Overlord And The Blue Citadel 26 『With Heart, With Spirit』

It felt like her heartbeat was reverberating throughout her skull. Was this excitement or was this fear? At the moment for her, these two feelings were completely interchangeable as it felt like she was in flight.

The Priestess let out a soft sigh as she found the dirt that the tip of her sword had hardly penetrated, was even firmer than the furry hide of the wolves. Her Virgin Snow armor was dirtied and torn from superficial injuries, while her skin was covered with bruises.

"By the Four Great G.o.ds... Where is the finish line?" She breathed out to herself in endeavored laughter, "I am the only holy woman able to handle this demonic weapon... How hard could this possibly be to find the end of this maze?"

It was much harder than she thought when she first arrived here. The trees moved, the Werewolves always seemed to know where she was. She was careful not to kill them too despite how much more powerful they were than her in packs.

She could only imagine what Gagaran was going through even though she was all the more likely to have a better time. At least that is what she thought, as she had no idea if Gagaran was dealing with the same beasts or if she had something even more powerful on the physical side.

Hearing the howls of the pack catching up to her again, Lakyus looked down at her worn legs before turning her head to glance over her shoulder. She could hear their panting and wild snarls. They seemed to be getting a kick out of chasing her around, but she was sure they wouldn't kill her.

"I will rise above this!" She proclaimed before pulling her weapon from the dirt at her feet. Without a second thought, she began to bound off in the direction that seemed to be towards that of the tower in the center of the floor.

As she rounded a steep corner she could hear the creatures closing in. Their claws digging into the dirt far easier than her weapon of corruption. For beings she had never seen before, she couldn't call them beast-men or demi-humans.

They moved on all four legs, but they could use their front ones as hands. They could grab her weapon, take it from her, and from what she had seen of their physical prowess... All they had to do was swipe their claws and she knew that it had to be the end of her.

She didn't focus on all of that, however, and just kept running. Every step she made she could feel, as well as hear through her very bones. Every movement she made, every turn she took, she memorized the feeling well.

Lakyus didn't want to think about death, or what this maze was to be like for an actual intruder to enter. For right now she believed that these wolves were only toying with her. If someone were to have come in here to get to the beings inside, she knew that they were in for a bad time.

It was one thing to fight a single member of mighty foes, it was another to be swarmed by them. What she wanted to know though was, how many of the people here were players, and how many weren't.

As she slid around the corner kicking dirt up in puffs of dust, she saw in the corner of her eye those creatures were catching up. Without any time to stall or waste, she kept moving.

Their panting was getting closer and it was almost as if they were fanning their breath down her neck. A tingling sensation ran through her spine, feeling a partial killing intent and she started going faster, as fast as her quaking legs could take her.

Then just as she was about to make another turn, the ground came out from under her and she found herself flying through the air... Descending towards a pit of despair. THUD. Her chest hit a wall and her arms went bucking out in front of her from the impact, the cursed weapon skidding across the ground after leaving her grasp.

Coughing from the loss of air, she tried pulling herself up, kicking at the wall with her feet as she grinds the soles of her boots against it. "C'mon..." She muttered under her breath, not wanting to look down, not wanting to know what should greet her if she fell completely.

Another blood-curdling howl emitted in her direction, she could feel those golden lamp-like glowing eyes on the back of her head. They were there, on the ledge behind her.

"Ahahahaha! The puny human's going to fall!" Laughed the leader of the pack, licking his teeth in antic.i.p.ation.

"I AM NOT!" Lakyus called back to them with an ardent eloquence as she sharpened her green hues on them, having turned her head to the side to face them. That was a mistake, turning to see their faces which seemed to be contorting with hunger and the desire for flesh. At the same time from the bottom of her peripherals, she could see the hands which were reaching out for her down below.

It was as if h.e.l.l itself had opened up and was waiting to pull her limb from limb. A low whimper escaped her lips as she turned away from the creatures and continued her struggle to climb. "NO WAY! NUH-UH! Not Today!"

Grasping at a tuft of onion gra.s.s, she pulled harshly, lifting one side of her form so that she could get at least one leg up on the solid ground. Sweat burning her eyes, she grinned as she clenched her teeth together in triumph as her knee finally clung to the surface.

"The girly is going to make it!" One of the other wolves commented, as if in despair at the fact that she was going to survive, though they didn't sound all too convincing.

While some swore profanity, others outright mocked the priestess as she grappled with the ledge to pull herself back up onto the ledge she clung to. It took her several minutes even after she had gotten one foot over to pull herself back.

