55-56

Chapter 55: 3F Breakthrough (3)

Demon King

3F Breakthrough (3)

In the depths of the third floor, where the path forked three ways, we found a wooden door at the middle passage.

Its appearance does not fit the dungeon walls, which were made of gray stone.

Beyond it, I could sense the faint presence of monsters.

"A gate…"

Lee Chan-yu's voice was tense. When I asked him about it, he started to explain.

"I've heard about it, but it's the first time I've seen one. It was said that if you find a gate within a dungeon, it meant that the dungeon is divided into two zones."

"Two zones. Then, the boss room will be over there."

"Right."

There was no hesitation. I grasped Blood Shadow and checked the five daggers tied to my thigh. When I turned to look at Lee Chan-yu, he was already in a running stance.

I opened the door.

Did he call it a gate? It was indeed an appropriate expression.

Beyond the wooden door was an entirely different dungeon. Unlike the 1F, 2F, and 3F, which had the appearance of natural caves, this place was a mystical landscape. It looked like a setting for a video game.

Lee Chan-yu relaxed as soon as he sensed that there were no monsters nearby.

"I don't have a lot of dungeon experience, but it's my first time to see like this," he said.

Of course, there were monsters caught by my Advanced Detection. I sensed that they recognized our presence, and they are starting to move, but there is still time to orient ourselves. Their distance was hundreds of meters away. I installed traps as I looked around.

"Are these obsidians?" Lee Chan-yu asked.

"No…"

Unlike the previous dungeons we have passed through, the place beyond the gate looked entirely made of translucent black rocks. It was easy to mistake it for obsidian, but after tapping it with Blood Shadow, I determined that it was hard and durable.

Then, a thought passed through my head.

The name of this dungeon.

"The Black Palace…"

"What did you say, captain?"

"Never mind."

So, is this the Black Palace?

There were huge black rock walls and corridors. It does deserve to be called the Black Palace.

Perhaps, the dungeon we have explored so far was only the front yard of the Black Palace. A place to filter out things that don't qualify to reach this place.

Thinking about it, we were only able to find this gate after overcoming the endless mass appearances on the third floor.

If I hadn't been reckless, it might not have been possible to find it.

From now on, we're in the real dungeon. I should abandon the idea that everything we encounter could be handled as easily as before. I raised my Detection and moved forward.

The passage was long and wide. However, a thick black fog obstructed our view. Thanks to my developed eyesight as an intermediate monster, I could see up to 3 meters without difficulty, but beyond that, it was difficult. Of course, it does not look like a naturally-occurring fog.

"God, this makes me nervous. I can't see more than 2 meters ahead."

"Don't rely on sight. You also have intermediate Detection."

"Easy for you to say… Even Detection does not work quite properly. It's not an ordinary fog."

"Yes, definitely… Ah."

I suddenly realized. This fog was very familiar to me.

Yes, why didn't I notice it immediately? I already know this fog. I have run and walked around this fog.

The dark passage.

It was this fog that made me unable to see anything in the dark passage.

As I thought about the hours when I practiced Surprise in the dark passage, my mind gradually calmed down, and the place began to look like my home training ground.

As evidence of that, Lee Chan-yu lost my presence. He panicked a little and looked around even if I was just in front of him. It meant that I could hide myself with Surprise, even unconsciously.

"Captain, don't do this. I don't have the confidence to walk in this place alone."

"Get ready, Lee Chan-yu. Can you feel them, too?"

"… they're really close."

It would be nice if we had the time to explore the place further, but it was time.

I sensed them approaching us from beyond the fog.

"Three."

"Three rare, high-class species."

Lee Chan-yu took a deep breath and prepared for battle.

I could understand what he's thinking.

Rare monsters are the evolved form of the higher-level species. In 3F, the higher-level species have already reached the level where it was hard to call them intermediate monsters.

Lee Chan-yu was on the same level as the general monsters on the third floor. It would be like me in a goblin's body facing a Goblin Knight.

