episode_0168

Cases where monsters have come out of the Labyrinth City into the outside world are few enough to be recorded in history books.

But usually, when monsters do come out, they are at best just normal monsters.

Furthermore, there were no instances of monsters from the 7th floor or higher coming out.

In such a situation, a field boss suddenly appears. Moreover, it’s a Doppelganger, a boss from a quite high floor.

However, most of those present didn’t seem to know what it was.

Well, that’s only natural.

The number of explorers who have reached the 8th floor is extremely small.

And the number of explorers within that group who know about the existence of the 8th floor’s field boss is even smaller.

Nevertheless, everyone quickly realized that it was dangerous.

Because the creature transformed into the strongest human in the vicinity.

The Guild Master.

“…Doppelganger.”

As expected of someone said to have been a deep-layer explorer in the past, the Guild Master seemed to know about the Doppelganger.

If so, they should be capable of facing it.

“Monsters are continuously pouring out!!!!”

But behind the Doppelganger, monsters began to pour out incessantly.

Monsters pouring out in uncontrollable numbers.

“Everyone, fall back for now!!!!”

Following the Guild Master’s command, the front line slowly retreats.

And at the same time, the Guild Master slowly moves forward.

To face off against the other Guild Master walking from afar, step by step.

“I’ll entrust the command to you. Can you handle it?”

“…Yes.”

Having to fight against their own self seriously, the Guild Master entrusted everything to me and charged straight ahead.

As they collided with the Doppelganger, everything around was pushed back by a powerful shockwave.

Monsters, as well as explorers, were no exception.

The shockwave was powerful, but it wasn’t enough to kill someone.

Conversely, it meant that as humans and monsters naturally mixed, the formation collapsed, and a complete dogfight began.

Those with little experience or who were ordinary civilians were mostly in the back, so it was slightly better.

But as monsters mixed in among them one by one, panic was inevitable.

Although they had come prepared to fight monsters face-to-face, real combat is not as kind as preparation.

Sure enough. Most managed to react, but confusion accumulated here and there.

But it was still okay.

Because the number of people on this side was sufficient to deal with the monsters.

As if knowing this, this time familiar human figures began to drop from the portal with a thump.

Even someone who had never seen them before knew what they were.

Black Mages.

The very individuals who opened this portal and caused damage to the Labyrinth City appeared.

They glanced at the fierce battle between the two Guild Masters, then, as if deeming their intervention unnecessary, they summoned monsters towards us.

With monsters pouring from the labyrinth and monsters summoned by the Black Mages, the increasing numbers were secondary; the fear evoked by the word ‘Black Mage’ was much greater for ordinary people than expected.

Moreover, although they were holding them back, the continuously summoned monsters began to make the atmosphere increasingly bad.

As casualties began to rise and screams were heard,

Even humans who had come with strong determination gradually had no choice but to flee.

As some of the humans providing fire support from the rear began to flee, the front line naturally started to be pushed back further.

Monsters broke through the front line and started causing chaos inside.

A chaotic battlefield.

Just as I began to have a strong intuition that we would be annihilated once again like this,

Thud.

Noah, who had somehow approached my side.

“…Since you got the Holy Sword, can I go all out a bit? Cover for me.”

“…What?”

As if she hadn’t intended to talk from the start, Noah, having declared that, immediately began emitting a massive amount of dark mana.

And soon, numerous Avatars and monsters began bursting out from around her.

At that sight, explorers around me tried to attack Noah, but Jack quickly restrained them.

No, did Jack know that Noah was an apostle of an evil god?

Questions later.

Noah immediately sent a gigantic Avatar towards the Doppelganger, while bringing her hands together.

Then, as if control of the portal opened in the sky was being seized, it began to shake violently, and soon its color began to change.

The blue portal turned into a black portal darker than anything else.

The portal slowly began to close, and naturally, the number of monsters coming out began to decrease.

“Did you do that?”

As if she had no time to answer, Noah gritted her teeth and simply closed the portal silently.

But soon, the slowly closing portal stopped moving.

“…Tch.”

Noah looked at the other Black Mages.

What she could do, other Black Mages could also do.

But befitting the name ‘Apostle’,

Most of the Black Mages had to put all their strength into achieving results similar to Noah’s.

And to interfere with Noah, many Black Mages began gathering here.

Would they be able to block the attacks until the portal closed, or would they fail?

With the fight simplified, the elites began to gather on our side.

I kept using cards towards them.

[Grace of Protection]

After giving a powerful shield to all surrounding explorers, I took out my staff and surveyed my surroundings.

Even if other explorers dealt with the approaching monsters, my body wasn’t enough to block attacks aimed at Noah, who was concentrating from afar.

As if realizing they couldn’t easily target Noah just by sending simple monsters, they began summoning specific individuals capable of ranged attacks.

I closed my eyes and spread my senses in all directions.

Although it didn’t spread wide due to the domains of numerous mages and Black Mages already present.

