Chapitre 51: 51: Horde
Note: I should clarify something upfront because I feel some might not like this; Grey will experience a significant boost in soul fragments.
And, although it may seem unbalanced compared to the effort Sunny and Nephis put in during the original arc of the novel, Grey needs to grow quickly.
Or, well, maybe not quickly, but let's just say I'd run out of ideas for enemies if I had to create tons of fights to achieve a slow growth, haha.
Just wanted to mention that, happy reading!
_____
The rounded walls of the tunnel resembled the insides of a massive serpentine beast, with openings that connected the main tunnel to others in uncertain directions.
Probably excavated by the worms, their enormous and repulsive bodies must have filled this dark space like a colony of giant ants, carving passages as they moved slowly and methodically.
Grey's footsteps echoed faintly through the tunnel, yet enough to heighten his tension as he imagined the sound might alert hidden enemies in the darkness. Though he could handle a dozen worms without much trouble, he knew that they and those shadowy, semi-human entities couldn't be the only inhabitants of these depths.
Such a vast and ancient space likely harbored unknown monsters, and though he hadn't encountered anything beyond his abilities, he wouldn't tempt fate more than necessary.
That's why he stayed close to one of the walls, his steps slow, seeking to minimize the echo as his eyes scanned every corner cautiously, and his spear rested on his right shoulder.
Each time he passed one of the tunnels carved into the walls, he peered inside, but even with his sharp vision, he couldn't make out the end. Those conduits seemed to plunge into an absolute darkness, a black maw that perhaps concealed a monster lurking in its depths.
If he couldn't make it back to the surface the same way he descended, Grey didn't want to consider the alternatives.
"It should be just a couple more hours of walking, but I lost my sense of time long ago. I don't remember if I've been here for hours, days, or weeks."
As he continued, a slight vibration caught his attention.
"What is…?"
His senses sharpened instantly, accompanied by a growing tension that forced him to stop in his tracks.
The tunnel was shaking.
The vibrations in the ground grew stronger, causing the hair on Grey's skin to stand up as he identified their source.
He turned his head toward the adjacent tunnel and gripped Odyssey with both hands, ready to fight or flee as necessary.
Then, a creature's piercing shriek echoed from the other side of the main tunnel, startling him for an instant and making him look in that direction.
What he saw made Odyssey tremble in his hand.
Dozens of creatures of various shapes and sizes were emerging from the tunnels in the opposite walls. Some were giant, twisted worms; others had humanoid shapes, some looked like animals, deformed insects, or even grotesque forms that defied logic, each more repulsive than the last.
"I have to run." It was the only clear thought in his mind as he grasped the danger.
But before he could react, something struck his side, throwing him forcefully into the center of the main tunnel.
Still shocked and dazed, he hadn't noticed the creature that had appeared behind him, closing its jaws instantly and ramming him with all its strength.
"Damn it!" he shouted before bringing Odyssey down, severing the creature's head with a precise cut. The spell echoed in his ears, announcing the enemy's death.
Now he found himself in the center of the tunnel, which shook more and more with the frantic activity of the monsters pouring out of the tunnels in the walls.
"Screw it all! I have to get out of here now."
Abandoning any attempt to remain hidden, Grey channeled energy into his body, and a bright light enveloped his senses, making the world around him clearer, slower, and every decision more precise.
With a quick movement, he got up, pushing the creature's corpse off him, and with a powerful thrust, began to run.
"I need to reach the entrance where I killed the worm as fast as possible."
His eyes were constantly scanning, capturing every movement around him as more creatures fell from the tunnels, all converging on him as if his light were a magnet in the darkness.
Like a beacon in the midst of the gloom, Grey's figure glowed, moving at high speed and leaving a trail of light, an unmistakable guide that the monsters pursued eagerly.
Soon, he realized he was about to be surrounded.
Despite his speed and strength, hundreds of creatures were emerging from every gap, advancing both behind him and from his flanks, and worse still, from the front.
They all headed straight for him, intent on devouring him.
"Faster… I need to be faster."
He felt his three soul cores activate at full strength, and his body was enhanced threefold with a radiant essence, boosting his speed to a terrifying level.
He felt incredibly strong, incredibly fast, and his mind was sharper than ever.