On all fours, she glanced over the side and stared down at those hands once more. Her eyes then shone up to the wolves with a glimmer in her eye. "Let's see you get over that one, huh!" She flicked her fingers out from under her chin in a provocative manner, as if telling them to get lost before rushing over to her weapon.

Once the cursed sword was reacquired, she stood up and began to run again, especially as she heard the sound of the hole in the ground begin to close back up. She got several dozen feet before she heard the howling charge of the wolves coming after her once more, their pace and sounds making them out to be royally p.i.s.sed off.

Looking off towards the tower, it looked reasonably larger now. She was sure she was getting closer to the end of the labyrinth, or at least that is what she hoped. The last thing she wanted to be was kibble for a bunch of overgrown mangy mutts.

"Almost..." Was the only word that left her mouth as she felt a large furry hand-decorated in long sharp claws impact her side. From the corner of her eye she could see the carnivorous gaze of a predator, even as the rest of her body was sent barreling through the air, she kept her gaze on the wolf.

With her back smashing into the nearest tree opposite to the side of which she was. .h.i.t upon, she let out a grunt before falling to the ground. Her weapon, however, not leaving her hand as she lay there exhausted.

"That was disappointing..." The creature uttered as it glared down at its prey, leaning over and kicking her over onto her back. "I didn't even get to see those Martial Art Skills I've heard about," the wolf placed a foot upon her pelvis as it was standing on its hind legs.

"[Greater Fortification]! [Divine Strength]!" She aroused two of the templar skills, her body gleaming green and then flashing yellow indicating her newly augmented endurance and physical prowess, as she then proceeded to shove the foot off of herself and bounce back onto her feet. With her armament in hand, she beamed towards the wolf who had merely stumbled back in gleeful astonishment.

"Now that! That is what I'm talking about!" Growled the Leader of the Pack, the rest of the wolves arriving shortly after, keeping their distance for the time being.

"...You want to see who is stronger?" Lakyus questioned curiously, peering over the heteromorphic beast.

"Yes!" Cheered the wolf as he went to storm forward, only for one of Lakyus's flying swords to intercept the beast at her command. The weapon once again causing the creature to stumble, a long cut making itself known across its chest making it a bare and tender wound as blood gushed out. "Oh?" The werewolf eyed the six golden blades behind her back as the one withdrew to its original position, "So they're truly not for decoration..."

"Truly," Lakyus held her primary weapon at the ready as the rest of her swords spread out behind her like fairy wings, needles ready to pierce her opponent. "Care to try me just a bit more?"

"Before we continue," the Werewolf pack leader dropped his battle-ready stance just briefly enough to match his words, "Despite your condition and the traps you've fallen into... How were you able to keep moving forward? Why are you so determined to finish the labyrinth even if it is an optional objective of the challenge?"

"To prove myself to a Rising G.o.d, and use all that is given to me, even a challenge, to make myself stronger!" Lakyus proclaimed as she pointed her large weapon towards the creature, her eyes glistening with truth and valor.

Snapping in excitement, blood still pouring from its chest, the pack leader seemed happy with her answer and at the same time completely amused. The wolf placed his hand on the end of the weapon, tickling the pointed bit with his fingers. "You've already reached the end of the Labyrinth, child. You just can't see it, because your spirit won't let you."

"My spirit...?" Lakyus went to move her weapon away from him but found it stuck within the grasp of merely just his fingers. He was stronger than her and that was for sure. Glaring at him, she pursed her lips, "What is the meaning of this?"

"You have one final test, pure one, the one of the Heart," the Werewolf grinned deviously with all of its canine fangs apparent, "Think you can endure?"

"I am the leader of the Blue Roses, of course, I will persevere throughout this test!" Scoffed Lakyus, "I am the wielder of the Sword of Darkness, Kilineiram, I do hope for your sake that you don't underestimate me!"

The leader of the Pack grinned at her words, not wanting to be underestimated because she was merely human. He knew that humans shouldn't be underestimated, otherwise none of them would've made it to the fourth floor in the past if they had truly been a collection of weaklings.

Lakyus herself had some trump cards up her sleeve as she hadn't even used the true power of her weapon yet against these beings. She had been saving it till the point she truly needed it.

"Can you use your unbound heart to find the true path to your salvation, or finalize this challenge with your failure?" Unlike the last few words that he had shared with her, these words seemed to have more of a meaning than anything else. To unbind her heart, felt like some sort of riddle. Salvation likely hinting at the end of the labyrinth.

