Part Forty-Three

This battle had been a magnitude worse than the last one. Over a dozen mercenaries were injured enough to affect their combat potential and almost everyone had some cuts and scrapes. Even Alicia had a small cut on her hand from a piece of shrapnel.

Cameron was better off than the others, but he’d taken his fair share of damage. He had numerous bruises all over his body and his armor was severely dented from countless collisions. Even his axe was starting to chip. Repairing the armor was simple enough, but fixing the axe was beyond their capabilities. All he’d be able to do was extend its lifespan. Eventually, the constant wearing would break it beyond repairing.

“Boss, shouldn’t we retreat before its too late? Another fight like that one will cause deaths.”

“Hmm. Fine, let’s get outta here. There’s something bugging me about these tunnels. I’d like to explore them more, but let’s be prudent about it this time.”

There was a chorus of sighs, as the mercenaries began to trace their steps back to the stairs. The trip was fairly quiet. No Golems rose from the dirt to attack them and no Mivians appeared to harry them with countless spells.

It’s too quiet. We killed a few of them, but the overwhelming majority survived the battle. So where did they go? They clearly ran deeper into the tunnels, but for what reason? And are they simply going to let us leave like this?

“Hm, shouldn’t we have gotten back to the stairs by now? We only walked for a few minutes before being attacked. This is really-. What the hell!?”

What loomed before them was a wall, one they definitely hadn’t seen coming into the tunnels. There were further paths on either side of them and no sign of the steps leading back to the surface. And just before anyone could process this turn of events, the dirt in front of them burst apart, revealing dozens of Golems.

“S-Shit! It’s a trap!”

“Uwwwwwoooooooo!”

Those who’d yet to be injured were forced to bear the brunt of the assault, even as they themselves were hurt. The only saving grace was that these Golems were a lot less tough than the ones they’d fought earlier. They lacked the metallic shells that had made the battle so hard. Even their attacks were lackluster compared to before.

And so, they were quickly crushed by the mercenaries. In reality, these Golems had only been F-Rank, whereas the earlier ones were closer to D-Rank. It was natural for them to overpower such weak enemies, even in their exhausted state.

Everyone waited for the inevitable second wave of Golems, but it never came.

“What’s going on? First the tunnel completely changes, then what appears to be a wall turns into dozens of Golems with no signs of a caster. And now they don’t follow up? What the hell is going on?”

“I-I don’t know. I never sensed any mana being used or any magic being cast!!”

“Then, where the hell did those Golems come from? And where’s the stairs? There’s nothing behind the wall where the Golems came from! And the way back is gone as well.”

“Shut the hell up! Keep your heads in straight, or I’ll set them right myself! Now, we chose a path and start moving. Something’s messing with us and I don’t intend to let it have it’s way.”

***

“Uwwwwwwo!”

“More Golems!? Where do they keep coming from? We can’t keep this up for much longer!”

“Stop complaining and kill these fucking Golems!”

Three more rounds. That’s how many times they were attacked by the inferior Golems. And even though they were weaker than the ones they fought before, it still continued to wear away at them. By now, everyone was starting to lag as exhaustion caught up to them. The only positive was that no one had yet to die.

The worst part was the fact that the tunnels had opened up into a full-on maze. Every single path led to more paths, which led to even more paths. They were completely lost after only a few turns. Even worse was the fact that the paths were shifting as they went. And there was a good reason for this.

What the mercenaries hadn’t known was that the Golem-Meister was merely the first line of defense for the Mivian nest. The reason the others had fled was that they were supposed to, so they didn’t get caught up the second line of defense, the Earth Magic Ritual [Living Labyrinth].

This spell did exactly as advertised. It created a shifting, multi-faceted series of endless tunnels that the caster was in complete control of. And since the caster could also mass-produce Golems, the situation was even more dire.

We can’t hold up for much longer. Half of us are out of commission and the rest are only slightly better off. There has to be a way to get out of here, we just need to find it.

With one last swing of his hammer, Sampson finished off the last of this wave of Golems. He was the only one who still seemed to be okay, whether that was because he was stronger or was due to his mentality wasn’t clear. But even he wouldn’t be able to keep going forever. There was a clear limit to the stamina a mortal could have.

“Alright, we definitely can’t keep this pace up for much longer. We need to either escape or finish this. So, any ideas? Alicia?”

