YOU REAP WHAT YOU SOW [4]

Regressor's Instructions Manual Episode 997

You reap what You Sow (4)

"Spread out."

The command was given quickly.

"Bahamut is coming!"

"Insane!"

"Bahamut is coming! Aaaah!"

"Aaaah! Aaaah!"

The task for the Rangers in a situation like this is singular: if engagement is impossible, relay as much information as possible back to headquarters. Of course, survival is paramount.

Command is likely already aware of the current situation, and the nearby support unit is probably on their way here.

- Special Ranger Unit, Deputy Unit Leader Jian here. We encountered Templar Simon 2 minutes ago and are currently retreating.

- Confirming location. Gathering more accurate information...

- Although it hasn't been confirmed precisely, it's suspected that Templar Simon has transformed into a spider-like monster. No, it's not so much a transformation into a monster as it is... he's changed as if into a demon. We are currently securing a sample from him.

- Is on-site investigation impossible?

- It's impossible. As I mentioned, all Rangers are currently retreating. We request route securing for retreat.

- Understood.

- Additionally, an unidentified catalyst has been discovered.

- Please provide more precise information.

- Feather. It seems that Templar Simon is fixated on the feather and continuously shouting that Bahamut is coming.

- Understood.

- How long until additional reinforcements arrive?

- We've sent a nearby Ranger unit. They should arrive in about 3 minutes...

- A Ranger unit? Did I hear that correctly? Please transfer the troops. A Ranger unit won't be of any help.

- It will take about 1 hour and 40 minutes until the strike team arrives...

- An hour, and we'll all be wiped out!

'Damn it.'

If the map was a forest or some other place, there might have been some hope. But being in an enclosed chamber only works to our disadvantage.

After escaping the wide pupils, the space that comes into view seems to be arranged like a maze.

The Rangers with keen eyesight won't lose their way in the maze, but they won't be able to stop from becoming targets of that creature.

In an instant, the Rangers are scattered, and cries echo from all directions. This place is its home. Intentional or not, we've entered this spider's lair on our own accord.

'Did everyone escape? Who got caught?'

- As quickly as possible... can we make it out as quickly as possible?

- At the moment, we are currently searching for the quickest escape route. If you wait just a little longer...

'Damn it. They're taking too long to deal with this.'

Someday, I knew something like this would happen. Always living with danger, death wasn't something to be anxious or fearful of. The problem is the members of my unit.

'It's not these guys who should be dying in a place like this.'

- Is there no other way?

- Wait a moment...Honorary Cardinal... no... Commander of the Strike Force Operations... is directly overseeing the evacuation operation.

'Honorary Cardinal?'

Then, I heard a crackling sound, as if someone had entered the communication channel. And then, a voice that was familiar yet unfamiliar spoke up.

While it's a voice I hear often from a distance, it's the first time it's been so directly connected like this.

- Affiliation.

- Special Ranger Unit, Deputy Unit Leader Jian here. Currently...

- Personnel present.

- With me, there are a total of 4 unit members evacuating. The strike teams operate in groups of 5...

- I'll provide coordinates.

- Yes? Our current location is...

- Move right away.

"Um... moving."

The path that was previously unseen starts to become visible. Of course, there was no absolute certainty. The route marked on the map along with the mirror had appeared so quickly that it raised a bit of suspicion.

'Did the mission succeed?'

It's likely that it did. The fact that I heard the voice of Honorary Cardinal means that the operation carried out by Jin Cheong likely succeeded.

But...

What about the situation on-site? Is someone actually leading the command?

The thought crosses my mind, but there's really no other option. This is an order. Even if it leads to death, if it's an order, it must be obeyed.

"Run! Run!"

"Bahamut is coming!"

Thump thump thump thump!

Along with a loud noise, the sound of something heavy hitting the ground is heard.

Gradually, the sound diminishes, but I know better than anyone that it's too early to feel relieved.

- Change route.

- Yes?

- Change route. Confirm quickly.

'I should explain...'

"We're going back."

"Yes?"

There's no time to explain to the team. Until just a while ago, we were planning to move to where the voice was coming from.

Crash!

With that sound, the ceiling collapses, and the creature's legs pour down.

The sound of enormous legs and large feet brushing past my nose.

'If I had ignored it and advanced...'

I would have been pinned down by those legs.

In another sense... it sends a shiver down my spine.

'How did he know?'

How did he know that Temple Knight Simon, or rather, the spider, knew that we were going to move ahead?

How did he know that an attack would come at this timing? Even if it's a glimpse of the future...

'Is he able to see into the future?'

