Jong-sik couldn’t help but doubt his own eyes.
‘Where on earth is this….’
A space without any meaning. There were doors and more doors there.
The bridge connecting those doors was the descendant of ‘La,’ a creature of the abyss.
And the one who emerged after piercing through its core was none other than Dok Jong-sik.
For a moment, an explosive magical energy was felt beyond the left door. It was the source of evil.
On the other hand, behind the right door, various subtle emotions were felt. Worry, sadness, anger, joy, hatred, and more. It was the energy of humans.
Only then did Jong-sik realize where he was. This was a rift. A so-called dimensional station.
‘So it looks like this.’
The destruction of the dungeon ultimately signifies nothingness. A vanished dungeon leaves nothing behind. It disappears as if there was nothing there in the first place.
But there are exceptions. Hidden dungeons connected through dimensional doors. Of course, he had only heard about them before and this was his first encounter. Who would have thought that this damn creature would be the gateway to the hidden dungeon.
Suddenly, distant scenes from the past came to mind.
It was twenty years ago when the demon creatures, who had accidentally discovered the hidden dungeon (dimensional rift), used it to invade the continent.
It was around the time when Jong-sik joined the raid team.
Not from the dungeons, but from the sky and the earth, the creatures poured forth.
The kingdom’s army was bewildered, and even the raid team couldn’t resist. The damage that day was indescribable.
And how much effort was put into blocking the dimensional gate connected to the hidden dungeon. After driving out all the creatures who had established a foothold in front of the connected gate, they could seal off the gate connected to the abyss. Annoying creatures. Even thinking back, it’s a memory that makes one’s brow furrow.
‘…But now it’s different.’
This time, he was the one who discovered the hidden dungeon first.
That’s why Jong-sik had to make a choice.
To attack first or to wait.
There was no need to think. It was clearly the former.
Having made his decision, Jong-sik crossed over to the left door. A burning heat was felt. Finally, he set foot into the abyss.
***
At that moment. Inside the descendant of ‘La.’
The black liquid pouring out like a waterfall momentarily calmed.
With the tension eased, they slumped down in their seats. Some of them approached Captain Kang Chang-soo and asked.
“Captain. Shouldn’t we go look for Commander Dok Jong-sik?”
“…….”
“We’ve confirmed the availability of telekinetic hunters who can move immediately. With your permission, we’ll act right away.”
Among the approaching individuals, there were even non-hunters. They owed Dok Jong-sik a debt of gratitude.
“We volunteer as well.”
“Whatever, it’s right for us to go.”
“Why don’t you sit there and rest, taking care of yourself?”
“What about you? What are you planning?”
They were ready to spring into action at any moment. However, despite their eagerness, their stamina was depleted.
Kang Chang-soo, the leader of this operation, shook his head.
“Stop! There’s no need for everyone to do that.”
“Excuse me?”
“Because we’re going to follow Commander Dok Jong-sik’s orders not to leave this place.”
“But…”
“I’m concerned too. However, considering that the barrier is still intact, he must be safe. So, there’s no need to be anxious. Let’s hold our ground. In the meantime, classify the injured and check on the fallen personnel.”
Despite Kang Chang-soo’s words, the barrier above their heads continued to demonstrate its insane performance. Intermittently, black liquid fell, blocked by the barrier, and crashed to the ground. This robust barrier was evidence that Dok Jong-sik was unharmed.
Furthermore, it had been only about five minutes since Dok Jong-sik disappeared. It seemed more plausible that he was doing post-processing rather than being threatened. Therefore, rushing to find him might just end up bothering Captain Dok Jong-sik. Moreover, the conditions of the raid members were not particularly good either.
“Understood.”
In the end, the gathered individuals began to disperse. They followed Captain Kang Chang-soo’s instructions to classify the injured and monitor the fallen individuals, aiming to prevent accidents caused by hallucinations.
And then it happened.
“What, what? Is this a supply bag?”
A member shouted, drawing everyone’s attention to the spot.
A raid member was opening a supply bag.
“It’s the supply bag brought by Captain Dok Jong-sik!”
With the delay in return, all the provisions had run out. Not to mention potions. As a result, those exposed to magic were experiencing severe physical deterioration, not to mention the confusion in their mental state.
To discover supplies in such a situation was no small matter. The members couldn’t hide their joy.
“Wow-!”
“It’s a supply bag?”
“What, what’s inside?”
Eventually, the raid member began to take out items from the bag.
“Monster Energy Drink Potion, Wound Healing Potion, Combat Rations, and also….”
“And also? What else is there?”
“There’s a regular lunchbox? It contains rice balls and bulgogi.”
A moment of silence fell at the unexpected supply lunchbox. Simultaneously, amidst the stench, a familiar aroma grazed their nostrils.
“Ugh…”
“Korean food?”
“Rice balls and bulgogi?”
To encounter Korean food at a time when they needed comfort food was beyond belief.
The raid members swallowed their saliva reflexively like Pavlov’s dogs.
