Doppelganger War in the Dungeon Prison
118: Hell had unfolded in the Dungeon Prison. The monster legions, split into two opposing factions, bared their teeth and charged at each other.
Pao had been expecting another peaceful day like always, only to plunge into panic at the sudden sight of the complete opposite.
In contrast, the chubby one didn't seem to sense the gravity of the crisis yet.
Kraaaang!
Kweeek!
Kaaaawk!
Roars and screams from monsters mingled chaotically from all directions. Grounded beasts without wings clashed in brutal melee on the earth below, while flying monsters waged fierce aerial battles above.
Two identical-looking monster groups, perfectly halved, collided ferociously. Blood and flesh splattered everywhere, shattered bone fragments rolled across the ground, and bursts of elemental magic occasionally slammed into the hordes.
Gulp!
Pao, face drained white as he swallowed dryly, quickly ducked behind a tree.
Grurrk?
"You too, hide!"
He dragged the oblivious chubby one along and hid together.
No doubt about it—getting caught in that war meant certain death!
So what was the best move right now? Use the Prison Key skill to return to the Hidden Space.
But our Pao...
"They're all gonna die like this! Dangerous! Urghhh!"
As expected, such a solution hadn't even crossed his mind.
Then, a saving voice rang out.
"Pao! Chubby! Kweeeeeek!"
Pao whipped his head around in surprise, spotting a welcome face charging toward them.
It was the orc chieftain, Turkan.
"Turkan!"
Grurrk!
Clutching swords in both hands, his body splattered in blood—he'd clearly been caught in the fray too.
As the chubby one tried to hug Turkan, now right up close...
"...No!"
Pao, sensing something off, grabbed the chubby one and rolled aside.
Shing!
The sword in Turkan's hand stabbed right where the chubby one had stood moments ago.
The fake Turkan shot Pao a sharp glare.
"Not bad. Good instincts. Kweeeeeek!"
Pao bared his white teeth, leaped up, and drew his King Horn Steel Sword.
"Smell different! Turkan smell! Way stinkier!"
"Your face is uglier. Kweeeeeek!"
"You no Turkan!"
The orc, who'd seemed like Turkan, swung his sword without another word.
Pao had grown stronger and wielded decent gear, but his overall stats were still far below Turkan's. If they clashed, Pao's head would roll before a few exchanges!
But Pao wasn't alone here.
Crunch!
"...!"
The fake Turkan's neck suddenly tore clean off, and he crumpled in a furry heap.
Ptoo!
Pao's startled eyes caught the chubby one spitting out the fake's head.
No, this wasn't the chubby one anymore—it was Seibier, the sleek, massive dragon.
Having released Polymorph, he'd returned to his true form.
Squish!
Seibier's huge claw stomped the fake's body into pulp.
Grrruk—
Addressing Pao, he jerked his sharp gaze toward his own back.
Pao nodded and hopped on.
Expecting takeoff, Pao was surprised as Seibier dashed forward instead, then spread his wings for a razor-low skim over the ground.
The forest was thick with trees, but they snapped or shattered on wing contact, no match for Seibier's acrobatic flight.
Like the wind, Seibier arrived at the orc village outskirts.
Thankfully, the war's chaos hadn't reached here yet.
But the orcs weren't just twiddling thumbs.
"Keep hauling war supplies! Kweek! Food, resupply! Nonstop! No stopping, kweeeeeek!"
Under Turkan's command, orcs bustled, dragging carts loaded with war materials and food.
Sniff sniff!
Pao, wrinkling his nose from afar, nodded.
"Real Turkan!"
Seibier flapped once, and they were already before Turkan.
Turkan startled at the sudden aerial arrival but was glad to see them—though the timing sucked.
He shouted without showing it.
"Go back! War! Dangerous! Kweeeek!"
"What happened?"
Pao asked, hopping off Seibier's back.
"Monsters! Appeared sudden. Look just like us! Kweeeeeek!"
"Where from?"
"Don't know! Their boss! Ogre King! Kweeeeeeek!"
Ogre King.
The strongest monster in the Dungeon Prison—and a friend of Han Ji-woo's.
Pao tilted his head.
"Master said. Ogre King stop monsters fighting each other!"
True enough. Ogre King had enforced peace among Dungeon Prison monsters.
Especially with farming introduced by Han Ji-woo, they'd followed his rules even stricter.
Yet now Ogre King led mystery monsters into war? No clue what was going on.
Turkan had no real intel either, just repeating to leave fast.
Pao considered returning to Hidden Space...
"...Pao. Fight together!"
Instead, he gripped his King Horn Steel Sword tight and yelled bravely.
"Pao, you...! Kweeeeeek!"
It was life-risking. But Turkan was touched Pao stepped up to help.
"If stay like this, ruined! Rice paddies I made!"