I smiled. I fought stronger monsters in a goblin's body in the Jinma Tower.

However, it would be impossible for Chan-yu to do it alone. I have to help him.

"Don't worry; you won't die."

"I'm not worried about that. I'm all-in."

I laughed behind him, then stared beyond the fog.

Using time, mana, stamina, and finally, material items, I installed a trap in the direction where the presence of a rare monster was coming from.

Soon, it came into view.

One of them was floating with huge film wings.

There is also another massive monster approaching slowly. Its four legs are heavy, creating slight vibrations in the black hallway.

There was also another monster, lighter and quieter than the others.

The trap was activated. It caught the giant monster in the passage.

"I guess it can't be helped!"

Immediately, Lee Chan-yu rushed at it.

I also rushed after him. But before that, I sent my five daggers flying.

"Keeek!"

A monster's cry broke the silence. The flying monster recognized the approaching daggers, but could not avoid them all. One dagger caught its wings and tore it.

After confirming that it landed, I rushed after Lee Chan-yu. He was valiantly rushing toward the giant monster whose feet were trapped. However, the quiet monster was hiding behind the giant's back, possibly unseen by Lee Chan-yu.

The quiet monster completely concealed itself, believing that he will not be found.

I was aiming for its defenseless neck. My skills were superior to anyone else here.

I was also hiding behind Lee Chan-yu.

As I got closer, I caught its appearance and was a little surprised.

Its shape was like a shadow – thin, long, and light as if it had no mass.

I couldn't make sense of how a regular monster in 3F evolved into this form.

The mana it had on its body was powerful, and he was pulling out a part of its body like a blade.

"Kha ah ah ah!"

"Haab!"

The moment Lee Chan-yu and the giant monster clashed, the shadow leaped off the monster, with its blade aiming at Lee Chan-yu's throat!

Just then, Blood Shadow flashed. It was charged with Black Lightning, Power Attack, and Beast Charged. It broke through the shadow's blade and stabbed it in the neck!

But something unexpected happened.

[Kiaahahahahah!]

Everyone in the space halted as they heard the piercing voice in their heads. Surely, this was a skill that causes abnormal status!

However, thanks to L, who drastically raised my tolerance for abnormality, the screams of the shadow didn't affect me. I put more force in my sword. As the shadow's blood coated the sword, flames rose on the blade, making him scream more intensely.

[Kiaahahahahah!]

"It hurts! Ahh! Captain, please, finish him quickly!"

I slashed the sword forward with one hand and caught the shadow's dismembered head on the other.

"I will enjoy this food," I said, before taking a bite.

[You gained 57,910 experience.]

[You acquired 58 silver.]

[You obtained a fragment of the Shadow Spear.]

I cannot stop to eat even if I knew that its life has come to an end. I squeezed the head all in my mouth and hit the ground again.

This is because the flying monster began to spit something out of its mouth.

I'm having a hard time using the Lunatic Trickster because of this damn mist!

I made full use of the Beast Charge to get closer to it as quickly as possible.

It spat out an unrecognizable substance. It looked like acid! It hissed as it hit my body. It was disgusting. I have to finish it quickly!

"Kuh!"

[Advanced Fairy Tale has become Lv3.]

[You acquired the Beginner Shadow Step]

[You acquired the Beginner Madness Noise.]

As I quickly chewed and swallowed the shadow monster's head, I raised my Blood Shadow and tore off the other remaining wing of the flying monster. It crashed to the ground, leaving a bloody trail.

[You gained 52,482 experience.]

[You acquired 49 silver.]

I ruthlessly chopped the flying monster to pieces, then pulled off the disgusting liquid that stuck to my armor and threw it away.

I threw it in the direction of the giant monster that was struggling with Lee Chan-yu.

"Ahhh!"

"Lee Chan-yu!"

At the moment when the liquid went inside the giant monster's wide-open mouth, the giant monster seemed frightened, and the greatest chance came to Lee Chan-yu.

