Chapter 223
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Its sweltering.
Even though it still felt like early autumn to Lindel, as soon as he entered the Great Forest, it seemed like the season had reversed.
Plants intertwined, densely covering the sky.
Due to the sunlight not reaching the ground well, the surface was soaked with moisture.
Thud-
The Hero stood up, shaking off the mud and leaves clinging to his boots.
Thanks to his full exertion, he arrived quickly.
Depikio Lugos laboratory.
The entrance leading underground was slightly more worn out than the Hero remembered.
A rusted iron door starting to be eaten away by moss and corrosion.
Originally, the maintenance devices installed by Depikio Lugo protected the facility, but they lost their function when the Demonic Church and Ivar forcibly invaded and destroyed everything over a decade ago.
As a result, the laboratory was collapsing much faster than usual.
It might not be long before it collapses.
Gulp-
The Hero cautiously pushed the iron door and entered inside.
He visualized the structure of the laboratory in his mind.
Since he had visited just a few months ago, the memories were vivid.
First, there would be winding underground stairs.
After passing through several underground stairs and corridors, a spacious primary research lab would appear.
And by solving the gimmick there to activate the secret portal, one could enter the lab within the lab.
The place where he was incubated.
The Hero briefly recalled his first arrival at that place.
Long iron shelves.
Various experimental tools and data on top of them.
The metallic floor that made a clanging sound with each step.
And finally, the alien structure the bio-reactor.
A bitter smile spread across the Heros face.
Its almost like my hometown.
It was regrettable, but he didnt have any particular feelings about it.
He had no memories of that time.
How he escaped the laboratory and ended up in the Great Forest, mingling with human society.
Entire process was completely forgotten.
The Heros first memory was the moment when someone was being replicated.
The abruptly cut-off memory was probably due to incomplete incubation.
Huh?
The moment the Hero stopped in his tracks unexpectedly.
Fixed, ash eyes on the ground.
A shiver ran down his spine rapidly.
Crunch-
The Hero reflexively grabbed the handle of the Black Hope.
Footprint.
It was at the beginning of the stairs.
Under the faint light of almost depleted light stones.
A large footprint was clearly visible, dug up from the white dust.
Its fresh.
When he saw the distinct shape through the dust, it wasnt from a few days ago.
At least today or maybe just passed through here.
The Heros eyebrows twitched slightly.
He expected Ivar to visit near the laboratory, or even hear it.
It was a good place to hide.
But to meet at the same time like this.
Ivars footprints are unmistakable.
There was no mistaking it.
A few months ago, when the Heros party came, the footprints were already half covered in dust, and moreover, the size
It seemed to be one and a half times larger than the traces of Pia that were nearby.
Oomph-
The Hero lowered his posture and focused his mana on his pupils.
The dim sight brightened like broad daylight.
Detection is
The Hero, who inadvertently extended his mana, turned his head sideways and withdrew it.
Ivars achieved level of unarmed combat was higher than his.
Just because I achieved level 75 of understanding doesnt mean Ive caught up with Teds level by 75 percent.
Its difficult to clearly express it in numbers, but roughly, it would be about 50 percent.
A slightly inferior state compared to Ivar.
Detection wasnt omnipotent.
If a stronger opponent was preparing, it was likely to be exposed.
He was afraid that he might give away that he has become weaker, so the Hero completely stopped detection.
I can only respond with my five senses.
The Hero calmed his pounding breath and slowly moved forward.
At least he didnt feel any signs of life.
Did he leave, or is he still here?
He didnt know.
But one thing was certain, he would have been startled.
There were many traces left by his party near this place a few months ago.
Disarmed traps and footprints.
Once it was realized that the hiding place had been exposed.
From the fugitives point of view, the probability of leaving the place in a hurry was high.
Or
Although it was a small possibility, he might have felt his presence and been lurking inside.
Cold sweat ran down the Heros face.
But he didnt intend to turn around.
Id rather hes lurking.
Since Ivar hadnt fully recovered from his injuries, fighting now would be the most strategic choice.
Furthermore, if a battle were to occur, an enclosed indoor space like this laboratory would be better.
Fighting Ivar amidst the dense trees and vines of the forest was practically inviting penalties.
Ive learned just how well he utilizes the terrain from our Avatar matches.
If hes here, I fight. If not, I will find clues to chase.
Thunk-
With his thoughts organized as such, the Hero moved forward.
After passing a few stairs, a passage greeted him.
Narrow and high-ceilinged.
Remnants of Depikios installed water artifacts littered the ground, and traps from the Demonic Church lay deactivated.
There were Ivars footprints at the entrance of the passage.
But
Only one right foot?
There were no additional footprints that should have been there.
The Hero chuckled.
No way.
As the Hero ventured further, he could spot distinct footprints at the end of the passage.
It was as if he had skipped from the beginning to the end of this long passage in a single stride.
A clue indicating that his physical condition had significantly recovered.
That moment.
The Hero realized he had overlooked something.