"Pao... you. Kweek."
Turns out, he couldn't bear his handiwork—the paddies he'd taught and toiled over—being destroyed.
Motives aside, extra firepower was welcome.
And with...
Grrrrrrr.
...Seibier joining, it was perfect.
"Thanks. Kweeeeeek!"
As Turkan expressed gratitude, a griffin dove from above, landing before the group.
It was the griffin leader, Sasuri.
"So it was you guys."
Sasuri eyed Pao and Seibier, voice laced with agitation.
"You're the calamity of this war. Get out now!"
Fill the low demons of Dirke Village to full satiety and fertilize 100 pyeong of land.
"Oh."
A mission window popped up before Han Ji-woo, who was making more meat patties to eat.
Looking around, all 30 low demons had gathered, satiety gauges above their heads like last time.
'Guess they all bunched up and triggered the mission.'
Then it was only right to clear it quick.
But first!
"You guys too... well, you're not people, but anyway, eating off the ground ain't right. What's that make you? No different from beasts. Live like demons!"
As he spoke, he opened the creation window and whipped up ten 4-person wooden tables and 40 chairs.
Purely utilitarian—no style whatsoever. Designs screaming, "I'm a wooden table!" and "I'm a wooden chair!"
"All sit there!"
Having visited the Demon Realm once, Han Ji-woo knew how to handle low demons: firm commands worked best.
Sure enough, they plopped onto the chairs at his sharp tone.
Satisfied, Han Ji-woo eyed Azid and Astaroth.
"You two eat at the table from now on too."
"Hassle."
"When'd you get so casual, human?"
The demon duo acted defiant.
But after short time with them, Han Ji-woo knew their buttons.
"Fine, no tasty food then. I'm out?"
Instantly, they zipped to empty seats at blurring speed.
"...If only self-sufficiency wasn't the goal."
"His Highness wants to sit? Can't have his follower stand out. That's why."
"What? Since when does this parasite follow me?"
Chuckling at their antics, Han Ji-woo prepped food for the low demons.
"No need for variety."
More meat patties, over 30 servings, portioned onto their plates.
No utensils though—enough silverware wasn't around, and this taught manners decently.
Don't cram too much at once; even a thousand-mile journey starts with one step.
The low demons devoured the fresh patties like possessed, satiety bars climbing fast.
Astaroth eyed them hungrily, swallowing.
Seizing Han Ji-woo's glance away, she reached out.
Smack!
Azid snatched her wrist.
Shook his head.
His eyes said, "Don't steal from low demons." A strand of meat dangled from his lips.
"..."
Self-proclaimed Demon Realm's top nutcase—such hypocrisy.
Made you wonder if he cared for low demons or not.
'Not eating them means he does.'
That was key.
Reason for self-sufficient Demon Realm: not just pity for low demons as higher demon food.
"Hmph."
Astaroth snorted, sulkily withdrawing.
"Hey, one more patty. Pretend you didn't see."
"I hear everything, Azid."
"Damn. Human's got sharp ears."
Problem: he always showed this doofy side.
While low demons ate, Han Ji-woo called Toryong.
"Toryong. Your time to shine."
Popping from underground, Toryong scanned around.
"Me?"
"Anyone else here named Toryong?"
"No matter how I think, nothing for me in Demon Realm, right?"
"There is. Super important."
"Oh ho! Secret revealed. So I'm the star of this Demon Realm trip!"
Hyping Toryong, Han Ji-woo played along.
"Yep, yep! You're the hero."
"That's why you dragged me~? Something only I can do! Stuff you can't touch!"
"Yup~! Can't lay a finger on it."
Toryong's mouth curled smugly. He stretched up two heads taller than Han Ji-woo from the soil.
Loomed down.
"Then copy me~ 'Almighty Toryong~! Grant this lowly human's wish~!' Yo ho ho ho!"
Whack!
"Kyaaak!"
"Ow! Sorry, Toryong. Fist slipped. You okay?"
"Better wrap quick and go~ Yo ho ho."
"Aigoo, got a bump. Fine, fine. Let's finish fast. Time for our Toryong to ste—?!"
Han Ji-woo vanished mid-sentence.
Startled Toryong looked up.
Han Ji-woo dangled in an unknown demon's grip, flailing midair.
Toryong watched calmly, voice low and uncharacteristic.
"Master didn't bring me just for this."
Instantly.
Toryong Art: True Body Descent!
Kwaaaaa!
Toryong soared skyward like an ascending dragon.
His body armored in hard scales; in a blink, his face near Han Ji-woo resembled a hornless dragon.
"You...!"
Han Ji-woo, mid-kidnap by the mystery demon, gaped at the transformation.
"Now's my time~!"
Dragon-formed Toryong chomped the demon's wings.