The Chronicles of a Lost Man in His Forties Founding a Nation ~Commonsense is Hindering Me From Becoming TUEE~ Chapter 22

Chapter 22: 10 Second Interval

 

Right now, we’re behind the last corner in the pa.s.sage that leads to the dome. 

We haven’t left the alternate plane, but it’s impossible to settle down in a place where the [nest] is still in line of sight, so we retreated a bit. 

“In order to use [Meteor], I need to be in that dome.” (Gio)

[Meteor] should still be useable in a dungeon. But with that said, if I cast it from within the pa.s.sage here, chances are it’s going to hit a wall and explode before reaching the intended target. 

“So, we’ll go down into the dome, come out of the alternate plane, then you’ll use your wizardry?” (Sedam)

“Exactly. For the 10 seconds I’ll need to do the chanting, I leave my protection to all of you.” (Gio)

“Won’t such a large explosion in that s.p.a.ce also blow us apart?” (Claura)

Despite being able to come in and out of the alternate plane as much as we want, the transfer would take another 10 seconds. So what Claura pointed out is indeed very appropriate. 

“I’ll use a special spell for that. It is……” (Gio)

♥♦♣♠

Several minutes later. 

“GuRUaaah!”

“GaaAAh!”

Large, reddish-brown forms are emerging from the pa.s.sage and charging into the cavern. They are ogres that I’d made with [Create Ogre Platoon]. I had the same spell charged twice, so there are 12 of them in total. 

“GuRUaah!”

The ogres rush down the stone steps, then spread out to attack the [nest], the freshly sp.a.w.ned rock demon, and the other anki. 

When I made them, I’d already used [Wall of Iron] to block off the back of the pa.s.sage, thus eliminating the worry of the other anki joining as reinforcements. 

Of course, I don’t actually expect the ogres to destroy the [nest]. I’m sorry, but they're just the distraction. 

The rock demon’s reaction to the surprise attack is very dull. The ogres’ weapons sink again and again into its rock-colored skin. But despite that, it seems that the ogres can’t seem to deal a fatal blow. There are some of them that are already being flung off by the rock demon’s swinging arms. 

The anki in the vicinity of the [nest] are apparently different species from normal small demons. Some of them have reverse-jointed legs that give them jumping power similar to springs, which they are using to slash at the ogres. When I take a better look, I notice that their arms have also been altered into sharp sickle-shaped blades. True to their appearance, they are apparently called ‘sickle demons.’

The sickle demons’ attack power is quite a sight to behold. Although not to the point of one-hit-one-kill, fresh ogre blood is spurting out and splas.h.i.+ng everywhere. 

“GuRUuu!”

Furthermore, arrows of fire suddenly appear next to some anki that had remained immobile near the [nest] and fly into the ogres. 

“GuAh!?”

These fire arrows are much more powerful than Jyagul’s ice arrow had been. They pierce through the breastplates of several ogres and light them up like a torch. 

“Those are magic demons. 10 years ago, we confirmed only 1 of them.” (Gunnah)

Vice-Commander Gunnah quickly gives us a short explanation. They are taller than small demons, and each holds a staff. I see, so there are also magician-type anki. Which means there are most likely knight-type and cleric-type ones too. 

If things continue as they are, then it’ll only be a matter of time before all 12 ogres are wiped out. 

But contrary to how things seem to be going…… 

“GyaRUuuuuu!”

Reinforcements are at hand! The large red bulk with folded wings lying in wait inside the pa.s.sage where we’re at is actually a red dragon that I’d created with the level 9 spell [Create All Monster]. Measuring 6 meters head to tail, and with a wingspan of twice that number, it’s actually just a Small one, but it is an honest-to-goodness level 12 monster. 

The red dragon heads straight for the rock demon and starts gouging its durable skin with teeth and claw. 

Naturally, the magic demons and other anki s.h.i.+ft their focus onto the dragon, but they are unable to deal any significant damage. 

“Awesome…… At this rate, won’t they finish the job all by themselves?”

“I doubt that. At most, they can only serve as a diversion.” (Gio)

At the moment, the [nest] has yet to react in any way. However, my instinct as a gamer is shouting at me that that thing must have some last boss tier move. While it is still unresponsive despite being threatened by ogres and even a dragon, we have to hit it with our greatest firepower. 

