Chapter 53 Unique Individual
In response to the "Great Outbreak" of monsters in the [God's Remains Labyrinth], the explorer guild, the [Council], and the [Four Great Families of the Seals] established the "Necronia Temporary Disaster Response Headquarters" to discuss the response. As a result, the following measures were taken:
First, entry into the labyrinth was completely prohibited for those who were not issued a "Special Labyrinth Exploration Permit" during a disaster.
Second, elite explorers were selected from among the explorers, and based on their abilities, they were assigned specific areas to exterminate the large number of monsters that had appeared.
Third, if a monster believed to be the "core" of the "Great Outbreak" was found, combat was to be avoided to prevent further damage, and an immediate retreat and report to the guild was required.
Fourth, the extermination of unique individuals was to be requested by the Necronia Temporary Disaster Headquarters from explorers recognized for their exceptional abilities.
These are the decisions that concern us explorers, but other measures were also decided, such as temporary tax incentives and special subsidies to prevent economic impact from sealing the labyrinth and the outflow of explorers to other cities.
But well, for now, we don't need to worry too much about these details.
As for our ≪Labyrinth Conquest Team≫, since all of us are originally Expert explorers, we have all been issued a "Special Permit" and are required to participate in the extermination of monsters for the "Great Outbreak" suppression.
So, the breakdown of the assigned areas is as follows...
Within the clan, Fiona will be responsible for the 21st to 25th floors alone ―― although, under these circumstances, solo activities are not permitted, and she will act together with other selected explorers from the guild.
Next, the 26th to 30th floors will be handled by Calum and the ≪Balmung≫ team, along with other explorers selected by the guild.
And the 31st to 35th floors will be managed by the ≪Glen Squad≫ and guild-selected explorers.
36th to 40th floors are explored by Claire and the ≪Flames of Dominance≫ guild members.
The 41st to 45th floors are the responsibility of me, Io, and Garon from the ≪Iron Wall Alliance≫.
Even the lower floors have their own explorers, and the groups exploring up to the 40th floor have at least 20 people in their raid teams.
However, due to a shortage of personnel, only me, Io, and 8 other members from the ≪Iron Wall Alliance≫ are exploring the 41st to 45th floors.
So, we won't be able to fully explore these floors until we've finished clearing out monsters on other floors and have enough people available. Once we have the resources, the clan members assigned to each floor will join us, and we'll focus on clearing out the monsters from the 41st floor and beyond.
Additionally, it's been confirmed that the "Great Outbreak" has led to an increase in monsters from the 46th floor onwards, but we can't do anything about it at this stage.
In any case, due to the nature of the city Necronia, we can't keep the labyrinth sealed forever. Thus, our ≪Labyrinth Conquest Team≫ has been hastily mobilized to suppress the "Great Outbreak."
While we must defeat the large number of monsters that have appeared, the good news is that the number of new monsters being generated should decrease as long as we reduce the number of explorers being absorbed into the labyrinth and continue eliminating monsters.
――And just like that, 3 weeks have passed in the blink of an eye.
* * *
[God's Remains Labyrinth] 25th floor, in the dense jungle area.
In the lush and steamy forest, I'm waiting anxiously, trying to suppress my presence while waiting for a message.
The target location is probably about 100 meters away (≈ 328 feet away). With this much distance and the dense trees blocking the view, I can't see the area where the guardian is located.
However, at the same time, it also means that they can't see us from over there.
Unless you make a bunch of noise or start a fight, you probably won't be noticed.
Even if you are noticed, it's not a big deal. I wasn't planning on ambushing them anyway. Right now, I'm just waiting for the signal to start the fight.
And shortly after, the air next to my ear trembled as I stood in the middle of the jungle.
'――Aaron, the scout team has finished their withdrawal. I just got the report.'
I'm the only one in the jungle. There's no one near me.
But the voice sounded like it was whispered right into my ear.
Wind Magic――[Remote Voice]
It's a magic that simply sends your voice a long distance. It's an easy magic that can be learned by beginner wind magicians, but using it to send one's voice over a kilometer to someone through the obstacles of a jungle is incredibly difficult. And since no excess magical energy escapes, making it stealthy, a real wind mage would say it's a feat worthy of a Unique Job.
But the one who spoke wasn't a wind magician.
