The Stars Dance in a Spiral ①
I muttered in stunned silence.
“In the middle of a huge horde……”
“This is quite the predicament. I thought it would be in the Lab… but this is… Hmm.”
“Isn’t there some way?”
“A way… Wait. I’m checking the database now.”
A database. So there is one.
I can tell Hayarn is operating a touch panel.
But it just looks like Hayarn is desperately jumping up and down, hitting a console.
“…Wof. It’s a gamble. Very dangerous, but there is a way.”
“What is it?”
“To put it simply, I found a way to temporarily disable the Minos Units. Using this, we can stop all Minos Units for a certain period.”
“Does that include the Infinite Spawn?”
“Yes, however. It’s only temporary.”
So, temporarily stop all Minos Units, and while they’re down, hit the Infinite Spawn Core System. Is that it?
“—Hayyarn. What happens if I destroy this Infinite Spawn Core System?”
“Hm? Oh, first, the Infinite Spawn will definitely stop. Simultaneously, all the Minos Units will probably stop too.”
“The Minos too?”
“They’re similar to Golems made from Dungeon Monsters. One of the reasons they weren’t adopted as weapons is that they lack individual judgment, and their command system is completely centralized. In other words, the Core System is the brain of the Minos Units. If it’s destroyed, the Minos Units will stop. Because they’ll lose their brain.”
“So I just need to destroy it. Then it’ll be over.”
“That’s right. But charging into the horde is reckless. It’s like going to your death. That holds true even if they’re temporarily stopped. Will you still go?”
“Yes. If there’s even the slightest chance, I’ll do it.”
“…Alright. Take this.”
Hayyarn tossed something over.
Is this an earpiece?
“Put that in your ear, and you’ll be able to hear my voice.”
“Okay.”
“You’re not surprised.”
“There are Legendary items and Relics like this.”
“I see. Right. I want to extend the time as much as possible. I’ve calculated the location that will get you closest to the target. I’ll direct you there.”
“Understood.”
“…Wof. Sorry.”
Hayyarn apologized.
“Hayyarn. I’m heading out.”
I gave a slight nod and started running.
This happened because of me.
I didn’t think it would turn out like this, but this is my responsibility.
My exploration led to this result.
I even broke Mineha-san’s Spear.
So, wanting to do something about it feels like the natural course of thought.
But there are limits. Things people can and cannot do. Everyone has those limits.
I understand that.
Or do I really understand?
Minos Units.
Minotaurs with pale blue skin. Looking closely, you can see that the pale blue skin is metal.
Metallic Minotaurs stood waiting in a space enclosed by stone walls.
I responded through the earpiece.
『Hayyarn.』
『Reception is good. Go ahead.』
『I’m in position.』
Northeast. Just as instructed.
I use the Relic [Wheel of Fortune].
『I see it!』
Straight west from here, there’s a blue point of light.
That’s it. The Infinite Spawn Core System.
I braced myself. Let’s go. I will definitely defeat it.
『Alright. I’m stopping them now. But there isn’t much time. You might get surrounded by the horde before you reach the target.』
『I know.』
If that happens, I’ll use not just [Vanish], but [Generous] too.
『Okay. Stopping the Minos Units. 3, 2, 1, 0.』
Clunk. The movements of the Minos Units I was watching stopped, just like their batteries had died.
I was slightly stunned.
『……』
『Wof, hurry!』
Oops, right. I plunged into the stopped horde.
I ran relentlessly. It was eerie seeing Minos Units everywhere, in all directions.
They were stopped like statues.
I ran desperately towards the blue point of light. I was getting closer bit by bit, but these Minos Units were in the way.
I defeated the Minos Unit in front of me with [Vanish]. I climbed over it and pushed forward.
Minos Units appeared like a wall. Should I go around? No, I’ll climb here.
Fear struck me—what if I get attacked while climbing?
『Wof. Not yet?』
『Not yet. The Minos Units are blocking the way.』
『They’re about to… start moving again!』
『Isn’t that a bit too soon?』
『Hurry. Just hurry!』
Easy for you to say, but running…
What? I stopped.
The closed eyes of the surrounding Minos Units began to open.
N-No way. I readied myself.
I held Agaro’s Knife Modified in one hand and prepared [Vanish] with the other.
The Minos Units started moving.
And I was the first one they spotted.
Well, of course. I’m right in the middle of the enemy horde.
