Labyrinth Exploration 101 - Chapter 104

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Labyrinth Exploration 101 Episode 104

 

DINOSAUR(5)

 

[ The effect of the Ten Thousand Ice Herb activates. ]

 

I stood on the castle wall.

 

My condition is at its peak. This is the first time in my life I’ve been in such perfect form.

 

Magic power surges up from my core, and the flow through my blood vessels is more vivid than ever before.

 

If I’m not careful, I’ll fall into qi deviation. I need to consume it quickly.

 

“…”

 

I took a deep breath. A method to release the magic power came to mind. With wide-open eyes, I gazed into the distant void.

 

Then the magic power unfurls. Like thread, it stretches into the sky riding the wind.

 

The airflow gradually grows stronger and denser. Magic power swirls in the void, gathering solidly like a massive wheel.

 

Finally, above the heads of countless demonic beasts──

 

It creates a Blue Typhoon.

 

Kwaddddddeuk──-!

 

This is no ordinary gust. Every grain of wind contains ‘bullets.’ Deadly blue particles rotate at ultra-high speed.

 

Mana bullets collide with mana bullets, colliding and colliding, creating intense chain reactions. The demonic beasts in the bullet’s path are shredded as if ground in a blender.

 

I control the airflow.

 

Just as Kim Jeong-wook once showed me this technique, not to kill but to protect.

 

I pour out magic power.

 

It’s an indescribable overinvestment.

 

Insane waste, or close to squandering.

 

Yet the magic power doesn’t deplete. As much as I deploy on the battlefield, it charges again in its raw form. It recovers naturally.

 

Shiiiiik──!

 

Moreover, I’m not alone on this battlefield. Im Hae-jun and Kesooabi’s rapid-fire arrows intercepting aerial mobs, Smeshion’s heavy weapon barrage, Akiman and elite soldiers cutting down demonic beasts clinging to the walls… There are numerous reliable backups.

 

Remaining time: 4 hours 17 minutes.

 

We can hold out sufficiently.

 

* * *

 

The castle wall of the Western Stronghold had already collapsed.

 

But everyone was working together to hold out. We just need to protect the crystal anyway. From now on, it’s urban warfare.

 

The civilians had already evacuated deep into the stronghold. Narrow alleys and collapsed buildings became new defensive lines. Combat unfolded in the dust-filled streets.

 

“Hup!”

 

Kate swung her long spear. Bluish electric current flowed along the spear blade and shot out in a half-moon shape.

 

Shwaaak─-!

 

It ground up all the demonic beasts in front, but the problem was behind her.

 

Some cloth-like demonic beast targeted Kate’s back. The creature that rushed in like fluttering black fabric─

 

Kuuuung!

 

Was incinerated by a hot straight punch. The demonic beast’s flesh turned to ash and scattered. Kate looked back with a start.

 

“Be more careful, Master.”

 

S-rank mercenary Min Seok-jae. The human with an annoying mustache who had pushed my patience to its limits.

 

He grinned and struck at the air.

 

Kwaaaak!

 

Flames were discharged. The demonic beasts swept up in the fire melted into piles of dirt.

 

“You could have helped like this from the beginning.”

 

“Even when I help, you complain. Such a haughty fellow~”

 

Min Seok-jae curtly swung his fist. Kwaaang-! His shockwave was infused with heat.

 

The other S-rank Kellinik was rapid-firing arrows from the high ground. Rapid fire that had reached the extreme. Dozens of magic arrows fell like heavy rain every second.

 

Shwaeaeaek──!

 

Lee Jun-ho’s sword sliced through the air. Flashing sword light cut through the demonic beasts’ bodies.

 

Kang Hyeon nimbly moved between the demonic beasts, stabbing their cores. His footsteps were so fast that even shadows couldn’t follow.

 

Seo Ji-woo pulled on the ‘lines’ she had set up in advance. Invisible threads cut through the air, tearing apart all the demonic beasts in their path.

 

“Heurya!”

 

Kim Dong-ha threw his hammer. Thwak thwak thwak! The hammer bounced around like a boomerang, bursting dozens of demonic beasts before returning to his grasp.

