Ordinary Art Factor [EN]: Chapter 161

“Kee-ack… Kee-aaack!”

“Kee-aaaack!”

“Kee-ack! Kee-ack. Kee-aaaack!”

We’re screwed.

Hundreds of humanoid dungeon units are staring at us, making bizarre noises.

“Shit! It’s a trap! Fall back! Summon all Zealots! Zergling, Hydras, Wyverns, Ultralisks, Magic Worms, summon them all! Dark Assassins, protect us!”

Several notifications pop up, and thousands of Zealots, Zerglings, hundreds of Hydras, Wyverns, Ultralisks, and Magic Worms are summoned.

A wave of white light spreads through the massive cavern as the summoned units surround us.

“Dungeon units, attack!”

At my command, the summoned units charge towards the approaching dungeon units. At the same time, Gil-soo and Han-deuk shout.

“Mages, magic attack!”

“Warriors, block the entrance!”

“Wrath of the Goddess Idea! Wall of Fire!”

“Tears of the Goddess Idea! Wall of Ice!”

“Lament of the Goddess Idea! Dew of Sorrow!”

‘Kwaang… Kwaaang!’

‘Kwaga-gwang. Kwang!’

‘Kee-ack… Kee-aaack!’

‘Kee-ack! Kee-ack.’

Dozens of fire and ice spells explode from all directions, amplified by the cavern’s unique echo.

Hot and cold energies spread rapidly, followed by a deafening roar.

“Retreat! Retreat! Fall back!”

“A2! A2! [A designated fallback point.]”

“Mages to the back! Warriors to the front!”

“Get back inside! Get back in and block the entrance!”

“G, Guild Leader!”

“Bro!”

The surroundings descend into chaos as humanoid dungeon units surge in like a tidal wave.

“Magic Worms, magic mist!”

‘Poo-ack… Poo-aaack.’

“First line, Zealots! Second line, Zerglings! Third line, Hydras, Ultralisks! Fourth line, Dark Warriors, Dark Assassins! Wyverns to the air!”

I quickly arrange the summoned units into formation.

It’s a massive cavern, but the space is limited.

The cave we came through is behind us, so we don’t need to worry about that. If we retreat into the cave, their attack vectors are limited.

It’s impossible to face dungeon units swarming from all directions at once, but we have experience dealing with units we encountered in the cave.

We only need to block one place: the front.

The problem is, how long can we hold out….

‘Kee-ack… Kee-aaack!’

‘Kee-ack! Kee-ack.’

“Wrath of the Goddess Idea! Wall of Fire!”

“Tears of the Goddess Idea! Wall of Ice!”

“Lament of the Goddess Idea! Dew of Sorrow!”

‘Kwaang… Kwaaang!’

‘Kwaga-gwang. Kwang!’

“Mages, focus fire! Focus fire! No indiscriminate firing!”

“Two o’clock to the front! Twelve o’clock!”

“If the warriors let the entrance be breached, it’s over! Block it no matter what!”

“Guild Leader!”

“B, Bro!”

What? Why? Why are you calling me! I’m busy too! I’m already stressed to death!

“Dark Warriors, enter the magic mist! Zealots, Ultralisks! Hold the dungeon units! Dark Assassins, position yourselves in the front! Wyverns, aerial attack!”

‘Kee-aaaack… Kee-ack!’

‘Kee-ack! Kee-aaaack.’

Everywhere is a mess.

Thankfully, we’re fighting with our backs to the cave, so we only need to cover the area from 10 o’clock to 2 o’clock. But even if we barely manage to deal with the charging humanoid dungeon units, their numbers don’t seem to be decreasing at all.

The confined space prevents dozens of units from charging at us simultaneously, which is an advantage. However, it seems they’re planning to overwhelm us with numbers, as they’ve surrounded us and only about ten units are approaching at a time.

If we just waste time like this, we’ll run out of mana first. But we can’t retreat back into the cave either. Damn it!

One minute feels like an hour.

The heat from the fire spells and the cold from the ice spells swirling around us mix together, creating steam, and the red clouds of magic mist obscure our vision.

The explosions of magic attacks make my ears ring, and the bizarre cries of the units around me make me lose track of where I am and what I’m doing here.

Thousands of Zealots are fighting fiercely on the outskirts, but they seem to be struggling to hold back the humanoid dungeon units. If it weren’t for the Dark Assassins and Ultralisks fighting well in the magic mist, and the nine replicated Dark Warriors, the defensive line would have collapsed quickly.

