Boom!

Fierce steam erupted from various places.

The corridor vibrated, and the wall collapsed, revealing gears and wires inside.

[Danger!]

[The damage to the ‘Ancient Statue’ is severe!]

“Climb the stairs, then go right. If you go straight to the three-way intersection, you’ll find the exit. Get ready to leave once you’re there.”

“We’ll break through the head and make our escape.”

Ziing.

Kishasha’s voice disappeared.

I dashed through the corridor, where the red light and fluorescent tubes flashed together.

“Oppa, I think something’s coming from behind!”

I turned to Jenna’s voice.

Clank, clank, clank. Something massive was approaching in the dark corridor, shaking the ceiling and walls.

[XYZ Ultimate Golem Lv.46]

“Karrk! Karararara! Don’t underestimate my invention!”

“It looks like the door has been broken.”

The golem extended its hand as it approached.

The aiming device on the repeating crossbow began to spin rapidly.

Tudududududung!

With a somewhat sharp sound, bolts shot out from its hand. Velkist, who had been following behind, swung his sword. Splintered wood and arrowheads scattered in all directions.

“I’ll handle this.”

“What are you talking about? If we’re going to fight, we should all fight together.”

“‘Venik (★★★)’ is in a bleeding state. Health decreases at regular intervals.”

Edis’s desperate voice echoed.

“How many?”

“Got it. Hold on a little longer. Don’t let Priasis die.”

The communication was cut off.

Neryssa, who had been looking at me, smiled lightly.

Eloka stopped as if waiting.

“Three is enough. You two should go ahead.”

“But…”

“Don’t you trust us?”

Finally, Jenna nodded and patted her cheek.

“Okay. Brothers and sisters, don’t die!”

“This is nothing to worry about.”

“If you think it’s no longer possible, run away immediately. I hope I’m being clear.”

I turned and ran again.

Jenna followed behind me. A moment later, the sound of intense battle came from behind.

“Will they be okay?”

“Do you think those guys trained for nothing? Have a little faith.”

I increased my speed.

The corridor was narrow. Moving with more than three people would only be a hindrance.

To tell the truth, the outcome is unknown. The result may be that those guys lose. If so, three death messages will appear before me

‘We should hurry.’

We must clear the mission as quickly as possible.

And we didn’t have much time.

[Elite Lizardman Warrior Lv. 32]

“Karrrruuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuuk!”

The door next to the corridor opened with a creak, and a lizardman rushed out.

He was wearing sturdy plate armor and held a dazzlingly shining sword in his hand.

Ping!

An arrow accurately pierced a gap in his armor like a needle.

I drew my dagger and thrust it into the lizardman’s helmet, which resounded with a scream of pain. When I withdrew the hilt, he spurted blood and collapsed.

I continued running through the corridor.

Lizardmen appeared several times, but we dealt with them all as we kept moving forward.

[“Velkist (★★★)” is in a bleeding state. Health decreases at regular intervals.]

[“Roza (★★)” has returned to the embrace of the goddess! Her courage will be remembered forever.]

“It’s really annoying.”

No matter how difficult Pick Me Up was said to be, this was beyond hard.

Clearing the stage seemed to be a difficulty that the developers didn’t want.

‘My account was somewhat similar.’

I thought of the heroes of Niflheimr, who had suffered several times.

Especially Seris. She must have felt similar to me now. A smile involuntarily appeared on my lips.

“Oppa.”

“Don’t worry. We’ll definitely clear it.”

I continued forward, dispatching the lizardmen blocking the way.

The blade of Bifrost stained crimson. After crossing two sections and climbing numerous stairs, I finally reached the last room.

All sorts of wires were gathered here.

A thick iron door was firmly closed as if denying entry.

“Karrk! Foolish humans, you’ve finally made it here.”

I heard a voice.

“Do you know what the woman you’re protecting is trying to do? She’s defying the order of the universe!”

“What are you talking about?”

Boom!

I forcefully kicked the door.

Inside a circular room several meters in size, with large monitors extending in all directions, a small lizardman in robes was staring at me. The lenses of his compound eyes reflected light.

[Master of Arcane, Kurushakh Lv.35]

“Kiaak, human! You’ve made a mistake…”

I took out a poisoned dagger from my belt and threw it.

The purple blade pierced through his robe and into his abdomen.

Then three arrows pierced his nose, throat, and heart precisely.

“Kkuuh…”

Thunk.

He vomited black blood and collapsed.

Instant death. I checked the surroundings. There was another door on the right side of the wall.

“Destroy all these suspicious devices. Leave nothing behind.”

“Yes!”

I opened the door and entered.

The entire room was filled with octagonal crystals.

Crack! Thud! Thud!

The sound of impacts spread from outside the open door.

It seemed like Jenna was smashing the devices with enthusiasm.

‘This is the last one.’

I looked down at my feet.

The black blood that the lizardman had spilled was stuck to my boots. If I had the time, I would have listened to what he was saying, but…

I gripped the hilt with both hands.

When I plunged the sword into the crystal, gold spread like a spider’s web. I twisted it and pulled it out. Crunch! Shattered pieces of the crystal scattered in all directions.

Kugugugugung!

[Danger!]

[The ‘Ancient Statue’ has reached its limit.]

[It’s collapsing!]

The entire room began to shake.

[Mission type has changed.]

[Mission Type – Escape]

[Objective – Exit this area!]

[Special Objective – The survival of NPC ‘Priasis Al Ragna’]

I went outside.

As it shook, Jenna was diligently smashing machine parts with her bow.

“Jenna!”

“Oh, Oppa!”

“This place is about to collapse. We need to get out.”

“What about the others?”

“We’ll meet them on the way out. Follow me!”

Jenna jumped up and joined me.

We immediately left the room. The vibrations intensified.

Kugugugug. Rocks were falling from the ceiling.

“We just took care of the last crystal. The entrance should be open now. The flames outside should have disappeared. Go out right away.”

“We’re fine here. We’ll manage.”

As soon as I cut off the communication, I jumped to the side.

Sharp rock fragments fell where I had been standing. I ran after that. Lizardmen were scurrying around in various places in the corridor. I ignored them.

‘Where is it?’

I recalled the map of the bonus stage.

I calculated the fastest way to escape after joining the other three.

Left, right. Then right again.

Kwakwakwakwakwung!

Boom!

A powerful explosion sounded from a side corridor.

I immediately moved. In the smoke, a human figure appeared. Jenna’s eyes gleamed as she dived into the smoke.

“Over here!”

In the smoke, the three of them revealed themselves.

“Slower than expected. We’ve been waiting.”