“Since it’s in the supply bag, it must be rations, right?”
“Does that mean we can eat it too?”
“Why not?”
A moment later.
The raid members gathered around the supply bag like a pack of wolves.
***
Demon Realm, Hymos George Palace.
Duke Hymos was in a state of great excitement.
In front of him, hundreds of troops were lined up. It was the demon legion led by the duke.
“My comrades! Isn’t it time?!”
At Duke Hymos’s shout, the troops let out a frenzied cheer. They had been waiting for this day for a long time. Today was the day they would slaughter the petty, weak, sentimental humans.
“Woohoo!”
“Hehehe. I’ll kill them all. Every last one.”
“Kahaha.”
They displayed their bloodlust without restraint, and the Duke spoke with a satisfied expression.
“I shall achieve what my predecessors could not! Let us seize their land and bathe in their sweet blood!”
“We’ll pierce their bones and eat their flesh. Hehe.”
“Wouldn’t it be more fun to kill children in front of their parents?”
“Aaaa. That sounds good too. Alright! Kahaha.”
“I’ll, I’ll make them into pets. No, no! Should I make them into chimera ingredients?”
“You scum! You’re nothing but scum! Humans are useless. Chimeras fused with humans are trash.”
“Right. Scum. Scum! They’re only good for eating!”
Inferior demons whose only thought was “to kill.”
The creatures were intoxicated by their own fantasies, shouting with excitement.
Some of them glanced at the superior demon.
They would normally expect the tentacles of a superior demon to strike.
But today was different.
The Duke needed their primal madness.
The moment was now.
Duke Hymos pointed in a direction and raised his voice.
“According to rumors, Baron Baefum infiltrates the human world by using humans as pawns. They’re weaklings! We’re different. We’ll appear in our true form and slaughter them. There will be no compromise.”
“Wooooo!”
“My comrades! The path lies there! My familiar ‘Lee’ has broken through the barriers and succeeded in invading the human world.”
At the corner of the castle gate.
A cracked, opaque barrier covered it.
Even now, the rift in that barrier continued.
The Duke intended to increase the speed of the rift.
“Smash that barrier!”
At the Duke’s command, the demons rushed forward.
“Break it, get in, kill!”
“Kill!”
Driven by the single-minded determination to kill, the magical creatures swarmed together.
The tentacles transformed into hammers.
Boom! Crash!
The lesser demons pounded on the barrier without realizing their own tentacles were bursting.
In truth, such actions were of no help to the rift. But the ignorant creatures continued to hammer on the barrier.
“Hehehe. Excellent.”
Watching this, the Duke trembled and breathed heavily.
The anticipation of the impending invasion of the human world surged within him.
Meanwhile, there was someone observing the demon legion from a distance. It was none other than Dok Jong-sik.
He had crossed over to the demon realm through the “gate” created outside the castle gate. Then, driven by intense malice, he had come here. Sure enough, all the demons around were gathered here.
“What a waste of time. Imbeciles.”
They were causing a commotion at the rift. But it was a futile effort. Because the gateway connected to Earth had already become unusable.
Furthermore.
“The time left when I entered the dungeon….”
Roughly a week has passed. Most likely, when that time passes, the passage will automatically disappear. So there’s no point in fooling around like they are.
“If you hammer at it until you die for a week, will it break?”
Perhaps if they had explored their surroundings instead of indulging in such nonsense, they might have found the “gate.”
But in the end, they didn’t find it, and Jong-sik crossed over through that gate. Now, all that’s left is destruction and annihilation. Especially since they’re gathered like that, it should make things less troublesome.
“Well then, shall we?”
In front of the tent where the lesser demons were gathered, Jong-sik slipped inside unnoticed by them.
【Concealment】
The reason he hid here was simple: to remove the annoying hindrance. Of course, they brought it upon themselves.
【Dark Wave】
Jong-sik cast black magic as planned.
Swoosh!
The condensed energy containing black magic cut through their tentacles.
“Aaaargh!”
“What, you bastard. What are you hitting us for?”
“Such an idiot. I’ve known I’d kill you someday. How dare you touch me?”
“Even a fifth-grade pest!”
Then they looked at each other, revealing their murderous intent. Given that the threat they felt was clearly magical, their madness turned towards their comrades.
In an instant, the area in front of the tent turned into a battlefield. They slashed, bit, and tore at each other.
This was the nature of demons. Even in a paradise without anyone else, demons would inevitably wield knives against each other. And the lesser demons only had one thought: to kill, no matter who the opponent was. Jong-sik ignited the instincts of such creatures.
And then, it happened.
“Idiots! They can’t even tell their front from their back.”
The higher-ranking demons noticed the commotion. They were in a state of readiness for the invasion of the human world. That’s why they had ordered the lesser demons to attack the barrier. But now they’re fighting each other?
The higher-ranking demons’ eyes narrowed ominously. Finally, they moved. And Jong-sik watched them, thinking to himself.
“Now, shall we really get started?”
