“Ah, yes!”
Awakened by Iberis’s shout, Brenda quickly contacted the observation team. Devices to detect geothermal activity, seismic waves, mana flow, and concentration were installed throughout Zone N.
The Zone N observation team collects and analyzes this data in real-time, and when anomalies or cracks appear, they review it with the intelligence department and relay it to each unit. For some reason, they failed this time, but by now, they should have recognized the crack’s occurrence.
The most important task for the observation team and intelligence department was undoubtedly to accurately determine the scale and grade of the crack and inform each unit. Even if they didn’t know the type of monster, they could determine the grade or scale by analyzing the mana leaking from the crack. Based on this information, each unit would form teams and begin their strategy.
It usually takes about 10 minutes to measure a crack. So Iberis thought the results would come out soon. However, Brenda’s expression wasn’t good when she returned from the call.
“Major, the observation team and intelligence department say it’s difficult to determine the grade. They say they need to come to the site and check it themselves…”
“What?”
Iberis frowned at Brenda’s report. There are usually two cases when the observation team can’t immediately determine the grade: either the monster in the crack is an unknown that hasn’t been discovered yet, or there’s already a hidden dungeon inside that could change the grade midway. Either way, it wasn’t good news.
“What should we do?”
“Hmm…”
Iberis fell into contemplation at this unexpected situation. The only units not participating in today’s population control operation in the Land of Death were N-0 and N-9. Among them, N-9 unit was in charge of maintaining security in the living areas, so their combat ability was significantly lower.
Other units participating in the operation had left a minimum number of personnel to guard their areas just in case, but it was awkward to entrust them with crack conquest.
However, they couldn’t leave the crack unattended. If it turns into a dungeon while postponing the conquest, things would become even more complicated.
Once dungeon formation is complete, the difficulty of conquest increases significantly, so it was better to close the crack before that. Above all, there was a possibility that a hidden dungeon existed inside the crack. The longer they waited, the harder it would be for them.
In the end, Iberis’s N-0 unit had no choice but to step up. The problem was that the team members were quite tired from patrolling their assigned areas since morning and evacuating residents after the terrorist incident.
In addition, they had to transfer the villains who attacked Iberis. Given the suspicion of a traitor within the defense force who might have ordered the assassination, they couldn’t entrust this task to just anyone.
“…They don’t even have an estimated grade?”
“They’re guessing B+ grade… but they’re also considering the possibility of A grade.”
“I see.”
Iberis let out a small sigh, feeling frustrated. His gaze turned to the ground that had opened like the maw of a beast.
Can we do this?
Iberis hesitated, clenching and unclenching his slightly trembling hand. Although he had received some guidance from Lucas, he couldn’t guarantee how he would fare in consecutive battles. After returning from the S-zone support operation, hadn’t his condition worsened again, showing poor condition for several days?
Glance.
Iberis bit his lip as he eyed Lucas standing behind Brenda. Even though his physical condition had improved compared to before, he was still a terminally ill patient. He should avoid reckless actions as much as possible.
However, realistically, it was difficult to entrust this to someone else. If it were a low-grade crack, it would be different, but given that accurate assessment was impossible and it was estimated to be B+ grade, it made sense for him to go in.
“Brenda, finish the transfer as quickly as possible and clean up the surroundings. I’ll hand over the external command to you.”
“You mean…”
“We’ll enter the crack for conquest in 30 minutes.”
After finishing his words, Iberis stretched his hand towards the crack. Then, pure white ice spread with a crackling sound, completely sealing the entrance. It was a temporary measure to prevent the annoying situation of monsters popping out while they prepared for the conquest.
“Get guidance from the Captain and form teams for those who will enter for conquest and those who will stay outside for the transfer.”
“Will you be alright?”
“Even if I’m not, I have to be.”
Iberis smiled faintly as if to say not to worry, making a gesture of patting Brenda’s shoulder. Then he approached Lucas.
“Luke.”
“Yes, Major.”
“Can you give me some guiding?”
“…Are you going in?”
Lucas asked, frowning slightly. He seemed displeased with Iberis’s decision. But he couldn’t actively oppose it. He knew too. What was the best course of action in the current situation.
“I have to go. I’m the only one who can solve this.”
Iberis said with a bitter smile, extending his hand. Then he quickly added,
“Ah, right. Don’t do it too strongly. It would be troublesome if my body becomes too weak to fight.”