“Just like we discussed. We can’t mess this up!” (Gio)

“Who do you think you’re talking to?” (Claura)

“Of course! Leave it to me!” (Gillion)

Then everyone nods wordlessly. 

♥♦♣♠

“We got out!” (Gio)

“Told you so.” (Sedam)

While the fierce battle between the ogre-dragon allied force and the anki raged on, we made our way to the floor of the dome. Of course, we didn’t charge straight ahead like idiots. Rather, we fully utilized the characteristics of [Move Outer Plane] by circling to the opposite side of the s.p.a.ce while staying within the rock walls. 

Despite the trip being only several tens of meters, we were able to move forward with our sight completely sealed solely thanks to Sedam and his reliable sense of direction. 

“ShaAAAah!”

“GoruuuUu!”

The dragon has the rock demon pinned down and is bathing it in its fiery breath. Its swinging tail and powerful breath has already mowed down or incinerated many of the sickle and magic demons. However, there is still no change in the all-important [nest]. 

Having gotten within a hundred meters of the [nest], the sense of wrongness that we felt from the start is now much, much stronger. 

♥♦♣♠

Our resolve is made. Thus, we s.h.i.+ft back to the physical world. 

“Gugyaahh!”

“GyuuOOOO!”

At once, the monsters’ roars and bellows and screams jump up a decibel and wash over us. 

“Let’s show them the power of a Carbanera!” (Gillion)

“We’re counting on you, Wizard-dono!” (Gunnah)

Gillion, Lioria, and Vice-Commander Gunnah raise their s.h.i.+elds and stand in front of me. Sedam and Claura take my left and right. I’ve already cast [Physical Boost] and ]Enchant] on them and their weapons ahead of time. Although the duration of the buffs is short, their attack and defensive power should both be greatly enhanced. 

But of course, all of that is only meant as insurance. 

“By means of this spell……” (Gio)

It takes me 10 seconds to chant a spell. 

Before the eyes of my Inner World self, the Door of Wizardry appears. 

“KIIII!”

“ARURURU!”

Several sickle demons and magic demons have noticed us. d.a.m.n, how sharp-sighted of them. The magic demons turn their staves toward us, and the sickle demons give the blades on their arms a good glare before leaping over. 

“That all you got?!” (Gillion) 

“Something of this level!” (Lioria)

The knights’ s.h.i.+elds fully block the falling arrows of fire. 

8 seconds left. 

The tw.a.n.ging of a bowstring rings out so beautifully that I half expected all the demons to be exorcised. An arrow strikes between the eyes of each of the two sickle demons that are jumping at me. Having lost their balance, they plunge to the ground. 

(Culture Note: This is about the exorcism thing (feel free to skip this C/N if you’re not interested in j.a.panese culture). The term used by the author here is 弓鳴り (yumi nari), but the more commonly used names are 鳴弦 (meigen) or 弦打 (tsuru uchi). This is an exorcism technique where tw.a.n.ging a bow without an arrow would exorcise all demons that hear the sound. The clarity and beauty of the sound reflects the purity of the heart of the exorcist, and affects the power of the technique. Some believe that this tradition is based on the 破魔弓 (hama yumi), but that’s another story and you can Wikipedia that yourself :D).

7 seconds left. 

The Inner World me pa.s.ses through the Door of Wizardry and descends the cold and dark spiral staircase. 

“......?!”

In front of the real world me, the [nest] opens its eye. 

The [nest] is composed of several black spheres stacked up. The sphere at the top is the one that is expressing an [eye]. Rather than an actual biological eyeball, it’s just a pattern or shape made of white fiber. However, all of us know instinctively that that is an [eye]. 

6 seconds left. 

The figure of the red dragon splits horizontally. 

It is the work of a single tentacle moving at super high speed. The tentacle, which is as thick as a light pole, had emerged from the surface of a sphere almost instantaneously. After dropping only slightly in momentum after bisecting a dragon, the tentacle swings around towards us, travelling parallel to the ground. 

“«WIND WALL»!”

