novelraw Chapter 313: Episode 313
Chapter 313: Episode 313
Chapter 80: Defend the Dungeon
[Leon van Noah has died.]
The tyrant who had tried to bend the continent to his will had finally met his end. He had resorted to the extreme measure of turning the capital, Ashlan, into a dungeon, but the gamble had backfired, leading to his own destruction.
"What? That’s it? He dies after just that much pain?"
"Normally, I would have captured him and tortured him for a long time, but his abilities were too much of a nuisance. It’s better to nip future problems in the bud."
"Haa. What a shame. I suffered a lot because of that bastard. Still, I’m glad my prince charming came to save me."
"Who are you calling your prince?"
Mihye looked like a mess after her imprisonment, but Taehyun had absolutely no intention of showing her any mercy. Seeing the Dungeon Masters whose limbs had shriveled and twisted from the Absorption Orb, it was safe to say the Tarantula faction was on the verge of total annihilation.
"... I’m sorry. Seonghun!" She said, sobbing.
Only after Leon van Noah died did Dien deactivate the Absorption Orb and collapse to the floor. Seonghun looked at the deceased members of the Tarantula faction before comforting his subordinate.
"Some of them were mind-controlled into killing their own masters. If anyone is to blame, it’s that son of a bitch, not you. You did nothing wrong."
"B-but I’ve already drained... the Main Forces of the other faction members..."
"This touching scene between you two is great and all, but it’s time to leave. You know what I mean, right?"
Taehyun interjected. Strictly speaking, the true master of Dispel wasn’t Leon van Noah, but Seonghun, a member of the Tarantula faction. Even though the dungeonization crystal sphere had been used forcefully, destroying the capital meant Seonghun had to be annihilated along with it. Dien’s eyes widened with hostility, but Seonghun quickly stopped him.
"Yeah. I suppose so. You could say that most of our Tarantula faction has already been wiped out by that bastard Leon. The only ones who barely survived are probably Mihye over there and me."
"It seems you’ve made your decision. In that case..."
"Before that, draft a Contract. This is Dien, who has assisted me his entire life, not just some random Main Force. I want to keep him alive, at least."
Dien was a Main Force who had sacrificed even the other faction members just to save his master. Although he had no choice due to Leon van Noah’s forceful threats, such absolute loyalty was rare. Taehyun was somewhat surprised by Seonghun’s resolute expression.
’Were there guys like that in the Tarantula faction? To beg an enemy like me just to save his Main Force. How pathetic.’
He could somewhat understand why Riel had constantly warned him against emotional attachments. Taehyun looked at Dien, who had cast Mana Drain, and then noticed a mana stone floating near the ceiling. Dien had probably channeled the mana into the mana stone instead of the crystal sphere when he deactivated the Absorption Orb.
"Well, it seems like that’ll be somewhat helpful. I’ll grant your request. So, what will it be? Should I smash it, or will you?"
"Since it’s a crystal sphere I made, it’s only right that I destroy it. Lend me a spare weapon if you have one."
"Your class?"
"Melee-type knight."
Taehyun happened to have a suitable bastard sword in his inventory. Seonghun took the sword and let out a deep breath.
"In the end, I’m going to be annihilated without even returning to modern Earth. You’ve worked hard all this time, Mihye."
"You’ve worked hard too. Oh, by the way, what was your last name?"
"...It’s Seonghun Choi. Anyway, I’ll be going first."
The question must have caught him off guard, as he stared at the faction leader for a long moment before finally raising the sword. In a way, it was a rather sorrowful situation. However, Taehyun paid no attention to it and asked Mihye, who was clinging to his side.
"What are you going to do now? Once he dies, you’ll be the only Tarantula faction member left. Don’t tell me you’re planning to fight me to the bitter end?"
"I don’t even have the strength for that anymore. Besides, I was tricked by Duke Nikunbel into ending up like this. It’s too late for regrets now, I suppose."
"Tricked by Duke Nikunbel? What are you talking about?"
The inside of the dungeon shook. The sword embedded in the crystal sphere meant the annihilation had begun. As Seonghun’s figure slowly blurred, Taehyun’s gaze remained fixed on Mihye.
