We've been walking inside the hideout for a couple of minutes now, but up until now, all we've encountered so far are only people.

Hmm... I wonder where the beast areー

Thud Thud Thud

The earth shook slightly as a loud, heavy sound echoed throughout the earth, halting mine and Kurt-sama's movements.

Looks like the heavens have answered my question.

Thud Thud Gruaaakkkkkkk

They're here!

In front of us, there were three beasts that looked like a mix of a canine, feline, accipitrine, and bovine type beasts. If I were to describe them, "abomination" would be the right word.

-----------------------------------

【〔???〕】

【Species】???

【Sex】???

【Age】???

【Status】Unstable

【Mana Capacity】693 【Mana Quality】B

【Combat Power】1,067 【Threat Level】B

【Attribute】Null 【Magic Control】90%

【Physical Enhancement】96%

【Intelligence】36

【Description】

A manmade creature which is made for the sole purpose of serving the wishes of its creator.

-----------------------------------

They weren't gigantic, but they sure were big. Just by estimate, they should be almost 3 meters in height. If they were a bit bigger, they would have a hard time fitting in the maze.

So this is the goal of the Bellowing Specter. They're trying to create an army of high-ranking beast hybrids.

「What are these creatures?」Kurt

「Kurt-sama, be careful! They're all at least at B-rank.」Grey

「I understand.」Kurt

Gruaaakkkkk

Just as our conversation finished, one of the creatures struck the ground with its claws, leaving a crater behind and destroying a part of the hideout's walls.

These creatures are dangerous... If they're to be let loose, not only Alfrione, but they will become a threat to the whole world!

「Kurt-sama, I'll leave the one in the front to you, I'll take on the two behind it.」Grey

「But, Grey-donoー」Kurt

「Just trust me.」Grey

「Alright. I'll help you out once I'm done.」Kurt

「Sure.」Grey

After discussing a short plan with Kurt-sama, I dashed past the beast in the front and shortened the distance between me and those in the back.

Now that I get closer to them, they really are abominations. If I wasn't used to gore from killing monsters and beasts, I would have been puking by now.

Gruaaakkkk

Without stopping for a rest, the creatures barraged me with a multitude of attacks. Claws, hooves, tails, many parts of its body hit the ground and the walls.

Tsk! This is bad... If I don't stop their attacks, the mountain might collapse! I need to finish this in one blow!

Whilst my mana gathered in my fist, I equipped my gauntlets and thought of an attack that can kill those creatures without destroying the mountain.

Ah, that should fit the bill.

「《Phantom Caliber: Omega》!」Grey

When I thrusted my fist, a strong burst of wind raced towards my opponents. When they received my attack, the giant creatures suddenly stopped moving and fell to the ground with a loud thud.

《Phantom Caliber: Omega》, an advanced-level art which is the final upgraded version of the low-level art,《Phantom Caliber》. Unlike the latter, this art delivers a punch which doesn't target the physical body, but targets life force directly. The perfect art in a confined and hazardous place.

With that, my job should be done. Now, to help Kurt-samaー

「《Piercing Torrent》」Kurt

As I turned around, I saw the creature being hit by a barrage of high-speed attacks, creating a hole in multiple parts of its body. A few moments later, the creature fell to the ground and stopped moving.

Looks like my help is not needed.

「Grey-donoー」Kurt

Kurt-sama turned his head towards my direction, and tried to say something but stopped midway.

「Oh, it looks like you finished it without any problems.」Kurt

Kurt-sama said without asking any questions. As expected of a professional, he knows when and when not to meddle with things.

Now that I think about it, these creatures must have been sent after that alarm. And if my hunch is right, not only here, but they also sent them on the other entrances.

Luckily, these creatures are just barely at B-rank. They shouldn't be a problem in any of the pairs. But even though I know that, I still can't help but worry.

I just hope everyone's going to be fine.

