The Genius of Cloning in the Academy City-Chapter 147: Violet, to the Dark and Deep Dungeon (5)

After parting ways with Adela, Violet’s team moved forward.

They passed through the twisted path, went past the strangely glowing hotel, and walked past three large and small fountains.

As they continued walking, they entered a residential alley surrounded by three-story houses.

Irene, who had been looking at the map in front of the procession, asked.

"Is this the right way to the abandoned factory district?"

"Of course! I told you earlier. The path we’re taking is one that the scouting team has already gone through."

Violet was a rational girl who always prioritized safety, except when she was about to self-destruct.

She would never recklessly drag her team members into the dungeon’s streets, where monsters and dangers lurked.

Thus, Violet’s unit always operated a scouting team. The more Violet clones that died beyond the map, the more the main team and the members’ safety were secured.

The scouting team dutifully carried out their roles as mobile wards and teleport markers.

"Hurry up! We’re surrounded by monsters! It’s suffocating to hide!"

"There’s plenty of mana! If it gets urgent, we’ll generate more!"

While the scouting team on the factory roof, wearing camouflage, hid in the corners, the main team entered the factory district.

"Enemies!"

As soon as they came out of the alley, they were greeted by the slithering human-shaped enemies. They were ghouls. In terms of numbers, they were about twice as many as us.

"Hide!"

Violet and her team members hid behind nearby old cars and boxes. Strangely, there were sections of barbed wire scattered along the roadside.

Peering out from behind the boxes, I cautiously observed the enemies through a camera.

Upon closer inspection, these ghouls were dressed in old military uniforms. Some held old guns, while others had chains wrapped around their arms.

In the middle, there was a ghoul in elaborate officer’s attire, holding a flag and a military sword in each hand.

"They’re soldiers. But they’re a bit old-fashioned?"

As I muttered, Irene explained.

"They’re soldiers from the First and Second Dimensional Wars. I’ve heard of them appearing occasionally, but it’s the first time I’ve seen them in person."

It must be due to the fact that the war took place a long time ago. Violet No. 652 looked back.

"Do we go back? Or do we push through?"

After turning on the laser communicator, I carefully whispered and observed the faces of my team members. Everyone unanimously decided to proceed.

"Got it! Team 2 will report to the command. What you see isn’t everything! There’s quite a swarm around, so it’s better to be cautious."

"This is Team 3. We see them too!"

Two scouting teams positioned on the sides shared their line of sight. Enemies that were invisible to the main team now became visible. The ghouls were lying or crouching between poorly stacked obstacles.

"Fire!"

Violet’s squad emerged from their concealment and opened fire. The muffled sound of suppressed gunfire rang out, and the ghouls’ heads were blown off.

The ghouls, recognizing the attack, began to stagger toward us.

"V-Violet! That... that mustache!"

Levi, who had been deploying a ballista on the small building behind us, called out to Violet urgently over the radio.

I looked in the direction Levi was pointing.

The officer ghoul holding the flag let out a horrific scream and pointed a military sword at us with his other hand. The thick chain wrapped around its arm clinked as it moved.

"Ugh... ughhh!"

"What’s with that guy?"

Lucian muttered in disbelief. The next moment, something extraordinary happened.

The sound of beans frying could be heard, followed by glowing bullets flying toward us.

The ghouls were shooting!

The rate of fire was beyond what I had imagined. As I watched the holes piercing through the car and wall we were hiding behind, I was horrified.

"Ahhh! I can’t hear anything!"

"Be careful! The firepower is beyond imagination!"

Violet No. 268, who had been shooting, ducked behind a shield in panic. Her left ear had been blown off.

Daphne rushed to treat his ear and deployed a protective shield. The hailstorm of bullets poured relentlessly against the shield.

These ghouls moved like living soldiers, firing and taking cover. Did they also recognize that our bullets were a threat?

"Team 2 reports! They’re trying to use grenades!"

The scouting team, observing from the factory roof, urgently reported.

I couldn’t help but be horrified again.

The ghouls, stumbling around, were pulling out club grenades and pulling the safety pins.

"Get down!"

"Ah! The corpses are using grenades!"

Daphne quickly deployed the old-fashioned shield.

