Chapter 223: Chapter 223 Like a Flame (3)

Like a Flame (3)

Like a Flame (3)

The Lord of the Abyss, Verzak.

A Floor Master whose actual combat power is lower than the 3rd floor’s Riakis, but whose difficulty is several times higher.

It’s because the ‘Abyssal Fog’ is OP.

Active skill and usage effect seal.

Mana efficiency reduced by 75%.

And 5th-grade Abyssal Monsters that constantly appear as trash mobs and interfere.

Because of these harsh conditions, it’s difficult to even attempt to defeat him unless it’s in the late game.

There are too many prerequisites.

High-grade Numbered Items with permanent effects, not usage effects.

A top-tier tank capable of solo holding.

A damage dealer who can use Aura, or someone of a similar level.

As many priests as possible.

And several mages who can still be effective even with 25% mana efficiency.

It’s recommended that all participants have at least 5th-tier equipment, and even then, the casualties will be high if you don’t prepare special consumables.

But even with all that…

…it’s practically a guaranteed failure from Day 7 onwards.

Because additional patterns are unlocked regardless of the phase.

In other words, it means that it’s impossible for us to defeat him in our current state.

But…

[It seems like he’s finally noticed us. I’ll be there soon.]

…we should be able to buy some time.

I checked the time while waiting for Kyle to arrive.

[19:34]

Day 5, 7:34 PM.

We had desperately fought our way through and checked the eastern portal, and we were now only about two hours away from the Goblin Forest.

It was a valuable result achieved through the warriors’ sacrifices.

But it would be a lie to say there wasn’t a bit of luck involved.

“Yandel, are you okay?”

“Why wouldn’t I be okay? I expected to encounter him at some point.”

Actually, it was a stroke of luck that we only encountered him now.

The expedition party that chose a different direction instead of us was probably suffering heavy losses.

“…….”

Just how many people died needlessly?

My head suddenly cooled down, but I didn’t feel guilty.

We were all in the same situation.

We agreed to be bait for each other.

If we had encountered him earlier, the other expedition parties would have been able to break through more easily.

“Sorry for making you wait.”

Kyle arrived after about 5 minutes, bringing the forces for Plan B.

Six 5th-grade mages.

Three knights and three warriors.

I couldn’t hide my doubt as I quickly scanned their numbers.

“Why are there so few of you?”

The number of mages was the same, but the rest had significantly decreased.

What was the reason?

“The rest are all dead.”

Right, they weren’t just playing around in the back.

Six people short.

Then who should I fill those spots with?

“Ah, for reference, your companions said they wanted to come, but I stopped them. I’ll have to hear them complain later.”

Complain…

But six isn’t enough, is it?

Ah, maybe the fairy sisters also volunteered.

“…Thank you.”

I thanked Kyle and then glanced at the warriors around me.

And I spoke brightly,

“As you all heard, we’re six people short. I’m sorry you’re all in such a state, but is there anyone who wants to come with us?”

Someone answered before I could even finish my sentence.

“I’ll go. With you.”

Alexandros Bell, a 5th-grade warrior.

He was a member of a large clan, but he was abandoned here because he wasn’t a priority.

“I was getting bored just stepping on traps, this is great!”

Karkin, the third son of Tion.

He was a barbarian warrior in his thirties, who was active in a clan with 10 members.

I was surprised to see a tribesman who was 4th grade.

“Don’t forget your promise to buy me a drink when we get out!”

Milton Teterud.

He was the leader of a clan composed solely of dwarves.

But they didn’t explore together, they usually lent their clan members to other teams as mercenaries.

It was a clan that was closer to a guild.

“…….”

Although it was the time for me to express my gratitude…

…I was speechless.

Honestly, I didn’t expect this situation.

It was different from before.

We were only two hours away from the portal.

Even if it’s a fleeting hope that will disappear the moment we reach despair, hope is hope.

Even those who were clearing the path, treating their lives like straw, wouldn’t want to die.

I thought there would be very few people who would volunteer to be bait for the boss monster, especially after suffering this much damage just from fighting trash mobs.

But what was the reality?

“Oh, so I can join that drinking party if I follow him?”

