Sacrificial Pawn (2)
Sacrificial Pawn (2)
The 1st-floor Crystal Cave, shrouded in fog.
A man was chuckling and chatting with his companion in that place, filled with the stench of blood and scattered corpses.
Their conversation was trivial.
About how pretty the woman they just killed was, and whether he felt a bit sorry for her.
It inevitably ended with a complaint.
“Tsk, there’s nothing fun happening here.”
“Haha, think of it differently, it’s good because it’s less dangerous.”
“…You’re unnecessarily optimistic.”“But I’m not wrong, am I?”
“Well, that’s true, but…”
The man suppressed his frustration and took out some jerky from his pocket and chewed on it. It was his first time eating meat in a long time, as he was practically a low-ranking member.
Noark, where he belonged, was suffering from a severe food shortage since they hadn’t been able to enter the labyrinth for six months.
‘…We’ll be able to win, right?’
The man shook his head, dismissing the anxiety that briefly crossed his mind.
It wasn’t a matter of whether they could win.
They had to win.
So that they could live like humans.
Even if it was in a dark underground city.
“Rex, focus on your mission.”
The man, who was leaning against the wall and resting, sighed and adjusted his posture at his leader’s words.
“You look dissatisfied.”
The man spoke honestly,
“We haven’t seen anyone for over two hours.”
“So?”
“It means no one will come. The ones who were going to enter have already entered, and the rest are either dead or ran away.”
And besides, the area they were assigned to was quite far from the central dark zone.
It meant they wouldn’t encounter anyone coming from inside.
“Still, you never know, so keep an eye on your surroundings.”
“Yes, sir.”
The man casually answered his stubborn leader and stood at one of the forks in the road.
He couldn’t see far because of the fog.
But he wasn’t anxious.
What would be the problem even if something jumped out from beyond?
‘There are so many of us here.’
The loot he would bring back to Noark would just increase.
That’s when…
“Leader! I sense a presence!”
…his companion, who was keeping watch at another fork in the road, shouted. The man grabbed his weapon and moved towards him.
‘Someone’s really here?’
It was a bit unexpected, but he wasn’t anxious.
‘Does he not know anything about the situation here?’
He probably didn’t.
If he knew even a little, he wouldn’t even think of passing through here.
He must have taken this path without knowing anyth—
“Huh?”
The man tilted his head.
And it wasn’t just him.
Everyone tilted their heads and listened.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
What the hell is that sound?
“Footsteps?”
Someone muttered briefly, but it didn’t explain anything.
How could those be human footsteps?
Maybe if it were a large monster like a troll…
‘But there are no monsters like that on the 1st floor.’
The man gripped his weapon tighter, feeling an unknown sense of unease.
That’s when…
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”
…it appeared from beyond the thick fog, letting out a ferocious shout.
“What, what the hell is that?!”
“Block him!!”
It was a barbarian.
A giant one.
_____________________
Survival means letting go.
What will you discard to survive?
This process is strictly based on priority.
Humans are rational beasts.
Thump!
It often appears in movies, doesn’t it?
Scenes where they discard luggage to make the helicopter fly, to prevent the ship from sinking, or to escape from enemies.
The more you discard, the higher the probability of survival.
But…
Thump!
…reality is different from movies.
It’s not that kind.
What we have to discard for survival isn’t luggage, but something else.
Thump!
Versil probably knew that.
That’s why she left without hesitation.
Leaving behind just these words:
[I hope you won’t resent us.]
Of course, I didn’t resent her.
Because I knew it was a completely rational decision.
She had her priorities, and she boldly discarded everything else to achieve them.
Just like I am right now.
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!!”
I shout and put strength into my feet.
I feel an unprecedented resistance from the shield I’m holding with both hands.
It’s like I’m climbing a tidal wave with just a shield.
Well, maybe it’s not a completely inaccurate description.
Although it’s a bit exaggerated.
“What, what the hell is this guy?!”
“Block him!!”
I’m clearing the path at the forefront.
To cover the 20-minute distance.
Pushing aside the swarming enemies.
Like a tank on a battlefield.
“Bjorn!!!”
