At a moment when the raid team was in confusion.
The situation outside was no less chaotic.
Upon receiving sudden orders for “additional reinforcements,” the field support team hastily prepared supplies.
“The supply team will prioritize combat rations and potions in the supplies.”
“Are the vehicles ready yet? We don’t have much time left. Hurry up with the dispatch!”
“Please double-check to ensure nothing has been overlooked until the last moment.”
Meanwhile, Jong-sik was facing the command.
A dungeon map lay on the narrow table. However, it was an incomplete map.
And the pathfinder who drew the map was explaining the internal environment.
“The early stages allow vehicle entry. I also explored using vehicles. However…”
“However?”
The map was drawn in the shape of ‘ㄱ’.
The pathfinder pointed towards a cliff.
“Vehicle use is limited to this point. I ended the exploration here. Of course, we could have gone down further, but I prioritized returning. And I will share the results of the exploration up to this point.”
1. Vehicles can move to the cliff area.
2. It’s a dungeon type we’ve never seen before. If we must classify, it’s close to cave-type, and the soil is swamp-like.
3. No monsters were encountered in the vehicle movement area, and no traces or excrement were found. However, there is a strong smell.
4. The dungeon has low oxygen saturation. This may cause hallucinations and auditory hallucinations.
5. Recommended team members: ‘Spirit Realm (Wind) Hunter.’ Also recommend ‘Gravity Realm Hunter’ for descending the cliff.
Unfortunately, there wasn’t much useful information. However, Jong-sik could vaguely guess the nature of the dungeon.
‘Swamp, hallucinations, auditory hallucinations, strong smell…’
And so, he could make a decision.
“I’ve heard everything I need to. We’ll enter immediately without delay. Oh, and I’ll enter the dungeon alone. I don’t have the luxury to take anyone with me.”
However, the pathfinder interrupted him and responded firmly.
He accepted Jong-sik’s decision as stubbornness.
“No! As I mentioned earlier, we need to form a team including Spirit Realm, Gravity Realm, and Pathfinders! Hunter Dok Jong-sik. Please don’t act like a firefly rushing into a flame.”
It was understandable since he had only heard rumors about Jong-sik and hadn’t witnessed his abilities firsthand.
On the other hand, Jong-sik looked at the Chairman without any particular response. There was no need to engage in unnecessary arguments. After all, the decision-making authority lay with the top officials of the command.
“Chairman , please make the decision.”
“Every responsibility lies with me according to the outcome of this mission. Can I trust you?”
“You can trust me, that’s why you came to find me, right? And I already said it. I’ll do what I can.”
“I’ve thought about a plan.”
“A plan… Going into the dungeon, finding traces of our colleagues, delivering supplies, providing support in battle, that sort of thing.”
“Haha. That’s right, but it’s not as easy as it sounds.”
“I’ve heard about the disagreement. Do I need to explain more?”
“No… There’s no need. If you’re confident, then I have no choice but to support you. After all, there was no other solution.”
And so it was.
Chairman Nam Woo-jong raised Dok Jong-sik’s hand.
“Chairman! This is a reckless decision.”
“In the second deployment team, there were also Gravity Realm and Spirit Realm hunters. But what were the results?”
“….”
“You shouldn’t use the same pawn twice. So everyone, shut up and support Hunter Dok Jong-sik as he wishes. That’s my order.”
There was a brief disturbance in the room, but Jong-sik was unaware of its cause.
***
The location where the main raid team had traveled over two weeks.
It took Jong-sik about ten minutes to reach that place.
In contrast, it took only a moment to grasp the origin of the dungeon.
“So that’s why everyone couldn’t make it back.”
The ground felt like a swamp. Pure magic filled the space. The unforgettable stench hung in the air. Occasionally, digestive acid would drip down.
It wasn’t a cave-type dungeon as previously thought. It was inside the body of ‘La,’ a pet monster once raised by the Duke of the Underworld, Hymos.
Or rather, it was one of ‘La’s’ kin. Either way.
“If I had known, I wouldn’t have even bothered with the prophecy.”
Like the dungeons he had tackled before, he came alone and took care of it swiftly.
He remembered the struggles he faced when he didn’t know how to tackle a dungeon. Of course, that was a story from a long time ago.
To briefly explain about ‘La’ dwelling in the underworld, it was a creature no different from a living hell.
It lured its prey with the scent of B-grade mana that it could digest, then led them into its mouth.
Then, it would spray its stomach acid full of magic and contaminate the prey’s mind.
In the process, about five out of ten would go mad, while the rest would fight to their deaths in a contaminated state.
Knowing the creature’s nature too well, Jong-sik could easily imagine the plight of the raid team members.
“I need to hurry.”
With determination in his heart, Jong-sik increased his speed and soon found himself facing them.
***
Member of the raid team, Pyeong-ari.
She was a healer and an attacker. With the importance of healers being highlighted, she was able to obtain the ashen rune.
Thanks to that, she could resist the black rain to some extent, although she could still faintly hear hallucinations, it was bearable.
“I think I can handle this level of damage. Please take care of the others, not just me.”
“Are you sure it’s okay?”
“Yes, hurry up!”
Pyeong-ari shouted, looking at the tank beside her. Then she looked at the approaching monster.
It resembled a giant slug with black, slimy skin and two tentacles protruding from it.
“Krrr!”
In the past, she would have supported her comrades from behind. But now, it was different. Pyeong-ari quickly activated her skill.
[Flow of Healing]
With the addition of divine power, her skill had a different destructive power than before.
