Chapter 74: Wicked Puzzles
This is getting out of hands!" said Haru as he struggled against the flying creatures that were getting more and more annoying.
The sea beasts or Mist bests in this case's attacks got more and more ferocious the deeper we go and the farther we move. The shark-like creatures were, in fact, the simplest and easiest to deal with.
They were big so attacking them from range was not a problem, with Nemu flying about he would rip them to shreds, though huge they still were still relatively smaller than him.
They didn't have a huge health pool so a few hits and chomps from Nemu's enormous jaws would rip them apart.
I used soul spells to destroy them before they could get closer, and we were like a bombarding warrior ship that would destroy any enemy that got closer.
However, our problems only got more and more serious as the sizes of the monsters became smaller.
Crabs with hundreds of legs and flying fish with sword-like beaks would jump now and then.
Unlike normal fish, they didn't suffocate once outside the mist, and they all had members like legs that would aid them in moving once aboard the wooden vessel, they were problematic as using heavy assault spells would destroy the ship's hull
However, regretfully once they were destroyed their body would dissipate into the mist leaving no trace behind them, without that, we didn't have the ability to use their bodies as vessels to summon undead. So I was left with no choice but to call upon my minions to come forth and help in the matter.
However using all 60 000 of them is impossible due to the limited space in the ship's hull, so I summoned the strongest of them, and mainly those that had long-range attacks.
Other than that I called upon some ferocious beasts that would be able to destroy those that got onboard.
The only problem is now that the hull became cramped and the vessel slowed down due to the increased weight.
"Just hold on, and stop whining hard!" said Misaka as she summoned hundreds of blood spears that flew everywhere.
"Gungnir!" she summoned a gigantic spear of blood was formed.
"Slay them all!" she called and the spear rotated in a frivolous manner as it moved forward like a lightning bolt that began piercing anything that encountered, resulting in a one shot to all smaller monsters it passed through.
"You grew strong," I said praising the girl, she then gave me a nod and continued on focusing on her long-range attacks.
"Oh these guys are getting more and more annoying," said Shara as she ascended to the skies, without the help of wings or anything.
"Blessings of the father" she called and a gigantic wave of energy washed over the ship, destroying almost a third of the flying monsters in the process.
"Hey! Your blessings are double-edged you are dealing damage to my minions!" I shouted as I saw most of my summons of hell wincing from the pain.
"I can't help it, it is the only AoE spell I have," she said in a playful tone.
Sigh.
Haruka seemed a bit dejected at the conversation and relished in the fight as she brandished her weapon.
"Akashi-No Mai!" (Dance of the Akashi) she called upon and as if she was possessed a mask of a tengu soon appeared on her face.
With her skin turning red and her posture changing from relaxed to one filled with great impatience and strength, she moved like a bolt, shredding the beasts that climbed on board and destroying them with a single sword strick.
"Well, it was a good choice to take you all along," I said
"They are not the same useless baggage that we parted with the last two years, they grew much stronger, they are now accepted as companions." Said Vndir as he floated about.
He held his scepter forward and called upon his unwholesome power.
"Defile!" two gigantic branches grew from within the ship's sides and began growing enormous veins and thorns that would impale everything that came across.
The ship became heavier but the damage to the monsters was awe inspiring.
They couldn't approach and if they did only death awaits, the hails from arrows spears of blood and spells from the minions will keep them at bay, even if they managed to approach they will find a huge barrier of Thrones, on the off chance they manage to somehow dodge that they will be split apart by Haruka's sword and my swirling chains that made it clear that none shall stand forward.
"You re the only useless one here Haru," I said.
"Ah! Like hell! ABSOLUTE ZERO!" he summoned and amazingly a territorial skill was activated.
A storm raged above the ship but this storm was only harmful to our enemies while it boosted our allies.
An ally has activated the territorial skill
Absolute zero
Stamina and health regeneration increased by 100%
Enemies suffer from permanent frost damage and slow
-1500Hp (ice damage)/second
-25% movement speed to all enemies.
"Hoo; you managed to learn the skill? When did you do that? Even after defeating the ice Pheonix I wondered why I didn't get the ability" I asked
"I needed to clear some conditions and a certain quest;" said Haru
"Vey well, all help is appreciated," I said
The monsters grew slower and the range attacks became easier to land now nothing seemed to be able to disturb us.
"The trip should be easier now I said as I looked forward to when we will reach the gate."
"It seems that this ferry has carried more than it was intended to do Herald," said the mysterious man with coin eyes as he appeared once again out of nowhere.
"Would that be a problem?" I asked fearing that he will force me to give them up or pay their transportation fee which I clearly don't have enough, I don't really need to anger the one leading us to their destination, it is his shop, or actually, it is the ship… I don't really know
"No worries, they are a part of a summoning skill so they are not accounted for, and you don't need to worry about the ship slowing down, we do not cross distances but we are crossing time itself, you only need to survive for three days which you have already spent two and a half a day from them"
"That fast? I asked it felt like just a few hours though" I said
"Didn't I say we are crossing time, now you must be very careful, a beast of a stronger ability will soon emerge, you should know that the fewer the ones on the ferry are the fewer chances for you to encounter such a beast, but now that your magic signals are all over the place it is heading here instead of waiting for us. Be careful" said the man with a smirk as he vanished without sight.