The one who spoke was the "Sage" Io Suleiman.
Since we've been moving together a lot lately, his way of addressing me has become more casual. But that doesn't really matter.
"Understood. ...Are you prepared?"
I muttered in a low voice.
I can't use [Remote Voice], so my voice shouldn't reach him, but of course he replied.
'I'm all set. Now all you have to do is corner them, and then it's checkmate.'
How are we talking, you ask? That's also thanks to Wind Magic.
Wind Magic――[Air Bagging]
It's a magic that creates a small air bubble near its target, and then it recreates the vibrations that the bubble receives――in other words, the sound――right next to my ear.
"Cornering them is a pain in the butt..."
'They seem pretty smart. Anyway, whether you overwhelm them with power or guide them cleverly without being noticed is up to you.'
"You say whatever you want..."
I replied, exasperated.
It's not like I have much experience chasing prey like a hunter and driving them to a specific location. In general, monsters in the labyrinth don't run away.
So, chasing after enemies is a hassle for me.
But I know I have no choice. I sighed softly and resignedly told Io.
"Well then... Let's get started."
"Understood. Good luck."
After that, it seemed like the magic was released, and the ball of air that had been floating near my mouth disappeared.
I drew Black Radiance from the sheath hanging from my waist and switched my focus to battle.
The monster I'm about to fight is considered the "core" that caused the "Great Outbreak" in the [God's Remains Labyrinth], a unique individual.
Fiona and other explorers who were active on the 25th floor discovered it and reported it to the guild. Then, the scout team was dispatched to identify the exact location of the unique individual and monitor it. Io and I were dispatched a little later.
Yes, Io and I were entrusted with the task of subjugating the unique individual.
...It's a bit strange that it's just the 2 of us, but if we increase the number of people carelessly, the damage could escalate. Originally, besides us, the Iron Wall Alliance was supposed to deal with it together, but unfortunately, Garon and the others don't have a chance to shine in the jungle environment.
Due to the nature of the current strategy to drive the enemy, a certain level of mobility is required. However, all members of the Iron Wall Alliance have shield-type Jobs, so their mobility is low. It's even more difficult in an environment like the jungle.
So, this time, the Iron Wall Alliance was excluded from the operation, and it was decided that Io and I would handle it first.
I understand those circumstances, but it's still ridiculous to expect just the 2 of us to handle it. What does the Disaster Response Headquarters think of us?
I feel like complaining for more than an hour, if not half a day, but anyway...
Fortunately, the unique individual hasn't moved much from the place it was discovered, so the scout team didn't have to search for it again.
If the unique individual starts moving, the scouting team retreats to avoid getting involved in the battle until I move to a distance where I can distract them, and they wait for Io to finish her "preparation"――that's how things have unfolded so far.
By the way, when Fiona and the others discovered the unique individual, it seems that the situation quickly escalated into a battle. Although there were some injuries, everyone was able to retreat without anyone missing.
According to Fiona's report, the combat ability itself wasn't too abnormal yet.
That's why it's a troublesome opponent.
In fact, it might have been less troublesome if they were stronger.
Well, even if I waste time thinking about it, I can't avoid it at this point.
I take a deep breath, bend my knees on the spot, and concentrate my aura on the soles of my feet. Then I kick the ground and leap.
My unique battle technique――[Rapid Flash]
I explode my aura at the soles of my feet, piercing through the thick foliage of the dense forest, and leap high into the air.
In an instant, I leap far higher than the treetops of the dense forest, reaching about 30 meters (≈ 98 feet) above the ground, overlooking the target destination below from above.
In the midst of a scenery that seems to spread like a green carpet as far as the eye can see, there is an area with a large rocky mountain about 100 meters (≈328 feet) ahead.
It is supposed to be the stronghold of the Great Ape, the guardian of the 25th floor, and its entourage of Wild Apes.
More than 30 Wild Apes, easily surpassing that number, look up at me as I leap high in the sky, emitting high-pitched cries in a vigilant manner.
The explosion sound of [Rapid Flash] should have been absorbed by the trees and not been too noisy. However, it seems that it was still loud enough for them to notice and be on guard against the sound.
And then...
"Is that...!!"
At the highest point of the rocky mountain, there was a monster looking up at me, just like the Wild Apes, its subordinate.
