Chapter 264
“HUF, HUF.”
Jason took long, rough breaths while maintaining the magical wall.
All the other companions were also tired and injured from the relentless attacks of the magic beasts.
Alice and the other children of Lubern were trembling fearfully behind Zion.
Aaron spoke to the children.
“Don’t worry. We’ll be able to escape safely.”
Aaron turned his head to look at Arina, who was meditating with her eyes closed.
Arina had used up all her magical power maintaining the barrier for several days.
After attempting and failing to attack several times, the magic beasts waited for her magic power to run out, then launched a full assault when the barrier’s power weakened.
Just then, the dwarves who had gone to check the back of the dungeon returned.
Jefrik approached the dwarves and asked.
“Is there a path inside?”
The dwarf Captain shook his head and said.
“The paths are too complicated, and they lead deeper inside rather than out. If we go in the wrong way, we might encounter even more magic beasts.”
Hearing the Captain’s words, Jefrik nodded and approached Jason.
“Jason, how long can you hold out?”
Thanks to Arina’s training, Jason’s total magic power had increased, leading to longer duration.
He wiped away his cold sweat and said.
“At most… 30 minutes is my limit.”
Jefrik gulped dryly at Jason’s words.
Arina needed to recover her strength during that time if they were to escape from here.
Just then, Kei and the Syndicate members returned from another direction.
Kei approached Jefrik and whispered to him in a small voice.
“Jefrik, there are… more traces of magic beasts that way.”
Jefrik’s face turned pale at her words.
If more magic beasts were to come in their current situation, they would have no way to hold out.
Kei turned her head to look at the frightened children of Lubern.
They couldn’t let these children die here after they had just gained their freedom from the Holy Kingdom.
Just then, Arina, who had been meditating, opened her eyes.
“Everyone, please listen carefully to what I say.”
Everyone focused when Arina spoke.
She spoke in a calm voice.
“I’ve recovered some strength. While I hold back the magic beasts, escape to where there are no traces of them. Sir Zeke should be coming with the rescue team soon, so we just need to hold out until then.”
The children behind Zion all began crying at Arina’s words.
“HIC, Lady Arina… no. Let’s go together!”
She smiled lovingly at the Lubern children.
“It was my fault for bringing the children to such a dangerous place. Kei, please take good care of the children.”
Then Alice, who had been listening, ran into Arina’s arms and hugged her.
“HIC, I’m sorry, Lady Arina. I insisted on coming along… HIC.”
Arina gently stroked Alice’s head and said.
“Alice, don’t worry. I’ll protect you, so listen well to Kei and stay hidden. Okay?”
Arina gave a signal with her eyes to Louis, who was the oldest among the Lubern children.
Louis barely held back his tears as he led Alice toward himself.
Kei nodded at Arina’s words.
Jefrik’s group gritted their teeth and prepared to find a path with the dwarves.
That’s when it happened.
GRRRR!
The cry of magic beasts was heard from the direction Kei had come from.
Jefrik drew his sword.
“Everyone, battle positions!”
The worst situation had occurred with magic beasts flooding in from both sides.
And then, a leopard-like magic beast leaped out from the darkness.
Jefrik rushed forward swinging his sword.
“HAAAT!”
CLASH!
Jefrik’s sword collided with the magic beast’s claws. The dwarves holding hammers followed Jefrik and charged at the magic beast.
“CHAHAAAT!”
KWABANG!
When the dwarves swung their hammers, the magic beast nimbly moved its body and climbed up the wall.
The magic beast moved swiftly, targeting the children who looked most vulnerable.
KAAAK!
Just then, Zion, who was protecting the children, raised his hand and used his blood ability.
KEEEING!
The magic beast stopped mid-air from Zion’s ability.
While he managed to stop the magic beast, Zion’s telekinetic output had decreased from his previous recovery.
Black blood dripped from Zion’s nose as he overexerted himself to protect the children.
“Damn you, magic beast! If I had my original power, something like you would!”
In that gap, Aaron climbed up the wall. Then he swung his twin swords and cut the magic beast’s vital point.
