The Return of The Mythical Archmage [EN]: Chapter 127

Meanwhile, at that very moment, the Olympiad operations headquarters was in chaos.

“The Korean team, 10 seconds have passed since encountering the Devil Ape! They still don’t seem to be thinking of escaping!” To be precise, it was the escort team within the operations headquarters, the ones responsible for the safety of the players, that was in an uproar.

“It seems the Korean team’s goal is to subdue the Devil Ape!”

“…They’ve lost their minds.”

The Devil Ape located in Zone 3 of the labyrinth arena isn’t a monster meant to be defeated. It’s a suppression device, meant to be escaped from. A grim reaper-like entity that embodies the terror of the labyrinth. You can tell just by looking at its rank. It’s a whopping A-rank, Tier 4. It’s a level that requires at least five 6-circle mages in a party to safely take down.

“…A frog in a well, not knowing how vast the world is, and acting arrogant.”

And yet, three mere students are trying to deal with such a monster. So, how could the escort team not be in a state of emergency?

“Prepare a response team nearby so we can deploy immediately.”

“Yes!”

The head of the escort team gritted his teeth and issued the order. He was furious at Shin Hayul for making the foolish choice to try and subdue the Devil Ape.

“If anything happens to the players, we can’t avoid responsibility either. Don’t let your guard down for even a second.”

If there are any casualties during the match, the head of the escort team, himself, would likely be out of a job. He had to prevent casualties at all costs.

“Yes, I understand.”

“Send a request for cooperation to the rescue team as well.”

“We’ve already requested support from the medical team. They’re heading to the site now.”

“Good.”

The head of the escort team let out a sigh of relief, looking somewhat reassured. If the rescue team is also on standby nearby, the probability of casualties approaches 0%. He felt a little more at ease.

“Chief, wouldn’t it be better to go in and stop them right now?”

“…That’s not possible.”

“Why not?”

“The higher-ups have ordered us not to move unless something goes wrong.”

What the Korean team is trying to do right now is a form of suicide. No matter how skilled Shin Hayul is, they can’t defeat the Devil Ape with just three people. Therefore, for safety’s sake, it would be better to jump in and stop them right now. But that’s impossible. The higher-ups are preventing them from intervening.

“Why would the higher-ups issue such an order…? If something happens to the Korean team, the backlash will be hard to handle.”

At his subordinate’s question, the chief’s eyes flashed sharply. There’s only one reason why the higher-ups would issue a standby order.

‘The higher-ups want the Korean team to be eliminated here.’

Currently, the higher-ups desperately want the Korean team to be eliminated. To be precise, they don’t want the highest score record, which the US has held for 127 years, to be overwritten. That’s why the higher-ups ordered the escort team not to move. If they leave them be, the Korean team will naturally be defeated by the Devil Ape and eliminated, and then the record won’t be overwritten.

“Chief?”

“…I don’t know the reason either. But since it’s the higher-ups’ decision, there must be a good reason.”

Of course, this is the kind of thing he can’t tell his subordinates.

“But…”

“Think about it later. This isn’t the time for that.”

“Ah, yes. Sorry. I’ll focus.”

At the chief’s stern words, the subordinate put his thoughts aside for now. As he said, getting through this situation safely is the priority right now.

“The Devil Ape has finished observing the target and is moving!”

Just then, the Devil Ape began to move. Having finished its observation, the Devil Ape began to act to eliminate the intruders. The ape’s unique, bulging muscles expanded even further.

Kuooh-!

Clenching its fist, it let out a roar and leaped towards the Korean team. It wasn’t that fast. From the start, the Devil Ape is among the slowest of the A-rank monsters. Honestly, in terms of speed alone, it’s worse than a B-rank monster. But that’s its only drawback. Its only weakness is its slow speed.

‘The Devil Ape’s terror lies in its brute strength.’

The outstanding advantage that elevated the Devil Ape, whose speed is below B-rank, to A-rank. Brute strength. In the face of the Devil Ape’s immense power, most defensive magic is like paper. Mages below the 6th circle can never block the Devil Ape’s attacks.

