191
BOOM-!
Everyone boarded the lift with determination.
The platform, spacious enough to easily carry a hundred people, began descending into the underground as it sank.
No matter how well-built it was, this structure had been standing for nearly two thousand years.
It could collapse and plummet at any moment, and there were already signs of that happening.
However, none of those on the lift feared falling.
Even without being mages, everyone had the ability to explode mana and step through the air.
They were only worried about the unknown dangers waiting below.
Zzzt-!
While Luna prepared a barrier in case of emergencies,
Gilland asked Ray, “Do you have a way to track the mercenary you need to rescue?”
Even if there were no Devil Worshippers in the underground city, searching the entire place would take considerable time.
They couldn’t afford to stay long in an environment similar to the Demonic Realm to search the entire city.
Ray nodded his head. “If the mercenary is in there… I do have one method.”
“I see.”
After hesitating for a moment, Gilland lowered his voice so only Ray could hear.
“I know I’m not in a position to say this to you. But, I still must.”
“…?”
“If things go wrong, please look after the knights.”
“…Isn’t it too early to be pessimistic? There might be nothing inside after all…”
BOOM!
Before Ray could finish speaking, the lift stopped.
Chunks of rocks fell from above due to the sudden halt.
Despite the falling rocks, everyone kept their gaze forward.
Kuung! Drrrrdrrrdk!!
As the walls split open, the interior space was revealed.
It wasn’t an underground city but rather a narrow and dark space.
When a bit of light seeped into the dark chamber, twelve pairs of eyes suddenly gleamed.
What was unusual was that all twelve pairs of eyes were embedded in a single form.
Luna deployed a soundproof barrier around the confined space and then cast a Light spell.
As the area brightened, the horrifying appearance of the experiment subject was exposed.
Grooong-!
The experimental subject, resembling a lump of clay made of various demons, stood up with its massive body, revealing twelve pairs of eyes.
It had seven legs.
“Keueeeh…!!!”
The mouths protruding in all directions opened wide, dripping with acidic liquid.
Due to its terrifying appearance, even among the knights, a brief wave of unease spread momentarily.
At that moment, Gilland immediately drew his sword and charged at the Chimera.
Zzzztk!!
A Sword Energy manifested above Gilland’s sword, emitting a flash of light.
The blade of light capable of almost completely neutralizing most armors in existence swung towards the Chimera’s jaw.
Krrrrddddddd!!!
The uneven biological armor protecting the Chimera’s face was torn off entirely.
From the broken jaw of the Chimera, a substance presumed to be blood gushed out.
Ssssssk-!!
Upon contact with the blood, Gilland’s armor began to emit smoke.
Gilland shook off the liquid clinging to his armor and warned, “It’s corrosive.”
In response to Gilland’s warning, the knights tried to activate the defensive barriers of their armors.
However, Ray stopped them.
“The artifact power source isn’t permanent anyway, so don’t waste energy unnecessarily. I’ll make sure to block any splashes, so let’s quickly deal with it.”
The knights exchanged glances and nodded before moving closer to the Chimera.
Kagakgak!!!
Dozens of blades swiftly cut through the Chimera’s major joints within moments.
Every time the Chimera’s skin was sliced, Ray and Luna cast spells to freeze the wounds and stop the bleeding.
As the Chimera flailed, losing its balance, the knights wildly swung their swords.
Since it was impossible to determine where the vital organs were located amidst the chaotic mass of various demons, they had no choice but to stab randomly.
Sssssik-!!!
Soon, the Chimera began to dissolve itself, unable to withstand its own corrosive blood.
Judging by the result alone, it was an incredibly easy battle with no casualties.
However, no one cheered.
The Chimera was clearly an experimental subject created maliciously by Devil Worshippers.
The fact that it was wandering around the entrance to the underground city carried clear implications.
Beyond the doorway visible at the end of this narrow space…
a city infested by Devil Worshippers awaited the knight order.
Everyone held their breath and listened carefully to detect any movement or approach beyond the wall.
So far, there were no suspicious sounds from the other side.
Ray looked at the Chimera and called out to Luna.
“While we’ve got the barrier up, let’s check if Hophe can be detected here.”
Ray pulled out a twig from his bosom.
It wasn’t just any twig; it was a branch of the World Tree confiscated from Mineher, the elf who now crawls on all fours.
Before setting off for Alimo,
Ray had sought Luna’s advice on ways to track Ulte.
If there was a means to detect Ulte within a radius of 1-2 kilometers, it would undoubtedly be a great help.
And Luna did not disappoint Ray’s expectations.
The branch of the World Tree.
Within it resided mana originating from the World Tree.
Technically, it was more like a materialized fragment of the World Tree’s power, making it somewhat ambiguous to call it mana.
Regardless, it was certain that a similar substance resided within the ‘Genesis’ possessed by Ulte.
Even though Genesis was said to have lost its value due to being cursed, it was originally one of the primal roots bestowed by the World Tree.
Luna took the branch of the World Tree and concentrated her mind.
Having identified the unique mana within the branch, Luna amplified its vibrations and spread them widely.
Shwoosh-!
An invisible wave of mana spread out significantly.
As Ray waited for the results, he caught Gilland’s eye.
Ray smiled lightly and waved his hand.
“Even if we can’t detect the presence of the mercenary within the underground city, I’ll enter the city with you guys, so don’t worry.”
Using the unique mana of the World Tree to locate Ulte was theoretically possible.
