Chapter 79
Chapter 79
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 79
Chapter Title: Artificial Dungeon: Dank Pit - Crawling Labyrinth (2)
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Shin Juha's prediction was spot on. Every monster in the labyrinth was converging on the center—the room reserved solely for the boss.
Maggots crawled toward it in sluggish, mesmerized droves. They moved in orderly fashion, hurling themselves into the black flames blazing atop the central altar in the boss room.
"!@#$!@#$!#$%"
Nam Ui, the one manipulating them with black magic, smirked. There was only one reason low-tier maggot monsters filled this place.
Sacrifices. Maggots were a demonic favorite for meals—and they held at least common-grade value as offerings!
Though he'd created an artificial dungeon, Nam Ui figured it wouldn't be enough to kill Shin Juha. So he'd proposed this directly to the demon.
His unique ability manifested fragments of the pit Deriax had prepared anyway.
If system restrictions prevented cramming in stronger monsters, the plan was to preload it with high-value sacrificial fodder and offer them up himself.
A loophole. A blatant attempt to game the system. But nothing problematic about it. Not illegal, so he'd get a warning at worst—no direct interference.
The demon had no real objections either. Even sealed away with that absurd spear containing its ridiculous rank and power—along with the abilities Shin Juha had shown—it still felt uneasy.
Sacrificing over 600 of the 666 maggots possible in the Crawling Labyrinth? That would enable an incomplete descent. Utterly satisfying.
How long since its last jaunt into the manifest world! And now it could smash its toy and tear the insulting vermin apart with its own hands.
All this schemed in secret between Deriax and Nam Ui alone.
"In my opinion, Lee Ji-yong's going to die to Shin Juha."
Despite following Lee Ji-yong's orders, receiving aid, and even occasional advice, Nam Ui's assessment was cold.
Naturally so. The incomplete lucid dreams of recent days had shown a past—or present?—Shin Juha whose prowess would challenge even C-rank Nam Ui himself.
Of course, he couldn't confirm that was Shin Juha's full strength. And Nam Ui hadn't unleashed demonization either, so not his peak.
One thing was certain.
Lee Ji-yong styled himself holy, with absolute confidence in his skills. But objectively, he was weaker than Nam Ui—which meant he couldn't beat Shin Juha.
Watching him boss Nam Ui around like a subordinate while boldly claiming he'd face and kill Shin Juha first? Nam Ui had to hide a sneer.
"Even with Shin Juha's restrictions, he'd still beat Lee Ji-yong."
So use Lee Ji-yong as bait. Buy time for the descent.
When he'd first pitched this to Lord Deriax, one snag: sacrificing Lee Ji-yong to a greater demon.
But Deriax surprisingly didn't care.
No, there was no need to.
A new plan solidified—without Lee Ji-yong's knowledge.
Guilt? Remorse? Not in the slightest.
Not because Nam Ui was evil or demon-tainted.
'You're planning to use and discard me too.'
Nam Ui saw through types like Lee Ji-yong. They pathologically hated vulnerabilities.
Once this ended, Lee Ji-yong would discard him ruthlessly. Discard meant eliminate evidence—best via murder.
A demon contractor targeted by Creation Guild's holy scion and chaebol heir? Survival odds neared zero.
Strike first.
Luckily, dreams of Shin Juha revealed his tenacity and grit. He never fell.
Unlike Lee Ji-yong—bloated on half-baked support, puffed with vanity and arrogance—from the roots, they differed.
Hence this secret ploy. Bait with Lee Ji-yong, summon Lord Deriax, crush Shin Juha with overwhelming might—no resistance, rebellion, or hope allowed.
After clashing with Lee Ji-yong, Shin Juha wouldn't emerge unscathed. His despair would deepen!
Then toy with him before ripping him apart in the cruelest way.
'I'll leave vengeance to you, Lord Deriax. I entrust it to you.'
The plan's sole regret? Lord Deriax couldn't exact vengeance on his brother in perfect form.
'In the end, my body avenges him.'
Deriax would control, but his body would kill.
Comforting himself thus, he chanted black magic, shoving more maggots into the altar. A deafening roar echoed in his ears.
"Finally here."
His awaited foe. Faster than expected. He'd figured at least ten more minutes of wandering.
