Chapter 38
Chapter 38
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 38
Chapter Title: The Final Wave
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“Ugh... No!”
Min Chorong squeezed her eyes shut, her face twisted in a grimace, before suddenly leaping to her feet with a shout. Recalling the moment just before she passed out, she looked as if she'd woken from a nightmare—drenched in cold sweat, her face pale as a ghost.
She frantically scanned her surroundings, and when her eyes landed on me, she burst into tears and threw herself at me.
“Waaah! What do we do? Uncle Legion... Uncle Legion... Waaah!”
Caught off guard by her sudden charge, I awkwardly patted the sobbing girl's back and whispered,
“Legion's right there, alive and well.”
“Wah... Huh?”
At my words, Min Chorong blinked in confusion and followed my pointing finger. Spotting Legion, who had risen before her and was sheepishly scratching his head, she shifted her tearful assault from me to him.
It had been an ordeal far too grueling for a girl who looked no older than a high school student to endure with such composure.
Watching her, I inwardly cursed this wretched fate. Nothing ever went smoothly, not even for a moment. What a goddamn life.
“Goddamn dungeon. Goddamn misfortune.”
Muttering curses under my breath and clicking my tongue, I stretched my stiff body and stood up. The system window floating before my eyes explained why the queen had pulled this move.
This mess was entirely my fault. I'd rushed to clear the dungeon early, alerting the queen to intruders, and in her rage, she'd unleashed her minions.
I'd come off like a total dungeon newbie. Having survived only in tutorial zones and the lowest-level dungeons with no real dangers, I hadn't accounted for variables like this.
It felt like the power I'd gained had gone to my head. Beating down monsters stronger than me had gotten me way too pumped.
If I'd just quietly endured five waves, we could've escaped without issue.
The problem was, the trouble I'd caused wasn't over yet.
If we could just hold out for two hours, we'd escape this goddamn dungeon alive.
Of course, it wouldn't be easy. Crises like the one before could repeat.
In nearly ten minutes, I'd cut down about 150 Giant Ants, but a similar number remained—all elite soldiers and royal guards, far stronger than the regulars.
And the hidden boss queen on top. With Equivalent Exchange—my powerful buff—unusable right now, the situation was bleak beyond words.
The one silver lining was Legion's unique ability awakening. No wonder his Sacred Citadel had been so massively sturdy beyond imagination as he lay dying.
Apparently, the trigger was resolving to protect someone even unto death. His unyielding will to defend my sister and Min Chorong had awakened it.
Before my regression, he got that facial scar in this process and always hid it behind a mask.
Anyway, he'd grow into the world's top tank from here.
Our forces had strengthened dramatically compared to the first three waves, but facing the hidden stage and the remaining Giant Ant army tipped the scales toward despair overwhelmingly.
If I'd used a special perk or some famous divine relic, we might've cleared easily—but the chance was gone.
Still, surrender wasn't an option. Not after coming this far. I'd use everything I had and survive no matter what!
I opened my status window to check the fruits of my frenzied battle.
🔮 Unique Abilities:
[Curse of Misfortune (Legend) LV MAX] [Infinite Heavenly Veins (Myth) LV2] [Supreme Soul (Myth) LV1] [Equivalent Exchange (Origin) LV2] [Sun Eye (Myth) LV1]
⚔ Skills:
[Pride's Wing (Myth) LV1] [Heart of the Giant God (Legend) LV1] [Flowing Water Transformation (Saga) LV1]
Hacking through the Giant Ants in a trance had netted me a whopping seven levels. Without hesitation, I dumped all seven points into Infinite.
A surge of vitality coursed through my body, then faded, leaving my flesh even tougher. Closing the status window, I turned to Min Chorong, who had stopped crying, and Legion, speaking calmly.
“Get ready. They'll be coming soon.”
The end was near. And at that end, I wouldn't be the one lying broken.
For the final battle, the top priority was stamina. Our goal wasn't victory over the enemy—it was surviving the remaining time.
In that sense, this chamber was terrible for defense. Open on all sides—front, back, left, right—we had to prepare for attacks from anywhere.
First things first: seal off the openings. Giant Ants that burrowed through earth would eventually break through, but it could buy us some time.
I'd considered this after the first wave.
But blocking a passage risked penalties, and I'd explored the nest via it. Mainly, though, even my Sun mana and sword couldn't destroy the passages.
No backing out now. To boost our odds even slightly, we had to try.
I pulled items from the Tower of Gold one by one, selecting the eight most explosive bombs.
Despite constantly downing potions mid-battle for healing, my authority proficiency had risen with my growth, increasing export limits and giving me this leeway. Even without it, I'd have done it.
These were the strongest eight I could export. I placed two in the ceiling of each of four directional passages.
Then, I detonated the bombs in one passage.
-----!!!
A deafening roar echoed as the passage collapsed. The underground shook, the chamber trembling briefly. I nodded in satisfaction.
“Whoa! You should've led with this!”
“...The firepower... is insane!”
Min Chorong's words hit like a bone-rattler. I grinned sheepishly and turned. Save the other three directions' bombs—they'd serve as traps to rip enemy throats.
“Remaining exports: 18.”
I pulled ten more bombs of various types without pause, planting them along the paths beyond the remaining three passages before returning.
But we weren't done. Pointing to the mountain of Giant Ant corpses piled in one corner, I ordered,
“Use these to block the entrance again. Stack 'em like a wall, Legion.”
Giant Ant bodies were huge and sturdy. Legion's Sacred Citadel was flesh-based defense, but it could imbue other objects too, albeit less efficiently.
So we built our citadel, quickly forming a fortress. Well, a fortress of ant corpses—a round wall, nothing more or less.
“Preparations complete.”
Now, wait for them.
“Legion, hold the line. Just endure, and we win.”
“...I will!”
Patting the shoulders of the guy gazing at me with reverent eyes—like repaying the debt of his saved life—I added,
“But seriously, Uncle Legion looks way older. Why the informal speech, oppa?”
“I saved his life. A life-saver gets to be casual. Besides, he's my age. Twenty.”
“Whaaat?”
Her playful attempt to lighten the mood drew disbelieving stares at Legion as she hid her trembling hands. I clicked my tongue.
“You hold out too. Focus heals and buffs on Legion. I'll manage with potions. And...”
I trailed off. This wasn't my style.
“Don't worry too much. Just trust this oppa!”
Stroking Min Chorong's head, her eyes widened like saucers before she covered her mouth with steadying hands, flashing a playful smile.
“Is that a confession? Oh my, I'm still a minor, you know. But if oppa really likes me, I might consider it. Now! Fight for me!”
As I raised my hand for a flick on her forehead—
My senses finally picked up the Giant Ants' movements. Seeing my face harden instantly, Legion rose to his massive full height, and Min Chorong hurried to the eggs and capsules, taking deep breaths.
“They're coming. Get ready.”
Our prep must've been impressive—they took time to charge. Time until the Queen's eggs hatched: under an hour now.
“Hoo... I'm shaking!”
She tried to sound upbeat, but tension and fear gripped us all. Yet hope drew nearer too.
Thud! Thud! Boom! Boom!
The moment the ants' charge echoed, I drew the Frostfire Sword from my inventory. Giant Ants emerged from the passages, surging toward us.
Not yet.
I waited patiently, timing for maximum Giant Ant kills.
Thud. Thud. Thud. Thud.
The front line barreled forth like tanks, halfway out of the passage—
I snapped my mana!
The mana-infused bombs reacted, erupting in unison.
Rumble-roooar!!!
The three passages and outer traps vanished in massive fireballs, swallowing the charging Giant Ants and heralding the final battle's start.