Lee Chan-yu did not miss it and stretched out both of his hands at once. His sharp claws, which glowed silver, pierced the chest of the giant monster.

It didn't seem to have enough strength to pierce through, but Lee Chan-yu roared and pushed it through the monster that was almost twice as large as he was.

"Kha ah ah ah!"

It was a War Cry! His claws shone brighter as his power was reinforced by War Cry.

"Kahak!"

The giant monster raised its forefoot, but it stopped abruptly, its giant forefoot hanging in mid-air.

Then, it collapsed.

Lee Chan-yu pierced its heart!

He really succeeded in defeating a rare monster, even with a little help from me. It was possible because he fully understood his strength and speed and how to use them.

"Ah ah ah ah ah!"

I laughed bitterly as I watched Lee Chan-yu's roar of victory.

"We have killed three of them, but with that War Cry… it looks like more will come soon."

"Ugh."

Lee Chan-yu seemed to realize it just now. He stopped roaring and stood still as if reflecting.

I retrieved my daggers and raised Blood Shadow with a smile.

I didn't know how it would be in the realm of the rare species, but it was a good thing anyway because we could finish the quest quickly. It was worth repeating what we did in 3F.

"Captain…"

I can't blame him. I brought him here. I threw him a single-use mana potion I bought from the exclusive store. He looked pathetic, but he pulled out his claws anyway and prepared for battle.

Soon, the struggle began. A battle that is much shorter and more intense than any mass appearances I've ever experienced.

Chapter 56: 3F Breakthrough (4)

Demon King

3F Breakthrough (4)

How many rare monsters have we fought in that short period?

There was no time to count them leisurely. Lee Chan-yu's body became bloody and healed repeatedly, and for the first time, I felt that my Advanced Surprise skill was limited. The only hope was that there was still room for growth in the Fairy Tale skill.

However, as its name suggests, the number of rare higher species was extremely small compared to the regular or higher species. There were only hundreds of rare monsters, and their sizes made it difficult for them to gather, so there weren't many monsters we had to deal with at once.

However, unlike other monsters we have seen in 2F and 3F, the rare monsters did not express hostility to each other. They are different from the monsters we've met so far. They seem to be cooperating with other monsters! From now one, we had to fight against monsters with reason.

Dealing with three to four rare high-class species at a time was very difficult, but at the same time, it was a good experience.

As I went through their various skills and techniques, I gradually got used to it and felt myself developing my response.

[Predation after hunting rare high-level species in the Black Palace 3F 500/500]

The quest requirement was satisfied even before the pocket watch's hour hand turned once. After a half-turn, there was only one monster left in my Detection range.

It was a gorilla covered with light blue hair. It roared and pounded the floor. White frost formed around it, visible through the black fog.

"Quo oh oh oh!"

His fists were the size of a pot, and whenever they hit the floor, huge ice spears rise from the ground randomly within his range. An unpredictable and deadly attack!

Surprise and Fairy Tale were useless against this. He attacked everything in his range mercilessly. He was the most terrifying among the high-ranking species I met here.

"Chit!"

I first reinforced my defense by making full use of the Stone Skin, a skill obtained by eating one of the monsters. However, the drawback was that my movements were slower when Stone Skin was equipped.

It was the only way to not die from the spears.

"Quick!"

However, as I approached it slowly with the whip on my hand, Lee Chan-yu suddenly jumped high in the air, neglecting the danger of being stabbed by ice spears.

It happened in the blink of an eye. It was impossible for him to even think about it if his regeneration level was not above the Advanced level.

It really happened in the blink of an eye. It is impossible to dream if there is no regeneration above the advanced level.

"Kohohohohoh!"

"Captain, now!"

The gorilla emits a terrible coldness that could freeze an opponent just by being near it, and Lee Chan-yu, who jumped at it recklessly, had his lower body frozen in no time. Moreover, two sharp ice spears penetrated his body as he exposed himself in the air.

