Dungeon & Commander (148)
“What’s Park Hyun-woo drawing on the floor?”
“The Deplancio magic circle.”
Lee Uk-hwan, who couldn’t care less about some aspirants, revealed the truth without hesitation. No one was leaving this room alive anyway.
“What’s that?”
“Simply put, it drains life force. But the core embedded here isn’t enough.”
Lee Uk-hwan tapped his chest with his finger.
Kim Jun glared at him silently.
Was this really the man from The Indomitable Tanker, Lee Uk-hwan? Even if it was a fake, some part of the real Lee Uk-hwan had to remain in that wax doll’s head.
“You’ve truly become a monster.”
Lee Uk-hwan caught the implication. His face twisted, the smile vanishing.
Once, he’d boldly shouted, “Let’s become monsters!” as he raided dungeons with his comrades. The thrill of stepping into a world of power that made him feel inhuman was an immense rush.
One day, coming to his senses, Lee Uk-hwan realized he’d become a ridiculous spectacle in the Honor Hall.
I was the first tanker, Lee Uk-hwan… Now I’m just a wax doll. I was… human once, but now I’m nothing more than a display piece in the Honor Hall’s Final Room.
He wanted to vent his frustration, but he couldn’t deny that he himself had made this decision. The real Lee Uk-hwan, already dead… had provided hair and body parts before his death to create a wax doll that would come alive when infused with mana.
It was a small mercy that only a handful of memories remained. That kept him from going mad. Like a robot shutting down when unplugged, when the core’s mana ran out, Lee Uk-hwan and the other wax dolls lost consciousness and fell asleep.
As time passed, the stress inside him grew.
Of course, he had to hide it. If they found out, he wouldn’t even exist as a wax doll.
Secret conversations began among the dolls. They only awakened for awakening tests or special days, so sometimes they couldn’t exchange more than a few words for an entire year.
It took decades to reach a conclusion and formulate a plan.
Finally, today, they’d broken free of their chains. Completely escaped from the deep slumber that could strike at any moment.
But the insolent carrier’s words—“You’ve become a monster”—shattered his joy.
Lee Uk-hwan ground his teeth, glaring at Kim Jun.
“I’ll let you live, especially you. For today.”
He planned to teach the kid what it meant to be trapped in a wax doll, living an endless, uncertain existence.
Not through explanation, but experience.
He’d realize what those words meant much later. Lee Uk-hwan’s hand turned white, then his fingertips began to fade into transparency.
Kim Jun recognized it instantly.
Meyok-su!
It was the skill from Patroness Choi Min-su’s Pa-cheon-gong that she often used.
Lee Uk-hwan unleashed Pa-cheon-bo, closing the distance to Kim Jun in an instant.
Kim Jun retreated with Mokhonbo’s Tan step, but Lee Uk-hwan was too fast—the gap narrowed. Just as the transparent hand reached for his throat, Kim Jun’s body curved in an unnatural arc and fled. Mokhonbo’s Dang step.
“Oh ho.”
Lee Uk-hwan nodded, impressed by the carrier’s martial arts, then charged at the aspirants like an eagle swooping on chicks.
Thung!
The moment Meyok-su struck the barrier, Lee Taeseop staggered back, and Gong Yunju, who’d been supplying mana with her help spell, nearly collapsed.
“Not bad. For aspirants, that is.”
Lee Uk-hwan sensed footsteps approaching from behind and sidestepped slightly.
Kim Jun’s elbow grazed his temple. His hand was burned from the Po-noe strike, too painful to clench into a fist, but his elbow was fine.
“Slow.”
Lee Uk-hwan left an afterimage as he burrowed into Kim Jun’s guard.
Thud.
Lee Uk-hwan’s elbow slammed into Kim Jun’s solar plexus.
Kim Jun flew back, rolling across the floor until he hit the wall. He lay still.
“Get up. I know you twisted at the last second to avoid the vital point.”
Kim Jun raised his head with a groan and pushed himself up. He’d hoped to lure complacency, but this wax doll was as coldly analytical as the Lee Uk-hwan from the legends.
How do I take down that monster?
He had to clash first. Only then could he grasp its weaknesses.
