Ch.307Warning from Technopolis

On the second night heading to Technopolis, no particular problems arose.

None of the children developed new fevers or body aches, the adults’ conditions remained relatively fine, and no outlaws appeared.

Then again, when we had thoroughly searched this area a month ago to find Technopolis, we hadn’t found any traces of outlaws either, so this was to be expected.

The next day, August 24th.

With only 35km left to Technopolis, we drove the carriages more leisurely than before.

Although we had only encountered Cruel Vultures twice, when we were about 10km away from our destination, we discovered an unsettling sight.

Colorful smoke was rising from a distant ridge in the direction we were heading.

“What’s that? That smoke.”

“Isn’t that coming from the direction of Technopolis?”

We halted our procession, handed binoculars to the dwarves, and asked about the smoke. The answer was immediately confirmed.

“Colored smoke… that’s a beacon signal that’s been used since the Grandorn era.”

“A beacon signal?”

“Orange, yellow, orange. This arrangement means ‘A threatening creature has established itself nearby. Turn back or approach with sufficient preparation.'”

Most of the dwarves of Grandorn Zwei seemed to be familiar with beacon signals, as they were murmuring with serious expressions while looking at the sky where the smoke was rising.

This meant that during the month we were away, a dangerous creature had settled near Table Mountain where the entrance to Technopolis was located, and the local standby team who discovered this fact was warning us through the beacon.

After all, it had already been arranged that we would revisit Technopolis with immigrants around this time.

“What do you think we should do?”

“The members we left in Technopolis know our capabilities. The fact that they still sent a warning means it’s either an exceptionally strong monster, or they’ve determined there’s a high possibility of harm to the immigrants coming with us.”

“We can’t risk casualties after coming this far. The safety of the immigrants is our top priority.”

As Seti said, our priority now is to safely bring the immigrants to Technopolis.

To do that, we have no choice but to eliminate the “threatening creature” lurking there by ourselves.

“…Let’s go to the cave with the carbonated water spring. It might be a bit cramped for 80 people, but not impossible. If we line up the carriages in front of the entrance and deploy barrier magic, we can secure immediate safety.”

“And then head to Technopolis to exterminate the monster?”

“Yes. The problem is that we should probably leave someone behind to guard the carbonated water cave…”

The most suitable would be either Seti or Phyllis, but both are essential forces in battles against strong enemies.

If we at least knew what kind of monster it was, we could decide whether to assign Ancestor to the vanguard instead of Seti…

While I was pondering this, Morgan approached and took something out from his chest.

“You needn’t worry about the dwarves. I’ve purchased several earth attribute enchantment magic scrolls in case we end up in an unavoidable battle with monsters. It shouldn’t be a problem to wait inside the cave entrance and take down any monsters that try to enter.”

“You have enchantment magic scrolls? That changes things.”

Having found an unexpected solution, we headed to the cave with the carbonated water spring, taking the dwarf immigrants with us.

We lined up twenty carriages in a row, deployed barrier magic scrolls at regular intervals, and connected four horses that were in good condition to the camping carriage.

We decided to leave Ancestor, transformed into human form, in charge of guarding the cave.

“Alright. We’ll quickly take down the monster and come back. If a monster attacks here, apply the enchantment magic to Ancestor’s gauntlets. Most creatures should go down in one hit.”

“Understood. Please be careful over there as well.”

After confirming that all the dwarves had entered the inner part of the cave, we set off in the carriage.

Despite connecting four horses, it somehow felt more strenuous than when Ancestor alone had pulled with the strength of eight horses.

“Hmm… I wonder if regular horses find it difficult because it’s a metal carriage?”

“They’re probably tired from coming all this way too. If necessary, we’ll have to activate the rough terrain mode.”

“Wouldn’t that startle the horses instead?”

Contrary to our concerns, the four horses pulled the carriage persistently, and when we were about halfway to our destination, the “threatening creature” that the Technopolis side had warned us about revealed itself.

“Master! Dozens of Cruel Vultures and… a hu-huge mutant Cruel Vulture on the fault cliff ahead!”

“A special individual… and it seems to have command abilities.”

When we were searching for Technopolis last time, we never saw any special Cruel Vulture individuals…

It must have either been born during the past month or moved here from somewhere else.

“Mina! Can you put the horses in the Stone House? It would be troublesome if they all died here.”

“No problem as long as I don’t have to put the carriage in too!”

“OK. Iris, take shelter in the carriage with Aquila! Once Mina puts the horses away, stick close to the carriage and reduce the number of small fry! Phyllis, launch a preemptive strike with Fireball or Shockwave Splasher, and Jessica, help gain the upper hand with a barrage from your Derringer!”

“Got it!”

Everyone’s actions were swift after the strategy was decided.

Iris recalled Aquila and took shelter in the cabin, while Mina confined the four horses in the Stone House, brought the luggage into the cabin, and prepared for battle.

Phyllis, Jessica, Mina, and I positioned ourselves in pairs on both sides of the camping carriage, ready to launch a preemptive attack.

Seti’s role was to protect Jessica and Mina, who were relatively vulnerable to defense.

“Fireball {Incandescent Grenade}!”

“Jessica! Use this mana for your Derringer!”

‘BANG-!’

A fireball flew toward the swarm of approaching Cruel Vultures, exploding with a loud noise, while the explosive magic bullet that left Mina’s large-caliber pistol, bound by fragments of mana circuit, was converted into an energy source for the Derringer.

