Episode 79
“hasn’t returned yet?”
“yes.”
The man narrowed his eyes at the words of Peterson, who had arrived in the mail. Spread out in front of him was a large conference table and a tactical map of the plateau outside the fort.
Mikhail Sinister. The sword of Adelecia von Walcroft, the commander-in-chief of Aldeon Fortress and the undisputed emperor.
However, even for him, the unreturn of reconnaissance group 6 was difficult to understand, and the fact that the person in charge of reconnaissance group 6 was Giorno Di Yekachev could not help but frown even more.
It was also because Giorno was a man who boasted outstanding skills among the Night Crows, and was a man who always crossed the line of fire while taking on numerous reconnaissance missions.
“Strange. The twin moon day hasn’t even come yet. Besides, less than four days have passed since we recruited adventurers from the other world to the fortress.”
“According to the returned reconnaissance groups 7 and 8, we haven’t seen any special trends of monsters yet…” “It
can’t be helped because the search routes are different. Because the 6th reconnaissance group has not returned, we cannot neglect the eastern and forward reconnaissance mission. It’s not like there aren’t any surplus Night Crows available to attach additional troops to.”
“Some of the Pioneer Team members have been reorganized by turning them into Scout Teams. Reconnaissance Team 9 was dispatched 10 minutes ago, but has not returned yet.”
“It’s not enough time just to reach the 8th camp. Whether it’s authentic or not, no matter what happened. Was there any reinforcement signal from the 8th camp?”
“yes. As you know, the mana vortex phenomenon is severe, so no special magic signal has been detected.”
At Peterson’s words, Mikhail tapped the table with his index finger. His gaze was fixed on one side of the tactical map spread out in front of him.
Based on the Aldeon Fortress, the search route of the 8th camp, which corresponds to the southeast of Berthas Plateau, on the tactical map.
The front of the fortress, which spreads out in a fan shape toward the west of the continent, was a search route that might seem the most dangerous in some ways, but since a certain section was open, it wasn’t too far fetched than I thought.
It was because there were not only many camps operating in Aldeon Fortress, but also Mikhail had concentrated troops, including Night Crows.
In addition, the front, which slopes downward from the Aldeon Fortress, has an open area, making it easy to cope with attacks, so it is self-evident that the reconnaissance team’s survival rate is high.
However, the southeastern part of the plateau, where Giorno had been tasked with reconnaissance, was connected by a leyline to the Gais Mountains, the roof of the continent.
Because the mountains are steep and the topography is curved.
It was a difficult place for even most Night Crows to control their crew and carry out their mission.
Even if Giorno returned alive every time, it was a search that made people wonder if the lifeline was long.
However, the fact that Giorno’s reconnaissance team 6 is not making a comeback with the twin moon day just around the corner.
Beyond the fact that the superior military force called the Silk Shadow Sword might have died, there was not a small indication…
“How are the preparations for the defense battle for the day of the twin moon going?”
“It was about 85 percent ready. Except for supply management and anti-air magic circle supplementation, there is no big problem in fighting right away.”
“Do you think it is possible that the cycle of the twin lunar days is pulled earlier?”
“I don’t think it’s impossible… but it’s never been like that before. There was nothing unusual in the reports of the rest of the personnel except for the 6th reconnaissance team.”
“okay. yes. I was too sensitive.”
As Peterson said, Mikhail stood up. Under the thick tarpaulin of the barracks, the cold chill of the highlands began to creep in as if entangling his body.
It could have been a leap, but the reason why he asked Peterson for his opinion, considering even the orbital period of the twin moons as a variable.
That meant that Giorno’s non-return served as an excuse to alarm them, and at the same time, something was happening outside that they didn’t know about.
It would not be an exaggeration to say that Mikhail had the immediate battle in mind as well.
“I don’t feel good.”
Before long, Mikhail’s gaze turned to the tactical map on the table.
* * *
“Oh… crazy…”
Nowon Dandy Nam couldn’t keep his mouth shut as he watched the shadow cast in front of him. It wasn’t just him, but other people too.
Even though the contrast was only the faint moonlight of the twin moons pouring over the plateau, something huge enough to cover even that with complete darkness.
“Buy and buy…”
Ujijijik!
However, before he had time to flag something huge, Nowon Dandy Nam could vividly see a person hanging in the air being pulled from both sides and being torn apart.
< Lucky Day >.
It was the last member of the 6th reconnaissance group that guarded the right trench with Amoebaking.
“Ah …. Ah ah ….”
As a terrible sight unfolded, the face of Nowon Dandy Nam was tired.
Nothing came to mind.
The only thing that remains in my head is the sense of incongruity, discomfort and disgust at the fact that the human body, like Lucky Day’s gruesome death, is pouring out its shapeless appendages on the floor.
