Episode 334: The Golden Deer
Yuma and the others walked alongside Albert and Mia, following the road.
Up to a certain point, it was a normal city with buildings and commercial facilities. However, from a specific point onward, everything was gone.
A completely barren wasteland. Exactly the same scene as New York.
“This is the work of the 【Yellow King】… Why would he do something like this?”
When Yuma asked, Albert closed his eyes and shook his head.
“I don’t know. To show off his power, or perhaps just a whim. We’ll have to ask the 【King】 directly.”
Even as the two were talking, the members of Prometheus spread out around them, steadily preparing something.
Yuma and the others exchanged words as they walked.
“If you find the 【Yellow King】, are you planning to defeat him on the spot?”
Asked by Yuma, Albert gave a wry smile.
“The American Military has attacked him with dozens of nuclear and hydrogen bombs, but they haven’t even scratched him. Many Seekers have also lost their lives. We have no choice but to defeat him. It’s not a matter of whether we want to or not. We have to.”
Albert, who was usually so composed, had a fleeting shadow cross his face.
He was probably quite cornered. Even if Prometheus was said to be the strongest Seeker Clan, it would be tough against a 【King】.
“Albert-san, I think it’s going to be difficult to subjugate the 【Yellow King】 with just you guys. If the 【King】 appears, I’ll stand in front, so I want the members of Prometheus to focus on providing backup.”
“You’ll fight? How reliable.”
Albert laughed cheerfully, but Mia, who was behind him, frowned and furrowed her brow.
“You’re talking quite big. The 【Yellow King】 has been avoiding Albert all this time. It’s because he’s afraid of him.”
“The 【Yellow King】 is avoiding? Albert-san?”
Yuma couldn’t believe it and asked Mia again. Would a 【King】 with extraordinary strength avoid a single Seeker?
“Every time the 【Yellow King】 was sighted, we went to the location immediately. But by the time we arrived, he was already gone. That happened repeatedly. Also, there have been no sightings of the 【Yellow King】 near areas where Albert is.”
“No, no, just because of that doesn’t mean the 【Yellow King】 is avoiding him, right? I think it’s just a coincidence.”
Akito completely denied Mia’s story. Mia, angered by Akito’s snort, raised her voice.
“Coincidences don’t happen repeatedly! The 【Yellow King】 must be sensing Albert’s Mana!”
Albert gently calmed the excited Mia, saying, “Now, now.”
“The truth is, I don’t know. He might have been afraid of me, or it might just have been bad timing.”
“Sensing Mana… Has your Mana increased that much, old man? I thought it was around 8000 before.”
Akito raised an eyebrow.
“Ah, of course. It’s higher than it was then. I’ve been fighting Monsters like crazy for the past few months. I think it’s over 40000 now.”
““40000!?””
The voices of Yuma and the other two overlapped.
“That’s higher than me and Rui! What’s going on, old man!!”
“Albert-san is amazing after all. The Mana Wall doesn’t seem to matter at all.”
Yuma smiled wryly at the contrasting reactions of the surprised Akito and the impressed Rui.
Certainly, that wasn’t a Mana Index that ordinary humans could reach. So the name of the strongest in the world wasn’t just for show.
Yuma was also walking along, impressed, but he stopped abruptly at a certain point.
The other four also stopped.
“There’s an unpleasant atmosphere here.”
Albert looked around. Everyone had sensed something.
“This is terrible! The Mana Measuring Device is…”
A member of Prometheus who had rushed up from behind shouted loudly. Behind him were people operating equipment with parabolic antennas.
Was that the Mana Measurement Device?
“What’s wrong?”
Mia asked with a puzzled look.
“The Spatial Mana is showing abnormal values! There’s probably a Monster with high Magical Power nearby–“
The moment the man spoke, a chill ran down Yuma’s spine. He slowly turned around and saw something in the wasteland.
“Fuh, it seems he’s made his appearance.”
Albert smiled and looked at the creature in the wasteland. Four legs and a long neck. It wasn’t that big, and horn-like things grew from its head.
“That’s…”
Tension ran across Yuma’s face. A golden deer-like creature. It didn’t look strong at first glance.
But it felt more unfathomably eerie than any Monster he had ever encountered.
The members of Prometheus also gathered around. Each of them took up their weapons, entering a battle-ready stance.
Peter, who had also been active as part of the flying squad, rushed to Yuma’s side.
“Hey, Mitaka! This is an all-out battle from here on out. Let’s support Albert-san and kill that thing!!”
Seeing Peter’s excitement, Yuma also felt his strength surge.
“Yeah, let’s settle it here–“
The moment Yuma spoke, Peter’s head was gone.
“Eh?”
As Peter, now a speechless corpse, collapsed from his knees, Rui drew his Katana and shouted loudly.
“We’re being attacked! Everyone, be careful!!”
The surrounding Seekers moved busily. Mia also stepped forward and raised her voice.
“Everyone except me and Albert, fall back! Concentrate on providing backup!!”
Mia concentrated on the bracelet with the Magic Gem attached. The Frost of ice spread around, sharply lowering the temperature.
Albert gently tapped Mia’s shoulder, who was ready to unleash her magic at any moment.
“Mia, you fall back too.”
“But…”
Mia looked dissatisfied for a moment, but nodded silently and took a step back.
Albert, who had stepped forward, raised both hands slightly and kneaded Fire Magical Power. Tremendous Magical Power, like a volcano, erupted around him.
“Hey, old man! What are you trying to do, acting cool all by yourself! You can’t win without combining our strength!!”
Akito complained, but Albert ignored him, floated into the air, and charged straight at the deer.
The Golden Deer responded by rushing towards the sky as well.
The extraordinary flames and thunder collided in the air to settle the score.