Chapter 80 – Fear, Flee. What Cannot Be Avoided

Felgiel Roscar, an ability user who was once doing fairly well in the Empire.

Again. Now, an undeniable enemy of the Empire – Felgibel, the eugenicist of aberrant abilities.

Not long ago, he was, in his own way, a prominent figure within their ranks, commanding many underlings.

He strove to prove that only those gifted with aberrant abilities deserved to exist in this world.

Nightly, he’d move in secret, endeavoring to persuade those who had once fought alongside him.

He held no doubt, no hesitation, regarding the righteousness of his actions. He was certain he was right.

Even if those fools couldn’t grasp it now, he believed, one day they would change.

For how long could these magnificent aberrants sacrifice themselves for the sake of the inept?

They should be venerated more, celebrated more, elevated to even greater heights.

That was the rightful future of the Empire, as dreamt by Felgibel and his eugenicists.

“Hgh! Hah! Ugh!”

But belief and all, it met the same end in the face of the looming dread.

‘I have to escape. I have to! What… what is that thing!?’

At first, he thought it was some kind of tremor. Or maybe an Imperial aberrant was using their power.

But no. Neither of those. He almost wished it had been!

—Thump! Thump! Thump!

The labyrinth, too daunting to tread carelessly. The traps laid meticulously. Even the comrades positioned to inflict accumulating damage. All of it proved useless.

—Thump! Thump! Thump!

Breached, every single one. Circumvented, one after another. Above all, unable to inflict any damage.

Nothing they had worked on was effective against the creature approaching now. With each step, everything prepared by them turned to dust and crumbled.

Even more terrifying was the fact that the monster wasn’t even picking up its pace.

That accursed thump, thump sound was so loud. From the start until now, it resonated throughout the underground, maintaining the same steady rhythm.

That fact drove Felgibel madder than ever.

‘Damn it. Damn it. What is this? Is it saying it can catch us all anyway? That it doesn’t have to rush, it can just toy with us in the palm of its hand?!’

They had already engaged the creature in at least five confrontations. Every one had ended in utter defeat.

The comrades who had stood with him were either squeezed dry like dishrags or rolling around as mangled messes. And that was the better outcome, comparatively.

Despite everyone being an aberrant, resistance had proven impossible. No matter how many attacks they hurled, the monster remained unscathed.

No blade they brought forth could inflict a wound, let alone draw blood! Was this even possible! Even monsters bled when stabbed or cut.

“Hgh! Hah!”

“Felgibel! Over here! This way!”

Looking ahead, he saw the remaining comrades they were to meet at Sector 3, waving their arms.

Thank goodness. Judging by the numbers, it seemed they had managed to maintain a reasonable force, at least. The sight of skilled pyrokinesis users was especially reassuring.

“What is this, you are alone? What of the others?”

“It pains me to say it, but, for now, I don’t know. Some fell along the way, others were scattered, hunted in all directions.”

“Then we must rescue our comrades first—”

Felgibel cut his comrade off, gesturing towards the depths of darkness he had just fled.

“No. Beyond that. It’s coming.”

“What’s beyond? What’s coming?”

“A monster that is literally destroying everything we have prepared. Traps, ambushes, powers, nothing works. It’s a person, but not a person. Dammit!”

His desperate cry visibly unnerved the others.

A monster? Those words shouldn’t come from the mouth of an aberrant capable of slaying calamities like monsters.

Even granting that traps and ambushes wouldn’t work, the fact that it was unscathed by abilities too… that was beyond belief. It should at least be injured, if not killed outright.

“Are you certain? Even Saber Shadow takes precautions against abilities, and you’re saying this is unaffected?”

Their question was answered before long. The protagonist had arrived right in front of them.

– *Boom!*

With a deafening roar, the interior of the catacomb seemed to faintly tremble. Something broke through the granite—stone nearly impervious to abilities—and emerged before them.

“…What in the world.”

“A monster?”

As someone uttered the word with a gasp, the creature before them scowled.

Then, as if utterly displeased, it hurled a stone it was holding with considerable force—

“Gah!”

The ability user who had spoken the word “monster” collapsed on the spot.

It happened so fast that hardly anyone properly registered what had occurred.

