Chapter 87

"......What in the world is happening here?"

I was slashing away the endless monsters with the [Divine Shield] deep within the 'Labyrinth of Lament,' bewildered by our situation.

We had reached the space where the 'Devil's Heart' was piled up like a mountain, and confirmed the location. The objective given by Prince Rain was achieved. We needed to escape immediately, but I couldn't move from where I stood.

Since the major tremor, Roro had remained crouched on the ground, unwilling to move. He knelt, staring at the mountain of red stones, tears streaming down his face, crying silently. It was no wonder. He was smart and must have quickly understood the meaning of what he saw. He understood the significance of his kin being piled up in this hidden darkness, unknown to anyone. It was something a twelve-year-old boy shouldn't have to endure. It was natural for him to break down, and I had anticipated it. I had intended to carry him and escape if necessary.

However, the situation had become even more abnormal, making that impossible. Immediately after we arrived in this room, powerful monsters began to surge from the darkness, overwhelming us. Moreover, the labyrinth shook repeatedly with sounds like explosions, and the walls around us started to collapse. The number of monsters increased dramatically, pouring in like an avalanche from the darkness.

......What is happening?

Confused, I protected Roro with the [Light Shield] and cut down the horde of monsters with the [Light Sword]. I could take out dozens with one swing, but it wasn't enough. The sheer number of these abnormally spawning monsters was far beyond what I could handle with one hand. They kept coming without a moment's rest, leaving no room for a break. It would be difficult to carry Roro and escape in this situation. So, I intended to push back the horde of monsters and wait for Roro to regain his composure, praying for it.

Another shock, as if the entire labyrinth was shaking, hit us. A distant explosion-like tremor occurred, and the ground beneath us wobbled.

"Ines."

Roro suddenly looked up and called my name.

"......Something is coming. Something big."

"What?"

That tremor was a sign of further abnormality. I felt a loud noise echoing through the labyrinth from above. At the same time, I sensed something large approaching us, as if digging through the ground. It was almost here.

......What is this?

I instinctively jumped back, carrying Roro, as the labyrinth collapsed with a roar, and a massive something fell, crushing the horde of monsters.

It was a gigantic skeletal monster. Its face was shattered, and its body was covered with half-formed flesh, a grotesque sight. However, I recognized the attire it wore from somewhere. I couldn't recall it immediately, but after a few moments, I realized what the déjà vu was.

"......'Saint Misra'...?"

It was the exact attire depicted in the 'statues' seen everywhere in the Misra Kingdom. However, the gem-encrusted, resplendent attire was scorched and tattered, and the face of the entity wearing it was shattered as if struck by something powerful, unrecognizable.

......What is this?

Why is this thing here?

The entity emitted a deafening roar from the hole-like space in its shattered face. Then, a half-formed eyeball twitched in that hole.

"───Danger───!!"

I instinctively leaped back, carrying Roro. Immediately after, the labyrinth collapsed with a roar, and a massive something fell, crushing the horde of monsters.

It was a gigantic skeletal monster. Its face was shattered, and its body was covered with half-formed flesh, a grotesque sight. However, I recognized the attire it wore from somewhere. I couldn't recall it immediately, but after a few moments, I realized what the déjà vu was.

"───'Saint Misra'...?"

It was the exact attire depicted in the 'statues' seen everywhere in the Misra Kingdom. However, the gem-encrusted, resplendent attire was scorched and tattered, and the face of the entity wearing it was shattered as if struck by something powerful, unrecognizable.

......What is this?

Why is this thing here?

The entity emitted a deafening roar from the hole-like space in its shattered face. Then, a half-formed eyeball twitched in that hole.

"───Water, Ge, Da───"

Suddenly, the monster's hand stretched out directly towards Roro and me.

"[Divine Shield]"

I immediately created a 'Light Shield' with [Divine Shield] and intercepted the hand. I barely managed to block it, but cold sweat trickled down my cheek. That monster, despite its massive size, moved too quickly.

The entity in front of me repeatedly punched my 'Light Shield' in a mad frenzy. However, my 'Shield' repelled it. From the relentless attacks, I sensed a feeling of anger. I immediately decided that this had to be defeated here. I protected myself with the 'Light Shield' and slashed at the monster with the 'Light Sword.'

"[Divine Shield]"

However, I felt a sense of wrongness the moment I struck. The light blade I wielded passed through the monster's body without any sign of damage.

"......My 'Sword' doesn't work──?"

