15. Death Sorcerer's Dungeon
Time has passed—I thought the humans of this era had all become utterly weak...
A metallic clang echoed through the air, unleashing a foul miasma. Thick and murky like acrid smoke, the deep violet haze naturally stirred a profound dread. I couldn't help but shrink back at the chilling voice slithering from its mouth.
—Not a bad test subject after all.
A Death Sorcerer. A lich versed in evil spirit sorcery. Dina had told me that while they called it evil spirit sorcery, it wasn't the crude version used by lesser evil spirit sorcerers—it was far more advanced and devastating death sorcery.
Death Sorcerers hailed from the era when Dina felled the Demon King. Out of the thirty-odd archmages of that time, more than half—seventeen in total—had bent the knee to the Demon King, pledging their loyalty. In return, they gained lich immortality and one of the Demon King's alchemical arts: death sorcery.
They became his vanguard, wielding death sorcery to threaten humanity most zealously, humanity's ultimate betrayers in their bid for extermination.
I'd half-expected this. After hearing Dina's tales of evil spirit sorcerers and their Death Sorcerer leader, it was a safe bet this dungeon would spawn one.
One thing puzzled me, though. Every party that entered saw the dungeon's theme and monsters shift dramatically. What the hell was that about?
The answer came from the Death Sorcerer's next words. It eyed Ju Cheong-ah, Bella, and Dina—tension etched on their faces—with a lecherous grin.
—Keh heh heh. You're nothing like those fools who fell for a mere illusion spell.
I like that.
The guild adventurers' confusion? Just a simple illusion. Fair enough for bronze-rankers—little more than apprentices, really. Silver-rankers were harder to fool, but plausible. Teaming with Cheong-ah had sharpened my eye for the strong. Constant exposure to elite fights had honed my perception to a decent level.
If Dina's intel on Death Sorcerers held true—at least platinum-tier, likely beyond—silver-rankers would buy an illusion as basic fantasy magic.
Gold-rankers, though? Different story. No excuses there. Gold-rankers weren't chumps. Sure, they paled next to platinum elites—like comparing eggs to boulders—but they weren't rank amateurs either. Superhuman thresholds touched, if only at the fingertips. A truckload of me wouldn't match one.
Yet they'd been played like fiddles by basic illusion magic... I shrank inwardly.
"What bullshit, you psycho. Who the fuck you calling a test subject?"
"Right? A mere sorcerer acting all high and mighty..."
"Typical archmage stock. Holed up with books, no damn common sense."
Unlike me, they struck relaxed poses, firing back casually.
...Right. With them here, no need to cower. I'd notched some wins lately with my crossbow and a peer-rank promotion, but I was still weak. My job? One thing: stay sane and endure while Cheong-ah and Bella fought.
The Death Sorcerer scoffed in disbelief.
—Hah. Frogs in a well, blind to the sky. Pathetic, with that level of skill...
Tak—
It tapped the staff's base on the ground. In an instant, dozens of violet magic circles bloomed behind it.
Woooong—!
—Strutting like you're the pinnacle...!
Pzzt-zzzt!
Dozens of lightning bolts lanced from the circles, splitting toward Cheong-ah, Bella, Dina—and me behind them.
"Fuck...! I'll block the ones heading for Ian—go! You're faster!"
"Got it, Bella!"
Bella raised her sword to shield. Cheong-ah and Dina leaped aside effortlessly.
"This body leads the charge. Hit true, grump!"
"Right behind you!"
Dina surged forward. Cheong-ah followed, sword flashing.
—Futile!
The Death Sorcerer swung its staff. Violet mana barriers—dozens—sprang up before it.
Dina's fists hammered them in a blur.
"Hmph, you think this stops this body?!"
Kraaang!
The barriers shattered like thin glass with one punch.
Meanwhile, the unflappable sorcerer chanted.
—, ——, ————, ——————!!
Incomprehensible syllables chained together. A massive magic circle formed beneath its feet. Lightning crackled before the staff's giant crystal orb.
The final barrier crumbled.
The spell completed, aimed precisely.
—Death descend...!
The staff pointed at Dina, fist extended mid-strike. Death-charged mana erupted.
Dangerous. No dodge from her position. No buff from me. Could be fatal.
Cheong-ah, mid-swing, reacted—scooping Dina and spinning away.
"Danger, Dina!"
The spell slammed Cheong-ah's back instead. But she'd be fine. My buff protected her. If I endured the pain...
Woooong!
Kraaang...!
Like the sorcerer's barrier shattering, glass cracked behind Cheong-ah. She screamed in agony.
"Kyaaaahhh...!!"
"G-Grump?!!"
Cheong-ah rolled across the floor, cradling Dina. I felt the vicious pain hit me too.
"Grrraaah...!!"
"Ian...!"
My eyes flashed. I bit my lip hard against the torment—blood trickled, dripping to the floor.
Bella rushed over, stunned. I waved her off.
"I'm fine—focus on it!"
"How the hell am I supposed to ignore that?!"
"Block the bastard first!"
"Ugh... fine!"
Bella charged, greatsword arcing from the momentum. The sorcerer halted its next cast.
"You fucking dog!"
KABOOOM—!!
Her blade pulverized the barriers in one go.
—Grah, you brute bitch...!
"Who you calling brute, motherfucker...!"
Fair gripe for Bella. She knew the most in our party. She could play cultured if she wanted—princess for a reason. Just impulsive.
Leaving Bella to clash, I turned. Priority: Cheong-ah and Dina. Dina should be fine—shielded. Cheong-ah was the issue.
"Grump, snap out of it! You okay?!"
"Ahk, ha. Fine. This pain's familiar. Your buff kept it from being too bad. Just startled..."
That shattering sound? One of my buffs on Cheong-ah—her protective barrier—had broken.
"Why shield this body? My mistake... why suffer for it?"
"We're comrades, right?"
"Grump..."
"Hee hee... Call me by name? Or sis works."
"...This body is older."
With Bella holding the line, I gritted through the throbbing agony and rushed to them.
"Cheong-ah...! You okay?!"
Cheong-ah's eyes wavered at the blood on my lips.
"D-Darling... ugh. Sorry. Must hurt bad. Should've dodged..."
"My fault, Yeonja. This body's carelessness let Grump shield me!"
"I'm good. Cheong-ah, hold still."
"Huh?"
"...Buff's gone."
"Oh... really?"
"Yeah. Recasting."
Woooong...!
Sensation tingled in my fingertips.
"No need, darling—it's broken anyway. I'll dodge better... Mmph!?"
Strange feeling in my core. I kissed her. Mid-battle absurdity, but necessary. Reactivated her barrier, pulled back.
Cheong-ah looked wistful, thumbing blood from my lip.
"...Sorry, darling."
"I'm fine. Don't refuse. Your pain hurts me worse."
Injuries transfer to me. I couldn't bear seeing a hair harmed on Cheong-ah or Bella.
And...
"Dina."
I turned. She'd blankly watched our kiss.
"S-Sorry. This old body got nosy... Off to aid the beast."
I grabbed her slender wrist as she rose, pulling her close.
"Y-Yeonja?!"
"You too."
Stay safe. Willing that, I reactivated my power. Embraced the tiny girl. Power flowed as desired.
Dinaria el Rasad
And in that instant, my vision flashed. A translucent blue window appeared.
Blessing of Immortality
Absorb?
I nodded.