The Dungeon Boss Puzzle and Hemora's Offer
Even after the Dark Snail fell, Fafnir continued descending deeper into the dungeon. It was only natural. There was a hoard of gold waiting here. He couldn't simply walk out with just one big chunk of it.
You have acquired Experience Points. You have obtained the second page of the Book of the Main World Skill. You have obtained the Trident Spear (Magic).
Fafnir, who had been taking out the elite skeleton soldiers and bat swarms one after another, moved at a speed that was almost faster than any normal party.
It was only natural.
Including number one, the skeleton soldiers numbered a full seven.
If they all picked up their water guns, they would effectively form a party of five damage dealers and two tanks.
A reward for one person monopolizing a seven-member party!
The downside was that the glass cannon shattered on contact, but at least they could be summoned again.
’If I just pull aggro, those things will do all the work themselves.‘
Skeleton soldiers required no wages, no sick days or vacation time.
And if they died, they could simply be summoned again.
They were essentially unpaid employees.
Normally necromancers didn't have such convenient options, but with the holy water guns and proper control, an extremely high-efficiency hunting ground had been created.
’I already reached level 5.‘
From level 31 to 36.
No repeated grinding or repeated boss clears had been done.
It was only this one dungeon once, and already this high.
’This is seriously broken.‘
If possible, he wanted to keep hunting here forever.
But every story has an end.
’Is this the boss room?‘
Fafnir opened the door in front of him.
At that moment.
You have encountered an overwhelmingly strong opponent. You have been afflicted with the status effect ‘Intimidation’. You cannot move for 3.5 seconds. You have been afflicted with the status effect ‘Fear’. Your movement speed has decreased by 20%. Your evasion rate has decreased by 20%. You have achieved the new achievement ‘Rabbit in Front of the Lion’. Your Luck Stat has increased by +1.
’What the hell is this…….‘
In front of him was a horned monster kneeling and prostrating itself.
It had two limbs, but looked more like a goat than a human.
Its arms were bound by chains that disappeared into the unseen abyss.
It was a form that didn't match the early dungeon at all.
No, actually, the monster's name itself was proof.
[Demon] [Doom Warrior] A demon race monster!
Fafnir's spine chilled.
’A minimum level 400 monster…… How did something like this even get into this dungeon!‘
In the original novel, it was a powerful monster that only appeared after several hundred chapters.
Even the top-rankers of the current day couldn't hunt it yet.
No, whether they could even survive before that was the question.
Kuaaa!
The good news was that the Doom Warrior was unable to move.
The chains binding its arms and the metal add-ons on its back completely sealed its movement.
At that moment a message appeared in front of Fafnir.
Adventurer, pass the test of knowledge. If the myth is perfectly reproduced, you will receive the qualification. There is only one chance. If you fail the test, the sealed demon will be released into the world.
’It's a puzzle.‘
In front of the Doom Warrior.
Ten or so meters across, two square frames filled with neatly arranged square stone slabs.
’Only one chance, huh.‘
The puzzle depicted some battlefield as a picture.
On one side were numerous knights, mages, heroes, and soldiers.
On the opposite side gathered a powerful army of evil, such as demons, death knights, liches, and succubi.
’A battle between good and evil.‘
In the original novel, such a grand depiction of the story wasn't done so thoroughly.
He didn't know the details, but he thought there might have been such dialogue among the characters.
’Then if I assemble them symmetrically around the demon……‘
Now all he had to do was move them.
But before that, Fafnir checked one thing.
’No harm in being cautious.‘
You have used the Detect Field Scroll.
Just like tapping the bridge and walking, even if it seemed certain, using the pre-cast Detect Field showed his cautious nature!
One low-level concealment magic has been dispelled.
”Sure enough, it's there.“
Fafnir, heading in the direction the alarm was going off, found something.
’A stele?‘
The hieroglyphs on the corner stele.
An ordinary user wouldn't have been able to read them.
However……
You have identified the demon language, 'Elam'. It is a dark-class. Elam decodes automatically. Decoded content: The pictures are all facing left on both sides.
”……!“
The moment Fafnir saw the content, the stele's text interpreted itself.
’If everything is left…… that means it's not symmetric.‘
He was lucky.
The demon language was only interpretable by a few classes, and necromancer was one of them.
Fafnir followed the instructions and placed the stone slabs.
Angels, heroes, demons, and undead all holding swords in the same direction!
Adventurer . You have passed the test of knowledge. You may proceed. The test has been passed. Your Wisdom Stat has increased by +1.
