While we were on our way back to Volton from Sophia’s parent’s home, Sophia suddenly stopped the carriage.
「Hm? What’s wrong, Sophia?」
「………… Something feels like it’s calling out to me. It’s a very weak response, but……… it seems to be requesting to be saved…………. I don’t quite understand.」
It seems Sophia doesn’t understand it well either. Sophia says that she thinks that what’s asking for help isn’t a person. But we have to go if it she’s bothered by it.
「Then let’s go if you’re worried. If there’s nothing there then it’s fine. If there’s something that’s asking for help then wouldn’t it be good if we could help?」
「Yes, thank you very much.」
We went off the road, altering our course and heading to the west.
Travelling about 50 Km off the path, it smelled faintly of sea water.
「We’re close to the sea? Does that means we’re at the western end of the continent?」
「Ah, that is the place.」
Sophia, who held the reins, turned the carriage to a location that could be considered a village or a town from long past.
That place had buildings which had already weathered with only their ruins remaining, a spring around 50 meters in diameter, and a river that flows out towards the sea. Water continues to gush forth even now, as the spring doesn’t seem to have petered out.
However, this is…………………………….
「It became a monster nest[1].」
Right. With the extremely stagnant air and thick miasma, I’m confident that, among the monster nests that riddle these savage lands, the density of miasma here is particularly high.
「I can’t see monsters in this concentrated miasma. Which means, ………… Everyone! Prepare for battle!!」
I jumped out of the carriage and hurriedly unfastened Tsubaki.
Sophia and the girls leapt off the carriage with weapons in hand and were being vigilant.
「Akane, Marnie, cover Lulu-chan!」
When I yelled that out, from the surface of the ruins, out came Zombies, Ghouls, and Skeletons.
Yes, that’s the reason why we couldn’t see monsters in the monster nest filled with so much dense miasma. This is the town of the deceased, a monster nest ruled by the undead.
「「「Purification!」」」
Akane, Laeva and I simultaneously casted purifying magic. The Zombies, Ghouls, and Skeletons crumbled on the spot and only their magic stones remained.
However, individuals that could withstand purifying magic persisted. Skeleton Knights and Skeleton Generals showed resistance to purifying magic. Sophia and Maria dealt the final blows on them with magic.
『ＧＵＡＡＡＡＡＡーーーー！！』
The air trembled at the audible roar.
Inside the army of the deceased, towering 3 meters tall and wearing black armor, the Monarch of Skulls manifested.
「!! A Skeleton King! Buy me just 5 seconds!」
The Skeleton King summoned its followers one by one.
Akane and Laeva defeated the looming swarm of undead with Area Heal, while Sophia and Maria shot at the ones in disarray with magic. From the Subspace, a large metal body used the Magic Jet Propeller on its back to accelerate and slammed into a Skeleton General at intense speeds. Turning a Skeleton General into bits with a strong Shield Bash, Titan began pulverizing the surrounding Skeletons.
Kaede manipulated her threads, tearing the armors of the Skeleton Knights and Generals to pieces.
Tsubaki rammed the Skeletons and buried them with her hooves.
With maces, Marnie and Lulu-chan fought the Skeletons. Since a mace would be more effective on Skeletons than a dagger, Lulu-chan, with her tiny body, brandished the mace she wasn’t accustomed to.
「Holy Barrier, Sanctuary Field!!」
I released a wide area purifying magic of the Light Attribute.
The entire ruins was wrapped in purifying light.
Lower ranking Skeletons and Skeleton Soldiers vanished in the blink of an eye, leaving only magic stones. The Skeleton Knights and Generals did not disappear but their movements were dulled, and my party could deal with them easily.
〈The 「Light Attribute Magic」 Skill has leveled up〉
〈The 「Magic Formula Control」 Skill has leveled up〉
As I heard messages of several skills leveling up, I took out the ice spear 【Ice Bringer】 from my Item Box, then broke into a run towards the Skeleton King.
『ＧＵＡＡＡＡＡＡーーーー！！』
Inside the Sanctuary Field, the Skeleton King shrieked agonizingly.
Titan and Kaede opened a path.
There, I swung Ice Bringer, routing the Skeleton Knights and General as I ran to the Monarch of Skulls, the Skeleton King.
Mowing them down, stabbing them, and smashing them.
Mixing up the Ice Bringer with taijutsu, I defeated the Skeleton Knights and General.
〈The 「Spear King Technique」 Skill has leveled up〉
〈The 「Fist King Technique」 Skill has leveled up〉
I made free use of Insight, Presence Detection, and Evade skills to dodge the sword and spears of the slowly approaching Knights and Generals as I defeat them.
〈The 「Insight」 Skill has leveled up〉
〈The 「Presence Detection」 Skill has leveled up〉
〈The 「Evade」 Skill has leveled up〉
〈Requirements have been met. The 「Mind’s Eye」 Skill has been obtained〉
I had become able to follow every single movement of the surrounding enemies quite clearly.
The speed of my advance was accelerating quickly.
Gaki!!
My drawn Ice Bringer and the Skeleton King’s large sword caused sparks as they clashed.
A long time since I last fought with a clearly superior enemy, I resolved myself to use everything I’ve got. The curtains on the fierce battle between Monarch of Skulls and I, rise.
***
Footnotes:
1. Author Typo: Wrote 魔鏡 – makagami – magic mirror, should have been 魔境 – makyou – monster nest