My Catastrophic‑Level Summon Devours Gates - Chapter 272

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This chapter was translated by Lunox Novels. To support us and help keep this series going, visit our website: LunoxScans.com
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Episode 272
A night when the full moon dimly pushed back the darkness.
Soft light illuminated the mountain slope.
“Grrrrrowl.”
The silhouettes of the southbound Monsters became faintly visible.
“Coming out to greet them was the right call.”
Flap— flap—
Riding atop the Hydraigon and looking down, I couldn’t see the end of the Monster horde.
“Thank goodness we ate a hearty meal beforehand.”
“Even if we ate heartily, that was too much. Ten bowls was a bit excessive.”
“Gal! Combat runs on a full stomach.”
“If you eat like that, our provisions will run out quickly.”
“Grrrrr!”
“Shh.”
I pressed my index finger to my lips.
“My apologies, Master. Let’s save the chatter for after the major battle.”
“That was my oversight.”
“Let’s maintain appropriate tension.”
It was rather unbecoming to be talking about food when we’d come out for a serious reconnaissance mission.
Well then.
Shall we break the vanguard of this Monster Wave?
“Let’s show them a taste of pain.”
“Kwaruruuru!”
[Lightning Burst]
Powerful lightning writhed across the expansive membrane.
Lightning bolts erupted simultaneously from multiple claws attached to the skeletal frame.
Dozens of lightning bolts engulfed the ground.
Crackle crackle crackle!
The densely packed Monsters advancing forward had no choice but to receive the full brunt of the sky’s wrath.
[Experience Points increased.]
[Experience Points increased.]
[Experience Points…]
Countless messages flickered at the edge of my awareness.
The amount of Experience Points gained wasn’t substantial.
Most were C-rank or D-rank Monsters after all.
Even annihilating hundreds of them yielded less than killing a single Monster from an A-rank Gate.
“Crook, crook.”
“Twang! Twang!”
An Orc wielding a Bow drew the string taut.
The Kobolds aimed their hand crossbows diagonally ahead.
All the monsters capable of ranged attacks turned their gaze toward me.
Their eyes burned with heat. Scorching heat.
Whoosh!
A volley of arrows streaked through the air in parabolic arcs.
Flame arrows, lightning bolts, and other magic were scattered throughout the barrage.
Ting, ting, ting.
The moment they touched Hydraigon’s skin, they bounced off harmlessly.
The magic, fired from too great a distance, never reached its full potency.
The arrow assault dealt no damage whatsoever to Hydraigon, whose durability befitted an S++-Rank creature.
“How discourteous.”
Contempt flickered across Ingrid’s expression as she clicked her tongue.
“Such disrespect toward my Master.”
“What’s the point in expecting courtesy from mindless monsters?”
“Look at these pathetic attacks. They’re not even worthy of opposing my Master—they should offer their necks and beg to be slaughtered.”
Hmm.
Even ants twitch when you step on them, or so they say.
“Roooaaarrr!”
Lightning erupted ceaselessly from the wings.
Hydraigon’s lightning attacks followed two patterns.
A focused breath concentrated on a single point, and a Lightning Burst released from the wings.
The breath was powerful but consumed enormous Mana with limited range.
The Lightning Burst, by contrast, could strike a wide area but with proportionally reduced power.
Against formidable enemies, the breath was effective.
Against multiple foes, the Lightning Burst proved more efficient.
“This is child’s play.”
Within minutes, thousands of monsters lay steaming in white vapor.
One-sided slaughter.
It felt absolutely exquisite.
But even something this enjoyable grew tedious after ten, twenty minutes.
My back was beginning to feel slightly damp.
“There’s no end to this.”
“…Indeed.”
For over thirty minutes, Hydraigon unleashed relentless attacks without pause.
Monster corpses piled so high they raised the ground level.
Despite this overwhelming onslaught,
the monsters advanced southward methodically, as though fear had been surgically removed from their very essence.
“Even monsters from Gates don’t behave like this.”
Perhaps those emerging from the Great Rift were fundamentally different.
Or perhaps some measure had been taken to prevent them from experiencing fear.
“Kraaahhh!”
“Rrrrrumble…”
The opposite sky darkened to an inky black.
Like migratory birds moving in formation.
Flying-type monsters were approaching in swarms.
Among them, the monsters in the rear of the swarm bore a striking resemblance to dragons from legend.
“Drakes.”
Despite the considerable distance between us.
The three Drakes’ savage Mana caused goosebumps to erupt across my skin.
“Can you handle them?”
“Impossible.”
A sharp answer indeed.
The objective of this reconnaissance was sufficiently achieved.
I’d slowed the monsters’ advance slightly and identified the aerial forces.
“Isn’t it a shame to leave without doing anything?”
“Give them one good shot.”
“Hohoho. I’ve been waiting for those words.”
[Unique Technique – Eclipse]
[Silent Casting]
[Burst Flare X 20]
[Typhoon X 10]
[Transformation Technique – Shatter]
[Flame Twister]
Flames are woven into powerful wind specialized in pushing targets, amplifying the destructive force.
A formidable spell manifested instantaneously, bypassing the rearrangement process.
A crimson vortex of flame, generated roughly a hundred meters away, charged toward the cloud of monsters.
The flames spiraled repeatedly, escalating their destructive power further.
The monsters touched by that whirlwind shrieked in agony.
Whoooosh!
Ultra-high-temperature flames seared their bodies.
The swirling wind incinerated every last trace of moisture from the ash, pulverizing it to dust.
