Chapter 85: The Swarm, and the Ones Who Meet Them

We, having advanced by expanding the underground water vein passage with the boy’s magic, arrived at the edge of the subterranean lake. Since I was the creator of the Chimeras, I was forced to accompany them, but I truly hate places with water; my body feels like it’s rotting.

“Light Ball.”

As I cast multiple light spells to illuminate the surroundings, I could see water flowing in from not only the passage we had used but also from other places, like the lake’s ceiling and walls. It seemed the underground water flowing through this area gathered here in this subterranean lake.

“It’s quite spacious… and deep… Ah!” Foka, the woman called the Priest, let out a shriek as she looked around.

“What is it, Holy… what!?” The large man, Risou, I believe, who tried to question Foka, also cried out in surprise.

And no wonder, as the subterranean lake, illuminated by the magical light, was filled with a massive quantity of Chimeras. Their forms were long and slender, resembling snakes, yet they were also like dragons and fish. Most of all, I had a very distinct recollection of the appearance of these Chimeras.

“Are those all… Chimeras!?” Rodi, that frivolous man, involuntarily backed away. Well, it’s not surprising for anyone to be astonished to see an underground lake this vast packed with Chimeras swimming in it. Besides, it’s simply grotesque.

However, all these Chimeras look exactly the same. It doesn’t seem like multiple aquatic Chimeras have simply been washed in. In that case, the reason must be…

“Look! The bottom of the lake! It’s a mountain of monster bones!”

Looking below the Chimeras at someone’s cry, I noticed that the lake bed was entirely covered with bones. The water had high clarity, so the depth was hard to gauge, but since the bones covered a lake of this size, it was an enormous amount.

And naturally, with all this commotion, the Chimeras noticed us. The Chimeras simultaneously turned towards us and surged up to the water’s surface.

“Everyone, fall back! They’ll drag you in!”

As expected of someone accustomed to battle, Risou recovered from his confusion, retreated, drew the Chimeras out, and made the land the battlefield. A few Mages and Archers launched ranged attacks at the leading Chimeras. However, their attacks seemed to be blocked by the Chimeras’ scales, doing little damage. Well, if those Chimeras are what I suspect them to be, it’s only natural that they wouldn’t be defeated by such minor attacks.

“Impulse Spear!”

“Freeze Geyser!!”

About two types of attacks are proving effective, but it’s still clear that we are shorthanded. And then, the Chimeras began to land on the shore.

Their methods of movement varied—some ran skillfully on small limbs compared to their body size, while others writhed and crawled like snakes. However, what could be generally said about all of them was their speed. Watching them move in action is certainly informative.

In a flash, they closed the distance to the ones in front, and close-quarters combat began.

“Seiyaaah!”

“You bastard!”

Several warriors attacked the Chimeras, but their blunt weapons were not only unable to pierce the scales, but the weapons themselves were being chipped.

“Whoa!? My sword!”

“Damn it! I just bought a replacement!”

My condolences.

“Lord Ganei, we need support!” Risou called for my assistance. Well, I have no choice but to cooperate, as that boy over there is terrifying.

“It can’t be helped. Area Enchant Arms.”

I granted magical power to the weapons of the warriors around me. Then, the attacks of the warriors, which had been unable to harm the scales a moment ago, began to connect, slicing through the Chimeras, scales and all. Ah, what a waste.

“Hahaha! This is amazing!”

“Yeah, the Chimera is like butter!”

Well, it’s thanks to my magic.

“Give us support over here too!”

“Us too!”

“Don’t rush an old man so much.”

“Sei!”

And a few warriors were defeating the Chimeras with their own magic or the magic of their comrades, without my assistance. Risou and Rodi, the two warriors who fought the Chimeras created by that Demon, were managing to contend with the Chimeras on their own, though with support from their companions. Hmm, they’re not bad.

“Taa!”

Amidst this, one girl was fighting with ferocious intensity. She reinforced her body with Body Enhancement Magic, and using an application of Ice Magic, she moved at high speed, piercing multiple Chimeras with the spear in her hand. The pierced Chimeras froze from their wounds, turned into ice sculptures, and were split in two as she pulled the spear out.

Yes, that girl is one, no, three heads above the others in terms of skill.

“Mach Slasher!”

And then, one absurd boy was running on the surface of the lake, slicing through the underwater Chimeras with shockwaves of his slash.

“Wait a moment, what is that boy doing!?”

He’s not floating with magic. He is using Body Enhancement Magic, but he is running on the water’s surface! As proof, the water surface where he ran is being blown away by the impact. Moreover, when that boy slices the water, the lake’s water is clearly being cleaved in two for several tens of meters. The lake was split so wide that it felt like the subterranean lake water was trying to escape his attack, and the bones on the lakebed were violently launched upwards, raining bones down upon the subterranean lake.