Nam Ui's chants accelerated. Black magic ensnared the maggots more fiercely.
Twenty minutes. Time spent finding the boss room.
The labyrinth was bigger than expected. A small city in scale.
Without luck, he'd still be lost.
But he couldn't reach it. Midway through the passage linking his position to the boss room.
"Finally here, huh? Thought I'd die of boredom waiting, you fucking bastard."
A guy who shouldn't be here had appeared.
He froze briefly.
Why the hell was that bastard here?
And as a special boss, no less.
The question resolved quickly. Only one answer.
"You mad bastard. Teaming up with demons? Creation's hit rock bottom. Did Chairman Lee Seo-yong lose his mind? Didn't stop his grandson either?"
"You son of a bitch!!!"
He leveled his sword at the man charging with flames wreathing his fists.
Flowing Water Form (Epic)
Deflects incoming strikes with fluid motion
Holy one, Lee Ji-yong. Fist fighter striking foes with flaming punches. Unique ability: Scorching Fist (Unique-S+).
Decent ability. But not top-tier.
His status as prodigy and holy? Thanks to Creation's massive funding.
Without chaebol heir status, C-rank was his ceiling—maybe B at best.
Not dismissing his achievements. Money's power too.
Buy runes, skills, masters with cash? Fine way to grow.
It's still his strength. No denial here.
Just that even so, he couldn't match me. Poor real combat experience too.
Look at that simplistic, laughable punch.
Back in the association lobby, deflecting it once took real effort.
Now? Pathetic. Weak.
Explosive-on-impact fist hurtled in.
Ridiculous. His level nearly double mine, yet my stats dominated.
Sword up. Blade flowed like water, coiling softly around the fist—deflecting it seamlessly.
Boom! Crash!
Redirected to the floor, he lost control, tumbling past me into the ground.
His own punch detonated on impact. Self-inflicted, inevitably.
Flame resistance spared him the worst, but his bangs singed.
"Idiot. Think charging blindly wins?"
I'd have regained control mid-deflect—readjusted trajectory or pulled back.
Anyway.
'Not quite like him.'
The man he'd drilled this swordplay daily pre-regression. His goal: China's SS-rank hunter, Sword Heaven's Flowing Water Sword [Legend-C]. Laughable in comparison.
Sword Emperor's repute eclipsed even that. His swordplay? Pure art.
Every motion fluid as water, shapeshifting endlessly. Nullifying all attacks with one blade, frustrating foes utterly. Enviable.
His Flowing Water Form? Crude. Barely handled linear strikes.
Sword Emperor deflected tangible and intangible alike—then turned them against attackers.
'More polishing needed.'
Lowering his sword, he eyed Lee Ji-yong rising, trembling with rage.
Humiliation, irritation, fury, shock, inferiority—emotions swirled in those eyes.
"Just... just blocked once, don't get cocky!!!"
He lunged again. Even a rotting fish has maggots—no complacency here.
Not that he'd win.
Boiling Magma (Epic-C+)
Engulfs body in molten fury
Burning Flesh (Unique-B)
Ignites physical form for power surge
Explosive Fist Art (Epic-S-)
Unleashes chain of detonating strikes
Money-bought heights unleashed a barrage of skills as he charged.
Focus sharpened. Serious now. No room for leisure. Maggots entering the boss room behind him had noticeably dwindled.
Dungeon window showed barely 100 monsters left.
Whatever scheme—no letting it play out.
'Killing Lee Ji-yong complicates things...'
Irreversible rift with Creation.
Already blood enemies, but he'd hidden his power, wary of confronting them.
Killing him exposes everything dodged under Chairman Lee Seo-yong's nose.
'Can't spare him.'
Defeated, he'd keep hunting—crossing lines further.
'Or did allying with demons already max that out?'
Play demons right, maybe just face Creation. No other foes would aid against demon-backed chaebol.
So kill. Hesitation gone. Pride's mana—no, solar power—infused his blade.
Lee Ji-yong's eyes widened mid-charge. Surprised? Ignoring restrictions for solar might?
"Let's see whose flames burn hotter."
Level 3 authority. Not mere fire—from a world-creator.
Sword swung. Fists met.
Deafening blast. Smoke billowed. From it, Lee Ji-yong flew back.