Collapse, Showdown, the Spell for Crossing Worlds – Part 05

After the Starwhite Wedge unleashed an attack that exceeded its limit, the top of the tower supporting the barrel collapsed from the recoil. Debris and stones rained down on Granryuk and the others below, but that was all. It was nothing short of a miracle that they didn’t suffer worse.

The last words Granryuk heard from the Grand Elder echoed in his mind.

“This will secure our victory.”

Now, that same Grand Elder lay collapsed before him. And it wasn’t just him; every Man Gnome in the square had fallen, without exception.

The Starwhite Wedge must have drained too much soul energy when it unleashed that powerful strike. Granryuk, too, was overwhelmed by exhaustion, barely able to stand. He felt like he was clinging to consciousness by a thread, teetering on the edge of blackout.

Some might have even died. After all, the elders themselves were nearly 300 years old. But Granryuk had more pressing matters to attend to than helping them.

“Yoshino!”

Yoshino, who had been with him since they left the village, was nowhere in sight. Knowing her, Granryuk guessed she might have gone up the tower. Though its top had been blown off, Yoshino and the others should be in the middle levels. Was she safe? There should have been a report after the Starwhite Wedge was fired, confirming whether it hit its target, but the tower remained silent. Wobbling, Granryuk headed toward the back of the tower.

“Where’s the Seventh Elder anyway?”

The Seventh Elder was not among the fallen elders. He was definitely there earlier, but now he was gone. Why?

“And why am I still standing?”

Every other Man Gnome was down, none of them still standing. He was sure it wasn’t because he was well-built; even other members of Distant Girdle were down like the rest.

He didn’t know. But right now, checking on Yoshino was more important.

“Someone, anyone!”

As he staggered up the stairs, he heard a voice from above.

“Yoshino!” he called out as he climbed, his legs straining.

Then he saw Yoshino coming down, steadying herself against the wall.

“Are you all right?!”

She was nearly collapsing, so Granryuk offered his shoulder, and together they made their way down the stairs.

“I’m not all right,” Yoshino said. “My head’s spinning. The director and the others have all collapsed, and they’re not moving. They’re not dead, but it’s like they’re in a deep sleep.”

“It’s the same down below. Everyone’s out cold. The Starwhite Wedge must have drained even our souls to fire.”

“It seems so.”

“Why are we still standing?”

“Maybe they did a test run while we were confined. Since our souls weren’t drained during the test, we managed to stay conscious.”

“Idiots. What’s the point in taking down the Saak family if all the Man Gnomes are dead?”

“You can say that again.”

“By the way, what happened to the Great Labyrinth?! Silver Face is still there, isn’t he?!”

Just then, the ground beneath them trembled, and dust trickled down from the stone ceiling.

“What’s happening?” Granryuk muttered.

“The Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas must have crashed or made an emergency landing. The Starwhite Wedge hit its mark.”

“It did? That’s incredible!”

“But it’s strange.” Yoshino’s face darkened. “The labyrinth is still consuming mana. It’s still active. I don’t know if Soaarunay Saak, Silver Face, and the others inside are safe, though.”

“They’re fine. They have to be. This is Silver Face we’re talking about.”

“I hope so too.”

They made it to the bottom of the stairs and stepped outside the tower. The small tremors continued. Nearby, countless Man Gnomes lay sprawled on the ground. Yoshino swallowed hard.

The Starwhite Wedge might have stopped the labyrinth, but it was still active. Was this a victory? If it wasn’t, what would become of their sacrifice? Would the Man Gnomes recover?

“Yoshino, I’m heading outside.”

“What?”

“We need to check on the labyrinth.”

“I-It’s too dangerous!”

“If Silver Face and the others are still alive, they’ll need our help. Plus, I’ve got an important job for you if you’re up for it. The ones who collapsed are still alive. The Man Gnomes who aren’t here should be back in their homes. Some might still be able to move. I need you to work with them to help the village. And if things get worse, be ready to use the Black Wedge Gate to escape.”

“B-But what about you, then?”

“I’ll be fine. Members of Distant Girdle get through tough situations, even solo. I’m counting on you.”

“Rikido!”

