Chapter 176

Chapter 176

Investing Through the Status Window.

Episode 176: The Underground Labyrinth (4)

All the different sorts of monsters that were there seemed completely entranced by the blood-red crystal, recklessly charging at the mercenaries. As if protecting it was their mission.

Madness.

The madness that had infected humans affected the monsters in the same way. They didn’t care what happened to them, just charging head forward.

“This is insane…!”

The doll impaled on the sword struggled desperately to return to its main body. Its screeching was so irritating that Allen stomped on its face to silence it as much as possible.

Damn, it’s annoying…!

He wanted to tear that noisy mouth to shreds… but it wasn’t yet time to release its soul. That would be when its main body was nearly incapacitated, right before they banished it from this land.

Thanks to the brilliant performance of Itty Titty Swordmaster and the Blind Saintess, the members had more leeway than expected, despite the relentless onslaught of monsters from all directions.

Particularly, Itty Titty Swordmaster Natasha, who gained significant insights from the life-threatening battle with the Ash Demon last time, showcased a level above what she had before. Watching her fearlessly confront massive monsters with her small human body was truly a marvel… Perhaps that demon soldier was a once-in-a-lifetime blessing for Allen.

The Blind Saintess also displayed her characteristic nimble movements, weaving through the monsters with ease.

Limbs that twisted gracefully in response to the situation, free from constraints, demonstrated astonishing destructive power each time they struck the monsters’ bodies. Particularly, Allen’s gaze would often fixate on the elegant lines of those occasionally stretching legs. It was the unavoidable instinct of a male with a penis.

In addition, the monsters were utterly crushed under the barrage of mana bullets from the Milk-Jug Mage, whose mana capacity had overwhelmingly increased compared to before. In the presence of a Gate Opener, a monster was nothing more than a slightly larger and fiercer wild beast. Though still somewhat clumsy with defensive magic, in terms of offensive magic, there was virtually no comparison.

The other members of the Allen-Mercenary Group were also performing their roles exceptionally well. Of course, Newbie Kori and the Balding Kancho occasionally made mistakes, but their comrades beside them adequately covered for them. As long as they didn’t make any major blunders, minor mistakes could actually be good experiences. After all, combat required a lot of experience.

“Focus on defense! Just don’t let them break through! Hey, Geese! Handle them appropriately! Keep the formation! Don’t get disrupted! Misty! You have to deal with the ones slipping through!”

Allen was busily darting his eyes around, trying his best to maintain the balance of the battle. The circular formation had the advantage of good sustainability, but the drawback was that if even one spot was breached, the whole could be shaken. So, he had to be even more meticulous, especially in such a fierce battle.

“If you can’t stop them, use your body! It’s okay to lose a limb or two! Hold on! Don’t get scared, just endure it!”

Sometimes, when Balding Kancho got scared and slightly shrank back, Allen would nudge his back with his forearm and shout like that.

As they fought against the attacking monsters and reduced their numbers significantly…

The blood-red crystal suddenly began to melt slowly, and the tangled mass, resembling a parasitic worm, seeped into the blood-red tree. At the same time, the thin stems on the ground began to writhe violently.

!!!

With the sensation of something being slowly absorbed, the blood-red stem started to grow upward. It reconnected with the ceiling’s stem, which had been severed by the mana bomb.

“Elena! Magic! Cut it off quickly!”

Feeling something unusual, Allen ordered Elena to cast magic. She, too, had already begun chanting quickly, even before the command. Soon, she fired magic at the writhing tendril… but surprisingly, as the mana bullet flew, the tendril split in half as if alive, dodging the mana bullet.

!!!!!

The moment the mana bullet missed, Allen realized his mistake. At the same time, the doll let out a scream, higher and longer than ever.

-Kyaaaaaaaaahhhhhhhhhhhhh!!!!

The blood-red tendril swirled like a geyser, and the one attached to the ceiling suddenly twisted its direction, flying toward the doll. And in the instant of surprise, the blood-red tendril plunged toward the doll.

With a thud, Allen was sent flying backward, drenched in blood-like fluid. Not only the Group Leader, but most of the members were also knocked back by the impact, causing their circular formation to collapse.

“Damn it…!”

A considerable pain surged from his back as he slammed onto the cave’s stone floor. However, Allen sprang back up without a moment to complain about the pain.

Just then, a monster lunged at him, jaws wide open, aiming for his head. The Blind Saintess kicked the creature’s body away with all her might. Fortunately, its teeth narrowly missed the back of his head.

From the spot where the blood-red stream struck, a giant figure, writhing like hundreds of snakes, slowly began to rise. He had anticipated that the soul and the main body would eventually merge, but the timing was earlier than expected. They should have weakened the main body even more, if possible.

The blood-red giant, approximately the height of three adult men standing side by side, slowly glanced over the mercenaries drenched in blood and spoke in a sinister voice.

-Pathetic creatures.

Then, it lifted its foot and slammed it down as if to crush them. The targeted mercenaries swiftly leaped aside to avoid the stomping foot.

