Chapter 27
Chapter 27
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Translator: uly
Chapter: 27
Chapter Title: How the Villain Lives
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"Everyone, run!"
"Wh-what?!"
"Run! You'll get crushed!"
As Sung-hoon's shout rang out and the ceiling began descending, the group went berserk, sprinting forward like mad. The ceiling was coming down at a brutal speed—not something you could just casually walk away from, or you'd end up flattened like rat paste. Luckily, the affected area wasn't too wide. Once they reached the safe zone, everyone collapsed in place, letting out sighs of relief.
"What the fuck? Was there a trap here?"
"I-I don't know? This is only our second time this far in, so maybe there's an untriggered one."
"Hey, Il-woo. Didn't you see the trap?"
"N-no, I didn't. I had no idea there was something like this."
Il-woo stammered in embarrassment. Even he, who'd cleared this Moonlit Cave more than five times, truly had no clue about this trap. He'd thought he knew the dungeon like the back of his hand, so the shock hit him several times harder than anyone else.
"S-Sung-hoon oppa's gone!"
"What?"
"Did he get stuck back there?!"
At Ellie's cry, everyone rushed to the lowered wall, milling about anxiously. Il-woo searched the area for any clues, then shook his head grimly.
"Looks like a one-time trap. No way to raise the wall again. Sorry."
"You bastard! You think 'sorry' cuts it after getting a teammate killed?!"
Kang!Kang!
Dong-cheol hefted his axe and unleashed Bash, hammering the wall. But it was insanely tough—barely a scratch, and with his axe chipping, he gritted his teeth and backed off.
"O-our oppa didn't die, right? Right?"
A-yeon wasn't sure when she'd started calling him "our oppa," but she rushed to the sniffling Ellie, patting her shoulder.
"Don't worry. Sung-hoon was the first to shout about the trap. He's got the highest agility here, so of course he'd escape first."
"Th-then why isn't he here...?"
"He probably fell back like us instead of pushing forward. No way he'd die to a trap like that. So put the axe down, oppa."
"G-good..."
Ellie let out a deep breath at A-yeon's plausible words, calming down, while Dong-cheol's anger visibly eased. Sung-hoon had spotted the trap first—no way he'd be dead. He'd probably retreated with the split group.
"So maybe Sung-hoon took the left path and we'll meet at the boss room?"
"Nah. He's clearly a warrior type, and the left's trap city. Better assume he's holding position there."
"You think?"
"I agree. Left path's loaded with traps—even trying to push through, he'd get hit a few times and have to wait."
"Tch. Nothing we can do. One short makes it uneasy, but we're almost done. Boss is tough solo, but this setup can handle it. Let's go."
At least it wasn't a total disaster. Two or more missing would've been a nightmare. Checking the mission window, Dong-cheol saw 20 werewolves left and gripped his axe.
"Switching formation. Me and Il-woo up front. You two, harass and ranged attacks."
"Without Sung-hoon oppa, can we?"
"We can. Just 20 left. Play it safe and steady—we'll clear it, even if it takes time."
Dong-cheol was right. Even without Sung-hoon, he could tank two alone, and the other three linking up covered the rest. Ellie especially shone now.
She didn't spam heavy hitters like Fireball, but her versatile spells controlled the monsters perfectly. She'd been passive before, but with Sung-hoon gone, her talent was on full display.
"Power Step!"
Thud!Thud!
Boosted strength let him hammer a werewolf, then he smashed its jaw with his axe haft, sending it staggering back senseless. An arrow pierced its skull on the spot.
The everyman's archer skill, Power Shot, showed its worth. One down, and the fight turned one-sided.
"We can handle 'em, but one short and it's exhausting."
"Hang in there. Boss room soon. A-yeon, use the good arrows."
"Tch. These are expensive."
An archer's damage hinged on bow and arrows. A-yeon had stuck to cheap stone, bone, or copper ones—now she pulled out steel arrows. With just the boss left, better not skimp and risk disaster.
Dong-cheol adjusted gear and rested max, Il-woo spun daggers to sharpen senses. Ellie chanted for a big opener.
Whoosh!
"Ready. I'll lead with Fireball."
"Good. Let's move. Thinking of Sung-hoon slacking alone boils my blood."
"Cheeky bastard—make him buy dinner?"
"My fault, so dinner's on me."
Il-woo said glumly; Dong-cheol nodded.
"Fine. Be more careful next time. Got it?"
"Yes."
Il-woo had pushed for Massacre difficulty and missed the trap—some warning due. But with the clear on track, Dong-cheol advanced. Ellie fired her buffed Fireball.
Boom!
The arcing fireball nailed the huddled figure at the chamber's end. A scorching blast followed—instantly, messages appeared before their eyes.
The debuff hit, bodies growing heavy. The Moonwolf charged through smoke, about to pounce—but A-yeon's covering fire forced it to halt, grinding its teeth.
"Il-woo! Don't just throw daggers from afar—get in close! A-yeon! Ellie! Keep moving and harass it!"
"Y-yes, sir!"
Dong-cheol's command spurred frantic action. He didn't look the part, but he had real leader chops. Cocky attitude and foul mouth aside, he led from the front—not just barking orders—making him impossible to ignore.
The Moonwolf was man-sized, but its power dwarfed even power warrior Dong-cheol's.
"Il-woo-ssi! Duck!"
A-yeon's arrow lodged in its shoulder, topped by a small fireball. But its defense was monstrous. The arrow barely pierced skin, popping out as it thrashed; its gleaming silver fur shrugged off flames like it had magic.
Only that initial Fireball seemed to hurt it.
Thud!
'Tch, tough as hell. This even a living body?'
Full-power axe strike barely sank to a finger joint—no severed arm. But it hurt; the Moonwolf grimaced, abandoning A-yeon to charge him.
"Power Step! Bash!"
Power Step plus Bash matched it momentarily. Dong-cheol, who'd been pushed back bit by bit, now slightly overpowered it.
"Bash! Bash! Bash!"
"Krang!"
As axe clashed claws, A-yeon and Ellie seized the chance, prepping max skills. Her arrow tip glowed white; three ice spears floated around Ellie.