A singular eye peeked out from beyond long wig-shaped hair.
Boom!
It seemed to be about six meters tall, already beyond the limits of a large monster, and its absurdly proportioned arms made it appear even larger.
Well, even with that, it was still smaller than a Hipramajent.
Boom!
However, the pressure he felt was on another level. I knew this guy better than anyone.
The Lord of Silence, Siliut, was the lord of the fifth floor who was endowed with all kinds of tricks. A being who was up to the task of a disaster and an adventurer like me who used essences.
I couldn't counter this guy by using the companion spell like we did against the traitor Ricardo Lüchenprague who had the essence of this guy....
Why is this guy here?
Although my mind was conflicted, my movement was instantaneous.
The moment I met my eyes with him, I immediately jumped back and grabbed Erwen. To replace my voice that refused to make sound, I gave a simple command using signals to Gahuin, who ended up meeting my eyes.
Attack him.
With all its strength.
If he were a member of the Anabada Clan, he would have been able to give a much more complicated order using hand signals, but the fact that he was not one at this time could not be changed. Fortunately, Gahuin moved as soon as he received my order.
[Gahuin Versilus has released Katuka's ancient Thunderstorm magic].
Katuka's Electric Storm was an instant spell and one of the ancient magical spells that Gahuin could use in his role as a Wizard. Needless to say, it was very powerful.
The light flashed several times, filling the canyon as if the sky was collapsing, and the great roar was not heard, but felt like vibrations on our skin.
[You have left the Cancellation zone].
With that, I heard the sound of the Lord of Silence, Siliut, falling down the cliff I had just climbed.
«Hey...» Gahuin looked shocked after casting his spell.
On the contrary, the village chief was calm. «Hmm... it's an interesting monster».
Ah, now that I think about it, when this old man was alive, the Ground Lords must not have existed in the labyrinth. According to what was recorded in the Stone of Honor, the Ground Lords began to appear in the labyrinth after the Abyss Seeker, Limenin, reached the tenth floor.
«Sir Versilus», he continued, "do you know what that monster is?".
«If what I saw was correct... what we just saw was the Soil Lord of the Great Demon Realm...»
«The Lord of the Soil...?» The village chief tilted his head at the unknown word, but I didn't have time to explain it to him.
«What are you doing? Come quickly».
First we had to get out of here. Although at some point we would have to defeat that monster, at the top of a narrow canyon it was not the right place. I also needed some time to think.
«Erwen, hold on tight».
«Yes!», he stammered in response, and with her firmly clinging to me, we rushed forward.
When I started running, I noticed another change. If a monster appeared in front of us, I planned to go through it...
An advantage...
However, perhaps because the Lord of Silence had appeared, the monsters that would have blocked our path were nowhere to be found.
«Mr. Baron, tell us where we are going!»
«Let's go down.»
«Lower...? The Lord of the Soil will be waiting for us down there if we do!»
«That's why we have to go down. If we are going to fight it, the open field will be better than at the top of this canyon.»
«Are you... really thinking about fighting him?»
Gahuin screamed as if what I was saying was ridiculous, but I only had one thing to say to him.
«So there is another way?»
«Damn, it's the Lord of the Soil! The Lord of the Floor against whom you have to prepare with hundreds of people, and still suffer casualties! Are you saying the five of us will be enough to defeat him? Even when this elf can't even support her own weight?»
To be honest, I could understand where it was coming from. The infamy of the Soil Lord did not need to be reaffirmed. But the way he said it...
Well, I guess it was probably because of the field effect. Since I didn't have time to cure it with my hammer, I decided to let it go.
The village chief's cry echoed throughout the canyon.
«Gahuin Versilus!»
It was the first time I had heard him yell at someone like that.
«Y-yes...?»
Staring at Gahuin, who seemed completely caught off guard, the village chief said sternly: «Don't bother and follow the baron's instructions. This is my order».
«Excuse me? B-but...»
«Are you going to commit insubordination?»