That shouldn't be possible, I thought. My [Blessing], the 'Light Sword' created by [Divine Shield], was a unique 'power' that could easily cut through even the hardest metals and minerals in the world. I was confident that there was nothing on this earth I couldn't cut, except for that 'Black Sword.'

But it had no effect on this opponent. I could see that the monster's flesh was being cut, but that was all. My 'Light Sword' only cut the surface flesh, and it seemed to have no effect on the skeleton. The monster didn't seem to care at all.

......What is this?

What kind of being is this?

"......I can't defeat it. I can't defeat it with just me."

Confused, I immediately judged that and focused on protecting Roro and myself with the light shield. The attacks from this side were ineffective, and our attacks had no effect on the other side. The monster and I quickly entered a stalemate. However──this can't go on.

The monsters in the labyrinth continued to spawn. Moreover, the ground was crumbling and becoming unstable due to the monster's mad strikes, and my stance was about to collapse. I couldn't protect Roro in this situation.

"───Stop───!"

Amid the monster's earth-shaking roar, I heard Roro strain to say something.

"......Stop, please... That's... Mine──!"

However, his voice was easily drowned out by the monster's roar──

The monster poured the 'Devil's Heart' it scooped up with its massive hand into the hole in its neck, as if drinking a beverage.

"───Ah, Ah───"

The monster's chest and abdomen swelled as it swallowed it greedily. Instantly, the entire labyrinth shook, and large cracks appeared in the walls and ground. A massive surge of magic power, like a storm, enveloped the area, making me dizzy. My 'Shield,' which should have been impenetrable, distorted, and my footing wobbled.

"......What is this...?"

I managed to regain my composure and was stunned by what I saw. New flesh was writhing and attaching to the monster, whose bones were exposed. I could tell that the monster's contained magic power had increased dramatically. The monster's power, which I already found overwhelming, was now exploding.

"......Is this monster absorbing the magic power from the magic stones it swallowed...?"

The monster, with me unable to do anything, continued to throw the 'Devil's Heart' piled up like a mountain into its mouth. Each time, a wave of magic power like an explosion surged, and I could see its power increasing. It was devouring the stored magic stones as if it would consume them all.

It was a threat that made me realize from the start that there was no chance of victory. Now, its power had increased to a level incomparable to before. It continued to grow stronger. This meant──

"───Ah, Ah, Ah───"

While I hesitated, the monster's magic power continued to swell.

I was already trembling just from its presence. I had never seen or heard of anything like this. It was something far beyond any creature I had ever faced, a being that seemed to belong to a different era, like something from the age of myths.

......No one can stop this.

There's probably nothing anyone can do about this.

As despair began to take over me, a strong chill ran through my body.

I sensed a presence that I couldn't ignore, even in front of that monster. It seemed to be coming from something behind me.

"───Roro?"

I immediately turned around and was surprised to find the source of the chilling presence. It was Roro.

He had been crying and screaming just moments ago, but now I couldn't sense any emotion from him. He was just staring intently at the 'Devil's Heart' being thrown into the monster's mouth, without blinking.

He was very quiet.

He was just standing there, doing nothing.

......Yet, just that made me feel an overwhelming sense of urgency. Even with such a hopeless existence in front of me, I felt a stronger fear from him behind me.

"───Hey, you."

A clear, composed voice rang out from Roro, audible even over the earth-shaking roar of the monster.

"You've eaten my friends."

He stepped forward and spoke to the monster in a cold, calm voice that I had never heard from him before.

"And now... you think it's very delicious."

Suddenly, the monster raised its fist and struck its own face. The flesh on its face burst and scattered.

"......Roro?"

Confused by the unexpected turn of events, I watched as Roro approached the monster, which continued to strike itself, and continued speaking in a whisper.

"Yes... that must hurt. I understand. I can feel your pain now."

Roro took another step forward.

"......I understand. You've been very hungry for a long time, haven't you? You've wanted to eat something delicious for a long time. I understand that feeling. I've been very hungry for a long time too."

As he spoke, Roro slowly approached the monster again. He watched the monster tear its own flesh with its own arms and continued speaking in a cold, calm voice that echoed in the darkness.

"......But, they are my friends... I don't know their faces or have met them, but they are my kin. Do you understand? Yes, you do. You knew and did it... right? You enjoyed it, didn't you?"

While Roro spoke quietly to himself, the monster continued to torment itself relentlessly. In no time, all the flesh on its body was stripped away, and it became a skeleton again. The flesh tried to regenerate immediately but was torn off by the monster's own hands before it could fully regenerate.

"───Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah, Ah