The theory could be flawed, or Ulte might have had the Genesis stolen.
Regardless, Ray also needed to search within the underground city.
Then Luna opened her eyes.
The wave of mana she had just spread resonated with another ‘similar kind of mana’ and returned with a larger amplitude.
Luna turned to look at Ray.
“…I found him.”
“Good job.”
Ray smiled, expressing his joy.
Luna was truly performing beyond Ray’s expectations.
However, Luna slightly furrowed her brow.
By this method, Ulte’s exact location should have been pinpointed.
But as if the space was distorted, only a rough direction could be determined, not Ulte’s precise location.
After Luna explained the situation, Ray nodded.
“If we can only determine the general direction, that’s enough.”
Now they didn’t have to search the entire city.
When Ray signaled, Gilland tapped his left shoulder.
The Silver Cross Knight Order members and Holy Knights activated the concealment functions embedded in their armors.
Zzztz-!
Though these devices were certainly inferior in function compared to the artifacts used by the Empire’s special task force.
Fast movements caused the concealment to warp, easily revealing the figures.
However, even that much made it difficult to find the knights visually in the dark.
Although invisible to others, the knights could identify each other, giving them a tremendous strategic advantage.
Ray and Luna also cloaked themselves.
Gilland gave continuous hand signals and then opened the entrance leading into the city.
Drrrdk!!
Being an old facility, opening just one door produced considerable noise.
Everyone cautiously entered the underground city.
“…!!”
Everyone was astonished.
Massive towers in the center of the underground city, along with numerous sizable buildings, densely filled the underground city.
Between the structures of the city, bizarre organic tissues clung like membranes.
“…”
The interior of the underground city was silent.
Not even the cries of demons could be heard.
This silence was ominous, prompting some knights to carefully clench and unclench their fists.
They had to investigate.
They needed to see with their own eyes what exactly was happening in this city.
Gilland turned to look at Ray.
Ray pointed toward a direction slightly west of the city center.
The signal had returned from that direction due to resonance.
Gilland nodded and took the lead in that direction Ray had indicated.
The ground beneath their feet felt sticky.
With no knowledge of when, where, or what might suddenly appear, everyone was on high alert.
“…”
Continuing forward, they reached one of the largest buildings within this underground city.
Gilland gave a hand signal ordering a search of the building.
To understand what was happening in this city, they needed to examine a few buildings.
Ray also agreed and deployed a simple detection spell.
There were hardly any signs of living organisms inside.
Upon Ray’s signal, the knights led by Gilland entered the building first.
After entering the building, Ray followed and sighed briefly.
‘This is grotesque…’
Two thousand years ago, this facility was undoubtedly intended for a different purpose, but now it had been converted into a laboratory for horrific experiments.
How did they obtain the materials necessary for such modifications?
The answer wasn’t hard to guess.
“…”
Everyone fully recognized the severity of the situation.
Failed experimental subjects lay scattered throughout the lab.
Wyrms corpses, deformed to the point where their original forms were unrecognizable, hung decaying with their innards exposed.
Ray felt a strong sense of dissonance while observing them.
This lab had been abandoned.
Traces of cruel experiments remained intact, but everything was from the past.
‘This isn’t a trap… Even if it were a trap, there’d be no need to stage a perfectly functional lab as if it had been abandoned for years.’
That was quite peculiar.
The current building Ray was in was one of the largest among the structures in the underground city.
‘If the demon worshippers had enough spatial leeway to abandon a building this large…’
Considering it was an underground city, it was indeed quite expansive.
Still, no signs of life were detected in this underground city.
They expected a grand welcome upon entering, but there was nothing.
Each person experienced a similar type of unease while searching the interior of the lab.
The knights meticulously collected items that could serve as evidence.
Watching them from afar was a shadow.
“How adorable.”
The shadow chuckled.
Seeing them intrude fearlessly, tense and bunched together, stirred some sympathy.
“To finish them all at once… Would be a little disappointing.”
Among them, there might be someone who came looking for ‘that mercenary’.
Perhaps using them as bait could lure out the mercenary.
“Let’s try pushing them lightly, shall we?”
Evils lurking in the city began to stir.
*
Amidst the fragmented scenery,
Ulte was floating in the void.
Left as it was, he would slowly be torn apart in the gap between spaces.
It couldn’t be allowed.
Ulte had someone he had to save.
For that sole purpose, he continued his long journey.
Perhaps this journey could be called a flight instead.
Beside the crumbling her, Ulte couldn’t guarantee that he wouldn’t go insane.
Hence, he departed.
However, here, Ulte could uncover stories about the Demon Realm, the World Tree, and the essence of curses.
The fragments of miracles he had sought for so long were here.
Though he still needed countless miracles to save her, that’s why Ulte had to return to her.
He had to escape this place.
Woooom-!
Genesis resonated with something.
Ulte instinctively sensed that someone had entered this place to find him.
Was this a trap, or the only chance to escape?
Even if it was a trap, he had to turn it into an opportunity.
‘Demon worshippers could prevent anyone from escaping if they wanted to,’
since this was their stronghold.
No matter how powerful someone was, they could only die trying to break through the encirclement.
To escape this place,
Ulte knew he had to completely collapse it. When the demon worshippers grew complacent playing with the intruders, he had to strike decisively.
But.
Having confirmed the city seemingly abandoned like discarded trash, Ulte couldn’t help questioning himself.
Is the Forbidden Forest really…
‘Is this underground city the only one here?’
Resolution (2)
