TLed by NolepGuy
Chapter 71
The leader of Pendalord, akin to the darkness of the Demonic Bastion, Pendal.
He was currently passing through the 7th floor of the Demonic Bastion.
By his side were the team members who had been guiding Pendalord alongside him all this time.
One was a White Mage, another a Scout, and there was also one close-combat fighter and two Mages.
As members handpicked by Pendal, their skills were among the most outstanding within the Demonic Bastion.
“Leader.”
At that moment, a woman with dark red hair, a Mage, adjusted her robe and called out to Pendal.
Her voluptuous figure, accentuated by the tight-fitting clothes, drew the attention of men, yet the fabric was made from the Red Spider’s Thread, a precious material found only in the Demonic Bastion.
Just seeing that was enough to speak volumes about her skill and wealth.
With an anxious expression, she called out to Pendal.
“…I respect your determination to challenge Nakcheon again, but are you really okay with this?”
When she asked cautiously, Pendal continued walking silently.
To those living in the Demonic Bastion, Nakcheon was a lifelong barrier.
Even after the legendary team, Black Lion, to which Nakcheon belonged, disbanded, Nakcheon still guarded the 8th floor as a ghost.
How many raiders had been brutally smashed in front of that monster?
Pendal’s decision to challenge Nakcheon this time was driven by sheer stubbornness.
After seeing the direct lines of Lakradiyon and Balheim, his competitive spirit was further ignited.
“If you have a problem with that, you can go back.”
When Pendal snapped at them, the woman who had voiced her opinion sighed.
The other team members felt the same way.
“We wouldn’t leave you behind.”
“If we lose Pendal in the Demonic Bastion, how could we ever call ourselves part of Pendalord?”
They all expressed their resolve not to abandon him.
Pendal looked at them silently before turning his head away.
“Useless bunch.”
Pendal said this and focused on what lay ahead.
Having taken the lead and used a shortcut, Pendal was reaching the 8th floor much faster than Kraush and Lakradiyon.
‘If that’s the case.’
He would be the first to challenge Nakcheon.
Instead of the usual hook sword he carried at his waist, he now held a long sword, which he slowly drew.
In the past, the team Icarus, which included Lakradiyon and Pendal.
This was the Jade Heaven sword used by Kairan, who was the leader of the Icarus team.
Though it didn’t compare to the Rain Thunder Prime, it was still worthy of being called a renowned sword.
Although Kairan, the team leader, had fallen before Nakcheon and met a different fate,
This time would be different.
Because he would carry on Kairan’s will to conquer the entire Demonic Bastion.
“It’s Pendalord who will defeat Nakcheon.”
Therefore, Pendal conveyed this to those following him.
As his team members looked into Pendal’s eyes, shining brightly with determination, they soon broke into bright smiles.
“Don’t say the obvious.”
“We’re the kings of the Demonic Bastion!”
Seeing them rejoice, Pendal took a deep breath and exhaled.
Unlike Lakradiyon, who stubbornly swung his sword at the wall, Pendal turned away from it.
Instead, he looked back at those behind him.
The raiders who continued to enter the Demonic Bastion even after the failure of team Icarus.
If Lakradiyon kept swinging his sword at the wall,
Pendal pulled those behind him along.
‘I know I can’t overcome the wall alone.’
So, Pendal chose to climb that wall with others.
On the day he fell to Nakcheon, Pendal was clearly moving forward in a different way.
This was something Kraush was completely unaware of.
That was understandable since Kraush would only encounter Pendal much later.
After Lakradiyon eventually collapsed in front of the wall, and Pendal, who had spent a year trying to persuade Lakradiyon, also fell.
That’s what happened afterward.
Darkness exists because there is light.
“…Did you do it secretly?”
At that moment, another Mage, a middle-aged man following Pendal, asked a swordsman behind them.
The middle-aged man was none other than Soldrik, the vice-captain of Pendalord.
The swordsman nodded slowly in response to Soldrik’s question.
“Yes, I’ve given orders to the kids. To make sure the direct lines of Lakradiyon and Balheim never reach the 8th floor.”
“Well done.”
Soldrik quietly held his breath.
He didn’t mind being called cowardly.
All he had to do was declare later that it was his own doing.
But at least during the time Pendalord challenged Nakcheon, he wouldn’t let anyone interfere.
For the sake of their leader, Pendal, who had worked hard for this moment.
* * *
7th floor, Mechanical Labyrinth.
Surrounded entirely by gears and mechanical walls, it was truly a place that fit the name ‘labyrinth’.
Not to mention the numerous traps and mechanical monsters that suddenly appeared, and sometimes the walls of the labyrinth would change positions at random, hindering the way.
