Teamwork was a term often used in competitive online multiplayer games to refer to a temporary alliance between players who were classified as enemies in the game.
Ha, are you teaming up?
Each game had its own perspective of Teamwork. While some saw Teamwork as part of the game, others considered it cheating and actively repressed it. Of course, regardless of the game, intentional teamwork was considered cheating on the same level as using hacks or bots. That was because it tipped the scales enormously and made the lives of normal users much more difficult.
Damn, what the hell is the administrator doing? Kick these bastards!
Complaints popped into my head instinctively. I had tried very hard to make it a three-way fight. And to think they would join here... Didn't Noark hate the palace? Things got very complicated.
This makes it impossible to divide and conquer...
Plan A had already failed. Come to think of it, it was always like this. There had never been a time when I was truly able to use my original plan to deal with a situation. It's not like she was an aggressive planner or anything, but for some reason, things always turned out that way.
«Um...» Marrone's hesitant voice brought me out of my thoughts.
«Ah, I got distracted for a second».
«Nothing happens.»
«So how many are on Noark's side?»
«Six people.»
«Who are they?» Not that we knew their names, but we had already fought them twice.
Marrone briefly explained who he saw, focusing on his abilities. «Um... the special abilities user who threw black spears, and the woman who ran like lightning. Ah! And there was also that bald boxer». On top of that, there was a Karui priest and a dark wizard. «And finally...»
«Vague Gift. You're with them too, right?»
«¡S-Si!»
The Dragon Hunter, Regal Vagos. He knew it was in vain, but he had been waiting for him to die from Soul Extraction. It seems he managed to survive somehow.
I know his body was technically recovered since he was in a spirit world, but it still couldn't have been easy. Was the old dragon weaker than he thought?
When he finished Marrone's report, Ravien murmured: «It's a relief. Let him be alive...»
«…¿Eh?»
«I need your heart to save Pen».
«Ah...»
I completely forgot about that. It was the little dragon Pen who had cursed Vagos and made his Dragon Speech almost unusable. As a result of the grueling curse, time stopped in his body, and he was now unable to take a single step outside the dragon temple for the rest of his life.
«…It feels like you just woke up».
«I'm sorry. I had a lot on my mind».
«You will have to remember it. If you save Pen, you can receive my father's protection».
«Can't I get yours?»
«I have no authority within the tribe. But my father is different.»
Simply put, if he completed this quest, there was a chance to get the dragon tribe as an ally. I didn't know how it would end up turning out in reality, but I couldn't pass up this opportunity when I was soon going to have to face the palace.
«I will keep it in mind».
«That's enough for me. But don't push yourself too hard. There will always be another opportunity. If he is alive...»
What are you saying? We're going to have to kill him to survive.
However, she had gotten her point across. Whatever we did from now on, all he asked of me was that I not forget to prioritize Pen.
«Okay, let's move again!»
We installed detection spells throughout all the passageways while we moved. The enemy would think we were fleeing, but to have a little more of an advantage in this fight, we had to lure him to a battlefield of our choice.
Time passed and soon the seventieth day arrived, five days before the labyrinth closed. We toured the cave and settled in a place.
«Rest as much as possible. This will be our last break».
It was time to prepare for battle. We spot the enemy chewing jerky with the last detection spell.
It's probably food from the Order of the Rose.
It was unfair how jealous he was. While we were stuck chewing monster meat, they were having a normal meal. Well, that seemed to be the reason why they weren't speeding up their pursuit.
At this rate, we will be at a greater disadvantage if you take your time.
Thanks to monster meat, we would have no problems surviving. But the distortion spell must have been successful so that we could get hold of the meat and not everyone could eat their fill. We may not have been starving, but our hunger was growing even at this moment. If we were going to end this, it had to be now before we got any more tired.
«Mr. Yandel, don't just stand there in the cold, come here!»
I followed Marrone's call and obediently headed towards the fire. The concept of «teams» no longer made sense to us. The entire squad gathered around the flames of the bonfire.
«Mm... You definitely have to roast the meat! Yandel! Do you want one?»
No self-respecting barbarian would turn down an offer of meat, so I quickly grabbed it and put it in my mouth. I chewed it while listening to the platoon's conversation.
