episode_0098

As soon as the bizarre fog disappeared, the adventurers and mages of the Magic Tower began to rampage like colts with loosened reins. Magic pours down from the sky, and the adventurers reveal their respective powers. Most of the monsters appearing around are monsters from the upper floors. But the mid-floor adventurers didn’t need to face those monsters. Because the leading high-floor adventurers and clans eliminated them before they could approach. Moreover, whenever there was downtime, the Magic Tower’s fire support was added. We just kept moving forward. Of course, that doesn’t mean the mid-floor adventurers couldn’t do anything. Even if it was a monster from the 7th floor, if several 5th-floor adventurers teamed up, they could fight it, and even defeat it. Furthermore, seeing the Lionheart Clan, who cut down everyone blocking the way at the very front, and their clan leader Kyle, one can only be amazed. I had only heard stories of the might and exploits of deep-floor or high-floor adventurers, but seeing them up close like this is the first time. Clan Leader Kyle and the Lionheart clan members who follow him. They were even stronger than the knights and the leader of the Blue Faction I met on the 5th floor. Thanks to this, we breached the ruins without significant damage. The black mages must be getting restless now, but… Unfortunately, it doesn’t seem easy for them to join either. This is because the Magic Tower is constantly launching magic to clear out the black mages. Violent magic pours down to the extent that one can understand why the Magic Tower was essentially able to control District 1 of the Labyrinth. “Uh, we don’t really have anything to do, do we?” “…I guess so.” Honestly, I joined thinking maybe my strength would be needed. But for now, I’m just running without doing anything else. Of course, that doesn’t mean I’m *really* just running. After all, a mage’s main duty is to deal damage while the front lines hold out. [Crush] Occasionally, I use a card towards monsters that break through the countless spells and various attacks. This position was just right for fighting without overexerting myself. Since I’ve had a hard time these past few days, having such a comfortable fight didn’t seem bad either. Like that, for 1 hour. The procession that had been pushing through the accumulated monster horde finally stopped. The appearance of high-ranking black mages blocking the way forward. “To have arrived here…” “Kill them!!!” Ignoring the black mages who were trying to converse, the vanguards charged forward. Then the black mages also summoned monsters. Centered around monsters from the upper floors, familiar monsters from the mid-floors started appearing mixed in. Monsters pouring out without the slightest gap, like a swarm of giant insects rushing in. As soon as I saw that, I was like, “Gasp!” But the vanguards all charged. In such a situation, it’s helpful for them if a mage, a asymmetric force, minimizes the enemy’s army. The mages and archers in the center of the procession all prepared to attack, and I also used the hand I had prepared. [Purgatory] – Creates a purgatory that sucks in everything. As the monsters running towards the black dot appearing far away began to gather… They truly become a single target. So the attacks of the archers and mages concentrate there. Mob grouping and area-of-effect skills. I eliminated a group of monsters with a combination I absolutely couldn’t resist. But it’s not over yet. 『Battle Start. Draw 3 cards.』 『Energy 5/5』 『Joker Card – Draw 1 specified card additionally on the first turn.』 [Purgatory (5)] + [Reversal (3)] [Adjustment (1)] [Strike (1)] [Crush (4)] [Force Field (2)] I immediately continued to use Purgatory. Since I got the Energy Relic, I can now use a 5-cost card on the first turn. Immediately, the enhanced Purgatory appeared in the air once more, gathering a group of monsters. Among the high-floor monsters, the giant monsters weren’t pulled, but most of the monsters were. And towards that spot again, other adventurers’ long-range area-of-effect skills went BANG! Another group of monsters disappeared. As 2 groups of monsters disappeared like that, the density of the tightly packed monsters decreased. I hope this much was helpful. However, from now on, it’s the vanguards’ time. I quietly waited for the right moment while being escorted. A battlefield where blood and flesh flew, and screams and shouts were heard. Having only seen groups of maybe 10-20 people fighting until now… Seeing a battle involving hundreds of people… It’s somehow not easy. Moreover, casualties are increasing in real time. But even so, I can’t do anything and wait until it’s my turn. Just when the 1 minute felt incredibly long in the urgent situation… 『Your turn. Draw 5 cards.』 『White Storage Box – Preserve 1 card at the end of your turn.』 [Reversal (3)] + [Body Enhancement (0)] [Shock Zone (4)] [Meteor (7)] [Ignite (0)] [Fireball (1)] I had kept Reversal, but even better cards came out. However, energy is insufficient. For now, I used Body Enhancement. The sounds coming from all directions pricked my ears more precisely, and I lightly dodged a random piece of shrapnel that happened to be flying towards me. And immediately used Ignite. Within the expanded senses, I searched for adventurers who were slightly threatened. Just to the left. A mid-floor adventurer was being targeted from behind by an orc. 딱! With a 딱! sound, the flame that bloomed strongly struck the orc’s arm, momentarily stopping its movement, and the adventurer, feeling something strange because of the flame, turned around and counterattacked the orc. It’s not over yet. I used Ignite to help. It’s not a powerful spell, but at least it can divert attention for a moment. While using it for a while… “Grrr!!!” A giant reindeer came running, its voice roaring. It came running, aiming precisely at me. Like a tank causing chaos while breaking through enemy lines. Covered in thorns and horns all over its body, it charged towards here. Adventurers in the tank position held up shields to protect me and blocked it, but they were easily torn apart. I immediately threw a card. [Reversal] No matter how tough it was and how it could break shields, it couldn’t defy gravity. Immediately, the reversed gravity pulled it up into the sky. Furthermore, unlike the hard carapace, thorns, and horns covering it, the underside was soft flesh. So Kylek’s arrow hit 딱! there. The giant reindeer’s body tore apart and vanished. But it’s not over yet. The expanded senses detected another attack. 