The Abyss Lord's combat power, Berzak, was actually less than Riakis's on the third floor, but the difficulty was several times greater. This was because the Mist of the Abyss was a trap. It sealed active abilities and various usage effects, caused a three-quarters reduction in mana efficiency, and rank 5 abyssal monsters appeared throughout the raid as trash mobs and interfered. Due to these terrible conditions, it was difficult to even try to catch this guy unless it was in the second half of the game.
There were too many things to prepare as a base for the raid: high-ranking numbered items that did not grant usage effects, but normal effects, advanced tanks that could withstand the type, damage dealers that could use an aura or fight at an equivalent level, as many priests as possible and several sorcerers who were powerful even with reduced effectiveness. It was recommended that all participants have equipment of at least rank 5 or higher, and even then, if some special consumables were not prepared, the damage increased.
But, even with all this prepared, the seventh day was considered a failure. Thereafter, regardless of the phase, additional patterns were unlocked. Simply put, with our current state, we would never be able to catch this guy.
«So we have ended up entering the eye of the monster. I'll be there soon».
However, we could take long enough. I looked at the time while waiting for Kyle to join me. It was the fifth day, seven in the afternoon. After fiercely clearing the path, we confirmed the eastern portal, and now there were only two hours left to reach the Goblin Forest. It was a valuable result achieved thanks to the sacrifices of the warriors, but it would be a lie to say that we did not have a little luck on our side.
«Yandel, are you okay?»
«Why not be well? I knew we'd have to find him at least once».
Rather, it was more of a coincidence that we met him now. Instead, the expedition team that chose a different direction than ours would likely be experiencing great suffering.
How many more would have died in vain? My head suddenly froze, but I didn't feel sorry. We were in the same situation. We promised to be each other's bait. On the other hand, if we had met this guy sooner, the other teams would have cleared the way more easily.
«I've made you wait». After about five minutes, Kyle arrived with the troops needed for Plan B: six rank 5 mages, three knights, and three warriors.
Quickly confirming the troops, I couldn't hide my question. «Why are they all these?» The number of wizards was the same but the other numbers were extremely cut. What could be the reason?
«Everyone else is dead».
Yeah, they weren't just hanging around the back. We were missing six people. So who should fill that vacancy?
«Oh, your companions offered to follow you, but I stopped them. You will hear some resentment later.»
Resentment, huh? But there aren't six yet. Oh, maybe the fairy sisters offered to follow, too.
«...Thank you.» After thanking Kyle, I looked at the warriors around me and forced myself to speak happily. «As everyone has heard, we are missing six people. I'm sorry to say this while you all look worse, but is there anyone who wants to join?».
Before he could finish speaking, someone responded. «I will go. I will follow you». The rank 5 warrior Alexandro Bell was associated with a large clan, but was abandoned here for being pushed down the ranks.
«I was getting bored of cheating, it works for me!» Karak, Tion's third son, was a barbarian in his thirties who worked as a warrior in a clan of ten people. At first I was surprised to see a compatriot who had rank 4.
«You better keep your promise to buy drinks when we're away!». Milton Teterud was the head of a clan made up entirely of dwarves. Instead of their clan exploring together, they apparently lent themselves to affiliated teams as mercenaries. It was a clan closer to a guild.
I should have said thank you here, but for some reason I was speechless. To be honest, I didn't expect this to happen. The situation was different from before. Now there were only two hours left to reach the portal. Although this hope could be extinguished the moment despair struck, hope was still hope. The fact that these people had paved the way while treating their own lives as insignificant did not mean that their desire for survival was less. Since we had suffered so much damage fighting garbage mafias alone, I didn't think anyone would volunteer to bait the mafia boss.
«Oh? If I follow you, does that mean I can join the drinking party?»
«I'm interested in something else. If I get over it this time and follow you, I think I will achieve a supreme achievement that I will be able to boast about at drinking parties for the rest of my life.»
