Labyrinth: Chapter 43: Explosive Magic! The Battle Changes

"Hahaha! Yeah, yeah, yeah, it's nothing."

Gabiru's mouth stretched practically to his ears.

It felt so good to be admired.

"Hahaha, let's send the wounded for treatment first."

Suppressing his grin, Gabiru gave the order.

There were kids among the injured—definitely not the time to bask in praise.

Everyone began helping the wounded.

Getting ready to leave...

Suddenly, an immense magical force surged from behind.

"Hey, hey, hey… What's that piece of trash doing here?"

The Lizardmen turned around.

It was a demon wearing a crow mask.

Gabiru froze for a second when he saw him, then spoke excitedly:

"Gelmud-sama! Why are you here?!"

His followers widened their eyes.

"That's the one who gave Gabiru-sama his name…"

"Why's he here?!"

Gabiru looked stunned.

"Gelmud-sama, did you come to help us?"

"Huh?" Gelmud's voice was laced with irritation.

"You useless idiot."

"Why don't you just die already?"

Gabiru: "Huh?"

Just the tone of his voice was enough to imagine the maniacal grin behind that mask.

"I said—you losers should've been food for the Orc Lord!"

Gabiru froze in place.

"Gelmud-sama… what are you talking about…"

"You're trash, and even worse, an ugly piece of trash."

"Just be my food."

Death-March Dance!

Countless purple orbs lit up the air.

He pointed at Gabiru.

And in an instant, those spheres launched toward him like missiles.

"Gabiru-sama! Dodge!!"

Gabiru stood there in a daze.

He still couldn't process why the one who gave him his name was now attacking him.

Boom—!!

A violent explosion echoed through the wetlands.

All of Gabiru's followers threw themselves at him and blocked the fatal blow.

"Y-You guys…!"

The three of them, breathing their last, whispered:

"Gabiru-sama… to us, you're always…"

"…the greatest…"

"Please… run…"

With that, they stopped breathing.

"…Why…"

Gabiru clenched his teeth, bloodshot eyes burning with rage.

"Why are you doing this?!"

Gelmud clicked his tongue in annoyance.

"Ugh, what a pain."

"Disgusting little insect."

"General Orc, finish him."

As his words fell, the ground rumbled.

A four-meter-tall pig-headed creature in black alloy armor stepped forward.

Gelmud didn't even glance at Gabiru again.

"I'll leave it to you, Orc General. I'm off to see how the Orc Lord is doing."

"This trash is all yours—enjoy your meal."

He kicked off and vanished into the air.

The towering Orc General gripped his giant axe and slowly approached the crowd, muttering:

"Eat it all… eat it all…"

"Gabiru-sama, let's retreat—quickly!"

The Lizardmen behind him spoke up.

They could feel the overwhelming pressure radiating off that pig-headed monster.

There was no way to win...

"..."

Gabiru said nothing. He picked up the trident from the ground and slowly stood up.

"There are still children and wounded here…"

"If we all run, we won't make it."

"But…"

"Leave this to me. I'll hold him off. Get the injured out of here."

"Gabiru-sama…"

"I SAID GO!!"

Gabiru gripped his trident tightly, staring down the Orc General with a look of unwavering resolve.

At that moment, something about him changed.

Clang clang clang—!

The clash of metal rang out behind him.

The remaining Lizardmen realized Gabiru was buying them time.

There were still children to save.

They couldn't waste this chance!

"Retreat!!"

Clang clang—!

Gabiru blocked the Orc General's attacks, holding the line until he saw his people get away.

A faint smile formed on his face.

"You're a worthy warrior."

"Surrender, and I'll grant you an honorable death."

The Orc General spoke.

Gabiru blocked a sweeping blow and sneered.

"How laughable! We noble Lizardmen never surrender!"

No one knew how long the fight went on.

Chaos Eater!

Five black serpents shot out from behind the Orc General, carrying a deadly aura.

Gabiru mustered every ounce of strength to dodge, leaping backward.

Thud!

He collapsed to his knees, exhausted.

Damn it…

We can't win. This guy isn't even on the same level as normal Orcs…

I can't beat him…

I'm going to die…

…But at least the wounded made it out.

The Orc General towered above him, looking down at the kneeling Gabiru.

A mocking grin spread across his pig-like face.

"How dare you stand in our way?"

"You Lizards are good at groveling. Die like the worms you are!"

It's over…

Everyone… I'll see you soon…

The giant axe came crashing down—

Clang—!!!

A piercing metallic clash rang out.

The blow never landed.

"Hey, now's not the time to nap."

"Get up."

"…Eh?" Gabiru slowly opened his eyes and saw the figure in front of him.

Kimono. Samurai sword. Wooden clogs…

And that familiar red...

It was the Oni.

Benimaru glanced down at him. "How long are you planning to lie there?"

"You want me to carry you?"

Across from him—

The Orc General gritted his teeth, pressing his full strength into the axe.

But Benimaru hadn't even drawn his blade.

He blocked it with one hand.

He wasn't even using strength.

The General's face twisted in frustration.

It was like a child being handled by an adult.

Utterly outclassed.

"Who the hell are you?"

Benimaru turned to him.

"What? Forgot already?"

"Didn't you devour our village not that long ago?"

The Orc General's eyes drifted to the horn on Benimaru's forehead.

"That broken horn… You're from the Ogre Clan?!"

Benimaru smirked. "Who knows. Maybe I've changed a little since then."

The General took two cautious steps back, pulling out a massive shield from behind.

"I don't know where you came from, wild brat…"

"If you get in our way—don't blame me for—"

He didn't get to finish.

Back at the battlefield—

Suddenly, several crimson magic circles lit up the sky in rapid succession.

Then—

A rainbow-wreathed pillar of flame dropped from above!

BOOM—!!!

A massive explosion detonated across the battlefield.

The towering inferno lit up the entire night sky.

The shockwave blasted away all the lingering fog over the wetlands.

Splash…

Raindrops, condensed from steam, pattered down from the sky, soaking Gabiru's face.

He stood there, eyes wide, mouth agape.

The Allied Forces had arrived.

They were fighting on a massive battlefield.

"But… what the heck was that magic just now?!"

"What just happened?!…"

(To be continued.)