데구르르르. An armadillo rolling. It’s a size of a different dimension compared to the ones I saw on the 4th floor. Probably an upgraded version compared to the monsters used in the regular labyrinth. “Stop it!!!” Unfortunately, most of the force is currently fighting the high-ranking black mages at the front. Moreover, the middle of the procession is usually made up of mages and archers, so only a few warriors can stop that. And among them were Luca and Adel. “Waaahhhh!!!!” As Luca let out a fierce roar, the trajectory of the rolling armadillo strangely twisted. [Taunt] forces its movement. Thanks to this, its acceleration was momentarily cut off, and its rolling speed slowed down. And just like that, Adel intervened in its rolling trajectory. She blocked the armadillo’s attack with the side of her giant greatsword, as if using it as a shield. 바바바바박!! The armadillo, rotating intensely as if to grind down the greatsword. But no attack could penetrate the greatsword, and damage just kept accumulating. That doesn’t mean Adel was unharmed. The sound of breaking and tearing was heard from her skin and bones, but… As if used to it, she just smiled. Cough! Just as a mouthful of blood came from Adel’s mouth… As if the time had come, strength tightened in both of Adel’s legs. 콰아아앙!!! A powerful shockwave erupted centered around Adel, shattering the armadillo’s carapace. The counterattack effect of her card [Feedback]. And the powerful attack was converted into healing power by [Blood-Drinking Sword], and as if she had never been injured, she immediately swung her greatsword at the armadillo suspended in the air. Then 바사삭!! All of the armadillo’s broken carapace shattered into pieces, revealing its soft underside. And towards that spot, the attacks of all surrounding adventurers went. The armadillo vanished instantly. Just when I thought we could catch our breath again… “Something else is coming from the sky!!” The moment Grace spoke, what I saw was a giant manta ray. It was currently falling, heading precisely towards here. “Haaah…” The targeting was so blatant that I had nothing left to say. However. This time, we didn’t need to step forward. Because a single powerful fireball swallowed the incoming manta ray. It was support from the Magic Tower. “The front is broken through!!!” Not long after, along with a voice heard, the procession started moving forward again. However, the procession that had been smoothly advancing for a while was suddenly abruptly blocked. The target was an easily recognizable being. [Section Leader 7….] Because he, who Noah said was one of the strongest among the black mage faction, ranking within the top ten, blocked our way. “He’s definitely using monsters I haven’t seen in the labyrinth.” “This won’t be easy.” Just by listening to what other adventurers next to me were saying. Monsters that can’t be seen at all in the labyrinth. Section Leader 7, who randomly summons only slime-type monsters. I wonder if he controlled his strength even a little when fighting us, or if he used his power to maintain the bizarre fog back then. He was looking down at us, having summoned a gigantic purple slime giant, incomparably larger than the one back then. “…What’s the Lionheart Clan Leader doing?” “Don’t know.” But the current situation is surprisingly bizarre. There are no attacking monsters or black mages in sight, only Section Leader 7 is present. Perhaps because the monsters he uses are, well, monsters, friendly fire is possible, so he might have cleared them away. Nevertheless, since he doesn’t attack first, only a long standoff continues. And unfortunately, time is not on our side. “Our Lionheart Clan will handle that. The rest of you break through.” Kyle makes a decision. The opponent is a black mage of slime who kills everything without distinguishing friend or foe. It’s actually harder to fight while protecting awkward adventurers. “Then I shall step forward first.” However, as if he didn’t want us to split up, Section Leader 7 started moving first. A giant wave of slime poured towards us. I quickly spread out my deck and swapped the Joker card. [Terrain Manipulation] I immediately use the card at the very top of the deck. It’s a Power Card with a usage limit outside of combat situations, but the fact that I can use it a little first is an advantage. Immediately, a bridge made of earth crossing the wave of slime. My party members and I familiar climb onto the terrain manipulation structure. “Follow me here!!!” As soon as Grace shouted, Kyle followed. “Follow the Disciple of the Magic Tower Master!!!” saying that, everyone climbed onto the terrain I created. At the same time, the Lionheart Clan Leader swung his sword once again towards the wave of slime. An attack capable of splitting dimensions. While watching the battle of powerhouses I couldn’t even imagine yet, and as we were detouring and moving forward… “Where do you think you’re going!!!” Section Leader 7 redirected some of the slime’s movement path towards the terrain I created. So. 『Battle Start. Draw 3 cards.』 『Energy 5/5』 『Joker Card – Draw 1 specified card additionally on the first turn.』 [Terrain Manipulation (3) – Power] + [Fire Dragon (4)] [Charge (1)] [Shield (1)] [Splash (0)] [Blink (0)] Ignoring the other cards, I first used Terrain Manipulation. As I moved my hand, the terrain was lifted, creating a wall. It pierced paths as if creating tunnels in the air. Adventurers running towards that place. I remain for now. Slime appearing, melting the earth wall. However, due to the slime’s characteristic of slowly melting the earth wall instead of breaking it with strong force, Terrain Manipulation could block it more easily than I expected. Perhaps because I blocked it more easily than expected… “You bastard…!!” What was originally intended to kill us with a small group of slimes increased greatly, and an enormous horde of slimes poured towards us. No, what is the Lionheart Clan doing? Didn’t they clearly say they would handle it, so we should go ahead first?! As this question arose, I glanced over and saw they were fighting Section Leader 7 himself with all their might. So I had no choice but to do it. If I could just block it for a moment, it wouldn’t be far from where we met the Guild Leader up ahead. I quickly raised the terrain.