Chapter 88 : Chapter 88

Chapter 88 - Finding a Clue (2)

The journey to the northern part of the Empire was more tedious than any trip they had taken so far.

Since they were heading into the formation of the already occupied Hellmorphs, teleportation was naturally impossible, and since it was filled with contaminated mana, riding horses was also impossible.

“We’re only at the entrance, yet it’s already difficult to recover mana.”

Gerard said, rubbing his mouth with mana.

The air was tinged with a pungent and murky scent.

“The concentration of contaminated mana is already at a level similar to what we experienced in the county. How much denser will it get when we go inside?”

“……Perhaps it will reach a point where just protecting the respiratory system won't be enough.”

Artier said.

In <Cross Destiny>, if you got near an old Hellmorph nest, low-level players would take continuous damage that was difficult to endure.

If humans had an advantage in their own territory, the same was true for the Hellmorphs.

“I can see membranes over there.”

Soon, the two warriors at the front discovered the membranes spread across the plain.

“It’s a kind of farm, I see.”

“Is this entire vast plain covered in membranes?”

“Disgusting. It’s dirty and foul.”

“Ugh, I’m losing my appetite.”

As everyone uttered their impressions one by one, Artier immediately gave an order.

“The membranes provide vision to the Hellmorphs, so let’s eliminate them all at once and for good!”

Pow!

Jeina and the mercenary with the mace took the lead and began to clear away the membranes in front of them.

“Leader, how about we try to purify them with holy magic?”

Reinard suggested with a slight bow of his head.

“We can check the results with less effort.”

“I don't think so.”

Gerard was the first to shake his head.

As Reinard looked at Gerard, a small golden crown was floating above his head.

[Gerard is using Tactical Command (Lv.4).]

“The fact that they can receive vision through the membranes means they are organically connected. It is right to minimize the opportunities for them to learn about holy magic.”

“Holy magic is the power and will of this star. As long as we stand on this star, it is not a power they can prepare for just by knowing about it.”

“There are individuals among the Hellmorphs who use magic. They might figure out the principles or incantations of holy magic.”

“Technology is only meaningful when used. According to your logic, Sir Gerard, we should not use any skills in front of them, should we?”

“Both of you, stop.”

‘Both of them have a point…….’

Gerard and Reinard were fidgeting with their lips as if they would continue the debate right away.

It seemed neither would back down until Artier made a decision.

“Even with the sacred relic, the continuous use of holy magic puts a strain on the body. Let's refrain for now.”

At Artier’s words, Reinard closed his eyes and silently agreed.

Neither was wrong. It was just that Artier’s decision was so.

Soon, as they entered the forest, the mood of the party began to worsen.

“These bastards……. What did they do to the forest?”

Anger could be felt in Tersion’s voice.

The trees in the forest were mutated into strange forms with flesh sticking to them. From the barely sprouted leaves, a poisonous gas was visibly spewing out.

“This is……”

“Infected trees, right?”

It was a simple name, but it explained everything. All the trees in the distant mountain range were infected in this way.

“Everyone be careful, you know. Just a little inhalation will paralyze the whole body and melt the muscles.”

At Collie’s words, the warrior-type mercenaries tensed up and concentrated mana around their mouths.

They were only at the entrance, yet the Hellmorphs' territory was already fraught with danger.

“It doesn’t seem like a good idea to pass through this area all at once.”

Gerard said.

“Protecting the respiratory system with mana also requires a small amount of concentration. If we continue to move, no one knows what might happen to whom.”

When they had used this method in the county, the time they stayed in the contaminated area was not that long. But now, they had to stay here for at least a few days.

Being human, they were bound to sleep and make mistakes.

They couldn't stay on this thin ice forever.

“We need to find a place that is not affected by the contaminated mana and gas.”

“A place like that……”

Artier racked his brain.

He was sure he had seen a place where he could temporarily avoid the penalty of the poisonous gas during his game days.

“Let’s move to the underground waterway.”

The experience gained through multiple playthroughs brought the underground waterway to mind.

“Given the situation, I don't know if the water will be safe.”

“That's why it's safe near the water.”

Artier said in a confident voice.

“Because water has the property of absorbing mana.”

“I see. Since it also absorbs the contaminated mana, the surrounding air will be relatively less contaminated.”

Soon, they were able to find the water source used in Jestion’s viscounty.

Naturally, the condition of the water was not normal either. The color was murky, and what were presumed to be rotting chunks of flesh were floating around.

“Ugh…… no matter how thirsty I get, I don’t think I can drink this.”

Even Jeina, who had a relatively strong stomach, was appalled.

‘This should be good.’

Artier took a bowl from his inventory and filled it with that water.

“Let’s conduct a purification experiment here.”

Water is the most basic necessity for survival.

Now that even the use of water creation magic had to be done carefully, securing a water source was a crucial matter that would determine the progress of the expedition.

“Anyone want to try purifying this bowl of water?”

“Alright. I'll do it.”

Gerard opened his grimoire and extended his hand towards the bowl of water.

With a light hand gesture, he clenched and then opened his fist, and a Holy Light appeared above Gerard's shoulder.

Flash!

Soon, two streams of light shot out from the Holy Light and wrapped around Gerard.

