Welcome to the Impregnable Demon King Castle - Chapter 204-1

204 – The Pitch Black 4th Stratum (Part 1)

After it was illuminated and revealed, it became apparent that there are no motifs in this area.

There was no environment. No wilderness, forests, or mines.

It’s just a dark space. A black space. Including the ground.

As for the intention… or rather the reason, I think I figured it out.

It’s to economize.

For both houses and Magical Energy spaces, elaborate interiors will increase the cost.

The difference is that the cost for a house would be money, while the cost for a Magical Energy space is Magical Energy.

To put it simply, they prioritized creating Imitations so much that they became frugal when preparing the environmental area.

Or maybe they used too much Magical Energy on the Imitations that they didn’t have enough Magical Energy to prepare the environment.

Either way is possible.

After all, the Gazers have an exceptional Evil Eye that can nullify all magic effects and there is only one activation condition which is to keep the target in sight.

They even have the ability to generate Magical Energy from another dimension and the ability to fly.

It’s no wonder that during the war, the Monsters side used them to the fullest and the human side was desperate to destroy them.

Since it is such an existence, it would cost a lot of Magical Energy to recreate them as Imitations.

Also, regarding what caused the ground to rumble.

Another amazing Imitation has come out.

It was a giant.

It was different from a Grendel. If I had to describe him, he’s wider. His skin was gray and he had a face only a mother could love. In addition, I could sense intense anger from his eyes.

I knew what race he was from.

「Spriggan…」

Although this race is rarely seen in Dungeon Clears, they still exist now. 

They can change the size of their body from a dwarf to a giant. Depending on the individual, some of them can even use powerful magic.

They are responsible for protecting the Fairies and treasures and repelling intruders.

As Imitations made by the Spirits, their role is to annihilate us, the intruders of this Dungeon.

There were five of them.

When all of the Gazers were annihilated, Maggie and Milla flew into the sky.

To retrieve those three people.

『Maggie. Armor, in the sky.』

It was a message from Furcus.

『I-in the midair…?』

『Teleport it near me. Possible?』

『U-understood…!』

『Miss Maggie, can you bring me to right above the Spriggans?』

『Ye-yes, I’ll do that…!』

As expected of a member of Hervor’s Party, Marggie’s adaptability is high.

Milla is entrusted with the task of retrieving the Rabbit Demi-Human.

「Merlin.」

「Yes, I know what you want to say.」

Large clumps of earth flew out from somewhere near Merlin.

It accurately hit each Spriggan right in the chest. 

It’s colored and divided into red, blue, yellow, black and white.

This made it possible for the whole clan to identify the Spriggans.

『Blue.』

『Is that Merlin’s doing? That helps a lot. I’m closer to the white Spriggan.』

It was a message from Furcus and Arthur, who immediately sensed the intention of this.

Then, we need to deal with three of them.

The Spriggans that are marked with red, yellow, and black.

The red Spriggan is about to trample on us right now.

While experiencing the rarely experienced horror of having a giant approaching us, I tried to observe my surroundings.

「Phew…!」

We won’t get trampled on.

Because the Jet-Black Hero is here.

One of the spells developed from Group Shadow is Giant Armor.

It’s a bit similar to Nicola’s Snow Covered Strong Arm.

He would be covered in a huge armor. In Nicola’s case, mainly only her arms are covered, but for Ex, the armor might be able to cover his whole body depending on the amount of shadows.

Ex caught the Spriggan’s legs with both of his arms and made it hang upside down.

Six more arms grew from the back of his armor and all of it were coiled around the Spriggan’s legs.

『Towards the black Spriggan…!』

Ex swung it around and made the red Spriggan crash into the nearby black Spriggan.

……He threw a giant!

「Lem, you give the instructions!」

Since Ex said so, I can’t possibly refuse. Although I have no intention of refusing.

The black Spriggan lost its balance only for a moment, it left the red Spriggan behind and is heading here.

The biggest threat right now is the yellow Spriggan.

「Gather your Magical Energy. Cast Resist.」

「Okay.」

They gathered their Magical Energy according to Merlin’s instructions.

The Spriggans are just like a moving mountain. Actually, they’re not that big, but that’s just how intimidating they are.

There is no way we can escape.

There are non-combatants around and the Spriggans have huge bodies. Even if we wanted to avoid the attack, someone else will end up receiving the damage.

「I’ll cast Black Magic on it.」

While holding her wand, Merlin closed her eyes for a moment and then opened them immediately.

「…I’ll believe in you.」

Sitri moved around inside my robe’s pocket. 

She probably missed the timing to turn back into her humanoid form.

「I’ll help you, Lem.」

Instantly, I felt clear-headed. I’m in a state where I could fully concentrate on just one thing.

I quickly realized that it was due to Sitri’s White Magic, but I’ll say my thanks later.

The Magical Energy that was continually poured into the wand was sublimated into magic, giving it directionality.

Normally, it would be enough to hit the target with the Black Magic that was emitted.

But the enemy had already used its Magical Energy to cast Resist on itself.

It would be difficult to break through this. Even if it is possible to push through by using more Magical Energy, the enemy’s attack will hit us before that happens.

There is no choice but to hit the enemy rapidly.

That’s the only way.

What I did to Aerial together with Foras during the raid battle.

An armor made of Magical Energy usually has a lot of openings. It’s difficult to make it cover the entire body and it is also annoying for those who can sense Magical Energy.

However, there are places that you can’t help but instinctively defend. 

Most often, it would be the eyes.

I waved my wand and emitted the Black Magic…

…toward the eyes of the yellow Spriggan.

「……」

The Spriggan held his arm in front of his face as if he had predicted it. 

If the Magical Energy hits his arm, the spell will fail.

「I knew it.」

They already understand my magic.

So, instead of strengthening the Resist, they’ll show an opening and prepare a countermeasure against it.

I thought I would do that if I was in their position.

So I took that into consideration when I released the magic.

My magic curved to avoid the enemy’s arm and immediately afterward hit the enemy’s eyes.

The giant body of the Spriggan shook.

Then it immediately resumed its movements.