【【Yuna's Perspective】】

「Yuna-chan, do you like sweets?」Vanessa

「U-Un...」Yuna

「How about tea?」Vanessa

「Un...」Yuna

「The how about...」Vanessa

After the fight at the entrance, Vanessa-sama and I navigated the hideout. On the way, we encountered a few people but we were able to deal with them quickly. During that time, Vanessa-sama kept asking me questions about things I like and other personal information.

Truthfully, I don't want to answer her questions, but I don't want to go against a noble. After all, it might cause me and Grey trouble in the future.

「Oh, right, Yuna-chan, I've been meaning to ask this since the discussion. What's your relationship with Grey-kun?」Vanessa

Out of nowhere, Vanessa-sama decided to ask me an embarrassing question. Although I don't want to answer her, I have a feeling that she won't let me off without hearing a sufficient answer.

「We're partners.」Yuna

「Really? That's all there is between you?」Vanessa

「Y-Yeah.」Yuna

「If you say so, then I won't be meddling too much into it. But, please tell me how you two met.」Vanessa

How we met, huh...

Somehow, after hearing that question, the memories of my painful past flashed to my mind. It reminded me of my parent's death and the destruction of my home village.

「Yuna-chan, are you okay? It's okay if you don't want to tell me.」Vanessa

Noticing me space out, Vanessa-sama asked me a question out of concern.

「Ah, it's not like I don't want to answer that question, it's just that it has something to do with my past. You see...」Yuna

While we walked ever so slowly, I told Vanessa-sama the events that happened before and during the time I met Grey. I told her about how my home village became a victim to one of the beast incidents, how I lost my friends, and how I lost my parents.

While I was telling Vanessa-sama those things, my heart was filled with sadness, but at the same time, my heart also felt much lighter. It must have been because I shared them with other people.

「Yuna-chaannn... sniff... don't worry... sniff... nee-chan will make sure to protect you... sniff... I pwomise...」Vanessa

Even though Vanessa-sama, no, Vanessa-neechan is like this, I'm still grateful to hear that she'll be there for me.

「Thank you, Vanessa-neechan.」Yuna

「Uu... Uu... Uwaaaa... Yuna-chaaaaan....」Vanessa

After a few minutes of crying, Vanessa-neesan finally sobered up, and we continued our way towards the main room in this maze-like hideout.

「Sorry for showing you that disgraceful sight.」Vanessa

「Ah, I don't really minー」Yuna

Thud

Hm?

「Did you hear that, Yuna-chan?」Vanessa

「Un...」Yuna

Thud Thud Gruaaakkkkkk

A loud screech accompanied the heavy thuds as the earth shook ever so slightly. A few moments later, the thuds stopped, and a group of nightmarish creatures appeared before us.

「Waaa... What horrid creatures. Yuna-chan, please create a wall and trap one of them. That way we can fight one each without getting bothered.」Vanessa

「Yes, Vanessa-neechan.」Yuna

As per Vanessa-neechan's instruction, I created a wall and trapped the creature in the right, leaving one creature for each of us.

「Good job, Yuna-chan! Now then, let's these creatures down!」Vanessa

Vanessa-neechan declared as she shortened the distance between her and the creature in the front.

Hmm... I should probably handle the one on the left.

Having decided on our targets, Vanessa-neesan and I acted immediately and confronted them. After holding both of my daggers in reverse grip, I jumped high up in the air, and attacked the creature's nape.

「《Swift Guillotine》!」Yuna

Without much resistance, the creature received the attack directly. But, the attack only left a big wound and did not kill the creature.

Anything below B-rank would have received fatal damage after being directly hit by that attack. What a tough body, but...

「《Dice》.」Yuna

Hundreds of dagger-like projections appeared out of thin air and sliced multiple parts of the creature's body, leaving only a bloody mess behind.

When I turned around, I saw Vanessa-neesan crippling her target, rendering it immobile. And...

「《Nova Flare》!」Vanessa

... a strong burst of flames charred the already crippled creature.