‘And it’s smart, like a primate.’

It’s already difficult enough with its brute strength, but as if to prove it’s a primate, the Devil Ape is also quite intelligent.

‘Lastly, its powerful durability derived from its physique and its limitless stamina.’

Except for speed, all its stats are top-tier. That’s the Devil Ape.

‘How do they plan to defeat such a thing?’

The Devil Ape, which had leaped high into the sky, fell straight down and swung its fist at the Korean team.

‘They’ll dodge it, at least.’

But as he said, the Devil Ape’s weakness is its speed. The Korean team wouldn’t be easily hit by an attack of that speed. The Korean team quickly moved out of the attack range.

Kwaaaang-!

The Devil Ape’s fist collided with the labyrinth floor, and a deafening roar echoed. Such was its power that the labyrinth floor, made of solid magic stones, cracked like ordinary concrete.

Whirr-!

Blue flames flew towards the Devil Ape, which had its fist buried in the ground. Shin Hayul’s ‘Infernal Blaze.’ It accurately struck the Devil Ape’s empty side. However.

‘With magic of that power, you can’t damage the Devil Ape.’

The Devil Ape seemed completely unfazed. It simply shook off the blue flames on its side and frowned. It was as if it was shaking off an annoying fly. At that nonchalant sight, Ji Soon-chan and Kang Shin-woo’s expressions twisted. They looked like they hadn’t expected its defense to be that high.

‘Now that you know, run away.’

Now that they’ve seen that Infernal Blaze doesn’t work, they should realize how arrogant they’ve been. It’s time for the frog in the well to realize its place and choose to escape.

‘Run away quickly. It’s for your sake and ours.’

The chief desperately wished in his heart. But contrary to the chief’s wishes, the Korean team showed no intention of backing down.

‘…They’ve gathered again? What are they thinking?’

They should be scattering to disperse the Devil Ape’s attacks, but instead, the three of them suddenly gathered in one place. Shin Hayul stood at the front, Ji Soon-chan behind him, and Kang Shin-woo at the very back. At that moment, the Devil Ape kicked off the ground again. The Devil Ape leaped into the sky once more and flew towards where the Korean team was gathered.

‘I don’t know what they’re trying to do, but they’ll dodge it this time too.’

The chief naturally thought they would dodge it. The Devil Ape’s attack wasn’t something those three could block. However.

‘…A defensive spell?’

Such expectations of the chief were shattered. ‘Are they seriously trying to block the Devil Ape’s attack?’ The three of them were trying to block the Devil Ape’s attack, instead of dodging it. The chief was horrified and shouted.

“Those idiots…!”

Those foolish bastards! Before he could finish the sentence, the Devil Ape’s fist collided with the barrier.

Kwaaaang-!

With a tremendous explosion, the entire labyrinth shook.

‘If they take that head-on! There could be casualties!’

The chief was horrified and shouted.

“Get the rescue team ready right now…!”

No, it was just as he was about to shout.

“…!”

The chief was speechless at the sight on the screen.

“…D-did they block it?”

The barrier, which should have been shattered by the Devil Ape’s fist, was still maintaining its form.

“How…?”

At that moment, cheers erupted.

—Waaaaaah!!

The roar of cheers came through the speakers of the sub-camera that was showing the audience seats.

* * *

The Devil Ape retreated a step, its red eyes gleaming. It seemed to be wary of us. Could it be that it never imagined its attack would be blocked?

“Wow. Look at the power. It’s insane. Can you see my hand shaking?” Behind me, Soon-chan, who was using the barrier while hugging me, was putting on an act.

“Stop exaggerating.”

Blocking that attack just now was a miracle in itself, what’s with just your hand shaking a bit?

“How is it? We have to block it one or two more times. Can you hold out?”

“Yeah. It’s tough, but I think I can manage somehow?” Soon-chan looked at the Devil Ape, which was keeping its distance and being wary of us, and deactivated the barrier.

“By the way, you. Since when could you activate two interferences at the same time?”

“Not long ago.”