 

Paaaang─-!

 

Behind Kim Dong-ha, Ryu Yeon-hwa swung her fan. Ultra-high pressure gales separated the demonic beasts’ blood and flesh.

 

Everyone’s battle continued like this.

 

* * *

 

[ 00 : 07 : 10 ]

 

The timer that started at 6 hours had decreased significantly.

 

The 6 hours that seemed like they would never end now had only 7 minutes left.

 

The Ten Thousand Ice Herb’s effect had worn off long ago, and my condition was on the verge of collapse.

 

But the problem was that the demonic beasts showed no sign of ending.

 

The insane quantity filling the horizon, even reaching the horizon line, showed no signs of diminishing.

 

Could it be such an unreasonable rule that we have to kill every single remaining one…?

 

“Not much left! Keep it up, everyone!”

 

Nevertheless, Lee Jong-soo shouted energetically. Like a true warrior, his stamina was good.

 

Probably because Lee Jong-soo only looks one step ahead. He can’t see beyond the horizon.

 

I can’t see either. There are only demonic beasts everywhere.

 

“3 minutes!”

 

“3 minutes!!!”

 

Im Hae-jun echoed Lee Jong-soo’s time briefing. Im Hae-jun continued shooting arrows beside Kesooabi.

 

When Im Hae-jun shot to the right, Kesooabi shot to the left.

 

Before they knew it, the two had become comrades-in-arms.

 

[ 00 : 03 : 00 ]

 

3 minutes.

 

The demonic beasts pound on the castle wall. The technique that had protected the wall all this time wavers. The cracks grow larger.

 

The timer before my eyes is blurry. Both my magic power and stamina are running out.

 

[ 00 : 02 : 00 ]

 

2 minutes.

 

The castle wall collapses. I can’t hear sounds well.

 

Beeeeee…

 

Along with tinnitus, my hearing was temporarily lost. I grasped my fading consciousness. I gripped my walking stick tightly.

 

[ 00 : 01 : 30 ]

 

1 minute 30 seconds.

 

Suddenly, a translucent blue barrier formed. That barrier blocked the magical beasts that were rushing forward.

 

It was an unexpected situation of unknown cause, but I realized it belatedly.

 

Yoonsooabi.

 

That one had squeezed out every last drop of its own magic power to form a defensive line.

 

Thud thud thud thud thud──-!

 

The barrier held for 30 seconds. It was a sufficiently heroic achievement.

 

[ 00 : 00 : 30 ]

 

Soldiers and mercenaries, Lee Jong-soo and Im Hae-jun blocked the surging magical beasts with their entire bodies. Having thrown away their dulled swords, they struck the magical beasts with their fists. Determination filled their bloodied faces.

 

Their armor was covered in blood and dirt, and their shields were already shattered. Even so, they did not retreat.

 

“Just 30 more seconds!”

 

The soldiers responded to Lee Jong-soo’s cry. They shouted the number ’30’ with their last remaining strength.

 

And then….

 

[ 00 : 00 : 00 ]

 

0 seconds.

 

Whiiiiing───!

 

A signal-like flash shot straight up from the village hall where the crystal was stored. Like a pulse, it scattered fragments of light in all directions.

 

Whiiiii──-

 

A ring filled with pure light expanded in an instant and embraced the entire earth.

 

Swoooosh!

 

The magical beasts touched by the ring vanished. Not a trace remained. Without leaving flesh, blood, debris, or anything else, they fell into complete ‘nothingness’.

 

Finally….

 

“It’s over!!”

 

Lee Jong-soo shouted. The soldiers also threw down their weapons and embraced each other.

 

From there, I looked up at the sky.

 

Damn clear.

 

* * *

 

The labyrinth was over.

 

However, the foundation was destroyed.

 

I’m not talking about the castle walls and village.

 

This region had all its living infrastructure destroyed by the magical beasts. Wild animals were devoured by humans and magical beasts, and the rice and barley fields were completely destroyed.

 

Of course, it’s a future I don’t need to worry about.

 

“Oh! That’s good, that’s good! Again, starting from the main beam!”