In the middle of the formation, the mages are focusing their magic attacks on the dungeon-type units within the magic mist. The Dark Assassins, Dark Warriors, and guild members are barely managing to block the units breaking through the Zealots’ encirclement, but how long can this state be maintained….

Shit! We’re screwed.

The one o’clock direction has been breached.

If we can’t maintain this formation, it’s all over.

Unless these guys have an intermission, a strategy meeting, or understand the word “stop,” if even one spot is breached, we’re screwed.

The warriors who were on standby rush in to fill the gap for one or two minutes.

If we deal with one dungeon unit that breaks through the encirclement, another unit charges in from behind.

The numbers of the Zealots, who are acting as bait, throwaways, and meat shields, are gradually decreasing, and the warriors’ breathing is getting rougher.

If we don’t come up with something right now, we’ll all be annihilated. We need to quickly reinforce the Zealots who are in charge of the encirclement on the outermost edge!

“Gil-soo!”

“Huuuh! Y, yes!”

“Take over here for a moment! I’m going to produce additional Zealots!”

“Understood! Five minutes, no, three minutes! Hoo-oook!”

“Hold out as long as you can!”

“Yes, sir!”

Gil-soo quickly takes out a mid-grade potion from his inventory and chugs it down, switching places with me. I quickly retreat and survey the surrounding space.

It’s impossible to create additional crystals and gateways inside the cave because there’s no spare space, so I need to create buildings around here, but those guys won’t just stand by and let me… Huh? Uh-oh?

W, wait a minute!

Suddenly, someone hits me in the back of the head. (Figuratively, meaning an idea struck him.)

We’re severely lacking in everything right now, but the only thing I can do is produce Zealots within the limits of not consuming gas fragments… No, I need to produce the optimal units to deal with the dungeon units.

Because of the humanoid units, the Zealots and bio-units can only buy time or hold those guys back. We’re defending like this because of the cave in the back… So, the cave… If it’s a cave… Buildings! Buildings and defense towers!

“Shit! I’m such a blockhead! Alright! Summon ten Probes!”

[Ding! Summoning ten Probes.]

“Create crystal! Create Force Field! Create Gateway! Create crystal! Create Acceleration Core! Create Gateway! Create Gateway….”

I densely create crystals based on the cave entrance, and then create additional Gateways in front of them.

And behind the Gateways,

“Create defense tower! Create defense tower! All Probes, create defense towers!”

‘Pachi… Gee… Jik!’

‘Kwa… Chijijik!’

The ten Probes create defense towers behind the Gateways. Ten defense towers are created with blue beams of light.

As soon as they’re created, the defense towers start firing cannon shots.

‘Kwaang… Too-kwaga-gwang!’

‘Kwang. Kwaaang!’

“Woah~ G, Guild Leader!”

“Ah! Bro! G, good! Good!”

“What a brilliant idea! Amazing!”

The guild members shout from around me, and their morale greatly increases with the appearance of unexpected allies.

‘Too-kwaga-gwang! Kwang!’

‘Kwang. Kwaaang!’

Ten defense towers are built behind the Gateway on the right side of the cave entrance.

As soon as the buildings are completed, cannon fire attacks the surrounding humanoid dungeon units like automatic weapons.

The shouts of the guild members, who were already exhausted and seemed hopeless, echo, and strength is added to the speed at which the warriors swing their greatswords.

Shit! If only I had thought of this sooner!

It’s good for now!

Bastards… I’ll kill you all!

“Summon all Probes!”

[Ding! Summoning 16,491 Probes.]

In an instant, the floor of the massive cavern is filled with blue light.

Enough to make the humanoid dungeon units stop attacking and hesitate for a moment.

The guild members are looking at me with hopeful, glistening eyes, and the space around us is so crowded with Probes that there’s no room to step.

Damn, if you don’t have teeth, you chew with your gums! [A saying meaning to make do with what you have.]

“All Probes, create crystals!”

[Ding! Mineral fragments are insufficient.]

“Fuck off! Status window!”

Damn it!

What are you doing in this situation!

What were the stats of the crystals again!

Why didn’t I memorize the status stats!

If I get through this battle safely, I’ll memorize the status window by heart.

The crystal stats are… Okay, confirmed!

“Create 1,090 crystals!”

‘Kwaa-chi… Chi-chi… Jik!’