Gerard extended his hand towards the bowl of water and said.

“Grand Purification.”

[Gerard uses a skill.]

Holy Magic: Grand Purification (Lv.1): Dispels all existing states and returns them to their basic state.

Crackle!

Something black and sticky shot up into the air from the bowl of water and the river, then turned into smoke and disappeared.

“Is it done?”

“……Yes. The holy magic has been activated.”

At Jeina’s question, Gerard closed his grimoire and stood up.

He let out a few short breaths as if he was frustrated and ran a hand through his hair.

“The water's condition has returned to normal.”

Tersion also nodded.

However, her expression was not good.

“Though it was just for a moment.”

“Why was it just for a moment?”

“The water is flowing. We’re downstream right now, right? The water from upstream has re-contaminated the clean water.”

Artier lifted the bowl of water.

The rotten smell was no longer felt from the water in the bowl.

Staring at it blankly, Artier immediately brought the bowl to his lips.

“Ma-master?!”

Gulp, gulp.

The cool water flowed down his throat.

Far from a murky taste, it was like drinking ordinary mineral water.

“At this rate, securing a water source shouldn’t be too difficult.”

Artier said, tossing the bowl of water into his inventory.

“Good grief……. Would it kill you to say something?”

“You’re going to give me a heart attack, brother!”

At Collie’s grumbling, Artier chuckled and started walking.

‘By the way, I only asked him to try purifying the bowl of water……. Could it be that the caster can't control the range of holy magic as they please?’

It didn't seem likely that Gerard wouldn't know this was the downstream.

Nor did it seem likely that he would have tried to purify the entire river.

‘If that was the extent of the range even with minimal power control…… the divine power consumption must be considerable.’

Holy magic, which I thought was an all-purpose tool, also had its drawbacks. Artier firmly engraved that fact in his mind.

And soon after, another problem arose.

Thump, thump, thump, thump.

“It seems they’re coming.”

“I was wondering when they would.”

As they walked along the water, they drew their weapons at the sound of footsteps coming from all directions.

As Artier also drew his sword, they popped out from all sides and quickly surrounded them.

“Please give us your orders.”

At Reinard’s voice, Artier, who was about to tear them apart, quickly came to his senses. The warriors, who seemed ready to charge out without hesitation, were flinching as they watched Artier.

[NPCs are waiting for a command.]

‘I see.’

This was a phenomenon that occurred when forming a party with NPCs with low affinity.

Unlike the existing party members who knew Artier well, the NPCs who did not yet know the personality of the commander named Artier did not act voluntarily or use skills.

They had to have their actions directly assigned by Artier.

“Everyone, deploy Holy Light!”

Flash!

As soon as Artier’s words ended, ten brilliant lights appeared in the air.

[Holy Light is being applied.]

Current 10 stacks: All stats increased by 21%.

“Alright. Let’s annihilate them!”

“That’s what I was waiting to hear!”

Jeina cackled and charged, and soon the sound of clashing weapons echoed ceaselessly by the river.

Boom!

The tide of battle was clearly in their overwhelming favor.

The buff displayed in the information window was only 21%, but the weapons and magic imbued with divine power were so fatal to them that the Hellmorphs screamed and staggered every time they were hit.

‘They’re strong.’

Artier, who was swinging his sword with satisfaction, turned his head at a feeling of emptiness.

Unlike Tersion, who was diligently shooting arrows, the archer called Rain and Reinard were just staring at them without attacking at all.

“What are you doing right now?”

When Artier fell back and asked, their answer was spectacular.

“What skill should I use?”

“What?”

“In the formation you created, there is a risk of friendly fire.”

The class of the archer in Reinard’s party was Hunter.

He hadn’t realized it because he was always used to Tersion’s insane accuracy, but archers were originally a class whose usable skills were extremely limited when allies were engaged with the enemy.

It was the same for Reinard.

His flame magic all had an area-of-effect, so at this point, with allies engaged with the enemy, there were no skills he could use.

‘I completely forgot.’

There had been no such problem until now.

Tersion was a sharpshooter who could accurately hit even a speck of a target in the first place, and Collie and Gerard didn’t have any significant area-of-effect skills.

No, perhaps they hadn’t learned such skills because Artier had always insisted on this kind of formation.

‘My mistake.’

In the end, the two of them did not play a significant role until the end of the battle.

“I will consider it as having saved mana.”

Reinard said so, but the chilly atmosphere was unavoidable.

‘I feel like I want to re-read the strategy guide I wrote…….’

I wanted to cry.

Really.

“Next time, I’ll plan the formation with area-of-effect skills in mind.”

“I would be grateful if you would do so.”

“I can see the entrance to the waterway over there!”

Soon, they were able to find the entrance to the waterway, hidden by moss and tree vines.

“Was it this place? The place where the Hellmorph assassin was waiting.”

At Gerard’s small mumble, Jeina turned her head without a word.

They were now using the passage that had once led their comrades to their deaths.

“The opening and closing device is still the same. We can open it right away just by infusing it with mana.”

“Good. Reinard, open the gate.”

“I understand.”

At Artier’s words, Reinard immediately placed his hand on the handle-like device.

With a heavy sound, the entrance to the waterway gradually began to open.

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