As the saying goes, there's no land that can't be plowed, only an ox that can be worked to death.
Right now, those words were deeply etched into the Minotaur Sage's heart.
Deep within the bottomless underground world, the Minotaur Sage was like an tireless bull, swinging his thick, powerful arms as he desperately dug through the hard earth.
Every sweep of his arms sent large amounts of dirt flying.
As a Minotaur player with a Warrior-class build known for melee combat and physical prowess, his endurance was naturally exceptional.
Even so, he was beginning to feel utterly exhausted.
[I've been digging for so long... This should be far enough, right?]
The Minotaur Sage panted heavily, muttering to himself.
Sweat had already soaked his entire body. It ran over his wounds, bringing a sharp sting before dripping into the dirt below.
He couldn't use magic, much less any items, or there was a very real chance he would expose his position.
With that caution firmly in mind, the Minotaur Sage moved with extreme care.
He suppressed his aura and even resorted to the most primitive method possible, digging through the earth with his bare hands as he slowly made his way forward.
He didn't even dare breathe too loudly.
Right now, staying alive was all that mattered to him. Everything else was insignificant.
He had no idea what had happened after that earth-shattering self-destruction, nor did he have the slightest desire to find out.
As far as the Minotaur Sage was concerned, he'd already done more than enough. After all, this was the first time in six hundred years that he'd fought so desperately.
If Kuyō's creations were already this terrifying, what would happen if Kuyō itself showed up?
He didn't dare think about it. He really didn't.
In any case, he'd done everything he was supposed to do. He could leave this mess for his fellow countrymen from the Sorcerer Kingdom and the Theocracy to worry about.
He'd rather find somewhere to hole up and go back to enjoying the good life.
Even if the worst came to pass, having an entire world's population buried alongside him didn't sound like such a bad deal... right?
With those uncertain thoughts running through his mind, the Minotaur Sage had already dug a tunnel hundreds of kilometers long with nothing but his bare hands.
He then remained hidden underground for several hours, quietly recovering his strength.
Only when he felt enough time had passed did the Minotaur Sage finally begin digging upward.
He still hadn't fully decided what to do afterward, but his first priority was to get out of this place.
He knew perfectly well that remaining in the danger-ridden Roble Holy Kingdom was no different from sitting around waiting to die.
The soil on the surface churned, and a minotaur's head cautiously poked out.
But the moment he looked around, he froze. His attempt to climb out stopped halfway.
About three steps in front of him, a Frost Dragon appeared to have been waiting for quite some time, watching him with obvious interest.
"Yo, we meet again."
The White Dragon Lord smiled as he politely raised a dragon claw in greeting.
At the same time, a flash of blue light appeared in his eyes. The 10th-Tier Magic, [Frost of Judecca], was ready to be unleashed.
The slightest sign that the Minotaur Sage intended to flee, and he would immediately freeze the surrounding space.
Seeing this, the Minotaur Sage cursed inwardly.
This was a blatant threat, wasn't it?!
And judging by the Frost Dragon's expression and condition, could it be that his fellow countryman from the Sorcerer Kingdom had arrived?
Tsk. How underhanded.
They had been comrades who'd endured life-and-death danger together not long ago, yet now the bastard was repaying kindness with betrayal and targeting this Sage.
The Minotaur Sage took a deep breath and climbed out of the hole. As he surveyed the terrain, his mind raced for a way to escape.
As for whether he could win a fight, even if he could beat the other party, he'd probably end up injured. One stroke of bad luck and he might just die here.
The other party might not be especially high-level, but he was still in peak condition and belonged to the Dragon Race. Given the Minotaur Sage's current state, the odds weren't exactly reassuring.
"Friend, considering everything we've been through together, how about letting me go this once?"
With that thought, the Minotaur Sage tried appealing to their past friendship.
Unfortunately, the White Dragon Lord clearly wasn't buying it.
"Now? At a time like this? You must be joking."
The White Dragon Lord shook his head without hesitation.
Let him go?
What kind of joke was that? His reward was riding on this guy.
"Don't bother trying to run. You won't get away anyway. Just stay here and chat with me for a while. Don't worry, it won't take long."
As he spoke, a slit opened on the White Dragon Lord's forehead. A dark red vertical pupil emerged, flashing briefly as it swept over the Minotaur Sage.
The Mark of Catastrophe.
World-Class Items and Wild Magic could block Catastrophe's ability to lock onto a target, but only when no one was actively guiding it.
The reason the White Dragon Lord could track his target at all was thanks to the eye Naohara-sama had bestowed upon him, which allowed him to manipulate a portion of the torrent of Catastrophe that permeated the entire Roble Holy Kingdom.
"There's really no room to negotiate?"
The Minotaur Sage's earlier expression vanished. A massive axe appeared in his hands as he assumed a fighting stance.
He definitely didn't want his reunion with a fellow countryman from the Sorcerer Kingdom to happen like this.
[Hey, you damn ox. You can hear me, right?]
Just as the Minotaur Sage prepared to risk everything in one last struggle, a voice made him stop.
[Huh? You're still alive?]
[Of course I am. I'd still be alive even if you were dead. Forget that for now, we're short on time. Listen carefully. I have a way to get you out of the Roble Holy Kingdom. You...]
The Clear Light Dragon Lord spoke rapidly from within an alternate dimension.
The shockwave from the self-destruction had shaken the surrounding space, but it hadn't been enough to kill him.
The Clear Light Dragon Lord had wanted to take the Minotaur Sage with him. They had traveled together for three years, after all. Even if the other party had been a dog, spending that long together would have been enough to form some attachment.
Unfortunately, the Minotaur Sage had been so cautious that the Clear Light Dragon Lord had been completely unable to locate him.
It wasn't until the Minotaur Sage released his aura just now that he finally managed to find him.
But while he was still speaking to the Minotaur Sage, he suddenly sensed a terrifying fluctuation that sent a chill through him.
[Too late. I can't save you now. You're on your own.]
After leaving those words behind, his presence instantly vanished.
The Minotaur Sage froze in the middle of their conversation.
Then, in the very next instant, another voice sounded right beside his ear.
"He sure ran fast. Oh well, as long as you're still here. Fellow countryman, would you do me the honor of joining me for a meal in Nazarick?"
Naohara rested a hand on the Minotaur Sage's shoulder and spoke with a cheerful smile.
The Clear Light Dragon Lord had fled without the slightest hesitation, and his mastery over space was extraordinary. Even Naohara had failed to catch him.
But that didn't matter. He could run for now, but he couldn't hide forever.
Compared to him, the Minotaur Sage, a fellow Player, was far more important.
"Do I have to eat this meal?"
After stiffening for a moment, the Minotaur Sage let out a resigned sigh and gave a bitter smile.
And with that, the bonus Dragon-Type Chaos Beast, the grand prize Kuyō Monster, and the Minotaur Sage, the hidden reward, had all been secured.
***
...
If you'd like to support my work and unlock advanced chapters, you can follow me on p-@-treon.
[email protected]/PinkSnake (50 Chapters Ahead).
You can also follow as a free member to read a few advanced chapters.
***