The Archmage’s Destruction Strategy - Chapter 77

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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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#077. Cracks

 

The 70th Floor of the Osaka Dungeon.

 

The place that had desperately sent urgent pleas for salvation toward the surface was gradually transforming into a massive tomb that refused to allow human survival as time passed.

 

“Aaaahhh!! It hurts! It hurts!!”

 

“Please bear with it a little longer. The painkillers will… Damn it, we’re all out.”

 

In one corner of the base camp, inside the building that Sung-jun had previously set up to serve as a field hospital, a scene of absolute chaos was unfolding.

 

The air, mixed with the stench of rotting flesh, the smell of blood, and the sweat of people who couldn’t wash properly, created the illusion that simply breathing would contaminate one’s lungs.

 

There was an absolute shortage of medical supplies and sanitary items that couldn’t be replenished inside the dungeon.

 

The food situation was somewhat better.

 

By dispatching harvest teams that risked their lives to the harvest sites scattered throughout the 70th Floor, they were somehow securing enough ingredients to keep everyone fed.

 

But the real shortage was erupting elsewhere.

 

“Master! Tanaka from Team 3 is showing symptoms of sepsis! We need antibiotics!”

 

“What’s our stock?”

 

“We ran out yesterday! At this rate, he won’t make it through the night!”

 

Kurosaki Ryusei bit his lip.

 

The number of injured was increasing due to continuous combat, but the means to treat them were being depleted.

 

Wounds that couldn’t be treated in time festered and burst, and as more personnel dropped out of active duty, the burden on those remaining grew heavier.

 

And that excessive burden created new casualties in turn, continuing a truly hellish vicious cycle.

 

But what truly drove Ryusei mad wasn’t the problem of insufficient medical supplies.

 

“What are the results of today’s return headcount?”

 

“…13 people are missing.”

 

“Thirteen people.”

 

Ryusei let out a hollow laugh.

 

They hadn’t died in combat. No bodies were found.

 

They had ‘vanished.’

 

Exactly 10 people per day.

 

Through that narrow hole of survival that the portal to the upper layers opened, someone was abandoning their comrades and fleeing every single day.

 

“Damn bastards.”

 

It wasn’t that he couldn’t understand the hearts of the adventurers who fled to the upper layers. No one would want to die a dog’s death in this hellish dungeon.

 

But the problem was that those who fled were invariably the strong ones.

 

The power of the ‘strong’ who should rightfully escort the harvest teams on the front lines and crush the monsters targeting weak adventurers had ironically become the most efficient tool for seizing ‘ownership’ of the portals that were the lifeline for the weak.

 

“This time, three of our own clan members were included.”

 

“Don’t report it. I don’t want to hear it.”

 

Ryusei pressed hard against his throbbing temples.

 

The betrayal of subordinates he had trusted.

 

It left a deeper and more bitter wound in his chest than being stabbed by a sharp spear.

 

Do you think I don’t want to run away too?

 

Just abandon everything, save my own skin, and escape to the surface.

 

The impulse that surged dozens of times a day dragged at Ryusei’s ankles.

 

Yet the reason he stood firm with both feet planted in this muddy reality was because of a promise he had made with just one person.

 

“This wound can’t be treated with disinfectant. I’ll handle it.”

 

Ryusei’s gaze turned toward the calm voice coming from afar.

 

A man moving between tents stained with blood and pus, holding patients’ hands.

 

The man who came to the base camp’s field hospital once a day to treat patients, and the leader of the outlaw camp, Father Michele Morone.

 

A priest belonging to Italy’s Awakened training institution ‘Legio Apocalypsis,’ he was like the only candle shining light in this dungeon where humanity was withering and crumbling away.

 

“Father. Didn’t you nearly faint from using healing miracles just a while ago? I think it would be better for you to rest a bit more.”

 

“Ryusei, you’ve come. I’m fine. The Lord hasn’t told me to rest yet.”

 

Naturally, even Father Michele didn’t possess the divine power to converse with the Lord.

 

So Father Michele’s words were essentially a declaration that he would continue using healing miracles until his heart felt like stopping.

 

Watching Michele, who maintained a gentle smile despite his fatigue-worn face, Ryusei swallowed his petty thoughts of wanting to flee to the surface with only his clan members.

 

If Michele, who didn’t even have clan members to be responsible for, was enduring, then the clan master responsible for the Osaka Dungeon couldn’t run away.

