Chapter 197
“This is… a Hersion?”
Hersion was the general term for magical armor that transforms from a breastplate into full plate armor when activated.
Regular full plate armor was difficult to put on and take off, uncomfortable to move in, and had to be custom-made to fit the wearer’s body, making it impractical.
Although different in form, the armor dropped by the goblin was clearly a magical Hersion armor in its basic structure.
“Damn, even for an adjusted Hell Mode, getting a Hersion as a reward on the 11th floor?”
Zeke shook his head as he checked the armor’s information.
―Armor Information―
Description: Light armor favored by elves
Unique Ability: Weight Reduction
Special Note: Easy to carry due to being light and durable.
“Armor favored by elves? Then why was a hobgoblin wearing it?”
Zeke examined various parts of the armor.
He put on the breastplate and activated the Hersion.
The Hersion responded and transformed into armor form.
Zeke examined the armor covering his body.
It felt different from when the goblin wore it.
“It’s transformed into light armor rather than full plate armor. Maybe because it’s meant for elves.”
Looking at the materials composing the armor, it didn’t seem to use precious metals like mithril or orichalcon.
‘This seems to be an early form of Hersion, different from the Empire’s version. The structure is much simpler.’
Zeke deactivated the Hersion and stored it in his inventory.
“When I get out of here, I should show this to Lord Fenian. Maybe we can unlock the secrets of the Hersion that no one has solved yet.”
Zeke grew increasingly curious about the true nature of this labyrinth.
Afterwards, as Zeke descended the stairs, he had to frantically deal with the rushing monsters.
The monster types were diverse, including Orc Warriors, Enhanced Lizardmen, Gnoll Warriors, and Ancient Kobolds.
As he went down to lower floors, the monsters’ levels gradually increased, and simultaneously, the experience points Zeke gained increased as well.
With limited Healing Factor and Infinite Stamina, he had to take breaks in between, so it took quite some time to defeat the monsters.
‘This reminds me of my Highlander days’
Back then, he would sometimes lie in wait for a week in one spot, waiting for his target beast.
Reviving his past life’s instincts and calmly dealing with monsters, Zeke had reached the 30th floor boss room before he knew it.
Inside, a robed Kobold wielded a staff and fired magic at Zeke.
BOOM! BOOM! BOOM!
Zeke rolled to the side to avoid the magic cast by the mage.
‘The firing rate is fast. This will be tricky to handle.’
Zeke used a health recovery potion and equipped the Hersion.
CLANG!
The moment he equipped the Hersion, Zeke charged toward the Kobold Mage.
“KAAAK!”
Magic flew rapidly towards Zeke.
BOOM BOOM BOOM!
While the magic cast on the Hersion didn’t activate, the orichalcon nearly nullified the Kobold Mage’s magic.
SLASH!
The Kobold Mage hit by Zeke’s sword turned to ash and scattered instantly.
CLANG!
As soon as the battle ended, Zeke deactivated the Hersion and caught his breath.
“Whew. Just wearing it drains my strength.”
After catching his breath briefly, Zeke checked the artifact left by the Kobold Mage.
“The Ancient Kobold Mage’s Staff. Looks pretty good.”
After collecting the artifact, Zeke recovered his health and carefully descended to the 31st floor.
However, something felt different from the 31st floor. While the atmosphere had changed when going from the 10th to 11th floor, this time it felt even more ominous.
Zeke frowned at the eerie energy permeating his entire body.
‘What is this?’
It felt like the air was filled with a sticky, unpleasant energy.
Zeke ran his hand along the wall. A sticky mucus was smeared on the surface.
‘Doesn’t seem poisonous though.’
That’s when it happened.
Something was seen approaching from the far end of the corridor.
Zeke hid himself and surveyed his surroundings.
THUD! THUD THUD!
Several large armored figures appeared.
However, that crude and heavy-looking armor was in a form he had never seen before.
