Chapter 76

※This is a continuation from the previous day. If you haven't read the previous part, it would be best to start from there.

"Haha... Hahahahaha! I won, I won the bet! Dick Silver, you'll regret not killing me. I'm going to tear apart the women you protected... Hahahahaha!"

Sakuya carefully observed Clive's laughing figure and saw through the true face beneath the bandages.

"It seems someone sent the escaped prisoner into this labyrinth. This isn't the time for humans to fight each other."

Sakuya knew Clive's face. He had been captured and imprisoned by the knights for attacking the Red Twin Pavilion on the orders of the White Goat Pavilion and severely injuring the Guild Master of the Purple Scorpion Pavilion.

How did this man get into the labyrinth—did he infiltrate the group being transferred to the sixth floor? He must have joined one of the noble's guard parties or another guild party, hiding his true identity.

Did he forge a guild tag, or did the person in charge of selecting the exploration team get bribed by Clive? Given that Leonoide and Kasumi wouldn't have pulled out, the suspect is the noble.

However, regardless of who it was, they had to get out of this situation. Sherry touched the earring in her ear and sent a telepathic plea for help to Dick.

There was no time to speak. Clive was already preparing a spell that would affect everyone, including Sherry.

If Reiza were to be caught in it, it would be fatal. Zect, judging this, threw his slicer without thinking.

"Reverse Wind!"

"Ugh...!"

Clive changed his incantation, using wind pressure to repel the slicer. Realizing that ranged weapons were ineffective, Zect tried to come up with a countermeasure, but Clive, taking advantage of the wind, aimed at the staggering Reiza and prepared to attack with his weapon.

"Whip and flail... I'll kill you with weapons similar to yours... I'll make you taste the pain and humiliation I endured!"

The weapon in Clive's hand was a whip with razor-sharp blades attached to each chain, a torture device. A single strike would cut the skin and cause excruciating pain.

"---I won't let you!"

Sakuya, approaching from Clive's blind spot, kicked to disrupt his attack. Clive, spitting in frustration, blocked Sakuya's kick with one hand and retreated without attacking Reiza.

"An annoying beastman... I'll tear your legs apart...!"

Clive, cursing, wrapped his whip with the power of wind spirits. The whip moved in unpredictable ways, like a living creature, and attacked Sakuya.

"Ugh...!"

Sakuya tried to dodge with her agile movements but was grazed by a shallow cut. Her leather armor was sliced at the shoulder, and fresh blood seeped through.

"Sakuya...!"

"Reiza, don't come here! Get down...!"

"---Ugh!"

To buy time for Sakuya and Reiza to escape, Zect charged in. If he threw his weapon, it would be deflected by the wind, so he decided to attack directly. However, Clive used his whip like a flowing sword, blocking Zect's approach.

"That's right... I'm not weak at all... I'm someone who can reach the SSS-rank monsters someday! I'm strong, right? Right? Come on, say something!"

Clive, hoarsely shouting, manipulated his whip with the power of the wind, attacking Zect from all directions. Zect, standing his ground without retreating, but the match was evenly matched, and he couldn't advance.

(He's an equal opponent, but he's still not used to that weapon. Still, I can't even land a single hit...!)

"---Shadow Spear!"

To turn the tide, Zect used the shadows at Clive's feet to generate a shadow spear. However, Clive jumped away and used the wind to push Zect back, maintaining his distance.

---They were being toyed with. When Zect sensed the ominous signs, Clive was already preparing a decisive spell.

"Dealing with you one by one is too troublesome... I'll blow you all away and then tear you apart. Wind spirits, answer my voice and ravage with your raging power. Desert Tornado!"

The tornado formed at the center of the party, enveloping everyone except the hidden Reiza.

"Sister... Kyaaaaa...!"

"Lotte...!"

Sherry called out her sister's name before being caught in the tornado. She gripped her earring, thinking of Dick.

(...I'm sorry... I couldn't do anything...)

In the labyrinth, the only threats were the monsters that had mutated over time.

Thinking this, Sherry and the others were wiped out by a betrayal within the exploration team.

"Hahahaha... Hahahahaha! Ah, this is fun... A battle should be like this! Overwhelming power, crushing, subjugating, and taking! That's the joy of the strong!"

Those caught in the tornado were thrown to the ground. However, Clive didn't feel the satisfaction of a sure kill and sensed something was off.

Sherry and Lotte were lying on the altar. As Clive approached them, he was grabbed by the ankle—Zect, who had been lying down, got up and glared at Clive.