“Erm well, I’ve kinda figured out that this is all one spell. The Golems, the shifting tunnel, the sudden dead-ends, all of it is part of the same spell being cast by the same monster. But…I have absolutely no idea where it is.”

“So, we have to find the caster if we want to get out of here? Any ideas how to do that?”

“Not really. Um, maybe if we force it to keep changing the tunnels, it’ll run out of mana? Though that’s not exactly ideal.”

Very few, or practically none really, of the mercenaries had any experience with magic. Only Kalia and Michael were actually able to cast spells, though a number of the others could at least sense mana. However, there was a great deal of difference between their respective levels of ability.

It was comparable to two people where one was wearing glasses and not the other. They could both see, but one saw clearer than the other. This put most of the burden on Alicia, who had the clearest vision of the group. This was something that could be rectified in the future, but was a massive problem in the present.

I wish there was some way I could help here, but all I’m capable of is cutting down monsters. I should’ve sat in on those lessons, then I could’ve taken some of the burden off of her. I’m pathetic, needing someone so much younger to cover for me.

“Hmm, could we break through the walls? The Mivians moved through them before, so it stands to reason that that could work.”

“Huh, maybe. It’s worth a try. Especially if we break a spot that seems particularly saturated with mana. This is all part of the spell, so breaking through it should return us to the original tunnels. So who’s going to do it?”

“Obviously me. My hammer will break through anything and everything. Just tell me where to go.”

They proceeded along with Alicia at the head of the group. She scanned along the wall, looking for something only she could see. Vulnerabilities in the spell wouldn’t present themselves and had to be spotted consciously. Though Alicia was certainly the best person for the job. Her eyesight was already good and was only strengthened by Accuracy. If anyone could find a flaw, she could.

There must be something I can do. Something that can make me feel less useless. I just, I just wish things had gone differently. I don’t know exactly what I mean by that, but I wish it nonetheless.

[Alicia’s POV]

So I know I talked a big game, but I’m not even sure what I’m looking for here. Kalia mentioned something about large-scale spells having flaws in how they influence reality, but I don’t know what exactly I’m looking for. Maybe if I follow the flow of mana along the walls?

Though the walls appeared to be the same, there were subtle differences only those who could view mana would see. Tiny defects and discrepancies too numerous to count and one of them would ultimately allow them to break out of the spell. Trying to decide which one, while also watching for potential monster attacks, was quite taxing for her nerves. While a wrong decision didn’t necessarily mean that there would be consequences for them, a mistake could cause unforeseen issues or complications in dealing with the others.

Really, this might be more then we can handle. Michael was right, this was too risky. We weren’t ready for this Dungeon, no one was. But now that I’m here, I’m not gonna give up anytime soon. Oh, maybe that would work? The mana in this part of the wall is really thin. Maybe the spell's not very strong here.

“Maybe try here? The spell looks thinner here, so it might not be working properly. Do you think you can do it?”

“Definitely. I’ve got a few tricks left over.”

Everyone took a few steps back as Sampson began to spin his hammer, Aura flaring to life around it. She wasn’t as experienced with Aura as Michael was, but she knew that whatever he was doing was going to be impressive. He continued to spin the hammer, using the centrifugal force to steady its rotation. And just as everyone expected him to drop it or something, he swung at the wall.

*CRAAAAAAAAAASH!*

The impact was jarring and caused both a shockwave and a massive cloud of dirt to plume away from the impact. But at the same time, those sensitive to mana felt a sort of pulse as the mana within the tunnels reacted. And when the dust cleared, they discovered that there was a gigantic hole in the wall, through which they could see a room full of various constructs.

“It worked!? Let’s get moving!”

It was almost miraculous that they’d actually managed to escape the endless series of tunnels they’d been trapped in for the last hour. Everyone was almost giddy with excitement, but they weren’t in the clear quite yet. There were still a number of angry magic monsters between them and the exit.

I, I can’t believe that worked! I was just sorta theory crafting! It wasn’t based on anything aside from my own assumptions, so how did it actually work?

It was solely due to how [Living Labyrinth] worked. Though the spell appeared to create a series of interconnected tunnels, it actually only created an amorphous space that surrounded the target and created the façade of a maze. The tunnels they hadn’t taken had never existed and the ones they went through stopped existing after they exited them. And they’d been caught up in the spell after they’d tried to return to the stairs and had been trapped inside ever since.