There was no need to do so.

I would only control the area around Noah.

“……”

The incredibly loud sound of the battlefield vanished due to concentration.

Now, only something high-speed entering this area was being read.

My extended senses captured a powerful electric current flying towards us.

I knew the monster. It was the attack used by a monster resembling an electric eel from the 6th floor.

I quickly imbued my staff with mana to create a shield and block the attack.

And simultaneously, one more.

This time, numerous ice shards flying from the front.

This was an attack from an elite monster I met on the 5th floor.

The shield I had cast beforehand blocked everything. But some remained and approached Noah.

“I’ll do it!!!”

Grace rushed out and quickly knocked away all the ice shards.

“If we just endure, we can win!!!”

Jack perfectly parried an attack that came from the right.

Kayrek silently targeted the threatening enemies.

Luca sliced apart a giant monster that was approaching to crush us from the front.

Besides them, numerous explorers, as if realizing that Noah was the one who could bring victory, began protecting her desperately.

As if repaying our efforts, the portal began to close little by little.

“At this rate…!!!”

Couldn’t we win?

Just as that thought occurred,

Something massive was caught by my senses.

And then, something that pierced through shields, humans, shields, everything, flew through and directly hit Noah.

Fortunately, because I quickly twisted my body and used the power of the purple robe, Noah wasn’t seriously injured.

But Noah and I were both thrown back hard by a powerful impact.

By the time I finally got up amidst the crowd after being thrown back about 10 meters.

I immediately knew what had struck us.

“Guild Master?”

The Guild Master lay unconscious, fallen on top of my body.

Seeing that there was no faintly flowing dark mana, it didn’t seem to be the Doppelganger.

Then, could it be that the Guild Master was defeated…?

Just as that thought crossed my mind,

Screams began to be heard from ahead.

Blood began to spread everywhere.

At the end of it, the Doppelganger, transformed into the Guild Master, covered in blood, was slowly walking towards us.

“Ugh…!!!”

Noah, perhaps because she was attacked while concentrating, was holding her head.

And the portal that had opened in the sky was slowly growing larger again.

This is the worst.

The person who could block the field boss-level Doppelganger is gone.

The portal is reopening, and the sudden change in the situation has dealt a massive blow to the elites.

Because explorers of 8th floor or higher, who were protecting Noah, began to fall helplessly to the Doppelganger.

“Uwaaaaaa!!!!!”

Amidst that, Noah screamed and began closing the portal again.

At that sight, the Doppelganger, which had been slaughtering explorers, abruptly turned its head and focused on Noah.

Throwing away all surrounding explorers, it charged straight towards this location.

So strong was its power that the Doppelganger charged, scattering everything in its path as it ran.

Just as I wondered how to stop it and poured a massive amount of mana into my staff, someone rapidly appeared in front of me.

Jack, who emerged instantly from the ground.

This was his newly acquired power.

The power of [Guardian’s Obsession].

The effect is instantaneous movement to the front of a designated ally.

Jack’s eyes immediately turned red, and red light scattered around simultaneously.

At the perfect timing, he deflected the Doppelganger’s attack.

“Blocked it!!!!”

Due to the effect of the parry, the Doppelganger’s sword cut through the air futilely, slashing some innocent spirits and monsters in the sky.

“……!!!”

The face of the surprised Guild Master, no, the Doppelganger.

But it immediately followed up with the next attack.

“I saved this for this moment!!!”

Jack’s body quickly turned faintly red, and steam began to emit from his entire body.

And his already grinning lips curled up to the very end, as the pupils of his eyes instantly vanished.

Anyone looking would think he had lost consciousness.

Which was actually true.

Because he had said it felt like a slightly different soul had entered him.

[Berserk]

The name attached to the black card Jack had consumed.

The effect is a buff that grants overwhelming power and speed in exchange for losing control of one’s body.

Clang clang clang clang clang clang!!!!!

Jack immediately used his small shield to deflect all attacks with incredibly fast movements.

At that sight, the Doppelganger wore an expression of disbelief.

It couldn’t understand why such a weakling could block its attacks.

And that is the difference between monsters and humans.

Puk-

A shimmering beastial claw instantly piercing the Doppelganger’s body.

Luca’s form slowly began to appear.

And simultaneously, everyone recalled that Luca existed.

The effect of the black card Luca had obtained, [Existence Erasure].

The effect is an ultimate stealth skill that makes others unable to perceive one’s existence.

Thanks to this, he succeeded in landing a perfect surprise attack on the Doppelganger.

It was indeed difficult to use this unless the enemy entered our formation deeply.

Now is the perfect time to use it.

Even if it was a Doppelganger, it seemed difficult for it to withstand the overwhelming attack power of a Beastkin’s savagery, and cracks immediately began to appear in the Guild Master’s form.

This is enough.

For a boss that entered the enemy lines to stop moving means…

…it’s the perfect position to receive everyone’s attacks.

“Kill it!!!”

