The tower’s shaking grew worse and worse. No matter how ignorant someone was about building structures, they would’ve known that the tower was just a step away from crumbling down.
“Zich.”
“Yes.”
“I get it that we can’t do anything about the tower being destroyed, but I suppose you must’ve thought of a method for us to survive this destruction?” Walwiss asked. This was a very tall tower made up of heavy building blocks, mostly rocks. As soon as the tower broke apart, they would also face the danger of being instantly crushed.
“Of course.”
“Ohh, as expected of Zich! I believed in you. So, what kind of method do you have?”
“The reason why this tower is breaking apart is because the mana that had been maintaining it was cut off. Naturally, the barrier blocking the tower’s windows would disappear along with its destruction.”
“Just don’t tell us to survive on our own. You can’t call that a solution!”
“I trust my companions very much.”
“Why does this word, ‘trust’ sound so cheap whenever it's used in relation to you?!” Walwiss grumbled, but he didn’t say that he couldn’t do it. The destruction of a tower didn’t pose much of a danger to one of the greatest mages in the world.
“Well, we could escape if we want to, so it doesn’t matter, but it seems like the other party is feeling anxious.” Walwiss looked toward Ultel. When the tower began to shake hard, the shadows disappeared since the mana maintaining them was cut off, and other monsters and the undead were rolling on the ground, unable to maintain their balance. Many were injured by their own or their companions’ weapons, claws, or poison. Thus, the battle screeched to a halt. Although Ultel’s direct subordinates were able to maintain their balance like Zich’s party, they were also standing by and waiting for Ultel’s commands. Ultel struggled to decide anything with the sudden turn of events.
“First of all, the weak ones will die from the tower’s destruction,” Zich said.
“Certainly.”
Their enemies inside and even outside the tower wouldn’t be able to escape harm from the tower’s destruction, because once this gigantic tower crumbled, it would devastate this island with great speed and force.
“And those guys will survive,” Zich continued.
“That’s true, since those guys are quite skilled.”
“To think that they will survive. Isn’t that truly frustrating?” Zich asked.
“Yes, it’s infuriating!” Lubella agreed loudly.
“Just because those guys stopped attacking, that doesn’t mean we should do the same.”
“Yes!”
Like a child following their parent’s words, Lubella answered passionately. The others didn’t state any other opinions either.
“Then, let’s kill them.” Zich’s companions had come all the way here to kill those guys. There was no need to hesitate when the chance arose. Zich’s party rushed toward Ultel and his subordinates, and battle recommenced inside the crumbling tower. The floor shook madly while the tower was tilting, and rock dust began to fall bit by bit. Although it wasn’t a field suitable for battle, the battle continued without much trouble because all the fighters were skilled. Yet, the situation was different from before. Ultel and his subordinates no longer had things they could use as shields. The shadows disappeared while the monsters and the undead lay on the floor. Naturally, the battle tilted completely in favor of Zich’s party.
Crunch!
“Kugh!” Til’s giant sword sliced a robed figure diagonally from shoulder to waist. The robed figure split into two without being able to scream.
“...Hah!” Unlike his usual stiff self, a short laugh escaped his lips.
“You seem happy.”
“Can’t help it. Didn’t you see how annoyingly those bugs fought until now?” While leaving all the defenses to the monsters, undead, and shadows, the robed figures had tried to stab them, cut them, and hit them sneakily. Besides the rage they already felt toward the robed figures, the way they fought caused Til's annoyance to shoot even further up. Thus, Til was happy to finally chop these annoying guys cleanly into two.
Baam!
“Kuaaaah!”
“Ahhhh!”
A giant fireball swallowed up a group of robed figures. Although a couple of them tried to block the attack with water, they couldn’t stop Walwiss’ powerful flame magic just with a few streams of water. Then, Leona’s arrows and Lubella’s holy magic continued to corner them. Finally, the one who fought and jumped around most was Zich. Besides his clear talent and skills, Estellade’s flashing lights made him even more conspicuous.
One of Ultel’s subordinates urgently called Ultel, as Zich’s party was already getting very close to them. Ultel clenched his teeth.
‘It’s pointless to fight here any longer!’ Ultel thought. Although his subordinates were resisting by sacrificing their lives, it didn’t appear like it would last long. Thus, Ultel made his decision.
“Half of you remain here and hold them back! The rest of you follow me!”
“Yes, sir!”
Although Ultel had commanded them to basically die, none of his subordinates refused. It was natural considering that these guys were specially chosen for their malleable personalities through numerous regressions and were given brainwashing education. They were puppets who would readily accept death for Ultel.
“Are you trying to escape? No way. Don’t tell me that the great Ultel is running away just like Glen Zenard! Oh, but wait! You are the super rare specimen that’s even worse than Glen Zenard. That explains it, but isn’t running away to save your life a bit pathetic for a guy with the ambition to rule the whole world? It seems like you are some loser who just luckily got your hands on a great power!”
Ultel heard Zich’s dirty taunting again. Although Zich’s provocations made him grit his teeth again, he couldn’t let Zich pull him back.
