Hio summoned Freya using the Dragon Summoning Magic.
Even after he used the dragon’s power to sweep through the floor, the Abyssal Curse remained, lingering faintly throughout the area.
However, it was not powerful enough to cloud the minds of the Expeditionary Force.
While it would have been fatal for an ordinary person, this was an Expeditionary Force composed of the Empire’s top elites.
Yet, even such individuals could not help but panic when their vision was suddenly plunged into darkness.
“What—what is this!”
“Light the torches!”
“Do not panic!”
This happened right after Vitalianus split the Strange Eye.
The creature had certainly been strong, but since they had the Order of the Sword, a Guardian Knight, and even the Holy Maiden on their side, no one doubted their victory, despite the tension.
Just as they expected, as soon as the Holy Maiden’s Holy Power touched it, the Magician sealed the creature’s movements.
Immediately after, the Order of the Sword became a single streak of golden light and halved the disgusting eye.
Boom!
Black smoke began to pour out like an explosion from the gap where the Strange Eye had been split.
Hehehehe.
That same laughter was heard once again.
Interest.
The exact same laughter.
Hio immediately realized what that familiar black energy meant, and he shouted toward Irina behind him, the veins on his neck bulging.
“Irina!”
This was the Abyssal Depths.
Not just some half-baked Abyssal Curse, but the real Abyssal Depths.
“Deploy your protection to the maximum!
You must not touch that!”
As if to prove his point, messages began to pop up frantically before Hio’s eyes.
[Immense mental interference has been detected.]
[Characteristic – Can’t Live Without Swag! has been activated.]
[Immense mental interference has been detected.]
[Characteristic – Can’t Live Without Swag! is active.]
[Immense mental interference has been detected.]
[Characteristic – Can’t Live Without Swag! is active.]
…
But was it already too late?
“A-Ahh…”
“Save… save me…”
The Abyssal Depths, which had expanded like an explosion, had already descended upon the heads of the Expeditionary Force.
If there was one thing to be thankful for, it was that the ‘Protection’ of Rie, cast by Irina and the High Priests, was still active.
And.
[Skill – Celestial has been activated.]
Hio’s Celestial skill began to descend from the high heavens.
The golden touch and the pure white protection met and spread wide.
In the area it touched, not even the Abyssal Depths could intrude.
Those who had been clutching their heads in despair quickly recovered their sanity.
“Uh…?
Why was I…”
“Ahem!
I have shown a disgraceful side of myself.”
“Get your act together!
Form ranks and prioritize the protection of the Holy Maiden!”
Although the Celestial and Protection surrounded the Expeditionary Force, the area outside was completely enveloped in darkness.
The sky, which had looked like a purple universe due to the influence of the Domain of the Void, was swallowed by darkness, and the desolate floor of the level was also submerged in the Abyss and became invisible.
This place was now no different from the Abyssal Depths themselves.
“Is this… the Abyssal Depths you mentioned?”
Hio nodded at Vitalianus’s words as the man came to stand beside him.
“It seems that eye from earlier was a device.
A device to summon the Abyssal Depths.”
“Hmph.
To think a mere device could possess such power.
Exactly what kind of entities lurk in a place called the Abyssal Depths?”
“Well… they will show themselves now.”
Hio shared Vitalianus’s sentiment.
They had thought the first black sphere was the core of the floor.
However, it was an entity of the Abyss, and they had fought it together only to find out it was merely a single device.
A device designed by someone, or a device created in the Abyssal Depths.
If so, what exactly would come out of it?
Nothing could be guaranteed, but…
‘At the very least, they will be as strong as or stronger than that eyeball just now.’
That was the best he could guess.
“This is not good.”
“It’s the worst.
The entire floor has become the territory of the Abyssal Depths.”
“It is an unreasonable environment that cannot even be compared to something like poison mist.”
The Expeditionary Force had to face the enemy within Hio’s Celestial and the Holy Maiden’s Protection.
Furthermore, they were in a situation where they didn’t even know what kind of enemies would jump out.
“If there is any consolidation… it’s that this has become the territory of the Abyssal Depths, but it is not the Abyss itself.”
“…Is that so.
Is that what you mean?”
It was made into a territory of the Abyssal Depths, but it was not the Abyss.
