Episode 403: What I Want to Try
Yuma unleashed his Magical Power to the fullest and charged at the Ogre.
The “Wind Dragon” and “Lightning Dragon” deployed around him followed Yuma, opening their maws as they headed for the Ogre.
“Go!”
The Wind Dragon latched onto the Ogre’s right arm, tearing it off and ascending into the sky. The Lightning Dragon also attacked the Ogre’s left arm.
Both left arms were blown away, and Lightning scattered around. Yuma dashed through the dazzling light.
He imbued his Pickel with Fire Magical Power and slammed it into the opponent’s abdomen. It exploded and burst into Flames—the Ogre’s belly was painfully gouged out.
“Eat this!”
Flames were emitted from the cannon on his left shoulder, engulfing the Ogre’s entire body.
“Gaaaaaaaaaaaaaaah!!”
Engulfed in Flames, the Ogre staggered. Yuma aimed the turret on his right shoulder at the opponent. Water was emitted, hitting the Ogre’s left leg.
The water coiled around the leg and froze solid.
The Ogre groaned, “Gah!?” and became completely immobile.
In that instant, the “Wind Dragon” attacked the Ogre from behind. Upon impact, it expanded and burst, creating countless Wind Blades.
The Ogre’s back was slashed to pieces, and fresh blood splattered.
The Ogre, his face contorted in pain, turned around. Yuma didn’t miss that moment.
He stepped in quickly and swung his Pickel, infused with Lightning, with all his might.
The moment it hit the Ogre, intense Lightning became a pillar of light, ascending to the heavens. Dust swirled, and a large Hole appeared in the ground.
Yuma looked up to see the Ogre standing there, the left half of its body charred.
“Looks like that got through.”
Yuma leaped back, widened his stance, and took a fighting pose.
He would press the attack and finish it here!
“Fireballs” were fired continuously from the turret on his right shoulder. The three Fireballs landed one after another, and the Ogre exploded and burst into Flames.
Yuma launched another attack. He aimed the cannon on his left shoulder at the Ogre and fired sharp “Ice Blocks.”
The pointed Ice Blocks pierced the Ogre’s chest. The Ogre groaned and took a step, then another, backward.
Frost flowed out from the embedded Ice Blocks, freezing the Ogre’s body.
Seeing the opponent’s movements slow, Yuma ran to deliver the final blow. He poured “Liquid Metal” into the Pickel in his hand, transforming it into a giant Hammer.
He kicked off the ground and leaped into the air, raising the Hammer high.
Lightning crackled from the head of the Hammer, and immense Magical Power gathered. A look of terror appeared in the Ogre’s eyes.
“It’s over.”
The Hammer fell on the Ogre’s head like a thunderbolt. The Monster’s head vanished, and the Hammer sank into its torso.
Lightning swirled, burning the Ogre’s body. Unable to regenerate, its body crumbled away.
After watching the Ogre turn into sand, Yuma turned on his heel and began to walk away. The “Metallization” wore off, and Yuma returned to his original form, rejoining Akiyama and the others.
Akiyama, still bewildered, spoke to Yuma.
“You really… defeated the Lord of the Labyrinth?”
“Yeah, I think this place will collapse soon too.”
Kitazawa pressed him, as Yuma answered so nonchalantly.
“T-then, we have to escape quickly!”
Oura nodded vigorously, echoing Kitazawa’s panic.
“Of course. But before that, there’s something I want to try.”
“Something you want to try?”
Akiyama frowned. Yuma activated “Metallization” once more.
Akiyama and the others recoiled, muttering “Ugh” at the sight of Yuma in his “Black Armor” again. It seemed they were still intimidated by his appearance.
Yuma focused his mind on the back of his right hand. Concentrating on one of the Jewels, white light overflowed.
The swirling light enveloped Yuma, and in the next moment—a giant white Ogre stood there.
A sharp-eyed Oni with two horns. The muscular body and thick arms spoke of this Monster’s strength. Akiyama and the others were dumbfounded, unable to comprehend what had happened.
After a few seconds, Kitazawa screamed.
Oura, on the other hand, was teary-eyed and had collapsed onto her rear.
“Ah, sorry, sorry. I surprised you by transforming suddenly, didn’t I? It’s me, Mitaka, so you don’t have to be so scared.”
The giant Ogre scratched its head sheepishly as it apologized. Akiyama and the others remained stunned, their mouths agape.
Yuma turned his gaze to his own hands.
As this Ogre, with the body of the Lord of the Labyrinth, he might be able to use more advanced magic—Fifth Stratum White Magic. Trusting his instincts, Yuma raised his right hand high.
He faced his palm to the sky, gathering White Magical Power. Then, the sky began to glow faintly, and light spread out in a circle.
It was like a giant halo. The light, resembling an angel’s Ring, captivated Akiyama and the others on the ground, who watched with wide eyes.
However, Yuma alone felt a sense of impending danger.
“This is…”
What kind of magic was it? By transforming into the Ogre, Yuma was able to grasp its full scope.
◇◇◇
Israel, White Dungeon [Orpheus]—
A large-scale expedition team had entered the two hundred and fiftieth Stratum of the Depths.
They had fought many “Angels” along the way, suffering seventy deaths and about one hundred and twenty serious injuries, but over a thousand Seekers continued the assault.
This was an exceptional number, indicating that the expedition was progressing smoothly.
Lorenzo, the leader of the team, felt confident about the current situation.
—If we continue like this, we should be able to reach the lowest Stratum. And a complete conquest is entirely possible.
Lorenzo, leading the vanguard of the team, looked toward the hill ahead. Light overflowed there. Upon closer inspection, a terrifying number of Angels were ascending into the sky.
The Angels swirled in the sky, creating a giant sphere.
“What is that…?”
Lorenzo frowned. The sphere of light scattered, and something emerged from within.
It was a giant Angel Monster that no one had ever seen before.