Chapter 211

At the end of the sealed secret dungeon.

A heavy, ominous ash-gray door stood before them.

Boom!

Gulshan kicked the door open without hesitation.

A wide-open space appeared before them.

“There it is.”

Gulshan said, gazing at the golden chest placed upon the altar at the far end.

“Yes.”

Natasha replied nonchalantly.

“Shall we go then? But before that…”

Before Gulshan could finish his sentence, the monstrous figures standing like statues on either side stirred.

Golems.

But these were humanoid golems.

They knew that these were special golems, on a different level from the giant golems outside.

It was also the reason why they, the organization’s executives, had come here in person.

“We need to clean up these nuisances.”

A jet-black aura flared in Gulshan’s hand.

“I’ll take the right side.”

Natasha drew her staff-sword.

But only the hilt was visible the blade was empty.

“Half each, good.”

Gulshan grinned.

At that moment.

Whoosh!

The humanoid golems charged at them simultaneously.

At a speed unbelievable for golems.

“Ha, how dare these inanimate objects be so arrogant.”

Gulshan moved.

“Let’s finish this as quickly as possible.”

Natasha’s sword also moved.

* * *

“Heh heh, good, good. I can feel it, I can feel it. My blood is reacting.”

Slain suddenly let out an excited laugh as they were running.

“Everyone, get ready.”

I immediately said to the group.

Because I knew that Slain’s animalistic senses were real.

The Red Rain guys were nearby.

“We’ll move according to plan.”

Just like the saying “well begun is half done,” the first strike was crucial in battle.

If we could land an effective first strike, we could start the fight with an advantage.

Depending on the situation, we might even be able to finish them off, but we couldn’t expect that much from enemies of that caliber.

Anyway, that’s why we had planned in advance.

How to open the battle.

“Understood.”

“Of course.”

“Got it, Team Leader.”

“Yes, senior.”

The group responded with tense expressions.

Only Elaine was chanting a spell without replying.

With a calm and composed gaze.

After running for a while.

We saw a wide-open door ahead.

And the spacious area beyond it.

At that moment.

Elaine’s figure vanished.

The first spell she had cast in advance.

Blink, the teleportation magic.

Her figure reappeared in front of the open door, crossing space.

And.

“Blizzard.”

She immediately unleashed the high-level ice magic inside.

Fwoosh!

A deadly blizzard of absolute zero, freezing everything in its path, raged inside.

Crack! Crackle!

We could clearly see the floor and ceiling freezing over in an instant.

“Whew, that’s amazing.”

Even Slain let out a genuine exclamation of admiration.

“As expected of her reputation.”

Lucia also blinked in awe.

“Uh, wouldn’t that be enough to finish them off?”

Allen said hopefully.

Camian and Annette also looked like they were hoping for the same.

Well, it would be the best outcome.

But.

“No, they’re not opponents who would be finished off so easily. Everyone, get ready.”

I had already nocked an arrow on my Marcus Bow, ready to react at any moment.

“Fire Field.”

Elaine cast a high-level fire magic next, melting the floor while attacking.

Because fighting on slippery ice wouldn’t be advantageous for us.

After unleashing the second attack spell, Elaine was already casting another high-level magic.

They would have no choice but to come out if they didn’t want to be continuously bombarded with powerful magic.

My prediction was spot on.

“There!”

Leon shouted.

Natasha had appeared where Leon’s spear was pointing.

A peculiar sight.

The space around her was frozen, but she was completely unharmed.

I immediately understood.

“Sword barrier.”

The moment I said that, I fired an Explosive Shot.

Whoosh!

The arrow flew swiftly.

And.

Boom!

The arrow exploded in the space in front of Natasha.

It was a powerful technique that could break through a dark mage’s shield in one shot.

However.

“Tsk, it doesn’t work, huh?”

Natasha’s sword barrier didn’t even budge.

It only melted the ice fragments that were frozen to the barrier.

Well, it was unlikely that an Explosive Shot would penetrate a barrier that had perfectly blocked even Blizzard, a high-level magic.

“Ugh, even if it’s a sword barrier, isn’t she too unharmed after being hit by that kind of magic?”

Camian said in disbelief.

“No, she must have expended some energy.”

I asserted.

Even Natasha wasn’t a god.

She was a living being made of flesh and blood, and she would definitely get tired.

Even though we hadn’t landed a direct hit, our surprise attack had achieved its purpose of draining her strength.

“Heh heh, and the other guy might be a frozen chunk of meat by now.”

Slain chuckled.

As he said, Gulshan was nowhere to be seen.

Of course, he couldn’t be dead, but it was clear that he had taken some damage.

“B-But how do we break through that sword barrier, Team Leader?”

Allen asked with a worried expression.

“Ha, are you stupid? We should be grateful if she just defends.”

Slain scoffed.

He was right.

While maintaining the sword barrier, she couldn’t attack.

It might be an impenetrable defense, but it was no different from choosing to corner herself.

“Of course, that’s unlikely to…”

Before Slain could finish his sentence.

The ice fragments frozen around Natasha all fell at once.

She had deactivated the sword barrier.

At the same time, Natasha swung the empty hilt of her sword horizontally.

That’s?!

“Sword wind! Dodge!”

I shouted a warning and jumped to the side without hesitation.

Elaine also reacted to my words, hurriedly canceling her casting and dodging.

Camian grabbed Annette and jumped to the side as well.

Leon and Lucia had already moved out of the way.

But.

