Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race Chapter 366 - Cornered

Oasis of the Ever-White Labyrinth, Begaritt Continent.

Over the span of a single week, the previously intense and fiercely competitive atmosphere within the new Oasis completely dissolved, transforming into a scene of utter devastation within just seven days.

It was seven days ago that the famed Treasure Mage Kensai, with palpable excitement, declared the discovery of an entire mine laden with Resurrection Stones on the 80th Floor. He even theorized it might very well be the Final Floor of the Labyrinth.

To this point, no one had successfully ventured beyond the 75th Floor, or at least, no one had publicly admitted to doing so. Consequently, news of this revelation rippled through the populace, igniting widespread commotion.

The allure of this long-sought-after mine captivated everyone's desire, yet only a select few possessed the requisite strength to descend so deep into the treacherous Labyrinth.

Providentially, their purported savior, the magnanimous Treasure Mage, once again demonstrated his extraordinary benevolence.

He introduced a company of elite subordinates, a formidable contingent comprising numerous mercenaries, seasoned warriors, and heroes of national renown from all corners of the Begaritt Continent. With this assembled force, he announced a grand-scale expedition into the Labyrinth's hidden depths.

Unquestionably, this was the zenith of excitement, fame, and ambition for every adventurer and mercenary residing within the Oasis.

Over ninety percent of them eagerly enlisted for the expedition, harboring hopes of capitalizing on the unfolding events and riding the coattails of the more powerful individuals.

On that very same day, the expedition commenced its journey, advancing with the unstoppable momentum of a military offensive.

Group after group surged through the floors, vanquishing colossal Trolls with sheer numerical superiority and brute force. They pushed ever deeper into the Ever-White Labyrinth, as if this was the moment they had all been anticipating since the Oasis's inception.

The following day, the handful of individuals who had elected not to join the main expedition began to harbor deep regrets.

Several of them coalesced into smaller parties, venturing forth independently, driven by the ambition to catch up to the grand expedition before all the glory and accumulated riches slipped through their grasp.

By this juncture, only a minuscule number of individuals had yet to venture in the direction of the 80th Floor.

However, as that day drew to a close, those who remained behind received news so outlandish that it took several agonizing seconds to fully comprehend.

Merely three. Only three adventurers, two of them grievously wounded, emerged alive from the depths of the Ever-White Labyrinth.

And they bore with them tidings of absolute terror.

Kensai, the erstwhile trustworthy Treasure Mage, had orchestrated a profound betrayal against them all.

Furthermore, without the slightest hint of compunction, he had masterminded a horrific massacre, claiming the lives of thousands within the Labyrinth's confines.

A Demonic Red Ogre.

A mysterious Swordsman clad in a Blue Cloak.

And a chilling figure known only as the Man with a Skull Face.

These three individuals were identified as the primary perpetrators behind the devastating slaughter. Yet, they were not alone; they commanded vast legions of Trolls at their beck and call, augmented by Kensai's formidable personal army.

No significant resistance was mounted against the overwhelming might of these adversaries. Kensai, far from offering aid, had been the very architect of this treacherous scheme.

The three lone survivors owed their miraculous escape solely to a potent magical artifact.

Even with its aid, they would have surely been pursued and eliminated, had they not, in the midst of their desperate flight, received unexpected and mysterious assistance from a warrior and a mage encased in imposing, enormous magical armor.

Even these benefactors, however, did not engage in direct confrontation with their oppressors.

When these harrowing reports reverberated through the area five days prior, the remaining adventurers scattered like startled fowl, overcome by sheer dread.

No longer compelled to maintain any pretense, Kensai's private military forces swiftly took control of the entire Oasis, transforming it into a heavily fortified stronghold.

At that moment, he cast aside all veils of deception, fully revealing his hand. The Continent of Begaritt reeled in stunned realization as it became apparent that a substantial portion of its most powerful combatants now answered to Kensai's command.

Indeed, for was he not the wealthiest individual in all of Begaritt? There was ample reason for his moniker as the Treasure Mage, recognized as one of the sole three King-ranked mages across the entire Continent.

Nevertheless, the military might he now wielded was, in its own right, profoundly terrifying.

Unfortunately for him, this imposing force meant absolutely nothing to the formidable Iron Legion.

Three days ago, under the direct command of Iron Legion Commander Taes Dedoldia, fifteen colossal adult Dragons, each piloted by a skilled Dragon Rider, utterly annihilated the Oasis in a single, devastating flyover. Their fiery breath, unleashed in savage torrents unlike anything witnessed before by the inhabitants of Begaritt, sowed widespread terror and unadulterated panic.

Concurrently, three vanguard divisions of the Iron Legion advanced upon the Oasis by land.

