Chapter 159
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Record this. 17th Exploration Team, wiped out just before Point 0.
Silence fell at Zeons command, but it didnt last long.
Soon, suppressed laughter began to spread among the members of the expedition team.
Haha-!
Hehe-!
The demise of the inexperienced expeditionary members before even entering the demonic realm became a subject of ridicule among them.
There was no sign of pity or mourning.
Instead, there was almost a willingness to rejoice at the decrease in competition.
The reason for not showing any grandeur was solely due to the danger of the place.
The Hero sneered covertly.
He had always felt it, but humans from Canis often evoked a physiological disgust.
Shall we descend for now?
It seems like harvesting fruits.
As soon as someone started throwing a grappling hook, everyone followed suit.
Swish- thud!
Bodies fell to the ground.
It was a gruesome sight, but no one flinched.
They were accustomed to seeing bodies in disarray.
Rather, what caught their attention was something else.
Lets see, maybe there are some useful things to take.
Tsk, its because they are inexperienced. They are all dressed in trash.
Oh, this guy. He used to act arrogantly in the gambling den. Now hes lying on the ground without a fight. Nice.
Meanwhile, the Heros attention was focused on something slightly different.
As he looked at the scars remaining on the bodies, he muttered quietly.
Didnt you say we dont need to worry about the Demonic Church for a while?
Thump-
The doll strapped to his waist trembled slightly.
[That was a story about executives. It doesnt matter about the leftovers left behind for a surprise attack, right?]
Where are the executives?
[Most of them are in the first sector. It seems like the leader is not in the demonic realm.]
The annihilation of the expedition team was not because of demons.
Judging by the scars, it was presumed that they had fallen under human hands
It was obvious who the perpetrators were.
They could be targeting us too.
[Its not scary.]
Indeed.
Not only had their power increased to the point where they hardly paid attention to remnants of the Demonic Church, but in some aspects, they were even associating with villains stronger than them.
The leader of the expedition team raised his hand again, then.
All right, lets go. Dont slack on your guard; there might be ambushes. Rest will be taken after entering the demonic realm.
It didnt take them long to leave the place where the stripped corpses were lying until they were out of sight.
The Hero followed behind, lost in thought.
He belonged to Expedition Team 26.
Among the expedition teams dispatched from Canis, they were the most elite group, directly under the Black Arrow.
In other words, they were composed of individuals as strong, cruel, and experienced in demonic realm as their reputation implied.
So, it wasnt easy to fit in with them.
I needed to prove myself.
The Hero recalled the aftermath of the departure.
The moment they first encountered demons in the Great Mountains.
Oops! My mistake!
Swoosh-
A crossbow bolt grazed his ear as they fought in formation.
If he hadnt dodged, his head would have been pierced through.
The eyes of the man who laughed apologetically while shaking hands.
His greedy eyes were fixed on the spear, Umbra, held in the Heros hand.
Until the Hero approached him, he was busy chatting and laughing with his comrades.
You made a foolish choice.
Huh? Uh? Aaaaah-!
The man whose knee was broken by a kick writhed in pain on the ground.
A flash kick that no one around could witness.
It was enough to show the gap in their abilities.
The comrades who had been chuckling all shut their mouths and looked into the air, pretending not to see, wearing an air of indifference.
Crunch-!
Then the Hero crushed the crossbow the man had been holding underfoot.
He glanced at Zeon, the leader of the expedition, who had approached.
Tsk, he caused trouble.
He looked back and forth between the man who was still screaming and rolling around and the Hero.
Im leaving him behind.
As everyone expected, he declared the resumption of the expedition without any sanctions.
That moment marked the vivid impression of Kasim on Expedition Team 26.
Heh, hes a face we havent seen in Canis, but hes skilled like a native.
Kasim. I should remember that name.
.
.
.
Come on, lets enter quickly.
The expedition team reached the entrance to the demonic realm without any major incidents.
There was no ambush from the Demonic Church they had feared.
Although the Hero extended his senses throughout, the only movements he detected were those of ordinary demons.
So, it didnt take long for Expedition Team 26 to reach their destination, Sector 4 of the demonic realm.
It was a zone situated considerably lower than Sector 1, which was occupied by the Eastern Allied Forces.
Sector 4, Fortress City Piroa Ive been here before.
The Hero raised his head and looked at the scenery of Sector 4.
Tall and long stone walls stretched towards the Great Mountains.
There was no sign of life.
Only traces of fierce battles from centuries ago were buried amidst the dust and bushes.
Its so desolate here whenever I come.
It was someone passing by while walking along the debris-filled path in front of the ruined castle.
