Solo Max-Level Newbie - Chapter 408: Alliance with the High Elves (2)

‘Drip… drip… drip….’

Crimson drops of blood fell beneath the inverted cross.

“So, you still have nothing to say, do you?”

Remia caressed Melena’s cheek.

‘Hack… gasp…’

“Just… kill me.”

Melena’s breathing was ragged. Her appearance was utterly wretched, a clear result of brutal torture.

“You’re a tough one, aren’t you? Most people would’ve broken by now.”

“We could cut off an arm,” Mordred suggested, drawing his sword. “Once they cross an irreversible line, they usually talk to protect what’s left.”

‘Schwing!’

Mordred’s blade gleamed as he unsheathed it, his anger palpable.

Having been betrayed so many times, Mordred’s fury toward traitors was beyond words.

It was understandable. The Demons had worked with Melena long before the Tower of Trials even appeared.

“Ha, you’re trembling like a lover caught cheating,” Melena mocked through gritted teeth. “Isn’t betrayal just a way of life in this world?”

“True,” Mordred admitted. “But….”

‘Thud!’

The tip of his sword plunged into her thigh.

“Aaaghhh!”

“I won’t tolerate betrayal, especially not from you, Melena. I’m the one who saved you from being executed by the mafia during a weapons deal gone wrong!”

“Enough.”

As Mordred raised his blade again, Remia intervened.

“…….”

Mordred halted his blade mid-swing.

“You must realize you’re going to die anyway,” Remia said, her voice calm yet menacing. “But how you die is up to you.”

“Hmm… if I had my way, I’d prefer to grow old, lying in a warm bed with a glass of wine in hand. Is that possible?” Melena retorted.

“Still so defiant,” Remia chuckled coldly. “But everyone has their limits. Finding yours is my specialty. Before things get worse, why don’t you tell me about Kang Jinhyuk’s plans? And is there another mole among us?”

“I told you, just kill me. Why does a demon talk so damn much?”

“…You insolent….”

Remia’s face twisted with anger.

“Mordred.”

“Yes?”

“Keep her alive. Barely.”

“Leave it to me,” Mordred said, picking up a sinister torture device from the table.

“Tristan, interrogate the other demons. If there’s another traitor, report it immediately.”

At Remia’s order, Tristan flinched.

“Your expression seems troubled. Is there something wrong?”

“N-no, of course not. I just… didn’t expect there to be a traitor among us,” Tristan stammered, glancing briefly at Melena before hurrying away.

—

Hundreds of Rangers marched silently across the swamp.

Despite their numbers, the High Elves moved with unparalleled speed and stealth.

‘No wonder even demons struggle against them.’

If these Rangers launched guerrilla warfare from the shadows, even someone as formidable as Remia would find them a nuisance.

Suddenly, a notification appeared before Jinhyuk.

[You have an incoming call from ‘Melena,’ your slave.]

‘This can’t be.’

Remia would never allow such a lapse in security inside the shrine.

‘Did Remia… get to Melena?’

There was no other reason for Melena to activate the communication system at this timing unless she’d betrayed him.

But if she had, the ‘Brand of Fiery Loyalty’ would have activated.

‘What’s going on here?’

While doubts swirled in his mind, there was only one way to find out.

Jinhyuk accepted the call.

A familiar voice greeted him.

“Weren’t we supposed to avoid contact until we met in person?”

“We were. But it’s fine. Someone inside made a window of opportunity. There’s no chance of interception or detection.”

“Typical. Always creating unnecessary chaos. Can’t you sit still for once?”

“Save the scolding for later. We don’t have much time, so let’s focus on the essentials.”

Jinhyuk sighed but decided to proceed.

“Fine. Start with the layout of the demons, where Remia and the Seven Deadly Sins are stationed.”

“The demons are positioned outside the shrine, but they’re just bait. Remia and the main forces are waiting for you inside. As for the Deadly Sin, Gluttony, he’s guarding the Black Demonstone.”

So, they planned to exploit the shrine’s internal gate as a trap, anticipating Jinhyuk’s attempt to activate it.

However, it was surprising that Gluttony was guarding the Demonstone. While it was an important secondary target for cutting off the demons’ mana supply, Jinhyuk had expected them to prioritize eliminating him.

‘I’ll need to revise the plan.’

Initially, he intended to send Paragon and the nobles who could wield elemental magic to deal with the Demonstone. But now, he had to adjust his strategy.

‘What’s your game, Remia?’

This setup was uncharacteristic of her, given her preference for swift resolutions.

“Well, this could work in our favor. It’s a chance to eliminate their key forces.”

