Ch.52Lower Level (2)

The upper and middle layers could at least be described as similar to a cave or mine. But the lower layer was quite different in its structure.

This place wasn’t enclosed like a cave—it was more like a surface lava zone with open spaces in all directions.

Because of this, Kitsune seemed to experience some cognitive dissonance, occasionally looking up at the sky as we walked.

“Honestly… when I look up, it feels like I should be able to see the sky directly.”

“It does feel that way, especially since we don’t need lanterns thanks to the light from the lava.”

Due to this peculiarity of the lower layer, the method of proceeding to the deep layer was also somewhat different from before.

We needed to find a cave with a path leading downward somewhere in this vast lava zone.

At least the location was fixed, so we didn’t need to search extensively. However, there was still quite a distance to cover to reach it safely.

‘If only we didn’t have territory invasion issues, this would be much easier.’

If we could go straight through, we could arrive in a day, but the terrain and territory issues were significant obstacles.

And the monsters that appeared regularly along the way also contributed to the waste of time.

“Still, if we just keep moving forward like this, we should be able to arrive without any problems.”

“But problems are called problems precisely because they happen whether you want them to or not…”

“That’s true…”

No sooner had my conversation with Lilly ended than I felt a powerful presence approaching from the distance.

Sensing it, Kitsune trembled like an aspen leaf and turned her gaze toward me with difficulty.

“T-this is…”

“Yes, it seems they’ve finally come…”

An overwhelming presence that could make the Lich—the strongest opponent I’d ever fought—seem insignificant. An enemy against whom resistance would be impossible for anyone here except Lilly.

It was the presence of the Queen of the Giant Ants.

Grrrrrr—

Shortly after sensing her presence, the Queen’s aura crashed down upon me. It was a warning not to even think about escaping, as she clearly knew my location.

At the same time, I could clearly feel her intention to crush me with her aura to prevent my escape.

“I think you’re underestimating me too much. I’m not Kitsune, after all.”

I unleashed my own presence to clash against the Queen’s oppressive aura.

Though I might not be able to match her in actual power, there was no reason for me to back down in this battle of wills.

“■■■■■—!!!!”

When I drew up my energy to resist, the Queen, seemingly unwilling to lose, raised her aura to maximum output to pressure me.

It was an aura strong enough to overwhelm ordinary people and even make most adventurers faint, but it wasn’t enough to reach me.

However, the ones suffering in this battle of nerves were the third parties—Kitsune and Kirara who were right beside me.

“Kuhp… kup…”

“Keeeeng…”

“Frey~ Are you going to keep this up? These two might faint at this rate…”

Unlike Lilly who could be considered a powerful being, this clash was beyond what Kitsune and Kirara could handle.

The fact that they hadn’t fainted yet showed that both possessed extraordinary mental strength.

“I think I’ve drawn enough aggro, so let’s start moving.”

After maintaining the battle of wills for quite some time, I suddenly erased my presence. All that remained was the Queen’s directionless aura.

With that much aura released indiscriminately, the attention of the local inhabitants naturally shifted to the Queen.

It was a thunderbolt out of the blue for the Queen who had intended to capture only me and then return. Of course, her pride made her face those gazes head-on.

Just as a battle between monsters was about to begin, I helped Kitsune and Kirara, who were about to collapse, back to their feet.

“We’ll move as far as possible during this time.”

“Under…stood…”

Even if they engaged in a battle of nerves, the probability of them actually clashing was low. At first glance, it appeared to be a 1 vs 4 situation, but in reality, it was completely individual combat.

Whoever showed a weakness would be ganged up on by the other four, so none would easily make the first move.

But that was just for the leaders. The Giant Ants were ignoring territories and approaching us.

“■■■—!!”

The inhabitants of the territory began hunting the ants in response to their invasion.

But the ants continued advancing toward me as if I were their only target, regardless of how many were devoured.

“If they catch up, we’ll have to run in a straight line ignoring territories too. We need to move as far away as possible.”

