Mushoku Tensei: Reincarnated as a Beast Race Chapter 367 - Behold, the Strongest Human

Verdia experienced a strange state, appearing as though she were dreaming to onlookers.

While directing her summoned beings to fortify the Oasis's periphery, her eyes suddenly became clouded and unfocused.

The natural blue of her irises disappeared, replaced by a uniform, dull silver, like unpolished metal.

In that instant, she became motionless, trapped in a trance.

Her innate talent as a Soothsayer Miko had surfaced once more, granting her a glimpse into a perilous future.

A warrior from the beast race nearby was the first to notice, his immediate fear leading him to believe his commander had fallen victim to some dark sorcery.

His cry alerted others, and the commotion escalated rapidly. Soldiers advanced with weapons ready, mages prepared to cast spells, and the chaos swelled with astonishing speed.

Jino perceived the disturbance almost simultaneously.

Despite the distance, he traversed the Oasis in the blink of an eye.

The soldiers had barely registered his arrival. One moment they were warily encircling Verdia, and the next, Jino was at the heart of the turmoil, quelling the panic before it could escalate further.

He managed to pacify the soldiers, and it soon became clear to everyone present that this was not an assault.

Thus, Jino waited, silently observing the mystical capabilities of the Disaster Witch.

Verdia’s summoned spirits, however, were even more distressed than the soldiers. The instant they realized their mistress was in such a state, they instinctively formed a protective barrier around her.

Even after Jino reassured them of her safety, they refused to yield, maintaining a close, vigilant formation like fierce guard dogs.

This left him with no recourse.

Jino could only stand there, facing a united front of agitated spirits who clearly harbored no trust in him regarding this matter.

Meanwhile, a cold sweat began to break out on Verdia's brow.

Her breathing became ragged.

Though her body remained still, it appeared to be under immense strain.

She was witnessing a future unfolding in the very near term.

And it was dire.

A few minutes later, she finally regained consciousness.

Her eyes instantly returned to their normal color, and she took a sharp breath.

But contrary to Jino's expectations, she did not pause to recount her vision.

Without mentioning the Vision, Verdia immediately commanded the Legion to prepare for a full-scale assault on the final levels of the Labyrinth.

----

Closer to the heart of the Ever-White Oasis, the elite forces of the Kingdom of Gaia and their most skilled allies were positioned.

Numerous warriors stood vigilant watch over the Labyrinth's entrance, exuding unwavering confidence. Their previous engagement had been a decisive triumph, leading to a peak in the morale of the Iron Legion's armies.

Spirits were high, the momentum was on their side, and among the troops, the general sentiment was that the siege was progressing precisely as planned.

Yet, amidst this confidence, Aisha was suffering from a severe headache.

This was entirely due to Verdia's report.

At that moment, only Aisha, Taes, and Verdia herself were within the command tent. Aisha sat behind a table laden with documents and magical communication devices.

Outside, the Legions were already commencing preparations for a new offensive, one that had not been part of her original strategy.

Aisha's voice was strained as she spoke.

"Repeat that statement."

She was addressing Verdia directly.

The elf, clad in dark brown leather armor with her hair pulled back, wore an unusually serious expression. She calmly reiterated her previous words.

"We have only nine hours remaining before Hitogami's apostles can resurrect their target."

Taes immediately frowned.

"But if they possessed the ability to do so, why did they not act sooner?"

Verdia slowly shook her head.

"I cannot say for certain. However, based on the future I foresaw, it appeared to be an incomplete revival... possibly they always had the capability, but it was not their initial intention."

Aisha swiftly completed her thought.

"So, you are suggesting they intend to employ a drastic measure to accelerate the resurrection ritual?"

Verdia nodded affirmatively.

"That was the impression I received."

Aisha and Taes lapsed into silence.

Until this point, the situation had been advantageous due to their maintained initiative. This had been the driving force behind the Iron Legion's steady and relentless advance.

They dictated the tempo, forcing the enemy to react, rather than the other way around.

However, to charge headlong into the Labyrinth's final stages seemed like sheer recklessness.

Nevertheless, at this juncture, it appeared to be their sole recourse.