"Could it be due to my soul's enhancement? The Divine Glow… its purpose must be to empower me this way. No, it shouldn't be working like this. The divine flame didn't work this way, either."
"So, it's the Nephilim's blessing, right? He controlled elements similar to mine."
As he pondered these ideas, his focus shifted to the figures blocking his path, advancing toward him like a dark tide.
"Well, the answer will have to wait until I'm out of here."
Odyssey shone brightly behind him, casting a trail of light that followed the motion of his arm. Just as the enemies were about to reach him, he swung his spear in a swift arc, slicing through the awakened beasts that dared approach.
Good.
He jumped nimbly, leaping over the inert bodies and landing without losing speed, resuming his run.
Around him, other creatures lunged at him, only to be cut down a moment later by Odyssey, leaving a trail of corpses as he advanced without stopping. He seemed unfazed, yet deep inside, Grey felt the pressure mounting.
They just kept coming. This was getting too dangerous… he needed to hurry.
And he was right: the creatures didn't stop pouring from the holes in the walls, falling en masse, an unending flow. For every two beasts he cut down, three more took their place.
Seconds passed as Grey traversed large sections of the tunnel with each stride; his feet barely touched the ground before pushing off again, darting through the bodies he left in his wake.
Odyssey moved as an extension of him, spinning and slicing with precision, tearing apart anything that stood in his way. And behind him, the roar of monsters and the frantic pounding of their steps echoed like a constant threat.
However, there came a point when he started to feel slower. Not because his energy was depleting too quickly, but because the number of creatures appearing in front of him had multiplied enormously, blocking his path like a living wall.
Amid the chaos of piercing cries, growls, and roars, a tongue-click was heard.
"This is a bad idea…"
He sliced another creature in half with a single slash, then took a great leap while throwing Odyssey backward. With a precise motion, he aimed forward and hurled the spear with all his might.
Odyssey whistled through the air, leaving a brilliant trail of light in its wake, until it struck the chest of an abomination, creating a hole in its body. Taking advantage of the moment, Grey hit the ground running, dashing right through the freshly opened gap.
Odyssey was embedded several monsters ahead, and desummoning it to call it back would take too long. So he allowed the pure energy in his body to transform into a wilder, fiercer form, filled with endurance and power.
Claws grew from his fingers, and his ascended armor adapted to them. His body broadened slightly, and his eyes darkened, filled with a predatory gaze.
What followed was a whirlwind of strength: Grey tore apart every creature that approached, smashing skulls and rending bodies with a brutality that left a trail of monsters in his wake. He took constant hits and scratches, but his armor held, enduring the attacks without giving in.
Finally, he reached Odyssey, lifting the spear to deliver a thrust that made two creatures blocking his path explode, creating a space to keep moving forward. His body returned to its normal form, shining once more as he resumed his sprint.
Fortunately, he spotted a familiar landmark.
The tunnel's ceiling was broken, forming a large hole from which large clumps of earth and stones fell, crumbling to the sides.
"At last!" he shouted, as Odyssey sliced his enemies with renewed ferocity, driven by the hope of escape.
With one final push, Grey launched himself toward the walls near the hole and gave a powerful jump, ascending several meters above the creatures chasing him. But he knew he would eventually fall, so he thrust Odyssey into the wall's dirt to halt his descent.
Hanging from his spear, he dodged the attacks of the creatures that lurked below. His breathing was heavy, sweat ran down his face as he took deep breaths, his eyes tired but filled with determination.
"It's now or never."
Focusing for a moment, he returned to his beastly form. The ascended claws of his armor dug into the wall, allowing him to push upward.
"It worked!" he exclaimed, just before a creature emerged from the wall a few meters away, shaking his grip.
"Of course, it couldn't be that easy, could it? Damn it…"
Without wasting time catching his breath, he continued climbing, more claws extending from his nails to latch onto the wall as more creatures broke through the mud and stone, trying to reach him. His goal was clear: reach the top of the hole, exactly where he had entered with the fallen worm.
Once there, he would exit into the web-covered area where he had fought before. He knew the horde would stand no chance in the crimson labyrinth, where the invisible and deadly webs would slice the creatures to pieces.
Upon reaching that zone, he would leave the horde behind.
État de l’alimentation hebdomadaire
-- Classement
Power Stone 
-- Power
stone