Not even ash remained where the crimson vortex had passed.
The grand spell, born without warning, savagely tore through the aerial swarm.
[Silent Casting]
The hallmark technique of S-rank Magic-type Hunters.
A mechanism that activates magic with 100% comprehension in an extraordinarily brief moment, effectively bypassing the rearrangement process.
User rank—two tiers below, meaning Ingrid could deploy B-rank Magic through Silent Casting.
However, the Mana consumption was equally tremendous.
“Huff… huff…”
Even Ingrid, enhanced through the Black Sage’s design philosophy, couldn’t bear the Mana drain and gasped for breath.
“You fire off something big too before we go.”
“Kwaaarrrrgh!”
[Lightning Breath]
Three bolts of lightning erupted from my maw.
I wheeled around and executed a sharp counter-charge at full speed.
【A charge, not a retreat? Did I misspeak?】
“Charging in the opposite direction from the enemy lines.”
Either way, it’s still a charge, right?
Flying creatures caught in the lightning bolts burst apart with pops and cracks, or fell blackened and smoking to the ground below.
With so many enemies swarming us.
The damage from Ingrid’s Unique Technique and Breath seemed almost negligible.
“Let’s head another way.”
There wasn’t just one path leading to the First Defensive Line.
The night was long.
And the Monsters were plentiful.
I’d harass them as much as possible to slow them down even a little.
My kids have all died once before, so they don’t need to catch their breath.
Let’s see who tires first.
* * *
There were four paths leading to the First Defensive Line.
Rugged mountain ranges that rivaled the Peninsula itself blocked the spaces between them.
“Kwaaarrrrgh!”
Thanks to Hydraigon’s high-speed flight capability, I didn’t need to worry about terrain.
After breaking through the pursuit of flying Monsters from the Great Rift with a long evasion.
I moved along the Mountain Slope using the route I’d already scouted.
[Lightning Burst]
I scattered the Mana I’d recovered during movement generously among the Monsters.
“Should the Girl join in?”
“No. More flying types might appear, so let’s conserve Mana.”
When the Drake came to greet us, I’ll admit I was a bit scared.
I even wondered if I should’ve worn a diaper.
Hydraigon’s Movement Speed was fast.
And fortunately, it wasn’t being aggressive.
Regardless, every time Hydraigon’s lightning swept across the ground, Monsters died by the hundreds.
Corpses piled up like a small hill, just like during the first assault.
“Kieeeek!”
After some time passed, a swarm of flying creatures appeared.
This time there were two Drakes.
“They’re really interfering with my business.”
I landed another heavy blow and then executed a counter-charge, not a retreat.
As I moved in and out of the Mountain Slope, I held back the Monsters’ advance.
“My Lord. The sun is rising.”
The sun cresting the mountain slope began to gradually push back the darkness that had blanketed the ground.
“How much time did we buy?”
“I’d estimate we’ve delayed them by three hours.”
“Heh.”
The Hydraigon had flapped its wings all night until sweat poured from its body.
I’d thought that effort would buy us half a day, maybe slightly less.
But merely three hours.
Truly.
It was a staggering number.
“If the Monster scale reaches tens of millions, killing any amount becomes meaningless.”
“That’s true enough.”
“We’ve blocked the path somewhat with corpses, but it won’t significantly hinder their advance.”
“Won’t it be inconvenient to walk through?”
“Those obstructing Monster corpses will gradually be trampled into jerky as they march forward.”
“I appreciate the detailed explanation.”
Not a scene I wanted to dwell on.
The problem is that hearing the explanation automatically conjures the image.
It’s like being told not to think of an elephant—you can’t help but picture it.
“Let’s head back soon.”
Considering the reconnaissance value and travel time, it wasn’t a loss.
More or less breaking even.
Since the Rift Bureau Hunters didn’t expend their stamina and Mana, we came out ahead.
Returning to Base Camp, I shared the reconnaissance results with Department Head Jeon Hye-yeon.
“What? You devastated all four paths by yourself?”
“Not devastated exactly. I just delayed them for about three hours.”
“Don’t you know the Hunter Industry agreed to call that devastation?”
Ah.
I see.
“You should get some rest, Hunter.”
“I’m perfectly fine.”
“After wandering around like that?”
“The Minion handled all the fighting anyway.”
“You were awake the whole time. For the next several days, you won’t even have time to catch your breath, so please listen to me.”
Department Head Jeon Hye-yeon pushed so firmly that I couldn’t refuse further.
Hmm.
I really am fine though.
“Since there’s still time, couldn’t I do another reconnaissance run?”
“You just came back from one.”
“The situation changes by the moment. I’ll assess the current state without overexerting myself and return.”
Sigh.
Look at him trembling near the scabbard, his hands itching for action.
I could see exactly what he was thinking, but I nodded anyway.
“Alright. Go ahead.”
“Thank you.”
“Gal.”
“Yes, sir.”
“Have some fun while you’re at it.”
“…Did it show?”
“If you couldn’t tell, you’d be an idiot.”
“Haha. I’ll do as commanded.”
He’d been nothing but a spectator atop the Hydraigon, so his restlessness was understandable.
He wasn’t a child, after all.
As the Continental Greatest Sword, he’d surely rampage appropriately and return.
“Master, leave this place to the Girl and get some rest.”
“Okay. I’m counting on you then.”
My eyes were wide awake, though I doubted sleep would come.
I lay down on the camp cot anyway.
This might be the last chance to rest like this.
After conjuring the image of monsters endlessly pouring toward us.
I forced my eyes shut.

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