Whatever it is, it doesn't matter. What's important is that hope has emerged.

The faint suspicion fades, replaced by a glimmer of possibility.

"Bahamut is coming!"

"Run!"

'I can survive.'

It's not a difficult task. If we simply follow the coordinates marked on the mirror, we might really be able to escape from this place.

- Change route.

- Understood.

Bang!

- Change route.

- Understood.

"Kwaaaah!!!"

The sound of the ceiling collapsing echoes from all around. Considering the creature's size, I initially thought it was only chasing our team members, but it seems that's not the case.

The creature's enormous legs are longer than I thought. It's possible that this entire area is within its reach.

'Were there 8 legs? No, there might be more.'

As for the others...

'Are they escaping?'

We come face to face with the Rangers who are escaping from the front at that moment.

"Huh?"

What I see is that they also have communication devices in their ears. Just like us, they're following the coordinates projected onto the Goddess's Hand Mirror.

I thought they might be following orders from another commander, but...

"Yes, confirmed, Commander Honorary Cardinal."

I hear that response. They quickly move away. They're taking a different route than us.

'This can't be real. Unbelievable.'

"This can't be real..."

Could it be...?

Could it be that he's controlling all the Rangers who are escaping?

Is he individually controlling the 50 members divided into 10 squads?

- Stay put.

Reflexively, I come to a halt.

"Tr... trap, Commander."

Kwaaaah!!

I hear the sound as the wall collapses. The presence of a trap...

'I've confirmed it too.'

The issue is that the trap is set by our allies. An explosive trap that each squad has as a basic feature. There's a high probability that the squad that just passed us moments ago set it up.

-Move.

I head toward the path pierced through by our ally's explosives.

-Trap set. Coordinates input. Set the detonation time 2 minutes and 10 seconds ahead.

-Confirmed... understood.

"Trap... trap set!"

"Yes? Yes... yes!"

The trap we've set now might become an escape route for other allies. Sounds of walls collapsing resonate from all around.

"Confirmed!"

"Thank you! Commander Honorary Cardinal. Haha!"

The same voice intermittently reaches us. The spider's legs are blocking the passage.

-Go straight.

A bizarre command is given, but I don't doubt it.

Kwaaah!

Along with that sound, Park Yeon ju of the Black Swan emerges from the side wall.

Templar Simon's legs chase after Park Yeonju, and a passage opens up naturally for us to move straight ahead.

'What on earth is this...? I can't figure this out...'

Certainly, we're the ones who entered the spider's lair.

But... it's possible that it's the creature caught in it's own web.

'There's a reason they call you a genius.'

"Bahamut is coming!"

Bang!

Kwaaaah!!

Finally, the creature that descended from the ceiling crawls forward, its massive legs sticking to the ground.

'Are we the last?'

-Continue as planned on the route. Deputy Leader Jian.

Bang! Kwaaaah!

The massive labyrinth collapses.

The creature that forcibly squeezed its massive body into a narrow passage and advances by smashing anything in its way doesn't exhibit the appearance of the clever hunter seen earlier.

It's merely a monster driven by its own desires, in a hurry to satisfy them.

"These damn little rats!! Little rats!!"

"Little rats!!"

"Runnnn!!"

What's visible in front of us is a small passage emitting a faint light. No more orders come in.

It felt like I could collapse at any moment, but I grit my teeth and continue forward.

Just a bit further... just a bit further.

Thump! Thump!

Crash!!! Kwaaaah!!

"To Lord Bahamut, I shall offer you as sacrifices! All of you!!"

"Uaaargh!!"

With a roar that doesn't resemble that of a ranger, we take our final steps.

Afterward, I quickly turn around.

"Aaaargh! Aaaargh!! Lord Bahamut!!"

Stuck in the narrow passage, unable to escape.

But...

As the sound of crumbling walls grows louder...

Thud! Thud!! Kwaaaah!! Thud!!!

The creature's massive body fully reveals itself.

As I gaze at that sight with a despairing expression,

"Let's start hunting the spider."

The voice through the communicator cuts in immediately.

"Yoooouuu... Yoooouuu are... Yoooouuu are Bahamut! Lord Bahamut!!"

"Bahamut?"

"Aaah! Hahaha! Aha-hahahaha! The time has... come! Oh, Lord Bahamut!!"

"Who's Bahamut? You filthy-looking demon bastard."

"What?"

"Could this bastard be a demon too?"

With those words, a tremendous divine power begins pouring down upon the creature.

----

Who was that?

A] Lee Ki-Young.

B] Kim Hyunsung.

C] Raphael.

D] Draktaris.