 

“I came to exchange information.”

 

“I actually had something to tell you as well. Please come in.”

 

The two men sat down in a corner of the tent.

 

Ryusei and Michele maintained a tacit alliance.

 

They had promised that whoever discovered an upper portal would prioritize evacuating the wounded first, and when they obtained food or artifacts, they would distribute them to the personnel who could use them most efficiently, regardless of affiliation.

 

“Let’s endure just a little longer. The government must know the value of the adventurers here, so they’ll surely send rescue.”

 

“That faith is what sustains us. But… Ryusei. The reason I sought you out today wasn’t to encourage each other and strengthen our resolve as usual.”

 

Michele’s expression grew unusually heavy.

 

“I received a disturbing report.”

 

“Disturbing?”

 

“My reconnaissance team discovered a large-scale monster colony 3km north. It was so massive that subjugation would be impossible.”

 

Ryusei’s eyebrows twitched.

 

That information was also a report that had come up from Ryusei’s reconnaissance team.

 

“Actually, I was about to discuss that very matter with you. We received a report about monsters gathering at a level that our reconnaissance team couldn’t handle, so I immediately assembled an elite subjugation team and sent them out. But…”

 

“When they arrived, there was nothing there?”

 

Michele interrupted Ryusei’s words with a question. Ryusei nodded heavily.

 

“Yes. When they arrived, they said not even a single ant was visible. Everything had vanished cleanly without a trace.”

 

Once or twice would be understandable.

 

A monster horde that the reconnaissance team missed could have been dealt with by another passing adventurer party.

 

But the phenomenon occurring now was like a mirage – reports of large-scale monster sightings poured in like rain, but when they drew their swords and rushed over, they only cut through empty air repeatedly.

 

It was movement too organized to dismiss as mere coincidence or reconnaissance team mistakes.

 

“They couldn’t have just evaporated.”

 

“Then there’s only one conclusion.”

 

Michele pointed his finger at the map of the 70th Floor hanging on the tent wall.

 

“They haven’t disappeared. They’re gathering somewhere in an invisible blind spot.”

 

“…For a large-scale assault?”

 

“There’s no other explanation. They’re trying to disperse our forces and cut off our breath in one blow while we let our guard down.”

 

It was a chilling speculation.

 

Until now, the dungeon’s monsters had been nothing more than beasts moving on instinct.

 

But what they were facing now was employing deception tactics like an army with a commander.

 

“We need to modify our strategy, Ryusei.”

 

Michele’s resolute gaze turned toward Ryusei.

 

“Until now, exploration and harvesting for food procurement has been our top priority. But not anymore. Even if we drastically reduce the number of search teams, we must build defensive forces to prepare for their large-scale assault.”

 

“…”

 

Ryusei remained silent. He knew all too well what that proposal meant.

 

Reducing search teams meant food supply would decrease.

 

Even now, most people were clamoring about being hungry.

 

Reduce rations further from here?

 

That was a dangerous gamble that could cause riots internally before monsters even attacked.

 

“There will be tremendous backlash. People won’t accept it.”

 

“I know. But isn’t starving better than total annihilation?”

 

Michele’s words were sound logic.

 

Bitter medicine that had to be swallowed to save everyone.

 

Ryusei let out a deep sigh and nodded.

 

“Understood. I’ll take all the blame. Starting today, I’ll cut the search team formation in half and switch to defensive posture.”

 

As soon as Ryusei announced the new camp management policy, violent reactions erupted as expected.

 

“What did you say? Reduce rations? Are you kidding me!”

 

“After fighting monsters all day, we get one bowl of vegetable soup, and you want to cut that in half? Are you telling us to starve to death!”

 

“Monsters attacking my ass! We haven’t seen hide nor hair of them – what damn assault preparation!”

 

The area in front of the headquarters building at the base camp was packed with protesting adventurers.

 

And Ryusei silently endured the criticism pouring from behind the tightly closed door.

 

Michele was likely suffering similar hardships at the outlaw camp.

 

But the two leaders did not waver.

 

It wouldn’t take long to prove that their judgment was not wrong.

 

-Kugugugugugugung!!!-

 

A week after Ryusei reduced food rations and reassigned search team members to camp defense forces, tremors that shook the earth swallowed the adventurers’ shouting.

 

The water surface in the cup placed on the meeting room table was violently rippling.

 

“Wh-what is that sound?”

 

“Is it an earthquake?”