“Sir Rex! Don’t be so excessive with your moves!”

“Ah, sorry, Liliera!”

The boy on the lake apologized to the girl fighting the Chimeras. Yes, give him an earful!

Thanks to the diligence of the earnest, normal warriors and the efforts of one absurd boy, the battle with the Chimeras reached a stalemate with us having a slight advantage. However, the number of Chimeras is high. Even with an advantage, we are still being overwhelmed by sheer numbers.

“O God, a blessing of healing upon the wounded.”

Foka and the other Priests treated the wounded, having them fall back. The injured warriors could return to the front line thanks to the healing, but the number of wounded was gradually increasing. Furthermore, due to the loss of blood from the injuries, the movements of the warriors who received repeated treatments were worsening.

“This is bad.” We will be overwhelmed by their sheer numbers at this rate.

“We’ll be overrun if we stay here! Fall back to the passage we came from to reduce the enemy’s attack surface!”

Perhaps thinking the same thing, Risou gave the order. The passage we came through is not wide. Although the boy’s magic widened the hole, it’s still much better than being surrounded in this large cavern containing the subterranean lake.

The warriors immediately retreated backward, heading back into the passage. The Chimeras pursued us from both land and water to prevent our escape. Hmm, being surrounded is troublesome, but being attacked from the waterway in this narrow passage is also tricky.

“Clay Craft!”

A Mage immediately filled the surrounding waterway with Earth Magic. It won’t last long against the force of the underground water flowing from upstream, but the temporary foothold made it easier for the warriors to fight. The Mages now are quite capable too.

“By the way, Sir Rex is still fighting on the lake! Is he going to be okay!?”

Noticing Foka’s words and looking at the subterranean lake, the boy was indeed still fighting on the lake’s surface. Did he fail to join us due to the large number of Chimeras?

“Don’t worry about Sir Rex! He’s much stronger on his own!”

The warrior girl said something terrible, but since it felt somewhat true, I decided to keep quiet. Looking at Risou and the others, they also seemed to want to say something, but perhaps thinking the same thing, they swallowed their words. It’s difficult to tell if they are heartless or if they simply trust him.

“In any case, we can’t go to support him like this. First, focus on the enemies right in front of us!”

“Ooh!”

The warriors responded to Risou’s pragmatic statement with renewed vigor. They were initially intimidated by the Chimeras packed in the subterranean lake, but perhaps they had steadied their nerves once the battle started, as their fighting after regrouping was quite impressive.

“Hmph!” A warrior attacked a Chimera, and a shield-bearer protected him from a Chimera’s attack aimed at the opening created by the downward swing.

“Sorry, you saved me!”

“Yeah, you owe me one!”

And a Mage attacked the Chimera from behind while a warrior acted as bait to distract it.

“Over here, you Chimera bastard!”

“Rock Bite!”

With the battlefield narrowing, those who couldn’t be on the front line waited in the back to catch their breath or recover their stamina. Mages whose mana ran out swapped with those waiting and drank Mana Potions to ensure the magical support didn’t stop. By being unable to fight all at once, they gained the luxury of rest and recovery. I am not a warrior fighting on the front line, but this skillful cooperation is truly remarkable.

The number of Chimeras is still high, but can we endure it like this?

“Aqua Burn!!”

The boy fighting over there is reducing the number of Chimeras through what is essentially a pincer attack, so I guess we might manage somehow.

“However, the problem is what comes next…”

Just then, as if to confirm my concern, a large column of water surged up in the center of the subterranean lake. The rising pillar of water reached nearly to the ceiling of the subterranean lake.

“W-what is that!?”

Not just us, but the Chimeras also stared towards the center of the lake, and the battle momentarily stopped.

“So you were alive after all.” I spoke to the entity that emerged from the rising water pillar.

“W-what is that massive thing…” The warriors’ voices trembled in surprise.

“Is that the Chimera’s… parent?”

“That is correct.” I affirmed the warrior’s words.

Perhaps reacting to my voice, the entity that had emerged from its throne in the subterranean lake turned its gaze towards me. It seems to recognize me, its creator.

And how large it has grown. Its appearance is truly majestic, fit to be called a King.

“That is my greatest masterpiece, the ultimate Chimera created by pouring in the best materials and all my knowledge and experience to house the fragment of the White Calamity.”

“And its name is…”

“Busterrrrrrr Slashhhhhhhh!!”

It was cleaved in two.

“At least let me call out the name!”