Chapter 253 - Nameless Goddess Statue
Shou-kun, that door looks like it requires an [Unlock Code].
"Ugh, seriously...?"
When it comes to unlock codes, I only know that specific four-digit number I saw in the Mountain Cabin's records. No, but if this door opens with that number, there's a high chance it leads to the [Control Room]. And also...
"There might be undead..."
Ah...
The undead that were in that wide underground area and the passages leading up from it. They were probably people who fled the calamity, but got stuck because they couldn't figure out the [Unlock Code]. If the [Control Room] is beyond the [Collapse Site], then there's a chance they fled that far. Which came first, the day of the collapse or the day of the calamity? Oh, the records didn't mention the collapse, so the collapse must have happened later.
"Woof?"
"Sorry. If this door opens, undead might come out, so let's be careful."
"Woofn!"
"~~~♪"
With [Spirit's Blessing] cast, we were fully prepared. If it doesn't open with that number now, I'll be disappointed.
[Access by a Blessed One confirmed. Please enter [Unlock Code].]
"4725"
[Unlock Code matches. Unlock?]
"Yes."
I pushed it open with a grunt, and through the gap, I could see it was pitch black inside. And then, numerous reactions on [Presence Detection]...
"Lights."
Once the light from the Light Spirit was floating, I pushed the door open all at once! A [Skeleton Knight] in armor, standing in front of the door, was shoved backward and fell. The nameplate said [Skeleton Knight], which made sense. They're weaker than the generals I met underground.
"Let's go!"
"Woof!"
I drew my [Ken-nata] and raised my [Round Shield]... and [Light Arrow]s flew past both my sides.
"Huh?"
The passing [Light Arrow]s struck the approaching [Ghost]s, blowing them away... I turned around and saw the Fairies, in groups of three, holding hands in a circle.
"~~~!"
When Sweee swung her arm down, light overflowed from the circle, turning into arrows that flew towards the [Ghost]s.
"Are you serious...?"
That's amazing!
"It's the best! I'm practically solo, but I can even do [Alliance Play]!"
"Woof!"
I can't let Sweee and the Fairies outdo me. I dashed after the [Light Arrow]s, slashing diagonally through the [Skeleton Knight] in front of me. My [Ken-nata] stopped at the shoulder of its armor, but I pushed it deeper,
"Hah!"
I front-kicked the bent-over [Skeleton Knight] in the chest, sending it flying backward. It knocked over another [Skeleton Knight] behind it, and right then,
"BOW!"
Lupi's right foreleg struck the fallen [Skeleton Knight]'s head in a flash, sending only its helmet and skull flying. He's gotten so strong. I feel like he could even beat an Armor Bear now.
The enemies were casting [Fireball] and [Stone Projectile] spells without caring about friendly fire, but each time, Sweee and the Fairies expertly used [Spirit Magic], [Water Shield] and [Wind Shield] (?), to block them.
Sweee-chan and the others are amazing!
"~~~♪"
I bet she's smugly showing off, but it's definitely helping, so let's quickly finish these guys off. Increasing our extermination speed, we moved forward, defeating [Skeleton Knight]s and [Ghost]s one after another. Within the illuminated range, there were no more undead...
"!"
I blocked something white flying from the front with my [Round Shield], and with a dull crunch, it fell to the ground. Eh, is this... an icicle?
"BOW!"
This time, three of them flew at me. I blocked one with my [Round Shield], but two went past, to the back!
Ah!
"Sweee!?"
"~~~!"
"Good. Please hide behind me..."
The entity, strongly asserting its presence on [Presence Detection], slowly approached. The area that should have been illuminated by the light was inexplicably encroached upon by gloom...
Staring intently, I saw red eyes floating in the darkness ahead.
[Maroon Wraith]
"---Sweee, take the Fairies and run to the door."
I told them without turning around. Honestly, I felt like if I took my eyes off it for even a second, it would be bad, so I couldn't move my eyes or my head. If they get out through the door, it should hate the sunlight and not follow. How much time can Lupi and I buy them...?
Vwooom
"Eh?"
Its presence vanished, and in the next instant,
"Crap!"
"Woof!"
Right behind us, where Sweee and the others were fleeing, it was there!
"Make it!"
I charged in, slamming my [Round Shield] into the incoming [Fireball], and an explosion incomparable to a [Goblin Magician]'s [Fireball] blew me away.
Kya!
Ugh! What about Sweee and the others? It seems they were only caught in my blast, with no direct damage. And my HP was instantly reduced by nearly 70%. I drank a [Copupo] and my HP returned to nearly half, but I only had one Hermit Bamboo Grass Potion left.
"GAAAH!"
Lupi charged, jumping and attacking with his forelegs, but the [Maroon Wraith] vanished again, reappearing about 2 meters back. Not only did it get behind us, but it can short-warp without any casting time.
"Vwoof!"
"Lupi, calm down. Come here!"
I called out to Lupi, who seemed completely enraged, and made him retreat for a moment. As long as the opponent keeps circling around when we try to escape, we either have to defeat it here or push through and get outside the door...
"Weighted Field..."
"What!?"
My body was instantly pressed to the ground, slammed onto the [Stone Pavement] along with the [Ken-nata] and [Round Shield] in my hands. What is this?! Lupi was also forced into a prone position, gritting his teeth, and Sweee and the Fairies were sprawled on the ground, looking pained.
---
I could see the [Maroon Wraith] slowly approaching, wreathed in darkness. I need to do something, but my [Ken-nata] is too heavy to lift! Something! Think of something! Something that would work on it! Salt! No, wrong!
Shou-kun!
Mion's unmasked voice shook my brain, jolting my dull consciousness awake. Ah, that's right! I had that!
"When in doubt, rely on the goddess!"
I let go of my [Ken-nata] and somehow managed to pull the featureless [Nameless Goddess Statue] from my inventory. I wished it was a more proper goddess statue, I thought, as I circulated [Spirit's Blessing] and mana into it.
It might be sacrilegious, but if I hit it with this...
"Whoa!"
The jade-colored light overflowing from the [Goddess Statue] instantly illuminated the surroundings, dispelling the darkness that wreathed the [Maroon Wraith]. What appeared there was only a tattered robe floating in mid-air, and red eyes visible within.
"UGGHHRAAA!"
The [Maroon Wraith] recoiled, uttering a cry (?) of agony. The pressure that had been pinning my body was suddenly released...
"GAAAH!"
Lupi, who moved first, instantly closed the distance and slashed at the robe, tearing it like paper and letting it fall apart. Before I knew it, the murky, blood-red eyes were gone.