“Heh heh, why are you all dodging like cowards? Pathetic. Fighting means clashing strength against strength!”

Slain, his eyes gleaming with fighting spirit, channeled his energy into his chain scythe.

He was going to face it head-on.

Whoosh!

The sword wind flew towards Slain.

My sword wind, which had slaughtered the dark mages, wasn’t weak, but compared to that, it was like a gentle breeze against a raging storm.

I could feel the air itself trembling.

It was clear that Slain was insane to try and face that kind of sword wind head-on.

“Let’s see what you’ve got!”

Slain roared, his chain scythe clashing head-on with Natasha’s sword wind.

Boom!

A deafening clash.

And.

“Ugh?!”

With a groan, Slain was pushed back unceremoniously.

Almost ten steps.

His body desperately tried to absorb the impact.

Thanks to that, he seemed to have avoided being sent flying and falling.

However.

His hands, gripping the chain scythe, trembled.

It seemed like he was having spasms from enduring such a powerful force.

It was clear that he had been overpowered.

Slain’s face flushed red, perhaps from humiliation.

“Slain!”

Lucia quickly ran to Slain.

At that moment.

“Heh heh heh heh heh heh!”

Slain threw his head back and burst into laughter.

“Alright, I get it! The taste of your sword! It’s quite spicy! Good, very good!”

…Don’t try to act so tough, Slain.

You look weak.

“Sigh, you’re so noisy. Who are you?”

Natasha finally spoke.

“Heh heh heh, if you must know, I am…”

“I don’t want to hear it.”

“…”

Slain was mentally attacked.

Natasha swiftly approached the dumbfounded Slain.

It seemed like she had chosen her first prey.

“Y-You bitch! You dare mock me?”

Slain shouted, enraged.

…Why was he so easily provoked by such an obvious taunt?

Well, that was his personality, after all.

“Allen, Camian. Go and help them quickly.”

I said without hesitation.

It was a pre-arranged plan.

Slain and Lucia had been fighting together for a long time, so we couldn’t separate them.

If we tied down two strong opponents like that, we needed Leon and Elaine on the other side.

Excluding Annette, the healer, that left me, Camian, and Allen.

I could handle those two, so we had to split up.

Lastly, Annette, the healer.

The only one who could protect Annette while also fulfilling her role was Elaine.

Because she had defensive magic.

So Elaine, Leon, Annette, and I had to be in one group.

Slain, Lucia, Camian, and Allen were the other group.

However, dividing them and choosing opponents was another matter.

My target was Gulshan.

Natasha was definitely the stronger opponent, and I honestly didn’t know her weaknesses.

Her strength was something we couldn’t overcome at our current level.

On the other hand, I knew Gulshan’s weaknesses that I could exploit.

That was why I had chosen Gulshan as my target.

“O-Okay, Team Leader!”

“Good luck, senior.”

Allen and Camian immediately ran to help Slain and Lucia.

Of course, I had already told everyone about the strange sword with an invisible blade.

So they should be able to handle it to some extent even if it was their first time encountering the Intangible Sword…

“Ugh?! I got cut even though it’s not here?! Are you kidding me?!”

Slain exclaimed in surprise, blood dripping from his left shoulder.

…React, you idiot!

I even told you that the blade was longer than a spear!

At that moment.

A chilling sensation struck me from behind.

The same feeling I had when Gulshan ambushed me outside.

My body reacted instantly.

– Rotating Slash Form.

My body spun around.

I clearly saw a black, blazing hand knife slashing through the air where I had just been.

Gulshan, emerging from my shadow.

My sword, imbued with rotational force, struck towards Gulshan’s side.

A perfect counterattack.

If it were the dark mages, they would have been cut in half, but Gulshan reacted.

Thud!

Gulshan barely managed to block the blade that was about to cleave his side in two with both hands.

“Huh, this damn bastard is reacting and even counterattacking now? What kind of drugs are you on?”

Gulshan looked at me in disbelief.

There were ice fragments stuck all over his body.

It seemed like he had been hit by Blizzard.

He must have been hiding like a rat, recovering and waiting for an opportunity to ambush me.

“I told you, I figured it all out.”

“Don’t you dare bluff… Huh!”

Gulshan hurriedly released his sword and disappeared into the shadows as Leon’s spear thrust towards him.

“I understand what you mean by ‘shadow’ now.”

Leon said.

He must have seen it clearly.

How Gulshan had emerged from my shadow and launched a surprise attack.

“He’s strong and tricky. But…”

Before I could finish my sentence, Leon answered first.

“Yes, if we can just narrow down where he’ll appear.”

At that moment.

Whoosh!

A thick ice wall rose up, separating us from Slain’s group.

It forcibly divided the battlefield.

It was Elaine’s doing.

“Good job, Elaine.”

I smiled.

Gulshan’s aggro was currently on me, but he could change his mind at any moment and ambush Slain’s group.

If they were ambushed while engaged in a difficult fight with Natasha, they could be in mortal danger.

Elaine had prevented that.

If Gulshan wanted to move to the other side, he would have to break through the ice wall, which meant we would definitely catch him.

Of course, I was the one who had provided that information and countermeasure in advance.

Gulshan seemed annoyed by that unexpected move.

He emerged from the shadows on the other side and shouted angrily,

“Ha, you little brats think you can outsmart me? Do you think that will work on this old man?”

“Of course not.”

“Hmph, you know… huh?”

“Not with just this. But what about this?”

I smiled triumphantly.

“Elaine, freeze every place where there’s a shadow.”

“