‘I have to go to the top of the tower before it crumbles! I might be able to fix the teleportation circle with my ring.’ This was the only hope Ultel had right now. It hadn’t been long since he was certain that he could catch Zich. However, most of his hope for the future was now gone, and he had no choice but to run away like a rat. However, there was no time for him to even lament his circumstances.
Baaaaam!
“Where are you going, Ultel?! Weren’t you planning to catch me and force me to tell you my secrets? Come on, try catching me! Here, I’ll give you a good deal! If you catch me now, I’ll tell you everything I know without having to torture or blackmail me! I swear! This is a once in a lifetime opportunity! If you miss this opportunity, you’ll be the top idiot in the history of idiots!”
Ultel turned his back and ran toward the upper floor as if he was running away from Zich’s taunts. Half of the robed figures followed him in a stampede.
“Tck, he’s gone.”
Slice! Zich cut off a robed figure’s neck in front of him and looked at where Ultel disappeared. However, he didn’t linger on this for long.
“Now everyone, let’s deal with these guys first! It’ll be easier to deal with them now that Ultel is one.” Zich and his party pushed back the robed figures more thoroughly and harshly. To prove their undying loyalty to Ultel, the robed figures really tried to hold back Zich’s party with their lives on the line. However, there were things that couldn’t be accomplished with sheer will; the number of robed figures who lost their lives steadily increased. The rate of their dwindling numbers accelerated; soon, all of them would be wiped out. Then, they just would have to follow Ultel and cut off his neck as he fell into despair.
However, Zich’s thought was soon overturned by a sudden burst of powerful mana.
Wiiiiiiiing! They all felt a strong burst of mana, and everyone immediately looked at the place where it came from. The sound came from the upper part of the tower, a place higher than their current location.
“...Is it from Ultel?” Lubella murmured. Lubella always attached insects or other sub-life forms as a modifier to his name, but she said his name by itself for the first time. This was how serious she considered the present threat, and how powerful the mana was.
Leona and Walwiss’ thoughts weren’t that different from hers either.
“I don’t think so. If he had hidden such a power, he would have already used it by now. There’s no need for you to be so flustered, but I don’t think this is a good sign for us either.” Zich narrowed his eyes and looked up. Unfortunately, one annoying prediction came to mind.
‘That’s definitely where Ultel locked up Glen Zenard.’
“Huff! Huff!” Ultel quickly climbed up the stairs. Due to the battle just before and strenuous exercise, he was completely out of breath. He also hadn’t exercised much in his daily life.
“Sir, get on my back!” The subordinate next to him offered his back. Ultel preferred to move on his own, but in a desperate situation like this, he knew he couldn’t be stubborn.
“Huff! Huff! Okay.” Ultel was about to get on his subordinate’s when—
Wiiiing! He felt the same mana that Zich’s party felt. However, he was much closer to the mana’s resonance than Zich’s party.
“This is...!”
“W-what is that?”
The robed figures usually kept their mouths closed unless Ultel ordered them to like dolls, but they were so shocked that they also gasped out loud. However, no matter how shocked they were, it was incomparable to what Ultel was feeling.
“...Glen Zenard?” The place where an enormous amount of mana was bursting out like a storm was where Glen was locked up. However, Ultel couldn’t believe it.
‘How could he have such a large amount of mana?’ Ultel was well aware of Glen’s abilities. No matter how much he increased his skills with the Clowon Empire’s artifact, Glen’s mana could never match Zich’s. There was no way he could unleash such an incredible amount of mana.
‘Yeah, that’s impossible. Something else must’ve caused this!’
“Master.” A subordinate next to him called out to Ultel, shaking him from his thoughts.
“...We’re going to keep moving up for now.” It wasn’t completely certain that what laid up ahead would be a danger to him, but Zich’s party behind them was certainly a danger to him. At Ultel’s command, the robed figures began climbing the tower again. Meanwhile, the mana continued to fluctuate, and as they went up, Ultel became more certain that the source of the mana was where they had locked up Glen.
Eventually, they reached the floor where Glen was locked up, and at the same time, the whirlpool of mana instantly disappeared like magic. However, nobody let down their guard, and unlike on the other floors, Ultel’s subordinates moved cautiously. Their eyes were all focused on the place where Glen was locked up.
Sssssh... Without any signs, the door to Glen’s prison quietly opened. The tension between Ultel and his subordinates rose to its peak.
Stomp! Stomp! Someone walked out. Everyone knew who he was.
“...Glen Zenard.” Ultel quietly said his name.
Did Glen hear his name? Glen looked at him—no, Glen seemed to be looking at him. Glen’s face moved towards Ultel and his subordinates, but his eyes didn’t capture their figures. Rather than hosting eyeballs that reflected light, his eye sockets were empty holes.
“Ouu...eh....”
Was he trying to call Ultel’s name? However, Glen’s severed tongue made it impossible for him to talk; the only thing that came out of his mouth were incomprehensible mumblings. However, his intention was clear.
Wiiiiiiiing! A great deal of mana gathered in Glen’s hands.
“S-stop himmmmm!” Ultel’s shout sounded like a scream. In the next moment, a loud explosion filled the tower.
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