«N-no... It's just that I feel like there must be another way other than to fight that thing-»
«A yes or no will be enough, but I hope you make the right decision. Your answer here will determine your future».
After a time of hesitation, Gahuin stepped back. «I will follow him».
Thanks to the quick interjection of the village chief, the situation was resolved without problems. Things used to go badly when the chain of command was broken in situations like this, and it seemed like the village chief knew it too.
The village chief accelerated and approached me ahead.
«Judging by his reaction, it seems that the monster will be a difficult opponent. You have an idea, right?»
«...Of course.»
However, I was still thinking. In any case, our situation was not that bad. We already had everything we needed for a raid.
Priest, magician, knight.
These three were the most important human resources needed to fight the Lord of Silence. Of course, five was too low a number to attempt battle... but with the infinite divine power, ancient magic, and increasing stats of the village chief, our group had put in a phenomenal performance during this Chapter. At this rate, we had met the minimum requirements for combat.
The problem is that Erwen and I...
Still, thinking about it optimistically, there was a good chance that we too would have a role in this battle. That was the kind of game Dungeon and Stone knew it was.
As soon as the battle against the boss starts, I will have to look for an opening while those three work as the main force.
The most important person here was the priest. If he could use his infinite divine power properly, then there was a chance that we could endure almost anything.
«B-Baroooooon-! Stop!»
At that moment, a problem occurred behind us.
When I stopped running and turned around, I saw Gahuin and the archbishop stopped along the way. No, to be precise...
«The archbishop has stopped moving for some reason!»
The archbishop stopped as if possessed and Gahuin looked at him with concern.
«Stand aside for a moment», I ordered, lowering Erwen to approach him, but the archbishop just stared into the empty air in silence. It seemed like something bad had happened to him.
The what?
He didn't remember that the Lord of Silence had an effect like this. Was it different because we were inside a crack? So there were too many-
«Mr. Baron».
But then, the archbishop suddenly turned to me and spoke.
Wow, that scared me...
I subtly rubbed my shocked heart as I calmly assessed the situation. «Archbishop, are you okay? What happened?» If something had happened, we had to quickly think of a way to fix it.
«Don't worry», he reassured me, »I'm fine. Honestly, I'm in better condition than ever».
As?
I asked slowly: «What do you mean?».
«It's like I said. God's miracle is filling my body. I have never felt so full in my life...».
Judging by his look, it seemed that the archbishop was still beside himself.
Hah, this was not the time to do this.
«Mr. Baron.»
While I was thinking about how to fix it, the archbishop looked me directly in the eyes. «Have you ever thought about serving anything other than the spirit of your ancestors?»
It was the same thing he had said before the Lord of Silence appeared. However, when I heard him speak this time, I immediately felt that something didn't add up. I wasn't sure about it yet, but...
«I ask just in case».
I needed to check it.
«Is that 'something else' you're talking about Reatlas?». I continued.
The archbishop remained silent.
But as if answering my question...
Shwaaa.
Thousands of small black beads emerged from the darkness of the labyrinth. As if to bless him, they gathered around the archbishop.
Unfortunately, I knew what that effect meant. It was the effect that appeared when someone advanced towards a Karui priest.
Shwaaa!
The archbishop smiled happily as he extended his hands towards the black beads. There was no point in denying it anymore. Even if it was so sudden and hard to believe...
«Do you see them? The grace of God?»
The archbishop had become Karui's priest.
***
[Eden Hesteia has fallen into temptation. The Karui Authority is now available for use].
My head felt heavy instantly.
The priest on our team had suddenly become Karui's priest. What could I do about it?
Do I have to kill him now?
Seeing his helpless state, it didn't seem impossible. No, now might be my only chance. I needed to make a decision, and quickly. If the archbishop with infinite divine power became Karui's priest and became our opponent, things would get much more difficult.
But if I kill him... is there an answer after that?
Ignoring the moral question of whether it was right to kill an archbishop, we would never be able to defeat the Lord of the Soil if we lost our priest. However, my thoughts were confused.
Maybe we shouldn't kill him.