“I’m more interested in something else. If I just close my eyes and follow him once, I’ll have a story to brag about for the rest of my life.”

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”

“Take me with you. I’ve always been curious about that Verzak bastard’s face.”

Countless explorers volunteered.

Just because they trusted the plan Kyle and I made?

Or because their brains were releasing endorphins due to the heated atmosphere?

Well, that’s also a reason.

But one thing was clear.

“You guys… are all crazy.”

It wasn’t a choice a sane person would make.

But did my words sound strange?

A brief silence fell.

“…You’re not wrong. I think everyone would say that if we told them this story outside.”

Someone agreed.

“But coming from you?”

Someone laughed incredulously.

I didn’t have anything to say.

I just did what I had to do.

But…

‘Does that mean they’re the same?’

My heart pounded as if I was also going crazy.

But my head needed to be cold.

I chose six people from the countless volunteers.

The only criterion was this:

Who would be the best fit.

It wasn’t difficult to choose since we had been fighting together all day.

I already knew their fighting styles.

“Hey! Why are you leaving me behind?!”

The dwarf clan leader, Teterud, protested as soon as I made my decision.

“Don’t tell me, you think I’ll hold you back?”

“There’s no way.”

“Then why? I won’t let you go until you tell me!”

Geez, he’s so stubborn, even though he’s so small.

It seemed like the magic circle was almost complete, so I briefly explained.

“Someone needs to lead this place while I’m gone.”

Teterud was a 4th-grade explorer.

He was skilled, and he knew how to handle people since he was a clan leader.

He was the perfect person to take charge of the front lines.

Actually, I heard that he had been taking the lead whenever I fainted.

“…Tsk.”

He didn’t bother me any further, as if he understood, although he seemed dissatisfied.

“Yandel, we’re ready. It’s about time for him to come anyway.”

Phew, right.

I sent them off as soon as I heard Kyle’s words that the magic circle was complete.

“That’s it, you guys go now. The scout Kyle brought will guide you. I heard he’s quite tough, but just in case, make sure he doesn’t die.”

“You’re talking like you’re a father. Enough, we’ll be going. See you later. Definitely. Got it?”

“You’re the one who sounds like a father.”

“I do have a child in the city. Alright, let’s go!”

I moved to the side so I wouldn’t block their path, and Teterud took the lead, stepping on traps and opening the way, and the warriors followed.

They each said something as they passed by.

“Don’t die.”

“Hmm, strangely, I don’t think you’ll die. See you later!”

Most of them were words of encouragement and support.

Those words continued for a while even after the warrior group passed. Some expressed their gratitude, and some apologized.

It happened over and over again.

“Why are they doing that?”

Kyle chuckled at my question.

“Because your message stone was on the whole time. Everyone knows what’s happening at the front.”

Right, so that’s how it is.

“Bjorn…”

My team members also appeared as the procession continued.

Misha looked like she was about to cry when she saw my condition. Raven and the bear-like man also had troubled expressions.

“Don’t make a fuss and just go. You’re blocking the path if you stay here.”

“I, I won’t let you off the hook if you come back injured.”

Hmm, telling a tank not to get injured? That’s practically a threat.

That thought crossed my mind, but I swallowed my words.

‘It’s not bad.’

What’s wrong with being scolded a bit?

After all, I’m doing all this to have that kind of everyday life.

“I’ll leave it to you.”

“Yes, don’t worry. I’ll definitely protect our team even without you, Mr. Yandel. Miss Ainar? Let’s go.”

“Ugh, o, okay! Don’t pull my hair!”

Raven then left, carrying Ainar, who was whining about wanting to follow me.

And the procession continued.

They looked like refugees escaping through a tunnel during wartime.

Whoosh.

Flickering torches.

The groans of the injured being carried on their companions’ backs.

Broken equipment.

Bloodstains.

Sadness in their eyes.

Sweat dripping from their limping steps.

I didn’t even have to ask Kyle to know.

Just like how I had a lot going on, today must have been a long day for them too.

“Well, they’re all gone now.”

The first group, which I was a part of, as well as the 2nd and 3rd groups, which were following the marks we left on the passage, had all passed us.

