Spirit Creatures and monsters are different.
While monsters are indigenous species that have lived on this continent since the beginning of ti, Spirit Creatures are minions brought by demons.
They differ fundantally, and the most obvious visible difference is the blatant presence of demon energy they emit.
That’s what was taught at the academy.
And it was correct.
"Those are Seides," Ariadne said.
Spirit Creatures in the form of shadows covering their entire bodies. They have no exact form and mimic the appearance of surrounding creatures.
"I never expected to see Spirit Creatures here... it’s exactly as we learned at the academy."
At first glance, they looked like a collection of various monsters. Except that their eyes were all red and their bodies black.
"Professor Balmon was truly an excellent teacher."
"This is not the ti to calmly share your reviews."
The situation was quite serious. Gerhard’s magic had caught all the falling people, but it was impossible to stably catch all the massive wagons loaded with cargo.
So wagons were falling down there, into the underground filled with Seides.
And among them...
"Ariadne, use the spirits to stop the wagons from falling!"
The fourth wagon containing the World Tree branch was among them.
Damn it. Gerhard jumped down.
"Which wagon?!"
"All of them!"
Ariadne stuck close to him. Five spirits scattered in all directions.
"All of them is impossible!"
Indeed, there were only five spirits but seven falling wagons.
"Then push beyond your limits!"
Gerhard manipulated his magical power, ignoring Ariadne’s complaints. His enhanced vision illuminated the darkness slightly.
Though he said that, he knew exactly which wagon needed to be protected.
He had marked it beforehand.
Down there, at the very bottom, just about to collide with the ground.
"That one, Ariadne! The wagon falling at the very bottom!"
"I see it!"
The wind brushed past Gerhard. Ariadne rushed forward, leading three wind spirits.
Just before the wagon fell into the jaws of the Spirit Creatures, its descent was barely halted.
A precarious height of about 50cm. Ariadne landed lightly atop the wagon.
"I got it!"
That was fortunate, but the situation was far from over.
Seides transford into hounds, orcs, goblins, and animals like bears and bats bared their teeth at the prey that had fallen from the sky.
But Gerhard wouldn’t allow it.
CLANG-
Flasks containing reagents fell on various spots around the wagon. As flas flickered and rose high, the shadow Spirit Creatures instinctively hesitated.
And a mont later, Gerhard landed.
Striking the ground with his staff to activate the magic he had prepared, a massive barrier separated the Seides from the wagon.
-!
--!
The peace was montary. Thunderous sounds and impacts shook the barrier.
"What do we do now?" asked Ariadne as she landed softly with the wagon that had been floating in the air.
"What else?"
Kill them all and get out of here. Looking up, it was quite deep. They seed to have fallen about 40 ters.
’There was a space like this down here?’
Rather than a simple underground area, it was an enormous space like a massive cave or dungeon, with a vast underground water vein flowing on one side.
And filling the interior were countless Spirit Creatures, along with broken wagons and supplies.
"All that must have cost..."
"I know. What a waste."
"...?"
"Why are you looking at like that?"
"Nothing."
Maybe I’ve gotten too used to Luina. At tis like this, she would have retorted, asking if that’s really what’s important right now.
"Listen carefully, Ariadne."
"I’m listening."
"You need to take the wagon and go straight up. Can you do that?"
"I can. For now."
"For now?"
That was sowhat ambiguous.
"I don’t think I’ll be able to do it soon."
Only then did he notice sothing slightly odd.
Her pointed ears were constantly twitching. It clearly ant she was hearing sothing he couldn’t.
"What is it?"
"You’ll hear it soon."
--!
That.
--!
It was a rhythmic sound echoing through the underground cavity.
If Gerhard’s thoughts weren’t mistaken, it would be the footsteps of sothing enormous.
When that sound beca very close, the demon energy also grew denser.
"...Barka."
A bipedal beast, 10 ters in size, with an outer skin surpassing steel, teeth that chew and swallow everything, a strong jaw, and claws sharper than most renowned swords.
It was a powerful grade 4 Spirit Creature listed in the specialized textbook of "Spirit Creatures and Monster Research."
A creature that could easily devour dozens of trolls, and even the ogre, known as the king of the mountain.
It was on a completely different level from the grade 8 Seide swarm, which, though nurous, could have been sohow managed.
"...Damn it."
Its four blood-red pupils were clearly directed at them.
Goosebumps rose all over his body.
He realized that with his current level, he couldn’t defeat it even if he died and ca back to life.
Does he die here?
In a place like this?
That’s not why he checked the prophecy book and struggled so hard to live.
"Hyde!"
The bodies of Seides rushing toward Gerhard before the Barka split apart.
--!
With such stealth that not even a slight noise was made, the Spirit Creatures didn’t even realize their bodies were being cut in half.
Suddenly, a guard holding a sword stood in front of Gerhard.
"Oh? Isn’t this person your close aide, senior? I didn’t know he was hiding such skills!"
Gerhard ignored Ariadne, who was inappropriately cheerful for the situation.
"Hyde, cut off that thing’s windpipe."
"That one is a bit difficult even for ."
"I’ll draw its attention. You look for an opportunity to cut its..."
GROOOOAAAAR-
The underground shook with a roar that tore at their eardrums.
THUMP-
THUMP THUMP-
The creature began charging toward Gerhard.
"...Not even giving us a mont’s respite."
WHOOSH-
The subspace split. A 5-ter giant golem leaped out to block the Barka’s path.
--!
It took exactly 30 seconds.
2 seconds for the great sword to strike down on the Barka.
4 seconds for the Barka’s claws to block the great sword and tear off the golem’s chest armor.
10 seconds for the thick tail to wrap around the golem’s entire body.
25 seconds for that tail to rupture all the armor.
And just 30 seconds to throw away the broken golem.
Gerhard, Ariadne, and Hyde’s mouths fell open at the result.
"...This is insane."
"What, such a monster..."
"That’s grade 4...?"
Even considering that he had quickly deployed it without a proper link, this was too much.
But there was no ti to leisurely watch that horrible scene.
Kakakakak kakakak-
A chilling, grotesque laugh. The Barka was clearly mocking them.
Like playing with captured prey, the Barka flexibly kicked off the ground.
Above it.
---!
Another golem pounced.
CRASH!
The Barka was crushed under the weight of the golem falling from the sky.
"Hyde! Do as I say! Now! I can’t hold out for long!"
"...Yes, I’ll trust you!"
Hyde disappeared.
"Did you think I’d ekly beco your prey?"
Spirit Creatures, demons, devils, whatever. In the end, he would be the one to survive and triumph.
Gerhard glared at the Barka struggling to escape from under the golem.
"I still have four more."
The golem he brought wasn’t just one.
***
-!
--!
The beast and golem collided.
As the ground vibrated, part of the cave ceiling collapsed from the impact.
The footprints they left swept the surroundings, and Seides swept away by the aftermath scread.
And amidst all this, the surviving Seides rushed toward their instinctively inscribed enemy. Even with their legs torn off and bodies crushed, they didn’t hide their teeth.
The target was Gerhard Goldenheim, who had linked with the golem and blocked all external sensations.
Just before their goal could be achieved, wind blades tore their flesh apart.
"This is way too reckless!"
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