Hio explained how great this difference was, and Vitalianus understood.
The space Hio and Daphne had entered before was definitely a space of the Abyssal Depths.
However, this place where the Expeditionary Force stood was clearly the 58th Floor of the Abyss.
Although they could not see an inch ahead outside the Celestial area due to the thick Abyssal Depths, the ground they stepped on was that of the 58th Floor.
The Strange Eye was a device to summon the Abyssal Depths, not a device to transport them to it.
Of course, they still didn’t know what it might have brought along with the Abyss.
“Let us retreat slowly.
Like you said, the situation is not good.”
The best option was to retreat.
No.
It was best to at least secure an escape route.
Among top-tier skills, ‘Celestial’ consumed a massive amount of Magic Power.
He could not continue to maintain it while facing enemies of unknown strength.
And the most important reason was:
‘I can’t let Irina die here.’
She was the focal point of the Holy Kingdom and Liphyue’s last arrangement.
Since Holy Power was the only means to purify the Abyssal Curse, he could not lose the Holy Maiden here.
Of course, every other person was a precious asset for the future, so if they suffered great damage here, it would become a major variable.
“I understand.
We will retreat to where the Gate is located.”
Gail Einsidel, the Chief of the Capital Knights who had been listening to Hio and Vitalianus’s conversation, immediately raised his voice.
“We retreat slowly!
Our destination is the Gate we first entered!”
“Maintain the formation!
You must prioritize the protection of the Holy Maiden and the priests!”
“Be careful not to touch the black energy!”
Their actions were as fast as their decision.
The Expeditionary Force began to return the way they came, drawing their swords and staying alert.
The priests were thoroughly protected by the knights, and Irina was positioned at the center of the formation, the safest spot.
Liphyue’s Protection and Hio’s Celestial moved slowly along with the Expeditionary Force, lighting the way.
Even the thick energy of the Abyssal Depths withdrew easily, having no other choice against them.
No.
Perhaps it was allowing them to retreat.
In this situation, which was already filled with all sorts of variables, nothing was certain.
They continued their movement in such tension for a few minutes.
The Expeditionary Force moved with the only light in silence, with no one opening their mouth.
The moment that silence was broken was truly a fleeting second.
“It’s coming.”
Vitalianus’s low voice.
To the Expeditionary Force moving in tension, his words were heard very clearly.
Less than a few seconds later.
Rumble!
A sound loud enough for everyone to hear came from the front.
Something was coming.
However, they could not go out and fight.
It wasn’t as if long-range skills would work, either.
Any skill that hadn’t reached a certain level would simply be swallowed by the dark Abyssal Depths, no matter how much they fired.
They would just be buried and disappear without any effect.
It was natural, considering that Blue Flame, a top-tier fire skill, could barely hold back the Abyssal Depths.
So, although they knew something was approaching, they could do nothing but grip their swords tightly where they stood.
Rumble!
The unidentified noise reached them in an instant.
Crash!
It collided with the Celestial barrier, creating a thunderous roar.
The top-tier defense skill ‘Celestial’ was originally an evolved form of a shield.
It was a holy barrier that could not be pierced by any physical means, and nothing Hio did not permit could enter.
However.
Crash!
The Celestial boundary shook violently.
“Ugh…”
Hio clutched his chest with a small groan at the recoil.
Until now, he had only used Celestial for the purpose of purifying the Abyssal Curse.
This meant it was his first time defending against such a strong physical impact.
Crash!
It felt as if that level of impact was being delivered directly to his heart.
Nevertheless, Hio removed his hand from his chest as if nothing had happened and looked straight ahead with a straight face.
He must never show a weak side here.
If there was something to be thankful for, it was that almost no one was paying attention to Hio.
Most were staring at the thing that was pounding on the Celestial boundary.
They were just looking up, almost absent-mindedly.
“W-What on earth is that…”
It was a giant covered entirely in black.
A black giant whose size was comparable to a Dragon.
The strange part was that its limbs were abnormally long, and while it was entirely smooth and black, only its eyes and mouth glowed bright red.
Those eyes and that mouth were looking down at them with a chilling smile.
It moved its strangely long arms and legs to swing at the Celestial barrier.
Crash!
The Celestial area itself shook greatly.
