Chapter 45
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Translator: MadScientist
Chapter: 45
Chapter Title: Dungeon
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"I'll never forgive this humiliation!!!"
I let out a mighty roar, seething with rage.
Even though the enemy had a mage on their side, his spells were useless against Meria's shield. And those skeletons charging from the other side? They were far too pathetic to block my path.
"Sister Elise! We're breaking through! Kobson! You too!"
"Got it."
"Right!"
I charged forward with all my might. Elise and Kobson followed right behind me, naturally forming a wedge formation. Our momentum was like that of brave knights smashing through an infantry line.
Magnum Kick
Taekwondo 3rd Dan power shatters three skeletons!
With momentum built up, I leaped high and slammed a mid-air side kick into the skeletons.
Crack!
Crunch!
The devastating force of that Taekwondo 3rd Dan kick pulverized three skeletons at once. Battle lust surged within me. A blazing flame of fighting spirit that wouldn't die until I wrecked every last one of these bastards today!
This dungeon was gonna eat three skulls today!
With light, He shall come...
As I smashed through more skeletons with gusto, I heard chanting from behind.
Elise was about to unleash a holy skill.
Light Bolt
"Light Bolt!"
A sphere of light shot past me. That holy orb lit up the dungeon as it shattered skeletons in its path, like a flare with insane physical power.
Splatter!
Crack!
The skeletons hit by the Light Bolt crumbled into pieces, clearing a straight path. That was my chance. I bolted forward like a sprinter.
My target? The Skeleton Mage, of course.
"Die, you mage!"
Grind...
Whoosh!
But the Skeleton Mage didn't back down. It chanted darkness once more, casting a curse spell.
Purple flames gathered above its staff, embedded with a black crystal orb, forming a sphere that shot toward me. That blazing fireball evoked the image of a grotesque deep-sea creature lunging from the darkest ocean depths.
It looked ominous as hell—and it was fast.
But...
"Dodge!"
It wasn't fast enough to hit me while I was hyper-focused.
I eyed the incoming fireball, timed it perfectly, and rolled across the ground. The sphere sliced through the air behind me.
Boom!
An explosion rang out. I glanced back—Meria was shielding herself with her shield.
"Blocked it!"
"Nice!"
Meria had stopped it cold. Perfect. No more worries. The distance between me and that Skeleton Mage bastard was just a few meters now—I'd close it in an instant and smash it to bits. An unstoppable destructive urge welled up.
Grind...
Finally grasping the situation, it started backing away slowly. Even a skull-head had some brains since it was a mage. The other skeletons retreated too. If you can't win, run.
Wise choice. Deserves praise.
Fleeing from me is the right call.
"Wise judgment, fucker."
But too late.
If you're gonna run, you never should've shown up in front of me in the first place.
Mages pay a price.
"Time to wreck you!"
I channeled my running momentum into a diagonal slash.
This was Assault, one of the ki techniques I'd learned from Karin. A skill that transfers your full speed into a slash. Most foes would stumble like roadkill in a hit-and-run.
"Die!"
Slash.
It cut a clean arc.
Sliced.
"Wasted no motion on that cut."
The slash landed flawlessly. Had to admit it—this was the best strike of my life. An executioner's thrill surged through my fingertips.
Thud.
The Skeleton Mage's body was bisected perfectly.
Its spine slid along the diagonal cut and hit the ground. I sheathed my sword, composing myself. I had business to attend to.
Specifically...
"You fucking rotten piece of shit!"
"You goddamn cocksucking bastard! Total fucking retard bitch!"
Thud! Smack! Smack!
Lost in rage, I stomped its bones like a maniac. Holy shit, no cap—I legit thought I was a goner when that water rushed in earlier.
Thinking about it sent chills down my spine. The sensation of water flooding my nose was still vivid.
"Fuck you! Fuck you! Die, die already, you rotten cunt!"
I went berserk, grinding its bones to dust.
Only after kicking and stomping it into bone meal did my frenzy end.
"Hah... hah... I won."
A stylish victory over the mage. Satisfaction washed over me, sweat beading on my forehead like the glow of honest labor. Endorphins kicked in. Feeling good, I chuckled low.
