Chapter 166: Leoarachnid
With the addition of two more mercenary groups and the Gypson Dukedom's soldiers, Sein found himself leading a contingent of over five hundred people.
This was his first experience leading such a large and diverse group, which included squires, inexperienced youths, and even two intermediate initiates serving as Gypson Dukedom’s army mages.
As their numbers swelled, Sein and his expanded team noticed a significant decrease in attacks while delving deeper into the underground mines.
He surmised that the underground creatures might have recognized their minimal impact on such a large group and were consolidating their forces for a decisive confrontation.
Sein viewed the situation positively as he was eager to get rid of those troublesome underground demihumans for good.
His years in Mystralora City had fostered a distrust of these cunning and greedy beings, despite knowing that not all demihumans were like that, with many being innocent, elderly, or weak.
About two and a half days after entering the underground mineshaft, they came upon a vast, open space.
“This clearly wasn’t carved out by our miners. It must be the work of these devious demihumans! Where did all these underground creatures come from? The Brinescorch Basin has never been known to have so many of them...” Earl Krue remarked with a troubled expression.
The group observed the area, noting the remains of various creatures and broken bones scattered around the edges of this expansive underground clearing.
Among these remnants, some were unmistakably from underground magic beasts, while most of them appeared to belong to more ordinary creatures like demihumans.
The sight of so many lifeless bodies and skeletal remains sent a chill through those entering the underground space.
Nevertheless, the leaders of the three mercenary groups, including Sein and Scarlet, remained composed, as did the elite soldiers of the Gypson Dukedom.
A pained and angry howl from a magic beast echoed from the heart of this underground space.
Gathering their resolve, Sein and the others proceeded toward the source.
Demon Breaking Crossbows and Black Flame Cannons, crucial for engaging the ranked magic beast they were pursuing, were strategically positioned at the front.
Upon reaching the heart of the underground space, a bizarre creature appeared before them.
It was a Leoarachnid, with the upper body of a lion connected to the large abdomen of a spider.
Towering at eight or nine meters tall, it dwarfed the Giant Saltwater Crocodile Sein had previously encountered.
The creature was in evident distress.
A red, bloodied cut ran across the juncture where the lion’s torso met the spider’s lower half.
Pungent blood oozed out of the wound across its abdomen as the creature rolled and roared.
Its massive spider claws carved deep grooves into the ground.
“What in the world is that?” the leader of the Scarlet Scales Mercs exclaimed, her shock mirrored by the other leaders.
Despite their extensive experience with various magic beasts, none had seen such a grotesque hybrid.
Sein was equally puzzled. His studies at the divine tower had introduced him to many magic beasts, including black-maned lions typically found underground.
However, one with a spider-like lower half was beyond his knowledge.
Their attempts in identifying the mysterious creature were abruptly interrupted by a shrill, piercing sound.
A swarm of black bats, that were slightly stronger magic creatures, descended upon them.
Despite their small size, these bats posed a lethal threat, capable of draining a strong squire of their vitality in mere moments.
These bats were likely domesticated by the underground demihumans, akin to the Green Plume eggs that Sein had once sold to demihuman tribes at a high price years earlier.
As the bats swarmed in, the mercenary groups and soldiers from Gypson Dukedom quickly formed a defensive stance.
Sein ignored these lower-ranking magic beasts and cast a medium-sized detection spell.
This spell unveiled the presence of numerous demihumans concealed in the shadows, each one pinpointed by a spot of white light, marking their hidden positions.
With a short and hurried chant, Sein summoned a dozen large fireballs.
The appearance of pyro elemental particles caused the bats to hesitate for a brief moment.
The senior squires in the Scarlet Scales Mercs immediately commanded their subordinates to retaliate, instructing them to launch rockets and thrust their spears in a coordinated counteroffensive.
In this chaotic dance of darkness and flames, the hidden underground demihumans began their stealthy approach.
Sein’s fireball spell marked the start of an intense battle, as the mercenaries and soldiers unleashed their fury on the encroaching enemies.
BOOM!
The sound of artillery fire reverberated in the underground space.
Two Black Flame Cannons had been readied and fired.
The battlefield was swiftly cleared of the demihumans and black bats, showcasing the overwhelming effectiveness of magic and elemental energy in the Magus World.
This display starkly contrasted the abilities of the knights with battle qi, and the mages with an array of complex spells.
The demihumans, despite their remarkable fertility and adaptability to harsh environments, seemed to lack any distinctive skills apart from their ability to raise magic beasts.
However, their black bats were hardly a match for the combined forces.
Amidst the heavy losses of the demihumans, another whistle pierced the chaos.
Sein momentarily slowed his spellcasting to locate its source with his exceptional mental focus.
He soon discovered a demihuman on a raised stone platform behind the Leoarachnid, clutching a short green rod.
This particular demihuman stood out from the rest as Sein sensed a distinct surge of elemental energy emanating from it.
Sein began conjuring Scorching Ray, an intermediate lumen elemental magic spell.
A beam of intense light gathered in front of him, then sliced through the darkness and silenced the whistling.
The beam of light struck the demihuman, penetrating through a third of its body.
Despite the serious wound, the demihuman astonishingly survived.
In a desperate struggle, it made its way toward the frenzied Leoarachnid, only to be swallowed whole by the massive creature.