'So I Really Was Dead.'
Palas Laporte woke from sleep with a bittersweet smile. When he'd had his head torn off by a monster in his previous dungeon, he was already no longer of this world. Yet at that very moment, he'd been pulled into the Hidden Space.
He'd arrived with a body full of wounds, but one that refused to die. At first, he'd thought it was sheer luck that he'd survived. But as time passed, he'd come to realize his true state on his own—no one had to tell him. It was as natural as a baby seeking its mother's breast or summer following spring.
Up until falling asleep the night before, he'd desperately denied it to himself. It can't be, no way. But now, he could no longer. He could sense his ephemeral body on the verge of shedding its soul, like a mayfly's final day.
After sorting his thoughts inside the house for a moment, Palas slowly rose to his feet.
"Hoo."
Even if he had to go, he wanted to thank Han Ji-woo for granting him this experience. He had no idea why he'd been allowed to come here and live one more day when he should have died yesterday. What mattered was that Han Ji-woo had transformed what should have been a nightmare-filled end to his life into one laced with happy memories.
That was enough. Since he'd be leaving soon anyway, he had no desire to nitpick how he'd gotten here or why he'd been summoned. In fact, Han Ji-woo himself seemed unable to explain the situation in detail.
As Palas stepped outside, all eyes—Han Ji-woo's and his pets'—turned to him.
"Sleep well?"
"Quite soundly, haha."
Han Ji-woo's expression was a complicated mix. ...He knows. That I'm leaving soon.
Now fully aware that his time was truly up, Palas spoke quickly.
"Han Ji-woo. Thank you. Thanks to you letting me spend this peaceful time here, I've finally been able to accept it."
"...Pardon?"
"The fact that I was already dead before coming here."
In that instant, Palas was overcome by an ecstasy beyond anything he'd felt in life. The moment his soul slipped free from his body, granting him true freedom. He desperately wished to leave a gift for Han Ji-woo, who had made this possible.
Meanwhile, Han Ji-woo stared blankly at the spot where Palas had vanished, then shifted his gaze to the message floating in the air.
Palas's satisfaction has reached 10.
The first visitor to the Hidden Space's satisfaction has reached its maximum.
Achievement: 'Refuge for Weary Souls' unlocked.
Reward: Acquired Palas's skill 'Piano Sword'.
I acquired Palas's skill? A new skill info window unfolded before the astonished Han Ji-woo.
Piano Sword - Beginner
A technique that drastically alters swordsmanship based on piano dynamics, leaving opponents unable to predict or counter the next attack. Currently usable dynamics: 'Piano', 'Forte', 'Staccato'.
Consumes 5 MP per second when used.
"Whoa."
He hadn't tried it yet, so he couldn't grasp exactly what kind of swordsmanship it was, but it felt insanely powerful. Plus, Han Ji-woo already had the intermediate swordsmanship skill from Sword Emperor Luden Barfogia. Combining the two could create some serious synergy and boost his combat power massively.
"Should I give it a shot?"
Just as he was about to activate Piano Sword, another string of messages scrolled up.
Cumulative satisfaction has reached 10!
Reward: Constellation System unlocked.
"...Constellation System?"
Among the heroes who participated in the survival game in Palas's dimension and died, you can register the soul of the strongest as a constellation.
The registered constellation soul will become the patron of one of the heroes fighting in the dungeon, passing on their skills.
Register 'Blansia Dubernel', owner of the '4th Circle Fire Magic' skill, as a constellation?
"Whoa!"
After reading the explanation of the Constellation System, Han Ji-woo clenched his fist and shouted. When cumulative satisfaction from visitors to the Hidden Space hit 10, something amazing would happen—just as promised!
But before the joy could fully settle, a sudden question arose.
"What the heck is up with Chunsik's Dimensional Gate? Why's it bringing dead people from other dimensions instead of the living, and rewarding us for soothing their souls? I'm dying to know."
Sometimes these questions got answers, sometimes not—it was totally up to the system's whims. Fortunately, a response came today.
Souls freed from their bodies hold great power. Ever heard that imagination becomes reality? For souls, that's no miracle—it's natural. When they unite in wishing for the same thing, reality bends toward it.
The souls who died in the dungeon desperately wish for someone to clear it. But the Creator cancels out that energy. In the Hidden Space, however, it isn't canceled.
After receiving your gracious hospitality here, those souls want to help you. What do you desire, Han Ji-woo? The energy left by ascending soul visitors will aid in making it happen.
What Han Ji-woo desired: clearing this dungeon. In the end, the souls who found the Hidden Space, rested peacefully, and ascended prayed for that wish to come true. That energy activated the Constellation System as it was now—a huge boon for dungeon clearing.
The lengthy explanation ended, and the system message asked again.
Register 'Blansia Dubernel', owner of the '4th Circle Fire Magic' skill, as a constellation?
"Of course I'm registering her as a constellation!"
Blansia Dubernel descends as the 1,983rd dungeon's constellation. She will become the patron of one of the surviving 27th heroes.
However, if the chosen hero dies, she cannot become another hero's patron.
After all heroes die and the 28th wave enters, she can become another hero's patron.
In short, Blansia, now a dungeon constellation, would linger there as someone's patron—but only one per wave.
Subsequent events are up to the heroes. Han Ji-woo cannot interfere between constellations and heroes.
"I wouldn't interfere anyway."
They'd handle it themselves just fine.
"A Constellation System, though. Never saw that coming."