‘Kwa… Chi… Jijik!’

“Kkaaaaack!”

“Bro!”

“Guild Leader!”

Blue lightning storms through the massive cavern.

The blue beams of light that rise from the dungeon floor twist into hundreds of strands, creating a tremendous roar, and the dungeon units are startled and retreat.

Damn, this isn’t something I’m supposed to be doing. I’m supposed to be watching the art team or other Awakened Ones do this while drinking popcorn or cola!

The tremendous roar echoes through the massive cavern and then disappears. Crystals that started from the cave entrance and continued for a radius of 50 meters were created as if to surround us. The crystals were created densely as I recognized them, preventing those guys from approaching easily.

“Bring all the minerals!”

Han-deuk is the first to come to his senses at my shout.

“… Each shuttle item manager, take out all the minerals! Right now!”

“Break the minerals you take out! No, just give them to the Guild Leader!”

“No! We have to break them! We don’t know how much will be needed!”

“Warriors, break the minerals! Quickly!”

Hurriedly, some guild members take out mineral chunks from their inventories and throw them in front of me. Gil-soo and a few warriors quickly approach, place them on the floor, and strike them with their greatswords.

The minerals break, and fragments scatter around.

Under normal circumstances, I would have hit them in the back of the head, but they’re doing a great job right now.

I absorb the mineral fragments that they’re breaking with my left hand, recognizing 1,100 Probes.

The maximum number of defense towers that can be created with the mineral fragments absorbed to the maximum limit….

“All Probes, create defense towers!”

‘Kwaa-chi… Chi-chi… Jik!’

‘Kwachi… Chi… Jijik!’

Once again, blue lightning rises from the dungeon floor, and a tremendous roar that makes my ears ring echoes through the cavern.

Yeah! You bastards!

I’ll show you what a forward defense tower is!

Shortly after.

‘Kukwaga-gwang… Kwaaang!’

‘Too-kwakwagwang… Kwang’

‘Kee-aaaack… Kee-aaack!’

‘Kee-ack! Kee-aaaack.’

“Magic Worms, magic mist!”

‘Poo-ack… Poo-aaack!’

“Move under the defense towers! Don’t take your eyes off the units!”

“Keep each other in check! Don’t forget that those guys can teleport with Blink! [A short-range teleportation ability.]”

“Here! Casualties! H, Healer!”

“Potion! Who’s in charge of potions!”

“Wrath of the Goddess Idea! Wall of Fire!”

“Tears of the Goddess Idea! Wall of Ice!”

“Warrior Team 2! Where did Team 2 go!”

The guild members’ conversations are barely audible due to the magic attacks of the mages and the cannon fire explosions pouring out from the defense towers.

Me and the team leaders are being chased, forming a long line.

Thankfully, by moving under the defense towers within the magic mist, we were able to take a breather from the dungeon unit attacks.

Once those guys approach within range, the cannons on the defense towers fire, giving us a brief moment to reorganize our formation and face them.

The problem is that the number of times we can use the Magic Worms’ magic mist is gradually decreasing, and the potion consumption due to the warriors’ injuries is severe.

Furthermore, there are only a few low-grade and mid-grade potions left, and there are only a few high-grade potions in demand.

If we give high-grade potions to the healers and clerics, healing and blessings will pour out immediately… But after that, it’s over. We won’t be able to receive healing and blessings for minor injuries and wounds, so we won’t be able to fight any longer.

Moreover, we can’t take care of the seriously injured, so the number of deaths will increase rapidly… Eventually, we’ll all be buried here.

What should I do?

How on earth can I get past these bastards and destroy that stone pillar?

How on earth can I get out of this place… Uh, uh?

‘… Doo-doo-doo… Doo-doo-doong.’

“Wh, what is it!”

“Guild Leader!”

“Everyone, A2! Fall back and wait!”

“Something’s coming! If it’s a dungeon unit, we’re all dead!”

“Hey, you bastard! Shut your mouth!”

The entire massive cavern feels like it’s ringing.

The vibrations gradually intensify, and something of enormous scale is approaching….

‘Kieeeek… Kieeek!’

‘Kuek… Kueeeek!’

Uh? Isn’t that the sound of a runaway dog barking to have the front door opened?

‘Doo-doo-doo-doo… Doo-doo-doo.’

“Everyone, huddle together! Huddle together!”

“Guild Leader!”

“Damn it! Everyone this way! Magic Worms, magic mist!”