Shhhhh-
The sacred energy flowed like a rushing river, and the attack hit its mark.
“Kaaack!”
As a result, black smoke rose from the tentacles that were flying like whips.
In pain, the monster thrust its sharp teeth forward and roared.
“Oh no!”
At the same time, a strong earthquake struck. It was the dungeon’s core. The offspring of ‘La’ reacted to the divine power.
Ssssss- Ssssssss-
In an instant, the drizzle-like black rain turned into a downpour.
‘This is too much.’
She needed to find the tank. She needed to return to her comrades. Pyeong-ari urgently stepped back.
“Krrrr.”
But there was a creature blocking her path. It was a slimy monster.
The corrupted monster showed no mercy. Tentacles emerged randomly from its writhing skin.
“Darn it!”
If she kept running, she would be caught immediately. And then torn apart by its sharp teeth.
With gritted teeth, she summoned the last of her strength. There was no time to think about what lay ahead.
[Flow of Healing]
【Sacred Recovery】
【Radiance】
She had used up every skill at her disposal. Despite the overwhelming fatigue that enveloped her body, the result was splendid.
There was no movement felt from the monster that had been thoroughly weakened. It had been vanquished.
“Haa, haa. Haa….”
However, Pyeong-ari also felt the impact.
She was completely drenched in the black rain without realizing it.
“This is beyond ridiculous-!”
Suddenly, she saw someone in front of her.
A presence she never wanted to encounter even in the next life. He was charging towards her.
“Ah, no!”
“Where’s Pyeong-ari, the tank! Grab Pyeong-ari!”
***
“This is a complete mess.”
Someone attacking their comrades.
Someone ramming their head against the monster’s teeth.
Someone abusing themselves.
Someone trying to save these comrades.
And now, the Dark Slug, ready to swallow them all. The scene before their eyes was a complete disaster.
That’s when Jong-sik’s gaze turned towards a familiar voice.
“Oh, don’t you dare. Just die already!!”
A figure spraying poison towards their comrades. As familiar as the voice was, so was the face. It was none other than their comrade, Pyeong-ari.
“Well, that’s unexpected.”
The situation seemed rather dire. If left unchecked, they would surely cause havoc. Without announcing his arrival, Jong-sik moved his hand.
Silently approaching, Jong-sik grasped Pyeong-ari’s meridian. She wasn’t the only one. Gradually, those affected by the corrupted minds began to collapse.
Thud.
Their movements signaled his arrival.
“…Huh?”
“W-Who?”
“Captain Dok Jong-sik!”
“Reinforcements!”
Seeing Jong-sik belatedly, relief washed over the faces of the raid members. However, it was short-lived. Despite their hopes, the reinforcement was none other than Jong-sik, and there were no additional reinforcements in sight.
On the other hand, Kang Chang-soo was different. It couldn’t be logically explained. However, it could be felt instinctively. “They survived.”
And that was the correct judgment.
Suddenly, the protective barrier that formed around them was evidence of that.
【Barrier】
A semi-circular barrier formed by Jong-sik’s will. The eyes of the 15 tanks widened. They knew because they were tanks. They knew how remarkable the barrier surrounding them was.
‘Unbelievable!’
Even if 15 tanks simultaneously deployed a barrier, it wouldn’t be of this magnitude.
The surprises didn’t end there.
“I’m waiting inside. If you come out, you’ll die.”
With those words, Jong-sik summoned his ethereal sword. Then he infused it with holiness.
The ethereal sword began to gather divine energy. The energy, like a blade, took the form of the sword’s edge.
He grasped the straight ethereal greatsword in his hand.
Merely adopting a combat stance with the sword, yet it exuded an overwhelming pressure.
‘Could it be that I’m hallucinating?’
‘It’s a presence beyond imagination.’
‘Just how strong is the author.’
‘…!’
The tip of the sword clearly pointed towards the sky. For some reason, their bodies trembled. However, they faced Jong-sik. They wanted to glimpse his true power.
At that moment,
Jong-sik flew towards the void.
Paaaaaang-!
Then came the sound of air tearing apart.
“Kiiiiiiyaaah!”
An earthquake, unlike anything before, followed. It was because Jong-sik’s powerful energy broke through the enemy’s barrier.
And they saw it. A massive amount of black liquid pouring through the opening. At the same time, a piercing scream was heard.
Ssshhhh!
‘There’s no way we can withstand that!’
Those who saw the pouring black liquid screamed like madmen. Those who sensed the end closed their eyes and covered their ears.
“Gasp!”
“Ugh.”
“No-!”
It was a momentary instant. When he opened his tightly shut eyes, he saw black liquid being blocked by the barrier and falling to the ground.
‘Insane….’
It was literally a crazy barrier.
“Huff, huff.”
“Where’s Captain Dok….”
But Captain Dok Jong-sik was nowhere to be seen. In place of where Dok Jong-sik had disappeared, there was a dark hole like a sinkhole.
Meanwhile, Jong-sik was still floating in mid-air. He wielded the ethereal sword and ruthlessly attacked the creature.
‘Tearing apart space is the strategy for conquering this dungeon.’
Each time, the creature’s secretions covered his body. Yet Jong-sik’s appearance remained unchanged from when he entered the dungeon.
How much time had passed?
Jong-sik finally pierced through the creature’s skin after tearing through its disguise and bones.
“…!”
Having pierced through the creature’s shell, Jong-sik could finally emerge from its body. And he targeted a dimensional rift.