And behind such a nowon dandy man, Seon Hye-eun is also clenching her fists with her eyes wide open.
Chocozoa, who was sitting on the floor and vomited, was not much different from their sentiment.
“Ooh ooh—!”
Fear.
A dreadful, unbearable terror filled the air of the crowd.
“That’s… what the hell…”
Crump! Dduduk! Fall out! Kwajik!
Damian narrowed his brows as an eerie rupture broke the stillness in the darkness.
Lucky Day’s body, which had been cut in two, was wriggling.
At first, the corpse, which was thought to belong to the same human being, was twisted and bent, and in the end it gradually became smaller, and the body lost its shape to the point of wondering if it was a lucky day.
“Grrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrrr.
Dduduk!
And the moment Damian narrowed his eyes at Lucky Day’s corpse, Lucky Day’s body was torn in half and hid without a shape.
No, it didn’t disappear right in front of my eyes—.
‘ate.’
Dietary meat.
Just like a hungry snake hurriedly devouring its prey, the presence in front of it swallowed Lucky Day’s body at once.
“Run away.”
“…Chief Giorno?”
As Lucky Day’s body disappeared in an instant, Giorno dropped his sword forward.
It was a look he hadn’t seen since he joined Reconnaissance Team 6.
A low tone of voice, like that of a dying person, and drooping shoulders, like a crow’s wings hanging down on the ground.
However, Damian felt as if the air around Giorno was vibrating thinly as a tingling speculation rose that was unbelievable for a person who had given up on life.
“Kiki kiki kiki kik—!”
Even though the existence in front of his eyes seemed to be invisible to Giorno’s fighting spirit.
“good. Go to the fort and report the current situation. Vice-captain Peterson would listen. As soon as you go, tell them to prepare for the battle for the Twin Moon Day.”
Giorno’s broadsword gradually turned black as the monster in front of him teared at the corners of his mouth and let out a grotesque voice.
It was a characteristic that can be seen in Yekachev-style German swordsmanship.
Giorno’s Broadsword, which gradually assimilates into darkness and becomes like a shadow, the more mana is raised and condensed into the sword.
“I think it’s too late to run away, Captain Giorno.”
“…what?”
However, instead of following Giorno’s words, Damian pointed his index finger at the monster wriggling in front of him.
“I don’t think we’ll be able to return to the fortress safely even if we leave him with the captain.”
– Kya…ah…ah…ah…ah…!
It was because the familiar roars of monsters echoed faintly through the valleys of the plateau.
“Its level is equal to or higher than that of the leader… Besides, if the apex predator in the area is showing interest in it, the rest of them must be hiding everywhere, looking for opportunities. like a hyena You can also launch an ambush while the leader, the biggest force, fights to the death. Crucially, we do not know of any other route back to the fort.”
When Giorno looked away, Damian gestured towards the other side of the fort.
It was literally.
Even though Giorno is a monster slayer who has reached level 99, there is no guarantee that he will be able to defeat him even if he does his best.
Moreover, since the opponent was an unknown monster whose physical characteristics and abilities were unknown, it was absurd to leave Giorno and head for the fortress.
No, it could have been an opponent that was impossible to escape in the first place.
[Ragged Predator]
A monster that looks like a combination of numerous monsters. No one knows where or how they originated. A monster whose existence alone is regarded as a subject of study by many alchemists.
Their abilities are as varied as their appearance, and the dominant opinion is that they are artificially created creatures, so even among the same kind of tattered predators, the differences are extreme. However, considering that they also only appear on the Berthas Plateau, there is an opinion that it may be related to the mana vortex phenomenon, which is a topographical feature of the plateau.
It usually has the characteristic of tearing apart humans and monsters with overwhelming force, and sometimes has the same characteristic as magical immunity. Having many characteristics and almost no weaknesses, the ragged predator is not lacking in being called the top predator of the highlands.
Race: Devil
Type: Champion
Level: 95~???
Special note: Be very careful as this monster’s type and level characteristics and abilities are determined by the type of creature that makes up its body.
The identity of this monster right in front of you is the top predator of Berthas Plateau, and an existence that reigns as an object of fear to both humans and monsters.
It was because even Damian was an out-of-standard existence enough to escape regardless of the odds.
‘Moreover, if it’s a champion monster… it’s a guy who can never be vigilant.’
flash!
And the moment Damian raises his mana to fully prepare for his attack while raising his eyes towards < Ragged Predator >.
“As expected, I hope you won’t disappoint me.”
“…?”
match! match! match! match! match!
Suddenly, dry applause broke the silence in the darkness, and strange figures began to appear behind the tattered predator.
“You…”
“It’s been a while? Bastard bastard.”
Liang Chaoming.
They were the adventurers of Aldeon Fortress who were wearing the same < Night Chaser > set.