“…Understood.”
Should I just do that? Lucas suppressed the urge to pour his mana into Iberis and gently grasped his hand. He wanted to dissuade Iberis, but knowing he shouldn’t, he felt irritated.
All he could do was stabilize Iberis’s internal mana as much as possible through guiding and eliminate a bit more of the fatigue from the earlier battle. For the first time in a very long while, Lucas felt powerless and gritted his teeth.
* * *
“Keeerk!”
An Arachne shot by a gun let out a short scream and fell backward. Lucas shook off the bodily fluids splattered on his hand and burst the heads of the spider monsters rushing at him one after another.
Bang, bang, bang!
With each bullet that flew from Lucas’s mana gun, an Arachne’s head exploded or a hole was punched through its chest. The team members who were burning the spider webs blocking the way swallowed dry saliva as they watched Lucas mercilessly slaughter the monsters.
Who would call that person a guide?
Rebecca, one of the guides participating in this conquest, looked at Lucas with eyes full of awe. If one were to count who killed the most monsters today after Iberis, it would undoubtedly be him.
“Don’t get distracted during battle.”
“Huh? Ah!”
Rebecca gasped as Lucas, who had reprimanded her, pulled her arm and dealt with a monster flying in from behind. Rebecca, her face turning red as a radish, bowed her head as if ashamed.
“I-I’m sorry. And thank you for saving me.”
“So there were still some Black Hornets left.”
Lucas, barely listening to Rebecca’s words, stepped on the fallen bee monster on the ground. As expected, the inside of the crack had already taken on the complete form of a dungeon. It was a hidden dungeon, a crack where a dungeon had formed from the beginning.
The danger of hidden dungeons was that monsters crossing dimensions as the crack formed and monsters already living in the dungeon came out together. Naturally, there were two bosses as well.
Moreover, the monsters that had already formed a dungeon were far more numerous than in a regular crack, and stronger too. That’s why Iberis and the team members who set out for the conquest first dealt with the Black Hornets, the hidden dungeon monsters, and their boss, the Queen Bee. After that, they were on their way to catch the crack-side boss, the Queen Spider.
“Cough…”
“Major?”
Lucas didn’t miss Iberis’s small cough and quickly caught it. He quickly cleared the monsters blocking the way and turned around.
“Are you alright?”
“Huh? Yeah…”
Iberis, who had been following at the very back, mumbled with his hand covering his mouth. However, contrary to his answer, his complexion was pale.
“You’ve pushed yourself too hard.”
Lucas raised his hand and cupped the pale cheek. The skin touching his palm was ice-cold. He furrowed his brow, feeling a chill strong enough to burn his skin.
When there might be a hidden dungeon, the principle is to deploy more conquest personnel than usual and bring high-ranking ability users. However, given the situation, neither was properly implemented.
For this reason, Iberis had no choice but to use his ability more frequently than usual. Far from healing the injuries inflicted by the villains, he fought hundreds of monsters without fully eliminating the after-effects of excessive ability use. It was impossible for his body to be fine.
“Take your hand off. You might get frostbite.”
Iberis stepped back, distancing himself from Lucas. Given that many people had suffered frostbite due to the uncontrolled mana-induced cold until now, he was reluctant to let him touch him.
“Should we take a break? It seems we only need to deal with the boss now.”
“No. Monsters are probably still crossing over through the crack… It’s better to finish this quickly.”
Iberis opposed Lucas’s suggestion and walked past him. As he moved forward, several large cocoons could be seen hanging from the ceiling of the inner cave.
“Is that the boss room?”
“Yes. It’s covered in spider webs everywhere. The Queen Spider is continuously making cocoons near the core.”
A team member in charge of reconnaissance confirmed that it was indeed the boss room. He gave Iberis a detailed explanation of the situation inside that he had seen through his ability.
“Luke, how many injured do we have?”
“About ten.”
“Among them, how many were poisoned by monsters?”
“Six. Thanks to you freezing their wound areas, fortunately, the poison didn’t spread.”
Iberis listened to Lucas’s explanation while examining the team members. Having conquered the crack with insufficient personnel, everyone showed clear signs of fatigue. After pondering for a moment, he spoke.
“It could be dangerous if you’re hit by the poisonous gas the Queen Spider emits, so you take the others and the injured out. I’ll face the boss alone.”
