Surprisingly, those that awakened from the eggs scattered by the clone were incredibly powerful, enough to be considered mid-low tier even among A-ranks.
To think of unleashing hundreds of such beings, the first clone definitely had a special aspect that set it apart from the others.
– “Kraaak! Wh-What are these?!”
– “These guys have beaks! Their piercing ability is no joke! Everyone, be careful!”
As the clones transformed into two-headed dragons and engaged with the beastmen, the ‘traces of the clones’ entangled, and the battle quickly descended into chaos.
Kwah-kwa-kwang!
“This can’t be allowed to pass!”
“Haha, a toothless tiger cub just flapping its gums!”
The first clone that had scattered the eggs jumped into close combat with Sang-gun, disappearing from my sight in the blink of an eye.
Now only three clones remained.
However, all three clones had long since transformed into massive lizards with two heads.
Kyaaaaooo───!!
The ground shook from their fearsome roar, and the lower-tier beastmen froze as their tails shot up in fear.
[Chain of Flame]
I attempted to bind them, but it was utterly ineffective.
Pachang──!
The three bound by the chains quickly broke free, but together with the supporters present, I struggled to keep their feet restrained.
With dozens of supporters pooling their strength, even those monstrous beings could be held in place for a few seconds.
‘We can’t let this happen. If it continues like this, we’re all going to die.’
I summoned ‘Jim’ to provoke the two-headed dragon clones, luring them away from the beastmen.
It was likely not enough to draw their full attention, so I also called the ‘Gori’ unit and the ‘traces’ into action.
“Ainz, Zweihander, Dry!!”
Clap, clap, clap!!
My lovely ‘traces’ had been consistently hunting orcs around the shelter lately, rising significantly in rank.
They had fully embraced the abilities of their chosen classes and evolved into quite capable warriors.
‘It’s a shame, but there’s no helping it. Just don’t die on me.’
They might not be at a level to take on those tremendous monsters, but now wasn’t the time to save them.
Just buying a few more seconds would be enough.
“Go help the beastmen. If you feel like you’re going to die, just retreat. You’ve done hit-and-run against orcs countless times already, right?”
Clap, clap, clap!!
Of course, this alone wouldn’t be enough.
The two resurrected clones of Jo Gi-man, now skeletons, had arrived.
“I have somewhere to be. You guys are our strongest combatants. I’m counting on you no matter what.”
[Yes, Master!]
[Understood.]
With Jo Gi-man’s clones joining the fray, our force became considerably solid.
The three two-headed dragons hesitated for a moment upon seeing the now-skeletal former brothers.
Seizing the opportunity, I quickly flew toward the area with trees.
Crackling─ Kwarurung!!
Suddenly, a brilliant flash appeared behind me.
The powerful attacks from clones 1 and 2 struck the two-headed dragons hard, seemingly delivering a significant shock.
Leaving that sensation behind, I moved at maximum speed toward the tree trunk.
There was a deep hidden space just below the tree.
A place detectable only by spreading senses dozens of kilometers below.
‘Being underground like this, it’s only natural that sensitive beastmen wouldn’t know.’
The existence buried beneath this tree wasn’t likely to be very kind.
‘But it must mean that something important is hidden away down here!’
[Earthbreaker]
Arriving at the tree trunk, I dug into the ground and went down.
Kwah-kwa-kwa—
‘Hurry, hurry.’
I felt urgency.
The lives of nearly two hundred beastmen depended on me.
Sending my hand infused with mana downward like freestyle swimming, I soon encountered—
– ‘You have encountered a small tree infused with the breath of the source!’
I entered a section that did not seem to be able to be excavated, and a message appeared.
‘… Is this a small tree? You’ve got to be kidding me?’
I cleared away the solid rocks and dirt and soon faced a massive door made of wood.
– Prove your worth to meet the owner of the small tree infused with the breath of the source, ‘Mura’.
‘What do you mean “worth” when I just got here?! No, this isn’t the time for that! Beastmen are dying!’
With a desperate heart, I pounded on the door as if to break it down.
But there was no reaction. This was bad.
Then, at that moment, a brownish something emerged from the void, radiating a dazzling light.
Even now, it stirs my emotions—an item obtained by defeating an incredibly powerful enemy, but left in the void.
‘This is… the necklace of the source?!’
It was loot I got for defeating the ‘First Escalon’.
[Necklace of the Source]
– A token for having defeated a hideous mutant of the ancient Ent race that had gone astray endlessly.
– It could be a clue to finding the ‘Leaf of the Source’.
– Magic Power +1,000
– Confirmed the mark of the source’s breath.
‘Ah, so this can be used here too. Is it because it’s also a tree type?’
After confirming the mark, the flow of mana changed.
[……… Hero… inside… ]
‘Huh?!’
I was startled by the mysterious voice directly transmitted to my mind and looked around. Could it be the voice of ‘Mura,’ the owner of this tree?
Srrr─
Soon, a ring-like formation appeared on the door, and I absentmindedly grasped it and pulled carefully.
Squeeeak──
The moment the door opened, an unknown force sucked in my spirit, and once I regained my senses, I found myself floating in a mysterious space filled with a green aura.
‘Wow… so beautiful.’
In a moment of losing my original purpose and dazedly looking around, a sprout emerged from the ground and soon took on a human form.
[……… Hero……]
They kept calling me a hero.
I wouldn’t mind if they mistook me for the Demon King, but this is ridiculous.
‘U-Um… I’m not a hero. But are you Mura?’