It seemed to be a giant ape-like monster with a body length of approximately 13 feet (4 meters). It was clad in muscles so robust that it could easily twist a human, and sharp, enormous fangs peeked out from its mouth.
Its appearance is exactly the same as the guardian, the Great Ape.
However, their body color was clearly different.
Normal gorillas have white fur and brown eyes, but the individual I'm looking at now has black fur and golden eyes.
It's an extraordinary gorilla.
"First, let's..."
For now, they're just staring at me and not trying to run away. They probably haven't figured out how strong I am yet.
And more than that, monsters in the labyrinth rarely run away, and I'm all by myself. It's natural for them to assume that they have a huge advantage in numbers.
I'll use that to my advantage.
I'll hold Black Radiance in the air and grab its tip with my left hand. At the same time, I'll pour aura into the blade and my left hand.
――Hummmm!
The aura creates a repelling force between the sword and my left hand, and it builds up. The speed is much faster than before, and the sound it makes is a dissonant sound like scratching glass.
It takes about a second to gather and charge the aura I need.
If I didn't have to worry about damaging the sword, I could do it even faster.
Anyway.
I finish all my preparations while floating in the air.
"――――!!"
The extraordinary gorilla senses the high-density aura gathering on the sword and reacts immediately.
It's not an attack or a defense against me. It's about to run away without hesitation.
That's a judgment that shouldn't be possible for a monster in the labyrinth. And it made the decision way too fast. It's a monster that runs away without hesitation if it thinks its opponent is stronger than it. I don't need to tell how annoying that is for the one trying to defeat it.
But I'm much faster than the sword can swing.
"――Shii!!"
――Shing! With a sound, I release the tip of the sword from my left hand, and I swing it in a large horizontal arc in a flash.
As if tracing a sword stroke that cut through the void, a bright aura flies at high speed as a single blade.
My unique sword technique [Continuous Blade], [Flash Blade]――combined technique [Continuous Flash Blade]
The hurled blade scattered like a thick stack of papers falling apart, way before it reached the mountain range. Each blade was as thin and sharp as a razor, glowing with an aura.
Each blade split into countless others, creating an intricate net-like pattern in the air, expanding its deadly reach.
And [Continuous Flash Blade] reached its target far faster than the giant ape could escape from the mountain area.
Countless blades rained down from above on the monsters in the mountain range.
WHAM!! The roar sounded like something had been struck with great force, followed by the screams of the Wild Apes.
A deep, net-like crack spread across the surface of the mountain, and dismembered Wild Apes flew and scattered as blocks of flesh.
Furthermore, [Continuous Flash Blade] had definitely caught the Giant Ape too, and the blades had pierced its flesh, but...
"Tsk, as expected."
I couldn't help but click my tongue.
The Giant Ape was bleeding, and not a small amount. I had definitely cut its flesh apart. But unbelievably, it instantly mended its wound before the cut could spread and separate its flesh.
As a result, only moments after the blades had passed through its body, it had started to flee the mountain area as if nothing had happened.
Compared to the guardians of the 35th floor, Giant King Nord, and the 45th floor, Ignitor the Imperial Flame Dragon, its regeneration ability was still absurdly high.
To be honest, I couldn't kill it with a slashing attack.
Though it was as expected and I already knew it, it's still annoying every time I experience it.
And this abnormal trait is one of the reasons why I'm cautious when hunting Unique Individuals.
It doesn't need to defend against most attacks, and it can instantly heal any wound, even if its head is blown up. So it can approach the enemy while receiving attacks without defending itself if it wants to.
Facing an enemy like this, it's important to have a significant difference in strength. The unique individual's abnormal regeneration ability is so powerful that even if you're stronger and have higher combat skills, a small difference can easily be overturned.
Simply increasing the number of people won't help. It will only increase the number of casualties.
That's why if we choose to overwhelm the unique individual with numbers, it will have to be after I or Io is defeated and killed.
Of course, neither I nor Io intend to get killed.
"A jungle... This is going to be troublesome!"
I've managed to finish off the surrounding Wild Apes, but the real challenge starts here.
I chased after the giant ape that jumped from the rocky area into the jungle, my eyes fixed on it. I kicked off the void.
My unique battle technique――[Skywalk Rapid Flash]
I accelerated through the air as if I was being shot out, and pursued it.
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