192
As Ray continued to inspect the abandoned laboratory, his expression grew increasingly grim.
Even setting aside the question of why such a large structure had been left to ruin, there was an unsettling mystery about it all. Ray and the Knight Order had entered this place under the assumption that it would either be completely empty or house a critical facility for Devil Worshippers.
If they were operating out of an active facility, even if their infiltration was discovered, a small group could still carry out the mission due to the enemy’s own infrastructure acting as a shield. Especially considering how difficult it was for Devil Worshippers to secure resources, it was calculated that they would be extremely cautious about destroying their own facilities.
However, everything here appeared completely abandoned.
In this situation, encountering the main enemy force would leave them exposed with no cover – essentially walking into the jaws of death.
This threw off their initial strategy entirely. While Ray hadn’t expected things to go smoothly, the reality was worse than anticipated.
‘The real worst-case scenario we’re facing now is…’
“Gr-r-rk!”
The cry of a demon broke the silence.
Everyone froze momentarily.
A shadow resembling a beast emerged from within the laboratory building. And it wasn’t just one or two.
First came Wildboars, their intestines dragging along the ground, looking similar to the demons Ray had encountered in the forest. The concealment artifacts designed to block visual detection were ineffective against these creatures with heightened senses.
There was no option but to eliminate them.
Ray flexed his fingers, signaling caution since the demons might explode upon death. Gilland nodded, making a cutting motion across his throat.
Knights drew their swords sharply as various demons poured into the lab – mostly medium to small-sized ones like Wildboars, Sharpnails, and Giant Mice.
“Kiieek!!!”
A Giant Mouse lunged toward Gilland. At that moment, Ray froze the ground beneath it, causing the creature to slip sideways. Its entrails spilled out as it tried to regain balance, but Gilland’s sword was faster.
Chop!!
The severed head of the Giant Mouse rolled across the floor, yet there was no explosion.
Meanwhile, Leonie leaped into the air, spun gracefully, and drove her sword into the neck of a Wildboar. The injured beast thrashed silently before spewing blood.
Just as Leonie relaxed slightly, the Wildboar’s back swelled grotesquely, and chunks of its intestines shot out toward her.
“…!”
Leonie dodged quickly, allowing Lukov to sever the protruding organs and deliver a final blow to the already weakened Wildboar.
Chop!! Slash!!
The battle was eerily silent except for the beasts’ cries. Everyone moved with precision in silence, aiming for the demons’ throats to prevent any screams.
Paladins and Templars restrained their divine powers, which would have been most effective against demons, holding onto a slim hope that these creatures had merely stumbled upon their scent by chance.
With low odds, everyone swung their swords, hoping to quietly dispose of the demons and avoid revealing their presence.
Crack!!
The fight was one-sided. There were over twenty elite knights, and Ray, who understood “the art of knight combat” better than anyone, skillfully used magic at key moments to significantly reduce the difficulty of the battle. Luna also performed admirably, almost matching Ray’s effectiveness.
Soon, all the demons were subdued without major explosions.
Relieved that the demons hadn’t burst apart violently, Ray thought they’d gotten lucky when suddenly…
Gilland grabbed Leonie and rolled backward.
Boom!!!
Something filled with heat bombarded the lab. It was clearly magic.
Part of the ceiling collapsed, and simultaneously, the scattered demon entrails began to swell alarmingly.
Both Ray and Gilland shouted simultaneously.
“Raise shields!!!”
BOOOOM!!!
Within the barrier Luna erected, Ray clenched his teeth in frustration. They had anticipated an enemy attack since entering, but they hadn’t expected someone to casually demolish an underground city building.
“They really don’t have any regrets…”
He had assumed they’d be more cautious survivors, but their actions were surprisingly ruthless.
Regardless, they needed to eliminate whoever had bombed the building immediately.
Ray and Gilland burst out, shattering stone debris as they charged forward. Among the mass of demons surrounding them stood several Dark Wizards cloaked in black robes on rooftops further away.
As soon as eyes met, both Ray and Gilland kicked off the ground.
Demons surged toward them, but the remaining knights swiftly countered with bursts of Sword Aura, striking vital points.
“Kiiieeeek!!!”
Hearing the demon’s scream, Ray unsheathed a blade from his staff.
The Dark Wizard attempted to retreat, wary of Ray and Gilland, but made a fatal mistake. A fireball launched by Luna, concealed by a stealth ward, had already reached above the wizard’s head.
BOOOM!!!
Engulfed in flames, the Dark Wizard gasped before hastily manifesting a magic circle to counter Ray and Gilland, who had closed the distance.
Ray slammed his foot into the ground, activating his Core and Circle simultaneously. An eerie cold current erupted, distorting space and cracking the wizard’s magic circle.
Taking advantage of the brief opening, Gilland struck swiftly.
CRUNCH!!!