Misha is following right behind me.
Her role is simple.
To take care of the enemies who are pushed aside by my charge.
Slash!
It doesn’t matter if she can’t kill them in one shot.
Our goal isn’t to reduce their numbers, and besides…
…we have more power behind us.
“You, damn bitch—!”
If Misha is the first filter…
…the second filter is Raven and the bear-like man, who’s carrying her.
Kwaaang!
The enemies Misha couldn’t defeat are hit by crossbow bolts and magic before they can even get up.
Of course, it’s not a problem even if it doesn’t end there.
We have more filters behind us.
“Erwen, be careful!”
The ranged damage dealer duo, Erwen and Daria.
And Takelan’s team, with an average rank of 5, following right behind them, and Lantern Jaw’s team at the very back.
It’s like a medieval cavalry charge.
“Aaaaaaaaaak!!!”
Our only goal is to charge forward.
The enemies we couldn’t defeat at the front are taken care of by those behind us. And even if there are enemies who survive the last filter, it doesn’t matter.
That’s for the rear to deal with.
‘It’s their own fault.’
When I came up with this strategy and formed the lines, Lantern Jaw insisted on being at the very back, even offering to give us the ranged fairy duo.
His thoughts were obvious.
He judged that the front was the most dangerous since we were charging. And he probably thought he could run away if something happened.
He treated Erwen’s team like sacrificial pawns.
‘That idiot.’
The rear is actually the riskiest position in this strategy. Right now, they can freeload since everything is being taken care of at the front…
…but that won’t last forever.
Although I didn’t expect that moment to come so soon.
Thud!
A heavy impact is transmitted through my shield.
I can’t move forward even though I’m putting all my strength into my feet.
I lower my shield slightly to check my front.
“What a crazy bastard.”
A warrior from the Black Bear tribe, like the bear-like man, was blocking my path. He was about 1.5 times smaller than me in [Gigantification] state.
But…
‘Damn it.’
Just how strong is this guy?
I’m reminded once again that the level of Noark explorers is high, but I’m not too worried.
“You barbarian, do you think you’re some kind of hero from a—”
I ignore the bear bastard’s words and shout to the back,
“Raven, now!!”
I’m not a hero who saves everyone.
But neither is he.
“Everyone, get back!!”
An explosive impact hits me from behind as soon as I hear Raven’s warning.
「Arrua Raven has cast the 6th-grade support spell [Oxygen Explosion].」
It’s a 6th-grade wind-attribute support spell.
The reason she detonated it behind me is simple.
Although the damage is low, it has a high knockback effect.
“Ugh! What the…!”
I use the wind as a driving force, like a sail, and push the enemy back, ending the stalemate.
And…
“N, no—!”
Kwagic.
I stomp on the bear bastard’s face with [Leap] as he loses his balance and falls backward, then continue dashing forward.
Well, he probably won’t die just from this since he’s also a tank…
Thump!
…but I hear the sound of flesh being torn from behind.
Geez, it sounds like they’re stabbing tofu.
It seems like his Physical Resistance is low, even though his Strength is high.
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”
I use [Wild Release] to boost my stats and continue charging, as enemies have gathered behind me while the bear bastard was blocking my path.
But…
“We have to move faster!!”
…we’re not as fast as before.
It’s a big problem.
One of the weaknesses of a cavalry charge is that they get surrounded if their breakthrough is stopped.
“These, crazy bastards!!”
“Kill them!!”
The enemies who were pushed back and fell get up like zombies and charge towards my companions.
It means we have to fight our way through this chaos now, instead of just clearing the path.
Slash, thump, kwagic! Kwaaang!
Fierce battle sounds overlap from behind.
Of course, I can’t know the exact situation.
But the more that’s the case, the more I look straight ahead.
“Bjorn, don’t worry about the back!!”
Of course, I’m worried.
Human lives are like flies in this war.
I’m anxious that someone might get seriously injured by a stray sword.
Slash!
I don’t know whose body that sound of flesh being pierced came from.
Could it be Misha?
Ainar?
Raven?
The bear-like man?
Negative thoughts keep popping up in my head.
