Published: July 3, 2025
"Ryo... What did you just say...?"
Nils asked fearfully.
It wasn't just Nils.
Everyone's faces were tense.
Their gazes were fixed on the skeleton king, but it was clear they were also aware of Ryo's words.
"This room has likely become a magic nullification space..."
As Ryo said this, Eto and Zeek began to test something.
"I can't use magic..."
"Yes..."
Both Eto and Zeek's faces were tinged with despair.
"The fact that we can't use magic means our opponent can't either."
"No, they might still be able to use it."
"Huh?"
Ryo replied, and Nils raised his voice in disagreement.
Behemoth's BΔ-chan had sealed the magic of the wyverns with magic nullification, but it had still used magic...
The principle was completely unknown, but... it was possible that the skeleton king could use magic alone.
"First of all, we donβt even know what kind of monster that skeleton bastard is..."
"If I could use turn undead..."
Nils muttered, and Zeek sighed in frustration.
"I see. A magic nullification space that also prevents turn undead..."
Ryo surmised.
At that moment, something began to rise from the ground.
"More skeletons? Knights?"
"Hey, is it not just one?"
Amon pointed out, and Nils grumbled further.
The boss on the fiftieth layer was supposed to be one entity.
"The boss is one, but could it be that it can summon others?"
Eto said, and Harold and Gowan nodded.
Eight summoned skeleton knights appeared.
"Amon, take care of the boss. Be careful. Harold, Gowan, and Zeek will help me take them down. Ryo, please protect Eto."
"Understood."
Nils gave his orders, and everyone sprang into action.
Amon, whose strength as a swordsman had begun to surpass Nils, engaged the boss.
The remaining three frontliners and Zeek, who could handle close combat with staff technique, started taking down the skeleton knights that were swarming around.
Meanwhile, Ryo guarded Eto, who had almost no attack or defense but absolutely must not be allowed to die.
In a sense, Nils had entrusted Eto's safety to the man he trusted most.
Of course, Ryo understood that.
In a situation where magic couldn't be used, protecting Eto from multiple foes... was an incredibly difficult order.
But trust cannot be betrayed.
Ryo drew Murakumo and generated a blade of ice.
Indeed, even in this magic nullification space, Murakumo could still be used.
"Eto, fall back to the door at the back. We'll hold them off there."
"Okay."
If they were attacked from all directions, it would be impossible to defend successfully.
At the very least, securing safety behind them and placing Eto between that safe zone and himself was the only way to hold their ground.
In this situation, the door they had entered through was likely the safest spot.
As for the other walls... there was no guarantee that new skeleton knights wouldn't emerge from them...
While scanning for presences from all directions, Ryo concealed Eto behind him and engaged in swordplay with the skeleton knights coming from the front.
While trading blows, he slowly retreated.
Constantly, he positioned his body between the skeleton knights and Eto.
Occasionally, he would deliver a large horizontal slash, sending the skeleton knights flying, and at that moment, he would retreat significantly.
Whether as an individual or as a group, a retreat is the most challenging operation.
Continuing a nerve-wracking retreat... After a few minutes.
"Ryo, we reached the door."
"Got it."
Eto behind him reported they had arrived at the door.
Finally, they had managed to secure a safe zone behind them.
"Now it's time to counterattack."
The moment Ryo said this...
"The skeleton knights have increased..."
In front of Ryo and the others, meaning between Ryo and the four, eight new skeleton knights appeared.
Ryo lunged forward.
Deflecting the sword of a skeleton knight that had swung down at him, he stepped forward with his right foot.
Shifting his weight onto the stepping right foot while returning the sword that had been left behind to deflect, he decapitated the skeleton knight.
Through their previous retreat, they had understood that they could defeat a knight by either decapitating it or shattering the magic stone in its chest.