kscans

CHAPTER 7 CHALLENGE TO THE LABYRINTH – Episode 9 The Cave of Trials (Part 2)

4

“Sorry to keep you waiting, uncle.” (t/n: for third times, he called him ojigo, esteemed uncle. he no longer call him bard danna.)

Godon Zarkos, having donned his heavy armor with the help of his retainer, announced that the preparations were complete. In his hand, he gripped a massive battle hammer.

“Here, this is a healing ointment. If you get any cuts or scrapes, no matter how minor, rub this in right away. Try not to burden Granma too much, okay?”

Carla handed Karz the ointment while giving him a warning. Her manner was quite familiar, but then again, Carla tends to speak this way to everyone.

“Looks like everyone is ready. Alright then, let’s go in. Bard.”

Summoned by the old apothecary Zariya, Bard looked around at the group and then said, “Well, let’s head into the wind cave.” Bard, Godon, Karz, Engdahl, Yemite, and Zariya entered the wind cave. Followed by Quinta, Carla, Natz, Godon’s retainer, and a lone Manuno. Manuno had come on the Queen’s orders to witness whether they could enter the “Cave of Trials” safely.

Taranka had wanted to see them off as well, but he was given a stern look by Doriatessa. Fyuzarion was rapidly developing, and as a newly knighted knight, Taranka had many duties. Taranka was not only skilled in martial arts but also has exceptional coordination skills, so there’s no way Doriatessa could simply let Taranka go. Bard and Karz should not have gone either, but fortunately, the knights Kizmertel and Noah gifted to Karz by Count Huddle had excellent military and administrative abilities, which allow Bard and Karz to depart easily. Taranka complained that it was unfair that only Quinta got to see them off. But someone had to watch the horses and supplies at the entrance of the wind cave, and if the party did not return, Quinta would have to navigate the forest alone without Karz. In this respect, Quinta has a sense of direction on par with his master Kars, and almost never gets lost once he has been somewhere. Taranka knew this, so he reluctantly let Quinta take on the duty of seeing them off.

“Taranka got to go to the Dragonoid island last time. Now it’s my turn,” Quinta said.

Moreover, Jurchaga tried to sneak in, but was noticed by Doriatessa and apprehended by Knight Kizmertel and Knight Noah.

The six who entered the wind cave soon reached a dead end with a green pedestal and a red stone tablet. The faintly glowing pedestal and tablet in the dim light are still mysterious. If the six of them stand on this pedestal, they will be taken to a place different from the ordinary world.

“It’s not impossible that we will be attacked by enemies the moment we arrive. Everyone, just be prepared for that, okay?”

At Zariya’s words, the group nodded and each stepped onto the stone pedestals. The green glow of the stone pedestals then intensified. Pillars of light rose from each pedestal. At first, Bard thought only the pedestal he was standing on was glowing brightly, but it seems that all the pedestals were glowing strongly. However, the light was so bright that it was difficult to see the surroundings clearly. The glow lasted for quite a long time, as if examining every nook and cranny of them. When it finally returned to the original quiet light, Bard realized that they were now in a completely different place. (t/n: welp, they’re being isekaied)

5

There had been a wall in front of the pedestals before. Now it is gone. There is a rock wall behind them now. And the figures of those who saw them off are nowhere to be seen. Bard and the others have been transported to a different place. Perhaps they have passed through that wall. Beneath their feet is the same stone pedestal as before. It looks the same, but this is probably a different pedestal.

It is a place with a very high ceiling. The rock walls on both sides extend up into the darkness, where they can no longer be seen. There is a cave at the end of the open space. The inside of the cave is filled with a yellow light. Bard ordered Engdahl to extinguish the torch. Engdahl, being the tallest, had been assigned to carry the torch. In this place, the torch is not needed for now. Then Bard stepped off the pedestal and started walking towards the cave.

“Wait a moment, won’t you?”

Zariya called out, causing Bard to stop in his tracks.

“In this form, I’ll just be a hindrance. I’ll change shape a bit.”

Zariya said so, closed her eyes, and began chanting an incantation. Steam-like vapors rose from her aged body, and her form began to waver and sway. After a while, there stood a beautiful young woman. Her hair was long and black. Her eyes were almond-shaped*, conveying a strong will. Her skin was pale, and her lips were crimson. Her nose jutted out sharply. Under her loose garments, one could glimpse her firm bosom and hips. Her attire and the staff in her right hand were the same as Zariya’s earlier, so this must be Zariya herself. That woman. The form Zariya took when she burned the demon’s fruit. She had said that when she unleashed the power of the spirits within her, she would revert to her younger self. So now, Zariya is now unleashing the power of the spirits. (t/n: if you didn’t know, google almond shape eye)

“Sorry to keep you waiting. Well, shall we be off?”

Seeing Zariya say this, the hero of Jameen, Yemite, remarked, “Humans are capable of very skillful things.”

