The day after I informed Rex and his party about Mana’s pregnancy in the Laofen Labyrinth, we returned to the Gagun Great Forest, leaving Mana in Alka’s care.
Yuri, Hilde, and Rika had already been informed the previous night, as had Ed and Raus’s groups.
This left reporting to Emperor Reinhardt and his retinue, which I decided to entrust to Lumina, Lucas, and Lyra.
Though I wished I could have gone with them and stayed by Mana’s side, she had told me that after our child was born and for a while afterward, I would be fighting a massive army of demons. She urged me to grow stronger in the meantime, lest Gaia’s premonitions come true in a negative way.
She also said that while men couldn’t understand the pain of pregnancy and childbirth, the best I could do was to become stronger. With that in mind, I resolved to reach level 100 and aim for a new evolution that I believed lay beyond it.
Despite my resolve, I felt a bit anticlimactic today, not encountering any monsters at all.
However, starting around lunchtime, monsters began to appear sporadically, and their numbers have been increasing, so I suspect the area at the foot of the Treasure Tree is in chaos.
After all, the one Mina just cut down was a Quake Kong. It’s a P-C Rank Anomaly Species, and it’s said that Demise Species give birth to Anomaly Species, so I can understand why there are many Quake Kongs, given that Hanuman is present.
However, the Quake Kongs are appearing from the deeper parts of the forest, as if being driven out. While I haven’t seen any Mega Quakes of M-C Rank, it’s clear that the existing species of the Gagun Great Forest and the flood species from the Gagun Labyrinth are clashing fiercely at the foot of the Treasure Tree.
“This is a more serious situation than I imagined.”
“Indeed. I never expected the Quake Kongs to be fleeing.”
Just as Faris and El said, the Quake Kongs seemed to be running from the deeper parts of the forest. It’s said that the Treasure Tree lies in the depths of the Gagun Great Forest, where the Demise Species Hanuman resides, and that Quake Kongs and Mega Quakes also inhabit areas near the depths. This is precisely why the depths of the Gagun Great Forest are designated as an absolutely dangerous zone from which no one returns alive. The fact that Quake Kongs, one of the species contributing to this danger, are fleeing is an emergency situation.
“Fortunately, Quake Kongs are P-I Rank, so a few High Class adventurers can take them down now.”
“Right. I’m really thankful for the alloy.”
I had to agree. Previously, even High Class adventurers’ powerful magical energy would overwhelm their equipment, leading to rapid magical fatigue or degradation. Metal materials were mostly disposable; iron was practically single-use, and even Magic Silver and Adamantine Steel could only be used for a few months at most.
However, the alloy I proposed and Ed developed can withstand the magical energy of even Ancient Class adventurers, let alone High Class ones, without causing magical fatigue or degradation. Of course, we carry spares for unforeseen circumstances, but minor nicks can be repaired with Mana Rings, and most importantly, we no longer need to suppress our magic power. Thanks to this, subjugating Anomaly Species and Catastrophe Species, which once required dozens of people, can now be accomplished by just a few to over a dozen. It’s said that even the risk in absolutely dangerous zones, which are teeming with Anomaly and Catastrophe Species, has decreased compared to before.
Nevertheless, the reason why these are absolutely dangerous zones is the presence of Demise Species, so it remains the most dangerous area, even within the Helios Orb. Demise Species give birth to Anomaly Species, and Anomaly Species have the potential to evolve into Catastrophe Species. Though, due to supply limitations of the alloy, the newly reorganized Ritter’s Guild has priority, and even Hunters can’t afford it unless they’re High Class.
“It’s tough that I can’t use Mapping since this isn’t a labyrinth.”
“Yes. I do think we’re getting closer to the Treasure Tree though…”
Everyone agreed with Lydia and Flam’s murmurs. The Hunter magic “Mapping” records a map of the labyrinth. However, as the phrase “within the labyrinth” implies, it can only be used inside one. Since the Gagun Great Forest is not a labyrinth, it’s obviously unusable. Only a handful of people have ever ventured deep into the Gagun Great Forest, and there are no detailed maps. Due to the tangled roots, even moving in a straight line is difficult, so we have no idea where we are or how much longer it will take to reach the Treasure Tree.
Still, during our lunch break, we’ve covertly checked our surroundings by peeking above the forest canopy using Flying and Scaffolding. I think we’ll likely reach it by tomorrow.
“Still, the number of Anomaly Species has really increased, hasn’t it?”
“Yeah. But while I can understand the Quake Kongs, what’s with the Third-Eye Bulls and Crested Unicorns?”
Since lunch, we’ve defeated several Anomaly Species besides Quake Kongs. The Third-Eye Bulls and Crested Unicorns that Cliff mentioned are the Anomaly Species of Greylock Bulls and Battle Horses, respectively, and they shouldn’t inhabit the Gagun Great Forest.
“They’re probably lower-ranked forms of Catoblepas and Crested Horn Pegasi, aren’t they?”
“So, they’re being driven out by Hanuman and Mega Quakes and fleeing here?”
“Isn’t that the only explanation?”
