!
One strike.
As flames erupted beneath his feet...
The knight's voice disappeared.
Damn it.
This felt awful.
He had only known him for a short while.
Yet something inside his chest still ached.
Even so...
He forced his heart to become cold.
His mind had to remain calm.
A decision driven by emotion would only lead to greater regret.
Just then—
Rodbrock, who had been holding the flank...
Staggered to his feet within the aftermath of Shockwave.
As expected...
His condition was terrible.
The wound in his side, which had only barely been sealed...
Had reopened.
Thick streams of blood continued pouring out.
“To die...
On the battlefield...
At the hands of a mighty opponent...
Is the greatest honor.”
He dipped his fingertips into the blood flowing from his side.
Then drew diagonal lines across his own face.
Five vivid crimson streaks began blazing brilliantly.
[Special Skill ‘Warrior's Oath’ has been activated!]
“And if that end comes while protecting one's comrades...
Then may the most glorious seat in Valhalla be granted unto you!”
Crackle!
Surging mana.
Thump!
A pounding heart.
The great warrior roared.
Not for anyone else.
But to protect his own pride.
[Those who revere Valhalla gaze upon the battle of the great warrior.]
A great power that had merely observed without intervening in the Episode.
The blessing of Asgard descended through the darkness.
[Unique Ability ‘Call of the Storm’ has been activated!]
What appeared...
Were translucent heroic spirits.
Viking warriors carrying shields surrounded Rodbrock all at once.
Their sturdy shields crackled with lightning.
Standing against the darkness.
“KROOOOOOAR!”
Behemoth's sword surged forward like a raging tempest.
BOOOOM!
A horrifying impact slammed into the shields.
Crack!
They were being pushed back.
No matter how much they risked their lives...
They couldn't withstand an attack from a being whose rank surpassed theirs by such an overwhelming margin.
Behemoth's sword shattered the shields.
Cut down the heroic spirits.
And continued advancing toward Rodbrock.
Eight.
Seven.
Five...
Three.
Now...
Only Rodbrock remained.
The serrated blade was right before his face.
At that moment—
Another person stepped forward to share the burden of the Predator's Greatsword.
“I'll stand with you.”
Seo Changhee eased Rodbrock's burden.
[Seo Changhee activates his Unique Ability ‘Equivalent Exchange with the World’!]
An ability manifested through Words of Power.
“Life is a journey where predictable moments gather together to create an unpredictable story.”
The words written inside his Book of Famous Quotes were unbearably cringeworthy.
Embarrassing.
Almost impossible to say aloud.
Naturally.
Who in their right mind would fight while saying things like that?
That was why...
It was an ‘Equivalent Exchange’ with the World.
The price paid by the noblest and most revered existence...
By casting aside his own dignity.
“Fear not.
For you do not walk through the darkness alone.”
At first...
He had wondered whether this method was truly right.
Whether becoming stronger at such a cost was truly acceptable.
But before long...
He realized the truth.
Spirituality was light meant for the world.
An ability that burned oneself to save everyone else...
Created solely for the ‘Protagonist.’
Yes.
There was no need to fear.
No reason to feel ashamed.
Because...
He wasn't the only one walking through this hellish Episode.
[Blessing of the Expedition has been activated!]
[For each companion fighting together, Physical Defense and Magic Defense each increase by +5!]
They stood against it.
Even if...
The enemy before them was one they could never overcome.
“Just...
A little longer...”
Beatrice poured Holy Power to its very limit.
Healing Rodbrock and Seo Changhee.
Her pupils lost focus.
Thin streams of blood trickled from her nose.
At that exact moment—
Clang!
Behemoth's sword completely stopped.
A fleeting balance...
That could only be called a miracle.
Now.
This was it.
＊
[The trait ‘Sacred Flame’ has been imbued into the Intermediate Spell ‘Ice Explosion Spear’!]
Kang Yohan fired the spear he had prepared.
BOOOOM!
The spear shot forward at tremendous speed.
Heading directly toward the chains around Behemoth's neck.
If it could pass through three chain links...
And embed itself into the wall...
It would be possible to suppress both Behemoth's movement and mana for approximately one minute.
However—
[Behemoth activates ‘Barrier of Cataclysm’.]
Black smoke erupted around Behemoth.
Completely melting the Ice Explosion Spear.
A defensive ability equivalent to the highest grade of magic.
Its only flaw...
Was its slightly slow reaction speed.
“Damn it.”
Kang Yohan cursed.
Unless he could double the speed of the Ice Explosion Spear...
Repeating the attack would only produce the same result.
It was a painful reminder of just how absurd beings of higher ranks truly were.
“Ghh!”
“Gaaaaah!”
Seo Changhee and Rodbrock's shouts became even fiercer.
Cries bordering on death throes.
There was truly no time left.
Just then—
“Sir... Yohan.”
Scarlett stood beside him.
Her face completely drained of color.
“I told you to rest.
Why are you...”
“Everyone else is still fighting...
How could I?
Besides...
If this really is the end...
Then I wanted... to be with everyone until the very last moment.”
Scarlett released her Blood Threads.
The mana was so weak that it was impossible to imagine the proud young lady of the Juliard Family she once had been.
Hummmm!
That was when their blood began resonating.
This...
Could it be—
Kang Yohan's pupils shook violently.
Because he knew exactly what was happening.
‘Linked Ability.’
A combined technique that could only be used after mutual understanding and trust reached a certain level.
One of the missing puzzle pieces necessary to clear the later parts of the Episode that had always ended in failure.
A fragment...
That could never be achieved alone.
“Sir Yohan?
Something feels strange.
My senses...
Everything feels different.”
Scarlett murmured absentmindedly.
“Don't panic.
Just follow the flow.
I'll handle the control.”
Kang Yohan gathered Scarlett's mana together with his own.
[Resonance]
Carefully...
He connected them.
Two streams of mana.
Born from completely different lives.
[Connection]
The turbulent mana now flowed through a single circuit.
A realm attainable only by those who trusted each other from the depths of their hearts.
[Manifestation]....
It appeared.
It materialized.
……[Kang Yohan & Scarlett activate the Linked Ability ‘Crescent Moon Archer’!]
It was the prelude...
To an entirely new realm.
Crackle!
Scarlett's Blood Threads transformed into a bow and bowstring.
And resting at its center...
Was the Ice Explosion Spear created by Kang Yohan.