As he spat on the ground, the expedition member walking in front muttered.
Indeed, the scenery of Sector 4 of the demonic realm was unparalleled in its desolation.
Wuuuuu-
The air, laden with demonic energy, blocked the sunlight, making it dark all around, as if it were just before dawn, and an uncharacteristic chill penetrated the gaps in the armor.
A place where past glory and prosperity had withered away without a trace.
All that remained were the ruins of a crumbling castle and ruins that seemed to be haunted by ghosts.
Despite the dismal sight, Sector 4 was considered a shelter for the expedition teams.
Since it was at the entrance of the demonic realm, the frequency of monster appearances was significantly lower compared to the areas near the core of the demonic realm.
After the expedition leader Zeon finished the preparations for camping, he gathered the members in the center of the campsite.
Thank you all for your hard work. Now that weve entered the demonic realm, let me remind you once again of the purpose of our exploration team.
Zeon, a middle-aged man with striking silver hair and beard, was a direct member of the Black Arrows organization.
It was said that he had received a red grade in the distant past and fled, eventually hiding in Canis.
Over the years, dozens of bounty hunters had come to Canis, aiming for his life, only to become prey themselves.
The Hero glanced at Zeons rugged appearance before turning his gaze away.
Even to him, Zeon seemed like a much stronger individual than Desmond he had encountered at the auction house.
It was evident that even the rough members of Canis listened quietly to his words.
The goal of our 26th exploration team is to collect pieces of the key that can enter the location where the treasure is hidden. You all should know this if youve read the official document.
The key pieces.
The Hero had learned about it a few days ago.
While staying at the exploration teams lodging, Larze had explained the reason for sending out the official document.
I actually went near the coordinates.
What?
Despite the Heros objection not to leave the spot, Larze said she had gone to the coordinates after the competition began.
One, he couldnt get angry.
Because it wasnt an unreasonable attempt.
She realized the significant fact that even if she reached the location of the treasure, she wouldnt be able to enter it without solving the hidden gimmick.
You have to gather scattered pieces of the key throughout the demonic realm and put them together. You have to gather a certain amount to unlock the lock.
If you tried to force your way in, the internal defense magic would activate and completely destroy the contents.
Well, theres a pretty high-level magic on it, right? You might be able to force it, but theres also a low chance of being blown away.
The Hero pondered.
In fact, he vaguely suspected that there might be something wrong with the treasure.
He, too, vaguely guessed that the owner of the treasure was none other than the Demonic Church.
But ironically, the Demonic Church didnt even know the coordinates of the treasure, so the Hero speculated that there might have been variables in the hiding process.
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And thus, he deduced that the high-level magic (gimmick) that Larze had found might be the result of that noise.
So Larze first traced the pieces with exploration magic, then found the location and spread it out with an official document.
If we try to gather alone, it will take forever. Think about it. Whether its the Demonic Church or the exploration team, the pieces of the key will eventually gather at the coordinates. Well wait for that moment, snatch the pieces, and gulp down the treasure. Got it?
In short, Larzes arbitrary actions were quite appropriate.
Difficult and cumbersome tasks are left to others, and only the credit is taken.
Plus, by using the trash of Canis, they could even contain the Demonic Church.
It was a clever move.
The Hero finished reminiscing and turned his gaze back to Zeon in front of him.
The boss promised a big reward for the exploration team that collects the most pieces. So lets gather as many pieces as possible and head to the rendezvous point. The treasure belongs to our Black Arrows. You all know what to do if we encounter scoundrels aiming for it, right?
Well take it and kill them!
Dont worry. Well get paid for our troubles.
The members of the exploration team responded energetically, shaking their weapons.
Clang-
The doll on his hip shook.
[Lets get organized! If we work hard to gather pieces while fighting each other, well carry them to the coordinates. If were short of pieces, other exploration teams will do the same. Agree?]
At that moment, Zeons gaze also turned towards him.
Newbie, did you understand? Any problems?
The Hero replied with a smirk.
None.
He quite liked this Canis-like plan.
* * *
The week passed like that.
The process of collecting the pieces as I crossed the demonic realm was not as difficult as expected.
Honestly, I thought it would be a tough journey at first.
No matter how elite the 26th expedition team was, composed of those with plenty of desert exploration experience, the desert was still the desert.
But.
Its easier than I thought.
The crisis didnt come until I collected as many as four pieces.
Occasionally, lower or intermediate level demons led monsters, but they could be easily dealt with even if they didnt step forward.
Whether the enemy concentrated all their forces on the Eastern Front,
Or focused on other expedition teams,
Or concentrated on the West.
Maybe all three.
