Read Novel Full Chapter 311: Battle, Start!
Chapter 311: Battle, Start!
[Your Champion, Ximena, has destroyed an Emergent Monster’s Dungeon Core.]
‘I knew she could do it…’
Vale looked over at Toy.
“I don’t care if they look like our own or are an Akkuron Emissary. If any dare approach, limit them to one warning, then, if they disobey, execute them.”
The goblin tentatively nodded.
“Understood, sir.”
As for what was going on…
While Ximena was conquering Rhaspbeetle’s dungeon, Vale had called Awilix and Toy to him. Naiad had temporarily taken over Toy’s role in guarding the core.
But why?
What was Vale planning? How was he going to turn the tables in this desperate situation?
Easy…
His opponents relied on strength in numbers. So, Vale would use that against them. Or more so, he’d use their lack of knowledge to exploit their current numbers-first tactic.
“And, Awilix, follow me closely.”
“‘Kay, dumbass.”
The group between Rhaspbeetle’s dungeon and Lust had only grown, swelling to about one hundred fifty, mostly Emergent Warriors from various dungeons. But there were a few supposed Champions among them, organizing the group. There were also other detachments, the ones still having a staredown with Vale’s Legion.
The predicament was that Ximena, Sivian, and the others with them were all on the wrong side of this force.
However, all the enemy knew was that something was up, not the numbers or powers of the people involved. They had no idea an invisible wraith was watching their every move. A walking glacial genocide who could kill them all in one swoop if they weren’t careful. And, finally, [Dominion].
Vale could split their forces using the dreadful sword’s Enchantment.
Awilix could then use [Eclipse] to cover more than half the space, or if Ximena was drawn in, she could freeze all those captured.
Though it would be tough to achieve that feat without drawing in an ally and also making sure [Lust] activated.
In any case…
Vale, Awilix, and Salome were about to head out to pincer this massive force. Chop it in half. And send them home with their scaly tails tucked between their legs.
Or better yet…
Send none of them home at all.
Salome smiled as she stretched her arm.
“Finally… do you know how boring it is to sit in a room all day, doing absolutely nothing?”
Vale tilted his head.
“Absolutely nothing…? What a weird thing to call me.”
The succubus’ smile died in an instant.
The cat hissed.
“Heuh?”
Five whole seconds passed of pure, uninterrupted silence.
Then Awilix shrugged and began walking toward the exit of the dungeon. A dejected succubus followed, alongside a man whose sense of humor must have been robbed alongside his emotions.
As the cohort passed the Akkuron soldiers stationed in their dungeon, it was clear they knew something was up. But it was also clear their minds were fixated on something else…
The two women they hadn’t seen before despite spending an entire month in the dungeon — two supremely beautiful women. One of whom exuded the same aura of carnality as Vale.
All it took was one nasty look from Awilix to silence their lecherous stares and urge them to go back to minding their business.
But besides that, it was clear that they also knew what was going on outside. Not that their knowing was a surprise. Both Celestia and Akkuron had scouts watching the gorge at all times. They undoubtedly had noticed the unusual activity moments after a deafening wail shook the cavern.
All Vale hoped was that Celestia stayed out of it.
Reaching the bottom of the ramp leading outside, the three stopped.
“Please stick to the plan.”
“Mhm…”
Vale’s eyes slid in their sockets, glaring at the cat.
Awilix had no care for a nasty look. Instead, she only beamed a smile. She seemed quite ecstatic to be called upon to let loose.
Vale tilted his head toward Salome.
“Will you be okay?”
In response, Salome held up her crystal prosthetic, clenched and unclenched her fist a few times.
“You’re the one whom we should be concerned about.”
“I’ll be careful…” Vale smiled, then reached into the [Nexus of Beginnings]. “Look what I snagged earlier.”
In Vale’s hand was [Helm of Disregard].
Currently, Vale wasn’t weak, but he remained vulnerable to ranged attacks, having no proper defense against them beyond [Embrace]. To help mitigate that weakness, he had taken the helmet from Toy while she was confined to Floor Two, since she had no need for it down there. Or more so, it was counterintuitive, as her entire job as overseer was to be noticed. He considered taking [Wolf’s Howl] as well, but let her keep it in case Envy Warriors tried to make a forceful move in his absence.
Salome’s eyes narrowed on the Item.
“I see.”
Vale gave her a reassuring smile, then looked forward.
“Remember, absorb all shards you can. Don’t bother collecting them.”