His brisk footsteps abruptly halted.
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This laboratory
Wasnt there only one exit?
A sensation akin to time slowing down.
Every hair on his body stood on end, from his toes to his head.
Footprints
The Heros pupils frantically scanned the surroundings.
Footprints leading outward There wasnt a single footprint in the opposite direction.
That meant
Ivar
Was still inside.
The Hero started running.
His strides were rough and steep.
Clang-
With each step on the ground, the iron floor screamed and yielded.
His heart raced.
Was it the tension of an imminent danger?
Or perhaps the anger that had been suppressed for so long?
Most likely, the latter weighed much heavier.
The faces of Ted, Dorempa, Cuculli, and those whose names he didnt even know flashed before his eyes like phantoms.
Revenge, he realized what he truly desired.
The cold glare in the Heros eyes flickered.
Clang-
Now, only the next corner, and the first laboratory would appear.
A dead-end space.
The Hero poured all his mana into the Black Hope and roared.
Ivar!
* * *
The expression on the Heros face as he walked out of the laboratory was subtle.
His face stiffened with unresolved tension.
His pupils blinked slowly, harboring doubts.
Surprisingly, the laboratory was empty.
Nothing but dust and debris rolling around.
Ivar was nowhere to be seen, even after rubbing his eyes.
But it was certain that he had been in the laboratory.
The large footprint left on the ground was proof.
An absurd situation.
Thus, the Hero returned to the entrance.
Was he considering giving up on the search today?
After shaking his head hesitantly, the Hero left the laboratory.
Hidden by thick leaves and vines, his figure disappeared from view soon after.
Five minutes passed.
Huff.
The bushes on the opposite side rustled, revealing Ivar.
His grimy face was drenched in sweat.
He exhaled the held breath and stared in the direction where the Hero had disappeared, his eyes trembling.
How, how did leader know about this place?
When he first sensed the Hero approaching the laboratory, Ivar thought his heart would stop.
Fortunately, it seemed that the Hero wasnt confident that he was in the laboratory.
Slowly scanning his surroundings, he cautiously entered.
If he hadnt had that fleeting moment, he would never have survived.
I narrowly escaped death.
Just before the Hero entered the laboratory, Ivar leaped up to the ceiling like a lizard.
After deliberately leaving traces to divert the Heros attention, he finally slipped out in a panic after the Hero passed him by.
When he saw the Hero passing below him, he couldnt help but tremble.
It was close.
Since the Hero followed right after, he couldnt even think of fleeing, so he lay on the ground, suppressing his presence.
Damn, my body
Ivar struggled to catch his breath, having exerted himself to regulate his breathing.
His mana had depleted from deploying barriers that interfered with detection.
The suppressed coldness within his body was gradually rising.
Ahem.
A cough finally escaped.
Rustle-
Simultaneously, he sensed movement from where the Hero had disappeared.
Ivar jumped back, looking in that direction.
What?
Under the towering shade of a tree, a jaguar was prowling.
Its sharp eyes locked onto Ivar.
Huff
An ordinary person might have panicked, but Ivar felt relieved instead.
Fortunately, it seemed that the Hero had given up on the search and left.
Whoo-whoong-
Even after scattering wind around, there was no sign of detection.
Only then did Ivars body completely relax from tension.
But in its place, questions arose.
With a puzzled expression, Ivar sighed again.
How on earth did the leader know about this place?
In this dense jungle, stumbling upon the laboratory by chance was absurd.
Come to think of it, there were traces of someone entering the laboratory a few months ago.
Was that the Hero?
Ivar speculated about how the Hero could have learned about this laboratory.
The most likely possibility was that he found out while interrogating the Demonic Church.
But hadnt the cultists who had moved the data for the former Church Leader all been killed?
It was an utterly incomprehensible situation.
What connection could there be between the facilities of the First Era, where Horumonculus was researched, and the Hero?
Ivar gazed toward the direction where the Hero had disappeared, shaking his head in disbelief.
The jaguar was still leisurely wandering around.
Hes definitely weakened.
Ivars eyes flickered.
If he had been the Hero Ivar remembered, whether hanging from the ceiling, setting up barriers to block detection, or anything else, Ivar would have been discovered in an instant. But the Hero missed him.
He may be weaker than I thought.
After all, he had faced the Demon King alone in the decisive battle.
Wasnt it ridiculous that he survived perfectly well in a situation where even death wouldnt have been surprising?
Ivars expression gradually brightened.
Perhaps he could serve as bait and still survive.
And perhaps, he could even achieve victory against the one who had always brought him defeat.
At least I need to recover a bit more.
With a much more relaxed expression, Ivar turned away.
Using the laboratory as a hideout was now impractical, so he planned to return to the cave he originally used.
The eyes of the jaguar followed his retreating figure.
For a beast, it had surprisingly profound eyes.
.
.
.
And from a distance, someone watching them let out an impressed sigh.
What on earth happened?
[PR/N: Another reveal next chap. Not that big tho]
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