The impact sound reverberated off the walls and overlapped, while Solion swept his hair back with a hand that was bleeding profusely.
"Belok, I knew I shouldn't have trusted a piece of shit like you..."
A few days ago.
- Thud.
When the connection with Belok was severed, Solion could instinctively sense that something had gone terribly wrong with Belok.
'Hunting? Hunting is a damn joke... Instead, he got eaten by that piece of trash.'
Under normal circumstances, he would have just shrugged it off.
Salvatorium. The forbidden alliance of mages.
Under that name, they were comrades, but what did it matter if one of them met a bad end?
It would have been a welcome event if he were to die.
A forbidden mage, especially one who had reached the stage of transcendence, was a valuable resource.
With high hopes, he would have wandered to the place where he died, for the sake of that corpse.
However, the current situation was not something to be taken lightly.
'If the mission fails... The elders won't just sit idly by.'
The way the elders act is surprisingly simple.
- The ultimate goal can be achieved over thousands of years, and it's never too late. What should be feared is the revelation of the alliance's ultimate goal.
If there's a chance to achieve the ultimate goal, they won't miss it, but that's all there is to it.
This time is no different.
They dispatched Solion and Belok and supported the black mages, but that was the extent of it.
It's not that Destrue's existence isn't important.
Rather, Salvatorium is more averse to being exposed.
However.
'For such a reason... For such a reason...!'
The punishment for failure is severe. No, the word 'severe' is insufficient.
Death is not the end.
The souls of the forbidden mages are in the hands of the elders, so even after death, they cannot be free.
"...Sigh. What, what should I do?"
Solion looked at the crystal with a grave expression.
Perhaps because he had punched it in frustration, the surface was covered with hardened blood.
'Muspelrun, that damn thing... suppressed the ancient spirits.'
This was the biggest problem.
No matter how much he tried to cast the liberation spell, it couldn't compare to the death energy the countless spirits offered to Destrue.
Is that all?
[Mask... joining. Mask... joining.]
Two days ago, the news brought back by the evil spirit he had released to scout the 4th base camp.
It's unclear what 'mask' means, but from the situation, it wasn't hard to infer its meaning.
'Support troops... have joined the 4th base camp.'
Then, what remains?
Muspelrun will not sit idly by.
For some reason, he is currently only suppressing the ancient spirits, but he will soon attack this place.
Then, what awaits at the end... is...
'...failure.'
Only failure awaited.
"Huff..."
A deep sigh escaped his lips at the current reality.
But, only for a moment.
"First... yeah, first, stay calm."
Solion leaned against the crystal and looked up at the sky.
'Nothing has happened yet. Nothing at all.'
The elders' punishment? It hasn't happened yet.
Muspelrun attacking the ancient ruins? This is just his prediction.
It was something he could understand if he thought about it calmly.
'...Yeah, it was strange from the beginning.'
Why didn't the great Muspelrun move himself and instead set up camp at the 4th base camp?
If even half of the power recorded in history was true, there would be no reason for him to do so.
'There must be a reason.'
Another point.
'The support troops... are not numerous.'
They are likely a small number.
Considering Belok's nature, it was an easy inference.
That damp, cowardly bastard talks big about being a hunter, but in the end, he's just a small, timid person.
If he was defeated?
'The opponent... was unexpectedly strong. Or there was some variable.'
It couldn't have been a large number.
If it were, he would have come back with a bold face and requested additional support.
Thus, when he calmly reviewed the situation, it didn't seem as hopeless as it initially appeared.
However, he couldn't maintain his composure...
"Because of this damn thing... ...tsk."
The aura emitted by Destrue is terrifying.
It not only drains the life force of living things but also eats away at the mind like the mana flowing through the magic realm.
'I told you to be careful...'
It seems he couldn't completely avoid its effects.
"Huff..."
Solion closed his eyes and focused his mind. Inhaling and exhaling.
How much time had passed?
"...Now, it's finally calm."
Having dispelled the effects of Destrue, Solion resumed his contemplation.
'Perhaps... Muspelrun cannot move.'
He didn't know why.