I do not intend to waste the chance that Lee Chan-yu earned. I quickly took off the Stone Skin, raised Surprise and Fairy Tale, and sped towards the gorilla's direction.

I made full use of Leap and Beast Charge to increase my speed. The Shadow Step skill acquired from rare higher-level shadow monsters were added to it.

It made my movements stealthier and faster. If the skill level of Shadow Step increases, it would be the perfect weapon.

The gorilla, who had his sights on the falling Lee Chan-yu and his arms raised towards the sky, roared without noticing me right underneath his massive chests.

I felt a terrible coldness as I got close to him, but my higher-level tolerance prevented it from being difficult.

Just before the gorilla returned to its position with its forepaws on the ground, I jumped while maintaining Surprise and Fairy Tale. I put all my power on the blade of Blood Shadow.

Blood Flame, Black Lightning, Power Attack, Speed Attack… If the distribution of power failed even a little, the blade would not be able to take it and scatter all the energy, so it was not as easy as it looked.

I threw the sword with all my strength at the gorilla's neck. There was no way for him to avoid my attack! In an instant, Blood Flames with the power of Intermediate Flame Magic melted the frost he emitted, and the Black Lightning torched his skin.

"Quo oh oh oh!"

"Haaa!"

The next moment, Blood Shadow pierced its neck. However, the cold air radiating from him became more intense, as if he's using all energy he had left!

I immediately let go of the sword, landed on the ground, and leaped backward.

Then, it collapsed with a loud thud.

Somehow, we succeeded.

[You gained 72,171 experience.]

[You acquired 86 silver.]

[Beginner Speed Attack becomes Lv 10 and evolves into Lower Speed Attack. The time it takes to activate this skill is further reduced, and the attack speed is increased.]

[You obtained Frozen Armor.]

[You obtained the key to the 3F boss room in Black Palace District 7]

I looked down at my hands, covered in frost. That's what happened as soon as I let go of the flaming sword. Abnormal Resistance and Regeneration were working in harmony, but I can't help but shiver.

If even I was affected by the gorilla's ice, how about Lee Chan-yu?

"Are you alive?"

"Somehow."

Lee Chan-yu responded as he pulled out the second ice spear from his body. He was used to pain and had excellent self-healing abilities, but his face crumpled in pain as he finally pulled the spear out.

"Your Advanced skills are really awesome, Captain."

"The same is true of your regenerative power."

"It came with the body of a werewolf, but yours… you trained to develop your skills to the Advanced level."

It was true. It would not have been possible for just anybody to produce such a powerful attack like the one I did on the gorilla. Stealthy, quick movement; a single blow that could finish the enemy. It was possible because of my Advanced skills.

Attack skills, magic skills, secondary skills complementing each other for a more intense attack. A synergistic effect wasn't just using two or three skills at once. It cannot be explained by numbers.

However, there are two problems with the simultaneous use of skills.

The first problem is that it was difficult to learn two similar skills or two skills that have opposite properties.

It is not easy for someone who had mastered Power Attack to learn Speed Attack.

It is not easy for someone who had mastered Leap to learn Beast Rush.

This applies equally to weapon mastery. A swordsman can find it hard to learn archery; a flame magician would find it hard to learn water magic.

Then, masters of a weapon technique will find it hard to learn magic skills.

It was only possible in my case because of Predation. I took the skills of other monsters. It was so natural that I take it for granted, but it turns out that others who didn't have Predation found it very difficult to learn skills in other fields after learning skills in one field.

The second problem is simpler. There was a high cost to use multiple skills at the same time. It takes up a lot of mana, and in cases such as Power Attack and Speed Attack, it consumes stamina as well. It was hard enough to have multiple skills and harder to use them at the same time.

"Did you get the key, Captain?"

"Yes."

I checked the inventory to be sure. The boss room key was there. In addition, there was the Frozen Armor obtained from the gorilla.

There was also a glowing armor composite scroll.

That's just good timing, I thought, as I pulled Blood Shadow from the gorilla's neck.