Explorers from all sides immediately poured attacks to finish off the Doppelganger.

As a swordsman’s sword ripped the Doppelganger’s body, the Guild Master’s form vanished, returning to its original appearance.

Whether transformation had a cooldown, or if it becomes unusable when involuntarily dispelled by being attacked.

The creature, with the fluid body of its true form like a slime, fought back against the explorers.

But as the saying goes, there’s no match for a group beatdown.

One of the Doppelganger’s arms was severed, then a leg was cut off.

Since wounds were accumulating faster than its regeneration speed, that alone was enough.

“Find the orb in its body!!!!”

With the voice of the Guild Master, who had somehow woken up, Grace quickly ran forward and perfectly sliced the orb hidden inside the Doppelganger’s body.

Crash!!

The broken orb with a clear sound.

Immediately, the Doppelganger’s body completely split apart and began to vanish.

Simultaneously, a light blue card, mana stones, and various rewards appeared.

But there was no time to worry about that.

Because the battle wasn’t over yet.

I surveyed the surrounding situation.

Dealing with the Doppelganger as well as the constant stream of monsters had accumulated significant damage.

Roughly half were injured, and quite a few fatalities were visible among them.

The Guild Master was alive, but seemed unable to move, having lost consciousness again.

Both sides had lost their core forces, the Doppelganger and the Guild Master.

Both sides had also suffered some damage.

But if we could just close the portal, victory could completely tilt towards our side.

A situation where both sides were evenly matched, so to speak.

In that case, it was a battle of momentum.

Fortunately, the Guild Master was alive and the Doppelganger was dead, which gave us an advantage.

If we eliminated the Black Mages interfering with Noah from afar, the portal would close and everything would be over.

But seeing the monsters filling the front, that resolve seemed to waver; everyone was hesitant to charge forward easily.

Even now, monsters were being added little by little in real-time, while our side was being eroded little by little.

In that case, could we just protect Noah like before?

“Haa…. Haa…”

Noah, half-closing her eyes, letting out rough breaths.

The collision earlier was probably critical.

After all, if magic is interrupted while casting, there’s a large backlash.

“Looks like we have to go inside now, don’t we?”

Jack, who had regained his composure, said with a smile.

It was something everyone knew.

If Noah couldn’t close that portal while she still had strength, this operation would fail.

Everyone immediately strengthened their resolve.

But if resolve could be easily strengthened like that,

Why would they praise someone called a great hero?

Frightened explorers were starting to flee without me noticing, and the situation was getting swept up in that atmosphere.

We need one move that can turn all of this around.

“……”

I didn’t stop my movement based on the idea that suddenly came to mind, and slowly pulled off the item that was shaped like a ring and worn on my finger.

Now is the time to use this.

I transferred all the mana I had poured into my staff, and all the mana in my body, to this ring.

Then flash, flash.

The light began to flicker continuously, slowly illuminating the Zone 0 that had descended into darkness.

People who were leaving slightly turned their heads at that light.

But this is still not enough.

A more intense light.

And a powerful force that could turn the footsteps of countless people.

Ding!! Ding!!!

As if responding to my will.

The status window slowly appeared.

Not the usual blue screen I saw.

A screen that was a bit too white and emitting light.

Because of this, I couldn’t see any of the content.

No, if the screen brightness is set to 100, what are you supposed to see?

Just as I was slightly smiling at the Sudden action of the main god.

The flickering light began to take shape and change.

Into the form of a sword shining brighter than anything else, its original appearance.

Everyone’s gaze was drawn to that sight.

The footsteps of the fleeing people stopped, and light accumulated in the pupils of the frightened people.

Even the approaching monsters stopped moving, and rather, began to retreat from the intense light.

At that moment, a single beam of light pierced the dark world.

I slowly rose from within it, holding up the Holy Sword that had regained its true form.

Then cards began to appear from the deck.

One of the three decks.

Cards from the Paladin’s Deck were instantly sucked into the Holy Sword.

Simultaneously, countless images came to mind.

The conviction that I could use all these cards at any time.

I immediately thought of one.

[Descent of the Angel]

The card effect was activated, along with my mana rapidly decreasing.

Without time to see the expressions of the party members who realized what this meant, I continuously used cards… no, divine magic in succession.

Angelic wings formed behind my back.

Simultaneously, a field of healing that treated all injured people nearby was laid out, and blessings descended upon everyone.

Comrades who were thought to be dead began breathing again, and injuries began to heal to the point where severed arms recovered.

It was truly a miracle.

Hearts that had faltered returned, and everyone’s fighting spirit reignited once again.

Footsteps that had been stealthily retreating now became supporting steps ready to charge forward at any moment.

My task is to make sure those steps can be taken at any time.

“Let’s take back Zone 0!!!!”

As I aimed the Holy Sword at the enemy and shouted, everyone charged forward.

Towards the enemies of humanity: monsters, Black Mages, and the Evil God.