"So, you used the power of shadows to cushion the impact of the fall. How kind of you...!"

"Ugh!"

Clive kicked Zect, rolling him over. Everyone was still alive, and one, though low-ranked, was unharmed and hiding. However, Clive showed no interest in Reiza and walked toward the sisters.

Sherry and Lotte were still conscious. The impact hadn't been completely mitigated, and they were in so much pain that they could hardly stand.

(If I could help Dick... That was too presumptuous... But, I must protect Sister...)

Lotte stood up. In her blurred vision, Clive was within reach of her flail.

"---Yaaaaa!"

She swung her flail at Clive. Seeing the straightforward movement, Clive grabbed Lotte by the collar and choked her.

"Ahh... Ahhhh...!"

Her feet dangling, Lotte struggled, but her body wouldn't move properly. Her weak kicks barely affected Clive, who didn't lose his smile.

"You're a brat, but you have a good face and body. Hahaha!"

Humiliated, Lotte struggled and shed tears. No matter how hard she kicked, it didn't affect Clive.

The insurmountable gap between S-rank and SS-rank. Faced with this, Lotte felt deep despair. Even if Zect alone could have defeated Clive, it was uncertain—due to the poor match-up.

"...I don't care what happens to me... But Sister... Sister and everyone else..."

"---What? Who are you talking to? I'm the one giving orders here!"

"Kyaah...!"

Clive threw Lotte aside and raised his whip to strike her as she lay on the ground. However, Sherry stood in front of her sister, having mustered the strength to stand while Lotte was being held.

"---What's with that look? Do you understand the situation? Cry and beg for your life!"

"...I'll protect Lotte. Absolutely..."

Sherry said this with a trembling voice. Clive's face, twisted in anger, turned into a mad grin.

"What can you do to protect your cute sister? Decide and act on it."

"..."

"Sister... Run... Forget about me, run..."

Lotte's anguished voice reached Sherry. Clive, still holding his whip, looked at Sherry.

Why Clive attacked the Red Twin Pavilion. It wasn't just on the orders of the White Goat Pavilion; he specifically targeted Sherry and Lotte.

He had always dominated women with his strength. She would never submit to such a man.

But to protect Lotte and her companions, there was only one price Sherry could pay.

---But Clive didn't even wait for that.

The whip moved and struck Sherry. Her equipment was torn, and Lotte's face was splattered with her sister's fresh blood.

"---Sister...!"

"Everyone will die anyway. To me, it doesn't matter if you die before or after... Hahahahaha!"

Clive laughed. Black hatred filled Lotte's heart.

Sherry fell face down on the altar floor, the deep wounds from the whip's blades spreading fresh blood.

Zect and Sakuya stood up, but they had no decisive blow against Clive, who still had strength left.

Clive, laughing, reached out to the fallen sister. Lotte, watching this, couldn't move.

(Dick... Help... Please help Sister...)

---At that moment, she wished from the bottom of her heart.

"...Huh?"

Clive, looking surprised, stared at his hand.

Clive's wrist and beyond had been severed. Before he could scream, he was grabbed by the neck and lifted.

The person standing there was not the Dick Lotte knew.

His eyes burned with rage. Seeing him truly angry, Lotte didn't feel fear.

Dick had come. He had raced across the vast desert to save them. His appearance was that of a hero to Lotte.

◆◇◆

"Ugh... Ahhhh...!"

When Clive Garland reached out to Sherry, I didn't hesitate to release my ability suppression, cutting off his arm with a magic-infused slash from a distance, and then grabbed him by the neck as I approached.

After talking to Sherry telepathically, my master and I returned to the seventh floor, fighting Sandworms to find where Sherry and the others were.

It's too late to regret not arriving sooner. Sherry was severely injured, and the others were in no condition to fight.

"Why are you here? Answer me...!"

"Ugh... Ugh... Guess... You're the hero of the Demon King's slaying team... Ugh...!"

"I have a pretty good idea. But I want you to answer. I'll kill you afterward."

"Di-kun..."

I won't pretend to be a hypocrite by giving him another chance. I sent Clive to prison and left the rest to the kingdom's judgment.

If Clive were to be released or escape, it would be clear what he would think. If I cared about Sherry and Lotte, I should have made sure he couldn't rise again when I fought him at the Red Twin Pavilion.

My master rushed to Sherry to start healing her. But when he tried to lift her, his eyes widened—her injuries were worse than he could have imagined.