«¡Behell-aaaaaaaaaaa!»
«Take me with you. I was curious to know what that Berzak is like, or whatever his name is».
Numerous explorers spoke and volunteered. Because they believed in the plan Kyle and I had hatched? Or because their brains secreted endorphins when they were enveloped in this heated atmosphere? Well, I was sure that was a reason too. Still, one thing was certain.
«You all... have a problem with your heads».
It was not a choice that could be made with a sane mind. But did my words sound strange to you? A moment of silence passed.
Some accepted it. «...They are not wrong. When this is told outside, everyone will probably say that about us».
Some laughed as if it were absurd. «But does that really come out of your mouth?».
There was nothing in particular I could say. I only did it because it had to be done.
I guess the same thing happens to these guys.
My heart fluttered hot as if something was really wrong in my head. I needed to cool it down. I selected six of the numerous volunteers. There was only one criterion: Who would create the best synergy? As these were comrades that he had been fighting incessantly all day, there was no problem in the selection. I already knew broadly their fighting styles.
When the decision was made, Teterud, the leader of the Dwarf Clan, protested. «You! Why are you leaving me?! Are you afraid that I will delay you?»
«No way».
«Then why? I won't let you go until you tell me why».
Gosh, this little man's stubbornness. It seemed like Kyle was almost done with the magic circle, so I briefly explained the situation to him. «I need someone to lead this group even without me».
Teterud was a rank 4 scout. He was skilled and led a clan, so he knew how to handle people. If I had to leave the front line to someone, this guy was the right person. In fact, every time I passed out, I heard this guy exercise his leadership.
«...Tsk.» Although dissatisfied, he seemed convinced and no longer bothered me.
«Yandel, everything is ready. It's time for me to come too».
Uf, ya veo.
As soon as I heard Kyle say that the magic circle was complete, I fired them. «You guys leave now. This explorer that Kyle has brought will show you the way. I heard it's pretty sturdy, but make sure you keep it alive».
«You talk like you're some kind of father. Alright, we're leaving. See you later. It's a promise. Okay?»
«Sounds like you're the father to me.»
«I have a son in the city. Now, let's go!»
Walking closer to the wall so as not to block their path, Teterud continued stepping on the traps from the front and the warriors followed him. Everyone left a word in passing.
«Don't die».
«Hmm, strangely, I don't think you're going to die. See you later».
Most were words of encouragement and support. Those comments continued for a while, even after the group of warriors passed by. Some gave thanks, and others uttered words of apology, not once or twice, but over and over again.
«Why does everyone do that?»
Kyle laughed at my question. «That's because your message stone was on the entire time. Everyone already knows the situation in advance».
That's how it was.
«Bjorn…»
As the procession continued, members of Team Apple Narak also appeared. Seeing my condition, Missha looked like she was going to burst into tears. Raven and Mr. Bear also had complicated expressions.
«Leave that and go now. The people behind can't pass if you're blocking the way».
«I swear to you... that if you come back hurt I will kill you».
Hmm, telling a tank not to get hurt? Wasn't that already a death sentence? I kept those thoughts to myself.
Well, it was scared.
So what if they scolded me a little? All this was to recover daily life.
«These are you. »
«Yeah, don't worry. Even without you there, I'll be sure to protect our team. Now, Miss Ainar. Let's go.»
«¡Ugh, o-okay!
Raven then mounted Ainar, who insisted on following me, and left. Even after that the procession continued. They looked like refugees fleeing through a tunnel in the middle of a war.
Uf.
There were burning torches, moans of wounded people behind the backs of their companions, broken equipment, blood stains, sustained sadness in their eyes and beads of sweat dripping as they continued with limping steps. I didn't have to ask Kyle what had happened. Since a lot had happened to me too, I knew this day was especially long for them.
«Okay, so, everyone's gone».
Including Group one, in which I was in front, Groups two and three, who followed us with the marks in the hallways, all passed by us. It didn't take long. That was because they were running at galloping speed. Our numbers had also decreased considerably from the beginning.