If there had been only one, everyone might not have lost their minds for a moment.
The problem was…
Crash!
Boom!
Crash!
The same sounds and similar impacts were coming from the front, back, and both sides.
Giant black bodies whose outlines could barely be seen.
And the smile they wore as they looked down with bright red eyes and mouths.
The number of those Strange Entities surrounding the Celestial barrier was already seven, no, thirteen… no, twenty.
Even at this moment, they were flocking from somewhere, pounding on the Celestial area with the same expressions and the same strength.
Crash!
Crash!
Similar explosions continued to ring out inside Hio’s head.
The massive power of the Strange Entities hitting the Celestial barrier became bombs that went off incessantly, shaking his heart and his mind.
Eeeee—
Tinnitus rang in his ears.
The shouts of the knights and the words of Vitalianus felt like they were coming from far away.
Nevertheless…
“Increase your speed!
Move as fast as possible while maintaining the barrier!”
On the outside, he was the usual Hio Pavlenko.
He appeared exactly like his usual, incredibly dependable Guardian Knight self.
“It is the Guardian Knight’s order!
Increase your speed!”
“Only think about securing the retreat!”
“Do not be afraid!
They cannot pierce through the Guardian Knight’s barrier anyway!”
The Expeditionary Force increased their speed, and the barrier moved accordingly.
Crash!
Those strange things also moved with them, incessantly striking the Celestial barrier.
Their numbers grew until the area outside the barrier was eventually filled with them.
Crash!
Crash!
The impact delivered to his heart had exceeded his limits.
The amount of Magic Power being poured in to repair the barrier as it broke reached an uncontrollable level.
Cracks must have already formed all over the barrier.
Still, there was no choice but to keep running.
The moment the barrier was released, it would be the end of the Expeditionary Force.
Perhaps the strong could resist the Abyssal Depths and pierce through those Strange Entities to reach the exit, but that was all.
The Holy Maiden, the High Priests, and the future of the Empire, including Claire, would be swallowed by the Abyss.
He could not let that happen.
Crash!
Crash!
Something hot surged up from his heart, but he managed to swallow it down.
“We still have plenty of time left to clear the level, so let’s retreat first!
We can set up a countermeasure and re-enter!”
“Even if we retreat right now, the Magyeong will not be released into the world immediately.”
“If you heard that, move faster!
Only think about retreating!
Run forward!”
Hio ran while listening to the shouts of the Knight Captain and the leadership.
Their voices sounded distant and muffled, as if they were submerged underwater.
Thinking with that state of mind, the leadership’s judgment was absolutely correct.
It was impossible to fight in their current state.
Hadn’t those Strange Entities already surrounded the Celestial barrier in numbers that couldn’t be counted?
It was definitely a better decision to go outside and re-enter after establishing a plan based on the information they had gained, rather than being annihilated here.
Of course, that was if they could get out.
Crash!
Crash!
The exit was not yet in sight.
However, the Celestial barrier was about to break.
He had been able to hold on this long because he was with the Holy Maiden’s Protection, but he was already beyond his limit.
So, what should he do?
Crash!
Crash!
Crash!
In fact, he already knew the answer.
“Are you… alright?”
His head was dizzy.
His vision would not focus.
Nevertheless, he could clearly feel the golden eyes of Vitalianus looking at him.
He could also feel the red eyes that would be looking at him from somewhere, filled with worry.
He could feel the Holy Maiden’s clear eyes directed toward him.
Besides those, he could clearly sense the numerous gazes upon him, and the anxiety and worry contained within them.
Hio smiled and nodded.
He was the hope of many people.
It was truly heavy, difficult, and sometimes even felt unfair, but hadn’t the goddess who had fallen into a long sleep lazily declared it?
Hadn’t the Goddess of Hope dumped her work onto him?
Hadn’t she told him he was her hope?
Since he had heard that, he couldn’t just do a halfway job.
A weeping hope—that was something that could not exist.
So, Hio smiled once again.
The countless people who would be watching him.
His lips parted gently to deliver hope and reassurance to them.
“I’m fine.”
The blood pooling in his mouth.
The slight trembling of his hands and the Magic Power being forced out.
Only Vitalianus’s eyes would have seen them.
“There is a way.”
It was the second misfortune to strike the Expeditionary Force.