"I think we will not be able to progress this fast if not for you becoming our lamp post, Daisuke."
Yumiko jokingly said as we arrived in front of probably another major room of this labyrinth.
After that room full of traps, we smoothly passed through more rooms where oftentimes, there was nothing in it.
The last time we've seen a Dark Elf was back at that room full of Traps where they left behind some kind of hint on what they will do next with their words after being terrorized by seeing us unscathed.
That room was most likely carefully prepared by them. For it to result in nothing, they're now down to their last resort. And that is to use whatever it is that they mentioned earlier.
"Really. A lamp post?"
Well. It's quite close, especially in this dark place wherein anyone could get lost easily.
"Those who got lost managed to go back to our group guided by this Energy Zone of yours. Isn't this as good as a lamp post?"
She giggled and the others also had smiles on their faces. With her words the tension that they were feeling on some of them was relieved.
Yumiko surely noticed the growing tension on the others, especially those with lower realms. The effect of the Daze debuff was probably higher on them. Now that we're in front of another major room, clearing our minds will be better.
After a few laughs, we all then turned our focus back to the room in the front. We're already close to the Core just by judging the density of the Dark Energy being emanated by the room.
Yumiko also started to notice the thickness and through what I told her, she absorbed and converted every Dark Energy we stumbled upon to further her Mortal Pathway. She's close to completing it and probably once she finished her Mortal Pathway, her Transcendent Pathway will instantly appear before her.
? Too bad for others but, if they did the same, they'll just get corrupted by it.
"Eh? It's empty."
Jayna muttered in surprise after seeing what's waiting for us behind the door.
It's just like that trap room, however, compared to that, there was really nothing in sight.
Or so I thought.
"No. Look at the middle."
Yse pointed at the unusually lit place in this Dark Labyrinth. Her eyes were shining once again and she probably detected the lifeforce of whoever's waiting there.
After I focused and observed the place she pointed at for a while, three figures could be seen there. And based on the pressure they were giving off, they're all 5-leaf Dark Elves and close to Transcendence at that. A man and two women. They were holding something in their hands.
Upon seeing those, I instantly tensed up. Those things were strikingly familiar.
"What's wrong, Daisuke?"
Yumiko and Jayna asked in unison. They're the ones closest to me and they surely noticed the subtle change in my expression.
"Yumiko, we might have to fight someone with the strength of a Transcendent."
"What do you mean?"
With my words, not only the two girls were confused but also the others.
It's quite rare for me to lose composure due to my Adaptability and more often than not, I never showed it as it will always die down instantly. However, those things held on their hands were something I would probably never forget.
"If I'm not wrong, those spherical objects they're holding. It's something which calls upon an Incarnation of someone stronger than them in exchange of their own life."
Back then it was used by the Corrupted Priest at the World of Systems to summon an Incarnation of a Transcendent. Though that Incarnation only reached around Grandmaster-class or a Rank 5 Mortal back then, it's probably dependent on how strong the sacrifice is.
That Corrupted Priest had the strength of more or less a Master-class, it was only forcibly heightened due to his corruption which burns his lifeforce.
I thought it was a rare commodity but they have three here and they were all held by three 5-leaf Dark Elves. It was probably held by those in charge of the invasion and only in dire circumstances will they use it.
While they were mulling over what I said, eight more Dark Elves showed up behind the three Dark Elves and all of them have the same thing held in their hands. Some of those were the ones we saw at the other end of the Trap Room.
Fortunately, they're not at the same level as the three at the front. However, if they will all use that, eleven Dark World Transcendent Incarnations will descend here.
All for the purpose of stopping us from closing the Portal.
"You leave us no choice. Even if this will end up in us sacrificing our life here, this is all for the fulfillment of the Great One's plan."
The male Dark Elf at the forefront opened his mouth and addressed us.
For the first time, they communicated with us but from the tone of it, he's already determined to use his life for that purpose. I know some of these tribes were once a race from an assimilated World based on what those Dark World denizens at the Noxian Capital talked about. For them to be ready to throw their life away for that purpose…
Ah. I guess they really have no choice. We will still kill them whether they decide to use it or not.
And by his words, that probably confirmed that this is most likely the last room before the Core of this Labyrinth. And hopefully, the Portal that was connected to the Dark World was also there.
"This is good too, Daisuke. I will finally be able to fight someone at my level. Plus, you're here with us."
"We won't lose! It's all for the sake of being able to come with you."
Yumiko and Jayna expressed their determination. And the other with us also showed theirs right after the two, even Jagu's wife.
Rei and Ren vowed to follow Yumiko and strive to become a Transcendent even after the events here. They didn't really have any goal in life after being rescued by her. Well, that is if they failed to find a husband and wife for them to settle with.
Jagu and his wife probably have the simple idea of growing stronger. Among the Transformed Spirits who went with us inside the Ancient Ruins, only him remained to be focused on his own goal.
Harlan probably only thought of becoming a Ruler Spirit before for him to become the leader of the Council, however, after seeing Yumiko reaching Transcendence, his eyes were opened.
There's no need to say about Ezyn and Yse, the latter was keen on following her husband. Now I don't know if it was Ezyn's destiny who is pulling the two up or if it was Yse's. Either way, they're probably guaranteed to become a Transcendent given time. Fighting here will add up to their experience when they start fighting in the other worlds.
"I will also need to go out and fight so… take care fighting the Incarnations. They're not simple. Especially you four, keep the buff active. That way, you will be on par to a Rank 5 Mortal."
There's no turning back now and this will probably become the last battle here in this world.
Having decided that, everyone entered the room. Ready for any changes that were about to happen.
Upon seeing us stepping in, the Dark Elves also decisively broke the spherical object in their hands and just like what happened back then, a black smoke instantly engulfed their bodies. They didn't even utter a single word as even their heads became completely covered by it.
"They're really sacrificing themselves…"
Yumiko muttered.
Due to her current strength, she could now easily summon a Higher Spirit and borrow its power. I wonder which one but her strength already drastically increased that she's probably approaching the level of a Rank 2 Transcendent even without having glimpsed on her Transcendent Pathway.
"By being here, their fates were already sealed. It's only either win and live or lose and die. At this point, they already lost ever since you reached Transcendence. Their mistake is not attempting to stop that when they have those spheres with them."
If they did attack that way and sacrificed some of them, the situation might be more different than now. They trusted that they could hold on until the Portal widened but with my arrival here that wouldn't happen anymore.
A few seconds later, the three 5-leaf at the front were already reduced to dust and in their place, three overlapping Transcendent Auras spread out from the three Black Smoke figures which formed from the previous spot where the three Dark Elves were standing.
And another second, those eight behind them also transformed into Black Smoke figures with the former Dark Elves reduced to dust. However, their strength was all below Transcendents and upon noticing that they all cursed their luck for being summoned as a weaker incarnation.
Like I thought, the strength of the Incarnations summoned was dependent on how strong the sacrifice is.
"Eleven Sacrificial Spheres all at once? This tribe is useless to be defeated by a Mortal World and use these Spheres prepared by the Great One."
The one at the front said after he observed himself and those around him. Compared to the Smoke Giant from before, this one has a normal build. However, the strength emanating from him was on par with Arland.
After a while, he looked at the front and stared at us. Even if he's just a Smoke Figure, the menacing look instantly filled everyone with dread. It's the same feeling as when that Smoke Giant descended.
Aside from Yumiko and me, everyone was trembling just from that look alone.
"Daisuke, let me."
Yumiko suddenly stepped up and faced the Smoke Figure's gaze and that instantly released the others from the pressure he was putting on them.
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