"Haha... Hahaha... I struck your face and body... There will be scars that won't fade... You were too late, Dick... This is all your fault... Ugh...!"

As Clive, with a twisted face, cursed me, something strange happened. I released his neck, but Clive stumbled, sat down, and clutched his head.

"What... What is this voice...? Stop... I want to stay as I am... Ughhhhhhh!"

I couldn't understand what was happening and could only watch.

Clive's body was changing—his skeleton shifted, his muscles bulged, and horns sprouted from his head. The severed arm regrew, and wings sprouted from his back.

His form was no longer human. Clive's body had transformed into that of a demon.

The transformation happened in an instant. Clive, who had been in pain, looked up at me. His skin had turned black—resembling the mutated goblins in the labyrinth.

(A human can mutate like a monster in the labyrinth... Is that possible... Or did Clive meet some condition...?)

"---Gaaaaah!"

Even in his transformed state, Clive retained the power to control the wind.

However, I wouldn't let Clive use his power. I couldn't forgive him for hurting my companions and Sherry, even if he had changed into something non-human.

---Enhanced Slash Count---

I swung my magic-enhanced sword, cutting Clive. The sword produced numerous slashes, attacking Clive—though it could pierce his hardened skin, it couldn't deal a deep wound.

Clive's blue blood splattered, but his wounds quickly closed. His regenerative ability was similar to that of a Dragon Chimera—minor attacks wouldn't stop his regeneration.

"Di-kun, attack again! Slow Regeneration!"

Supported by my master's magic, which took time to activate, the magic enveloped Clive, slowing his cellular regeneration. It was like a magical poison.

"---Gwoooooo!"

Roaring, Clive created a tornado, trying to defend and attack simultaneously. Unaffected by the wind he created, he flew up and flapped his wings in the tornado, looking down at me—however.

I had a way to cut him without being affected by the tornado.

Using magic to create a mass with a residual image and transferring it instantly to the enemy.

The enemy is already "cut" before the attack. The transfer magic, which reduces the necessary time to zero, allows for the reverse calculation of the process from the result.

A technique that provides a clue to reaching S4 rank. Mastering independent transfer—this is the halfway point on my journey.

---Raging Shadow Blade: Transfer Instant Slash---

After a blink, my residual image had cut Clive and was driving through the air behind him. The battle ended abruptly and clearly.

Clive's demon body was sliced diagonally, and with my master's magic slowing his regeneration, it was severed without reconnection—then, the tornado he created disappeared, and Clive's body split into two, leaving only magic stones on the sand.

(It's over...?)

Even if an SS-rank adventurer mutates into a monster, they become even stronger. Still, it was beyond my reach.

Clive's whip with blades. I cut it to pieces, destroying it so it couldn't be used.

"Guild Master... I'm sorry, even though I was with you..."

"---There's no need to apologize. Zect, Sakuya, please wait a moment. I'm sorry for not coming to help sooner."

The two of them looked pained at my words. I cast a healing spell on them and then moved to treat Sherry.

---But the incomprehensible events were not over.

A magic circle depicting a snake, glowing faintly, was at Sherry's feet. My master, still holding Sherry's upper body, remained motionless, looking down.

Eventually, the light from the magic circle faded. I knelt beside Sherry to treat her wounds and saw her.

---The blood pool spreading from the fallen Sherry had disappeared. The wounds Clive had inflicted on her were gone, as if they had never existed.

"---What's going on... Did my master heal her?"

The blood on Sherry's face remained. I wiped it away, but her complexion was good, and her cheeks were flushed, as if she hadn't lost much blood.

"Sister... Ah... I'm so glad... Sister...!"

Lotte clung to Sherry, crying. She must have been relieved, her face wet with tears.

My master, raising his head, looked into the distance for a while. When he finally looked at me, he smiled faintly.

"---I'm glad. Sherry is safe."

I wanted to believe that my master's healing magic had perfectly healed Sherry. But I knew—our healing magic can heal some wounds but not others.

And Clive's transformation. Before our eyes, he had changed into a monster.

The glowing magic circle with the snake pattern. The blood that should have flowed from Sherry's wounds, which had disappeared—this led me to a certain conclusion.

Sherry's blood was used as a sacrifice, and the magic circle activated. The power that turned Clive into a monster and healed Sherry's wounds might have come from there. Even if I considered using more blood to activate the circle again, I couldn't bring myself to do it.

Now, I just wanted to be glad that Sherry's chest was rising and falling peacefully, and she was safe.

Even if I noticed the small snake-shaped mark on her chest, visible through the torn clothing.