Granryuk dashed off, leaving Yoshino behind.

The village had several secret passageways that led outside the mountain for emergency evacuations.

“Granryuk!” Yoshino called.

He looked over his shoulder.

“Come back safe!”

He almost smiled. As a Distant Girdle, he had carried out countless dangerous missions before. There were times when the orders seemed unreasonable, and others when he was frustrated by the elders’ vague instructions.

But this was the first time he had received an order so reckless, so difficult, and yet, so heartwarming.

“Got it.”

His body felt cold, likely from the loss of soul energy, but Granryuk could feel warmth slowly returning.

---

Serika was unleashing a flurry of spells. Fiery arrows shot down the monstrous birds in the sky.

“Damn it, they just keep coming!”

“Serika! If you don’t conserve your mana, you’ll run out of steam later!” Sara warned.

“I know that! But with them coming at us nonstop, I have no choice but to fight back.”

“Look out!”

A monstrous bird swooped down at incredible speed, aiming to slash Serika with its sharp claws.

“Hyaaah!”

A red flash sliced through the bird’s wing, throwing it off balance and sending it skidding across the ground.

“Selyse!”

“Phew.”

The red sword, much like the Blue Flash that Marius once wielded, was extremely sharp. However, once the mana in the embedded magic stone was depleted, it would become nothing more than an ordinary iron sword. And the glow of the magic stone was already fading.

“We need to move now, quickly. What about the adventurers?” Selyse asked.

“They went ahead with Sophie and Paula,” Sara replied.

The adventurers who survived the flying island’s crash were now facing a new threat—monsters escaping the damaged labyrinth. Unsure whether to flee or return to the labyrinth, they were ambushed by the monsters.

The Four Eastern Stars had arrived just in time. Though some adventurers were seriously injured, Sophie and Paula’s healing magic fixed them, and they were now heading toward the mountains ahead, where the Man Gnome village was supposed to be.

“Are they safe?” Selyse asked.

“They should be! If there’s any problem…” Serika glanced at the sky. “It’s those things!”

Winged monsters were circling above, right over Selyse and the girls. It was as if they were signaling, “The enemy is here.”

A horde of massive monsters could be spotted advancing from the labyrinth even from a distance. The thin layer of snow made them stand out even more clearly.

“Is the Man Gnomes’ home really up ahead?” Selyse wondered.

“That’s what Silver Face said,” Sara answered.

The village was less than three kilometers away. The labyrinth had traveled a significant distance before crashing. It must have moved several kilometers while scraping the ground. Monsters circling in the sky were likely looking at the damage left by the Great Labyrinth of Runay-aas.

“Then we have to stop them from going any further,” Selyse said.

“Are you serious?!” Serika exclaimed. “There are only three of us!”

“I think it’s best for us to retreat as well,” Sara suggested.

“I get what you’re trying to say. But the closer we get to the mountains, the greater the risk of the village being discovered.”

There was no place for an emergency evacuation here. And it was clear that three people couldn’t fend off such a large number of monsters.

“Selyse… you knew this would happen, didn’t you?” Serika said.

Selyse responded with a nod. Though she had told Silver Face she would guide the evacuation, her real intention was to act as a defensive barrier against the monsters.

The monsters’ tracking and predatory skills were remarkable. She had been prepared for a tough fight from the start.

“I’ll be fine.” But Selyse remained confident.

“Do you have some secret plan?” Sara asked. “Ah, I see. You’re planning to have Sophie bring elite Man Gnome fighters!”

“No.”

“Then do you have some secret item that can conceal yourself?”

“That’s not it either.”

“What? Then what is it?”

“Silver Face is still in the labyrinth.”

“Yes, and then?”

“That’s all.”

“What?”

“He’ll manage somehow.”

She was completely serious.

“Wait… huh?”

“Sara! Secure an escape route while we fight! Selyse has lost it!”

“I’m being serious.”

“See? She’s gone nuts!”

Both Serika and Sara thought relying on Silver Face, who was far off in the labyrinth, was outrageous.

“Incoming!”

The first to charge were giant horses galloping across the snowfield. The towering monsters thundered forward, clearly agitated.