"Captain, are you going to eat that ice gorilla?"

"Of course."

"You are crazy."

I ate the gorilla on the spot, hoping to learn the ice spear technique, but was disappointed. I just had to be content with learning Beginner Ice Magic.

Soon, it was time. There were no monsters left. The boss battle is waiting for us. There would be no reason to delay what is inevitable.

But before that, I used the armor composite scroll.

[Please select the main armor, five sacrifice armor, and materials. Up to 15 materials can be selected.]

[Armor List:]

[Blood Iron Armor]

[Ezelic's Leggings]

[Kesia's Leather Armor]

[Shadow Armor]

[Wolf Vest]

[Frozen Armor]

[List of materials]

[Pelcadia's Jewel (Red)]

[Pelcadia's Jewel (Blue)]

[Trickster Eye]

[Werewolf's Mane]

[Armored Bear Captain's Leather]

[Ebony Crust]

[Shadow Spear…]

A scroll that combines six armors into one?

At first, I thought it was a Unique armor scroll, a level after Rare, but now…

I remembered Rain telling me about the rank order of rarity. Rare, Unique, then Ancient, Legend, and Epic. Could this be a Legend scroll? No, I received a Legend scroll in 2F. This would obviously be an Ancient one.

"What is that? A composite scroll?"

"Right."

Without hesitation, I chose Blood Iron Armor as my main armor. Everything else would be for sacrifice.

I didn't expect that Ezelic's Leggings, which wasn't full-body armor, would be considered as a sacrificial armor. Anyway, all the sacrifice armors I have are either Rare or Unique, so I am excited about the result.

I can select up to fifteen ingredients. I picked all the finest materials, except for the Pelcadia's Gems, and threw them into the synthesis vortex.

Trickster's Eye. Pitch-black Crustacean. As I threw in the ingredients one by one, Lee Chan-yu watched quietly with a strange expression.

Since I had Lee Chan-yu, the burden I suffered through in 3F was definitely reduced. He was brave and took the initiative to serve as my tank during monster attacks. The defense of Blood Iron Armor was almost meaningless against the monsters in 3F, but thanks to Lee Chan-yu's help and my own Surprise and Fairy Tale skills, I was able to endure without difficulty.

But I couldn't be satisfied with that. An emergency can happen anytime.

It became obvious when we fought the Ice Gorilla. Had Lee Chan-yu not moved quickly, I may have been pierced by ice spears by now.

If I had good equipment, it would have been possible to charge without hesitation without worrying about being injured or incapacitated.

After a few moments, light spewed out of the vortex. Then, slowly, the product was revealed, covered in dark red energy.

Cloth?!

I felt blood rush to my face as I saw the product. I definitely chose my main armor to be Blood Iron Armor, which was made of plate mail!

But what appeared now is undeniably made of cloth. The main armor was made of plate mail, but the final product was cloth? I got nervous as I took it and tried it on.

The size wasn't the problem. It fit me automatically. The same was true with Blood Iron Armor, which I wore since I was a Hop Goblin, and until now that I was a Bugbear.

However, the problem was the fact that the finished product was really made of cloth.

It was curiously glossy, but the material was certainly made of thread- woven with dark red thread, like blood. It was a plain, practical outfit that clung to my body tightly.

I don't think it looked good on me. There was nothing special in it. Rather, it was even difficult to check my clothes because it was absorbing the light around me…

It was absorbing the light around me.

I realized that absorbing light was not something that ordinary clothes would do.

I hastily checked the information on the clothes I am wearing.

[Baptism of Blood (580/580)- Defense 650. Rarity Ancient. It absorbs light, making it difficult for others to recognize this garment and its wearer. It absorbs blood, restores durability, and grows. Increases movement speed by 30%.]

The armor composite scroll certainly did its job.

Ahead of the boss battle on the 3rd floor, I got an Ancient-class armor that, according to Lee Chan-yu, 'a thousand people must die to get one'.