Verdia's Vision of the Future had unequivocally depicted the resurrected foe effortlessly defeating Nina, Ghislaine, and Kilian in a single strike.

And that was merely the commencement of the confrontation.

She had been unable to discern the ultimate outcome, naturally. Even so, that glimpse alone was sufficient to obliterate any remaining sense of security.

Naturally, the situation wasn't entirely without hope. One must also take into account that Aisha remained unaffected by Verdia’s Vision of the Future.

In essence, she represented a variable that could entirely avert that dire outcome. Aisha wasn't entirely sure, but she suspected Orsted occupied a similar position, a factor of disruption, and perhaps her brother Rudeus too.

However, ultimately, it all boiled down to this.

She might change the result completely... or she might not.

As the leader of this endeavor, Aisha was unwilling to leave things to chance. This wasn't solely because the individuals involved were dear to her, but also because she lacked the confidence to alter the outcome against such a formidable adversary.

Aisha observed Verdia as she regained her footing, already drawing her blade and preparing to depart.

"Are you absolutely certain of his identity? There can be no mistake?"

Verdia responded without a moment's hesitation.

"Certain details remain obscured, but this much is as clear as daylight. I have no doubt who he is."

This affirmation only heightened Aisha's apprehension.

She cast a brief glance at Taes before turning her attention back to Verdia.

"Do you believe Jino can confront him...?"

Verdia offered a fleeting smile.

Then she uttered a statement that sent a shiver down Taes's spine.

"Aisha... I am not even certain Rygar could face him..."

Aisha's brows immediately furrowed in concern.

"We depart at once. Nine full hours. That is more than sufficient time to traverse this entire Labyrinth!"

Taes vanished instantly, offering no word of objection.

Aisha moved past Verdia, issuing one final command over her shoulder.

"Inform Master of this, and inquire about the status on his end!"

The soldiers failed to grasp the sudden urgency of their commanders' actions.

Yet, their role was not to understand.

It was to obey.

And mere minutes later, the Iron Legion initiated a final, decisive push towards the deepest levels of the Ever-White Labyrinth.

----

On the ultimate floor, the hundredth level of the Ever-White Labyrinth, an immense purple crystal dominated the center of a sprawling chamber.

Had this crystal been revealed to the adventurers and mercenaries who once frequented the Oasis, many would have likely succumbed to madness on the spot.

Even those who had retreated, who had fled in terror after discovering the Labyrinth was merely a charnel house constructed by Kensai, might have reconsidered their decision the moment they laid eyes upon it.

They might have descended its levels once more, fully aware of the peril that awaited them.

For the crystal was excessively large, overwhelmingly brilliant.

It commanded attention in a manner that felt almost forbidden, as if it stood superior to all the world's treasures.

This fascination stemmed not only from the allure of power it promised but also from the crystal's own emission of a nearly divine aura, hypnotic and intoxicating, possessing the capacity to easily ensnare less resolute souls.

An expert in Resurrection Stones would have instantly recognized this crystal's potential to revive even a being who had lived millennia ago.

And that was an accomplishment of monumental significance.

The largest stone previously discovered, aside from this artifact, could only bring back someone deceased for a little over one hundred and fifty years.

This stone defied all conventional benchmarks. It was an object that arguably should not have existed.

The crystal was partially submerged within a pool of dark crimson liquid.

A pool of blood.

Encircling it, the cavernous hall seemed to pulse like a living entity. Luminescent purple veins stretched across the walls, the floor, and the ceiling, permeating the entire Labyrinth like the root system of some monstrous arboreal entity.

An apparently unending flow of energy continuously poured into the colossal Resurrection Stone, drawn inexorably towards it.

That energy, of course, originated from the recent slaughter orchestrated by Hitogami’s apostles.

The Ever-White Labyrinth sustained itself on death to foster life.

And its final floor housed the most magnificent and potent Resurrection Stone of all.

However, it was not the sole occupant of this place. Beside the gigantic stone stood a Troll.

Yet, this Troll bore no resemblance to the ferocious, savage Immortal Barbarian Trolls, nor to the hulking Giant Trolls encountered throughout the Labyrinth's numerous levels.

He was notably small and emaciated. Standing at a mere three meters tall, which was diminutive for a Troll, considering their average height was four meters.

