Chapter 86

"... The mana is almost suffocating."

As they approached the Dark Zone, Alteon shuddered under an inexplicable pressure bearing down on him.

'I've never felt anything like this, even in the Labyrinth Tower.'

As the top-ranked priest, he had experienced the Labyrinth Tower up to its seventh floor. His abilities alone might have taken him higher, but as a member of the Holy See, he specialized in field relief rather than dungeon combat.

"You had best be careful. It may be full of deathly energy, but it is still dragon-tongue magic. Divine power cannot purify it completely."

Charlo took out the [Immortal's Stake], drew a deep breath, and continued.

"Once the stake activates, we will rescue that Outlander first. Then we will weaken the Dark Zone with the knights' holy power, and the main force will advance."

"Understood."

CRUNCH!!!!

[Immortal's Stake activates.]

[The effects of all unholy things are reduced by half.]

[The effects of all holy powers are doubled.]

▶ Duration: 3 minutes

Golden light streamed from the stake driven into the ground and began spreading along the boundary of the Dark Zone.

'So this is one of the Holy See's three great sacred treasures...'

Even as a high-ranking devotee, Alteon had only ever seen the stake in a storage chamber protected by a barrier.

[You are immune to fear.]

[All elemental resistances increase by 10%.]

[All paladin and priest stats increase to 1.5 times their original values.]

▶ Duration: 2 minutes

Feeling the power that accompanied the soft golden aura rising from his entire body, Alteon could not help marveling anew.

Just before he stepped into the Dark Zone, a notification appeared.

[A Message has arrived.]

[Sender: Risel]

-Is it true you're in Thorn Bach right now?

Somehow, he could practically hear the voice behind the Message. It was his older sister, Im Huijeong.

'What incredible timing.'

-I didn't have a choice. Orders from the Holy See...

Alteon sent his reply with a slight frown.

-You have Visions, right? I bought you some before.

A paid item that could record video. They were quite expensive, but Risel—Im Huijeong—had sent him a considerable number.

-Make sure you get footage. Use every last one you have if you need to.

"You really do have an incredible nose for a scoop."

-What's my fee?

-The information our clan recently obtained about an unexplored region, the Ice Archipelago.

It was a tempting offer.

-I hear your order is looking for four missing sacred relics?

She certainly lived up to her reputation as an information broker. There seemed to be nothing she did not know.

The ultimate quest for priests who followed Rashin, the god of light, was to find the four missing sacred relics. One of them was the Glass Chalice. Based on their investigations so far, it was highly likely to be in the Ice Archipelago.

-Oh, come on. That's pretty stingy. Finding the chalice is the paladins' job anyway. Why would a priest like me go?

Rather than accepting outright, he tested his sister once more.

-If you're so curious, come film it yourself.

-That, plus I'll do the dishes for a month.

-And the laundry?

-... Deal.

Looking satisfied, Alteon took something resembling a small marble out of his inventory.

[Using Vision.]

[Everything the user sees will be recorded for the next hour.]

"Let's go."

Charlo nodded at his words and stepped into the Dark Zone.

-All the footage is mine, though. Got it?

Alteon had no idea yet how much that footage would be worth.

* * *

"Aaaaaargh...!!!"

Woojin's scream rang out in the darkness.

One arm had been severed at some point, the wound blackened. Torn strips of flesh dangled from his right thigh.

A sharp jolt shot through him. Every time he put strength into his legs, they tingled as though he had been electrocuted.

[Your injuries are severe.]

[You can no longer use Grounded Legs.]

His legs were apparently so badly damaged that they could no longer benefit even from his title's effect.

"Huff... Huff..."

Only his exhausted breathing could be heard. It seemed he no longer had even the strength to lift his sword.

["You are remarkable."]

Bensina's voice reached him.

["You will grow stronger still."]

Woojin smiled bitterly.

"Thanks for the compliment... Since you're praising me anyway, why not acknowledge me?"

["No. Quite the opposite. You have the potential to grow strong enough... which is why I intend to settle this once and for all, here and now."]

Bensina's eyes gleamed in the darkness.

["Abandon your pursuit of becoming a Dragon Lord."]

That was the real reason he had sought Woojin out.

["We bow to no one."]

"Heh... What's the rush? Were you really afraid of kneeling to some rookie who only just reached the central continent?"

["Yes."]

It was not the answer he had expected. Instead, Woojin found himself staring at Bensina in bewilderment.

"Well, damn... When you admit it like that, what am I supposed to say?"

["We stand at the top as predators, but in the end, we die. You Outlanders, however, have escaped the laws of cause and effect that govern death."]

Bensina spoke quietly.

["The strongest species on earth? Who can say? Time is on your side, and you never stop growing stronger. Those conquering the Labyrinth Tower are proof enough. Are any of them people of this continent?"]

He was not wrong. On the higher floors, no expedition climbing the Labyrinth Tower employed NPC mercenaries.

["Even if I kill you here and now, you will resurrect and one day hold a sword to our throats."]

"So...? You're going to keep me trapped here for the rest of my life?"