‘Monsters? I’ve never seen monsters moving in groups wearing such heavy equipment.’
One of the figures approaching Zeke’s position opened their helmet that was covering their face.
It was a face of an unfamiliar race that looked somewhat like an orc and somewhat like a human.
Then the figure who removed their helmet spoke to those behind them.
“<?????????????????!>”
Even for Zeke who understood most languages of the continent, this was something he’d never heard before.
‘System, translate that.’
[Ancient Orc language detected.]
[Translating language.]
Zeke was startled by the system message.
‘Ancient Orc race?’
Simultaneously, the Orcs’ language was translated into the common tongue.
[Really, Squad Leader, there’s nothing here!]
The Orc who removed his helmet immediately struck the head of the Orc who just spoke.
[KUHEK!]
The one who appeared to be the superior stomped on the fallen Orc.
[You bastard! Why don’t you be the Squad Leader then!]
[KEURK!]
After beating his subordinate thoroughly in frustration, the superior Orc gave some orders.
The beaten Orc stood up and took a strange posture, bowing his head to the ground with hands on his waist.
‘What are they doing?’
[Repeat after me. I’m worse than goblin dung.]
[Ugh… I’m… worse than… goblin… dung…]
[Look at your voice, you bastard. Want to die?]
The strange call-and-response continued for a while.
Watching this, Zeke realized their behavior was similar to the hazing that occurred in mercenary groups.
‘The title Squad Leader is also commonly used in mercenary groups. Not sure if it’s just system translation or if they’re actually using that term.’
In small mercenary groups, ranks were determined by entry order, excluding the leader.
But large mercenary groups with thousands of members couldn’t operate that way.
So they divided into units of ten, hundred, and thousand, with squad leaders, centurions, and commanders managing the members. Most Central Continent mercenary groups operated this way.
It was puzzling why Ancient Orcs had a mercenary group structure.
While Zeke pondered this, the Squad Leader tormented his subordinate a few more times before leading the unit elsewhere.
Zeke followed them silently to assess the situation.
As he followed the Orcs, Zeke witnessed something surprising.
BANG!
The Orc unit was eliminating monsters appearing throughout the area.
The Orc warriors, wearing crude heavy armor and wielding massive axes with ease, exuded strong intimidation.
The monsters they killed also turned to ash and disappeared.
[Move out.]
They followed the Squad Leader to another location.
Following them, Zeke realized something.
The monsters appearing on the 31st floor weren’t Orcs, but mutant fungus roaming around.
‘Why are these Ancient Orcs going around killing monsters?’
As Zeke continued following them with curiosity, he discovered the reason.
He found an Orc settlement established in a cavern on the 31st floor.
‘HUH?’
Rex Tourn hadn’t mentioned anything about Orcs settling in the labyrinth.
‘Is this because of Hell Mode? This is very different from what I heard.’
Though surprised, Zeke couldn’t waste time here.
He needed to defeat the 31st floor boss and continue downward.
‘Wonder if killing Orcs gives experience points like monsters.’
After brief consideration, Zeke decided not to engage unnecessarily given the uncertainty.
If he provoked them wrongly, the Orc warriors would swarm like bees, and if they didn’t give experience, it would just waste energy.
With limited abilities, Zeke moved cautiously.
He checked his map for the boss room. It was across from the settlement.
Without stealth skills available, he tried to cross the settlement quietly to reach the boss room.
While the Orcs hadn’t posted proper guards around their makeshift barracks, they had at least stationed some men near the boss room.
Just as Zeke was about to slip into the boss room after safely crossing the settlement.
An Orc guard dozing on duty spotted Zeke at the door.
[Intruder! There’s an intruder!]
At the battle cry, Orc warriors sleeping in the barracks immediately rushed out with axes.
‘Oh no…’
Zeke hurriedly opened the boss room door.
RUMBLE!
Seeing the Orc warriors charging with fierce eyes, he quickly entered the stone chamber.