The hardened desert warriors, forged in the crucible of countless battles, had braced themselves for formidable opposition. They anticipated encountering powerful enemies, meticulously crafted strategies, intricate traps, and, in the most dire of circumstances, a forced strategic retreat upon facing an insurmountable foe.

Yet, they encountered none of these anticipated challenges.

The three advancing divisions made absolutely no attempt to implement any form of complex or elaborate strategy.

Instead, they relentlessly carved a direct path straight through the Oasis.

One of these divisions was spearheaded by the legendary Sword Emperor Nina Britz, accompanied by the formidable Beast Princesses Linia and Pursena, alongside dozens of other elite warriors.

Another was led by the fearsome Demon King Atoferatofe, flanked by Moore, numerous demons, and a contingent of other Iron Legion warriors.

The third front was helmed by the Savage Emperor Jal Igaly, with the Red Ogre Baron and dozens of warriors by his side.

It was evident that none of these three attack vectors treated the imposing, meticulously prepared fortress as a true defense.

To them, it was merely another minor hindrance in their path.

North King Kalaham, a formidable ancient demon and a celebrated hero across Begaritt, initiated a ferocious counterattack, determined to make his adversaries suffer for their arrogance.

However, he had no chance to react before Nina Britz ended his life with a single, swift strike, cleaving him in two with the legendary Longsword of Light.

His demise served as an ominous precursor to the subsequent events.

It felt like a stinging rebuke to every warrior of the desert, a clear declaration that Begaritt’s most elite fighters were nothing more than insignificant background players.

The Iron Legion demonstrably showcased its unparalleled might, honed through years of advancement and refinement, once again affirming its status as arguably the most dominant military force in the world.

Before long, the entirety of the Oasis was effectively under the Iron Legion’s sway.

It made no difference that Kensai’s forces numbered in the thousands. It meant nothing that they employed traps, ambushes, or hastily erected defensive lines.

None of these tactics posed a genuine threat to the Iron Legion, which boasted Saint-ranked swordsmen as if they were common commodities, mages capable of executing Chantless Magic, superior enchanted armaments crafted by dwarven artisans, and still engaged in battle mounted on Dragons and Giant Wolves.

It could be accurately stated that no military contingent in Begaritt possessed the readiness to confront such an unpredictable and overwhelmingly powerful force.

And most certainly not Kensai’s personal army.

Soon, the Iron Legion confined the remaining survivors to the vicinity of the Ever-White Labyrinth’s entrance, relentlessly tightening their grip and systematically eliminating any remaining avenues of escape, thereby compelling the true powerhouses to make their appearance.

And indeed, they appeared.

Just before total annihilation or capture, a colossal Red Ogre, a swordsman clad in blue, and Kensai himself, commanding an immense Immortal Barbarian Troll, emerged from the Labyrinth’s opening, dramatically altering the dynamics of the battlefield.

Their arrival exerted a considerable impact.

The soldiers of the desert, already demoralized by the overwhelming disparity in strength, felt a surge of hope for the first time since the conflict commenced.

For a brief period, the tide of the battle genuinely shifted.

Even the Iron Legion, despite its crushing superiority, found it necessary to compose itself upon confronting these three emerging figures.

This was sufficient to stabilize the situation for Begaritt’s forces.

But this respite proved to be short-lived.

Because, before they could fully reassert control over the battlefield, Jino and Ghislaine made their grand entrance.

----

Deep within the Ever-White Labyrinth’s lower levels, the apostles of Hitogami had been enduring increasingly difficult circumstances.

At this precise moment, within a chamber hewn entirely from white granite, a man with a simian countenance was deeply asleep, stretched out on the floor and casually leaning against a pillar, seemingly oblivious to the ongoing war.

Suddenly, another individual entered the chamber.

His left arm was severed cleanly at the elbow, and he carried the detached limb in his other hand with an apparent lack of concern, as if it were merely a trivial inconvenience.

His face bore a skeletal appearance, with one eye glowing crimson and the other a dark hue, and his expression was marked by a somber, disagreeable cast.

It was Randolph Marianne.

Or rather, it was Randolph Marianne’s physical form, entirely under the control of Vita, the Nether King.

The monkey-faced man, Geese, startled awake by the intrusion, lifted his head from the floor and regarded Vita, rubbing his still-sleepy eyes.

"*Hugh*... what an unpleasant visage... what’s the state of affairs, Vita...?"

Vita responded with his characteristically cold and solemn tone:

"The Iron Legion has seized complete control of the Oasis. We find ourselves entirely trapped within the Labyrinth..."

He then fixed his gaze directly upon Geese.