The strange, glowing grenades flew through the air and exploded in mid-air and on the ground. The shield blocked the fragments and flames.

"How dare they, being corpses! Lucian, blow them away!"

"I was already preparing, even without you saying anything!"

As soon as the shield was lifted, Lucian unleashed a barrage of magic arrows.

The blue arrows, controlled by magic, swooped down like raptors on their prey, piercing through the air from above.

The ghouls who had been shooting from behind cover were shredded.

"Eat this!"

Violet’s grenades also struck the ghouls hard. The corpse-like humans were shattered into pieces.

"Team 3 reports! More are coming from the front. We’ll support with sniping!"

"But where’s that mustache guy? I can’t see him!"

The Violet scouting team, hiding on a nearby factory roof, drew out their assault rifles.

One by one, the heads of the ghoul squad walking sluggishly exploded.

Recognizing the sniping, the military ghouls twisted their necks in grotesque angles and looked around, retaliating with gunfire.

I flinched as bullets flew toward the roof.

"Command reports! Good head on those ghouls. Prepare for close combat. Let’s break through immediately!"

Golden mana enveloped Violet’s squad. Armed with shields, spears, and swords, the assault team advanced, covered by fire from the snipers.

A swarm of small bolts flew overhead. It was Levi’s Flechette fire.

The sound of impact was heard as one squad of ghouls, approaching in a line, was obliterated.

「Die!」

The moment Irene and I charged in, I witnessed something strange.

The officer ghoul, who had been hiding and out of sight, reappeared.

The mustached ghoul vigorously waved a flag.

「What the...? That guy?」

White light emanated from the flag, enveloping the surrounding ghouls.

And then, something horrifying occurred.

“Graaaah!”

“Graaagh!”

The ghouls charged at high speed as if the video had been fast-forwarded.

Their old rifles with bayonets and their spades collided fiercely with spears and shields.

“Ahhhh!”

Violet No. 115, who blocked the chain swung by the officer ghoul, almost fell.

A hastily deployed shield blocked the second attack, and Irene quickly intervened.

“Swordsmanship? From a ghoul?”

Irene, usually composed, looked slightly astonished.

Sparks flew as the spear and saber clashed.

Amazingly, the mustached ghoul was demonstrating swordsmanship!

Even when Kalia joined the fight, the ghoul skillfully wielded its saber, flag, and the chains wrapped around its arm, holding its own in a 2-on-1 battle.

A swordmaster ghoul? You’ve got to be kidding me!

Every time the flag fluttered, the surrounding ghouls seemed revitalized, and the chains on its arm effortlessly deflected the sharp strikes from spears and swords, even whipping around like a lash.

“It’s even using bayonet tactics?”

The surrounding soldier ghouls screamed as they thrust their bayonets and swung their rifle stocks.

“Ugh! Violet, help me!”

Granite, overwhelmed by the fierce onslaught, faltered and retreated.

Stepping forward, shields and swords clashed fiercely against the ghouls’ rifles.

The problem was the speed—suddenly, the ghouls moved as if they were on some sort of drug.

Why was this happening?

The Violets quickly reviewed the situation.

The Violet Network activated.

「Simulation, start!」

This 𝓬ontent is taken from freeweɓnovel.cѳm.

After a 5-second marathon simulation, I reached a conclusion.

The ghouls’ transformation was due to the mustached officer.

That flag of his had to be some kind of artifact.

“Both of you, fall back!”

The rooftop search team swiftly switched weapons.

As Irene and Kalia, who had been locked in dazzling combat, leapt backward, the anti-materiel sniper rifle fired.

-Clang!

Light shone from the ghoul’s neck as the machine-gun round bounced off.

Only after three successive shots did its protective barrier fade.

“It’s an artifact!”

My mind cleared in an instant.

My god, that ghoul was a walking treasure trove.

No matter what, we had to capture it intact.

“Everyone else, intercept the incoming ghouls from the rear! We’ll handle the mustached one!”

Hearing my command, Irene and Kalia nodded and leapt behind the ghouls.

While the ghouls were bewildered, the shield wall charged forward.

“Crush them!”

Lucian’s guided magic arrows staggered the ghouls, while Daphne’s simple binding spell immobilized their feet.

We collided head-on with the ghoul squad.