As Vale took the first step up, he began dressing himself for battle. After activating [Embrace], he slid on the helmet, then started drawing more Items from [Nexus of Beginnings].
[You have equipped R-rank Item: Helm of Disregard]
[You have equipped C-rank Item: Iron Claw]
[You have equipped C-rank Item: Iron Claw]
[You have equipped SRR-rank Item: Dominion]
For the first time since being summoned to Pandora, Vale felt like a true warrior marching into battle…
Before even reaching the top, Awilix stopped, then burst into laughter while pointing at Vale.
“What the fuck am I looking at?! Bahahah!”
Vale, with a golden chestplate, silver gauntlets, and an onyx helmet, wielding a black blade with a rose-headed guard, curiously tilted his head.
“What’s wrong? An enemy?”
“Yeah. An enemy of fashion.”
Vale looked down at his arms.
‘Oh…’
It was then that he realized there was a big difference between the parts and the whole.
Salome giggled.
“Vale, I think you look like a proper warrior. A proper warrior cares only for function, not form.”
Vale flipped down the visor of the helmet, then looked up at the ceiling of the cavern.
‘Even she thinks it looks stupid…?’
Vale kicked a pebble, sending it down the rocky slope.
“Yeah… A proper warrior.”
Shaking his head free of the imbicility, Vale continued his march.
***
The plan was simple, yet daunting when considering how much could go wrong.
Getting in position to use [Dominion] didn’t present too much of an issue, as they could dart from cover to cover until close enough that proper reaction was impossible.
The true threat lay in the aftermath of succeeding.
Once [Dominion] eliminated all obstacles, there’d be nothing to hide him from the onslaught of ranged attacks. Vale’s protection would be reduced to his armor and Awilix’s to her agility. And [Helm of Disregard] wouldn’t help much in the way of disregarding after [Domain] was activated. Not much else to look at.
And, unlike Salome, neither of them could recover from an injury on their own. Salome could heal the small lacerations, but a ghastly injury was tantamount to death.
Let alone the fact that Salome needed to be close to heal. If they got separated in the carnage, then even the smaller wounds could be tantamount to death.
***
Hesitantly, the three stepped outside and began their skulk through the gorge, hiding along the wall’s edge. Not even Awilix made a comment as all three sensed their enemies.
‘Holy hell.’
Not even ten paces out of the dungeon’s entrance, and it was like he’d been slapped in the face by Aether’s wet noodle.
But it wasn’t just the density gnawing at Vale…
It was the noise. He could hear the flapping of wings as more beasts joined the horde. The cawing, screeching, and gurgling of those already in the mass. Alongside the eerie absence of beasts fighting, clawing one another’s throats out.
Not even the dungeonless beasts dared come out.
‘This is not going to be easy…’
Inching closer and closer, the screams only intensified.
They were about twenty meters from the edge of the mass when Salome whispered:
“They’ve sensed us.”
Vale took a deep breath, then said,
“No time to waste.”
Salome nodded.
“Right.”
A moment later, she kicked off the ground and flapped her wings, jumping high in the air.
As Awilix and Vale continued closing in on the group, Salome shouted:
“You, who dared provoke a Vice — prepare to learn the facets of life you will spend eternity wishing you had never known!”
A plethora of bones, arrows, and rocks blitzed through the air on a crash course with the Demon. Salome glided to the side, dodging them all or intercepting them with quills, then continued:
“That eternity existing only within the confines of hell, of course. Now…” Salome glanced down, toward Vale and Awilix. “Perish!”
As she shouted the last part, she flapped her wings and shot toward the ground, landing near Vale, who’d jumped into the open and angled [Dominion] toward the mass.
On the far side of the mass, four figures appeared out of nothingness. Then a plume of smoke appeared next to them and spun into a vortex until a young man stepped out. From his palm grew a smoky scythe.
Finally, a Crystal Owl shot out from the entrance of a fallen dungeon, soaring high into the air. Her red outfit shimmered and morphed into a glorious blue, which reflected the overbearing sun. Then, she began to plummet, straight into the center of the mass.
Staring down the projectiles currently sailing straight toward him, Vale activated the Enchantment.
The first thing to go was the wind, then rocks, then any item currently unmoored.
Salome, Awilix, and Vale stood in the enclosed octagon, facing a confused, mismatched group of bats, chicken men, dragonkin, and other beasts.
The cat screamed.
“Be blocked, swallowed, fade and die!”