To the Depth of Abyss

Chapter 203: The Army of the Demon King

Abyssal Terra / North Region 

Morning / 

The next day after the conference, the Mountain Snail begin to move. 

"Why does its inner body which should be flabby also have such a strong shell?!"

Arlene got angry because Black Sky Spine could not hurt the monster. 

___________

Mutiara City /

Abyssal Guild / The Hall

A hologram projector showing the live streaming of Mountain Snail moving towards south. 

Surprisingly, the Mountain Snail got armor on its head. That can't be attacked, even with the strongest attack. 

"That Queen of Monster sure knows how to fight."

Echidna did not fight head on. However, she was powerful enough with her ability against Abyssal Hunters. 

"What do we do then, Miss Hera? Are we going to gather all the Platinum Casters to attack the weak points of the monsters?"

Jade gives her opinion on the meeting. Being the only one who appears in the guild as the Diamond. 

Arlene and Skadi were at the Mountain Snail, flying with Alpha Eagles. 

Derek was still unknown, whether he will come again or not because he seemed will not cooperate in the battle and only care about his Family.

"That would be wasting manpower. Besides, the weakness of that monster is the Queen. If we can't defeat the queen, then it would be pointless attacking that snail."

"Then, what should we do?"

"We wait for another surprise."

The snail being covered with armor is already a surprise for them. 

Hera expects there would be another surprise coming from their enemy. 

______________

[Biggest Calamity Event]. The event being called that because the Catastrophe Beast, Mountain Snail, targeting half of the Floor 2. 

It had been one day since the Mountain Snail moved. It's crawling from North Region to the Middle Floor. Its destination must be the South Region. 

At the time, the Mountain Snail only moved about 1km from its start. Even so, because of its huge body like a mountain, that distance was already threatening Floor2.

All the citizen lives in Middle Floor being evacuated to Northwest Region or Southern Region. Northern Region might be a safe place, but there is no route to go there since the Mountain Snail destroying everything in its way. 

The Northeast Region was not an option. 

______________

Saint Arcane Academy / 

When all the people of Academy had evacuated, one girl running to Church of Longing. In search of her mother. 

"Mother!"

Elisa arrived at the church and found her mother was praying to the Tree of Past, Present, Future. 

"Everyone has left the academy. Mother, let's go evacuate."

She came over to her mother in a decent manner. Because she did not want to bother her mother. 

Her mother, Maria, finally done praying and stand up. 

"You go evacuate, Elizabeth. Don't worry about me."

But her mother gave a surprising answer. 

Just like when the Black Hunter attacked the academy, Maria stay calm in the church, does not scare the danger that would hurt her. 

"Mother, please. It is not the same as the Black Hunter attack before. We have to go evacuate."

Elisa tries really hard to convince her mother. This time, she did not want to lose an argument just like in the past. 

"No, it is the same as before. The same attack, the same villain, the same goal."

However, her mother knows many than her that she slows to understand the situation. 

"Back then, she has many underlings she could order. But now there is nothing left to follow her. That is why, this time, she did it herself. Just like in the past, no one could predict what kind of surprise she would give."

____________

Boundary between Middle Region and Northern Region / 

The Third Day of Biggest Calamity Event /

Night / 

"We spotted there are monster coming out from the shell of Mountain Snail! I repeat! We spotted there are monster coming out from the shell of Mountain Snail!"

____________

Mutiara City / 

Abyssal Guild / The Hall 

A view of red dots coming out from the Mountain Shell could be seen from the hologram projector's live streaming broadcast.

Not many Hunter in the guild at the time. But the information about the sudden development of the Catastrophe Beast rapidly being announced to the other. 

"Just how many of them?"

Jade literally shivered at the scene. 

The red dots coming from the Mountain Shell never stop coming out. That already passed a thousand.

"To all the Watchmen! Retreat and don't make a contact with the enemy!"

Hera ordered all the Watchmen to step back. 

It was totally unexpected. On last night, the Mountain Snail finally begins to move. Now it releases thousands of flying monster from within its shell. 

"The Night Raid Pattern."

Hera suddenly muttered something. 

"The Night Raid pattern?" asked Jade, curious.

"An offensive attempt usually used by the Black Hunter group."

