6. Dungeon Agales
The old man's two eyes, grinning atop the crocodile, locked precisely onto me. Our gazes met naturally. Chilling eyes of pure deep purple—no whites, just an all-encompassing violet that sent shivers down my spine. The instant they met mine, a blue light flooded my vision.
A system window scrolled text right in front of my eyes.
You have encountered a demon for the first time.
Before I could even finish reading, excruciating pain stabbed my right eye—like an awl piercing the eyeball and gouging it out.
Upgrading Conductor's Eye ability.
- Unlocking special ability due to first demon encounter.
Thankfully, what I'd shared with Cheong-ah was my left-eye vision, so she wasn't affected.
“Grruuuh…!”
The agony forced me to clutch my eye and crumple to the floor.
“Darling?”
“What the hell, Ian?! What's wrong?!”
Tears of blood streamed from ruptured vessels.
Then the system window signaled completion in my reddened vision.
Conductor's Eye upgrade finished.
‘Conductor's Eye - Demon Capture’
• Can confirm demon's name.
• Can identify demon's weaknesses.
• Become the demon's primary target.
The moment I confirmed it, my eyes cleared as if the blood tears and pain had never happened.
Staggering to my feet, I found Bella and Cheong-ah right beside me, faces etched with worry.
“Are you alright?”
“What happened? Out of nowhere like that.”
“I'm fine. Sorry for worrying you.”
I reassured them and looked ahead. If the system was right, that crocodile, the old man's upper body on it, and the hawk were all the demon.
Our eyes met again. Those creepy purple eyes. A blue window popped up in my vision. The text was concise.
First, the demon's name.
• Impact
• Magic: Fire
• Holy Magic
• Curse Immunity
• Magic: Water Immunity
• Instant Death Immunity
• Slash Resistance
What the hell is this? More cryptic bullshit stirring up questions. Not that I couldn't grasp it at all. The stuff under Weaknesses like fire, holy, and impact meant vulnerabilities there. Under Strengths, immunities or resistances to those. My eyes throbbed harder, making me wince.
Then the old man's face, locked in our stare-down, twisted viciously.
-Krghhh…
A faint breath escaped its maw. The crocodile's eyes snapped open, gleaming.
Come to think of it, what was at the end? Racking my brain, one line surfaced.
‘- Become the demon's primary target.’
The glare pinning me sent oppressive pressure crashing over my body.
Fuck… This is dangerous.
Cold sweat chilled my spine. My mind's alarm blared—run now!
Thump. Thump. Thump.
Heart pounding in my ears from the tension, echoing through my body.
That was when it happened.
BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!!
Defying its massive bulk, the crocodile charged at me with terrifying speed. Bella and Cheong-ah shot forward in unison, drawing their swords.
“Ian, dodge…!”
“Darling, get out of the way!”
At their shouts, I rolled sideways without hesitation, evading its path.
Meanwhile, Bella slid forward, swinging her greatsword into the crocodile's head.
“Hraa…!”
KABOOM!
The air exploded.
-GRRAAAHH…!
The crocodile roared in agony, staggering back.
Cheong-ah seized the opening, kicking off the ground, stepping on its head, spinning midair, and targeting the old man's upper body.
“Butterfly Wing.”
Her sword flashed from its sheath in an instant, slicing through the air with blinding light.
I expected the blue trail to shred the old man's body—but it twisted unnaturally backward.
The hawk launched from its shoulder, talons outstretched for Cheong-ah's eyes.
“Hup…!”
Midair, post-swing, dodging or blocking was tough. She twisted as much as possible, but the hawk's talons still raked her eye.
Stinging pain hit my face simultaneously—like a needle stabbing deep, then dragged out forcibly.
“Grruh…!”
The wound and pain meant for her transferred to me. Her face remained unscathed.
Seizing the moment, Cheong-ah steadied herself and slashed at the insolent hawk.
“Illusion.”
