Thus the Boy Runs Through the Labyrinth ~The Story of an Ordinary Boy Who Ended Up Punching Heroes, Demon Lords, and Even Gods~ – Chapter 693

Dr. Israilia and his many subordinates gathered, giving birth to the world’s largest research institution. The【Israilia Research Institute】 became the focus of world attention.

It was inevitable, something that could not be resisted.
It was a storm that even Israilia himself, hailed as the world’s greatest genius, could not stop.

Every move he made became news that swept across the globe, and everyone was eager to find some meaning or reason in it. If he so much as yawned, there were those who expressed concern about his health management and condemned the nation that enforced it.
It had already become akin to a religion, a faith. More than that, some people even started such religious organizations. Fraudulent schemes such as “I am an old friend, and if you wish, I can arrange for his research results” were rampant, and there were countless such cases.

It would not be an exaggeration to call it madness.

However, it was precisely because the world at that time was so full of exhaustion, confusion, and conflict that such a situation arose. The world was in a bad state. Everyone was desperately searching for a solution from within a hell with no escape.

They wanted a solution that was effortless and convenient,
that was equal and favored them,
and was not complicated but simple and easy to understand.

And then, “it” was presented right before them. The madness was therefore understandable.
And because of that, “it” was revealed at the worst possible time.

The fact that the energy supplied by【Starstone】 and the supply of【All-purpose Material】 were always in small, constant amounts. The fact that it was extremely difficult to deliver its benefits to everything in the world. This secret information was leaked.

The Ark Israilia had a limited capacity.

The world’s realization of that fact and its transformation into beasts was something even Dr. Israilia could not resist.

***

“Gah…!”

Greyre winced at the pain of his shoulder being pierced. Of course, he had formed multiple defensive arrays. This was the deepest layer of Ark Israilia, a place where one could not imagine what might happen, so he had no reason to be negligent.
His defenses were effortlessly broken. And it was by a terminal that he himself was supposed to be controlling.

“Should I not have provided the Divine Medicine…?”

He forced a smile onto his face, regretting it slightly. While he was still able to support from the sidelines and not actively participate in combat meant he still had some magic power to spare, it was a fact that he felt insecure.

Yes, insecure. Completely lacking in confidence.

No amount of preparation felt sufficient against “this opponent.” There was no room for overconfidence. Before this battle began, he had exhausted all means and prepared, but even so, it would likely not be nearly enough.

“Well, let’s see how far I can go…!”

With that look on his face, Greyre deployed his magic array. However, much faster than that, the “terminals” created by Greyre swarmed to kill Greyre himself, their master.

“Hmph!”

However, before they could reach Greyre, a mighty warrior crushed them. Greyre, who had been bracing himself, smiled at the sight of the muscular man’s back. Even without possessing the【Heaven Fist】, Gronzon’s back was incredibly dependable and stable.

“You almost died, Greyre.”

And then, Sua appeared right beside Greyre. Was the healing that mended his body a blessing from the Water Spirit? It seemed he was favored by the spirits, even without the assistance of【Heaven Prayer】.

“I’m surprised. I’m glad you’re safe.”
“I was saved by Ul.”
“Kahaha! This softie saved even this life!”

It was a truly welcome development. He felt extremely guilty considering he had known about their predicament but had not responded, but he could not afford to dwell on it now. He would apologize after his work was done.

“I’m sorry, but I need to concentrate. If this continues, I’ll lose control.”

He refocused, continuing to operate in an attempt to regain control of the terminals. He managed to regain control of some of them, but it was not perfect. Some of the terminals were stained black. They separated from the main unit of the terminals, changed shape, and transformed, appearing like autonomous magic arrays controlled by Greyre.

“They’re replicating my autonomous magic arrays with the supposedly post-installed【Black Flame Erosion】! They’re doing whatever they want!”

He gritted his teeth and moved his magic array. He couldn’t let the Starstone be stolen right now.

The worst-case scenario, the possibility that something was rigged within the【Starstone】 itself, was nonexistent. If that were the case, this plan would have failed from the start. Therefore, there was no need to consider it.

“Greyre! What are you fighting?! Explain!”

Gronzon asked while swatting away the terminals that were trying to kill him. Greyre, concentrated on the task at hand, managed to eke out some words.

“To put it precisely… it’s God.”
“God?”
“Zeuradia and Sizlunarika were merely tools. But that… he is…”

With a voice that seemed to hold both fondness and hatred,

“In the truest sense, a creator.”

Greyre uttered praise.

“…!”
“【Wind Spirit】.”

The blade of wind created by Sua sliced through the trees. The “black roots” that had targeted Greyre were gone, but it was still not a time to let their guard down. Seemingly sensing this, Sua and Gronzon, standing back-to-back, intensified their vigilance. Greyre brought the communication magic array to his hand and urgently sent a message.

“Zain, he has appeared after all. Hurry and sever the heart. If the purification functions are taken over, everything will be over.”

***

“He’s doing it.”
“Nyaaaaaaahhh!!!”

Zain, who had received the message, was currently in the midst of a fierce counterattack. What was happening was that they were desperately trying to endure, not to be engulfed by the Vortex of Destruction emitted from the numerous “eyeballs” that had appeared around the “heart” they were targeting.

“This is insane!!! And somehow! It’s getting more intense…!”
“Don’t be swayed.”

To Zero, who was groaning while trying to maintain the barrier, Zain responded with a calm gaze. Even amidst the fierce explosions, his eyes were fixed on the heart hidden within.

“In the end, we are merely the defense function of the purification device itself. The attacks are monotonous and lack any complex tactics.”
“Easy for you to say…!”

Suddenly, a sword of light pierced the barrier and struck. Zero flinched. It was undeniably the【Heavenly Sword】, a sword that sliced through everything. It pierced the barrier that Zero and the others had formed, its blade rushing to cleave Zero, its origin…

“Annoying.”

Zain, with a jet-black slash, dismissed it.

Zero’s eyes widened at Zain’s supreme technique, but he quickly stood up and repaired the damaged barrier. However, if the enemy could wield power similar to the Seven Heavens, the situation changed. It wouldn’t last long…

“Zain!”

But in the meantime, the Five, who had been acting separately from barrier maintenance, stood up.

“We’ve destroyed the embedded magic veins! But they’re regenerating immediately…!”
“Good.”

Zain nodded and readied his sword.

“In five seconds, I’m leaving the barrier. Deflect any attacks aimed at me.”
“I, I…”

Almost as soon as he replied, Zain leaped out. Zero focused his mind. With the omnipotence granted by Kuraran and his exceptional talent, he continued to defend against all attacks approaching Zain. Of course, even so, it wasn’t perfect, and Zain felt the shockwaves.

But Zain remained unswayed, approaching the heart and swinging his blade.

“【Magic Sever】.”

The absolute severing slash cut through the heart.