His gaze naturally drifted to Chunsik. Who would've thought the pup's modified Dimensional Gate skill would work like this?
Cumulative satisfaction cap increased to 30.
Cumulative Satisfaction: 10/30 points
At 30 cumulative satisfaction points, you can descend another constellation to the dungeon.
"This is insane!"
Han Ji-woo thrust his clenched fist skyward. In his mind, fanfare blared—rock 'n' roll and heavy metal crashed together, transitioning to hymns and sutras before settling on a wedding march. He was so thrilled he felt like he might lose his mind.
He checked the activation status of the Dimensional Gate at the Logaku house.
Dimensional Gate activation: 10.0/100%
10% per day. That meant a full ten days to reactivate after each use.
To hit 30 cumulative satisfaction, he'd need at least two more visitors.
Twenty days.
Pondering if he could shorten that, Han Ji-woo tried using Growth Acceleration on the gate, just in case. It triggered the fanfare-to-wedding-march sound effect three times in his head.
Dimensional Gate activation: 20.0/100%
Activation time halved. Nice.
The massive boss monster, Chaos Bat, lunged at Lisa, whose legs had given out from the ultrasound attack. Then a message appeared.
Constellation System unlocked thanks to Han Ji-woo.
Some stared at the message in shock. Others stamped their feet in worry for Lisa. And some moved to save her. The fastest was Yui.
"Josh!"
As she raced toward Lisa, Josh used his skill on the Chaos Bat.
Fast and Slow!
His skill slowed the Chaos Bat, but it wasn't enough time for Yui to reach Lisa.
Just a bit more!
As Yui closed in on Lisa, the bat's flesh grazed her wildly whipping hair. In that moment, razor-sharp winds seemed to erupt from her sides.
Boom!
The Onelli twins shot their legs up high, slamming into the Chaos Bat's abdomen. It bought a little more time, but the cost was...
Crack! Crack!
"Ugh!"
"Ow!"
Two broken legs.
Meanwhile, Yui scooped Lisa into her arms—but it was too late.
Damn it.
If she'd had just a blink more time, she could've saved Lisa safely. Now, not only her, but the twins too would bid farewell to the living world.
But she couldn't die like this. She had to return to Earth, no matter what.
Grit!
Her obsession with life twisted into rage at the hopeless situation. Then, red blood—or wait, hair—poured from between the black body of the approaching Chaos Bat.
It was Red's hair.
One Shot!
In the group's dire moment, Red leaped in—not at the Chaos Bat, but at the ground.
Kaboom!
The earth cratered, unleashing a massive shockwave. Lisa, the twins, and even Red himself were flung in all directions.
Thud!
The Chaos Bat's body then crushed the spot where the heroes had clustered moments before.
The survivors who escaped by a hair's breadth gasped for breath. As Priest Dennis hurriedly healed the twins with holy magic, Yui checked Lisa in her arms. Knocked out by the One Shot shockwave, but no major injuries. Red dusted himself off and stood.
Crisis averted—for now. The real problem was what came next. No clue how to take down that monstrous bat bastard.
Flap. Flap.
As the Chaos Bat beat its wings to rise again and unleash ultrasound...
Constellation System unlocked thanks to Han Ji-woo.
After the message, Mitchell froze like a statue. Inside him, a storm raged.
Upon entering the 20th underground floor and engaging the boss, Mitchell cursed his own weakness. He'd long known his limits were fixed. His Fireball skill seemed strong at first glance, but its destructive power shone only early on. Against ever-stronger monsters, it grew relatively weaker.
Thanks to steady practice and skill enhancement scrolls, he kept up—but barely. Deeper floors would surely eclipse this simple skill.
He'd confessed these tangled thoughts to Seol Ara on the 19th floor. Her response was simple and clear.
"My luck will guide us to resolve your worries."
Back then, it felt like empty comfort. But now...
I died in another dimension's dungeon and wandered without ascending. A strange force drew me here as a constellation. You, who wield fire's power, have caught my interest. Will you choose me as your patron? Do so, and inherit my power.
Blansia Dubernel's skill is '4th Circle Fire Magic'.
4th Circle Fire Magic
Chant spell names to cast 4th circle or lower fire magic. Circles can be strengthened through effort.
"...!"
Seol Ara's comfort had become reality.
Even in his shock, Mitchell posed a rational question to Blansia.
This isn't your world. Why help us?
Experience death, and you'll understand. Dimensions may divide us, but it's not separate universes—that's the folly of the flesh-bound. Freed from the body, all is one. This place is my world too.
Mitchell's head nodded slowly.
I accept you as my patron.
Your name?
Mitchell Hoff.
I recognize Mitchell Hoff as my incarnation and pass on my strongest power from life.
Acquired '4th Circle Fire Magic' skill!
The moment he gained the skill, eleven fire spells etched themselves into Mitchell's mind.
Screeeeech!
As Mitchell absorbed the instantaneous changes, the Chaos Bat fired its ultrasound. His gaze, now devoid of fear, locked on.
Mitchell extended one hand toward the bat and chanted.
"Inferno."
His low, steady baritone voice flowed quietly.
Whoosh!
From his fingertips erupted a pillar of hellfire like a dragon's breath. The flames crossed the space in an instant, engulfing the Chaos Bat whole.
Scree! Screeeee!
The beast, unmoved by any prior attack, cut off its ultrasound mid-scream, writhing in agony.
But only briefly.
Roar!
Thud!
Blazing from head to toe, the Chaos Bat plummeted, shuddered once, and slumped lifelessly.