"Beware of Duke Nikunbel. That guy is... Uh?"
Just as the hidden truth was about to be revealed, a sword blade thrust out, piercing her heart. The Main Forces nearby immediately tried to respond, but before they could, the movements of every being in the room froze.
[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus has cast Advent of the Absolute.]
[The movements of all beings inside the final room are bound.]
[The skills and special abilities of all beings inside the final room are sealed.]
A knight with a particularly conspicuous blue cloak, an Absolute whose appearance was entirely hidden by full plate armor, had appeared in the dungeon. Pilseus leisurely pulled out his sword and walked forward. A heavy thud echoed. As Mihye breathed her last, Taehyun snapped back to his senses. It was the appearance of an SSS-rank Attacker, something he had never seen in his life.
[Frost Queen Yuslan has died.]
[Archbishop Messiah has died.]
Messages popped up one after another, indicating that the key figures outside the dungeon had also been dealt with. Frost Queen Yuslan was undeniably an entity on the level of an SS-rank Hero. He had barely succeeded in controlling her and had left her to deal with the remaining forces, so it was hard to believe she had been killed by someone else.
’An SSS-rank Attacker out of nowhere? On top of that, there’s a being powerful enough to take out Yuslan and Messiah simultaneously?’
Pilseus, who had just appeared before his eyes, was undoubtedly the best Attacker on the continent. It was a mystery why he hadn’t shown himself until now, but seeing how he had even bound Grai, who was equipped with the Demonic Sword, he was no ordinary monster. Taehyun broke out in a cold sweat as he watched Pilseus silently take a knee. Right then, a tunnel formed where the crystal sphere had been, and a woman emerged.
[Dios Dungeon Master Chahee Baek has appeared.]
She was none other than the master of Dios, whom the Transcendents on the continent had been wary of. Chahee stroked Pilseus’s helmet and looked at Taehyun.
"Are you Taehyun, the Dungeon Master of Balak?"
"...Why is an SS-rank Dungeon Master making a move at a time like this?"
"Hmm. Not as much as Pilseus, but you’re quite charming too. If it weren’t for Duke Nikunbel, I would have made you mine as well. What a shame."
Taehyun fell silent.
Suddenly, Mihye, whose heart had been pierced, caught his eye. The SS-rank Attacker had intruded exactly at the moment she mentioned the hidden truth. It was highly likely that not only Chahee, but the other SS-rank Dungeon Masters established across the continent were also making their moves.
"B-brother."
"Taehyun, what should we do in a situation like this?"
"Nghhh. Master. I can’t move an inch!"
The Main Forces he had brought along to defeat Leon van Noah had all been rendered useless. Furthermore, with the SS-rank mercenary Sword Saint Repilder having returned to his original dimension, there was no breakthrough in sight. Chahee smiled as she watched Balak’s Main Forces struggling to the bitter end.
"I should thin out your numbers a bit first. How about it? That’s fine, right?"
He was too stunned to speak.
"As expected, Pilseus always understands how I feel. Now then, who should we kill first?"
Her finger spun around them like a game of Russian roulette. As Pilseus’s blade gradually pointed toward the Main Forces, the tension inside the final room reached its peak.
"I think it’s better to kill the bitches first. I just don’t like them for some reason."
"Damn it!"
"It’s no use trying to use an item. Even a Dungeon Master can’t move while Advent of the Absolute is active. First, Pilseus. That one and that one. And take care of the Attacker in the back."
Of all people, it was Riel and Inhye. And Hyena. Taehyun struggled with all his might to pull an item out of his pocket, but he simply couldn’t muster any strength in his arm. Meanwhile, Pilseus was approaching the Main Forces to carry out his Dungeon Master’s orders.
’Move. I said move. Damn it!’
The blade aimed for Riel first. Chahee was thoroughly enjoying herself, a wide smile plastered on her face. It was highly likely that she would dispose of the other Main Forces even after killing the three she had specifically pointed out. A sickening squelch echoed.
"Ah, aaaaah..."