"We have reached the critical juncture you spoke of. It’s now or never. There is no remaining path for our escape."

A subtle undercurrent of bitterness laced his words.

Were it not for his Laplace incarnation and Badigadi’s pursuit of Rygar within the Labyrinth, they would not find themselves in such a dire predicament, Vita believed.

At least, that was his perspective at that moment. The thought of being cornered within these confines while the enemy forces systematically crushed everything outside was exceedingly oppressive.

Geese offered a wry smile.

"Well, you are the one who made the choice to be here! Remember, without Hitogami, you would never have possessed those potent vessels in the first place! And you are fully aware of what I imply... how is the latest engagement proceeding?"

He had finally dispelled his lingering drowsiness and reiterated his question with renewed focus.

Vita cast a dark glance in his direction but offered no retort to the barb. As Geese had correctly pointed out, Vita understood the significance of obligation.

Hitogami had been his savior on multiple occasions and had aided him countless times since. And he intended to honor that debt.

After a few moments of silence, he began to speak:

The conflict persisted on the higher levels of the Labyrinth. The Iron Legion, perceiving that their intrusion into the Labyrinth was observed, halted their progression and withdrew. Their engagement with the Trolls, however, appeared to be effortless. Gall Farion and Malta managed a safe retreat, but Kensai met his demise at the hands of Nina Britz...

Geese's eyebrows drew together in bewilderment.

"Hm? How did that event unfold? Weren't Gall and Malta tasked with his protection?"

Vita responded in a nonchalant manner:

"Apparently, Gall Farion possessed the means to dispatch her at that precise moment, yet he refrained. The young woman took a gamble, anticipating her father's inability to muster the resolve to end her life, and her wager paid off. Kensai was annihilated instantaneously. His array of magic rings proved ineffective against her blade. It is evident that the sword possesses unique properties."

Geese inclined his head, a mirthless chuckle escaping him.

"Who could have possibly foreseen that the formidable young lady was our clandestine operative for such an extended duration... she must be seething with anger! Hehe!"

Vita found no humor in the situation but continued his report.

"In any event, with Kensai deceased, the majority of the forces lost their coherence and dispersed. Gall Farion cannot be characterized as an adept commander, nor could the ogre... consequently, the remnants of Kensai's army consist solely of twenty-four individuals who managed to withdraw alive. From this juncture forward, our reliance rests entirely upon ourselves and the denizens of the Labyrinth..."

He shifted his gaze back to Geese.

"What revelations did Hitogami impart to you earlier? A significant number of outcomes have deviated starkly from his precognitive forecasts."

As the two conversed, Vita’s severed limb was observed to be gradually rejoining his torso, a consequence of Randolph’s potent Immortal Demon bloodline.

Geese released a sigh.

"He conveyed sentiments identical to your own; his foresight is in disarray. This effectively corroborates the presence of Aisha Greyrat on the battlefield, and perhaps even Orsted himself..."

A subtle tremor passed through him.

"Regardless, going forward, Hitogami's visions will provide only rudimentary guidance. With Rudeus, Aisha, and potentially Orsted in play, his foresight will undoubtedly be muddled and imprecise. We must devise our own strategies!"

Vita regarded him with an entirely impassive countenance.

His expression conveyed a clear question: Was it not evident that you had failed to absorb any of my preceding statements?

Geese perceived the penetrating gaze and emitted a laugh.

"Hehehe! Cease your worrying! The ritual approaches its culmination; lift your spirits! We merely require a brief period, and for a significant and formidable individual to meet their end within this Labyrinth! Once He reappears, the majority of our predicaments will be resolved!"

Vita maintained an unpersuaded demeanor.

"I believe your confidence in that individual is excessively misplaced. How formidable could he possibly have been? Ultimately, he was but an ordinary human."

Geese's smile took on a sinister quality.

"Laxus, too, was human, Vita. Remarkable humans are ubiquitous! Cast your gaze around! Are we not currently encircled by troublesome humans?! Our three most pressing challenges at this juncture are three humans! Aisha, Rudeus, and Jino!"

Vita's expression contorted the moment Laxus's name was uttered.

The slime entity vividly recalled the relentless pursuit orchestrated by the former Death God. It was, without question, an undesirable recollection.

At long last, Vita articulated his thoughts:

"In any case, if this situation persists, the Iron Legion will decimate all occupants of this Labyrinth prior to that individual's emergence. Therefore, whatever scheme you intend to implement to impede them, proceed with its execution!"

Immediately upon uttering these words, he departed the chamber.

His retreating footsteps gradually faded down the corridor, leaving Geese in solitude.

His mind remained occupied with devising methods to turn his adversaries against one another.

----

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