The goal of the 7th floor was to escape this Mechanical Labyrinth.
Escaping this place relied purely on luck or exceptional observational skills.
Therefore, this was a place where the role of a Scout was most crucial.
Yet, in this place where the role of a Scout was so important, Kraush and Lakradiyon were currently facing a wall together.
Without the Scout Derrick and the White Mage Penichelri.
“…What will you do?”
What had happened just before.
It was a sudden event caused by a trap set by the Pendalord gang.
As soon as they entered the 7th floor and took a few steps, the Pendalord gang ambushed Kraush’s group.
Of course, there wasn’t much the Pendalord gang could do against Kraush and Lakradiyon.
These two, who hadn’t even been defeated by Pendal, quickly subdued the Pendalord gang.
But the problem arose there.
At that moment, the walls of the Mechanical Labyrinth started moving randomly, separating Derrick and Penichelri from the two of them.
“[Penichelri! Derrick!]”
Lakradiyon rushed to the wall, but it had already blocked their path.
Even Lakradiyon’s sword, imbued with an Aura Blade, couldn’t cut through the wall.
The wall regenerated faster than she could cut through it.
The Pendalord gang had clearly planned this, deliberately attacking at the moment the walls changed.
That wasn’t all.
The moment the wall separated them, mechanical weapon species suddenly attacked Kraush and Lakradiyon.
Because the mechanical monsters targeted only the two of them, the Pendalord gang members who remained near the wall on Kraush’s side immediately fled the scene.
Since a direct confrontation was meaningless, they cleverly used their knowledge of the Demonic Bastion’s characteristics.
Lakradiyon stifled a groan.
Pendal often resorted to cowardly tactics.
He was closer to a villain than a hero.
Yet, Lakradiyon had always believed that his dedication to the Demonic Bastion was genuine.
But in the end, even in the Demonic Bastion, he had his subordinates perform cowardly acts.
Lakradiyon trembled with anger.
Even though she once considered him a comrade, he had ultimately changed.
“…Mr. Kraush, I’m sorry.”
On the other hand, Kraush’s expression remained consistent.
“It’s no surprise that a dog that was biting finally bit.”
Kraush was rather grateful that they had set a trap for him.
Pendal, whether in the past or now, had not changed much.
“So, how can we get through the 7th floor without a Scout?”
“If we keep going along the wall, we should be able to get there somehow.”
It would take a considerable amount of time, though.
Lakradiyon did not mention looking for Penichelri and Derrick.
The cycle at which the mechanical spring walls change is hard to predict unless one is determined to time it like Pendalord.
So, meeting those two again would certainly take a long time, even if they were determined to find them.
“So, you’re saying there’s no way for you, Lakradiyon.”
“Yes.”
Despite being a senior who had entered the Demonic Bastion first, Lakradiyon felt apologetic that she could do nothing.
After all, she was in charge of combat, not scouting.
“Then that’s settled. Just do me a favor instead.”
Kraush spoke as if it was nothing to worry about.
“If it’s a favor, then.”
“Carry me.”
Lakradiyon blinked in surprise.
Asking her to carry him out of the blue?
Although doubt flickered in her eyes, Kraush’s gaze was serious.
From the start, he had thought that they would set a trap on the 7th floor.
And as expected, it was not even a trap, but just as he had anticipated.
That’s why he had deliberately brought one Scout along.
To make the Pendalord gang believe that if they could just separate the Scout from us, everything would be solved.
“Don’t you trust me?”
“No.”
Without objection, she lowered her stance in front of him, showing her back.
The thin armor and shirt commonly worn by Raiders were visible between her hair.
Kraush climbed onto her back without a moment’s hesitation.
Kraush, now in his growth spurt, had grown quite tall.
However, he was not as tall as Lakradiyon, who was nearly the height of an average man, so she could easily carry him.
“What should I do now?”
“I’m going to concentrate now. Just follow my directions. It’s inconvenient for me to move alone while concentrating.”
“Understood.”
Lakradiyon diligently followed Kraush’s instructions.
Satisfied with her actions, Kraush slowly closed his eyes.
At the same time, what he awakened was none other than his Sixth Sense.
His Sixth Sense, much broader than before.
Today, he planned to expand his Sixth Sense beyond its limits.
Therefore, he needed high concentration.
And also, a mobile fortress to move him according to his instructions.
His Sixth Sense was akin to a spider web of Aura.
This web spread thinly through the air, passing through even the tiniest gaps in the densely packed walls, continuing to extend.
As his Sixth Sense spread wider and wider, a map-like image of this vast labyrinth began to form in Kraush’s mind.
His heightened concentration expanded his senses, forcibly drawing all information into Kraush’s mind.