“Didn’t make it in time at all.”
Change of plans. Advance while engaging the horde as minimally as possible.
“Uogh!?”
I blocked a sudden sword strike from the left with Agaro’s Knife Modified and parried it.
In that opening, I used [Vanish] to shave off part of its body from the shoulder down.
Sensing an attack from behind, I dodged and erased part of its torso with [Vanish].
I blocked an attack from the right with [Vanish] and stabbed its chest with my knife.
Ignoring attacks from the left, diagonal right, and behind, I focused on evasion, chasing the blue point of light.
“Woah!”
I erased an incoming spear with [Vanish].
That spear flew from quite a distance—could it be an arrow!?
Getting hit by just one of those would be fatal.
Spear-like arrows rained down one after another, and I somehow managed to deal with them using [Vanish].
But the attacks didn’t let up.
Dodge and defeat, dodge and flee, somehow defeat, dodge and parry, damn it!
I blocked a sword with my knife and erased a spear-arrow with [Vanish].
In that instant, another Minos Unit punched me hard in the stomach.
“Guhaaaahhh!”
What power. I was sent flying and crashed into the wall. Not good. I have to move, or the spear-arrows will get me.
I used [The Silent One]. My mind became calm, and the pain subsided as if it were a lie.
But this was just masking it. It wouldn’t last long.
I spat blood, stood up, dodged the spear-arrows, and erased a giant axe with [Vanish].
A fist mark remained on my leather armor. It hurt to breathe. It felt hot. Definitely broken.
An Elixir… As I reached into my pouch, I saw a Minotaur with a spear thrusting at me.
I somehow blocked it with my knife, and as I fell, the vial containing the Elixir dropped and shattered.
Ah, what a waste. Can’t be helped. I grabbed a Potion bottle and drank it.
The heat subsided, but it couldn’t do anything about the pain.
Should I use [Generous] here?
No, not yet, not yet. I’m still too far away.
It only lasts five minutes; what if I use it and still can’t reach the target?
Besides, it was weak during the fight with the King of the Wind of Death… Stop it. Stop thinking that.
That line of thought isn’t good.
Not yet, not yet.
Once I get closer… I’ll use it. It’s my trump card.
“?!”
At that moment, almost unconsciously, I took a stance.
I blocked a sideways swing from an iron club with my left gauntlet and was sent flying by the force.
“Guoooahhh—!!”
Where I landed rolling, another Minotaur brought down its axe. I desperately dodged.
I stood up, annihilated the approaching Minotaur’s leg with [Vanish], and jumped back.
This is bad. I’m getting dizzy. At a time like this, I still haven’t caught up.
The blue point of light isn’t close.
Should I use it? [Generous].
“!”
A spear-arrow flew at me, and I parried it with my knife.
I’m calm, but I can’t stay calm. I can’t concentrate because of the pain.
“……”
I focused solely on evasion. Or rather, that was all I could do.
Dodge, evade, block, parry, erase, evade, jump, getting closer to the blue point of light.
Dodge, evade, block, parry, aaah, damn it. There’s no time to use [Generous].
Silent Move… No good. What if I fail?
Just then, a sharp pain shot through my right leg.
“Guaaaahhhh!”
A spear-arrow grazed and cut my thigh.
Even though I had [Danger Detection] active, I didn’t notice. I couldn’t notice.
I collapsed. Instantly, my body became immobile from tremendous fatigue.
Not even a single finger… The knife fell from my hand.
Did [The Silent One] reach its limit at this timing?
[Generous]… In my faintly fading vision, the Minos Units closed in.
Is this it? It’s no use… I muttered unconsciously.
“……I’m sorry……”
At that moment, a star twinkled.
Stars glittered in the starless Dungeon.
Those countless stars instantly annihilated all the Minos Units approaching me.
“…?!”
Stars—no, something different. They were stars, but not stars.
They twinkled, drawing circles, seemingly keeping the Minos Units away.
Those that carelessly approached were gouged apart. What on earth is that?
“What are you doing?”
Suddenly, a voice came from above me.
It was a flat voice, as if bewildered, or perhaps nonchalant.
And it was a voice I recognized and knew well. But it was impossible.
She couldn’t possibly be here.
“……”
Her honey-colored hair and eyes seemed to shine fantastically in the starlight.
“Mineha-san……”
She was in her usual armor.
But in her hand, she held a pale blue Spear.