"Daiki! A strong presence is approaching!" said Vendir the moment the man disappeared.
Ah, no rest for the wicked ay!
Soon a shadow of great monster appeared, I didn't even need to inspect it knowing it would just show an unknown entity like everything else did.
However, this shadow was in fact of something… with several heads
"A hydra?" said Vendir " it is strange to see something like this here what a strange place." He said as he looked forward
Several great yellow pupils were shining In the dark mist, their size looked like stars in the dark however Nemu soon roared out
"A mere serpent dares show itself in front of me!" and shot an enormous ray of black and soul magic toward them.
The beast seemed a bit perplexed at the presence of Nemu as it tried to shoot away its own magic spell, however before it could coagulate its power it was destroyed by Nemu's ray as it disintegrated several of its heads in the process then flew forward ripping the rest with his maw and fangs.
The thing didn't even have the chance to do anything before it wailed as it died on the spot.
"Well, that was rather anticlimactic… said the man as he appeared once again"
It seems this man appears everytime an even happens…
"Well, it is pointless to make this any longer. He said as a new screen showed up"
You have successfully managed to finish the Labrinth of the river Styx.
Xp+ 10 000 000
Level up!
Oh!
The mist disappeared and the ship seemed to be now floating in the sea.
"There is no need for you to prove your worth, you are all indeed worthy fo crossing the gates." Said the man
"However before that, you must answer my question"
Oh, so it seems the ferry is the guardian of the door to heaven…
Everyone on the ship then subsided and returned to their passive forms, no longer anxious about the fight that ended but is rather interested in the question of this old man.
"What would be your question?" I asked
"Four hang, four sprang, two points the way, two to ward off dogs, one dangles after, always rather dirty. What am I?" he said with a smirk on his face.
"Huh? That's it?" said Vendir "I was awaiting something of extreme difficulty but this? Are you mocking our intelligence?" he said enraged.
"You seem to be rather certain of your answer, I assure you many failed to come up with it and most of them didn't live to tell the tale"
"It's a fucking cow!" he said
"Huh! How did you know?!" said the man with the smirk on his face disappeared "Now wait that was just testing you, indeed that is not my real riddle! Wait I have another one!" he said
What a sad thing…
Amazingly I didn't know the answer but it seems that Vendir is truly a wise man…
"I think I understand." Said Misaka, then we all turned towards her
"This man is rather vicious, he must take great enjoyment in seeing the people who managed to cross the river suffer from their intellect being challenged, as they will be forced to think of an answer to a seemingly unreasonable riddle after having fought for their lives, he must enjoy seeing them turn hopeless but it seems that he is out of luck today"
"Indeed," said Vendir "However no matter what he throws at me I am willing, so speak old man whatever your question is I have the answer"
The man pondered for a bit then said
"Yes, I got one! There is a house one enters it blind, and comes out seeing!"
The first thing I thought about would be a hospital but before I could speak Vendir said
"That is a school" and a smirk was painted on his face
The man got angrier and before any of us could say anything he said
"you have died and are in limbo. There are two doors. One door leads to heaven and the other door leads to hell. There are two guardians, one by each door. One guardian always tells the truth and the other guardian always lies. What one question can you ask a guardian to find out which door leads to heaven?
"If I asked the other guardian which door leads to heaven, what would he tell me?" said Vendir.
"Now you should probably stop with this," I said before their competition grows out of hands.
"Admit your loss old ferry, there is no way you will win in a competition of wits…"
"Sigh… very well you win… let me open the door for you." Said the man.
And with a wave of his hand, a vortex opened and a huge golden gate showed up.
Vendir couldn't help but paint a smirk on his face he said.
"Now our journey comes to an end. Oh, by the way, I could give you a riddle that you can entertain yourself with." He said as he looked at the man.
"What is the end of everything?' Enjoy yourself trying to solve this he said
I couldn't even begin to fathom the answer but I didn't want to show my ignorance so I just moved forward towards the door.
The man on the ship was struck dumbfounded unable to find the answer as he pondered about it.
The gates opened and I was the first to walk the grand and enormous land, behind me everyone followed and vendir was at my right smirking mischievously.
You have entered the high grounds of the upper realm dungeon
Dungeon class (Legendary)
You are currently in the first circle of heaven.
Circle of forgiveness.
Oh, this is rather nostalgic…
"Hey, vendir I said as I walked on the open lands that were actually clouds.
"shouldn't the answer to your riddle be Death?" I asked
"No, it is not that simple, death is never the end, and you are proof of that Herald."
"Then what is? I asked"
"It is rather simple, that man will overthink it and would never achieve a satisfying answer, it is payment for him underestimating me. The answer is the Letter G. let him break his head trying to figure that out" said Vendir as he laughed and walked forward.
…
This guy is clearly a nutjob… I thought to myself as I pitied the man still thinking of an otherworldly answer to a simple question like that…
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