The spell had a well-known weakness. As its captives moved through it, the bubble moved through the dirt to create the illusion of endless tunnels. But when the bubble came close to an existing underground structure, it became structurally unsound and could be escaped by breaking a wall. Though said walls were harder than stone and would need considerable force to break.

They needed to hurry. Not only were there still Mivians that could attack them, but it was entirely possible for them to be caught up in another [Living Labyrinth]. While they might know how to escape the spell now, it was still an avoidable danger.

“Let’s go! Kill any of those bastards the second you see them!”

Those still healthy rushed through the hole and into the room beyond. And were immediately set upon by the Mivians inside the room. Thankfully, they were only E-Rank variants and not more powerful versions.

“Natka!? Nashka vata!”

The four Mivians in the room tried to fire off spells, but were killed before they had the chance to cast them. She followed just behind them, searching for any Mivians hiding in the walls. Since there wasn’t any, she was able to relax and take a look around the room.

Tables piled high with various plants and counters covered in vials filled with creams and various solutions. It was evident that this was some kind of workshop, but the exact purposes weren’t obvious.

“Huh, could there be medicine in here? They’ve got all kinds of things in here.”

Recovery Tonic

Rank: Special

Description: A tonic made from special herbs through Alchemy. Promotes an increase in the drinker’s natural recovery.

Blood-Clotting Cream

Rank: Special

Description: A cream made with unique herbs via Alchemy. Helps to stop bleeding when applied to open wounds and accelerates the process of scabbing.

Clarity Tonic

Rank: Special

Description: A tonic that helps to soothe nerves and calm the mind. Can temporarily increase the drinker’s ability to focus.

So amazing!? Michael mentioned that there was the possibility of consumable items like these appearing somewhere, but to think they’re just lying here!? And the latter two are particularly useful. The last one especially, I can think of dozens of occasions I would’ve loved to have these.

“Hey Boss, look at all this stuff!”

“Keep yer pants on. We’ll get to that eventually. Everyone needs to keep an eye out for those pesky bastards. Get something set up in front of that tunnel. I want a barricade set-up so we can rest for a minute.”

Everyone scrambled into action, scurrying every which way. Several mercenaries began emptying several tables and dragging them over to the entrance and along the walls to prevent the Mivians from infiltrating the room.

Meanwhile, those who’d been injured were sorting through the various medical items in the room and starting to treat their injuries. While they wouldn’t be enough to heal broken bones, it would at least help alleviate the pain and allow some to return to battle. Which was frankly more important at the moment.

Alicia, on the other hand, was busy preparing for the inevitable battles ahead. She’d decided to produce as many imbued arrows as possible and so devoted all of her focus to that task. Her intense focus on that single task inspired the others to work just as hard, so that as many as possible could survive.

And in this way, everyone rested while they had the chance. For this was but a break in the storm and would soon end.

***

Ugh, why the hell did that asshole give me the worst assignment? Fuck that asshole racist!

A single figure stalked through the Mivians' tunnels, cursing under their breath. This was Number 3, who had been forced to infiltrate the monster nest and steal as many items as possible from under the others noses. Mivians were known not only for their mastery of magic, but also their prowess in creation. They were particularly skilled in both Alchemy and Enchanting, meaning that unique and powerful weapons and solutions could be looted from their nests.

It was bad enough that I had to evade those idiots while tailing them, but then they go and get caught in a [Living Labyrinth]? Amateurs. At least they’ve distracted the Mivians. I’d never be able to get this deep otherwise.

She hadn’t even encountered a single Golem or trap since entering the nest. The only living thing she’d seen was a single Mivian, which she’d killed before it even knew she was there. Now, if only she could find something worth her time.

“Herghergherghhhh……”

A sinister laugh echoed throughout the tunnels, filled with malice. It sent a shiver down her spine, an unconscious reflex when faced with an apex predator. She’d never heard this particular laugh before, but she knew what had made it. And it terrified her.

No, it can’t be! If there was one of them in here, those Earthlings never would’ve made it through-. The Mivians! They must’ve had it trapped somewhere but let it out when the others got trapped in [Living Labyrinth]! I-I’ve got to get out of here!

“Herghergherghhhh!”

Too late.