MV – Chapter 182: Vapula and the Minor Villain

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The pulsating mass of flesh that made up Vapula’s corpse was changing. With its resurrection nearing, the floor was softening, growing so pliable that ankles sank into it. Standing idly would risk being absorbed into the dangerous, quagmire-like surface.

[Mimi, evacuate everyone. It’s too dangerous for humans to stay here.] (Lanpeach)

[Got it~ We just finished wiping out the liches, so it’s perfect timing. Alright, retreating now~]

Despite the now-soft, mud-like floor, Lanpeach —having become a superhuman master— moved as though on solid ground, leaving no footprints as he sprinted. He directed his thoughts to Mimi, who was impersonating him.

Mimi, piloting the power suit for acting, Minor Villain, had infiltrated the area alongside Bacchus and others. Her performance was so convincing that no one suspected anything. Alternatively, it could mean no one cared about Lanpeach himself, but that was a depressing possibility best discarded.

[Boss, the Mini Lion Rabbit is broken~ Come back and fix it~] (Tete)

[How am I supposed to go back now! After we clear this dungeon.] (Lanpeach)

[Promise-usa yo. Tete might die if I don’t fire the Mini Cannon at least once a day-usa ne.] (Tete)

[Your demands keep growing… Fine, I’ll get you a new one later. Now retreat.] (Lanpeach)

Tete clutched what appeared to be an iron plate while sobbing softly. That must be the remnants of the gun. Being able to dismantle it to that degree might be a talent of sorts.

Lanpeach turned his gaze forward after ending communication with Mimi’s team. The dungeon of pulsating flesh featured branching pathways like a mine shaft. Its complexity would likely consume vast amounts of time to explore.

But Lanpeach wasn’t worried one bit. He had a trump card.

[Libra, can you track the elemental streams’ flow? Show me the way. They should lead us straight to the core.] (Lanpeach)

[Roger that! Piece of cakey cake!] (Libra)

Libra’s eyes reflected complex geometric patterns as they  analyzed the elemental streams coursing through Vapula’s interior. This was a new effect, one that hadn’t existed before, hinting at unnecessary upgrades. Hopefully, it wasn’t siphoning his EXP for a version update.

[The streams are flowing through that passage over there!] (Libra)

Being able to analyze things swiftly is one of Libra’s impressive points. She is a former support character, but she still harnesses the unparalleled processing power of the Space Library, far exceeding human capabilities.

[Uhahaha, I’m a genius! The ultimate strategist for exploiting this dungeon’s weak points.] (Lanpeach)

[Ahaha, you’re right! The elemental streams act like an Ariadne’s thread, guiding us through this labyrinth. No chance of getting lost, and it gives me a chance to shine!] (Libra)

Lanpeach, who was elated by his ingenious idea despite being a  simple one, and Libra, whose identity revolved around Lanpeach, she was happy to have done something, and laughed confidently as they advanced.

He raced through the dungeon with speed surpassing even cheetahs…only to come to an abrupt halt.

It was a dead end. No hidden doors -just a plain wall.

[………]

[………]

Silence fell between them. Upon closer inspection, the thick wall had numerous small openings resembling vents.

[Makes sense. Energy doesn’t need a pathway. Just holes to absorb the energy…] (Lanpeach)

[Right. Say, can you shrink down into a mini Soldier? Small enough to get eaten by a sparrow?] (Libra)

[I’m no demon. That’s impossible.] (Lanpeach)

[What now? We’re running out of time.] (Libra)

[Yeah… Could you guide me to the core through this complicated maze in a short amount of time?]  (Lanpeach)

[In that case, finding a staff-only passage might be quicker.] (Libra)

They exchanged glances, realizing they might not make it in time at this rate.

◇◇

The core of Vapula. It was a complex area filled with numerous monsters, making it a near-impossible location to reach. While it might be possible to arrive there with enough time, doing so before the revival would be utterly unfeasible.

At the center of a massive chamber, large enough to house a gymnasium, lay a pulsating, heart-like mass of flesh. Thick blood vessels, wider than a human arm, spread out like roots across the ground.

Even now, energy surged through the veins, causing the heart to throb faster and faster.

Surrounding the core were soldiers standing guard. They were clad in gray protective suits and armed with assault rifles. At first glance, they might have appeared to be ordinary security personnel, but a closer look revealed bat-like black fur covering the glimpses of their skin.

“The revival of Vapula seems to be going smoothly.”

“Yeah, the energy charge is at 92%. At this rate, it’ll fully awaken in less than an hour.”