Along with Claura’s fighting spirit-filled voice, a wall of raging winds rises up between us and the approaching tentacle. 

“DON’T YOU LOOK DOWN ON US!”

“UUUOOOOUUU!”

The tentacle pierces through the raging winds. 

The Carbanera siblings brace their s.h.i.+elds and stop the tentacle head on…… or not. Even they know that such a feat is currently beyond them. 

5 seconds left. 

““HAAH!””

The moment the tentacle makes contact with their s.h.i.+elds, the siblings both tilt their s.h.i.+elds and push upward in an exemplary display of synchronicity. With their muscle strength enhanced by [Physical Boost] and their s.h.i.+elds coated in defensive magic due to [Enchant], they manage to redirect the tentacle’s trajectory a slight bit upwards.

Buoo~

The tentacle barely pa.s.ses above our heads, flying fast enough to cause the Doppler effect and leaving behind incredible wind pressure in its wake. 

 4 seconds left. 

The Inner World me places a hand on that book, releasing the power of chaos contained within. 

“Guwaah!?”

“Kyah!”

“Kuh!”

Gillion and Lioria are rolling on the floor. Right before their bodies leave the area that I’d indicated, Vice-Commander Gunnah exerts all his strength to pull them back. 

3 seconds left. 

The [nest]’s giant eye blinks once. 

The tentacle that has completed one revolution around the black spheres accelerates once again. 

2 seconds left. 

“WIND WALL!”

Claura’s hoa.r.s.e voice rings out, but no wall of wind appears. 

1 second left. 

“[Time Stop].”

After I utter the keyword, everything freezes. 

♥♦♣♠

“Fuuu……” (Gio)

Due to the level 9 spell [Time Stop], the time of everything in this world, with myself as the sole exception, has been stopped. 

The shouts and bellows and screams from an instant ago have all been cut short. Nothing and n.o.body moves — not the knights, not the adventurers, not the anki, and most important of all, not the [nest].

The time that this spell stops time for (weird though this concept sounds) is a random number between 20 to 50 seconds. As the caster cannot choose the duration, if my luck is terrible today, I have only bought myself 20 seconds. 

But that is enough. 

Without any hesitation, I use two more spells. 

♥♦♣♠

Time resumes flowing. 

The spells that I’d finished chanting immediately take effect. 

The first is [Wall of Force]. The 6 of us are surrounded by a dome-shaped force field. 

The second is [Meteor]. To be exact, it’s not the version with the 8 smaller rocks that I’d been using up to now—it’s the version with one gigantic meteoroid and one target. 

If I had to express it in terms of sound, I think ‘kyuun’ would be closest. 

The meteoroid that appeared near the ceiling of the dome plunges into the [nest] at a speed almost faster than our eyes can perceive. 

Struck directly in its [eye], the [nest] distorts in a ‘squished’ kind of way, then scatters into a thousand pieces. 

‘Little people watching a gigantic balloon filled with mud water bursting apart’ is the best way that I can describe it. Fragments of the nest covers everything in sight. Hot on the heels of the fragments, waves of fire and shockwaves dyes the entire world pure white. 

“......!”

Somebody is shouting something. It might even be me. 

The spell [Wall of Force] has the highest durability out of all spells in D&B (after all, the rulebook does describe it as ‘impossible to destroy by any physical means’). Completely unaffected by the explosion from the meteor, it is still properly protecting us. The rock walls and ceiling are beginning to crumble, but we don’t have to worry about any of that at all. 

Rather than that, it is the scene and thunderous roars that caused our legs to give out. 

Finally noticing a pressure on my neck and body, I turn to see Claura clinging to me. 

Looking around with a sigh, I note that everyone is safe, aside from being on the ground. Gillion, however, has a grotesquely squashed arm. 

“Aniki!”

Lioria rushes over to her brother, but I still can’t move. 

It is because I am thinking about what I saw in that moment before the [nest] was blown to bits. 

The force of the explosion had blown outwards, exposing what lay hidden within the pitch black spheres. 

Framed by the light of the flames, it was a closed door as black as darkness itself. That thing, it is the same. It is made of the exact same essence.

——As my Door of Wizardry, that is.