‘Tatatatatatatata!’

Dozens of white magic bullets pouring from Jessica’s Derringer flew toward one of the groups of Cruel Vultures that had split to either side to avoid the fireball explosion.

Even though the accuracy might be somewhat low due to the distance, and a single shot might not have enough power to bring down a Cruel Vulture,

The extraordinary number of magic bullets overwhelms all those shortcomings.

‘Keeruruuru-!!’

Despite nearly 20 of their kind being shot down in an instant, the swarm of Cruel Vultures charged toward us without a moment’s hesitation.

The Cruel Vulture’s main weapon is its razor-sharp talons.

Their typical attack pattern is to quickly swoop by and inflict shallow but long wounds on their opponent’s skin, which is also the reason they’re called “Cruel” Vultures.

“Hyaah!”

‘Crash!’

But they can’t use that attack against us as we fight with our backs to the camping carriage.

No matter how much physical resistance a monster has, it can’t crash into a wall at full speed and then fly up again as if nothing happened.

Inevitably, the Cruel Vultures have to reduce their speed near us and maintain a hovering state while swinging their talons to tear at our flesh.

There are plenty of ways to deal with targets clustered in mid-air.

‘BANG!’

Mina’s large-caliber pistol with its shotgun barrel replaced.

The Milky Way in my left hand, pouring out a brilliant stream of stars.

For those who barely escape the bullet curtain and try to approach, Seti’s long spear and Phyllis’s Bayonet Phantasm fly in.

“Diamond Dust!”

As blue-glowing crystals of cold sweep through the surroundings, Cruel Vultures turned into frozen bird meat drop one after another.

Even if they didn’t die instantly, they wouldn’t have another chance to function in this battle.

“About 20 remain. It doesn’t seem to be a big problem.”

“Don’t let your guard down, Phyllis. The special individual hasn’t attacked yet.”

Despite more than two-thirds of its subordinates being annihilated in an instant, the noticeably larger special Cruel Vulture individual merely observed the situation from the highest position.

Does it plan to attack after we wipe out all the small fry?

Considering both the maximized aggression in a Cruel Vulture’s instincts and tactical advantages, the special individual’s choice is incomprehensible.

“Flame Lance!”

‘BANG!’

‘Bang! Bang! Bang! Bang!’

To summarize the subsequent battle situation in one phrase: individual elimination against wave attacks.

Although some suffered scratches or cuts, no one sustained major injuries, and even those were immediately healed by Jessica’s Heal Touch.

Surrounding us were the mangled corpses of Cruel Vultures.

Only then did the special monster individual slowly begin to lower its altitude with gentle wing beats.

“Coming in only after all its subordinates are wiped out, I can’t understand what it’s thinking.”

“Our range is several moves ahead. There’s no need to wait for it to approach.”

‘Bang! Click, Bang!’

Two magic bullets from the Arcane Alter Rifle fly toward the special Cruel Vulture individual.

But as expected of a boss-level enemy, the special individual, despite its large size, flexibly banked to avoid the attack.

Even though the distance was still quite far, it wasn’t an easy bullet speed to dodge…

Just as I thought that, Iris shouted through the camping carriage window.

“Everyone! Be careful of the corpses around you! Something’s coming out!”

“Corpses!?”

As I tried to check the Cruel Vultures’ corpses after hearing Iris’s warning, my danger detection ability activated for the first time.

It wasn’t that the once-dead Cruel Vultures were trying to come back to life.

Dark purple liquid flowing from the monsters’ bodies rose up stealthily and shot toward us like arrows.

‘An ability to control blood!?’

The monster’s body fluid, altered by dark mana, isn’t strictly blood, but that doesn’t matter.

What’s important is that there’s hardly any space to dodge because they’re coming from so many directions.

I might be able to manage somehow with my danger detection skill, but what about the others?

‘Fwip! Fwip!’

“Kyaah!”

“Ugh…!?”

They weren’t okay.

Thanks to Iris’s early warning, we avoided fatal injuries, but it was impossible to perfectly dodge water arrows flying in from all directions when we weren’t fully prepared to evade.

Jessica, Phyllis, Mina, and even Seti had wounds on their fair skin, with red blood starting to flow.

‘Wait, blood!?’

If the enemy special individual has the ability to control body fluids, can we assert that it’s limited only to Cruel Vulture fluids?

Realizing this, I hurriedly called out to Jessica.

“Jessica! Liquid countermeasure!”

“!?…Dehydration!”

Contrary to my expectation that she would block the liquid with an Airy Curtain, Jessica ultimately chose the best method.

She used drying magic to stop the bleeding from our companions’ bodies, then deployed mana circuit fragments to evaporate the incoming Cruel Vulture body fluids.

I never knew Dehydration, which she usually used after our nighttime activities, had such an application.

‘Keeru! Keerurururu-!!’

After attempting the same attack a couple more times, the special Cruel Vulture individual seemed to realize its ability was no longer effective. It began to dive toward us with its talons, as large as jungle knives, extended.

“It’s over.”

“Yes. No need to wait for the rifle’s cooldown.”

“Finish it, Will!”

As a man, I naturally have to respond to the ladies’ expectations.

Thinking this, I holster the revolver on my left side and the Milky Way on my right, then take my stance.

“Checkmate.”

With a galaxy scattered across the daytime sky, the trial we faced before reaching Technopolis came to an end.