 

Even if I leave these people behind, even if I abandon this place, it’s a world that will stop before long anyway.

 

Because a labyrinth is merely a labyrinth.

 

But….

 

“Done!”

 

A new village hall was built. Houses were also lined up around it.

 

A mage was a convenient existence at times like this. I took charge of the foundation for all construction and opened underground waterways.

 

For Mr. Yoon, who had struggled managing food supplies, I built a new poultry farm. For Hyeon Dan and Hyeon Seon-ah, I personally designed and gave them houses on particularly good sites.

 

The things I intended to do only until this labyrinth disappeared, only until it disappeared, kept continuing.

 

“Then… now.”

 

I took out the orbs. These were items I had obtained while blocking the final rush.

 

“Go.”

 

I gathered and threw 2/3 of the orbs.

 

One became a wild boar and ran into the forest, another became a tiger and disappeared into the mountainside. Other orbs became snakes and crawled into the grass, became grasshoppers and jumped up. Crickets hid in rock crevices, and dragonflies flew over the pond.

 

Nature was being revived.

 

Having visualized a ‘sustainable ecosystem’ with dozens of orbs, it was probably designed with appropriate population numbers.

 

I entrusted the remaining 1/3 of the orbs to the Village Chief.

 

The Village Chief is a person with excellent judgment. He’s also a good leader with much experience who knows how to handle people.

 

He’ll use them well for the community.

 

“…No, that’s not right.”

 

I shook my head. I belatedly realized what I had been thinking.

 

This world has no future now.

 

Because it will end. Because it won’t continue any further.

 

“You’ve worked hard. It was worthwhile.”

 

Akiman. That excellent swordsman is the same.

 

〔I ate your magic power quite well.〕

 

Smeshion. That one who looked exactly like a cyborg from Mercenary District is the same.

 

Everyone will disappear.

 

“Fortunately.”

 

[ The labyrinth will end soon. Please prepare. ]

 

It was time to leave. I walked while leaning on my walking stick. Im Hae-jun and Lee Jong-soo were at the village entrance.

 

“Master!”

 

“Brother, let’s go.”

 

Both of them had bittersweet expressions.

 

“Right.”

 

“…Royal Inspector! Wait a moment!”

 

Someone called out to us standing in front of the castle wall. It was Hyeon Dan. Many soldiers stood behind her.

 

Before I knew it, their faces had become familiar. I felt like I might even know some of their names.

 

The Village Chief approached first.

 

“Royal Inspector. And, adjutants.”

 

The Village Chief’s voice trembled. Water droplets gathered in his wrinkled eyes sparkled in the sunlight.

 

He smiled. It seemed like he was crying from overwhelming emotion.

 

“For humble people like us… I think this might have been the greatest fortune we could encounter in this life.”

 

Im Hae-jun also sniffled. Lee Jong-soo smiled proudly.

 

“Everyone!”

 

The Village Chief shouted. The soldiers lined up in formation. Perfect military formation.

 

“To the Royal Inspector and adjutants who have worked so hard!”

 

They soon raised their arms in unison. Hyeon Dan too, and little Hyeon Seon-ah right beside her, raised their hands with resolute faces despite their small stature.

 

──Loyalty!

 

A salute I had done thousands of times and heard thousands of times.

 

Facing them, I looked at my own hand.

 

Worn and scraped, with no healthy spots left.

 

A hand that might have ended dozens, perhaps hundreds of lives, or maybe even one world….

 

“Yes.”

 

I raised that hand.

 

Though it had been years since I last did it, it was as natural as if it were ingrained in my body.

 

“Loyalty.”

 

I saluted them.

 

They were worthy of receiving it. They had the qualifications. They were sufficiently brave, and had overcome everything so very well.

 

Whoooosh──-

 

Suddenly, sunlight burst forth from behind the village. It was an excessively brilliant light.

 

A massive radiance that embraced me, you, us, everything in its entirety like a gentle breeze. It was so dazzling that everything here became dim.

 

Would their time now come to a stop?

 

Would they become frozen in this memory?

 

Or perhaps…

 

I quietly closed my eyes.

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Team. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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