["Yes."]

"Heh. This is insane."

Woojin gave a hollow laugh, then reversed his grip on his sword.

"Then I'll just do this."

But even as Woojin attempted to kill himself, Bensina showed no surprise.

["Can you?"]

"... What?"

Just then, space warped in front of Woojin, and something appeared.

People inside a hemispherical shield.

The face of the man straining to maintain the spell with both arms outstretched was familiar.

"... Nissen?"

"Grrgh!!"

His outstretched arms had turned pitch-black, as though they had been dipped in ink. The miasma pouring from the Dark Zone was slowly eating away at his body.

"Stay with us!! You mustn't fall asleep!!!"

Behind him, Karlan's voice rang out, shouting at someone.

"...!!!"

It was Ruen.

She lay on the ground, her side torn into ragged strips much like the wound on Woojin's thigh.

["If you die, so do they."]

"You... fucking bastard...!! You're a dragon, and you've been holding hostages all this time?!"

["Call it insurance."]

Caught in the cunning Black Dragon's scheme, Woojin ground his teeth and shouted.

["This will be a valuable lesson. Even those who have escaped death have things they hold dear."]

"Stop it right now!!"

["Gladly, if you abandon becoming a Dragon Lord."]

FWOOSH...!!

Bensina spread his enormous wings.

CRACK...! CRACK-CRACK...!!

A web of cracks instantly began spreading across Nissen's shield.

"Grrgh...! N-no...!!!"

Seeing Nissen's devastated expression, Woojin bit his lip.

["Will you give it up?"]

"I..."

Woojin hesitated, unable to answer.

Why was he agonizing over this?

She was only an NPC.

Was it because Ruen had exceptional potential? Because she was a mercenary who followed only his orders?

There were countless others who could replace her.

And yet...

Why was he agonizing over this?

["She said she stayed up all night worrying about you, Master."]

At that moment, he remembered Setsuna's words.

Even if that behavior, too, was merely programmed... she was the only one who had worried about him after he vanished from the world.

"Master!!!!"

... Was he hearing things?

He thought he could hear Setsuna's voice, the very voice he had just recalled.

KABOOM!!!

It happened then. Orbs brimming with pure white light pierced the darkness and rained down on Bensina.

"Are you all right?!!"

He had not imagined it. She was really there.

Through blurred eyes, Woojin looked at Setsuna as she appeared before him.

"How...?"

"Lady Ruen asked me to go to you, Master. I'm the only one who can fly without touching the Dark Zone!"

She circled him as she spoke.

"I saw on my way here. All the citizens have evacuated!"

SPLASH...!!

Then she poured the potion she was carrying over his head.

"Sir Karlan had this. He said he'd brought it with him when he left his family."

[A highest-grade potion has been used.]

"He said you would need it, Master."

"Ah..."

Woojin's cheek twitched at her words.

Even with their own lives hanging by a thread, they had sent their last potion to him.

Why?

He thought he knew the reason without being told.

"I..."

He tightened his grip on his sword.

His answer was already decided.

"I can't give it up."

The Black Dragon gave a low sigh and spread his enormous wings.

["Then I have no choice. We shall see which comes first: your surrender, or the breaking of your mind."]

FWOOOOSH!!!!

Black mana erupted from Bensina's body.

[Using Focused Eyes.]

▶ Has the same effect as Insight (Lv3) and shares the information read with the contractor.

At that moment, Setsuna's eyes shone.

"Master!! Dodge right!!"

Reading the trajectory of the magic, she shouted to Woojin.

"Forward!!"

At her cry, Woojin hurled himself forward without hesitation.

BOOM! BOOM!! KABOOM!!!

The mana Bensina unleashed narrowly brushed past Woojin, missing him.

[Using Silver Flame.]

Setsuna's body shone brightly in the darkness as she began guiding him.

"I'll find a way through!! Follow me!!!"

["... Insolent pest!!"]

WHOOOOSH!!!

Dodging Bensina's attack, Woojin followed Setsuna into the space beneath the dragon's body.

["Do you think that will let you win?!!!"]

SWISH...!!

Just as Bensina was about to lash his tail at him, Woojin slipped between the Black Dragon's legs and kept running.

["...?!"]

Bensina had expected an attack on his reverse scale. Bewildered, he turned his head to watch Woojin run without so much as looking back.

["Stop right there!!!"]

The Black Dragon took flight, instantly closing in from behind.

"Setsuna. You're sure about what you said?"

"Huh? What?"

["ROOOOAR!!!"]

The Black Dragon opened his enormous jaws and tried to swallow Woojin whole.

[Using Mist Step.]

In that instant, Woojin vanished and reappeared several meters ahead.

CRUNCH!!!

Teeth slammed together as the Black Dragon landed back on the ground.

"About all the citizens having evacuated."

"Oh! Yes!!"

Woojin nodded at her answer.

"Then I can finally blow it up without worrying."

[A trap activates.]

KABOOOOM!!!!

At that moment, a violent explosion erupted beneath the Black Dragon's feet.