Chapter 416 - The Long Spiral Down
We descend a long, winding slope. The path is wide and the ceiling high, so there's not much of a feeling of claustrophobia.
Still, how far does it go? The unyielding walls of hard rock stretch endlessly, making the descent feel incredibly deep and unsettling. If something were to happen, we wouldn't be able to escape quickly from this depth.
There's nowhere to hide, and we feel as if we're being forced to make a choice to move forward or backward every few seconds. It's a design meant to keep us on edge at all times.
The slope is wide enough for a vehicle, not just walking, and I'm starting to think it would have been better to use one. But considering the traps, it's better to proceed cautiously.
We shouldn't rush, even in situations where speed would normally be vital. Rushing into a trap would only waste more time.
In an environment where magic detection is hindered, no action can be taken lightly. We must be cautious and move as quickly as possible within the constraints.
"We've come quite deep," Valeria remarks. "How many meters below ground are we?"
"This depth is unusual for a warehouse near the harbor. It seems they've been preparing this hideout for a long time," I reply.
Indeed. This isn't just a simple storage area or a hiding place. We have no idea what we'll encounter next, especially with the undead.
I'm also concerned about Roberta and the others who entered the other warehouses. I hope they're safe and can join us soon.
"Onee-sama, there's another magic device on the ceiling," Valeria says.
"Hmm, that one, right?"
Suspicious magic devices are set up at regular intervals. They don't look like lighting, climate control, or fire suppression systems. At first, I thought they might be offensive magic devices, but they're probably surveillance devices. Each time we spot one, we destroy it with an iron ball. It might not be very effective, but it's better than doing nothing and helps relieve some stress.
Through our conversation, I keep myself alert and focused, preventing the urge to let my guard down. Traps often activate when you least expect them.
We remain vigilant, our nerves on edge, ears attuned, and eyes sharp.
This is where the enemy waits, lying in ambush. We must not let our guard down. As we pass through the silent corridor, I sense a subtle change.
"I can hear something from below," Valeria says.
"...Could it be coming towards us?" I ask.
"Probably," she replies.
The sound is still faint, and it's hard to determine what it is. We continue moving, our attention on the approaching noise and the surrounding area.
"Valeria, it sounds like the rumble of a vehicle," I say.
"Do they plan to challenge us here?" she asks.
"Or maybe they're trying to break through and escape," I suggest.
"Either way, we'll have to stop them," she concludes.
"Agreed."
We were getting bored with the long descent. Let's give them a warm welcome.
From the approaching sound, it seems like there's only one vehicle. It's likely a large one, possibly carrying multiple people or cargo, judging by the weighty noise it makes.
To prevent it from breaking through, I focus on the hard rock floor and cast a spell. I create multiple rows of stone spikes, covering the path to impede its progress.
Even a speeding large truck wouldn't be able to knock down all the spikes. On this spiral slope with an incline, it shouldn't be able to gain much speed, making it easy to stop.
"It could be a trap, so be ready," I warn.
"Yes, ma'am."
The worst-case scenario is a vehicle loaded with explosives. If they use a car bomb in this enclosed space with no escape routes, most magic wouldn't be enough to stop it. If they don't care about collateral damage, it would be an effective method for eliminating strong enemies. Assuming there are other exits, they might be using this path to connect the underground with the surface. We'll see what they have in store.
The vehicle's noise grows louder, and it's almost here.
I wait, observing the scene I've prepared with the multiple rows of spikes.
The vehicle that appears is a massive truck, nearly reaching the ceiling. It hits the spikes as soon as it becomes visible.
The initial impact breaks some spikes, but it quickly comes to a stop. Fortunately, it doesn't seem to be a car bomb. However, we remain vigilant.
No one is in the driver's seat. That's strange. It's not like it's on autopilot or something.
But, thinking about it, a vehicle is a type of magic device. While complex maneuvers might be difficult, a simple upward slope like this should be possible through remote control. If so, it might very well be a bomb after all.
Who cares about the non-existent driver. The real question is what this vehicle is for. It's not here to run us over, surely.
In this environment where magic detection is impossible, it's thrilling not knowing what's happening.
It's probably not a dud, but I don't want to risk attacking the truck with magic or projectiles and set off a trap. What should we do?
"...I'll check it out," Valeria says.
After a few seconds of observing and seeing no movement, Valeria starts to move.
"Wait, the back of the truck is opening," I warn.
The large truck's rear, on both sides, opens like a ramp, creating a slope from the cargo area.
Almost immediately after the cargo area opens, I sense an extremely powerful undead aura. It exudes a fearsome and oppressive presence that would cause even the strongest to hesitate.
"Damn, I see," I mutter.
A gray giant emerges, sporting large goat-like horns and a demonic, terrifying face.
It's unmistakable. This is the same undead I saw at the Disposal Plant. They emerge slowly from the cargo area, and there seem to be four of them.
"I suspected more undead might be present when we encountered the armored skeletons, but I didn't expect these," I say.
"Onee-sama, is this the undead you mentioned before?" Valeria asks.
"Yes, they're called Dromariuses. Normal weapons and magic won't work on them. I'm glad we have anti-undead weapons," I explain.
"They explode when killed, don't they?"
"Yes, and touching their blood will set you on fire with the Cursed Fire. I'll take care of this, so stand back, Valeria."
Close combat isn't ideal against these undead. I'll handle it.