Kim Jun unleashed Mokhonbo’s Po step.
* * *
The Deplancio magic circle was complete.
Sweat poured like rain. Park Hyun-woo burst into laughter. A wax doll sweating—what a sight.
He glanced at the clock.
8:37.
Drawing the circle had taken longer than expected. Three minutes over. Unsatisfactory. The real Park Hyun-woo could’ve done it one-handed, in seconds.
Just hold on a bit longer. Soon I’ll reclaim not just mana, but all my memories.
Standing, he saw the terror-stricken aspirants.
That expression… it was delicious. Enough to erase the faces of all those who’d paid to gawk at him in the Honor Hall, chattering away.
Soon, Deplancio would drain the life force from those shells.
Park Hyun-woo turned and frowned.
What the hell is she doing?
Buffer Sim Jin-hwa was locked in a fierce fight with one aspirant.
He’d inwardly cursed her at first, but realizing the aspirant used Phantom Walk changed his mind. At 5% of her prime, she had no choice but to struggle.
Should I help? Nah, with her pride, she’d just smash me from behind if I did.
Park Hyun-woo checked on his eternal rival and nemesis, Lee Uk-hwan.
He could end it in 30 seconds but was toying around. Annoying, but the guy had always preferred fighting over eating—he’d been standing idle too long, so it wasn’t incomprehensible.
“Do it properly, both of you!”
Turning away, Park Hyun-woo assessed the aspirant’s abilities and mana nature, then repositioned them. To let Deplancio drain their life force as quickly and evenly as possible.
“I’m joining Jushin.”
One aspirant spoke up.
“So?”
“You… you made Jushin, teacher.”
“Want me to spare you?”
The aspirant just nodded.
“Got it. Stay right there, and you won’t die. Might feel drained, though. This is our little secret, yeah?”
“Yes, Grandmaster.”
Terror vanished in an instant, replaced by relief that lit up his face.
Park Hyun-woo sneered inwardly at the fool. That spot was the most agonizing for life force extraction.
He checked the clock again. Couldn’t drag this out. Absorb the life force fast and get out.
“Shall we begin?”
Park Hyun-woo stepped outside the circle and extended both hands.
Swift mana condensation and precise arrangement followed. The magic circle vibrated, emitting light.
* * *
Sim Jin-hwa groaned as Sa Yeonggyo lightly dodged her Dark Cloud skill and charged.
Damn… That one’s no ordinary aspirant. Plenty of real combat experience too. If this drags on, I’ll be humiliated in front of Park Hyun-woo and Lee Uk-hwan.
The trickiest part was Phantom Walk.
Her signature bogging the floor with Bogsite, turning it to ice with Glatien, or filling it with sticky Rentem—all useless against footwork that floated on mana, moving freely.
Dragging it out was disadvantageous. The core in her chest was too small; mana could cut off anytime.
End it in one go.
Scator should work. To scatter Phantom Walk’s precise mana arrangement, it’ll take time, though.
Sim Jin-hwa began gathering mana. Scator needed time to activate.
“You’re Sa Gyeongbaek’s granddaughter, right?”
Sa Yeonggyo pulled back distance, blocking with her metal whip as she eyed her opponent. To gauge the intent behind the question.
“Yes.”
“Time flies. That brat Sa Gyeongbaek became the Dungeon Association bigshot. And now his granddaughter’s here for the awakening test. You’re pretty. Attractive, too. Most impressive is your talent—like a sparkling raw gem. I’ll give you a special chance. Follow me, and you’ll master the skills of the three greatest raiders. You’re already amazing, but you could transcend limits and become legendary. You get the value of this offer, right?”
Sim Jin-hwa didn’t expect the aspirant to accept.
Her fighting style screamed stubborn mule.
Charging solo without a team said it all.
“Hey, I was being polite with the formal speech out of respect, but you’re getting cocky. You think you’re Sim Jin-hwa? You’re just a fake made from a few strands of hair!”
“What?”
Strength flared in Sim Jin-hwa’s eyes.
Emotions shook, mana surged wildly. On the verge of overload, the veteran buffer realized the cheeky kid’s ploy.