Both the frequency and danger of combat were much lower than anticipated.
The high level of the expedition team also played a role.
Experienced criminals showed power comparable to knights.
Thanks to them, they succeeded in reaching Sector 25 of the demonic realm, preserving more than two-thirds of their forces.
Even considering that the real demonic realm began in the 30s, it was a remarkable achievement.
However, the problem arose unexpectedly not from encounters with demons or monsters, but from other expedition teams.
This so-called battle for pieces erupted as they entered Sector 10.
These damn bastards, weve met them well today.
The large organization dividing the Canis.
Harvesters, Black Arrows, Blind Spot.
The grudges they had accumulated were enough to make any enemies flee, and the demonic realm was a perfect place to settle scores.
Moreover, with the clear profit of treasure at stake, there was no reason to hesitate to kill each other.
Why are there so many of these bastards?
Ah, damn it If this goes on, were done for.
The members of the 26th expedition team muttered with frustration.
The enemy has too many numbers.
In terms of skill, they might win.
But if they lose strength or get injured in the process, theyll fall behind in the competition.
They stood with grim expressions, watching the encroaching siege slowly tighten.
Hehe, have you collected the pieces diligently?
Weve been busy beating bastards. Well take it.
At that moment, the Hero made a decision.
He decided to quickly subdue them, even if it meant showing some skill.
If the commotion escalated, it could attract more troublemakers.
This was the worst-case scenario for him, aiming for a swift passage through the demonic realm.
Wooooo-!
He wielded the Shadow Spear, Umbra, and advanced.
The mixed gaze of concern and expectation from the 26th exploration team members poured onto him.
Whos the newbie?
Why does that bastard have a doll on his hip?
Shh, maybe thats
The Hero leaped into the fray without a word.
Amongst the flock of sheep, there was a wolf no, a tiger.
Whiiiiing-
Boom!
The spear skills of the Bryce family unfolded mercilessly in the middle of the demonic realm.
Swift and ferocious attacks.
With each rotation of the spear, heads exploded one by one.
Wha, what!?
Whiiiiing-
Thud!
Shielding with shields, rolling backward, and leaping proved futile.
The sharp end of the spear relentlessly chased them, leaving gaping holes in arms, legs, or torsos.
Oh, no! Ive never heard of such a guy in the Black Arrows!
As roughly ten people fell like scarecrows, the members of the Blind Spot affiliated exploration team fled frantically.
For the 26th exploration team, who had been somewhat tense while watching the situation, it was a very welcome moment.
Look at that merciless bastard.
Hes not working alone for no reason. Will anyone be left around?
So, is he talking to the doll?
Heh, he was quite insane, wasnt he?
Kasim! Kasim!
Oh my goodness, he still looks hungry!
Heh, come on in with the Black Arrows. Im sure youll perform well!
The Hero, fed up with the entanglement, replied.
Get lost.
Boisterous!
Very Canis-like.
.
As this process repeated several times while breaking through the demonic realm, the Hero (Kasim) gained considerable trust from them.
Of course, there were still those who were on guard.
Sideways glances that felt like they could pierce through.
The leader of the exploration team, Zeon.
From a certain point, he had requested to stand at the forefront with the Hero, revealing his inner thoughts.
Hes suspicious.
That was the correct answer.
Of course, Zeon also acknowledged the Heros prowess, but there were more than one or two suspicious points.
It was a moment when Zeons eyes moved nervously up and down as he scrutinized the Hero.
His spear skills were exceptional. Is he from a noble family?
His face looks like that of a common thief.
But why did he stay quiet with such skills?
And why the hell does he carry a doll?
As the unresolved questions deepened Zeons forehead wrinkles, a whizzing sound was heard!
The Hero pulled out Umbra.
Zeon also drew his weapon with a curse.
This bastard!
Shh.
What?
Its an ambush.
The Heros gaze was fixed ahead.
As Zeon hesitantly raised his fist, the entire team stopped in their tracks.
Kasim stopped. Get ready.
Heh, his performance is reliable.
Soon, even they sensed something amiss.
Huh? Whats this
And then, Zeon momentarily forgot about his previous suspicions as intense vibrations were felt from within their midst.
Woooooo-!
The four pieces of the key that the 26th exploration team had searched for had gathered into a clump.
The pieces seemed to stick together as if magnetized, vibrating when they approached each other.
Just like now.
Zeon smiled slowly.
Its another exploration team.
As the vibrations of the iron clump grew stronger, Zeons creepy smile widened even more.
By the time he finished speaking, his mouth was almost at his ears.
With pieces.
The weapons of all members of the 26th exploration team were drawn.
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