He still didn't know how to clear this rift, but what if the archbishop advancing towards a Karui priest played a key role in the history of this rift? An impulsive action could lead to a result that could not be reversed
[You have launched Swing.]
When I came to, I had already thrown my hammer towards the archbishop's head. It was not a decision I made after contemplating, but an instinctive act.
Crunch!
Half of the archbishop's head was thrown by the impact of the hammer that he had brandished with all my strength. However, he remained standing.
Since I knew that Karui's priests could survive even if they only had half a head, I wasn't too surprised.
«You, what are you doing?!»
However, it was different for Gahuin, who was looking at us from the side.
«You attacked the archbishop!», he shouted. «You're the brute here!»
Ah, this guy didn't know what situation we were in. I didn't have time to explain it to him either.
Once again.
I hit my hammer once more, and unfortunately, it was blocked by the tentacles coming out of its body. It seemed too disgusting and slimy to be a divine spell, and it made Gahuin sizzle. «What's going on?
I hit my hammer a few more times, but noticing the tentacles' retaliation, I stopped and explained the situation to Gahuin. «The archbishop has become Karui's priest».
«What?»
«Look at it. His head is already half burst, but he's still alive».
«So we're not supposed to defeat him as quickly as possible?»
Weren't you the one yelling at me for attacking the archbishop right then?
«Count Saintred, could you try this?» I hurriedly ordered.
The village chief displayed his aura without hesitation and brandished his sword.
Boom!
However, those tentacles blocked even his aura, although the village chief did not seem too disappointed.
«It seems like it will be possible if I use everything I have... but I will be useless after that. It's kind of like a final move. Is it something you want?»
He looked at me as if to say that everything depended on my decision, which made me think more. As sure as it sounded, he probably would if I told him so.
But if the village chief disappears too, only the wizard will remain.
«You...»
The archbishop spoke again.
«You still don't understand me one bit».
The voice contained no emotions, just as the village chief spoke in the past.
«Don't worry», he exclaimed sinisterly. «You will soon understand».
The tentacles leaned towards him, opening his ribcage to show him his heart, as if they were exorcising him.
Crunch!
I realized what that ability was as soon as I saw it.
[Eden Hesteina has launched Unstable Vessel.]
Unstable Vessel: The strongest ability a Karui priest had. The effect of the skill was simple. You became invulnerable for the duration of the launch...
And you explode after that.
Considering his range and power, he was a powerful ability, second to none in Dungeon and Stone.
It's too late to dodge.
Even if I gave up on the village chief, we needed to stop this now. As soon as I went to say that out loud, the ground shook again as my voice disappeared.
[You have entered the Cancellation area. All essence abilities are sealed.]
As they say, when it rains, it clears. The Ground Lord we had taken down earlier had risen again.
Attack him.
With all the strength.
I quickly gave him the same sign that I previously gave Gahuin to the village chief. However, the village chief just shook his head awkwardly as he looked at me. Oh... Couldn't he use it if his essence was sealed?
Damn.
After that, I changed my signal.
Run away as fast as you can.
Anywhere.
Survive.
It was the first time I made a every man for himself sign in my long life as an adventurer. After confirming that everyone understood what he meant, I quickly threw Erwen on my back and ran to the edge of the cliff.
Of course, he wasn't sure about anything. I didn't even know if I could survive falling from here.
Still... better than getting hit in the face with that skill.
Rumble!
A huge hand rose from under the cliff just as he was going to jump down. I tried to ignore her, but I noticed something strange in the movement of her hand. It didn't seem to be pointing towards us.
Hey...?
After the top of the Soil Lord's body settled on the path, he curled around himself as if he wanted to wrap the archbishop in a hug.
He met his gaze with mine, and then jumped off the cliff, still clinging to the archbishop.
[You have left the Nullification zone].
About three seconds after it began to fall, the Nullification disappeared.
BOOOOOOM!
Then, a nuclear bomb-like explosion exploded from beneath the edge of the cliff.
«All! Hold on!»
The Great Demon Realm began to collapse.