[… Mura… a nostalgic name from the past… I am a disciple of the great water goddess ‘Ryun’… My mission is to aid the cycle of nature… Chaos disturbs order… I am… I am…]
Perhaps having been trapped underground for so long, ‘Mura’ seemed to have unleashed her words after a long time without me even saying anything.
But what I needed was the ‘Precious Gem of Ryun.’
I had no choice but to interrupt her words.
“Excuse me! Sorry, but right now, the beastmen are in trouble! The avatar of the Evil God Seven-headed Dragon has invaded!”
[… Evil God…!! Those hateful beings… having disrupted the balance…]
Her form flickered back and forth, expressing her emotions.
She looked in a bad state.
The figure of ‘Mura,’ transformed into a human-like girl, seemed as unstable as jelly that might collapse at any moment.
“If I don’t ask you to take care of it directly, just lend me the Precious Gem of Ryun for just a moment. I need it to drive them away.”
But the vivid colors that made up ‘Mura’ suddenly darkened and shot sharp tendrils at me.
“Whoa! Wh-What are you doing all of a sudden?!”
Of course, I wouldn’t just take a hit from a flailing tree branch, but the unexpected attack surprised me.
[You are not a hero!… You came here to covet the gem!… But with the mark present? The necklace of the source is only given to those who faithfully tread the path of the king… Urgh… my head…]
She reached out her tendrils to me a few more times, but they remained childish play at best.
Perhaps unable to properly judge me, ‘Mura’ continued her confusion, and at that moment, a warm energy spread from behind, and an irresistible force guided me toward where ‘Mura’ was.
– The water goddess ‘Irmana’ gazes at the long-time disciple of ‘Ryun’!
[Ahhh… Irmana?! H-How… why have you come now…?! Ryun is no longer living…!]
With sorrow and despair in her voice, ‘Mura’ sniffled, and Irmana, seemingly at a loss, repeatedly placed her hands upon Mura’s head.
Of course, the fidgeting hands were mine, controlled by the will of Irmana.
As this went on dozens of times, I started to feel anxious.
‘Come on, hurry…’
Finally, to break this frustrating situation, I had to take extreme measures.
I pulled ‘Mura’ close and hugged her tightly.
[Ah…!]
– The water goddess ‘Irmana’ looks at you with wide eyes!
– The water goddess ‘Irmana’ carefully embraces the long-time disciple of ‘Ryun’.
Though a rough method was employed, thanks to that, the two divine beings cherished each other in a long-awaited reunion.
*
[This is it… Please handle it with care… If this breaks, Ryun may truly cease to exist…!]
Still with tears streaming down her face, ‘Mura’ handed me an orb she created from within her body.
‘This must be the Precious Gem of Ryun…’
When the goddess Irmana asked me to protect Ryun, it must have referred to this gem.
However, the situation had reached a point where it couldn’t just be protected, and I found myself having to utilize the power of this mystical treasure.
‘There’s a distinct yet contrasting energy compared to Irmana…’
‘Please be sure to protect the beastmen… They are the ancient race that played a crucial role in bringing the “Breath of the Source” here… I can no longer bear to see their descendants suffering…’
If you were worried about the beastmen, why didn’t you help sooner…
But I couldn’t voice that thought out loud.
‘Umm…’
As I held the gem close, I felt a profound awareness.
‘Even as a water goddess, Mura’s level is far lower than Irmana’s…’
Now I understood why the water attribute hunters had struggled so much.
If the deity connected to them was in such a state, even if she wanted to lend her power, she couldn’t.
Despite that, the orb, filled with the essence of Ryun, exuded a mysterious energy that far surpassed ordinary artifacts.
Goooo──
As I gazed into the orb, I felt as if I might lose my mind to its wondrous and divine energy.
‘It’s beautiful…’
Its beautiful light was one that would never grow tiresome no matter how long I looked at it…
Swoosh──!
‘Whoa, that’s cold! Wh-What’s this?!’
– The water goddess ‘Irmana’ says you must regain your senses!
Now that she spoke up, she was no longer holding back…
Feeling like I’d just had a bucket of cold water thrown on me, I found myself dazed for a moment but soon bolted out the door, cradling the orb.
Upon regaining consciousness, I found myself standing motionless before the wooden door.
In my arms, the precious orb lay snugly.
My body moved more swiftly than I expected.
It didn’t take long to climb up through the tunnel I had dug earlier.
‘The beastmen…’
As soon as I emerged outside, I was met with the sight of the three clones of Jo Gi-man transformed into two-headed dragons tearing into the beastmen mercilessly.
Sang-gun was still embroiled in a one-on-one with the first clone, and the only good news was that the beastmen I was in a party with, along with the ‘traces’, and Jo Gi-man’s clones 1 and 2 were safe.
In fact, they were not just safe; they were performing far beyond expectations.
Zzaaaang───!!
The sound of something bursting echoed through as I quickly grasped the situation on the battlefield.
The intangible barrier holding back Jo Gi-man shattered like glass.
“Ugh— these damn bastards are real!”
With a harsh curse, my nemesis appeared.
The moment he showed up, my connection with Irmana abruptly cut off.
It seemed he had barely held on until I came out, and now he had finally run out of strength.
He stood there, looking back over his shoulder at the situation as if I wasn’t even worthy of entering.
An arrogant demeanor, as if this wasn’t my time to step in.
‘Huh…’
Every time I encountered Jo Gi-man, I would often ask myself.
‘Can I win?’
The answer had always been despair.
But this time felt a bit different.
It seemed like a sliver of light flickered faintly in the distance. Why did it feel this way?
I was already gauging if I could not just drive him away but kill him.
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