Chapter 79: I Shall Grant Power to Those Who Pass the Trial
Chapter 79: I Shall Grant Power to Those Who Pass the Trial
"How much do the stats increase when you equip that?"
"Can I try wearing it too?"
The Ajusshi who knew Na-in kept pestering her with questions.
He wasn't the only one.
A group of strangers had gathered behind them.
Their intentions were transparent as glass.
They wanted information about the equipment she wore.
'Like hyenas.'
It felt oppressive.
They looked ready to jump her and steal the equipment at the slightest weakness.
No - they'd probably try to steal it even if she remained unharmed.
The boiling greed made it hard to breathe.
"I don't know exactly. I just got it myself."
She dodged the question.
She'd made a mistake in judgment.
She should have traveled alone instead of staying with the group.
Na-in regretted it too late.
The chance to turn back had already passed.
"Is that so? Fine."
The Ajusshi backed down at her stubborn attitude.
But his tone suggested anything but acceptance.
If she let her guard down even slightly, they'd steal her equipment.
'Ah, should I just wait by Seol-hwa's side?'
That seemed better.
Staying here would only get her backstabbed.
"Huh? Where are you going?"
When she turned to leave,
the group startled in alarm.
Her prediction was correct.
These people would stab her in the back given half a chance.
As the convinced Na-in tried walking toward Seol-hwa,
an abnormality occurred.
Screeeech.
A horde of monsters surged forward.
Dozens of goblins suddenly charged.
"Gah!"
People lost their minds at the sudden situation.
They fled to escape the swarm.
They could have united to defeat mere goblins.
But the problem was the two orcs mixed in the horde.
No way to win against those.
The group fled blindly, rationality lost to fear.
Na-in was among them.
Leading the frantic escape.
"Huff... huff... Where is this?"
The pursuing monsters had disappeared.
Na-in looked around as she regained her senses.
No signposts - she couldn't tell where she was.
"H-hello?"
Her voice trembled.
She'd been left alone in the dungeon.
What initially seemed trivial now filled her with terror.
"Ah, there you are. Found you."
A familiar voice called out.
The pestering Ajusshi from before.
Relief washed over her at the familiar voice.
"Haa, yes. Things happened too suddenly to wait."
She walked toward the voice.
Several people had gathered there.
"Excuse me?"
A same-aged woman with large breasts and an innocent face.
And a man who appeared to be her boyfriend.
Including the Ajumma and the Ajusshi who brought them here, five people total.
"Where are the others?"
About two people were missing.
"How should we know?"
Na-in silently prayed for their souls.
They were most likely dead.
"Shouldn't we look for them now? It might not be too late."
But the Woman with Large Breasts wasn't that selfless.
She suggested looking for them.
"By ourselves?"
"No, no. We should call Seol-hwa to help search."
Startled, she denied being perfectly self-sacrificing.
"Right. If those things appear again, we're dead anyway."
The Ajusshi naturally became the group leader.
He took the lead.
Walking forward aimlessly.
"Ajusshi, do you know the way?"
"No? Not at all?"
His answer deflated them.
But none of them knew the exit anyway.
Results would've been the same even if she led.
"...Let's leave markers as we go from now on."
"Ah, I have a Name Pen."
The Woman with Large Breasts produced a pen from her pocket.
She'd brought it just in case.
"I'll mark this path."
Na-in and the Woman each took a Name Pen.
They marked separate walls.
It would greatly help navigation.
The group progressed while leaving wall markings.
Though they occasionally hit dead ends or three-way forks, they backtracked and found new paths.
After walking for some time,
a massive plaza-like space appeared.
"What is this place?"
The Woman with Large Breasts spoke.
Her curious eyes scanned the surroundings.
It resembled a gladiatorial arena.
"Are we going the right way?"
She couldn't tell.
Each step felt like descending deeper.
"So what? Want to turn back?"
The Ajusshi entered the plaza, ignoring further objections.
"What's wrong? Going back? If we waste more time, we might have to return alone."
Standing center-stage, he urged them on.
The others silently looked to Na-in.
Waiting for her answer.
