Chapter 306

Chapter 306

In the 6th zone of the Lake Kingdoms dungeon, [Research Lab].

Fully named [Magical Research Lab], it was one of the largest dungeons deep within Lake Kingdom.

"Hehehe."

Atop the grand facility of this lab.

A woman, perched on the rooftop, revealed a sinister grin.

One of the Nightmare Legions commanders. The leader of the Unholy Legion.

She was the Succubus Queen - Salome.

"Hehehehe."

Salome watched as Ash and his team approached. Her captivating lips curved into a clear line.

"Ive been waiting for the day to see you again, Ash."

After being thoroughly defeated by Ash previously,

Salome reorganized her legion and waited for Ashs return.

Predicting that Ash would someday come to this [Research Lab] dungeon, the largest in the 6th zone, she nested here, laying various traps.

And after a long wait, Ash finally arrived.

"This time, Ill definitely make you submit."

The malevolent smile on Salomes lips grew increasingly wicked.

"And once Ive captured you... like this, and like that... hehehe... Oh!"

Blushing while lost in her fantasies, Salome quickly snapped back to reality. Her underling succubi stared intently at her.

"Ahem, ahem! Uh-huh!"

Regaining her dignity with a forced cough, she signaled with her hand, and her succubi flew to her, presenting a full-length mirror.

Salome adjusted her alluring pink hair, added decorations to the horns on her forehead, and tied a ribbon on her swaying tail.

She even changed out of her usual ragged monks outfit into a new one.

Following her subordinates advice(?) that being more modest was trending in the sex industry, she buttoned up to her neck.

Her clinging succubi then applied makeup to her face. Salome gazed at her reflection, twisting and turning her body.

"How, how do I look? Do I look good? This should work, right?!"

While she could seduce anyone in the dream world, Ash was immune to any mental disturbances.

Though not a typical succubi method, she needed to lure him with her physical charms...!

Salome, seeking validation, received approving nods and thumbs-up from her succubi.

She grinned broadly and raised her fist triumphantly. "Its time for revenge, Ash! Prepare for a fiery defeat!"

Watching Ashs face as he entered the dungeon, Salome smiled confidently.

"Youre mine!"

***

"Cut the crap and buzz off!"

"Aaaaah!"

In the large hall of the 6th zone dungeon [Research Lab],

I punched with all my might, striking Salomes jaw. She shrieked and tumbled around on the ground.

"Its you again, Salome?"

Relaxing my fist, I gritted my teeth. Of all the Nightmare Legion commanders, she was probably the least threatening.

Holding her jaw and blinking, Salomes eyes lit up.

"Oh, you remember me? Im so happy!"

"Why are you even happy about that...?"

I looked around, rolling my eyes.

The hall was filled with the bodies of defeated trolls.

However, unlike the ordinary troll legions weve faced, these had a distinctive faint pink aura emanating from them.

The remaining standing trolls also emitted this pink aura. I sighed.

"You might act like a fool, but youre not completely brainless, are you?"

My passive skill [Unyielding Commander] nullified all mental disturbances. It even covered a radius of several meters around me.

I could single-handedly counter the entire Unholy Legion.

And then, these fiends changed their tacticsinstead of targeting me and my party members, they enchanted what could be considered their allies, the troll legion.

"Enchanting allies, forcefully casting a frenzy spell on them, and squeezing out every last bit of their life force to make them fight... Interesting use of enchantment. Ive learned something new."

"Hehe, thats a compliment, right? Youre complimenting me now?"

"Yeah, great job. Now die here!"

I drew my staff, [Maestro], and unleashed a barrage of magical blades.

"Kyaaaah?!"

Salome scrambled on the ground, desperately dodging my onslaught. Just die and make things easier for both of us, will ya? Huh?!

"Thats so mean!"

Salome, using the enchanted ally trolls as meat shields against my attacks, yelled in frustration.

"There are too many of you!"

On our side, there were 25. Five full parties.

"..."

Well, matchup issues played a huge role.

Without my passive skill, the Unholy Legion would have been one of the most formidable of all monster legions.

However, my passive made them more of a pushover.

"Theyre the least threatening of the Nightmare Legion commanders. But theyre like annoying summer flies, sticking everywhere."

I sighed softly.

I expected frequent encounters with Nightmare Legion commanders, but the nonchalance of their appearance was still unsettling.

We managed to win easily this time because they were the relatively weak Unholy Legion...

If we had encountered another Nightmare Legion commander, it wouldve been dangerous.

But the real threat now was the remaining time on the urgent quest.

There was less than 30 minutes left. Watching the ticking clock made my mouth dry.

Luckily, most of the dungeons monsters had been lured out and enchanted by the Unholy, meaning I didnt have to hunt them down.

Originally, this lab-like dungeon was vast, with various mechanisms in each room. But since the monsters had taken care of themselves, most traps had been disabled.

In this sense, maybe the Unholy Legion actually saved us some time...?

Thank you so much!

Next time we meet, Ill "thank" you properly by killing you, Salome!

***

Leading my party members, we delved deeper into the research facility.

As its name suggested, the dungeons interior was unlike other areas, featuring bright and clean equipment.

Inside the dungeon room, various unidentified materials and specimens floated in a green liquid.

If there had been more time, I would have explored every nook and cranny for information. Sadly, I was in the midst of a time attack!

Skipping non-essential rooms within the spacious dungeon, I pushed forward, obtaining the necessary keys and codes to access the next room.

[Emergency Equipment Repair Quest]

- Time remaining: 15 minutes

The urgency was palpable. Finally, I was able to enter the boss room!

Kugugung!

Upon entering the deepest part of the laboratorys boss room, I saw a large contraption with a geometric design; it was an alchemical device intricately intertwined in motion.

"Those damned nameless traitors..."

In front of the device stood a massive troll in a lab coat, grinding its teeth as it turned around.

"Having leached under the protection of the Lake Kingdom, you should be grateful to be used as research material for dark magic here!"

Wow, a troll wearing glasses.

...Wait a moment. Is this some kind of racism?

"You think you can ride the chaos outside and cause a riot as mere test subjects? Ha! Dont make me laugh! Not a single one of you will escape! Ill throw you all into this device!"

As I watched the eloquently speaking boss monster, a thought occurred to me.

During my dungeon exploration, I encountered monsters that... spoke like Lake Kingdom citizens.

"Become fertilizer for the future of humanity, you traitorous bastards!"

Were these peoples souls intact, with only their physical bodies transformed into monsters?

Or was it a monster that devoured a persons soul, reading their memories... mimicking human voices, merely imitating human speech?

[Lab - Boss Room]

- Defeat the Boss!

- Lv.45 Troll Sorcerer <Dark Magic Lab Director Dirandahi>

Dirandahi, the director of the dark magic lab.

A rare mage-type boss monster.

As the creature raised its staff, magic surged, resonating with the magical apparatus behind him.

Lucas, with his sword raised, in the front lines urgently shouted,

"My lord, give us the tactical directive!"

I nodded, voicing a strategy I had considered earlier.

"Duruchigi."

At my words, the party members tilted their heads in confusion.

"Duru...?"

"Chigi...?"

"What do you mean, my lord?"

"Its a very traditional and prestigious pork stir-fry recipe... No, I mean, its the strategy for a big boss."

Duruchigi.

Going around and smacking the shit out of everything. In other words,

"Swarm!"

With our sheer numbers, high levels, and above all, the ticking clock, whats the need for a strategy?

Just everyone attack full force-!