As Salina, Burks, and Clarice said, it seems to be the case. However, based on the fact that Faris, Cliff, and El hunted Mega Quakes yesterday, it doesn’t seem like the Kong species, led by Hanuman, have the upper hand. Furthermore, considering the number of monsters hunted in front of Mistol, it’s unlikely that there’s only one Crested Horn Pegasus or Catoblepas. If we get closer to the Treasure Tree, perhaps Mega Quakes, Crested Horn Pegasi, and Catoblepas will appear along with other monsters overflowing from the labyrinth.
“Ah, right. Considering the quality and quantity of monsters hunted at Mistol, it wouldn’t be strange to have other Catastrophe Species too.”
“Rather, we have to assume they’re there.”
“Yeah. I don’t think there are any Dragoons, but it wouldn’t be strange to have SaurUSES.”
Faris, El, and Cliff agreed with my assessment. As Cliff pointed out, Dragoons are nearly 20 meters tall and can almost all fly. They would be noticeable immediately, not just in the Gagun Great Forest, but upon overflowing. The Dragoons that overflowed from the Gagun Labyrinth were only White Dragoons and Lesser Dragoons, numbering less than 20, so we can assume they were all eliminated. As for SaurUS species, another type of dragon, while large variants exist, there are also those of human size and many that cannot fly. If they blended in with a horde of monsters, distinguishing them would be impossible. However, even in the densely wooded Gagun Great Forest with its Fusang trees, there’s enough space for monsters about 10 meters tall to move, so assuming there are only small species would be dangerous.
“Anyway, let’s move on.”
“Right.”
Nodding at El’s words, I moved forward. There’s no point in talking forever, and we need to check on the Treasure Tree’s condition. If possible, we’ve also been tasked with subduing the overflowed monsters, though Hanuman is excluded from that order.
However, I intend to defeat Hanuman. After Mana’s counsel and recalling Gaia’s premonition, I’ve decided to aim for the evolution that I believe lies beyond level 100. I don’t know if I can truly evolve, but I can’t say anything until I reach level 100 first. The oracle stated that even all the Ancient Classes combined couldn’t match the Abyssal Emperor, so whether it’s possible or not is secondary. My level is 97, and defeating Hanuman may not necessarily get me to my target level, but I expect to gain at least one or two levels, so I want to defeat it if I can.
As I continued forward with these thoughts, I felt an increase in monster attacks. The monsters seemed to be fleeing, so rather than attacking us because we looked like prey, it felt more like they were trying to eliminate us because we were obstructing their escape. Quake Kongs were numerous, and monsters that seemed to have overflowed from the labyrinth were also increasing. Although there were many rare species, I was surprised to see Triceratops. Triceratops are P-R Rank and also SaurUS species; some individuals can possess strength equivalent to a rank above. Visually, they are almost identical to Earth’s Triceratops, with the only difference being their mouths, which have sharp fangs. A herd of nearly ten of these Triceratops appeared, along with G-U Rank Lightning Moths, Phalanx Grizzlies of P-C Rank, and Friezas Tigers. I hadn’t seen Grizzly species at Mistol either, but I had defeated Tiger and Moth species, so it seems they weren’t separated by species. However, this is common with labyrinth floods, apparently.
I also encountered a single Crested Horn Pegasus. Despite being able to fly, it charged through the forest, so I didn’t initially recognize it as a Crested Horn Pegasus. Once combat began, it flew around normally, but the trees hindered its movement significantly. When that Crested Horn Pegasus charged at me, I countered with an Iai strike, severing its head from its body.
“A Crested Horn Pegasus here. If it were just one, I might consider it defeated in the scramble for the Treasure Tree, but since it overflowed from the labyrinth, there are likely others.”
“Its rank is also P-C, so we have to consider it might be present.”
As Prim and Lydia said, in labyrinths, Anomaly and Catastrophe Species often live in groups. Crested Horn Pegasi are P-C Rank Monsters, so if they were placed on floors where P-Rank or M-Rank monsters inhabit, it’s not impossible for not just one, but ten or more to have overflowed.
“Regardless, let’s proceed. Whether we fight or retreat, we can’t decide without seeing the Treasure Tree’s condition.”
“Right.”
“Yamato, you seem to intend to fight, so I’d prefer if we didn’t choose the option to retreat.”
Faris and El agreed to move forward and also understood my drive, for which I was grateful. They likely share my curiosity about whether there’s anything beyond the Ancient Class, and both Holy Graves and Falcon’s Beak are experienced in raids. However, even if I defeat Hanuman, I’m not sure if I’ll reach level 100.
In any case, that’s a story for after we encounter Hanuman. I doubt it’s been defeated, but considering that multiple Abyss Panthers and Avalanche Howls were hunted at Mistol, we need to assume that there are also multiple Crested Horn Pegasi and Catoblepas. Even a Demise Species, if surrounded by a horde of O-Rank monsters, wouldn’t emerge unscathed. Moreover, even with over ten Ancient Classes, depending on their numbers, we might have to consider a retreat, so we need to confirm the Treasure Tree’s situation. I hope the number of monsters is manageable.