"We have no choice."
Nothing to be done now.
She descended to the plaza center.
The others followed.
Once all stood in the arena,
Grooooaann.
The entrance sealed shut.
A thick stone door blocked their exit.
"Wh-what?"
As the panicked group stared at the door,
[Challengers of the Trial, welcome.]
A solemn voice resonated in their ears.
Like a higher being speaking directly into their minds.
The transcendent phenomenon left them breathless.
[Those who pass the Trial shall receive great rewards.]
'Rewards?'
Na-in's eyes widened at the word.
Such a being's rewards would undoubtedly be grand.
[All shall move to their prepared positions.]
No consent was asked.
Light began glowing behind them - the Trial would begin immediately.
Moving there apparently started the Trial.
[I shall explain the Trial format. It is simple. Participants descend to the arena one by one. Defeat your opponent. Only victors shall receive rewards.]
As they stepped onto the light,
the voice described the Trial rules.
In short: win one-on-one combat.
"Good. Who goes first?"
Though forced into the Trial, there was no turning back.
Their only option was to clear it and escape.
"I'll go first."
Greed blinded the Ajusshi as he volunteered.
But afterward, everyone hesitated, wasting time.
They eventually decided order by rock-paper-scissors.
"You're second..."
The Woman with Large Breasts would go second.
Her boyfriend third.
Na-in fourth.
[Have you decided? Then we begin with the first challenger.]
The Ajusshi descended into the arena.
Anticipation shone in his eyes.
Understandable.
The dungeon's low difficulty suggested an easy Trial.
[The Trial begins. Your opponent is an Orc Warrior.]
His expectations were instantly betrayed.
An enormous orc emerged opposite him.
"An orc... you bastard! How can I beat that?!"
The Ajusshi screamed upon seeing his opponent.
Orc.
A reaper-like entity to someone scraping by in low-level zones.
[The Trial begins.]
The overseer ignored his protest.
The Trial commenced.
The match ended in one strike.
The Ajusshi's body split in half.
"Ugh."
The Woman with Large Breasts retched.
No one scolded her.
Na-in was barely containing her own nausea.
[Next challenger, step forward.]
The Woman with Large Breasts was second.
Tears welled as she sensed her impending death.
"...See you soon."
The lovers shared a passionate kiss.
A farewell kiss.
Meaning they'd reunite soon in the afterlife.
After the kiss,
she stepped into the arena.
She raised her sword.
If she could wound the orc badly, her lover's survival chances might increase.
[The second Trial begins.]
The Trial started.
The orc approached.
The Woman swung her sword with all her might.
But her attack didn't scratch its hide.
Clang!
A broken sword.
She stood defenseless.
"No!"
Her boyfriend screamed.
She'd be mercilessly slaughtered like the Ajusshi.
But something different happened.
"Gah. Don't look!"
The orc didn't kill her.
Instead, it tore her clothes.
Armor shattered, bra ripped.
Two massive mounds swayed exposed.
"Ahh!"
The orc groped her breasts.
No tenderness - just brutal handling.
The woman grimaced in pain.
Her ordeal continued.
The erect orc lifted her up.
"No. Stop."
Realizing its intent, she struggled.
But couldn't escape the orc's grip.
The massive cock began penetrating her pussy.
"Aaah, uuugh."
A deflating sound escaped her lips.
Too weak to even scream.
The orc mechanically violated her.
It carried the unconscious woman into the arena's depths.
[Next Trial begins.]
The announcement came emotionlessly.
The orc was too busy raping the large-breasted woman.
Instead emerged a goblin swarm.
The mentally shattered boyfriend had a chance to win, but failed.
His mutilated corpse littered the ground.
[Next Trial begins.]
Now Na-in's turn arrived.
'Please be goblins. Please be goblins.'
She prayed fervently.
Against goblins, she stood some chance.
But her hopes were shattered.
"Beholder..."
Na-in lost all will to fight upon seeing her opponent.
Beholder.
An advanced tentacled monster approached.
The Beholder's single eye stared at her.
A petrification spell.
Under its stone-turning power, her body began transforming.