Not bad. Provoking me to disrupt. No way she’s just an aspirant. Time to get serious.
* * *
Crack.
Lee Uk-hwan grabbed his wrist and snapped it—Kim Jun’s left arm broke.
As Lee Uk-hwan approached and nudged his chest with a shoulder, Kim Jun flew back, spinning twice in midair before slamming into the wall. A portrait of a bald man crashed down with him.
A painful mistake. Losing his left arm!
No, not a mistake. Lee Uk-hwan was far stronger than expected, and he’d stepped up aggressively for his makeshift team—only to get caught.
Only his right arm left.
Kim Jun staggered to his feet and saw the fallen aspirants: Lee Taeseop, Kang Hyeonseong, Gong Yunju. They’d fought desperately, but helpless against Lee Uk-hwan’s might.
Lee Uk-hwan approached.
Kim Jun clenched his right fist through the pain, envisioning butterflies in his mind. Cheonroe Heart Technique surged, gathering in his hand. Sparks crackled as glowing butterflies formed between his fingers.
“…Ugh.”
Pain shook his hand.
The butterflies vanished; Po-noe failed.
Lee Uk-hwan walked closer. Less than three meters away.
Then Park Hyun-woo shouted.
“Lee Uk-hwan! Quake! Hurry!”
Lee Uk-hwan frowned down at Kim Jun and whispered.
“Wait just a bit. I’ll finish you off spectacularly.”
Lee Uk-hwan moved to help stabilize the raging magic circle.
Kim Jun exhaled deeply and walked to the aspirants. Looking up, he saw Sa Yeonggyo battling fiercely. Against Sim Jin-hwa’s relatively weak offense, Sa Yeonggyo pushed beyond her limits.
She’ll hold out for a while.
Kim Jun sat beside the aspirants. Their ragged breaths formed a strange melody.
“You okay?”
They just nodded, no words.
“W-what… n-now?”
Gong Yunju’s face was ghostly pale with fear.
“I don’t wanna die like this.”
Kang Hyeonseong trembled too. Kim Jun looked at Lee Taeseop, who fumbled a photo from his wallet and handed it over.
“My girlfriend.”
Kim Jun chuckled at the sight.
Gong Yunju and Kang Hyeonseong gawked; Kim Jun showed them the photo.
“Says it’s his girlfriend.”
“…What? That’s Viola.”
Gong Yunju instantly recognized Viola from the idol group Seven Bridge—innocent face, killer body, exploding in popularity lately.
“She’ll be mine soon.”
Lee Taeseop said it straight-faced, then kissed the photo. The gesture briefly pulled Gong Yunju and Kang Hyeonseong from their fear.
Lee Taeseop stared at Kim Jun.
“What now, team leader?”
The “team leader” title startled Gong Yunju, Kang Hyeonseong—and even Kim Jun.
Wiped away his comrades’ fear with one photo. Then flipped the mood instantly. No ordinary guy.
Kim Jun met his gaze.
“Two options. One’s aggressive but a gamble. The other’s safer but passive, with low survival odds. I was torn, but let’s do both.”
“First one first, team leader.”
Lee Taeseop used it again.
“Simple. I’ll kill Lee Uk-hwan. If I fail, I die.”
“……”
Lee Taeseop’s eyes widened slightly, like searching for the punchline.
“Plan B’s on you guys.”
Kim Jun detailed Plan B. Lee Taeseop and Gong Yunju nodded. Kang Hyeonseong, realizing he was key, bit his lip.
Kim Jun placed a hand on Kang Hyeonseong’s shoulder.
“You can do it. Your Icicle Bolt may lack power, but the precision’s top-notch.”
“How’d you—?”
“I saw.”
Kim Jun felt the vibrations through the floor lessen. He’d pinpointed the quake phenomenon’s cause—issues with magic circle activation. Lee Uk-hwan was coming back.
Grinding his teeth, Kim Jun stood. There was Lee Uk-hwan, grinning as he approached.
“How’ll you kill him, team leader?”
Lee Taeseop again.
“With everything I’ve got.”
Kim Jun walked toward Lee Uk-hwan.