And the disparities did not cease there.

This peculiar Troll was covered in an array of scars. Half of his fingers were missing, and in their place were only grotesque stumps, the remnants of ancient injuries.

His skin was coarse and reddish, as dry as aged leather, likely the hide of an ancient Troll. One of his eyes was a milky white, obscured by a lengthy scar that extended from his forehead clear down to his chest.

His extreme gauntness was apparent even beneath the ceremonial robe he wore. He resembled a desiccated twig crudely wrapped in flesh.

Despite the wretched state of his physical form, an aura of profound malevolence emanated from him, sinister as the devil himself.

A terrifying visage was revealed, deeply furrowed with wrinkles, and grotesquely long fangs, each exceeding twenty centimeters, jutted prominently from its mouth.

In its grasp, it brandished what appeared to be a staff—or perhaps a scepter.

Crafted from gnarled, dark wood, it was festooned with vibrant feathers, and at its apex, a pink gemstone was meticulously carved into the likeness of a claw.

The aged Troll rhythmically brandished this artifact towards the colossal purple crystal, eliciting a response of pink and violet energy that mirrored its movements.

In a voice that was raw, guttural, and rasping, the Troll began its incantation.

"Moktar drukk-esh... Grakh nal ugh... Zhur nakh thro..."

The peculiar ritual of this solitary Troll unfolded in solitude, with no other witnesses.

Yet, the pool of blood present seemed to echo its words, a response too potent to be ignored.

The crimson surface rippled in accordance with the sinister chant's cadence. In unison with the sound, the purple veins embedded in the walls pulsed with light, as though the entire Labyrinth itself was attentively listening.

"Ugh’ma skar... Ugh’ma grakh... Ugh’ma zhur-thro...!"

The ancient Troll persisted in its manipulation of the ritual.

This entity represented the ultimate challenge, the Final Boss of this malevolent Labyrinth.

Within its sole visible iris, faint traces of a peculiar, corrupted dark slime were discernible.

This was a Slime known as the Nether King, a being typically accustomed to dominating the intellects of formidable figures. Vita harbored the conviction that the Troll was under its sway. Indeed, this belief was universally held.

Only one truly contemptible god was aware of the profound danger emanating from the ancient, sinister magic wielded by this primordial Troll.

However, this detestable deity possessed absolutely no inclination to offer a warning to his supposed allies.

It was intrinsic to his nature, the very core of his being.

He was habitually inclined to betray those who collaborated with him, and this propensity would persist even when facing imminent demise. Betrayal was as natural to him as the act of breathing.

But for the present moment, such concerns were far from anyone's mind.

Vita had effortlessly seized control of the dangerous Troll's consciousness. Geese, Badigadi, and Kensai—none of them had ever entertained the possibility that, even amidst such dire circumstances, Hitogami would still engage in clandestine schemes against his own confederates.

Or perhaps, they were indeed aware.

Yet, perhaps it mattered little to them.

The Troll drew ever nearer to its objective, its gaze fixed upon the form suspended ethereally within the crystal.

It was a human.

A remarkably beautiful human, characterized by short, blond hair.

Though his eyelids, now lifeless, were slightly ajar, they revealed stunning, deep white eyes. This was a man who, despite having been deceased for millennia, still bore a tranquil smile upon his countenance.

His mere presence instilled a sense of trust in others. It exuded such a gentle, angelic aura that even the ancient Troll found itself perplexed as it gazed upon the deceased form, despite knowing of its demise.

This individual was the most exceptionally potent apostle Hitogami had ever commanded throughout the span of thousands of years.

Positioned above Badigadi was an Immortal Demon, adorned with the Fighter God Armor.

Above Ars, a human who wielded six sacred artifacts and waged war against demons at their zenith of power.

Surpassing even one of the First Dragon Generals, and the foremost retainer of the First Dragon God, the Saint Dragon Emperor Slizard.

This was a human who had graced existence six millennia prior.

The progenitor of the most magnificent Holy Order ever witnessed within the Six-Faced World.

The very person capable of cleaving a continent in twain with a solitary sweep of his blade.

The one whom Hitogami recognized, with unwavering certainty, as "the most formidable human to have ever existed."