Instead of the path we had originally planned to take, I led the way down a different route—one that would be the shortest direct line to our destination if the ants caught up.

“From now on, I’ll focus on passing through rather than defeating them. Please prepare your shikigami accordingly.”

“Understood. Leave it to me.”

Perhaps due to the battle of nerves between the boss monsters, the activity and violence of the monsters had visibly increased compared to before.

First, the number of monsters attacking us had changed. The speed at which they appeared and their numbers had nearly doubled.

“I’ve bound them…!”

“Well done!”

Kwaaang–!

Since it was impossible to deal with each one individually, we advanced by having Kitsune temporarily bind the enemies while I used aura explosions to blow them away.

And even without trying to eat us, monsters were already fighting each other.

Considering that the lower layer had originally been a very quiet and static place, it now resembled an apocalyptic scene.

Despite moving as quickly as we could, the distance between us and the ants rapidly narrowed.

It seemed impossible to completely shake off the ants that were running straight toward us.

“■■■—!!”

“Behind us… they’ve caught up…!”

“Lilly! I need an enchant!”

At my signal, a sharp blade wind imbued my sword. I also filled the blade with my maximum output of sword energy.

Whoooong-

The sword emitted an intense energy, signaling that it was ready for a strike that could cut off at least one leg of the Ant Queen if she were to appear.

‘Cutting down ants would be pointless as new ones would immediately follow.’

Using this sword against the ants would be the wrong answer. What I needed to cut open now was a path.

Slash-

Right in front of us, a small sea of lava was split in half with a single sword strike.

“Haak… haak…”

In exchange, 90% of my aura was consumed in an instant, but it was a necessary expenditure, so I didn’t regret it.

“Phew… let’s cross before the lava fills back in!”

Though I called it a small sea, it wasn’t deep compared to an actual sea, so we could run across the bottom without much difficulty.

The ants followed us to the bottom of the lava sea, but only the first one or two could pursue.

The ants that jumped in afterward were engulfed in flames as the lava began to rise again.

But that didn’t mean we were safe. Having invaded a territory to escape the ants, we now had to pay the price.

“Frey, watch out in front!”

“Kugh… even running in a straight line is difficult…!”

The tongues of Lava Frogs shot at me at ultra-high speed. Having adapted to their speed, I could have handled one without much difficulty.

But when their number exceeded ten, it was a different story. If before it felt like deflecting a pistol, now it felt like facing a machine gun.

Clang-! Clangclangclang-!!

When I deflected one, two more tongues shot toward me. When I deflected those two, even more tongues extended.

Just holding out was difficult enough, but with the lava rising in real-time, my anxiety grew.

And such anxiety naturally leads to mistakes.

Chiiik–!

A Lava Frog’s tongue that I failed to cover grabbed my ankle. The tongue was burning, and naturally, the burning pain was transmitted through my ankle.

“Kugh..!”

Long accustomed to pain, I let out only a slight groan while squeezing out sword energy to cut off the tongue wrapped around my ankle.

But during that time, the other Lava Frogs didn’t just stand by. More tongues shot toward me.

I can’t block this. Just as that thought crossed my mind, I heard something blocking and breaking.

Kung- Crackcrackcrack—!

It was the sound of a barrier that Kitsune had hastily deployed, momentarily blocking the Lava Frogs’ attacks before shattering.

“I blocked it…!”

“Thanks to you, I survived…!”

That moment gave me enough breathing room to regain my composure, and soon I managed to deflect all the tongues and secure time to escape.

After escaping the sea of lava, we could visually confirm our target cave in the distance.

“Now if we can just reach there…!”

Just as I was about to share the good news to lift Kitsune’s spirits, who was exhausted from the continuous escape—

Kuwoong-

A Giant Ant with massive wings landed in front of us. There were certainly many monsters in the air that could block the ants.

But there were few that could block this particular ant.

As if to demonstrate that nothing could stop it, several fire birds that we had seen earlier were visible in its mouth, bitten to death.

“Huh… you’re saying you really broke through this…?”

It was clearly the Queen of the Giant Ants herself.