«This... will be our last fight, right?».
A woman wrapped her arms around her legs anxiously. She was Priestess Periton Eriabosti of Team Five. She apparently grew up in the orphanage run by the Heindel Church and became a priestess. She also had a husband in town. He was not an adventurer, but an ordinary office worker in the administrative office. They became intimate while volunteering at church.
I heard... that he also has a son...
This was a change that had occurred as our long search neared its end. Having gone through and overcome numerous crises together, we came to know each other too well.
«I'm going... to come back alive. I can't let my son grow up like me». It was a trembling but firm display of resolve. There was silence.
Crepit... crepe... pancake...
The sounds of crackling fire continued, and my team's mage, Ashed, spoke. «My wife will be able to cope without me. He's strong... but... I'm sure he'll cry».
«Are you... married? You never said anything».
«Well, you never asked, Mr. Aldidi.»
«Huh-!» Old Didi gaped in apparent betrayal.
It was Futa Rickerburn who spoke next, the poor guy who had worked as an arranger for Duke Kealunus and was thrown into this place under the guise of retirement. «This makes me more miserable the more I listen».
«...Sorry?»
«If I had to choose the most insignificant person here, it would be me.»
«Where does this come from?»
«I'm not married and no one is waiting for me in the city. I was tired of living that life and wanted to leave, but instead I ended up here. If the gods had to choose someone to die, they would choose me. But... I'm still going to survive. Wouldn't it be terrible to let that misery be all there is in my existence?».
It was like a dam had broken. Eager that this might be their last chance, everyone let out the emotions they had hidden deep within their being.
«That doesn't sound like the guy who said it was all over for us.»
«Can you... forget about that now?»
«Hahaha! Free?»
Despite this, the conversation was brilliant. Although some of the people speaking around this bonfire now may not have been there to greet us the next day, they were all still talking about the future.
«Yandel, what are your plans once you get out of here? Revenge, sure». Some talked about revenge.
«Ahh, I don't care about that. I just want cake». Some shared small wishes.
«I'm worried about my grandmother at home...». Some remembered a missing loved one and used their memory to strengthen their resolve.
«All that aside, I just want a drink».
«Me too. Really».
The general consensus was that we all desperately needed a drink. The conversation continued.
«Um... why don't we form a clan once we get back to town?»
«¿Clan?»
«This is destiny, right? And.... it's not like any of us can go back to our old positions, so... um... I just thought that if we all worked together even in the city, maybe we could do something, so...»
We talk about our future, not just the individual one.
«Shut up, what kind of person was your friend?»
«You mean Rick...?»
«Come to think of it, I don't think I could talk to him much».
This was not only our story, but that of those who could not be with us here. We speak aimlessly to remember, commemorate and express our regret.
A long while later, Marrone called me, his expression steely. «Lord Yandel... The detection spell has been activated».
Hearing that phrase, we all smiled regretfully, got up from our seats and put out the fire that was burning in the center of our group. It was time to return to cold reality.
***
The plan was simple. No, actually, I didn't have much of a plan. We decided the location of our combat and would now fight fiercely against our enemies with the greatest determination. Whoever survived would win.
«... They are here.»
«Numbers?»
«The same».
I got the information I wanted from Erwen, who had her ear pressed to the ground, but I still waited just in case.
Step step.
A minute later, they got close enough that even I could hear them. Soon, the enemy appeared around the corner. His number was a little strange. There were only seven of the Order of the Rose and six of Noark, bringing the total to thirteen enemies.
Did they leave behind those who were useless in battle due to penalties? No, that doesn't make sense. But even regardless of the cold, the maze is full of monsters. If they didn't leave them behind, did they abandon them...?
It was a response very typical of Noark.
«...Dead end?» Seeing us in our defensive formation, the woman in front tilted her head. She seemed happy to have finally caught up with us, but she sensed that something was not right. «Were you waiting for us?» She was quick to understand the situation, as someone with experience in all types of battles. Not that that made a difference.
«Shut up!» As soon as the scream left my lips, Calla activated her ability.
[James Calla has released Fast Hands.]
I couldn't aim now that I was blind, but that wasn't what we were looking for anyway. The important thing was that the ground shook as soon as he threw the skill.