The officer ghoul, swinging its saber and flag wildly, was knocked down.

As it tried to rise, a pale green planar shield materialized over its body, pinning it down.

“Hand over that artifact!”

While the shield wall butchered the surrounding ghouls one by one, Squad Leader Violet No. 312 severed both wrists of the pinned officer ghoul.

When the shield dissipated, the Violets each pounced on the ghoul’s remaining limbs.

“One, two, three!”

With a concerted effort, knives hacked away at its limbs.

With a gruesome crack, its head and some of its limbs were torn off.

The light from the flag it had been holding vanished.

“We got it!”

At the same time, the ghouls, which had moved with unnatural agility, suddenly slumped back to their original sluggish state.

Taking advantage of the momentum, we slaughtered all of them.

“We won!”

I cheered, kicking the ghoul’s head.

**

As we cleaned up the battlefield, I examined the artifact the mustached officer ghoul had held.

[Final Regiment Flag ☆☆☆☆]

The military flag of an unnamed regiment that flew during the fall of Vittorio City.

The soldiers remained to fight monsters until the end to allow civilians to evacuate.

Though their names and affiliations were forgotten, their spirit and determination linger within the flag.

*When mana is infused into the flag and it is vigorously waved, its unique effects activate. Abilities within range do not stack.

I see, it was a 4-star artifact.

I was able to confirm another artifact of the headless officer.

[Chains of Will ☆☆☆☆]

A weapon used by soldiers and officers during close combat when they were running low on ammunition.

It’s long and difficult to break.

That day, the soldiers’ unit was as strong and tough as chains.

[Locket of the Unknown Officer ☆☆☆☆]

A locket containing the memories of an officer.

Inside it are faded memories and wishes.

The intense memories and wishes created a miracle.

*Once every 24 hours, it can defend against up to three lethal long-range attacks.

Unfortunately, the officer ghoul’s military rod was just an ordinary sword.

The rifles and grenades carried by the soldier ghouls were also just old trash.

"That’s strange. When they shot, even rocks and steel were pierced."

The power was lost once its user died. The world of artifacts is truly mysterious.

By the way, I’m unsure who to give these artifacts to.

The military uniform fits us perfectly, but the chains and necklace are awkward to use.

"I’ll just give the necklace to Daphne!"

While the Violet Squad rummaged through the bodies of the soldier ghouls, splitting them open to find artifacts, the team members helped me clean up the bodies or kept watch around the area.

"Ugh... ugh... that’s... that’s a person, isn’t it?"

"We didn’t... attack a person, did we?"

The siege weapon couple looked gloomy. It seemed like they felt guilty for killing the ghouls.

"Ah! Now that I think about it, we only instilled the fighting will against beasts!"

At first glance, the ghouls looked human. It was only natural to feel uneasy.

Unable to stand it any longer, Luis spoke to the two of them.

"Hey, why are you so uneasy? Look closely. Does that look like a person to you?"

"…"

"Those guys aren’t humans. They’re beasts. So, no need to feel uncomfortable."

The two reluctantly nodded.

While they were working, I approached Daphne and handed her the rocket.

"What’s this?"

"Yep, it’s a gift! I found out it’s an artifact with good power."

I vaguely avoided explaining how I knew about the artifact’s abilities.

"Thank you!"

Daphne received the rocket with a bright smile. She carefully examined the artifact.

"It’s a locket. Usually, people put pictures inside something like this."

She fiddled with the locket. When her thin, white fingers brushed against the hinge, the lid popped open.

"This is...?"

When the locket opened, inside was a faded black-and-white photo. A man with a mustache was smiling alongside a woman.

"It looks like they were family."

"Maybe they were lovers?"

Our gazes shifted to the corpse of the officer ghoul.

I could feel sympathy in Daphne’s blue eyes as she gazed at the rolling ghoul’s head.

After finishing the cleanup, I talked with Irene before we moved.

"Those ghouls... weren’t they low-class beasts? They weren’t like the high-class beasts we’ve seen before, but they were still quite troublesome."

The ghouls I had faced in the past were just slow-moving, stupid targets.

But those ghouls moved like human soldiers. It didn’t seem like the power of the flag alone could explain it.

