## Chapter 105 – (12)
“Already the halfway point?”
Dana, the squad leader, said with a hollow laugh.
I was beside her, and the laugh bothered me, so I asked, “Is something wrong?”
“Wrong? It’s too easy, and we got here too fast.”
Dana looked at me as she spoke.
Apparently, we had reached the halfway point at twice the usual speed.
Certainly, the battles with the monsters hadn’t been as difficult as I’d feared.
The much-feared golems were easily defeated with Lexie’s water magic, which softened the earth, making them vulnerable to a single strike of my sword. And the large spider-like monsters were simply torn to shreds by the jungle sword.
I understood why so many martial artists in Murim worlds sought their own unique weapons.
The dwarf who made this weapon probably hadn’t even heard of internal energy, but this sword efficiently absorbed and utilized it.
It was ironic.
The internal energy of the Murim world and the materials and blacksmithing of a fantasy world.
These elements from two worlds that should never meet were creating synergy.
“Normally, we would take a break at this halfway point, but we arrived too quickly, so there’s no need,” Dana said with a smile.
The other knights also looked cheerful.
After that, we continued through the dungeon without any particular difficulties.
Even with my addition, breaking through the dungeon didn’t seem particularly challenging.
So, I became curious.
“What kind of monster stalled the subjugation?”
That question seemed to bring back bad memories for some of the knights.
Several knights who were following us shuddered and groaned.
It must have been quite a formidable foe.
The reactions of the surrounding knights made me even more curious about its identity.
Just as Dana was about to open her mouth, a sound began to echo from the front.
Pitter-patter.
It was the sound of something running.
Too light to be an orc or a golem, but a little too heavy to be a person.
“…They’re here.”
Dana, who was about to speak, muttered as she stared ahead.
Then, from deep within the cave, a group emitting yellow light in the darkness came into view, waddling as they approached.
They had a low, four-legged stance and were equipped with armor.
Despite the distance, they quickly reached us with large feet and long, darting tongues.
And, above all, they had skin covered in green scales, which would be a trauma for some.
They were monsters with an appearance similar to reptiles.
“Lizardmen,” Dana whispered their name.
Monsters with the appearance of lizards, but as large as humans and walking on two legs.
They were equipped like a military unit, arranged in rows and columns, and raised their weapons in front of us.
It was like facing a human army, not monsters.
“These are them?”
“Yes, each one isn’t as strong as an orc, but they’re intelligent and use tactics.”
It was obvious at a glance.
Lizardmen holding shields, and behind them, lizardmen extending spears through the gaps in the shields.
They had divided roles and formed a formation.
However, their equipment was old, and they didn’t seem to have much patience. Some of the lizardmen were leaning forward as if they wanted to charge immediately.
Perhaps if we just stood still, their formation would collapse on its own?
That thought crossed my mind.
Then it happened.
“Hiss!”
A chilling sound.
As soon as they heard it, the unstable formation returned to its place.
Looking towards the source of the sound, I saw a lizardman much larger and more muscular than the others, holding a huge spear.
“Hiss…”
“Ugh…”
The large lizardman made a low sound, flicking its bright red tongue, which was split into two at the end.
Then, a low voice leaked out from some of our knights.
Turning around, I saw several knights with terrified expressions looking away.
I wondered if it was trauma from the last battle, but the reason was much simpler.
“They’re gross…”
“Ah…”
I understood.
I had often seen it at the zoo.
Snakes, lizards, crocodiles, and so on.
There were always one or two people who frowned and were afraid of reptiles.
Especially at the snake-draping experience zone, a staple of zoos, some people even shed tears.
Even seeing small snakes that were friendly to humans caused such reactions.
How scary would it be to have human-sized reptiles walking on two legs and pointing weapons at you?
Even someone who liked reptiles would feel fear in that situation.
Lexie and Cecil also looked slightly intimidated as they stared at the lizardman army.
“Mages! Prepare area-of-effect spells! Knights, buy us time!” Dana shouted.
