Chapter 121

====[■■■■Temple]====

Deep within the temple.

A knight, who had been asleep for what felt like an eternity, finally awoke from the long silence, sensing the presence of a warrior who had arrived after thousands of years.

“Grrrr…”

The knight, having shaped shadows into a human form and clad in what appeared to be armor, with dark shadows flowing like a cape from the rusted back of the armor, reached out towards a longsword planted on the ground. From inside the helmet’s visor, a green glow slowly seeped out.

The knight, having drawn the sword, took a step forward. Red rust dust fell from the creaking gaps in the armor.

Step by step, the knight walked out of the temple, slowly but steadily.

The sound of heavy footsteps echoed through the quiet temple.

– Crack!

Something shattered under the knight’s foot. Looking down, the knight saw the fragments of a shattered statue, the stone image of an old god they once served.

With deep hatred, the knight trampled the statue until it turned to dust.

And then, the knight walked on, to greet the visitor.

==================

Swallowing dryly, I tensed up.

This was a situation I hadn’t even anticipated. To be separated so suddenly, and to be caught by an entry restriction.

The fact that even Freide couldn’t follow me meant that the entry condition here was at least at the master level.

…In other words, it meant that enemies of comparable strength would appear.

Was this feeling in my chest anxiety, or excitement for the upcoming battle?

In any case, this was no time to be in a playful mood.

My right hand gripping Durandal tightened.

Slowly, my mind became as clear as if I had been doused in cold water.

This was a good sign. It gave me the leisure to look around.

The rock cavern was enormous, as if the entire mountain had been hollowed out.

I was standing at a height about midway between the ceiling and the bottom, on a ground that rose like a cliff.

If anything, it wasn’t that this ground had risen, but that all the other grounds had collapsed below, leaving only this place.

At the deep bottom below, black water had pooled like a lake, and from there, an overwhelming miasma was rising.

…If I fell, it would be instant death.

Pillars rose from the bottom to support the ceiling above.

Most of the pillars were so thick that even three grown men couldn’t wrap their arms around them.

The surfaces were uneven and rough, not artificially made, and their thickness varied.

The shape of the ground was strange.

A narrow path led to a wide open area like a sports field, and then narrowed again.

Beyond that, I couldn’t see, as a structure like a fortress wall enclosed it.

I moved forward along the narrow path, gripping my sword and heightening my senses as much as possible.

Sweat dripped down and fell near my collarbone.

The thick air was filled with a rising heat, unbearably hot.

Probably due to geothermal heat.

Are Freide, Milia, and Damien okay?

I wonder what they’re doing right now.

Since I suddenly disappeared and the door wouldn’t open, they might be trying to break it down.

Freide, with her various experiences, might have realized that my disappearance was due to spatial teleportation.

Then, she might be investigating other rooms? I hope it’s not dangerous…

“Grrrr…”

A low growl interrupted my thoughts.

Suddenly, presences that hadn’t been there before began to be felt.

Like corpses coming back to life and moving.

Low growls, heavy heartbeats, and the sound of claws scraping against walls gradually approached from below the cliff.

I sprinted towards the open area.

If I were attacked in the narrow path and bounced off the ground, I would fall to my death.

As soon as I reached the center of the open area, they revealed themselves.

Large hands covered in carapace gripped the ground, pulling up bodies hanging from the cliff.

Three of them. Two in front, one behind.

Miasma fiercely rose.

No, this is no time to watch…!

I drew my bow and shot an arrow towards the hand trying to climb up from behind.

With a small hope that if I could just remove that hand, it would fall.

The arrow, shot like a flash of light, didn’t pierce but bounced off the hand as if it were a lie.

The sound of metal clashing echoed loudly through the cavern.

All that was left on the hand was a scratch on the carapace.

Oh my.

Compared to a sword, it’s weaker, but still, it just blocked it?

An arrow that could pierce rock like a joke?

This is why carapace-covered monsters are…!

I put away the bow and charged at them.

To quickly reduce their numbers.

Because being attacked from all sides by three would be dangerous.

The moment I reached close to them, the monster pulled its body up sharply.

Only then did its form become clear.

Its height was a little over 2 meters. Not that tall.

But its body length stretched over 6 meters.

A body covered in insect-like carapace.