Jinhyuk made his decision.

“I’ll send T-Bone and Frey to the Demonstone. The altar has enough of my subordinates planted to handle things.”

“That sounds like a good idea. Oh, I have to go now.”

Before ending the call, Melena added one last comment.

“By the way, the tea you brewed by the lake… I’d love to have it again. It was perfect for my taste.”

[The call has ended.]

The glowing notification faded away.

—

‘Boom! Boom! Boom!’

Earth-shaking roars echoed near the shrine’s entrance.

‘ROOOAR!’

“Food! FOOD!”

Monsters infected with parasites filled the swamp, an unending wave of medium and large-sized Hell Beasts.

Facing them stood Jinhyuk and the elven army.

“What a massive horde. If we fought them head-on, we wouldn’t last half a day,” Paragon muttered, swallowing dryly.

Even knowing the enemy’s strength, seeing the sheer scale of their forces was overwhelming.

It felt as though every monster on the 27th floor had been gathered here.

“Just pretend to fight. Hit and run, but don’t get too deep,” Jinhyuk instructed.

“Fine. I’ll put on a show,” Paragon said with a resigned sigh.

“Oh, and you’re coming inside with us. Bring the magical girls, too.”

“What?”

“The situation inside has changed. There’s a Demonstone supplying mana to the demons. I need your help to destroy it.”

“You said we wouldn’t have to enter the shrine! Now you’re changing your plan?”

“There are infected elves inside. Some might still be uninfected. You know what that means, don’t you?”

At Jinhyuk’s words, Paragon fell silent.

“Yes, I get it. To save them, we have no choice but to help.”

“Exactly.”

“Fine, damn it. Let’s just go. But—”

Paragon glared at Jinhyuk.

“What is it?”

“Please, let us take off these ridiculous outfits. I’m the defense captain, and I can’t show my face like this in front of my troops.”

“Yeah, I’ll go to hell for all I care, but please let me change out of this.”

“Me too,” another pleaded.

The magical girls begged in unison.

But…

“No.”

“Why? Why not?!”

“You need to stand out. There are infected elves inside, and we need to tell friend from foe.”

Elves all looked alike to Jinhyuk, so the colorful costumes were a foolproof identification system.

Even Frey, who rarely agreed on anything, chimed in.

“Master’s logic is sound. Identification will be flawless.”

With no other choice, the High Elves followed Jinhyuk into battle, their dignity in tatters.

Minutes later, the war began.

“Attack!”

“Make sure those wretches never harm the elves again!”

Hundreds of arrows and elemental spells rained down on the horde.

‘Boom! Boom! Boom!’

Explosions turned swathes of the battlefield into wasteland.

However…

‘Growl….’

“Heh. Prey has come right to us.”

“You’ve saved us the trouble of hunting you down.”

Only a fraction of the enemy forces had been dealt with.

The majority remained, eager to fight.

The war was just beginning.

As the two armies clashed, a small group slipped away from the battlefield.

—

[You have entered the shrine’s interior.]

A suffocating stench of blood filled the air.

This place, unlike the swamp outside, was steeped in death.

The grotesque sculptures and torture devices made the hair on one’s neck stand on end.

“This is our first time inside, too. I must’ve lost my mind,” Paragon muttered nervously.

“We’ll reach a fork soon. Stay alert. Many parasites specialize in erasing their presence.”

“Damn it. This is going to be a nightmare.”

The dense columns of bones and thorny plants obscured visibility, making it nearly impossible to spot enemies until they were right in front of them.

Suddenly…

‘Whoosh!’

Something shot down from the ceiling.

“Aaagh!”

Before anyone could react, a Ranger was snatched into the air.

“Enemies!” Paragon shouted, firing his bow.

‘Thwack! Thwack!’

‘Screech!’

A 3-meter-long spider leapt between the pillars.

‘Jumping Spiders.’

Known as assassins, they were small-bodied but had long, powerful legs. Now infected, they were faster and deadlier than ever.

And they weren’t alone.

‘Thud. Thud.’

The sound of a massive axe scraping the ground echoed.

A three-armed mutant, a ‘Talmite’, emerged.

Covered in hardened exoskeletons, they were nearly impervious to arrows.

‘Crash! Crash!’

Muscular beasts swung their axes, reducing pillars to rubble.

The nimble elves barely dodged the attacks, but…

‘Ssssk.’

From the ceiling, another Jumping Spider descended.

“Aaargh!”

Another Ranger vanished into the darkness.

At this rate, it was only a matter of time before they were wiped out.