Yemite, Karz, Godon, Engdahl, Zariya, and Bard. The six were lined up in this order. Yemite, with his exceptional ability to detect enemies and his swift movements, took the lead as the scout. His significantly shorter stature compared to the others also meant that placing him in the back would impair the group’s visibility.

The yellow light seemed to be emanating from the rocks themselves. The cave was high enough for Engdahl to walk through without stooping, and wide enough for three people to walk abreast. However, walking in a line was better, as moving side-by-side would restrict their movements and visibility. The path continued, winding to the right and left, making it impossible to see far ahead.

“Something is coming. Likely, six of them.”

Yemite spoke. Bard and the rest of them stopped and took formation. At the front were Yemite and Karz. Behind them was Godon. Behind him was Engdahl. At the rear were Bard and Zariya.

A sound could be heard. It was a rumbling, rattling sound. Soon, the enemy came into view.

They were rocks. Six round, jagged, dark red rocks with protrusions, rolling towards them. Each was nearly one and a half steps in size, close to Yemite’s height. The rocks continued to roll without stopping. Bard had instructed that anything they encountered here should be considered an enemy. Karz had drawn his magic sword. Yemite also readied his bone sword made from the bones of a demonic beast. They all stood prepared to attack at any moment, watching what would happen next.

The six rock balls approached, three in each group. They stopped in front of Yemite and Karz, and then split open. No, they did not split, but rather opened, like clenching a fist. The rock balls transformed into eight sharp claws that attacked Yemite and Karz.

Karz slashed at the attacking claws with his magic sword Ven Fleur, but to his surprise, even his powerful blade could not cut through them. However, he was able to slightly diminish the enemy’s momentum. He also deflected the claws on the other side. Yemite thrust his bone sword into the center of the opened claws. This was a perilous attack, as the opened claws were large enough to envelop Yemite’s entire body. But Yemite’s speed of attack and movement exceeded common sense, and he executed this risky maneuver with ample composure. The center of the opened claws squirmed like a slimy, pale mouth, with white fang-like protrusions growing towards the center. Yemite thrust his bone sword into the center and quickly jumped back. Bard gave the orders.

“Godon, move forward! Yemite, Karz, fall back! Engdahl, support Godon!”

Godon Zarkos advanced and brought down his massive battle hammer on the enemy in the center. Even his powerful hammer could not break the claws, but it crushed the body in two. The enemy on the right side pursued Yemite as he retreated to the side. Engdahl struck that enemy with his giant sickle-sword, halting its movement. The enemy on the left side pursued Karz as he fell back to Godon’s left side. Karz swept the lower body of the enemy with his magic sword, stopping it from moving.

Godon paid no attention to the enemies trying to flank him, and instead turned to face the three enemies approaching from behind. First, he smashed the one in the middle that was about to pounce with its claws spread wide. During that time, the two on the sides stabbed their claws at Godon. But his sturdy metal armor withstood the attack well. Godon calmly dispatched the one on the right. The enemy on the left clung to Godon’s left leg. Godon switched his battle hammer, wedging the handle part into the gap in the enemy’s body and twisting it to pry it off himself. As the flung enemy landed and rushed to attack again, Godon swung down the battle hammer he had gripped again. A satisfying sound rang out as the enemy’s claws were blown away, and its main body was crushed.

At this time, the enemy that had slipped past Godon’s right side had its slimy mouth pierced by Engdahl’s curved sword, slowing its movements. Karz had skillfully dealt with the enemy on the left while waiting for Godon.

Godon brought down his battle hammer on the enemy Karz was clashing swords and claws with. He then finished off the dying enemy on the right.

“Sorry to keep you waiting, Karz,” said Godon, but Karz simply sheathed his magic sword without a word.

6

The party resumed their advance. They proceeded deeper and deeper into the winding cave. After going quite a distance, they emerged into a vast, open space. It must have been a hundred paces deep. It was a circular room. The ceiling was easily a thousand paces high. Most of the room was occupied by a circular platform. In other words, a circular platform about a hundred paces across. In front of the platform was a glowing red stone tablet. Zariya quickly deciphered it.

“It says ‘Only one among you may ascend the arena.’ So this circular platform must be the arena it’s referring to,” she said.

“Hmm, uncle. I shall go and investigate this first, if you please.”

Godon waited for Bard to nod before moving forward. The circular platform had three steps.

As soon as Godon placed his foot on the first step, a tremendous sound like an explosion or a hundred drums being struck simultaneously rang out, and sparks scattered as something emerged from the depths of the circular platform.

A helmet ornament resembling lightning. Dazzling golden armor. Boots bound with decorative strings. A majestic physique and a skeletal frame that seemed like it was twisted out of rock. Eyes brimming with domineering spirit and a thirst for battle. And in both hands, he gripped short but heavy war hammers. Sparks of lightning crackled and danced from the war hammers. His stature was perhaps twenty paces high, ten times the height of Godon.

“…It’s the God of Thunder, Paul-Beau,” Zariya murmured without thinking. Yes, the giant before them bore an uncanny resemblance to the mythical God of Thunder, Paul-Beau.