But so what?
“Behel—laaaaaaaaaa!!”
If I stop here, the situation will only worsen.
I embrace the fear I couldn’t discard and focus everything on my single role.
“Wh, what kind of strength is this?!”
To just open the path.
To trust my companions with the rear and move forward resolutely.
It’s what I have to do right now, and what only I can do.
[The good news is that we’re almost there. We can reach the dark zone in 20 minutes if we run.]
An eternity passes.
Inside the cave, filled with sweat, blood, and screams.
‘Has it been about 3 minutes?’
Although it feels like at least an hour has passed…
…it can’t be more than that. I can tell where we are just by looking at the walls of the 1st floor now.
‘Damn it.’
It feels like I’m trapped in a cave where time is distorted.
I estimate how much time has passed by checking my location in real time.
4 minutes. 5 minutes. 6 minutes.
And…
‘7 minutes.’
The first casualty.
“Cayenne!! Cayenne is injured!! Help me. We, we have to carry him together…”
“Let go, Lena.”
“Yes? But…!”
“He’s… already dead.”
“…….”
“We’re leaving him here.”
Cayenne was an archer from Takelan’s team.
That’s all I know about him, but he seemed like a good guy when we introduced ourselves.
‘8 minutes.’
The path is blocked by a barrier someone summoned.
I immediately change course and take a side path.
It’s an improvisation I wouldn’t have been able to do if I hadn’t received navigator training from Rotmiller.
‘It will take at least 3 more minutes to reach our destination.’
The bad news doesn’t end there.
‘9 minutes.’
Another one dies.
This time, it’s a member of Lantern Jaw’s team, who was following us from the rear.
And one more thing.
“Bjorn, Misha is injured!!”
Misha is injured.
“Where and how bad?”
“Lo, lower left chest! Her organs aren’t damaged—”
“Give her a potion while we’re running. Ainar, carry Misha too!”
Fortunately, it’s not life-threatening, but Ainar, who was carrying Raven and helping with the battle with one hand, is now only a transporter.
‘10 minutes.’
More bad news from behind.
“Mr. Yandel! Those people in the back are gone!!”
Lantern Jaw’s team, who was in charge of the rear, ran away.
It seems like they saw people dying in the front and decided it was hopeless…
It was my misjudgment.
‘I can’t believe he’s that stupid.’
I didn’t think he would be foolish enough to think he could escape alone when we’re surrounded by enemies.
Damn it, if he was going to commit suicide, he could have at least died for us.
Anyway, the burden on Takelan’s team increased significantly after those bastards left.
Is that why?
‘13 minutes.’
Two people died this time.
The mage from Takelan’s team and the warrior who was carrying him.
“Damn it! Because of a measly goblin…!”
The primary cause of death was a respawning goblin.
It flew into the sorcerer’s face in the chaos and blocked his vision, and he was turned into an ice statue by a skill cast by the ice-type sorcerer in that instant.
‘15 minutes.’
A dark mage who appeared from a side path unleashed an AoE spell.
Although there were no casualties…
“Sister!!”
Daria, who jumped in front of Erwen to protect her, is incapacitated.
Fortunately, she’s not dead.
But…
“Don’t just stand there and move. I’ll carry your sister!”
Avman carries Daria, and we lose another fighter.
‘17 minutes.’
I’ve been spamming [Leap] to boost my stats.
And my MP is depleted because I haven’t deactivated [Gigantification] even once.
「Character’s Soul Power is insufficient.」
「[Gigantification] ends.」
As planned, I fill the empty space next to me with the bear-like man’s tank summon, Iron Bear.
‘18 minutes.’
Iron Bear is unsummoned.
But Misha, who drank a potion, regains consciousness and returns to the battlefield.
‘19 minutes.’
There’s hope.
We’re almost there.
Although we’ve lost almost half of our people, there are no casualties among those I decided to save.
‘20 minutes.’
A high-ranking explorer, presumed to be at least 4th grade, blocks my path.
He’s a swordsman.
He’s wielding a greatsword made of 5th-tier Adamantium…
“You look like you would be fun to cut.”
…and he’s using Aura.
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