CHWAAAK!
Zion pushed the magic beast, whose vital point had been cut by Aaron’s attack, straight into the wall.
KWAKWABANG!
As Zion broke out in a cold sweat, Alice approached him with worried eyes and used healing on him.
“Are you okay, Zion?”
Zion pretended to be fine as he spoke to Alice.
“No big deal. This much is nothing for the great Zion.”
Zion was putting on unnecessary bravado.
But in reality, his body was on the verge of breaking down.
That’s when it happened.
GRRRR―
The cries of other magic beasts were heard from inside.
KAAAK―
Fierce magic beasts began leaping out from the darkness.
Just as Jefrik’s group and the dwarves were about to charge at the magic beasts, a huge light flashed from behind.
PAJIJIJIK!
Arina’s lightning bolt of light struck the magic beasts.
KAAAK!
As the magic beasts hit by the lightning writhed in pain, Arina shouted from behind.
“Go now! Kei, please protect the children!”
WOOOONG!
A massive light erupted from Arina’s body.
She tried to shoot another lightning bolt to clear the path.
But suddenly the dungeon shook with THUMP THUMP sounds.
KREEEEE!
A completely different cry from the magic beasts they’d encountered so far was heard.
Everyone tensed up and stayed alert.
After a moment, a new magic beast slowly emerged from the darkness.
‘Th-that is?’
A magic beast that looked like a mix between a cyclops and werewolf stood before them.
Its massive body completely blocked the path, filling the dungeon walls.
The group fell into despair and their morale instantly crumbled. Seeing this, Arina gathered herself and said.
“Jason, break down the wall. I’ll lure away the other magic beasts, so lead the group to escape in the opposite direction.”
Jason was shocked at those words.
“I-I can’t do that!”
But white electricity was already crackling around Arina’s body.
“If it’s just me, I can somehow hold them back. So please… protect them.”
Jason gritted his teeth at Arina’s words.
At that moment, the giant magic beast howled.
GRREEEEE!
Arina shot a lightning bolt of light at the giant magic beast.
PAJIJIJIK!
Though the giant beast staggered back when engulfed in lightning, it didn’t seem to take major damage like the other magic beasts.
KAAAK!
Arina shouted.
“Jason, hurry!”
Just as Jason closed his eyes tight to break down the wall.
KIKIGIK!
Suddenly a monkey-like magic beast leaped out from the ceiling.
KAGAK!
They hadn’t noticed it because of its small body. The beast lunged at Arina.
KAAK!
Zion hastily reached out toward the beast but couldn’t grab it completely.
CHWAAAK!
Arina, who had been maintaining the lightning, was struck by the magic beast.
“Lady Arina!”
As Arina collapsed from the beast’s attack, Claire immediately shot multiple arrows at the beast.
KEEEK!
When the beast dodged back from the arrows, Zion used his power to grab it, and Aaron immediately swung his sword to kill it.
Jason ran toward the fallen Arina.
“Lady Arina!”
Thanks to Zion, the beast’s attack had only grazed her, but the wounded area was turning black from the magical energy.
GRREEEEE!
When Arina’s lightning disappeared, the magic beast charged forward again.
Jefrik and the dwarves gritted their teeth and raised their weapons.
“A honorable dwarf never retreats!”
“Pure power of fire, grant us strength!”
Though they charged with vigor, several dwarves were immediately knocked back by the beast’s kick.
KWABANG!
“KUHEK!”
The fallen dwarves coughed up blood as their bodies trembled.
Jefrik and Arin, who had dodged the attack, jumped in front of the fallen dwarves to face the giant magic beast.
“CHAHAT!”
Jefrik charged at the beast with his sword. He unleashed the Five Light Sword technique, his family’s secret skill.
CHWARALAK!
The swift sword aimed for the beast’s vital points.
But the beast swung its arm at Jefrik as if swatting away a fly.
GRREEE!
While Jefrik engaged the beast, Arin created flames.
“Fire Lance!”
Multiple high-level fire magic spells flew toward the beast.
KWAKWABANG!