Of course, the more he extended his Sixth Sense, the more Kraush felt a throbbing pain in his head.
But it was a pain he could endure.
“Run 500 meters straight ahead, then turn right.”
At that moment, Kraush’s instructions continued.
Lakradiyon, following his instructions, began to run without hesitation.
“At the next intersection, turn left.”
As Lakradiyon ran, Kraush’s instructions came out like clockwork.
Gradually, Lakradiyon felt the surrounding scenery changing.
As they progressed correctly inward, the walls of the mechanical labyrinth gradually changed to a certain color.
From the original black to red.
Seeing the slight red tint gradually appearing confirmed they were indeed moving in the right direction.
Lakradiyon was impressed.
She had not expected Kraush to be this good at finding the way.
At this level, he was even better than Derrick as a Scout.
‘Just how many strange talents does he possess?’
Indeed, should it be called Balheim?
Or should it be attributed to his stubborn determination to steal even the basics from her?
In any case, it was clear that Kraush was no ordinary person.
“They’re coming after all.”
At that moment, hearing Kraush’s voice, she slightly furrowed her brows.
“If they’re coming, then perhaps.”
“Yes, it’s the Pendalord gang.”
Was it because Kraush and Lakradiyon were finding the way too quickly?
The surprised Pendalord gang began to rush towards Kraush, aiming to intercept him.
At this rate, contrary to their expectations, Kraush and Lakradiyon would soon reach the 8th floor.
Knowing that it would be over if the two reached the 8th floor, they chose to engage in a physical confrontation.
“Should I call them foolish? Or should I say they care about their leaders that much?”
Before she knew it, Kraush had opened his eyes and dismounted from her back.
At that moment, his drawn sword was already in his hand.
“They’ll pay dearly for it.”
At that moment, Kraush threw his sword without hesitation.
The sword, thrown swiftly, emitted a black light and embedded itself deeply into the chest of a figure about to emerge from around the corner.
“Ugh?!”
In the instant of the surprise attack, as the man was caught off guard, Kraush leaped from Lakradiyon’s back and landed on the ground.
Then, the Dark Sword he had thrown earlier returned to his hand.
“Jegg was hit!”
While someone hurriedly poured a potion on the man struck by Kraush’s sword, Kraush was already on the move.
Seeing this, three members of the Pendalord gang with shields rushed forward.
Kraush looked at them and let out an incredulous breath.
“Who are you sending out as fodder?”
Shields might have a purpose when dealing with weapons.
But to use shield bearers against people?
Although it was absurd for a moment, the barrier of shields was quite high.
Then, from behind, the sound of Mages chanting while sprinkling reagents on the ground to form a Magic Circle could be heard.
They were really approaching them as if they were tackling a weaponized enemy.
‘If that’s the kind of battle they want.’
A faint smoke began to rise from Kraush’s mouth.
It was the trace of Annihilation Erosion activated as Ignis began to burn the power of World Erosion.
At that moment, Kraush’s body shot forward in a straight line.
Black Flame now enveloped his sword, blazing brilliantly, and his muscles swelled fiercely.
‘Then I’ll give it to them.’
Boom!
Finally, Kraush collided with the shields.
The Aura surrounding the shields, boasted as Expert level, crumpled pathetically upon impact with Kraush, giving way to his path.
“Ugh!?”
“Argh?!”
In an instant, those wielding swords in front of Kraush, who had broken through the shields, swung their weapons hastily.
However, Kraush was faster than them.
He saw through all their attack paths and, as if performing acrobatics, deftly weaved through them.
Those who saw this had their eyes wide open in astonishment.
It was because his movements were nearly akin to a skill.
“M-Monster.”
By the time someone muttered this, Kraush had already reached the mages.
Then, before their magic circles could even glow, he plunged his Dark Sword into them.
Whoosh!
At that moment, the flames emanating from the Dark Sword burned up all the reagents of the magic circles.
In the sudden turn of events, the mages tried to cancel their incantations and quickly escape, but Kraush’s hands and feet were quicker.
He kicked one mage away and grabbed another by the head, slamming him onto the ground.
Having subdued both mages from the gang in an instant, Kraush slowly rose to his feet, leaving the mage trembling on the ground.
His eyes, reddened by Annihilation Erosion, slowly illuminated the dark labyrinth.
Seeing this, the entire Pendalord gang froze in place.
Having witnessed him demolish an entire team in an instant, all the veterans of the Demonic Bastion were overwhelmed.
And that too, by a boy who was only 14 years old this year.
“Do you want to fight more?”
When Kraush asked, all of their bodies flinched.
Their faces showed complete loss of fighting spirit.