Gruaaakkkk

Just as Vanessa-neesan finished her opponent, the creature I trapped, broke out and screeched loudly. But before it could finish screeching, I created a large pillar of ice and pierced its neck.

Seeing that opportunity, Vanessa-neesan used the pillar of ice as a footing and ran towards the creature's head. The creature tried to bite her, but she dodged gracefully and landed on top of it's head, then...

「《Hell Flare》!」

... she plunged her sword on the creature's temple, and scorched the creature from the inside. After receiving that attack, the creature stopped moving and it's life was ceased.

「Phew... Now, where were we... Oh right, Yuna-cha～n!」Vanessa

Vanessa-neechan's carefreeness sure is scary.

【【Kris' Perspective】】

After beating up about a hundred and fifty men half to death, Aria reprimanded me for being too hot-headed.

「What were you thinking, losing your patience like that!? What if we were in the guild, would you be beating them up like this too? You should think more before... 」Aria

It has been about ten minutes since Aria started her lecture, and I still cannot see the end of this lecture.

God, please, help me.

Thud Thud Thud

As if answering my prayers, loud thuds reverberated throughout the earth, and three creatures, from who knows where, appeared before us.

God, thank you!!

「We'll continue this later, let's deal with this first.」Aria

Urk!!! Is there really no escape from this situation?!

「Don't look so down, I'm only reprimanding you for the sake of our future. I wouldn't want to have an overly possessive husband, after all...」Aria

Aria mumbled with a cute voice and a slightly flushed face.

Hmm... It's rare to see Aria embarrassed like this. After all, she always puts up a calm and cold front most of the time.

If I can see this side of her, then I wouldn't mind being lectured all the time.

「Haa... Now then, We'll do this like the usual, get ready.」Kris

「I knew it. You really look cooler when you're calm.」Aria

Hearing Aria's words, a smile bloomed into my face uncontrollably.

「Then... 《Sandstorm》!」Kris

At my signal, the both of us ran towards our targets as we used the《Sandstorm》as a smokescreen. And when the creatures were confused...

「《Tectonic Cemetery》!」Kris

In a span of hundreds of meters, multiple earthen spikes emerged from the ground and pierced our opponents. On top of that, it also limited their movements.

While the opponents were still confused as to what was happening, Aria took the chance to barrage the opponents with spells, while I created multiple earthen pillars to prevent the mountain from collapsing.

「《Gale Waltz》!《Gale Waltz》!《Gale Waltz》!《Gale Waltz》!」Aria

As me and Aria circled the creatures, they were pushed towards each other. Now, just a little bit more....

Gruaaakkkk

Now!

「《Pitfall》!」Kris

As the creatures collided with each other, I created a pitfall below them and made them fall inside it. The pitfall was deep, just enough to prevent those creatures from escaping.

Although pitfall is just a low-level spell, it can become lethal if used properly, like this!

「《Meteor Crash》!」Kris

With nowhere to run, the creatures have no other choice but to accept their inevitable death, being crushed by a gigantic boulder.

A few moments after I released the spell, silence filled the hideout, as if it was a graveyard.

Looks like they're finished.

【【Demiol's Perspective】】

「Boss, we await your order.」

In front of me was a gigantic machine, my greatest project yet, and the sole purpose of my existence. One more order, and my wishes will be fulfilled.

「Proceed with the process!」Demiol

「Yes, boss! Start the machine!... Increase the input!... Amplify the mana! Inject the serum!... Increase the heat!」

Huuruwaaaakkkkk Guaaakkkkk

「20%... 34%... 59%... 72%... 96%... 97%... 98%... 99%... 100%!」

As the process finished, the research room was filled with silence, when suddenly...

Kuruwaaaaakkkkkk

... a majestic yet terrifying creature came into life.

「It's alive... The project succeeded... Haha... Hahaha... Hahahaha!! At last, my greatest creation is born!!」Demiol

CHAPTER 22 END