But if he could move, he would have directly attacked the ancient ruins instead of setting up such a large-scale barrier.
Then...
'The support troops are the variable.'
But their numbers are small.
What options does Muspelrun have?
"...Is it that, then?"
People say Muspelrun's strategy is simple but deadly.
This can be seen in the final battle.
'He alone crushed ten thousand soldiers... and attacked the capital with a small force.'
Doesn't this match the current situation?
No.
'...It must match.'
If he wants to have a chance of winning, that's the only way.
If Muspelrun uses the same strategy as in the final battle, there would be something he could do.
Or...
"If Destrue wakes up, it would be perfect."
It's not an impossible scenario.
Although the ancient spirits are all suppressed, look at the current moment.
Sssss—
Without even casting the liberation spell, the seal's power is weakening.
'What is the reason...?'
He didn't know.
There were a few hypotheses. The most plausible one...
'Something is stimulating Destrue.'
An object or person with a deep connection to the sealed entity is awakening it.
But...
"...tsk."
Destrue is a monstrous entity not even recorded in history. All records of it have been erased, and it's unknown which era it belongs to.
How could he find a related medium?
However...
[Reversal of Heaven... Come, will you...]
The occasional voice of Destrue. Rather, it was more like a thought.
From this thought, it was clear that there was something.
"The possibility of 'Reversal of Heaven' or something waking Destrue at the right time is... "
Slim.
So, Solion gave up on the idea.
If Muspelrun pursues the same strategy as in the past, he would have to face a small, elite strike team.
'That much... is doable. No, rather... I might even be able to eat them.'
Solion's eyes turned to the sky.
But his eyes were murky, lacking the sharpness they once had.
This was due to the death energy from Destrue that he couldn't fully shake off.
* * *
One full day since leaving the 4th base camp.
The journey with the porters was peaceful. Or rather, it couldn't be anything but peaceful.
'The monsters in the vicinity have been completely wiped out.'
Due to the ancient spirits, the monsters have been pushed to the outskirts of the Hamern Great Forest.
The Hamern Great Forest was now filled with silence.
Arriving at the barrier area.
"Huff, huff. Sir Mage, can we... can we go a bit slower?"
Leaving the panting porters behind, I climbed a tree and looked at the other side.
Normally, the dense foliage would have prevented a clear view, but due to the death energy emitted by Destrue, the nearby foliage was withered and twisted.
Thanks to this, I could see quite far.
Anyway.
"...Hmm, is it over there?"
In the distance, a massive barrier that couldn't be seen with the naked eye was detected by my senses.
'Indeed... it's impressive.'
A colossal dome, the size of which was impossible to estimate.
The barrier set up by Senior Reheim was different from the one I had seen on the map in the stone chamber.
It was an incredible scale, hard to believe it was cast by a single mage, especially one with a split core.
However, the interior of the barrier was truly desolate.
[Grumble, grumble]
[Screech, screech]
The undead swarming inside. Their numbers were beyond counting.
It must be a case of 'half water, half meat.'
Truly...
'It's disgusting.'
Even from a distance, the stench was overwhelming.
Not only that.
Their appearance was also repulsive.
They were originally monsters, already on the dirty side, but as they turned into undead and began to decay, it was even worse.
Their eyes were like those of a rotten goblin...
'...There are actually real rotten goblins.'
In any case, it was a sight that would haunt one's dreams.
As I took in this disgusting sight, a voice reached my ears.
"Huff, huff... Senior, is this the place?"
Obern, panting heavily.
Clearly, this guy needs to exercise more.
How did he end up being less fit than Reilly, who is the weakest among us?
Of course, one could say, "He's a mage," but I had a different view.
'After all, a mage must have a harmonious mind, spirit, and body.'
Look at me.
I have a righteous mindset, pure and clear mana, and a body that can withstand a fight with a knight.
Anyway.
"But... huff. Why are we moving so urgently? We don't have a strict time limit...?"
"No time limit?"
"Yes."
"Hmm. You're right."
In response to Reilly's complaint, I nodded.