Gilland’s sword pierced the Dark Wizard’s heart. The impact tore away the robe, revealing not a living person but a moving corpse – its skin rotten, its eyes lifeless.
Though unclear what trickery the Devil Worshippers had employed, it was evident there was another “main body.”
The corpse puppet swelled unnaturally.
BOOM!!!
Gilland slid back, scraping his sword against the ground after taking a direct hit from the explosion. He quickly regained his balance, showing no visible injuries.
Gilland, a renowned captain leading one of the royal knight units, possessed exceptional martial prowess fitting his title. Thus, Ray was more surprised that Gilland hadn’t cursed after surviving the corpse bomb.
Gripping his staff like a sword, Ray muttered.
“Where are you hiding while using these dummy Dark Wizards?”
Luna found the answer.
Tracing the mana flow from the exploded corpse puppet, she extended her hand, manifesting a magic circle that compressed intense heat into a single point.
SCREEECH!!!
A superheated thermal beam melted through building walls effortlessly, striking its target.
The Dark Wizard, confident in his hiding spot, hurriedly spread his robe to protect himself as the area around him was instantly consumed by heat.
The thermal beam tore through the robe in multiple directions, igniting fires everywhere.
WHOOSH!!
Flames licked the ground following the path of the thermal beam.
Amidst the blazing air, Luna spoke briefly.
“Capture him.”
No longer needing concealment, the knights and templars finished off the remaining demons and rushed toward the Dark Wizard.
Realizing his arm had turned bright red from the heat penetrating his robe, the Dark Wizard chuckled nervously.
“You high-ranking mages are even more impressive than imagined.”
The knights showed no mercy for the Dark Wizard attempting to feign calmness.
Knights in the rear simultaneously unleashed Sword Energy.
The storm of sword energies slicing through the air obliterated the area where the Dark Wizard stood.
Amidst the deafening sound, the Dark Wizard narrowly evaded by leaping backward.
However, the knights had already surrounded him.
Members of the Silver Cross Knight Order knew they weren’t dealing with just the lone Dark Wizard before them, so they moved even faster to end his life.
As weapons approached from all sides, the Dark Wizard stomped the ground.
Suddenly, the earth sank, and black liquid gushed upward.
From beneath the black liquid, which didn’t reflect any shadows, bony claw-like forms emerged.
Two templars twisted divine power into chains and fired them at the claws before they fully unfurled.
The holy light-infused chains delayed the claws’ expansion briefly.
Undeterred, members of the Silver Cross Knight Order fearlessly charged in, embedding their swords forcefully into the black claws and twisting.
Crunch-!
The crushed black claws convulsed before collapsing.
Inside his robe, the Dark Wizard smirked.
What could they possibly achieve by focusing so much effort on just one claw?
Depraved spells etched beneath the tar-like black pool surged upward repeatedly.
Before these numerous spells could emerge above the pool, Ray stepped onto it.
The frost emanating from his Core and Circle froze the black pool instantly.
The Dark Wizard, mid-gesture with his hands raised for spellcasting, stared at Ray’s pale glowing eyes and murmured.
“What kind of magic is this…”
The Dark Wizard failed to realize that the phenomenon Ray created stemmed entirely from the unique properties of his Core.
His bewilderment didn’t last long.
Gilland, positioned behind, slashed downward with a Sword Energy technique.
Crrrrack-!
The layered defensive magic woven into the robe split apart.
As the Dark Wizard’s smile faded and he attempted to retreat, Sorel, another member of the Silver Cross Knight Order, seized his opportunity.
Despite knowing the Dark Wizard was concentrating mana to prepare an offensive spell, Sorel thrust his sword forward without hesitation.
The situation wasn’t favorable.
They had to take the opponent’s life, even at the cost of injury.
Just as Sorel’s sword advanced resolutely, an overwhelming aura appeared beside him.
Simultaneously, Luna deployed a barrier to Sorel’s right.
Cr-r-r-rack!
Luna’s barrier shattered under the pressure.
A grotesquely distorted humanoid creature with entirely crimson eyes smashed through the barrier, crumpled Sorel’s shield, and sent him flying sideways.
Phfft-!
Struck in the face, Sorel crashed into a nearby building, which groaned and partially collapsed as he tumbled to the ground.
Thanks to Luna’s barrier, Sorel survived, though his injuries were severe.
Ray turned his head to look at the mara that had attacked Sorel.
The mara stretched its gums into a bizarre grin as it faced the Dark Wizard.
“So eager to step forward, yet so inadequate.”
The Dark Wizard clicked his tongue disdainfully at the mara, whose abnormally large arms hung limply.
Ray snorted upon seeing this scene.
He sensed other unseen eyes observing the battlefield.
Yet, they kept sending individuals one by one to test them, snickering amongst themselves.
“These bastards are playing with us.”
Possessing the confidence that they could kill them anytime…
Resolution (3)
