Chapter 56

[Entering the Shadow Dungeon.]

RUMBLE!

A world of black and white.

A crack opened in the empty air of the Shadow Dungeon, splitting it apart. Through that warped dimensional rift, an enormous pyramid emerged.

DING! DING! DING!

['Pyramid: Iron Body Arts Training Ground' is now bound to the Shadow Dungeon.]

['Pyramid: Iron Body Arts Training Ground' will automatically repair itself even if destroyed.]

['Ammut, the Crocodile That Devours Death' has been designated an NPC of the Shadow Dungeon.]

['NPC: Ammut' cannot leave the Iron Body Arts Training Ground.]

System messages appeared before Suho one after another. Looking around, he realized that everything in the pyramid except Ammut had turned black and white.

The messages continued.

DING! DING!

[You have completed 'Emergency Quest: Dimensional Rift.']

[You have leveled up!]

[Your completion reward has arrived.]

[Would you like to check your reward?] (Y/N)

'The quest is complete?'

Suho's eyes widened at the unexpected completion message. The quest had instructed him to eliminate the cause of the dimensional rift. But he hadn't done anything yet. What had happened?

[Kieek?]

Beru and Esil approached Suho, looking around in bewilderment.

[Young Monarch, it appears this entire pyramid has been transported into the Shadow Dungeon.]

"I felt it just now, too. We just crossed the dimensional barrier."

Suho nodded at Esil's added explanation.

'So that's what happened.'

The pyramid itself had been causing the dimensional rift on Earth. Now that it had moved into the Shadow Dungeon and disappeared from Earth, the source of the rift had naturally vanished as well.

As Suho nodded in understanding, Ammut stroked his chin, studying the black-and-white walls and ceiling with interest.

"Heh. Interesting. That bastard Kandiaru. Just what I'd expect from a shaman of the Illusion Realm. To think I'd become a resident of the Shadow Monarch's world."

In truth, he was already as good as dead. Wouldn't it be rather fitting for him to remain in the world of death?

Whether the pyramid stood in the desert or the world of death, he couldn't leave it anyway.

'This is my tomb, after all.'

A bitter look was just settling around Ammut's mouth when Suho spoke.

"Well, this works out. It'll be easy to come here for my daily quests now."

Having finished reading the messages, Suho nodded and turned to Ammut. Then he smiled and greeted him.

"Since things have turned out this way, I'm counting on you from now on, Master."

"Master?"

"Yeah. You said I was your disciple, didn't you?"

"Heh heh. Impudent brat. You call me your master but don't show me any respect?"

"Oh, right. It feels a little strange being formal with a crocodile. I'll give you a welcome gift instead."

"Oh? A gift?"

The corners of Ammut's eyes twitched.

With a meaningful smile, Suho glanced at one of the messages before him.

['Pyramid: Iron Body Arts Training Ground' will automatically repair itself even if destroyed.]

'If it repairs itself automatically, that means I can destroy as much of it as I want, right?'

Suho suddenly gathered every ounce of his power.

WHOOOOSH!

"Wait, what are you trying to—"

Ammut's expression stiffened as tremendous layers of power enveloped Suho's body one after another.

[Y-Young Monarch?]

"Suho! Don't tell me you're about to...?"

Even Beru and Esil were taken aback by his sudden actions.

"Esil, you get in, too."

"Huh?!"

Suho drew Esil into Vulcan's Horn and enlarged it along with Rakan’s Fang. Then he concentrated all his power into a single point and unleashed it against the wall blocking his path.

[Using 'Skill: Iron Body.']

[Using 'Skill: Storm Slash.']

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

Blows from Suho's twin swords rained down like buckshot. He kept charging forward, smashing through wall after wall of the labyrinth.

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

On and on, until he reached the outside of the pyramid.

And at last...

"Ah..."

When the open sky appeared beyond the breach, Ammut finally saw it.

White darkness. A night as bright as day.

Though it was a world of black and white, he was seeing the outside world he had long forgotten.

For the first time in so very long.

With the white sky at his back, Suho turned toward him and grinned, offering Ammut another greeting.

"Welcome to my world, Master."

"... Heh."

"Huh? Are you crying?"

"Who's crying, you impudent disciple?"

Ammut sniffed and bared his teeth.

It was a truly ferocious smile.

WHOOOSH.

Suho chuckled and returned to his original form. Then he checked the Emergency Quest reward, and an odd expression crossed his face.

The reward was a little different from usual.

[The following reward is available.]

Reward: 'Blessing: Grand Shaman Kandiaru's Blessing'

[Blessing: Grand Shaman Kandiaru's Blessing]

Grand Shaman Kandiaru has gifted you a special spell. As long as Kandiaru's blessing is with you, you will always enjoy a strong and healthy life.

"May light shine upon the challenger's future."

-Passive effect 'Health and Longevity': Grants immunity to all diseases, poisons, and status effects, and dramatically increases regenerative ability while sleeping.

SHHH.

Mystical silver dust descended over Suho's entire body.

"... Health and Longevity?"

Immunity to every disease and poison, plus dramatically increased regeneration while sleeping?

That really was health and longevity.

[Oh?]

Sensing the change in Suho, Beru approached, his eyes gleaming keenly.

[The pyramids, tombs of the pharaohs, embody the ancients' hopes for the afterlife. Though life is painful, may there at least be peace after death. And the being who rules that world of death is none other than the Shadow Monarch.]

Having enjoyed all kinds of broadcasts over his long years with Sung Jinwoo, Beru was quite knowledgeable about Western history as well. Though his main interest was historical dramas.

Suho looked intrigued.

"Oh, so that's why I got this reward?"

[No. I was merely saying that. In fact, I heard that my liege received this very same blessing long ago.]