"Totally wrecked it. Like a proper barbarian warrior."
"Heh... you good now?"
Kobson and Meria approached. I grinned at them.
"Yeah, all good."
If anything, I felt so refreshed I could've gathered the pulverized Skeleton Mage's dust into an urn and given it a proper burial.
"That was the proper use of righteous anger. Just keep that heartfelt sentiment close to your chest from now on."
Elise beamed strangely as she said it. Righteous anger—normally nonsense, but drunk on victory, I welcomed the words gladly.
"Then let's confirm it."
Elise ventured into the shadows and retrieved the Skeleton Mage's skull—the first thing I'd booted away in my fury.
"See? Look at this Skeleton Mage's skull. Recognize the symbol?"
"Huh?"
I hadn't noticed earlier, but the skull's forehead bore a familiar black emblem. Thinking it over, realization hit, and a yelp escaped me.
"Kobold idol!"
"Exactly. This proves some shady connection."
The first time with Elise, we'd smashed a Kobold idol. Those underground dwellers had crawled up top for some nonsense, and we'd found that exact symbol there.
Something smelled like an evil conspiracy.
"Anyway, my mission's done."
Elise stroked the skull. Her goal was investigation, so taking this as evidence should wrap it up.
"Wanna go deeper? My mission's over, but if you want to explore more, I'll follow."
"Hm..."
This was the fork in the road. The party pondered.
Options: three.
1. Chase the possible Necromancer underground.
2. Fuck the Necromancer, loot more cash first.
3. Head home whistling.
"Whaddya think, guys?"
Elise's vote was in—now Kobson and Meria.
"Hm... Skeleton Mage, huh. Sounds risky."
"Honestly, regular skeletons are no biggie, but..."
After unleashing that violence, I was in rare wise-man mode. My sharpened insight said: exactly option 2, no more, no less.
"Let's just grab more loot and bounce. Real talk, Necromancer's outta our league. I'm fucking scared. Go deeper, and instead of another Skeleton Mage, some uber-strong skeleton bullshit could pop out."
One thing was clear after seeing the [Skeleton Mage]. Facing it head-on taught me one truth.
Necromancers are dangerous.
Sure, raising skeletons? Mages can do parlor tricks like that. But creating ones that cast spells? That's next-level scale.
Bare bones casting magic? Makes you fear what freakish spells the summoner can pull off.
Spells that pierce shields or outpace my agility? Possible.
If so, that's bullshit difficulty.
No need to tangle with unconfirmed threats.
"Makes sense. I felt uneasy seeing that mage too."
"Can't shields block it though? Not that scary, right?"
Kobson nodded; Meria questioned. Her shield mastery bred confidence. Didn't wanna rain on her pride, but...
"What if it's a spell no shield can block?"
"Yeah... true."
Magic's tricky and mystical—shields might be useless. What if it shoots a wall-phasing beam? Straight death. Necromancer? Could be Death Beam or some shit.
"Oh, right, fuck. Before that, this staff."
I picked up the black-crystal-embedded staff the Skeleton Mage had wielded—forgot about it till now.
"That's..."
"Looks pricey."
"Right?"
The black crystal was cracked and dulled, but it had cast spells. Magic noob here, but if it worked, not totally busted.
Mage tools fetch high prices.
Reasons aside, even low-end gear costs a bundle. This black-crystal staff wouldn't be an exception.
Nah, Necromancer gear? Might be even pricier.
"Love it."
The party's eyes gleamed. Biggest haul of this dungeon run, hands down. Greed swelled. Then Meria gazed dreamily at the crystal, hooked.
"How 'bout we hunt a few more Skeleton Mages before we go? We know the enemy now—stay cautious. If they all carry staffs like this..."
Gulp.
Cold sweat. No one could resist that greedy temptation. Adventurers gonna adventure. We eyed each other, grinning like sleazy merchants. Kobson's face looked like a jar of desire—kinda endearing. Felt like drawing two cards.
"Heh heh heh."
"Heh... good idea."
"On second thought, better grab extra evidence. Heh heh."
Sure enough, fueled by greed, we topped off the lantern and plunged into the darkness.