Shadowed Gaze: The Highserk War Saga - Chapter 119

Walm, who had been diligently slaying monsters with his halberd, noticed a clear change in his combat style starting from the 20th floor. The walls were scorched by flames born of magic, and the remnants of destruction littered the floor. The halberd, an extension of his arm, was now pushed into a magic bag that had nearly reached its capacity. Previously, the monsters would have been butchered, scattering flesh and blood across the labyrinth like a slaughterhouse.

But now, it was all rock and sand. This was to be expected since the monsters Walm was fighting no longer had flesh and blood. They were golems, artificial monsters created by humans, often used as shields on battlefields. These golems, with their magic stone cores, served various purposes: moving shields, wedges to disrupt enemy lines, and more.

“I’m a bit too old for playing in the sand,” Walm muttered.

The design of the golems Walm faced in the labyrinth was straightforward. They were heavily armored on the front and arms, while the back was left unprotected. In an open field, one might circle around them or exploit their weaknesses. But in the confined space of the labyrinth, these specialized golems had the advantage.

Three golems advancing side by side in the corridor formed a moving wall. Though Walm’s Strong Strike could sever their sturdy arms, a half-hearted attack would provoke a painful counterattack. These golems, despite their size, were surprisingly nimble. Walm, not keen on being bludgeoned by the barbed spikes on their arms or ground down, recognized retreat as a potential strategy. However, after being nearly sandwiched between two walls of golems once before, he wasn’t eager to adopt that approach again. Having delved over twenty floors, he realized it was time to use magic.

Walm hurled a fireball at the advancing golems. The fireball struck the central golem, unleashing its contained magic. Flames danced through the narrow corridor, but for Walm, who was highly attuned to fire magic, it felt no different from a gentle summer breeze.

The golem struck directly lost its head, and without its magic stone core, it began to collapse like a building losing its support beams. Walm hoped the explosion would affect the remaining golems, but that was wishful thinking. Though singed and still burning in places, they continued to function.

The golems, crossing their arms to protect their heads, continued to close in on Walm. Abandoning the idea of destroying their heads through their thick arms, Walm targeted their legs. He sent another fireball at the joints. The fireball struck the back of one golem’s heel, engulfing it in flames. The golem, leaning forward, tried to catch itself on the wall with its clawed fingers, but its leg was no longer functional. Without support, it staggered.

Humans might protect a fallen comrade, but these golems, driven by simple commands, did not. The golem charged Walm recklessly, and Walm readied his mace, feeling its reassuring weight.

Not inclined to match strength with such a heavy foe, Walm sidestepped the golem’s attack, avoiding its barbed spikes and clawed fingers. He struck at its extended, exposed arm, smashing its elbow with a Strong Strike. The golem flailed its damaged arm, which broke off and flew to the ceiling.

Walm struck the golem’s knee from the side, causing it to fall. The remaining golem, its head still burning, charged at Walm. He quickly climbed onto its back and drove his mace into its head, twisting it until the golem ceased moving and crumbled back into earth.

Walm began to descend the sandy mound that had formed, using his mace like a trekking pole. He noticed something catching its edge.

“What’s this?”

Prodding the sand, he uncovered a silvery object, a bracelet adorned with a deep crimson grass motif. It seemed too delicate for a man but might fetch some money at a pawnshop.

“Perhaps it could be a suitable offering,” Walm mused, stowing it in his magic bag. With no time to linger, he prepared for the next challenge. Gargoyle dogs and mud golems awaited him.

Walm found himself hoping for similar rewards from the upcoming battles. Alone in his musings, he readied his mace to face the new arrivals.

◆

The air in the room was cold, with a stillness unique to enclosed spaces. In a dimly lit chamber, Gizel, a ruler of the underworld, received a report from his subordinate.

“Combining all the information on the target, he has no fixed place to sleep, constantly moving between cheap inns, and mostly resides in the labyrinth. He doesn’t eat at any regular places or frequent taverns or brothels.”

Gizel tapped his fingers on the desk. His network of spies was extensive, including those unaware they were sources of information. From cheap sources like brothels and taverns to shops and even some guild members. Yet they failed to track a single wanderer’s actions.

“In other words, he’s always in the labyrinth, wandering aimlessly on the surface,” Gizel said with a hint of disdain.

The subordinate hastily tried to explain, “Apologies. It’s difficult to maintain surveillance when he stays in the labyrinth.”

Though Gizel could easily kick the subordinate, he acknowledged the truth. The labyrinth did not favor human gatherings, and sending spies deep within it was fraught with peril.

“How far has he delved?”

“To the 25th floor, alone.”

“Damn… He must be highly unsociable and stubborn to operate solo. He must be quite cautious if he’s living in the labyrinth. Identifying his behavior patterns is difficult. Attacking him in the red-light district, inns, or poisoning him in a tavern seems unlikely.”

Gizel knew that no matter how strong, people were vulnerable when fulfilling basic needs. He had taken down many targets this way. However, his target now was different, likely an ex-Highserk soldier.

“Why would he venture into the labyrinth alone? Either he’s extremely antisocial or inflexible. He’s not interested in women or alcohol. He’s disciplined but reckless. Is he seeking death?”

Gizel pondered, considering the possibility of a noble or disgraced knight seeking a final resting place in the labyrinth.

“He seems like a seeker of truth or a nihilist. Whatever the case, his actions are influenced by the fall of his homeland. Attacking such a person impulsively would be a mistake. Use my people.”

“Are you sure, old man?”

“For the most part, the gathering of specimens is complete. We have some free time now. Besides, skilled bodies are scarce and valuable in these circumstances. Though the labyrinth dwellers, be they elves or golems, are somewhat useless, they are difficult opponents.”

The collection of materials served both as revenge and assistance, but the balance between the two was delicate. The old man, who raised Gizel, was also devoted to seeking revenge. His depth of determination far surpassed Gizel’s, though. Gizel, unconcerned with the method of revenge, ordered his subordinate to relay the information. The target needed to die in any way possible. Once the heart stopped and decay set in, the duty to his foolish brother would be fulfilled.

Translator – Lyxxna