«It's gotten creepy somehow».
Once everyone left, the surroundings became very dark. Was it because the swinging torches illuminated the surroundings as the procession passed? Suddenly, I felt a clear contrast. It seemed like we were the only ones left in an isolated world.
Anyway, it should be here by now...
I raised my shield and looked beyond the passage. «Is here».
Visibility: two meters. Beyond, in the darkness of the labyrinth, hundreds of eyes watched us.
The Lord of the Abyss, Berzak, was here.
If there was something that worried me most when making the plan, it was undoubtedly Berzak. No matter how much he thought about it, it was impossible to escape this bastard with hundreds of people. It was safe to say that it was annihilation from the moment of the encounter.
Well, if we dispersed and ran, the aggro would bounce and more people could survive, but what could we do while we were dispersed? It was clear that we wouldn't even be able to penetrate the garbage mobs and reach the portal, much less fight on the second floor.
«Can you use the magic circle right now?».
And so we made a plan B, but with our resources, this strategy could only be used once.
«I've confirmed the magic circle several times, so don't worry.»
If Plan B failed, everyone would die. Even if we succeeded, if we encountered the Abyss Watcher once again, we would not be able to evade annihilation. This was also one of the reasons to assume that the maximum number of portal checks would be two. In that period of time, many expedition teams would have disappeared. Even if we managed to pass the first one, I judged that the chance of meeting Berzak would be too high.
«Prepare for battle».
The moment the eyes revealed themselves in the darkness, everyone took out their weapons and prepared to fight. They knew from hearing Kyle's explanation what these eyes meant.
These disembodied eyes were an effect that occurred around Berzak. For reference, the radius in the game was about 2 kilometers. Still, it wasn't just wallpaper. All of these eyes shared vision with the bastard. In other words, Berzak was already watching us.
«As you all know, our goal is to hold on as long as possible, until the other explorers flee out of their line of sight». Kyle also seemed nervous, and repeated the explanation he had given several times.
«Do they take us for fools? We remember everything. You also said that if your predictions were correct, we only had to hold out for ten minutes.»
«I see. I'm sorry. But I will say one more thing. I forgot to mention it before... but no matter what happens, protect Yandel».
«¿Hm? ¿Yandel
«Aren't you going to ask why?»
«Everyone knows it, even if you don't say it. This guy has to survive so the rest of us can come back». Everyone nodded to the warrior's words.
«I was going to say that if Yandel kills the Abyss Watcher and dies, he could target the main team...». Kyle laughed, embarrassed, and kept his words to himself. «Well, it doesn't matter. It seems like it won't matter, even if I say so».
«Hahaha! Yes, whatever the reason, the result has to be the same, right?».
«Indeed, you are right, but in this aspect it seems that magicians and warriors are no different».
The light conversation made the rigid atmosphere a little friendlier. Unfortunately, it didn't last long.
¡Wiiiip!
A shadow shot out sharp as a punch.
¡Bang!
The moment I blocked it with my shield, I felt a pain on the back of my hand. It wasn't deep, it just scratched the skin.
Ugh, I've never met a guy as unsuspecting as this, so I can't even do the math on the deal.
To think that a moonstone shield would be pierced with a normal attack. Was it because I wasn't in Gigantization?
Seeing my shield pierced, the warriors' faces hardened. Kyle murmured as if to inspire morale: «Hold on for ten minutes».
It already felt so far away. Still, for some reason, that made me laugh.
«Why are you laughing?»
«Warriors laugh when they are tired».
I looked forward. A shadow shone in the darkness. The Lord of the Abyss, Berzak, was a boss that could only be attempted in the second part, a monster of monsters that would only end up crushing us with our current level. But so what?
«¡Behell-ahhhhhhh!»
Still, this guy was nothing more than an obstacle, one that after an exceptionally long day like today would allow us to face tomorrow.