Chapter 395: The White Lord
Yuma, transformed into an异形 figure, held his pickel low and charged forward.
Medusa retreated, but Yuma was faster. Aiming for her flank, he swung the pickel horizontally.
However, he was once again blocked by the “Barrier of Light.”
Yuma gritted his teeth and put even more power into his swing.
“UOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOO!”
The pickel shattered the “Barrier of Light” and gouged out Medusa’s abdomen.
Without missing a beat, Yuma stepped forward with his left foot and punched her in the face. Medusa staggered backward.
Yuma didn’t miss the opportunity. He channeled Fire Magical Power into the pickel, spun it around, and held it low.
As his opponent lost her balance, the pickel, swung from below, struck Medusa’s right arm, exploding and blowing it away.
Having lost her arm, Medusa faltered for a moment but quickly regained her composure.
The countless snakes growing from her head attacked. Yuma didn’t panic. The snakes bit at him one after another, but they had no effect on his steel body.
Yuma channeled Fire Magical Power throughout his entire body. Red patterns emerged on his skin.
“Ha!”
The snakes biting Yuma exploded. Medusa, caught off guard, lost her balance and fell on her rear.
The wound on her abdomen seemed to have healed quickly with 【Self-Regeneration】, but her right arm and the damage to her head hadn’t healed. The explosion magic was inhibiting her Regeneration. Yuma thought, as expected.
“Even if you’re a Lord… you’re no match for me.”
Yuma spun the pickel around and raised the head high. Medusa thrust her left hand forward, deploying a Barrier of Light.
A powerful and thick Barrier. Even so—
Yuma slammed the head, glowing bright red, into the “Barrier of Light.”
The Barrier exploded, and Medusa was blown away along with the ground. A pillar of fire rose high, and dust swirled.
Medusa disappeared without a trace. There were no Magic Gems lying around. It seemed she didn’t drop anything.
Yuma turned on his heel and walked back to Akiyama and the others.
The Metallization wore off, and he returned to his human form as he walked. Akiyama and the others, who had been watching from the hill, stood there with indescribable expressions.
Perhaps fighting in the “Black Armor” form was too shocking?
“It’s over. Let’s look for the exit from this Stratum.”
“Ah, yes…”
Akiyama replied hesitantly. Kitazawa and Oura also had strained expressions, but they didn’t say anything.
The four of them descended the hill and stepped into the lush forest.
◇◇◇
“Hey, what are we going to do!? That person is the Black Armor, right?”
It was Kitazawa who spoke in a hushed voice.
“The strongest Unique Monster that Elceed and the Seekers of various countries desperately tried to defeat. Why is it here in human form?”
Oura, who didn’t talk much, didn’t remain silent at Kitazawa’s words.
“Is that person… human? Or a Monster? They’re on our side, right? Do you know something, Akiyama-kun?”
Akiyama remained silent, his mouth pressed into a straight line. He looked at Yuma, who was walking about five meters ahead, and spoke to the two behind him.
“I participated in the ‘Black Armor Subjugation Operation,’ but I was just a low-level member, so I didn’t see the Black Armor being defeated. But…”
“But… what?”
Kitazawa frowned.
“After the Black Armor was taken somewhere, a certain rumor spread.”
“What kind of rumor?”
Oura asked with a fearful expression.
“The rumor was that the Black Armor was a human. The government and the upper echelons of the company didn’t say anything, so it just faded away.”
Kitazawa and Oura fell silent. The fact that the rumor was true was proven by Mitaka Yuma walking in front of them.
Why would a human take the form of a Monster?
What happened to the Black Armor?
Why was Elceed Corporation trying to cooperate with Mitaka Yuma?
The questions were endless, but there was no way to ask them. All Akiyama and the other two could do was carry out the company’s orders.
“Anyway, we have no choice but to take Mitaka-san to the Lower Stratum. That’s all we can do.”
No one objected to Akiyama’s words. The three of them continued to walk behind Yuma, heading towards the deeper Stratum.
◇◇◇
A huge Hole. Within Orpheus, the world’s largest Dungeon, there were figures moving.
A Seeker Clan gathered from all over Europe.
As expected of a group of high-ranking Seekers, they were able to proceed to the 100th Stratum without any problems. However, the situation changed drastically after they passed the 100th Stratum.
Due to the “Mirage of the Depths,” a bright plain stretched out endlessly.
“So, this is the ‘Abode of Angels.'”
It was Valentin, who was leading the group, who spoke. He was a Seeker from Portugal and also the person in charge of this expedition.
The Seekers who had been walking stopped and looked carefully overhead.
In the clear blue sky, white shadows were fluttering.
Angels—high-ranking Monsters that nested in the White Dungeon. The Seekers’ expressions became more tense.
Even lower-ranking angels could use powerful magic. If they let their guard down, they could be annihilated.
Valentin shouted, “Let’s go!” and started walking again. They had been able to reach this point smoothly. Even so, Valentin thought.
No Seeker Clan that had challenged it had ever successfully passed through the “Abode of Angels” that began on this 100th Stratum.
The Seekers who had challenged it so far had been annihilated just before the 120th Stratum, or had escaped with injuries.
—Normally, I would hesitate to proceed, but with this many high-ranking Seekers gathered, there’s no need to be afraid.
Valentin continued to walk confidently.
At that moment, the white shadows in the sky noticed them and swooped down. Not just one or two. A group of dozens of angels.
They held Swords of Light in their right hands and round shields of light in their left hands.
“Everyone, get ready to intercept!”
At Valentin’s command, the Seekers who had been in a line readied their weapons.
Each of them used magic and clashed with the group of angels.