Her blade thrust toward the hawk. It stared, flapping to evade—but her sword pressed on, then vanished abruptly.
Confused by the disappearing strike, the hawk faltered. Its wings split in half.
KIIIING—
The sword's hum finally reached us—faster than sound, severing the wings.
-KIIIIIK…!
But the real foe wasn't the hawk. Right after, the old man's massive fist slammed Cheong-ah's gut, hurling her toward the cavern wall.
KABOOM!
She crashed and crumpled—but her body was fine.
“Grrraaah…!”
I was the one wrecked.
Cheong-ah whipped her head toward my stifled scream.
“D-Darling…! Are you okay?!”
“I'm fine—go help! Bella can't handle it alone!”
“Right…!”
Indeed, while Cheong-ah leaped to face the old man and hawk, Bella grappled the crocodile solo.
“Grrrh, fuck…! This croc's skin is insanely tough!”
She swung her greatsword two-handed. The crocodile twisted flexibly, whipping its tail, chomping with jaws to block.
Yet not a scratch on it. With Cheong-ah pinned, the old man gained breathing room and smashed a fist at Bella.
She raised her greatsword overhead, bracing the flat with one arm to barely block.
KABOOM!
But it had two arms. The second fist rained down like bombs.
BAM! BAM! BAM!
BAM! BAM!
The relentless barrage buckled Bella's knees.
“Stop it, you monster…!”
Cheong-ah charged again. The old man's form pivoted as if baiting her, purple eyes glowing with dense mana.
Sensing danger, Cheong-ah spun to dodge—but remembered me behind her and raised her sword instead.
…Damn it, I suck at fighting, but I won't get in the way!
Couldn't stand from the pain, but I could roll.
“I'm a damn caterpillar!”
I've got rolling down to an art!
Gritting through the agony, I tumbled aside and yelled.
“Cheong-ah, dodge! I'm clear!”
Trusting me, she executed flawless footwork and evaded.
SHWOOOM!
Purple laser from the old man's eyes scorched the spot she'd stood, melting the ground red-hot.
Insane power. A split-second delay in my call or her dodge, and she could've been gravely hurt—or dead.
And me too. My blood ran cold—then sharp gut pain hit.
“Guh…!”
Turning, I saw…
“F-Fuck…! You mangy bastard!”
Furious Bella, taking a tail whip head-on to unleash a barrage on the crocodile.
“Urk… Fuck, Bella, you crazy bitch…!”
Dodge what you can next time!
The brutal melee raged. Tail, teeth, head, body—each clash transferred massive shocks through my body.
Finally, gashes appeared on the crocodile's hide. Bella's greatsword plunged into its torso.
-RAAAAAWRRR…!!
Train-whistle roar. Head reared in pain—Bella dove low, blade upward, poised under its jaw.
“Die, you ugly lizard fuck…!”
As Bella finished the crocodile, Cheong-ah struck the old man's form again. The wingless hawk still crawled; she severed its neck cleanly, then leaped off the thrashing body.
With the crocodile's head lifted by Bella's attack, the old man panicked. Cheong-ah coiled her body.
“Pürmir.”
Her sword rocketed out. Blue mana bloomed. Azure spring light scattered from the tip.
Near-infinite strikes engulfed the old man… no, Agales entirely.
SLASH-SLASH-SLASH!
SHHHHRIP-SHRIP-SHRIP-SLASHHH!
Flesh tore endlessly.
-KRAAAAAH…!
Screaming, the form collapsed powerless. Simultaneously, the crocodile's head flopped down, skewered on Bella's blade.
Amid the searing agony wracking me, a swell of triumph hit—we'd taken it down.
Stifling groans, I staggered toward them.
“Cheong-ah! Bella!”
They spotted my labored approach and moved to support me—
VRRRMMM—
The whole cavern rumbled again. The ceiling split, dropping two identical statues of the foe we'd just felled.
I knew instinctively.
“……Fuck.”
It wasn't over.