The creature was the imperfectly descended Blood Demon, Diviabh… Among the several candidates, it was unfortunate that a demon was chosen, but fortunately, it didn’t seem to be in good condition. If that weren’t the case, the demon wouldn’t be desperately sucking the essence of insignificant monsters to survive.

However, even if unstable, a demon was a demon. If underestimated, it could turn the tables and devour them instead.

“Maintain the scattered formation!”

Allen shouted towards the scattered members with a face dripping with blood. Gathering together seemed disadvantageous. It was better to secure wide spaces individually to dodge attacks.

The creature then swung its writhing arm like a whip. This time, a mercenary from the Luis-Mercenary Group got caught in the attack.

!!!!

With a splattering sound, the mercenary was completely crushed and burst apart, as if squashed by an immensely heavy boulder.

Damn it!

Then the creature’s belly started writhing, and from what seemed to be its head, a crimson stream shot out like a laser.

Fortunately, the Allen-Mercenary Group, spread out widely, quickly dodged the powerful stream of blood. It sliced through the ground like a sharp blade.

After the creature’s attack ended, Itty Titty Swordsman swiftly charged toward the demon, Diviabre, and swung her sword.

With each strike from Natasha, the creature’s ankle was sliced cleanly. Although it reattached quickly, it was enough to disrupt its stance.

As the giant’s upper body leaned slightly forward, the Blind Saintess rushed ahead and fiercely kicked the creature’s slightly lowered jaw.

!!!!!!

The demon’s head was momentarily split in half by the fierce kick. Taking advantage of the opening, the Milk-Jug Mage fired a powerful mana bullet. It hit the demon’s chest precisely, causing an enormous explosion. The blood that splattered everywhere poured down like rain.

-Pathetic… insects!

The blood giant, with a gaping hole in its chest, let out a wail as it fell forward. At the same time, dozens of blood-red tendrils burst out from its body. They began to anchor into the ground one by one, rapidly expanding their territory, as if they were ready to absorb everything.

Allen and the other mercenaries fled with all their might to avoid the ever-expanding pool of blood on the ground.

However, only the Blind Saintess stood still in place, glaring intensely at something with her abyss-like black eyes.

It was the core—akin to the heart of a demon.

Perhaps it was the medium of the summoning.

Can I do it?

Yet, she did not seek an answer and clenched her fist tightly.

The pool of blood had crept up to her feet before she realized it. It tried to climb up her legs to consume her body. But the Blind Saintess lifted her leg, casually snapping the blood-red tendrils.

Then, she knelt briefly, kicked off the ground forcefully, and leaped high.

She was aiming for its head.

She twisted her body slightly to the right, pulled her arm back, and thrust her fist forward like lightning.

The fist that had crushed the doll earlier now struck the demon’s head with all her might.

It was as solid as hitting a massive boulder.

Bones broke and crushed, yet the Blind Saintess did not retract her fist until the end.

“Uuuuuaaaaahhhhhh!!!!”

Ordnung let out a mighty scream, stretching her arm fully to shatter the demon’s head.

In the end, the demon’s head exploded with a bang.

At the same time, the red core tangled in the roots briefly appeared.

However, her fist couldn’t quite reach it.

Ah.

The Blind Saintess fell helplessly to the ground. And a pool of blood swiftly covered her.

She tore at her mouth to gasp for breath in the suffocating situation, but the pressure was too strong.

Ahhh!

At that moment.

Thanks to Ordnung, Natasha learned the core’s location and leapt into the air with all her might.

The demon, previously struck by Ordnung, opened its maw wide to spew blood at Natasha this time.

At that moment, Elena’s magic hit the head with great force.

!!!!

With a thud, Natasha was drenched in blood, but she never took her eyes off the target.

Cut.

Natasha’s sword, imbued with the mysteries of the universe, moved as if it were an extension of her own being.

The rock-hard head split like cutting through tofu.

And the red core split along with it.

!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

The demon shuddered as if it was struck by lightning.

Simultaneously, the pool of blood that covered most of the ground vibrated violently. Seizing the moment, the members rushed to the Blind Saintess, slashing through the pool with their blades to quickly rescue her. The Blind Saintess, who was on the verge of suffocating, finally caught her breath.

-It’s collapsing.

The demon, with dozens of legs connected to the floor, slowly toppled sideways near the ceiling.

As the demon’s body hit the floor with a thud, it exploded, splattering blood everywhere.

The mercenaries, who were holding back the advancing monsters and the expanding pool of blood, gasped for breath, drenched in the demon’s blood.

Allen, confirming the situation was over, hurriedly ran to Ordnung. Fortunately, she was unharmed.

“Thank goodness, really…!”

Allen tightly embraced the Blind Saintess, whose fists were crushed and arms broken. Then, pulling her away, he glared fiercely.

“Never act on your own without orders again! This is the only time! Such things must never happen! Understand?!”

“Yes, Group Leader…”

Sigh.

Allen sighed and plopped down onto the floor.

And he scanned the completely chaotic cavity with a glance.

Allen firmly vowed that he would never enter the labyrinth again.

No matter how much money was offered!