Curiously she lowered her weapon looking at the beast, "Your intentions were never to kill me were they?" Her words left her lips before she thought them through. She was aware if they were trying to kill her, there was no way she was going to survive. Even if she took a number of them down with her, there was a moot point if she were going to die here.

Her question was answered by a far from an average predatory smile, "Perceptive. You were paying attention to our G.o.d's words when he said you need only partic.i.p.ate in the challenge, but need not complete the labyrinth."

Blinking at his words, that was when she finally realized that she didn't need to complete the Forest Area. It was constantly moving to intercept her and it was getting harder and harder to escape. These wolves weren't making it any easier either...

As she shifted her head to the side, looking away from the wolf, she gawked at the opening that now presented itself to her. She could see the desert maze not all too far away. It was strange how the trees themselves had probably moved out of the way without her notice, or if it had been a high tier illusion spell she hadn't had the power to notice.

"My word..." That was the moment she stepped away from the werewolf and towards the apparent opening. Two steps, three steps, four steps, five. She was almost to the clearing when she came to a complete stop as she mumbled something inaudible, a splash of color engulfing her in a brief few seconds glow.

"Hm?" The Werewolf squinted his eyes at her backside as she stopped her advance.

"You asked me to open my heart," Lakyus turned her head to the side slightly, without looking towards him.

The opening she had just been walking towards vanished, revealing a just pitfall trap filled with carnivorous plants, a strange pink gaseous mist emanating from its maw.

"You almost tricked me into walking into a trap?" She nearly purred as if amused by the attempt to have her drop into the mouth of a creature that would do nothing but devour her. It seemed the mist itself that she hardly detected was some sort of illusion inducing pheromone.

"It seems common trickery does not work on such a woman as you..." The wolf was grinning ear to ear as its hair was standing on end, dropping onto all fours ready to chase her once more. "Your heart was unable to trust my words, and you survived. What does your heart tell you of the being who stands over us?"

Raising a brow at the words given by the wolf, Lakyus stared at him before her gaze traced over to his brood. "This Fenrir-sama seems to be a powerful and righteous being, if not benevolent for he hasn't allowed you to kill me, but even like our G.o.ds, he too may have flaws." A faint smile was retained over her lips as she glanced in the direction of the Tower.

"Hehe..." The wolf shook his head lightly as if he had gotten exactly what he wanted to hear out of her. "Then I suppose that means you've pa.s.sed the challenge," all of the wolves as he finished talking begin to change in shape. Their bones and muscles contracting, filling the air with the sickening sounds of their bodies morphing freely without restraint. While it sounded painful, there was none.

In the next few seconds, Lakyus found herself staring at several men all dressed in varied garb akin to Vikings from Earth which consisted of earthy colors and brown furs.

The pack leader she had been talking to was a bucky blonde male with a braided beard and piercing blue eyes. His head was entirely shaved bald and dark blue tribal tattoos littered both his face and his chest which matched the rest of his tribe.

A big burly smile spread across his lips, "I am Sven Omega. Area Guardian of the Forest. It was an honor to have done combat with you, Lakyus of Aindra. Perhaps you will share the secrets of your Demonic Sword the next time we meet." He held out his right hand, which was carrying a crude-looking Viking war ax, heavily decorated in Norse markings, with its pointed eye of the ax pointed directly towards her.

"Huba...Huba... I mean! We'll see, Sven-dono," her head c.o.c.ked to the side as she scratched the back of her neck. Her face turning a slight red before she placed her weapon upon her back.

"In that case, I am to give you this," Sven who was now in a human form, took a scroll out of his item box and gave it a glance. It was a tan piece of rolled-up parchment made out of the fifth tier hide. In this world, it was rather valuable, especially to those who weren't feasibly capable of casting fifth tier magic.

However, without very much thought, Sven then tossed it towards the girl.

Catching it after giving a little jump into the air, she gave a soft groan from the feeling of her legs almost giving out from the small hop. "You really know how to run a girl bare..." She mumbled to herself before looking over the item he had tossed to her.

"It's a teleportation scroll, it'll take you to the next meeting place," Sven gestured towards the light tan piece of parchment in her hands.

Nodding slowly, as she opened the scroll with both hands, Lakyus channeled mana into the scroll and activated it. A magical circle appeared under her feet and with a sudden burst of bluish light, she was gone.