An information about Black Hunter group assault history said; every Black Hunter attack started in the night. Usually being called Night Raid pattern.

"Echidna is one of the Superior Leader of Black Hunter. So its only natural that she uses that pattern."

"So, each night, when that monster still alive, it will bring more surprises?"

Jade finally understand when Hera mentioned about 'surprises' from their enemy. 

"Most likely, yes."

"Then we have to attack it now!"

"Don't be rushed, young warrior."

Jade actually not that young to be called young. But Hera seems to know how to use words. 

"You are our strongest shield. I can't allow you to go away from this city."

Hera was right. 

Green Sky Shield is the strongest shield after the Greedy Young Master Sword Arts. 

When the Greedy Young Master whereabout still unknown, she can't be reckless at such time. 

"We will begin to attack tomorrow morning. When the sun rises and when we can see clearly." 

Hera ordered to hold their guts until the night come to an end. 

The monster however begins to cause fire along their way. They burn everything within the radius of 3km. 

Indeed, they only burn empty territory as such Hunting Area. But still, to see that much fire in the night was so terrifying. They really wanted to destroy Floor 2. 

_____________

Middle Region / 

The Fourth Day of Calamity Event / 

"Attack!"

The next day after the appearance of Minions, Floor 2 Abyssal Hunter League mobilize 1000 Hunter to face the enemy. 

A war against the Black Hunter Superior Leader, Virtue of Charity, Echidna. 

On the first hour of the fight, Abyssal Hunter side could take many of Minions. 

The commando being led by Silver Sky Staff bearer, Skadi. They can't stop the Mountain Snail, but they could kill the chaos bringer, the Minions. 

"Why you named them Minion, Miss Hera?"

[Monster Name: Minion]

[A winged monster like gargoyle but shaped in literal demonic human body]

Hera was the one who gave them the name . 

Minion actually not that unique because it is already in the dictionary. 

"Just my guess. If they are not the same monster I knew, then we will change their name."

Hera's answer brings another mystery to Jade's ear. 

From the start, Hera was already a mysterious person. But her words, choice, and action indicated that she experienced in leadership and battle. When her identity is still unknown.

~~~~~~~~

The battle was going well in the first six hours. 

Then something unexpected happens. 

"Is it just me or, they don't seem to have decreased at all?"

That was what they see on the screen. 

Six hours had passed since the battle begin. But the Minion number did not seem to be decreased at all. 

"Guild to Commando, do you hear me?"

Hera tried to connect with the Division Operator. 

["We could hear you, over!"]

"Tell the Commander to retreat immediately."

The Division Operator and the people inside Guild Hall puzzled at first at Hera's order. 

["Understood. Over!"]

But the Division Operator receive the order without a doubt. 

After receiving the order, the Division retreat from the battle. 

The Minion still chased them and even had the chance to kill some of them. However, they did not go far from the Mountain Snail to chase the Abyssal Hunter. 

~~~~~~~~

The Division retreated far from the Mountain Snail. It will take a day for the Mountain Snail to catch up to them. 

"Are you with me, Skadi?"

"[Yeah]"

Skadi was in the communication. 

Arlene and Sylvia were there to hear about the information. 

"How much men did you lose?"

That became Hera's question to the Division Commander. 

Normally, the Main Control would ask 'how is the situation?' in that situation. But Hera asked that instead. Makes the atmosphere asking about her question choice. 

"[About 100 or so]" "[John were killed and -]"

Inside the calls, besides Skadi, there are many voices could be heard from the other Hunter. 

Even just for a second, they seem to be scared of something. 

"Are you witnessing something when those Minion killed your men?"

"[No. I only focused on myself and my enemy]" "[I see them! They ripped her apart then something terrible -]"

Many voices of panic Hunter could be heard anywhere around Skadi. 

They talked about how their colleagues got killed by the Minion. 

That made the people in the Guild curious and scared at the same time. 

"One hundred times ten is one thousand. So they are really Minons."

"What do you mean, Miss Hera?"

Jade asked what everyone's wondering about the situation. 

They asked that with 'don't want to believe' face. Because based on Hera's words just now, the 'one hundred' seemed like the hunters who died and they multiply by some reason.

"The Army of the Demon King. The Millions Minion. The army that took over this older world."