Genius 14

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Chapter 14. Master Of The Labyrinth

Although they got outpaced by the sudden appearance of Count Eldridge, Hermes, and his group could dive into the labyrinth as planned. 

Judging by the Count's attitude, he undoubtedly intended to take credit for conquering the labyrinth.

The solution was simple: conquer the labyrinth before the Count. 

Typically, conquering a labyrinth meant defeating the master of the labyrinth, the leader of its monsters, and the strongest monster at the deepest part of the labyrinth. 

That would cause the uncontrolled monsters to become confused, ensuring a degree of safety until a new master emerged.

To achieve this, they had to confront increasingly powerful groups of monsters as they delved deeper into the labyrinth.

"Ah!"

"Grrraaahh!"

"Gyaaaahhh!"

Surprisingly, their journey went smoothly.

"Ha!"

The reason was undoubtedly Hermes, who wielded magic at the core of their group.

"Hermes, I'll ask again... How are you doing that? Is it a [Enhanced Generic Magic]?"

"Yes, it's more precisely an [Enhanced Generic Magic]. Some were developed by my master, and I've also helped create some."

Various colorful magics were unleashed freely from Hermes' hands, accurately piercing through monsters without any waste, almost like an art form.

"It's an application of the [Emerald Tablet]. It's not as powerful as Bloodline Magic, but it's quite handy."

"It's more than just handy..."

Indeed, the [Enhanced Generic Magic], powered by the [Emerald Tablet], while not as powerful as Bloodline Magic, compensated with its versatility and speed due to not requiring incantations.

Compared to many nobles who relied solely on their innate magic, Hermes' efficient and elegant use of magic was on a completely different level.

"Things are going smoothly."

"The knights are properly holding off and playing the guard role. Thanks to them, we can focus on attacking."

"Hahaha! With the speed of your magic, we might not even need us!"

The fiery knight joked, but saying they weren't needed was an exaggeration.

They could rely on Katia's trust. Their individual abilities were high, and their coordination was excellent.

They protected Katia and Hermes from all sides, not allowing any monsters to approach them.

Katia indicated the direction of monsters, and Hermes effectively cast spells there.

With the stability of a fortress - walls, command center, and artillery - they scattered the monsters along the way, breaking through where they had been stuck and finally reaching the depths of the labyrinth.

"Is that... the master of this labyrinth?"

"Considering the magical aura, it's highly likely."

After passing through a narrow passage, they stood in a vast hall.

They exchanged words while looking at the massive monster seated there from a distance.

The first thing they noticed was its shell.

The dome-shaped shell covering the monster, each hexagon engraved on it emitted a metallic shine, indicating its formidable hardness.

Peeking through the gaps in the shell was the face of a reptile covered in equally tough scales. 

Its slit pupils emitted a red glow akin to blood, below which were jaws designed for ferocity and sharp fangs meant solely for hunting prey.

"...Tortoise Dragon. Also known as Genbu in ancient times, a true dragon species."

"Hermes, are you knowledgeable about monsters as well?"

"I often accompanied my master on labyrinth conquests. Although I've never personally fought one based on just knowledge."

He had read a lot of literature, so he knew their appearances and names. Moreover, there was a glint of magic and power coming from within the monster, likely an ancient magical artifact as rumored. It made sense for such a formidable dragon species to guard it.

"This is bad. To think there's a dragon class here."

"It will undoubtedly be tough. What will you do, Miss Katia?"

After contemplating the fiery knight's words for a moment, Katia spoke decisively,

"...We'll go. I'm curious about the Count, but more importantly, I can't imagine the damage if a monster of this magnitude appeared on the surface."

"Understood."

"However, the lives of everyone come first. If we feel we can't win, we'll retreat and seek instructions from my father."

With her instructions, they all rushed into the vast hall.

The Tortoise Dragon noticed them immediately. Its blood-colored eyes recognized Hermes and his group, displaying hostility towards them.

It leaped...!

[!?]

Everyone present was shocked.

They had been careless, judging it solely by its appearance.

Surely monster like that wouldn't be agile, right?

That expectation was easily shattered as the agile Tortoise Dragon leaped with impressive speed, landing with the expected weight.

Moreover, its landing position...

"The entrance... Oh no, it's blocked."

If they couldn't win, they'd retreat.

Mocking Katia's instructions, the formidable enemy effortlessly blocked their escape route, showcasing its formidable abilities and sealing their exit in one action.

Hermes and his group suddenly got forced into a battle with the intelligent and powerful monster.

As expected, the battle began with considerable disadvantage.

"Th-this...!"

The knights tried to protect the two magicians as per usual tactics, but it was quite challenging.

The reason was the Tortoise Dragon's agility.

Not impossible to follow with the eyes, but faster than any monster they had encountered in this labyrinth, disrupting their formations if they let their guard down.

They struggled to protect Katia and Hermes, leaving no room to create openings for spells.

And when they finally found a slight opening to cast a spell...

"...Is that all?"

Hermes's reaction to the impact of his [Enhanced Generic Magic] was an evident disappointment.

Despite specifically targeting the relatively thin armor around its neck, they only managed to scratch it lightly.

While hundreds of hits might eventually yield results, hitting such a fast-moving target at a challenging spot like the neck was not realistic.

Others realized the same situation, prompting the fiery knight to propose while defending against attacks,

"Miss Katia! Hermes' magic isn't effective! Please use Bloodline Magic!"

"But my magic is too slow! I don't think I can hit..."

"I'll help. [Arseram]."

Hermes quickly responded to the proposal. He cut his finger, spraying blood. The blood turned into a red chain that entangled the dragon's neck, pinning it to the ground.

"Now, this... [Steria Tryvia]!"

The Tortoise Dragon easily broke free, but they created a larger opening than before.

Not missing this chance, Katia unleashed the Bloodline Magic she had prepared in advance.

A swarm of spirits manifested from the netherworld, turning into a massive force of magic that surged towards the dragon.

While he couldn't fully control it for unknown reasons, Bloodline Magic was still Bloodline Magic. 

It surpassed Hermes' magic in both power and range. The Tortoise Dragon, thrown off balance, couldn't evade.

Or so they thought.

"...Impossible."

The magic that should have hit squarely, and everyone watched in despair as Katia muttered.

"It's already so resilient, and can use barrier magic!?"

The Tortoise Dragon hadn't dodged.

Instead, multiple layers of barriers around its neck perfectly absorbed Katia's magic.

Naturally, the main body suffered no damage.

That was the difference between monsters and regular beasts.

Monsters were magical creatures, attracted to and empowered by high magic