Manuke FPS Chapter 208

Published at 10th of August 2022 01:25:22 PM

Whilst watching the aquaripper burn as it fell, I reloaded the UMP45 and immediately entered the ready-to-shot stance.

The skeletal right hand that was pierced by the spear-like tongue of the aquaripper was shattered. It didn’t bleed, but it was on the verge of collapsing. The severe pain that ran when I moved my fingers echoed to my elbows and shoulders. But if the aquaripper survived the internal bombing of the TH3 incendiary grenade, I would have to finish it off with the UMP45 this time. Just because I’m injured, doesn’t mean I have time to hurt.

At the same time as the fireball falls on the floor, raising the water temperature at once and boiling it. The water vapor that rose up would fill the gatekeeper’s room, but the dot on the radar disappeared――at the same time, and the water level on the entire floor dropped.

Apparently, that did it.

The water completely disappeared, and the water vapor that spouted out also dissipated. All that remained on my crosshairs was a slightly larger blue magic stone. Lowering my gun and looking at the surroundings, I was able to locate the transfer circle. I thought it would be difficult to use if it was soaked in water, but as it turns out, I was worrying for nothing.

I tried to register my biometric information by dripping a drop of blood on the magic circle-but I recalled that this skeleton body set by avatar customization does not allow blood to flow. Just in case, I checked again if there was anyone looking at me or something. Even changing the field of view to FLIR mode to see if anyone is hiding.

Nope, nobody else was around. Believing that I was alone, I accessed TSS and switched my avatar setting to Schwartz.

Once the registration of biometric information with the transfer magic circle was completed, the gatekeeper’s room would no longer be dangerous anymore. This level was a vast open field area of an underground lake, but there was a clear spring here, and also a gatekeeper’s room. That means――beyond the labyrinth gate, which will be the exit, there is a high possibility that it is the lowest layer with the master of the labyrinth waiting at the end of the tunnel.

At the same time as returning the avatar setting to Jonah, I prepared more special grenades and spare magazines for UMP45.

From the sculpture of the throne carved at the top of the gate, it can be estimated that the master of the labyrinth is a Lambton worm with a body length of several tens of meters. I don’t have much experience fighting such a huge monster, but if I use a high-powered portable rocket launcher generously, I should be able to manage somehow.

So I prepared the M202A1 that was also used when I attacked the Drum Fortress and replaced the Riot shield that could not prevent the attack of the Aquaripper properly with a larger ballistic shield.

Now we’re ready to go. All that is left is to try facing the labyrinth master, then prepare a more suitable weapon and equipment if my current loadout couldn’t kill it.

I pushed open the gate of the labyrinth carved into the rock wall and proceeded to the tunnel where the jet-black darkness spreads.

A beautiful straight passage extended from the gatekeeper’s room. While sowing the seeds of white light grass, I am convinced that there is definitely a labyrinth master at the end of this tunnel. It’s similar to the Wolf Labyrinth. At that time, the last road leading to the throne room was a long straight passage. And the last gate that you can see faintly at the end. A sculpture depicting the battle between a human and a monster, the same as the gate of the labyrinth that we have seen so far.

However, there is no throne overlooking the battle at the top of the gate at the end――just a regular gate. When the last gate was pushed open, a dazzling light overflowed from the inside――the bottom layer, and the throne room was an open field section that imitated the wilderness lit by the sun.

This is… quite spacious…

all you can see is the reddish-brown land and the huge rocky mountains with no vegetation. But it is still a throne room without a doubt――I could see a throne on top of a hill that oversees the entire room. Nobody was sitting on that throne. But that’s still within expectation. Since I know what kind of monster resides in this layer, that throne would be far too small anyway.

While holding the UMP45 with both hands, I proceeded cautiously. There’s still no response on the map or the sound collector.

However, something happened the moment I approached the throne. Something happened far below my feet, deeper than the throne room, which should be the lowest layer of the Mine Labyrinth.

The ground was shaking――?

The shaking, which was only a slight vibration, gradually increased, and the sound of rock crushing echoed from the soil. A dot appeared on the radar, signifying that the labyrinth master is about to make its appearance.

The position of the dot indicated on the radar――was right below me! Using the VMB assist system to the max, I did a backward slide jump――at the same time, the ground where I was standing just before cracked and collapsed.

“ＶｕＯｏｏｏｏｏｏｏ!”

And then, a lambton worm emerged from the ground.

“That’s huge…”

Sliding and killing the momentum as I landed from the back jump, I readied the UMP45 and aimed――but the only thing I could see was the rock-covered body surface. Rocks, rocks, rocks no matter where I pointed my crosshairs. I looked up, tracing the long body surface. But only the wriggling rocks could be seen.

When I finally found the end of that long body, I saw a large mouth as wide as the girth of that body. Three sickle-like fangs were lined up around that round mouth and a drill-like conical tongue could be seen rotating in the center. 

Ah――the UMP45 wouldn’t do any good here.

The part that emerged from the ground was over 20m in length, but considering the part that is still buried in the ground, the total length should be even longer.

The huge body of Lambton Worm overlooking me collapsed while waving.

Keeping my UMP45 directed at the gigantic body, I did a slide jump to avoid getting squashed. At the same time spraying .45 ACP at the falling giant.  Though it’s mostly ineffective as the bullets simply scrape at the rocky outer skin. It’s no good after all. This type of ammo will do barely anything against that…

I kept my distance to avoid the dust that rolled up upon its landing, making my way around it. Is there any weak spot I can aim at?

Then I saw nine holes near its mouth――for breathing if I have to make a guess?

The somites covered with rock shells stretch and contract while making a rubbing noise. The joint is hidden by a band of rock that stretches like a skirt, and it seems difficult to aim.

The full length is still invisible, and a part of the body remains hidden in the ground.

I replaced the magazine and checked the response by semi-automatic shooting while selecting the skirt-shaped rock belt, the abdomen that touches the ground, and the point. I concluded that it was meaningless to shoot the rock fundamentally. The next target was nine holes that seemed to be breathing holes. However, the moment I put the crosshairs on here and pulled the trigger――the breathing holes were closed by black shell-like closed eyelids.

The black shell, which is harder than the rock shell that covers the body surface, was repelling the .45 ACP without any scratches. It really doesn’t want to be attacked there――I knew that much, at least. The Lambton Worm is slow and has poor turning ability due to its huge size. It seems that the only means of attack is the large mouth on the top of the head, and if you go around, you will not be attacked.

However, it is impossible to subdue the labyrinth without killing this guy.

There is no time to return UMP45 to the supply BOX. Throw the UMP45 between the thrones, take the M202A1 from the shoulder and pull the rear chamber to move it to a usable state. At the same time, activate the TSS tactical support system and summon support weapons. 

The support weapons to be summoned are two remote-controlled heavy machine guns, Sentry Gun, and two Type 87 anti-tank guided missiles. While considering the effective range of the Sentry Gun, I summoned it to a position where it would not be crushed by the Lambton Worm’s giant body. Then I pulled the trigger of M202A1 to raise the signal of the start of a full-scale battle.

Chapter end