 

It wasn’t.

 

It was the sound of thousands, no, tens of thousands of monsters simultaneously kicking off the ground as they charged forward.

 

“Enemy attack!!! It’s an enemy attack!!!”

 

“From the north! A black wave is surging from the north!!”

 

From the watchtower built slightly higher than other buildings to keep watch over more distant areas, a scout’s ear-splitting scream erupted.

 

Their fears had become reality.

 

The worst-case scenario that Ryusei and Michele had anticipated.

 

The ‘cleansing’ was about to begin.

 

The problem was the direction that black wave was heading.

 

The enemies weren’t heading toward the Black Spear Clan’s base camp, which at least had proper walls and defensive facilities.

 

They were fiercely charging with bared fangs toward the outlaw camp, which had nothing but crude tents made of cloth and barricades cobbled together from miscellaneous junk.

 

“We can’t stop them… Such numbers are absolutely impossible…!”

 

In the middle of the outlaw camp that had instantly fallen into panic, Father Michele quickly made his decision.

 

“Everyone retreat! Move to the Black Spear Base Camp! Prioritize the wounded! Hurry!”

 

There had been a prior agreement with Ryusei.

 

If an army of undefendable scale attacked, they would join up at the Black Spear Base Camp with its defensive facilities and engage in siege warfare.

 

Under Michele’s command, the outlaw camp personnel desperately ran toward the base camp.

 

Behind them, a monster army was chasing right up to their heels along with a massive dust cloud.

 

“Open the gate!! A monster horde is attacking!”

 

Michele shouted as he arrived at the massive iron gate of the base camp.

 

However, despite his cry, the Black Spear Clan members standing on the camp’s outer wall only looked down at them with stern expressions.

 

The tightly closed iron gate showed no sign of movement to open.

 

“How… could this be…?”

 

Michele was bewildered.

 

There had definitely been an agreement.

 

It was a matter he had confirmed and reconfirmed with Ryusei multiple times.

 

“Please open the gate! There are monsters coming from behind! We’ll all die at this rate!”

 

An adventurer beside Michele cried out desperately.

 

Only then did a man lean his head out from atop the wall.

 

He was one of Ryusei’s closest associates and the man in charge of the base camp’s defense.

 

“Go back. We cannot open the gate.”

 

“What…?”

 

Michele’s eyes widened greatly.

 

“What are you saying! There’s an agreement with the Master! We’re supposed to join up in emergencies…!”

 

“I’ve never been informed of such a fact.”

 

The man’s voice was cold as ice.

 

“Who’s going to take responsibility if we let outsiders in and chaos breaks out inside? We’re already struggling to protect our own people. Get lost immediately.”

 

“Listen here! Are you people insane!? Can’t you see what’s coming from behind!?”

 

The people below the wall cried out in protest, but the Guard Captain only bit his lips and looked down.

 

Michele turned his head with an expression of disbelief.

 

His gaze reached toward the direction of the meeting room where Ryusei would be.

 

And at that moment, inside the Black Spear Base Camp, another rebellion was pointing its blade toward their Clan Master.

 

“Why is it so noisy outside?”

 

Ryusei raised his eyes from the documents he was reading.

 

The vibrations from the floor traveling up through his thick boot soles, and the murmuring sounds from outside.

 

Ryusei could instinctively tell that the outlaw camp people led by Michele had arrived.

 

“They must have arrived. Open the gate. From now on, all clan members will engage in siege warfare.”

 

Ryusei stood up from his seat and walked toward the door.

 

Every minute and second was crucial to command the defensive battle.

 

And the moment he grasped and turned the meeting room door handle.

 

Click.

 

Ryusei realized that the door, which was always open, would not open.

 

“…What?”

 

Ryusei frowned and pushed the door with force once more.

 

But the door didn’t budge as if it were locked from outside.

 

“I should have given instructions never to lock this door for emergency situation reports, shouldn’t I?”

 

No, it wasn’t a matter of locks.

 

Since this door had its locking mechanism on the inside, the fact that it wouldn’t open meant someone outside was physically preventing the door from opening.

 

Ryusei could sense it. The presence of someone standing beyond the door.

 

Not just one or two people, but the presence of several people.

 

A chilling sensation crawled up Ryusei’s spine.

 

Ryusei’s voice, now cold and filled with killing intent, echoed throughout the meeting room.

 

“What… the hell do you think you’re doing right now?”

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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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