Someday Will I Be The Greatest Alchemist?

Chapter 227:  Cathedral Labyrinth 6

Even though the monsters that appear in the dungeon became centered around the superior species, our clearing speed didn’t fall as we went through the floors.

And so, we finally made it to the 20th floor. It was entirely different from what we’ve been through until now.

A long stretch of corridor. A single large door lay beyond.

「That’s the boss room, isn’t it?」

「Yeah, this feeling is definitely the boss room.」

Heath-san agreed with my query.

As Lyle-san disarmed a trap, we charged forward through the long straight corridor.

「Fuu~ is everyone ready?」

Once we were in front of the door, I turned back to look at everyone and they all nodded.

Creaaaak!

Beyond the opened massive doors was a room twice the size of the monster house room.

「……a cathedral?」

It was like the space within a church, but with the pews removed. It was the interior of an extravagant cathedral adorned with stained glass, but it did not even have a sliver of solemnity to it. Rather, it was overflowing with miasma and had the presence of evil.

「Yamato!」

The person Akane cried out to was one of the heroes, Akane’s classmate, Yamato.

The boy summoned from Japan called Yamato was accompanied by 10 Holy Knights of Sydnia. And on the extravagant throne-like seat placed at the very back sat Divine Empire Sydnia’s Pope Warvaal whom had a vacant look in his eyes.

「Yamato! Come back to your senses!」

「…………」

Even when Akane cried out desperately, Yamato had no reaction.

「Kukuku, HAHAHAHAHAHA. It’s futile! The Hero Yamato gained holy power through our Goddess’ divine power, becoming a superhuman. He is no longer the Yamato you once spent time with!」

「Yamato! Please! Come to us!」

Akane’s voice did not get through to him. On the contrary, Yamato raised one hand, giving the Holy Knights lined up behind him a signal.

The Holy Knights wore silver armor and a helmet that showed nothing but their eyes. Their pupils shone eerily.

The Holy Knights came to the front holding uniform swords and shields.

「Akane, get back. Yamato-kun isn’t sane.」

Akane moved to the back, and the vanguard came to the front.

Crack, creak, crack

Sounds that shouldn’t come from people’s bodies were heard from the 10 Holy Knights’ bodies.

『Guoooooooooooーー!!』

The Holy Knights’ bodies swelled up and they roared like beasts, then they broke into a run.

「They’re coming!」

Bam! Clang!

Bogah-san barely managed to stop the charge with his large shield. Titan defended against the oncoming sword with his large body.

After that, it broke into a melee.

As expected, the Holy Knights were abnormally strong and numb to pain. In reality, they were not “people” anymore. They were Immortal Soldiers.

The trioー Heath-san, Lyle-san, and Bogah-sanー fought one Holy Knight. They had an advantage in fighting after many years of practiced coordination.

Titan and Kaede each took on a Holy Knight, but as one would have expected, Titan and Kaede’s opponents would have been at a disadvantage even if they were Special Immortal Soldiers. It likely wouldn’t take my familiars that long to defeat their opponents.

Sophia severed the neck of a Holy Knight she passed and immediately engaged in combat with two more Holy Knights.

Maria safely battled one Holy Knight.

Laeva, Marnie, and Lulu-chan worked together, fighting to protect Akane. Meanwhile, Akane tracked everyone’s progress in battle while providing assistance using support spells and recovery spells.

And as for me……………

Woosh!

In quick steps, I dashed straight to the forefront. The benumbed Immortal Soldiers that were struck by my sword when I passed had their top and bottom half bisected.

I didn’t verify this though and closed in on Yamato.

With swift movements that exceed human reflexes, Yamato lunged at me using his clawed hands.

(Kuh, that superhuman speed. He’s like a different person from the one in the war just a while ago.)

Thanks to my maxed out Evasion Skill, Insight Skill, and Body Control Skill, I was able to endure Yamato’s fierce attack that displayed his inhuman movements.

(Can’t we return them to normal somehow?)

『Guuwaaaa!!』

A change occurred in Yamato’s body as he continued to move at inhuman speeds.

Creak, Snap, Crack!

Two horns started growing from his forehead, and his body grew twice as large. The color of his skin turned reddish.

「Huh?! Isn’t he just like an ogre?!」

As fang-like canines grew from his mouth, he became an existence no longer within the category of people.

Even when I tried use 『Decomposition』 as I parried his fist, the resistance was great. That being the case, 『Synthesis』 didn’t work well either when I tried.

Even so, I continued to invoke 『Synthesis』 on his armor.

(What do I do? ……will I kill Akane’s classmate in front of her?)

I couldn’t afford to go easy on him.

I prepared myself to bear Akane’s grudge.

「Ha!」

I attacked while evading Yamato’s onslaught, steadily reversing the rate of offense and defense to my favor.

『Gyaaaa!』

Dodging the fists Yamato threw at me, I cut the arm he extended from above the elbow. I saw through the attack of his remaining arm and cut it off as well.

Yamato roared as both arms fell to the floor. Even more, I swung my sword at his thigh and severed it too.

My plan was to restrain his movements for now.

However, he had become more of a monster than I had expected.

The grotesque Ogre-like Yamato grew even more distant from the form of man. His two arms simultaneously regenerated at high speed. When the leg also regenerated, another two sprouted.

The two severed arms returned to his body too. As his limbs increased, Yamato was reduced to a monster with four arms and four legs,

We could hear Pope Warvaal’s laughter.

My heart trembled in extreme anger from how he doesn’t treat people like actual people.

***