“Damn! What is this thing?!”

“We can’t let it break through to the final point! We need to buy time!”

The Empire had truly begun its attack. They needed to get word of this to their comrades in other areas, and fast.

There was a vast difference between being caught completely unawares, as they had been today, and facing an attack with some degree of preparation. As many people as possible had to escape and spread the word about the Empire’s tactics!

“aaah!”

“Attack!”

As one would against a monster, the weapon-based and martial-arts-based ability users moved to the front lines.

Those with ranged abilities provided support from behind, exploiting openings to attack. And finally, the pyrotechnic ability users, possessing the greatest firepower, prepared a single, devastating blast.

– *Thwack! Thwack!!*

Their opponent wore no armor. Nor did it wield any weapon.

Therefore, there was no sound of metal clashing against metal. No *clang!* or *ting!*

Only the sound of honed edges striking that frail flesh.

But, why? How could it be?

“W-what the?!”

“Goddamn it! What is this?! Why… why isn’t it being cut?!”

The weapon-based ability users, attacking in formation, cried out in alarm.

They checked to see if their abilities had malfunctioned, or if their weapons were damaged.

That was when they realized… both their abilities and their weapons were perfectly fine.

“Is it some kind of defensive ability?! Or a barrier?”

“Neither! I don’t feel anything blocking the ability!”

“Then what the hell is it?! Are you saying it’s just taking the hits with its bare body?!”

The martial-arts-based users also poured forth a relentless barrage, but to no avail.

They were clearly connecting. Yet, they saw no reaction. It was like pummeling a living wall; only their fists ached.

That alone was preposterous enough, but what followed was even worse.

– *Whoosh!*

“Ugh!”

Each time that massive arm swung, skilled ability users were sent flying like ragdolls.

Like scraggly, emaciated branches swept away by a gale. Without so much as a semblance of resistance.

“Guh…!!”

Is that truly a person? How could anyone’s arms be that thick?

It’s as if a tree has come to life, thrashing its enormous limbs every which way. Or perhaps a monster has taken human form and is now in motion.

Even those who wield the inexplicable power known as “ability” could only conclude, after much deliberation, that this was simply impossible.

“This won’t do! Fall back! Fall back!!”

“Ignition types! Burn it down! Incinerate! At the very least, restrain its movements!”

If they couldn’t stop it, they could at least slow it down. If that failed, they would retreat to the next point.

If their abilities alone couldn’t subdue it, they would bring in more comrades and supporting traps.

As long as they could escape, it wouldn’t be a complete failure!

“Ready! Clear the path! Unless you want to be consumed by the flames with me!”

“Get out of the way! Move!!”

At the desperate cries, the ability users who were still mobile scattered in all directions.

Simultaneously, those with ignition abilities unleashed a barrage of crimson flames, converging on the monstrosity that was approaching them.

—KWAARRRR!!

Not stopping there, defense and barrier types erected walls and shields in front of the flames.

This way, they would be shielded from harm, while the monster would suffer double the fiery damage. The flames would swirl and churn, attempting to incinerate it down to the bone.

“That’s enough for now! Everyone, move to the next location!”

“What? Hey, Pelgibel. Shouldn’t we confirm its demise before leaving?”

“It won’t die! At best, it’ll only suffer some damage! The injuries will slow it down, so we need to move swiftly. Quickly!”

This wasn’t a battle, but an escape. There was no time to confirm anything.

At Pelgibel’s words, the others nodded and were about to turn away.

—*Thump!*

Piercing through the vortex of crimson fire, a colossal hand slammed into the barrier before them.

That alone was a shocking sight, but the true spectacle was only just beginning.

“Wh-what?”

—*Crrrraack!!*

Cracks spiderwebbed across the barrier. The shield was on the verge of collapse. It wouldn’t last much longer before crumbling into dust.

As if bound by some unspoken pact, everyone stood frozen, unable to comprehend what was happening.

“Tch.”

Breaking through the flames that threatened to consume everything, the monster clicked its tongue and advanced once more.

“Even if you fear, even if you flee.”

A baleful glint in its eyes, burning brighter than the inferno itself.

“Fate cannot be escaped.”