Her white robe was stained red. Pilseus didn’t aim for her neck right away; instead, he stabbed her abdomen, inflicting a fatal wound.
"Enjoy watching your Main Forces die slowly. It’ll get even more exciting as the body count gradually increases."
"T-Taehyuuuun."
He was speechless.
Riel, who had been giving him a sorrowful look right before his eyes, collapsed. She was a Supporter who had been with him since he was first summoned to Balak. And now, she was trembling and slowly dying. Taehyun glared at Chahee, feeling an uncontrollable surge of emotion. However, the situation remained unchanged, and Pilseus’s execution continued.
"T-Taehyun, aaaaah!"
"Aaaaah! Eleonora!"
"Goddammiiiiit!"
Soon, Inhye also collapsed in front of the comrades she had been with all this time. Sihan and Turner exploded in anger and tried to stop Pilseus somehow, but the duration of the skill hadn’t ended yet.
"B-brother. I, I...!"
"Wait a minute. Stop. You must have a reason for doing this. Rather than this...!"
"Rather than what? Are you saying I should kill a different Main Force instead?"
The faces of all the Main Forces turned pale. Some of the highly loyal Main Forces had braced themselves for the worst, but the rest hadn’t. Chahee was clearly enjoying this situation. Taehyun stared at Pilseus with a look of despair. Slowly, the blade rushed toward Hyena.
"Stop. Stop. I said stop. You son of a biiiiitch!"
He hadn’t wanted an ending like this. He had intended to protect his own sister, at least until he achieved his goal. Even if he was to return to modern Earth alone, he wanted to stay with her for as long as they were on the continent. But if things turned out like this, even that would become impossible. Unable to control his emotions, Taehyun screamed fiercely.
At that moment, about twenty Dungeon Masters appeared around him.
[A-rank Dungeon Master Songyi Han has cast Tracking Teleport.]
[Moved to Taehyun’s location along with the Resistance faction members.]
[Tracking Teleport usage limit: 1/2]
It was none other than the Resistance faction members. As soon as Seonghwi saw the SSS-rank Pilseus, he immediately used an Effect Reversal Card.
[The Talos Dungeon Master has used an Effect Reversal Card.]
[The effect of Advent of the Absolute has been reversed.]
Soon, the movements of all the Main Forces were freed. Taehyun looked at Songyi, who jumped into his arms, and asked Seonghwi.
"...What happened outside?"
"It’s not just Dios. All the SS-rank dungeons that haven’t shown themselves until now have started making their moves. We need to get out of here first."
If the situation outside was the same, he could somewhat understand why they hadn’t used the Ally Summon Coin. Pilseus immediately lunged at the faction members blocking his path. However, as Balak’s Main Forces joined in alongside the Main Forces of the other faction members, even the Absolute had his hands full.
[Resistance faction member Nuri Kwon has died.]
[Lich Bigdream has died.]
[Randus has died.]
As the faction members and Main Forces inside the final room gradually died, beams of light from the return circle surged around them. Watching from behind, Chahee flashed a cruel smile and warned him.
"Taehyun, you’d better wait in Balak. Pilseus will be going there personally to conquer it soon. Make sure you’re prepared."
"...You bitch."
"Yeah. Keep talking."
"You messed with the wrong person."
His cold eyes stared straight at her. Not a single person who had messed with Balak thus far had remained intact. Even an SS-rank Dungeon Master would be no exception. Chahee curled the corners of her mouth up as far as they would go and ordered Pilseus.
"Pilseus, kill that girl clinging to him, too."
"...Understood."
The person she pointed to was none other than the Resistance faction member Narae Min. Pilseus immediately shoved the Main Forces aside and unleashed a slash.
[SSS-rank Attacker Pilseus’s Absolute Slash has been cast.]
[A slash unaffected by items, skills, or special abilities has been fired at the target.]
[Absolute Slash usage limit: 1/1]
His vision flickered, capturing the shocked faces of the faction members. And Narae, looking at Taehyun with a sad expression.
"...I did it."
And so, with the death of yet another faction member, the return was successfully taking place.