Chapter 69: Dungeon Conquest (1)

Chapter 69: Dungeon Conquest (1)

A distinct odor wafted out of the entrance of the dungeon. The air was heavy with a scent reminiscent of ink, making it difficult for intruders to breathe.

"Phew..."

Mikhail was the first to react. Though he was part of a mercenary gang, compared to Aidan, who had trained in the burning darkness from a young age, and Karyl he was the weakest.

"Seems like I focused too much on magic training in Azor. Huff- Didn't expect my stamina to fall short like this. Huff..."

Mikhail tried to lighten the mood with an awkward laugh, attempting to break the heavy atmosphere.

"No matter how fit you are, a dungeon is always tough. It's only natural. Still, it's best not to use magic here."

"Understood."

"After all, we don't know what kind of monsters might jump out at us."

Following Karyl's advice, Mikhail nodded and leaned on his staff as they continued.

[How fascinating that I sense dark energy from inside the dungeon. It's a power rarely seen, even in the Magic Era. Could it truly still exist?] Allen Javius murmured as he observed their surroundings.

Is this your first time seeing one? I guess dungeons didn't exist in your era.

[Right. There were dungeons inhabited by monsters, but none where dark energy settled like this.]

What’s dark energy?

[It's a power slightly different from magic. Does the church still worship Yula?]

Yeah.

[Then consider it as a kind of power opposing Yula. It possesses properties completely opposite to divine energy. However, dark energy is typically found in the demon realm... This is quite strange.]

Karyl furrowed his brow. Then, could demons be related to Tarak?

[That’s unlikely. The Tarak are essentially remnants from a rift in dimensions, not of this world. Whereas demons are acknowledged by the gods.]

Hmm... Karyl nodded in agreement. Initially, humanity couldn't identify the source of Tarak and thought they were under the demons' command. If they were unrelated, it would be a relief.

[However, the cunning demons are unpredictable. It’s very odd for dungeons such as these to not exist in the Magical Era. This place might actually be more related to the demons than to the Tarak.]

I see.

If it weren’t for Allen Javius, who had lived through the era when the magic and human realms were connected, Karyl might not have known about dark energy.

[In the past, there was not only the Human Realm but also the Demonic Realm of the demons, the Celestial Realm of the Nephilim, and even the realm beneath the Demonic Realm.]

Yet, now all realms except the Human Realm were closed.

Only the Elemental Realm remained connected, albeit barely, allowing a scant few elementalists to summon mid-level elementals.

We need to investigate further.

[Indeed. This is a change even I’m unaware of. Let's proceed with caution.]

"Wow, Karyl. Are these elemental stones scattered around here?" Mikhail exclaimed, interrupting the two’s conversation.

As they ventured deeper into the dungeon, they encountered an unusually bright area. The wall Mikhail was pointing at the wall, which was adorned with minerals emitting various colors.

"Those aren’t elemental stones, trilateral quartz. They are unique minerals that grow from the walls of dungeons like plants," Karyl replied with a faint smile. "If they were all elemental stones, the south would have been more developed than the north."

"Indeed..."

[That creature... it's a being from the demon realm,] Allen spoke up.

The demon realm? Do you know about this creature?

Allen nodded in response.

[Yes, it’s called the Agma.]

Curious to learn more about a name he had never heard before, Karyl awaited Allen’s explanation. At most, he expected to encounter trolls who, besides the Twin-Headed Eagle, are the strongest monsters here.

[Yes, I've hunted them a few times. During the Magic Era, gates to various dimensions were open, and occasionally, beings from the demon or celestial realms would cross over into the human realm.]

Thud—

Heavy footsteps echoed, announcing the arrival of a formidable presence.

It stood tall on two legs, clad in armor that gave it a knight-like appearance. Yet, upon closer inspection, one would notice the absence of a head where there should have been one.

[Look closely. It's not a humanoid creature, but a mere insectoid. A bug that lives in the depths of the Demonic Realm,] remarked Allen Javius, making Karyl imagine a humanoid demon moving like an insect.

"..."

Karyl couldn’t help but shake his head in disdain. Despite having its head severed just moments ago, the creature's head had regrown as if it had regenerated.

No, it wasn't a head.

Click—

The weapon it wielded was no ordinary spear, but a long, horn-shaped weapon, its other hand firmly grasping a large kite shield. Both the weapon and the shield appeared to meld seamlessly with its arms, the only difference being their brownish hue.

“Grrrrrr......”

The half-human, half-monster creature bared its teeth, growling sharply at Karyl and his companions.

"Clearly, it's not human," Karyl commented, almost amused, as he saw Agma's chest splitting open to reveal a set of protruding red teeth. "We can't just leave it be now that we've found it. Besides, we also need the Twin-Headed Eagle's heads from inside," Karyl stated with a slight nod.

Understanding what the signal meant without even needing an explanation, Mikhail positioned himself at the rear, and Aidan took a central position, forming their formation.

How does it compare to the monsters of the continent?

[It is hard to say. Perhaps its strength is on par with an ogre? Moreover, its shimmering shell... It has resistance to magic.] Allen Javius's explanation caused Karyl’s brows to furrow in concern.

But there was no time for hesitation. The Agma emerging from the depths of the dungeon did not wait any longer. A sharp, echoing noise filled the dungeon, causing Karyl to stagger as if suddenly pushed back.

"Kuh?!"

White steam rose from the Freezing Talon, which acted as a barrier against the creature’s lance.

“Grrrrr......”

The black shell on its face emanated the scent of sulfur, carrying a pungent heat as Karyl exhaled.

“What is that?!” exclaimed both Mikhail and Aidan, equally startled at the sight of the unfamiliar monster.

[Isn't this actually good for you?] In stark contrast to their tension, Allen Javius spoke with a relaxed voice.

[Opening up a meridian takes time. As it stands, it's difficult to instantly boost your mana. So for now, focusing on your swordsmanship would be the best way to become stronger,] he continued, pointing at the monster. [Didn't you say it yourself? Didn’t you say you needed real combat experience for your magic swordsmanship? So, isn't this creature an excellent opponent?]

“Grrrrrr......!!” As if in response to Allen Javius's words, the creature growled menacingly.

"That's right."

Karyl tightened his grip on his sword. The tension that was on his face had given away to a calm determination. Observing this change, Allen chuckled, as if he had expected it all along.