This isn't the time to be concerned about conserving energy or waiting to see what happens. We need to take action.
Building on my previous experience, I go for the preemptive strike. I create spikes of iron from the floor, rotating and thrusting them into the hardened skin and bones of the undead.
The iron spikes pierce the gray giant's body, causing it to emit a black, sizzling blood. Smoke rises, obscuring the undead's movements.
This smoke of regeneration means any wound will heal, making them incredibly resilient. Only a special tool can destroy them.
I know this isn't enough to finish them, but it will immobilize them.
Not only will I immobilize them, but I'll also crush them completely. I won't allow the undead a chance to counterattack.
Immediately after immobilizing them, I throw an artifact dagger into the heart of one of them. In a fluid motion, I retrieve the dagger with a magical thread from a magic device on my arm.
I swiftly throw the dagger at the second one, while casting additional spike spells to further immobilize the Dromariuses. I skewer them one after another, completely immobilizing them.
The undead hit by the dagger convulses and explodes, spraying revolting blood and flesh.
Even the slightest speck of their blood must be avoided. It would interfere with our attacks, so I use a wind spell to keep it at bay, declining to use a shield spell that might get in the way.
If we, the living, touch their blood, we'll catch the Cursed Fire, which can't be extinguished without Holy Water. If we get hit in a vital area, there's no way to cut it off, and it would be fatal. It's extremely dangerous.
"Onee-sama, I'll handle the wind," Valeria offers.
"Good, I'll leave it to you."
I continue throwing the artifact daggers, one after another, causing a series of explosive deaths.
I can overwhelm and destroy them because of my magic skills and artifacts.
Without immobilizing them with magic spikes, we would have certainly been attacked by the four undead.
At the Disposal Plant, we only encountered one Dromarius. We didn't need to observe much before overwhelming it, as we needed to capture the researchers. As a result, we didn't see the Dromarius's attacks firsthand.
However, based on the information from the Intelligence Department, I know allowing their attacks is not an option.
Dromariuses use the Cursed Fire not just as a side effect of their blood but also as a fire-based curse in their attacks.
Even a small spark of the Cursed Fire can have dire consequences.
I won't give them the chance to attack. I'll strike relentlessly, ensuring my overwhelming superiority.
I relentlessly stab these black-blooded monsters with iron spikes, finishing them off with the artifact dagger.
The only challenge is that I can't eliminate them all at once.
However, with the ability to immobilize them with magic, taking down four monsters, no matter how powerful, shouldn't take long.
I obliterate all the Dromariuses and take some time to ensure there are no other traps.
A cunning enemy might use this as a decoy to set up a second or even a third attack. It's not uncommon.
"...Onee-sama, it seems to be over," Valeria says.
"Is that it? They're underestimating us."
Realistically, fighting four Dromariuses shouldn't be easy. If it were anyone else, they would be decimated. This underscores just how powerful these undead are.
The enemy might not have anticipated the Kikyo Society's assault. In that case, they might think this is enough.
"Shall we press on?" Valeria asks.
"Yes. That truck wouldn't have come if there wasn't a trap. We'll move quickly and strike them down."
"I'll lead the way, then."
Valeria, who didn't have much to do during the Dromarius fight, starts running energetically.
We can't give the enemy any more time. We need to catch up quickly.
Once Valeria had gone, I took a deep breath, feeling the strain from casting so many spells. I'm quite fatigued and would love to rest, but I can't show weakness in enemy territory. I'll have to endure until the end.
Yes, I can still fight. Even if it's just tough, I can ignore the pain with determination.
After a short rest, I start running to catch up with her.
We resume our descent, winding down the spiral slope. How deep have we gone?
After a short while, Valeria, who had gone ahead, returns.
"...Interesting. A large space up ahead, and what looks like a major underground passage?"
"From what you can tell, there might be guards ahead, but it seems like a passage. The idea of a horizontal underground passage beneath the city was unexpected," I say.
"Belricia doesn't seem to be aware of this," Valeria adds.
"Missing this would be a grave mistake for the Intelligence Department. If the enemy can use this passage to move freely within Belricia, anything could happen at any time."
This is a dire situation, indeed.
We do something similar in Exembra. Powerful villains think alike, I suppose.
"We could inform the Intelligence Department if we had communication, but it's probably impossible this deep underground, even without interference," Valeria says.
"Right. For now, we'll take down the remaining enemies and pursue them."
"Yes. I saw at least two enemies, and a few people tied up with ropes."
"Tied up? Ah, that reminds me, Gradena mentioned something about hostages."
So, there are hostages here. They must be the ace in the hole for the enemies left behind.
There's no guarantee that only two enemies remain, but from Valeria's reconnaissance, it doesn't seem like there are many more. They've likely fled through the underground passage, and we need to catch up quickly.
The undead were likely sent to eliminate intruders or at least delay us, which is a nuisance.
"With enemies like that, we can surprise them easily. No problem," Valeria says.
If they didn't notice Valeria during her reconnaissance, our surprise attack has a good chance of success.
The hostages are strangers, but helping them might gain us favor with influential people. Since it won't cost us much, we might as well help.
However, doing favors for criminals is bad luck. We'll make sure to collect a significant interest on this favor when the time comes.
*
We've finally reached the bottom, but our journey is far from over.
The next chapter, "Beltoria Underground," continues the story.