"..."

Beru snickered as Suho's expression went flat.

[Heh heh. You have taken something of a detour, Young Monarch, but at last you are retracing my liege's steps one by one. I am truly proud of you.]

Beru was filled with anticipation.

Suho wasn't following the exact same path Sung Jinwoo had walked. He was taking a far longer detour along a far harsher road.

The talent he had been fortunate enough to receive at birth—he was earning his right to it as the Shadow Monarch's son, engraving it into his soul and flesh through every collision and setback.

What would Suho have grown into by the time he reached the end of that road...?

[... The mere thought makes my heart swell. All I can do is watch... Huh? Where are you going?]

"Where do you think? To sleep! I've been awake for twenty-four hours!"

He had only gone out to get his mana remeasured, but one problem after another had kept him from getting a moment's rest. Leveling up might have replenished his stamina, but he was still human. Of course he wanted to sleep.

Besides, now that he had a blessing that dramatically increased his regeneration while sleeping, sleep truly was the best medicine!

[Leaving the Shadow Dungeon.]

WHOOSH!

Leaving everyone behind, Suho returned to the outside world.

* * *

Meanwhile, a major incident was unfolding in Korea while Suho was inside the pyramid.

Only yesterday, the internet had been ablaze over Beast King Crow's battle in the heart of the city. Yet in just one day, that fire had shifted to another huge news story.

[Breaking News! The Lee Minsung Scandal!]

[Reaper Guild Vice President Secretly Established a Stardust Laboratory!]

[Who Is Vice President Lee Minsung, the Mastermind?]

[Hunters Association Designates A-Rank Hunter Lee Minsung a Villain!]

[A-Rank Villain Lee Minsung Wanted! Reward Offered!]

With Vice President Lee Minsung's Stardust laboratory exposed thanks to Suho, an arrest warrant was the natural next step. Having secured evidence that Lee Minsung was the mastermind behind it all, the Hunters Association immediately took action.

"Tell everyone who can get here right now to assemble!"

Team Leader Han Jaehyuk gathered every Association hunter he could mobilize.

"You know the drill, right? We hit him with everything we've got and subdue him as fast as possible!"

"Yes, sir!"

Their extreme tension was only natural. Lee Minsung was an A-rank hunter—no, an A-rank villain.

In theory, two other A-rank hunters would be enough to subdue him, but that was only if there were no civilians nearby. An A-rank hunter's power was truly superhuman. The moment he unleashed it indiscriminately in the middle of the city, every citizen there would effectively become his hostage.

"Request military support! We need to evacuate the civilians and cut off his escape routes, fast!"

Of course, even if soldiers blocked his escape routes, an A-rank hunter would have no trouble breaking through them. But they should at least be able to hold him up until the Hunters Association's reinforcements arrived.

In other words, they would ultimately be little more than meat shields. Even so, protecting civilians by whatever means they could was a soldier's duty and calling.

"Team Leader! We've located Lee Minsung!"

An Association employee had successfully traced his phone and pinpointed his location.

"Good! Let's move!"

Fully prepared, the Association hunters launched a raid on Lee Minsung.

But...

"Wh-what?! Where did he go?!"

He was already gone. Only his phone remained, abandoned there.

'Damn it.'

They'd been had.

Looking deeply rattled, Team Leader Han Jaehyuk bellowed, "Find him! He can't have gotten far! Get all the nearby CCTV and dashcam footage!"

"Yes, sir!"

Things had gotten complicated. It was an enormous relief that Lee Minsung hadn't taken civilians hostage, but his quiet disappearance could mean only one thing.

He intended to flee overseas.

'Once Lee Minsung crosses the border, we'll never catch him!'

As an armed organization, the Hunters Association would violate international law by exercising force in another country.

"Ban Lee Minsung from leaving the country immediately, and freeze every one of his accounts!"

* * *

At that very moment, Lee Minsung had arrived not at an airport or a harbor, but at the VIP room he frequented.

"My goodness. You've suddenly become quite the celebrity, haven't you?"

"I'm not in the mood for jokes, Madam."

Lee Minsung glared at her, his teeth clenched. The murderous aura pouring from the A-rank hunter made the ornate chandelier tremble.

A private room catering exclusively to the wealthy.

[Queen Bee]

It was still too early to open, but the madam who owned the establishment welcomed Lee Minsung with her usual alluring smile.

"You must be busy, Mr. Vice President. What brings you here? Shall I hide you?"

"Money."

"Money?"

As the madam tilted her head with a look of incomprehension, Lee Minsung's face flushed with humiliation.

"Lend me some money. I need money I can use overseas."

"But you have far more money than I do."

"My accounts have been frozen. They've probably banned me from leaving the country, too."

This was what becoming a villain meant. But going overseas without a plane or ship posed no problem at all.

"How will you leave the country if you're banned from traveling?"

"I'll swim."

"My goodness. As energetic as ever."

"Do you want to die? I told you I'm not in the mood for jokes."

GRAB!

Already worked up to the extreme, Lee Minsung immediately reached out at the madam's lighthearted joke and clamped his hand around her throat. He looked ready to snap her slender neck at any moment.

He had never intended to let a witness who had seen him on the run live anyway. But he had to hold back for now.

'I'll get the money before I kill her.'

Even in this situation, Lee Minsung was making cold-blooded calculations.

But there was something he had failed to notice.

How had the madam been able to keep joking as usual while facing an A-rank hunter's murderous aura head-on?

Even now, with his hand choking her, she was still smiling.

"... What a waste."

"What?"

"You still had so many uses."

At the madam's sudden, incomprehensible words, Lee Minsung bared his teeth viciously.

"What the hell are you babbling—"

At that instant...