“Man, it’s rough. One moment we’re in stasis, and the next, we’re ordered to guard Vapula. Why is it already reviving? Wasn’t this fortress meant to be used when the President awakened?”

“Exactly. But Ose woke up first, didn’t he? He’s nowhere to be seen. And isn’t the elapsed time odd? It’s only been 1,200 years.”

“Something unexpected must have happened in the Lunatic Library. That’s why I never trusted machines to predict everything.”

“Yeah, I felt the same way. But voicing dissent would’ve gotten me labeled as insubordinate and fired.”

“No kidding. Still, the pay’s good, and we were promised immortal bodies to live as long as we want. Hard to argue with that.”

The guards, who were part of Harkein, chatted idly. They have been in stasis within time-freeze capsules but were awakened when the system detected a threat to Vapula, triggering an emergency scramble.

There were about 30 of them. Meanwhile, technicians monitoring Vapula with handheld terminals assessed the situation.

“Human civilization’s current technological level is laughably lower than it was when we went to sleep. It’s like comparing adults to infants. My guess? Some locals managed to activate Vapula while trying to scavenge ancient technology. Idiots.”

A soldier sneered while observing Vapula through his terminal.

“They probably thought they could control this thing. Foolish, but…there’s something strange. There’s no body. According to the surveillance footage, a young man infiltrated, activated Vapula, and then was killed when it drained his energy. But the corpse is missing.”

“Maybe it ate the body?”

“No, Vapula doesn’t consume flesh. It’s an energy absorber. There should be a dried-out mummy left behind, but there’s nothing.”

“What? So, what -did a ghost resurrect him? Forget that for now. We need to decide what to do once Vapula revives. A fortress isn’t much use if we don’t know what to do with it.”

“We could head to the Lunatic Library if we had a spaceship. We could make contact with local groups. Otherwise, we’re like those civilized people in movies that are stranded in a world that has lost its culture.” 

“Right. What’s it like outside? Don’t tell me people are going unga bunga and living in pit dwellings.”

“Given how civilization was collapsing when we went to sleep, it’s possible. I’m not confident I could live in conditions like that.”

Despite their half-demon nature, they still considered themselves civilized beings, accustomed to luxurious comforts. Summers spent eating hot pot in air-conditioned rooms and winters enjoying ice cream in saunas were their norms. The thought of living primitively in pit dwellings was horrifying.

“Man, I hope the locals preserved civilization. The last thing I want is to be treated as a heretic in some temple.” 

“Well, we are demons… Let’s just hope that doesn’t—hold up. Do you hear something?”

“Hear what…?”

The conversation stopped as one of them extended his otherworldly hearing to its limit, and…

[Rush]

[Rush]

[Rush]

A desperate male voice echoed from somewhere. The soldiers began to notice it too, looking around as the sound grew louder. Yet, they couldn’t locate the source.

“Something’s not right. Everyone, stay on alert—waah!”

The squad leader’s warning was cut short as a chunk of flesh fell from the ceiling, crushing him.

The flesh ceiling itself was then diced into tiny pieces, raining down in shredded bits of meat. A single man dropped down from the midst of it.

“Yeah! Made it! Did I make it?!” 

The man landed as lightly as a feather despite the height of his fall. His sweat-drenched face rose, and the soldiers instantly assessed him. Highly trained, they pointed their rifles without hesitation.

“A scoundrel! Shoot him!”

“That face screams mischief!”

“He looks like he’s here to steal something!”

Even without much training, anyone could have identified him as a threat. His villainous appearance left no room for doubt.

The soldiers opened fire on the suspicious man without mercy. Their Harkein-manufactured rifles, linked to their demonic armor, automatically adjusted their aim based on their line of sight, ensuring precise hits. These weapons were powerful enough to take down even high-ranking monsters, and are recommended by Harkein.

It was expected that this sudden minor villain would be torn to shreds, leaving not even a scrap behind.

However, the scoundrel remained unfazed, calmly raising his palm.

[Telekinesis]

The bullets, raining upon him like a storm, froze in mid-air, spinning in place.

“What the…? A spirit barrier? No, it’s magic?”

“I’m not detecting any mana! What did this guy do?”

The soldiers expected evasion or a counterattack, so they were unprepared for this. The lack of detectable magic baffled them; it was beyond the imagination of their half-demon minds equipped with Harkein technology.

“You guys were saying some interesting things. Looks like I hit the jackpot with this enemy.”

The scoundrel grinned, his enjoyment clear. Before him, the soldiers felt a chilling sense of dread.

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