At the clear and precise command, the knights and Lexie snapped out of it and prepared to do their jobs.
I wanted to break through and wipe them out, but with them in formation like that, I couldn’t recklessly charge in.
Lexie took a deep breath and began to chant.
“Hiss…”
As soon as the lizardmen saw that, they took half a step forward.
They seemed to instinctively sense the danger.
They accurately predicted their future when that spell was completed.
I drew my sword and infused it with internal energy.
The red-hot sword began to emit smoke.
The knights glanced at my sword, still not used to it even after seeing it several times.
The lizardmen, on the other hand, didn’t seem to care much.
I pulled my helmet down and took a breath.
I was ready to cut down anyone who dared to approach first.
Whether they were annoyed that Dana and I weren’t backing down even as they approached, the lizardmen in the front row brandished their shields and spears, threatening us.
It was still a little far.
So, I provoked them in return.
I beckoned with my hand.
“Come on.”
“…Kieeeek!”
Instantly, the formation crumbled, and a lizardman who couldn’t stand it lunged at me with his spear.
Whoosh!
Easily dodging the spear thrust by the lizardman, I smiled.
“You should have held back.”
As I swung my arm, the lizardman was cut in half along with his spear.
“Hiss!”
The large lizardman in the back shouted as if frustrated.
Then, the other lizardmen began to try to fill the gap in the formation that had been destroyed by one person’s impulsive action.
However, once a formation was broken, it was not easily restored.
And it wouldn’t be restored.
Because I wouldn’t let it.
Thwack!
I rushed into the gap between the enemies, who were bewildered by the loss of a comrade.
The lizardmen looked at me in confusion as I quickly entered their ranks.
Among them, I spun around, holding my sword tightly.
Whoosh!
The blade, spinning with my body, made a sound as it cut through the air, engulfing the surrounding lizardmen.
With the only area-of-effect attack I could perform, the lizardmen lost their upper bodies and crashed to the ground with a short thud.
“His…s?”
The large one made a subdued cry.
This one seemed quite flustered.
“The formation is broken! Push forward!” Dana commanded the knights, quickly assessing the situation.
It was a good idea.
Such an opportunity wouldn’t come easily.
The flustered lizardmen tried to face the charging knights, but—
Clang!
As soon as their weapons clashed, they must have realized.
That they were outmatched in strength and equipment, unable to even put up a fight.
Even Lexie’s spell was complete, and she shouted in a shrill voice, “Everyone, duck!”
At that voice, we stopped fighting and dove to the ground as if we were diving.
The bewildered lizardmen looked at us questioningly, but soon froze, gaping at the huge fireball that appeared before their eyes.
Boom!
With a deafening roar, the fireball fell in the center of them and exploded.
Countless lizardmen were torn apart into pieces of flesh.
An indescribable burning smell filled the dungeon.
I slowly rose and looked at the blackened cave.
This was the power of magic.
With a single spell, almost all of the lizardmen were annihilated.
Only one lizardman remained.
“Hiss…”
Even that one seemed barely able to stand, judging by its blackened skin.
But its eyes still held a wildness, a desire to fight.
Those eyes were fixed solely on me.
On me, who had instantly changed the tide of the battle and sent more lizardmen to the afterlife than anyone except Lexie.
“…Be careful.”
Dana simply gave me that short piece of advice as I slowly moved forward as if possessed.
The other knights didn’t interfere either.
Everyone knew this was something I had to do.
As I approached with my sword, it glared with its yellow eyes and mustered its last strength to charge.
Whoosh! Bang!
The lizardman’s final strike, filled with all its might.
With a deafening sound, I easily blocked its attack.
“…Hiss.”
It quietly closed its eyes with a short cry of regret.
Shick.
I filled my sword with internal energy and pierced its chest.
The heated sword burned its body.
“…Alright, let’s move on.”
At Dana’s command, we once again moved further inside.
Towards the deepest part of the dungeon.
