As it is right now, the gods had succeeded in hampering him a little. Something had to change or he wouldn't be able to make much progress in destroying the catapults.
The spell he had used was enhanced by amplified and delayed casting. The two spell techniques are tasking on their own but to use them simultaneously is too draining. He can handle it better if he were not creating and maintaining barriers. He is extraordinary for a vitality core stage refiner but he has reached his limits. He has reached the limit of what he can do against an army of that size.
But the ranged war machines have to be destroyed or all the attempts of the attackers to push into the dungeon with the army will be nullified and their current expedition will go to waste.
The only good news is that he has the energy to become a mana entity right now. The killing spree he had just gone on paid with a bounty of energy. Now he has a choice, become a mana entity or create another gate.
If he becomes a mana entity his spell power will improve. The quality and resistance of his body will skyrocket. Most importantly he will be able to walk in the air and fly. It is not something a normal person will be able to do immediately after they become a mana entity but he isn't a normal person. So he won't need to jump to escape being cornered. He will be able to walk on air just like he can walk on water or land.
Making another gate will improve his momentum and he has a feeling that it will make him a stronger mana entity. That is if he can become a mana entity. His knowledge of life and energy is enough for him to realize that having more gates will mean an exponential increase in the need for energy to break through to the next level. He runs a risk of being stuck in this stage forever.
'Hail Legion.' he thought as he began creating another gate.
It wasn't a dilemma at all. He had become a mana entity before, but he hasn't become one with these gates. He had to explore the possibility of the gates to their fullest extent if only to acquire information. His progress can be sacrificed for the great collective that is Legion.
He doesn't live his life for himself but for the glory of Legion. Legion will be able to supply him with as much energy as he needs once the 9th clone awakens. Even if Legion cannot help him out then he will just reincarnate. It will cost a lot to reincarnate again but it will be worth it to get to the bottom of organ creation through the transformation of vitality by mana.
He created another gate and attacked the defending army once again. Their body blockage almost broke when he rammed into it but it held. He realized he still couldn't take them on right now. Their bodies were somehow bleeding him of his momentum faster than he can accumulate it.
So he remained content with just causing mayhem and destruction instead of trying to get rid of the catapults. He would just do some old fashion grinding, but even that wasn't allowed. The defenders consider him an eyesore and are always trying everything to kill him.
"That was close." He said after he dodged a harpoon.
The defenders had realized that no space must be allowed between themselves, not even to attack him. So they stood side to side and back to back. This restricted his movement and made it difficult for him to take advantage of his speed. The soldiers may not be attacking but the ballista and the catapults kept on shooting.
"I have to get rid of those catapults." He said before he got rid of more soldiers before he returned to the tunnel.
The tunnels were the only safe place where the projectiles wouldn't be able to get to him but he is quickly running out of time.
"The reinforcements are coming in. We need space or we have to return."
The tunnel can't take the entire army. He is running out of time before this place is stuffed full of soldiers like the angels stuffed themselves.
"One more after this, if it doesn't work then we will have to abort this expedition and return later." He decided on their plan.
Even though he had said only victory will do, he wasn't so bullheaded and stubborn as to walk right into an unfavorable situation. Victory is only won with preparation, hard work, and a situation that favors it. The attackers are already up against huge odds in terms of numbers, the catapults will increase that odds and make their failure all but certain.
Also, technically they haven't failed. They succeeded in getting a foothold in the dungeon. That counts as a small victory. They can use that to achieve greater things in the future.
He also wasn't going to sacrifice his future potential by becoming a mana entity now for the main plane. He came to the dungeon mostly for the energy that he can get here to create more gates. It was the option SQUARESKULL gave him so that he will leave the academy early.
His aim has always been to find out the usefulness of the gates to their fullest extent and to see if they will really turn into a new organ when he becomes a mana entity. For that, he must make as many gates as possible so that he won't face any regrets later on.
Deciding to break through to become a mana entity will give him a boost but it will mean he will be stuck here forever until the dungeon comes down. It is not a decision he can take lightly. The dungeon won't allow anything at the mana stage to enter or exit the dungeon portal. He can still break through within the dungeon, but then he must achieve victory in this dungeon clearing or he won't be able to ever leave.