But fire lances weren’t enough to damage the beast that had withstood Arina’s lightning.
Kei, who was behind them, also joined in with magic attacks.
“Dig, Bound!”
Suddenly the ground beneath the beast caved in and vines shot out to grab it.
After confirming the spell’s effect, Kei cast another layered spell.
“Slow!”
Kei cast three spells in an instant without incantations.
KUEEEE!
Fortunately, Kei’s layered spells caught the magic beast’s movements.
Jefrik charged at the slowed beast and thrust his sword toward its heart.
POOK!
His sword infused with aura pierced deep into the beast’s heart.
Jefrik tried to pull out the sword stuck in the heart. But the beast’s hard muscles gripped Jefrik’s sword tightly.
“URGH!”
Arin shouted to Jefrik.
“Jefrik! Get back!”
The beast that had been immobilized by the layered spells began moving again.
It swung its arm at Jefrik who was still attached to its body.
CHWAAAK!
KWACHING!
Suddenly vines summoned by Kei grabbed and pulled Jefrik away.
GRREEEEE!
Despite being stabbed in the heart by Jefrik’s sword, the beast slowly resumed moving as if completely unharmed.
Everyone, including Jefrik, fell into despair.
At that time, the wall Jason had created was also slowly crumbling.
The giant beast roared and charged at the group.
GRREEEEE!
PENG!
Suddenly the beast’s entire upper body went flying.
“Huh?”
Jefrik, who was right in front, stared blankly at the beast’s remaining lower half.
Kei and Arin were the same.
They blinked and slowly turned their heads.
As the wall crumbled, a familiar person appeared.
Black hair, black eyes.
Zeke Drake had arrived.
GRREEE!
Behind the dead beast’s corpse, similarly huge magic beasts could be seen charging forward.
Zeke swiftly moved and picked up the massive hammer that had sent the dead beast’s body flying.
It was the ‘Giant Hunter’ received from the Battle God Tyr.
Zeke swung Giant Hunter toward the charging beasts.
KWADDEUDEK!
When he unleashed the Giant Hunting technique imbued with gold power, the charging beasts’ bodies exploded in a single blow just like before.
Zeke moved between the beasts, swinging Giant Hunter as if possessed.
KRAAK!
Though the beasts bared their fangs and charged at Zeke more violently, their teeth shattered, bones broke, and bodies exploded with each hammer blow.
Soon the dungeon corridor was filled with beast corpses.
KUNG!
After dealing with all the beasts, Zeke set down Giant Hunter.
Then he distributed healing potions from his inventory to the fallen ones.
The injured dwarves quickly recovered thanks to Zeke’s healing potions.
After checking on the dwarves’ condition, Zeke headed toward Arina who had fallen from the beast’s attack.
After checking her condition, he quickly used Healing and Recovery on her.
As warm light seeped into her, Arina slowly opened her eyes.
“Sir Zeke, you came.”
“I’m truly sorry for being late, Lady Arina.”
Alice, who had been sobbing behind them, ran and clung to Zeke’s back.
“Lord Zeke! SNIFF! I was so scared!”
Zion and Aaron also leaned against the wall catching their breath, seeming relieved.
Zeke helped Arina up and said.
“This place is dangerous, let’s go to the camp. We’ve built new fortifications there, so it should be safer than before.”
Zeke called the Cayman and Gurab units to safely escort them to the camp.
Those who safely arrived at camp thanks to Zeke’s help gaped at the camp fortified with walls made of bone.
Their surprise was brief, as those who returned to camp hadn’t slept properly for days and fell asleep as soon as they lay down.
Zeke left them to rest and only called a meeting with the group the next day.
When everyone gathered, he said to the group.
“What’s here is not Medusa.”
At those words, Jefrik asked Zeke.
“In legends, only Medusa is known to have petrification abilities. Are there other magical beasts with petrification powers?”
“There’s something more dangerous.”
Zeke furrowed his brows and slowly opened his mouth.
“Four magic beasts called the apex of all magic beasts. The Four Fiends.”
His eyes flashed sharply as he spoke.
“One of them, Qiongqi, is here.”
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