Just now, my power played a major role in blocking the Devil Ape’s attack. I interfered with the mana waves surrounding the Devil Ape’s fist, reducing its power, while simultaneously strengthening Soon-chan’s barrier through interference. The result was the defense just now. The weakened Devil Ape’s fist couldn’t break through Soon-chan’s strengthened barrier.

“Wow. You’re really growing every day…”

“Enough with the chatter. Get ready. It’s coming again.”

I cut off Soon-chan’s words and lowered my stance again.

“Clueless monster. Not even giving us a chance to talk. …Okay.”

Soon-chan also quickly got ready.

Woo-!

The Devil Ape, perhaps to unleash an even more powerful attack this time, leaped even higher and flew towards us. The Devil Ape’s massive fist instantly filled my vision.

“Uh-uh. Not so fast.”

In that gap, Soon-chan’s barrier appeared. A translucent, octagonal barrier. A magic called ‘Octagonal Gate’ that I had directly taught Soon-chan, using the knowledge I gained from Mimir’s Well [a mythical well of knowledge]. I placed my hand on the Octagonal Gate and moved my mana.

‘Interference.’

‘Strengthen the intensity of the center of the Octagonal Gate by 74cm.’

The Octagonal Gate, imbued with my mana, became even denser.

Kuuuung-!

At that moment, the Devil Ape’s fist collided with the Octagonal Gate.

‘Interference.’

At that moment, my mana flowed into the Devil Ape’s fist again. I had 100% grasped the Devil Ape’s bio-mana code through 1 minute of observation just now. I also already knew that the Devil Ape’s brute strength was a type of ‘magic.’ Since it hadn’t moved, there was no need to calculate its location information.

‘Interference conditions all clear.’

My mana became one with the Devil Ape’s mana. With this, all preparations were complete.

‘Twist the magic formula of its brute strength just a little, redirecting the direction of its power.’

The moment I completed the interference.

Kwaaaang!

The sound of the impact grew even louder. A portion of the Devil Ape’s power flowed in reverse, making the impact sound even louder.

Kuooh-!

The Devil Ape’s scream was heard. It must be feeling great pain in its fist due to the reverse flow of power.

Paah-!

The result was the same as before. The Devil Ape’s fist couldn’t break through Soon-chan’s barrier. The flustered Devil Ape distanced itself again. Its expression was more serious than before. It seemed to be even more wary of us. In that state, it slowly circled around us, its eyes gleaming.

“It really seems smart. Just look at how it’s keeping its distance and being wary.”

“Right.”

The Devil Ape’s intelligence is quite high for a monster. Especially its ability to learn from combat is outstanding.

“Is it not coming again?”

“It won’t. It learned from the two attacks just now that it can’t break through your barrier.”

“Ah, I see.”

Currently, the Devil Ape has learned through two attacks that no matter what it does, it can’t break through Soon-chan’s barrier. That’s why it’s keeping its distance and being wary like that now.

“Then, is phase 1 over?”

“Yeah.”

The first phase of the Devil Ape subjugation operation. The process of imprinting and teaching the Devil Ape about Soon-chan’s barrier is over.

“Shin-woo, senior.”

“Hmm. Is it finally my turn?”

Now it’s time to move on to phase 2.

“I’m counting on you.”

“Alright.”

They say that nothing is easier to handle than something that’s moderately intelligent. I think that’s a perfect description for the Devil Ape.

“Let’s go.”

“Yes.”

I watched Soon-chan and Shin-woo senior slowly move forward and took a step back.

“30 seconds. I just need 30 seconds.”

“Leave it to us.”

“That’s a piece of cake.”

The Devil Ape frowned as it looked at the two who had separated.

“Come on. You balloon muscle with only cool horns.”

“……”

The Devil Ape stared intently at the two, its expression showing that it didn’t know what they were thinking. Its wariness seemed to have deepened.

‘Hoo. Let’s begin.’

I looked at the backs of the two and slowly erased my presence. And at that moment.

Woo-!

The fifth ring within my body began to rotate violently.

“I beseech thee—”

My voice flowed on the mana.