Chapter 212

Dung-

A heavy collision sound echoing through the mountains reverberated above the crater. Volcanic gas and ash that had been rising high were pushed away in all directions by the shockwave.

The tip of the greatsword shattered the creature's skull and instantly killed another monster hidden inside. Small ice crystals penetrated the caved-in skull, freezing the writhing cells and tissues in an instant.

An ear-splitting sharp scream scattered, mixed with black smoke. The monster, its face grotesquely distorted, plummeted downwards with the scream.

Due to some of its sensory organs being cut and frozen, the creature's body regeneration was delayed and it even lost balance. As it fell continuously through the thick curtain, twisting violently as it got closer to the bright red lava.

At that moment, the chilling gust blowing from above took human form and appeared before the mother body's eyes. Hugo, who had caught up with the target while emitting explosive cold, swung his greatsword once more as if to drive the creature down to the abyss.

The mother body rapidly expanded its wing muscles to avoid the sword energy flying from its tip. Instead of regenerating its eyes and skull, it further enlarged its wings to make a sharp turn.

Small explosions occasionally occurred as if recreating hell's fire pit as it fell towards the crater boiling with ice crystals. Sparks mixed with heavy metals and ash flew up terrifyingly, but the mother body increased its speed and glided, disregarding its flesh being cooked. This was because it knew that human chasing fiercely behind was vulnerable to heat.

The creature crossed the deeply dug crater at full speed, as if its goal was to completely escape the lava zone. However, the massive shadow advancing relentlessly soon hesitated and had to stop midway.

"Where do you think you're going."

A dazzling fire demon appeared right in front of its escape route. Leonardo, who had blocked its path at the speed of light, swung his flame sword widely, aiming for the creature's head. This was because the two small monsters he had seen when the head split earlier seemed to affect the creature's reaction speed and regenerative ability.

But as the mother body immediately kicked off the air and flew up, his attack narrowly missed the skull. However, as if proving his guess partially correct, the golden current that flew from the blade cleanly cut off one of its front legs that couldn't avoid it.

Kyaaaak-

The massive chunk of flesh and acidic liquid bursting from the cross-section poured down onto the thickly boiling lava. The melting, blackly undulating rocks cracked as they rubbed against the flesh, and the red-hot magma within completely swallowed even a single claw of the severed leg.

Meanwhile, a chill that cut into the skin swept down again over the mother body as it raised its head and fled.

Ice from above, fire from below. As the two figures, who could be called the strongest in the peninsula, tightened their grip from both sides at a crazy speed, the mother body rolled its few remaining eyes, scanning the chaotic surroundings in confusion.

Then it emitted yellow smoke from the gaps in its hide, blurring the two humans' vision. Through the billowing smoke screen, the light of the beam that had caused havoc earlier stretched out.

'Damn it.'

'Oh no.'

The two people, noticing the ominous sign, simultaneously slowed their speed.

Kwaaang-!

Hot light bursting from the hazy smoke sharply cut through the ash-filled air. An explosion accompanied by violent wind pressure swept in, instantly pushing back the two humans who had hesitated.

Even in that moment entangled with gusts and heat, Leonardo stretched out both arms towards the shadow fleeing leisurely. Focusing all his nerves on control rather than output, he fired an attack aimed at the creature's wing joints.

A thunderous rupturing sound covered the area. At the same time, the scream of the mother body, its wings penetrated, spread widely. Following this, perhaps due to the aftermath of the terrifying magic, a strong collision sound as if rocks were collapsing came from an invisible place.

As savage magma spurted up before his eyes, Leonardo belatedly widened the distance while increasing his altitude. Just as he thought he might have been a bit late, Hugo pulled his waist with one arm and created a thick ice wall in front of them.

Lava particles that had spurted up like water spray stuck to the surface of the ice, deeply digging into the thick membrane. Emitting pale steam as they cooled, they eventually became black stone fragments embedded in the ice.

Leonardo, hanging on Hugo's arm while watching this scene, bit his lip as he realized his slowed reflexes.

'My body's gotten heavier. At this rate...'

But there was no time for despair. The sound of the mother body struggling, scratching rocks as it was stuck on the edge of the crater, could be heard.

As sharp roars containing ultrasonic waves resonated in succession, Hugo let go of Leonardo and immediately advanced to chase after the creature. Leonardo also followed behind Hugo, about to break through the thick smoke, when it happened.

Kung- Kukung-

'...?'

If he hadn't felt wrong, that was clearly a vibration just now. Not a vibration ringing from a temporary impact, but one ringing simultaneously over a quite wide area.

It made Leonardo, who had been following the mother body's howls, suddenly stop in the middle of the crater. Following this, the monster's cry, as if drawn from deep within its belly, spread widely across the area, centered on the airspace above the crater. It was a wave of a different dimension from what he had felt so far.