There was no set time for the operation. Or, to be precise...
'It's up to the strike team.'
The operation could start immediately or after a sufficient rest, depending on the judgment of the strike team.
'Of course, it can't go on indefinitely, but there's no need to rush.'
But why did we move so quickly?
I jumped down from the tree and landed lightly.
"Have you heard the saying, 'The early bird catches the worm'?"
"I've heard it, sir."
Of course, he must have heard it.
It was a well-known proverb even among the black-and-white zone vagrants, who despised writing.
"But why... this saying all of a sudden?"
"This proverb is quite cruel. Because from the worm's perspective, getting up early means being eaten."
Once, as a black-and-white zone vagrant, I pondered this.
Am I the bird or the worm?
If I'm the bird, getting up early is natural. That way, I can catch the worm before other birds.
But if I'm the worm?
'That's truly terrifying.'
If I get up early, I'll end up in the stomach of an early bird.
But.
"I'm the bird."
"What... damn... cough!"
Having sworn loyalty, it was unfaithful to curse the master. I lightly reprimanded Reilly, who was about to do so, and looked in the direction of the ancient ruins.
"I'm the bird."
I heard a faint 'damn bird...' but didn't react to it.
It was something like this.
"So, we need to move early."
"...What? What do you mean...?"
Reilly finally noticed something was off, his expression stiffening.
But I didn't care.
"Our operation starts now."
Operation name: Early Bird
The idea started with Shin's report.
Not long after we set out, when we were about to set up camp.
- [An evil spirit is spying on us.]
- Again?
When we entered the 4th base camp, Shin had noticed the presence of an evil spirit and mentioned it.
This was the first time since then.
- [I don't know what it's up to. It seems to be so twisted that it can't even spy properly.]
- What do you mean by 'up to something'...?
- [It's quite periodic.]
I had a hunch.
'Again... planning some mischief.'
People need to evolve.
And the feeling I had after encountering the first forbidden mage was this.
These guys can't be given time to prepare.
If given time, they would surely come up with some nonsense like curses.
Well, how impressive could their mischief be?
"Parasite."
Pazuk!
I called Shin and had him stand in front of me.
The parasite was ready.
Now, the next thing to prepare was me and Obern, the two mages.
"Obern."
"Yes, senior."
"Draw the mana accumulation array."
"Ah, ah. Yes, sir!"
The mana accumulation array I'm referring to is the same as the one in Senior Reheim's stone chamber.
Of course, the auxiliary core magic array is a separate one.
Anyway.
"Parasite."
[Parasite, parasite! ...You damn thing. Can't you get rid of me at least when I answer?]
"If you handle this well, I'll do it for you."
[...Damn.]
The Early Bird operation I set up was simple.
"I'll send mana, you cut down the forbidden mage. Obern, finish the mana accumulation array quickly."
The mana accumulation array is highly efficient in the mana-rich Hamern Great Forest.
If I perform the breathing technique on it, Shin should have enough mana to act.
'Although I have a considerable reserve... more is always better.'
[Damn, but... I probably can't handle the forbidden mage alone.]
"I know, weakling."
In fact, I didn't expect much.
Even if Shin were a Master Knight, his transcended spirit is real, but his body is a false illusion.
A half-transcended being.
'He can't even control his output.'
How could he cut down a forbidden mage?
"Just... hold on."
[Hold on?]
"Yeah, until I get there. Hold on."
Shin's role is to buy time so the forbidden mage can't pull any tricks.
That's it, just... that.
[This damn thing...]
Shin muttered in despair.
"Huff, huff..."
As Obern, without a moment to catch his breath, took out mana stones from the subspace and drew the magic array.
"What are you doing? Not going?"
[Going, going. But...]
"Sure, you can cut off the forbidden mage's head."
Shin charged into the midst of the undead. Senior Reheim's barrier only affects the ancient spirits, so he seemed to have a fair amount of freedom.
Is the evil spirit watching this moment? I don't know. It might be better if it is.
Shin will be prepared to defend against it.
'...That's what servants are for.'
I smiled broadly.
There was one more person with a smile on their face.