BANG!
He expected the door to close after entering the boss room, but it remained wide open.
Rolling into the room, Zeke faced the boss monster inside.
―Ferocious Mutant Fungus Level 35―
The Ferocious Mutant Fungus dripping red fluid was three times larger than other mutant fungi.
KAAAAK!
The Ferocious Mutant Fungus opened its huge mouth, spewing red fluid at Zeke.
Simultaneously, Orc battle cries rang out from behind.
WOOOOOAH!
In front of Zeke was the boss monster, while behind him charged an Orc unit.
Zeke aimed Bahamut at the boss monster first.
“You first!”
WOONG!
An Aura Blade rose from Zeke’s sword.
Dragon Slaying Technique True Dragon Sword Form
Chapter 3 Section 2
Crescent Moon Strike
The crescent moon from Zeke’s sword bisected the Ferocious Mutant Fungus.
KEEEEK!
The boss monster screamed, spewing fluid.
But tentacles sprouted from the cut and began regenerating.
“What?”
Zeke swung his sword at the Ferocious Mutant Fungus again.
BOOM!
The boss monster with severed tentacles writhed in pain, spraying fluid everywhere.
Just as Zeke was about to deliver the final blow with his ultimate move.
[Die!]
An Orc warrior swung a massive axe from behind.
CLANG!
Zeke deflected the Orc warrior’s axe with his sword.
He immediately raised his Aura Blade and cut down the Orc warrior through his thick armor.
[Gained 55 experience points.]
‘Oh.’
Much higher experience points than normal monsters.
‘Maybe I should have lured and killed them first.’
He regretted avoiding them thinking they wouldn’t give experience, but this wasn’t the time for that.
The fallen Orc warrior turned to ash like other monsters.
[The cursed soul of the Ancient Orc warrior escapes the realm of combat.]
‘Why this message…? Are these Orcs different from other monsters?’
Meanwhile, the recovered Mutant Fungus lunged at Zeke.
KEEEEK!
It swung sharp-spined tentacles at Zeke.
WHOOSH!
Zeke dodged the tentacles while drawing elemental power to prepare Elemental Sword.
‘Elemental Sword drains lots of mana, so minimize output…’
He unleashed the realm of fire.
WHOOSH!
Pure flames erupted from his sword. As expected, without Infinite Stamina and Gluttony skills, mana drained incredibly fast.
“HAH!”
Determined to end this quickly, Zeke unleashed pure flames at the boss monster.
BOOM!
The all-consuming pure flames completely incinerated the Mutant Fungus.
KEEEEK!
The Mutant Fungus screamed and vanished into ash.
But no reward experience or random box appeared.
“Must need direct hits for rewards.”
The reward conditions were quite strict.
He also realized a bigger problem with Elemental Sword.
Mana consumption was much higher than expected.
“Should limit using Elemental Sword. I might collapse from exhaustion first.”
Then the Orc unit charged at Zeke.
Zeke gripped Bahamut and sharpened his senses. It felt like his past life’s instincts returning.
WOOOAH!
CLANG!
Zeke deflected an axe with Bahamut and stabbed its owner’s neck.
[KUHEK!]
The stabbed Orc fell with a subtle smile.
Zeke cut down all the charging Orcs similarly.
SLASH!
“HAAH!”
He focused entirely on combat, swinging his sword again and again.
In his past life, every day was like this.
Zeke felt calmer as he recalled these intense combat sensations.
His body loosened and softened, making sword movements more natural.
Like wearing perfectly fitting clothes after a long time.
“WHEW.”
When he came to, fallen Orcs lay scattered throughout the boss room.
The dead Orcs all turned to ash.
Zeke approached one still breathing.
“Hey, Orc. What exactly are you?”
The Orc leaning against the wall looked at Zeke in surprise.
He spoke.
[The Herald of Blood and Madness shall remember our glory.]
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