The strange energy emanating from the creature's maw seemed to whip the beings on the ground. As if responding to the mother body's call, the monsters that had gathered in the south began to howl with chilling sounds from below.

Kieeek-

Kiaaak-

The sharp metallic sounds coming from nearby amidst the blocked vision stimulated fear of the unknown phenomenon. Along with this, the dark red lava boiling underfoot undulated like waves, then spurted upwards as if bubbles were bursting. Its flow seemed ominous, as if twisting under strong pressure from deep within the earth.

As abnormal phenomena occurred here and there, Leonardo felt his spine gradually growing cold. Just then, the mother body's roar, mixed with a dull shockwave, pushed away the thick volcanic gas, momentarily clearing the view.

Although it was the south, being at a fairly high peak allowed a better view of the distant situation than ever before.

On the northern plains revealed beyond the scattering smoke, pale lights flickered repeatedly as if sending signals. Around it, massive dust rose, and the sound of horse hooves and horn trumpets grandly crossed the land.

It was a sound Leonardo was also well familiar with.

"Parren's cavalry?"

He remembered hearing it when he was dispatched as reinforcements during the war Parren had waged for independence in the past. They were driving the widely spread monsters to one place and rushing towards the southern ridge.

In the moment his gaze was drawn there, fierce shockwaves spread as the monster and human confronted each other on the opposite side of the crater.

Leonardo, with no time for deep thought, threw his body towards where Hugo and the creature would be entangled. Soon, the creature that had been stuck in a corner after being hit by the greatsword scratched the ground with its claws and sprang out towards the outside of the crater.

As if determined not to let it escape, the two people appearing from different directions blocked the front of the mother body's head at full speed. Although bright red breath boiled up from its maw, the two arms covered in flames and ice swung their blades towards the creature without hesitation.

Kwaaang-!

A rupturing sound covering the mountains swept in once more, and the breath directly hit the ice greatsword. The solid ice shattered instantly, and sharp fragments grazed vulnerable skin. Amidst this, the energies of the two people close together friction, causing explosive steam to leak out.

However, thanks to the full-force strike that seemed to have had quite an effect, the trajectory of the retreating mother body came within range. It was an appropriate position, neither too high nor too low, where it could maintain constant pressure even in the volcano's heat.

The small monsters inside the skull must have lost their function from the impact, as the speed of the mother body spreading its wings noticeably slowed. Hugo, sensing the moment had come, immediately created a gust of wind. Pushing away the debris blocking his view, he shouted loudly.

"All battalion commanders, deploy RAID 5 barrier!"

His voice, amplified using the waves in the air, clearly pierced the ears of the battalion commanders lying in ambush near the crater. Not only that, but it also seemed to be a signal flare for the monsters crawling up towards the queen from the bottom of the peak, as those clinging to the rock face began to glow and increase their speed.

Because of this, an unusual wave arose over the lapping lava with fierce vibrations. At that moment, five white lights simultaneously shot up into the sky from within the grayish-white smoke that stung the eyes.

The figures widely spread around the crater moved away, expanding their territories at regular intervals. When their lights became faint and barely visible to each other, they stopped at designated positions, relying solely on their senses and trust in their comrades.

Bruno, laden with protective gear and light balls, took a deep breath in the tense moment. Led by the deputy commander who showed clear signs of tension, the five commanders who had spread out simultaneously shouted with their palms together.

"Council End Gate Binding Technique, deploy Pentagon!"

The five commanders' arms spread out simultaneously, forming a 108-degree angle. Then, magnetic force lines extending from their palms connected in straight lines, borrowing the power of the heavy routers hanging from each of their battle uniforms.

The magnetic force lines extending from different directions generated an enormous shockwave the moment they collided. However, as the aftermath was sucked into the center rather than spreading in all directions, Hugo, feeling that the myth of success was not far off, firmly grasped Leonardo's arm beside him.

"Leo."

Just as Leonardo was lost in a trance at the terrifying vortex that seemed it might suck in even his body. Hugo grabbed Leonardo's waist and lightly lifted him up.

"Huh?"

Suddenly lifted up by his two hands, Leonardo looked down at the other with a bewildered face. Hugo, pressing his forehead against Leonardo's, whispered to his face with an earnest wish.

"Now's the time."

Without giving him time to understand the meaning, he grasped Leonardo's waist and quickly rotated two and a half times in the air. At his sudden action, as centrifugal force swept in so strongly it was hard to withstand, Leonardo, his eyes wide open, grabbed Hugo's forearm and held on.

"Wh-what, wait─!"

Just as he felt his soul might leave him from the spinning view, Leonardo felt his body float in the air.

And with the sight of Hugo below growing smaller, he flew silently into the air above the crater in the blink of an eye.