It didn’t take long.

After all, they were running, even if it was just a jog.

And the number of people had decreased significantly compared to the beginning.

“It’s gotten eerily quiet.”

The surroundings darkened as soon as everyone left.

Could it be because the flickering torches were illuminating the surroundings while the procession was passing by?

The contrast was clear.

It felt like we were the only ones left in this isolated world.

‘It’s about time…’

I raised my shield.

And I looked beyond the passage.

“He’s here.”

A visibility of 2 meters.

Hundreds of eyes were watching us from the darkness of the labyrinth beyond.

The Lord of the Abyss, Verzak.

He had arrived.

__________________

The biggest concern I had when I first made the plan was, of course, Verzak.

No matter how I thought about it, it was impossible to escape from this bastard with just a few hundred people.

It was practically a guaranteed wipeout the moment we encountered him.

Well, quite a few people would survive if we scattered and ran away since the aggro would be all over the place…

But what could we do after being scattered?

We wouldn’t even be able to fight on the 2nd floor, let alone break through the trash mobs and reach the portal.

Therefore…

“Can you use the magic circle right away?”

…we came up with Plan B.

But we could only use this strategy once with the resources we had.

“Don’t worry, I’ve checked the magic circle several times.”

We would all die if Plan B failed.

And even if it succeeded, we would be wiped out if we encountered the Abyssal Watcher again.

Ah, for reference, this was also one of the reasons why I set the maximum number of portal searches to two.

By that time, countless expedition parties would have disappeared.

I judged that the probability of encountering Verzak again was too high, even if we managed to get past him once.

“Battle stations.”

Everyone took out their weapons and got ready to fight as soon as the eyes appeared in the darkness.

They knew what those eyes meant because of Kyle’s explanation.

“…….”

These intangible eyes were an effect that appeared around Verzak.

For reference, the radius was about 2 kilometers, according to the game’s setting.

But they weren’t just background images.

All those eyes shared vision with him.

In other words, Verzak was already watching us.n/ô/vel/b//in dot c//om

“As you all know, our goal is to endure as long as possible. Until the other explorers escape from his line of sight.”

Kyle, as if he was also nervous, repeated the explanation he had already given several times.

“Do you think we’re idiots? We all remember. You also said we just have to endure for about 10 minutes, right?”

“That’s right. I apologize. But there’s one more thing. I forgot to mention it earlier… no matter what happens, protect Yandel.”

“Huh? Yandel? Alright.”

“Aren’t you going to ask why?”

“Everyone knows. That we can only return alive if he survives.”

Everyone nodded at a warrior’s words.

“I was going to say that if Yandel, who killed the Abyssal Watcher, dies, he might target the main force, but…”

Kyle laughed awkwardly and stopped talking.

“Well, whatever. It doesn’t really matter even if I say it.”

“Haha! Right, it doesn’t matter what the reason is as long as the result is the same.”

“That’s a very valid opinion. But it seems like warriors and mages are no different in this aspect.”

The light conversation softened the tense atmosphere.

Unfortunately, it didn’t last long.

Whoosh!

A shadow shot towards us, sharp as a stiletto.

Kwaaang!

I felt pain in the back of my hand as soon as I blocked it with my shield.

It wasn’t deep.

Just a small puncture.

‘Phew, I can’t calculate the damage since this is my first time encountering him in such an unprepared state.’

I can’t believe my Moonstone shield was pierced by a normal attack.

Is it because I’m not in [Gigantification] state?

The warriors’ expressions hardened as they saw my pierced shield.

Kyle muttered as if to boost morale,

“…Just endure for 10 minutes.”

It already seemed like an eternity.

But I couldn’t help but laugh.

“Why are you laughing?”

“Warriors laugh when they’re in pain.”

I looked ahead.

A shadow was flickering in the darkness.

The Lord of the Abyss, Verzak.

One of the bosses that could only be defeated in the late game.

A monster among monsters that we could only endure against in our current state.

But so what?

“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”

He’s just one of the many hurdles we have to overcome.

To end this unusually long day…

…and greet tomorrow.