[An ability has been used within range. The trap has been activated.]
¡Kablam!
Soon, a loud roar sounded behind the enemy. The area we were in was a trap room, which you might encounter from time to time when crossing the frozen cave system.
«...We are trapped!»
The condition to activate it was to cast an ability. Once the trap was activated, the only entrance to the room was covered in ice. This became a hidden room until it melted a day later.
Compared to Noark's panic, the Order of the Rose was calm. The calmest among them was the leader. «Why did you make this decision?» His question only contained curiosity.
The answer was simple. «There is no paradise we can escape to».
«How deep».
Should be. Those are the words of my favorite author.
«I want to ask you something.»
«My name is Six.»
«…¿Eh?»
I didn't want to know his name.
When I gave him an incredulous look, the woman named Six continued without even raising an eyebrow. «So what do you want to ask?». She seemed a little embarrassed, but he couldn't blame her.
I just asked my question. «How could you bear to work with them?».
The answer came from an unexpected place. «Oh, that?» The Dragon Slayer Regal Vagos moved forward with a wiggle, it seemed recovered to a certain extent. «These women knew they needed our help to catch them all».
Hmm, that made sense from the perspective of the Order of the Rose. For them, their mission came first.
«But you had no reason to accept that offer.» I spoke to the Bald Boxer, not the Dragon Hunter. Vagos could have made this stupid decision because of his grudge against me, but this guy seemed to be the real leader here. «Do you really not know? Once we are dead, you will be next».
The question was asked with the intention of causing a rift in their ranks. However, Calvo Boxer seemed unfazed when he answered me. «It is well known that the Order of the Rose cannot break an oath made in the name of the king».
Ah, I see. I thought the oath was just a code of tricks for barbarians. Also, it's funny that you say this is known. It's the first time I've heard it.
«Besides, we had no choice. We ran out of food chasing them. Our only option was to work with them to get their food». Now it made sense how these two groups became so cooperative.
«Now, does that answer all your questions?», asked the woman who appeared to be the leader, Six, with the clear intention of ending this conversation.
«No, not yet. Was it Repels? I have a suggestion for you».
Calvo laughed at my words. «Are you really going to try to appeal to me?».
How did he know?
I admitted it willingly.
«Yeah. Join our side. We will provide you with food».
Although it is monster meat.
«...What?» He seemed surprised, as if he had never expected me to make him that offer.
I quickly continued. «What happened is that the palace abandoned us. If possible, I want to take this opportunity to change my membership completely. What do you think?»
«...There is nothing sillier than trusting your enemy».
«If you want an oath, I will do it. For the honor of a warrior.» Just as the Order of the Rose used its code of tricks, I used that of my tribe.
«You... are you serious?» Calvo began to consider this with a confused look on his face.
Of course, that didn't last long. Now that he thought about it, there was a saboteur on his side. «Repels, don't fall for the enemy's tricks. That man already broke an oath once. It's a different race that doesn't care about the honor of a warrior or anything like that». The Dragon Slayer, whom I once stabbed in the back in the Labyrinth of Larcaz, revealed his story.
Calvo's expression hardened and he turned to me. «Unfortunately, I will have to decline that offer. For starters, I have no way to control you in the city».
Hmm, that's a no-go, huh?
«That's unfortunate. Then I guess we'll have to kill you all».
I covered my upper body with my shield and looked at the enemy. My line of sight was low because I could no longer use gigantization, but that didn't matter. The great way was to chew with your gums if you didn't have teeth.
«Erwen!» The moment my call rang, Erwen's body blurred.
[Erwen Fornacci di Tersia has launched Elementalization.]
Since this place was plagued by aura users, the attribute we chose was Earth, obviously.
[Any damage taken from Fire attribute attacks is halved. Damage taken from Water attribute attacks is doubled. Immunity to poison. Using blunt weapons adds a Strength bonus to attacks. Your physical resistance has increased significantly.
My Physical Stamina value has skyrocketed and the second phase of Evolutionary Shell has been activated even without gigantization.
[Your physical resistance exceeds 350 points. Damage is reduced by 50% for penetration-type wounds only.
Yeah, let's try it, okay?
«¡Become-aaaaaa!»
I was pretty confident in dog fighting.