"I agree. I’ve never seen ghouls fight so well. Their brains must have melted, so they shouldn’t have been able to perform such complex actions. I wonder why…"

Irene seemed confused as well.

"Come to think of it, something comes to mind."

"What is it?"

"I heard before that some ghouls still retain memories and habits from their past lives. That’s why they show all kinds of different behaviors. The ghouls we faced..."

I surveyed the area where the battle had taken place.

I hadn’t noticed earlier because we were fighting, but now that I looked, the obstacles piled up and the arrangement of boxes and cars seemed odd.

I thought it was just disorganized string at first, but it clearly had a purpose. Even the barbed wire had a distinct intention.

"That’s probably a barricade, right?"

"Seems like it."

The phrase from the artifact’s flag status screen came to mind.

It was the story of soldiers who fought until the city fell.

We imagined it.

The Violet Simulation slowly began to recreate what had happened in the industrial district.

The army of beasts covered the sky and earth as they rushed toward the city. The citizens fled in fear.

The brave officer, Violet, with a mustache, encouraged the soldiers.

"Men, we must hold out until all the citizens have evacuated! Our unit will defend this place!"

"Yes! Understood!"

While the citizens were evacuating the city, the soldiers used the surrounding objects and barbed wire to set up barricades on the streets and fought against the beasts.

"Do not back down! The lives of the citizens depend on us!"

The Violet soldiers faced the wave of beasts with outdated bolt-action rifles, grenades, entrenching tools, and bayonets.

When weapons ran out, some resorted to wrapping chains around themselves and fighting.

"We will die standing! Aaargh!"

"Mom!"

As the soldiers fell one by one, the Violet officer held the military standard and wielded her sword, enduring to the end.

Suddenly, the city’s sky darkened, and the soldiers and the officer were swallowed into another dimension.

"Roaaar!"

As the vision ended, I felt a bitter taste in my mouth.

"Those ghoul bastards—could they have thought we were the beasts?"

"Ghouls can’t think! Their brains are fried by ether."

Those who once tried to protect people from monsters met their end as monsters themselves.

How pitiful. To be trapped in a dungeon, fighting an endless war, unable to even die properly.

Before departing, I spoke to my team.

"Guys, can you wait for a moment?"

After explaining what I intended to do, my friends’ expressions darkened slightly, but they understood and accepted my actions.

I began gathering the ghoul corpses and stacking them neatly. I even made sure to piece together the officer’s body, assembling the severed head and limbs.

Once everything was ready, I set it all ablaze. The ghouls’ remains were consumed by flames, and the Violets let out a brief gasp of terror.

"Rest in peace..."

Daphne gazed at the roaring flames with a somber expression. After a brief moment of silence, we turned away from the fire and moved forward.

"Let’s kill those monsters even harder!"

Carrying the relics left behind by nameless soldiers, we headed down the next path.

**

While moving on after searching the industrial area, we stumbled upon a group of lost Aegis Academy students.

"There they are! Just like the photo Adela gave us!"

The problem was, the students’ situation wasn’t looking good.

"Pl-please don’t shoot!"

"We’re just students!"

While wandering the streets, the Violet squad heard some strange noises and went to investigate.

There, they found a group of frightened students being harassed by a gang of thugs.

The reason for their fear was obvious. Armed men were picking a fight with the students.

"...They’re from the Federation army."

Kalia, who had followed behind, muttered. Her face was filled with contempt—and understandably so.

"We’re students from Aegis Academy. We’re lost. Please let us go!"

"You scoundrels, where do you think you’re trying to lie your way into?"

The Federation soldiers had forced the poor students to kneel, shouting threats at them. Their weapons—swords, spears, bows, and crossbows—were scattered on the ground, disarmed.

At the forefront stood a man who seemed to be an officer, holding a large gun and spouting orders.

"Listen up. We’re the Federal Army. We’re conducting special military operations within Vittorio Dungeon. You’d better cooperate. Now, state your affiliation!"

"We’re students from Aegis Academy. Here’s our student ID. It’s real!"

"Shut up! Are you not going to answer honestly?"

I let out a sigh. First, soldiers who became monsters, and now soldiers acting like monsters.

"This is Adela’s request."

"We have to help them, don’t we?"