Vortex Hill (6)

At Gregory's resounding shout, everyone took their positions and assumed battle readiness. This was their chance to develop a real sense for combat.

During their previous expedition, where they set out to subjugate the troll, Gregory and Ernest took most of the credit, so they hadn't been able to hone their practical combat sense.

But this time was different. The slow and lumbering attacks of the giant worm, much like the troll. Of course, its attacks surged up from beneath the sand to the surface in an instant, creating an overwhelming assault.

If they were warned in advance, their comrades could avoid it.

He believed they could do it, since everyone had steadily trained so their efforts wouldn't go to waste.

"This thing's weakness is its slowness! Think back to the time with the troll,"

Gregory informed them.

At that, all his comrades recalled that time. Back then, except for Ernest, everyone had failed to fulfill their roles, so now they resolved to perform better than before.

Then Gregory explained the method for taking down the giant worm: simultaneous attacks at a single spot, at the same timing.

He pointed to its neck—a spot protruding like a thorn. The giant worm's other parts were covered in scales thicker and harder than steel, so unless they attacked there, it would never fall.

They signaled to each other with their eyes, and began to learn the sequence of the giant worm's attacks.

First, the giant worm would burrow rapidly into the ground about twice to target the nearest person, then leap out.

Then, on the third time, it would leap out half a beat slower. Gregory told them to wait for that sequence.

Gregory planned to draw the worm's attention by clinging to it. With memories from his previous life and his skilled techniques, he was confident he could dodge the giant worm's attacks with ease.

Kugugung—

Just as Gregory had predicted, the giant worm burrowed underground.

Maybe all their training hadn't been in vain. Everyone attacked all at once.

Gregory had worried that Brea might not obey, especially after her capricious behavior the day before, but thankfully she followed orders well.

It reminded him again that her cynicism was actually her desire to improve her swordsmanship.

If they succeeded in attacking like this three more times, they could deal a serious blow to the giant worm.

However, being a powerful seven-star monster also meant it was highly intelligent. Realizing that Gregory and the others were striking all at once, the giant worm changed its methods.

When Gregory realized this, he was already luring the worm and waiting for its next attack.

'What's this, why isn't the ground shaking?'

Gregory immediately noticed the discrepancy. He had suspected things wouldn't go this smoothly from the start.

That sense of unease peaked.

"Kugh!"

Kuo-oong-!

Gregory quickly pushed off the ground to avoid the attack. The giant worm then burst upward, nearly engulfing the sky.

A close call—it could have been disaster if Gregory had been distracted or failed to react.

He surely would have been swallowed by the giant worm.

Alessandro shouted to Gregory.

"Gregory, are you okay?"

Gregory said nothing and assumed a combat stance again. He felt they needed to attack once more before the monster slipped back into the sand.

Seeing this, Alessandro thought Gregory was fine. Unharmed, with a flawless stance, he figured worrying about himself would be more helpful than about Gregory right now.

Meanwhile, Gregory yelled to his comrades:"Now!"

On his signal, everyone leaped high once more toward Gregory, just as they'd fought before, attacking all at once.

Kuwung—

The sharp sound of swords clashing against the giant worm's thick scales rang out.

Jjeojeojeok—

This time, the worm's scales started sustaining visible damage. After a few more attacks like this, the scales finally came off completely.

Again feeling threatened, the giant worm attempted another irregular attack—this time by moving silently underground before launching a surprise assault.

"Watch your feet, everyone!"

At Gregory's command, his comrades braced their legs, ready to run if they felt the ground tremble beneath them.

So far, their strategy was working just as Gregory had anticipated. Thanks to his knowledge of how to counter the giant worm, the group repeatedly pinpointed and struck its weak spot.

Soon, Gregory shouted again.

"This is the last one. Everyone, focus!"

Everyone's nerves were visible on their faces as they waited for Gregory's signal.

"Now!"

Red mana burst from Gregory's sword. At the same time, blue mana flared from Ernest's blade.

Clenching their teeth, everyone charged at the giant worm.

Bang—!

With a thunderous crash like lightning, their blades struck the giant worm's vulnerable spot.

Kung—!

As the giant worm collapsed, sand scattered everywhere, obscuring their vision. But luckily, it quickly cleared.

Adrian approached the fallen worm.

"Really... Did we actually take down this giant worm by ourselves?"

Watching him, Alessandro exclaimed in fright.

"H-hey, be careful! What if it's just pretending to be dead?"

"Idiot, if it were, Gregory wouldn't have said it was the last one."

The giant worm didn't move, contrary to Alessandro's fears.

Only then did everyone's faces fill with joy. Meanwhile, Gregory couldn't shake off his unease, even with the monster defeated. The giant worm's irregular attack had been clever, but...

The attack had been far too simple, easy enough even for others to avoid. If it wasn't because of another monster, Gregory was beginning to realize what was bothering him.

They were running out of food. If this continued, they wouldn't be able to find the legendary sword, and impatience welled up inside him.

'Hmm... I'd better hurry.'

Everyone smiled as they approached the giant worm.

"I've never seen a monster this big before."

"Ah, Alessandro, that—that thing still looks alive to me."

"Ahhhh! What? It's alive?"

"Just kidding."

Now, Gregory had to make a decision: continue exploring, or prepare to return.

Standing at a crossroads, he hesitated. Just then, something caught his eye: a fragment of marble that didn't belong in a desert landscape.

The giant worm had collapsed about a hundred meters ahead of the Vortex Hill.

Gregory, suspicious of the marble fragment, left the giant worm behind and fetched a shovel to dig around it.

Alessandro approached Gregory.

"What are you doing? Is there something here?"

At his words, everyone's attention shifted from the worm to Gregory. Silently, Gregory dug. Inspired by Alessandro, they all grabbed shovels and began digging around as well.

Before long, the ground in the area began to cave in.

"Waaaah!"

Everyone who had been digging was swept down as the ground gave way.

Thud—!

Alessandro groaned, clutching his backside.

"Ow... That hurts...."

With a tumultuous sound, an unknown door appeared before their eyes. Gregory looked at it and was certain this was the entrance to the Boriha Ruins.

The firmly closed door, inscribed with unknown characters, matched all information he had about the Boriha Ruins and the mysterious door now before them.

"We finally found it...."

"Wow... So the ruins really do exist.... That means somewhere in here, the legendary sword exists, right?"

Gregory nodded.

"That's right.... But we have no idea what dangers might lurk inside."

When the giant worm encountered solid ground, it wouldn't go that way. That was why the ruins, surrounded by hard marble, had remained untouched.

That meant the ruins inside could be swarming with monsters who had absorbed impure mana. If the giant worm alone had become a monster by absorbing impure mana, it certainly wouldn't have been that weak.

"We find the legendary sword quickly, then get out."

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