Sharp spikes protruded from the carapace on its back.

A lower body resembling a grasshopper, with six legs, each twice as thick as mine.

The legs wriggled up and down like waves.

Where the head should have been, there was something resembling a human torso instead.

If it weren’t a locust, you might have called it a centaur.

The upper body was also covered in exoskeleton, and it wielded a double-handed axe.

Though a bit larger… it was unmistakably a human weapon.

Yeah, hybrid monsters are a mix of various creatures.

…Which means humans can be mixed in too.

The head on its neck also had a human face.

No, perhaps it was a face that *used* to be human.

It was disgustingly grotesque.

The eyes dangled out of their sockets like snail eyes, wriggling in midair, and the nose drooped like an elephant’s trunk.

The skin of the ears and jaw also hung down like tentacles.

The only part that still looked human was the mouth and lips.

Which, honestly, made it even creepier.

Seriously, is there no monster that looks halfway decent?

Every single one of them is disgustingly hideous.

This was a monster I’d never seen before.

If I had to name it, maybe something like “Locust Human”?

Locust Centaur…

I’ll just call it a Locust.

The scientific name of a monster is whatever the first discoverer decides, after all.

A foul stench emanated from it.

The smell of rotting flesh, mixed with all kinds of filth.

My face instinctively scrunched up.

“Kyaaaaaaak!”

The Locust let out a shrill roar and charged at me.

Its six legs moved in a chaotic rhythm.

Gripping Durandal, which had begun to emit a faint blue light, I charged straight at it.

—

– Kwaaaang!

The axe and longsword collided, creating a deafening explosion.

Even though it wasn’t my full strength, the strike was powerful, yet the creature didn’t budge an inch.

The axe was chipped but not completely shattered.

The Locust pressed down with its axe, pushing me back, and thrust one of its front legs like a spear toward my abdomen.

Yeah, having eight limbs must be nice!

Twisting my sword to deflect the axe, I rolled to the side.

Sharp claws pierced the air, and the axe struck the ground at an angle, shattering it.

The ground erupted with a violent tremor.

Fragments flew up, clattering against my armor.

“Kyiit!”

Before I could even get up, another leg aimed for my head.

Damien almost got hit by an attack like this.

I channeled more energy.

The flowing aura elevated my body.

Like a snake, my left hand shot up and grabbed the creature’s leg.

“Haaaaaah!”

With that, I swung my right hand.

Even with one hand, the speed was several times faster than before.

A blue arc tore through the creature’s leg.

– Kwadduk!

Sparks flew as the exoskeleton shattered.

Durandal’s blade tore through the flesh, digging deep.

Green fluid gushed out.

Just as I was about to completely sever the leg, the creature swung its axe again.

Tch.

What a shame.

I pulled back my sword and leaped backward.

The axe sliced through the air where I had just been.

The blade, scraping against the exoskeleton, sent sparks flying, but unfortunately, it didn’t completely sever the leg.

Still, I’d say that leg won’t be moving anymore.

Held together by a single piece of exoskeleton, the flesh inside had been completely cut through.

“Kyaaaaaa…”

The Locust pounded the ground in rage.

The fluid oozing from its wound spread, emitting a toxic smoke.

Eight seconds in. The scouting phase was over.

This monster was trickier than I thought.

Its physical abilities were on par with mine.

The exoskeleton was tougher than black iron… and its axe was on the same level as my sword.

To be precise, a strange magical energy enveloped the axe blade, protecting it from damage.

I couldn’t tell if the creature was casting magic or if the axe itself was enchanted…

Doesn’t matter. If it’s a magical effect, it’ll weaken every time it clashes with Durandal.

Jin’s sword severs magical energy.

In a one-on-one fight, it wouldn’t be a match for me.

…The problem is, it’s not a one-on-one fight.

I glanced behind me.

Two more Locusts had already started pulling themselves up from the ground.

If all three of them start swinging their limbs… it’ll be hard to dodge.

I need to take this one out as quickly as possible.

I pulled out the Ice Blade from the case on my back.

You said the curse was suppressed, right?

I’ll trust you, Lacey.

I took off my glove, stuffed it into the case, and slid my hand into the Ice Blade.

A familiar chill crept up my left arm.