’If I hadn't been a necromancer, I would have died without moving.‘
If the demon had been released, it wouldn't have ended there.
The starting point, let alone the foundation itself, would have collapsed and the story itself would have been destroyed.
It would have been a terrifying moment where he might have failed the quest the author had given him spectacularly.
’I was lucky.‘
Fafnir headed down the passage behind the Doom Warrior.
He opened the ornate blue door, and instead of the boss, there was a single altar.
’Is this offering a sacrifice?‘
Upon closer inspection, there was one empty slot on each side of the altar.
White boxes and black boxes were placed in each direction.
’There shouldn't be any traps, right?‘
Using the Detect Field Scroll, the message appeared.
The seal that can only be unlocked by the living. The seal that can only be unlocked by the dead. This seal cannot be manipulated by two or more people.
’This is……‘
The moment he saw it, he felt it.
’This must have been made for necromancers and vampires.‘
Necromancers controlled the skeleton soldiers, and vampires were beings that were neither alive nor dead.
In this world, only they could unlock this seal.
’It's certain that Oh Jinhwan from the original novel couldn't get this.‘
Fafnir sent number one to the opposite side, then opened the white box.
You have obtained the Taen inscription. You have obtained the Moon inscription.
Even though the skeleton soldier was holding the black box, nothing happened!
Fafnir placed the two inscriptions on the altar, took a deep breath, and fitted the inscriptions into the slots with meticulous hand movements as if solving the final pieces of a puzzle.
”Where……“
The moment the inscriptions were placed on the altar.
The seal has been lifted. The Blood Magic General Hemora has been resurrected. You have encountered an overwhelmingly strong opponent. You have been afflicted with the status effect ‘Intimidation’. You cannot move for 3.5 seconds. You have been afflicted with the status effect ‘Allure’. Your movement speed has decreased by 30%. You cannot attack the opponent. You will slowly approach the opponent. If the caster of Allure is attacked, you will take 30% additional damage.
Countless messages obscured his vision.
Swish.
A sound of a cape being brushed came from Fafnir's ear.
”Kneel.“
A girl with black hair and golden eyes wearing a crimson blood cloak.
She appeared about fifteen years old, with braids on both sides of her head.
But the effects floating around her were definitely not coming from a girl.
The content of the message right in front of him was proof.
’It said Blood Magic General in the message? I don't know who Hemora is. However……
gulp.
Fafnir swallowed hard.
’A named monster with the title of Magic General…… In the original, it's a boss monster of level 700 or above.‘
In the world of Horizon, there were countless gods.
Each of those gods had four subordinates, and each subordinate had a Magic General and a Magus Priest.
In the current era, most of the gods were dead or forgotten.
But the subordinates of those forgotten gods, the Demon King or the Magic Generals and Magus Priests under them, could be seen like this.
’The subordinates of the forgotten gods are called Demon Kings, so these guys are basically the Four Heavenly Kings.‘
The Magic Generals and Magus Priests were strong boss monsters that only appeared in the mid-to-late stages of the original novel when they were ready to be hunted.
One such being had appeared before him.
”What are you?“
”I am……“
”……Legion School?“
The moment Fafnir was about to answer, Hemora's eyes turned to the badge.
”Legion School? Are you one of the disciples of that old man? It's been a while.“
Hemora's favorability has increased by +1.
Thanks to the badge, her favorability rose!
The sense of oppression in Hemora's tone had lessened.
”Anyway, thank you for lifting the seal. As a genuine vampire of the gold-blood line, I sincerely thank you.“
”……I only did what I had to do.“
As a necromancer, it was my duty, and as a player, getting the hidden piece was only natural.
”I like your modesty too.“
The corner of Hemora's mouth lifted.
Fafnir, not missing that moment, asked.
”Then, Hemora-nim, what do you plan to do from now on?“
”I don't mind telling you.“
Hemora, letting out a sigh, said.
”First, I need to find my own bloodline. Then I'll settle old grudges, and after that, I'll serve our god. Like in the old days.“
Hemora's subordinate she served was the Demon King Labnos.
An absolute monster over level 1,200.
’The myth-grade monster I saw before I fell was level 800…… This is even stronger.‘
Hemora, the genuine of the gold-blood vampire line and the Blood Magic General.
If she properly started moving, it would bring a huge change to the Horizon landscape.
’I should prepare in advance.‘
At that moment.
Hemora, who had been quietly looking at Fafnir, asked.
”I'd like to repay you too, but won't you share the same night with me?“
What kind of nonsense was this.
Fafnir squeezed out the nonsense from his brain and asked.
”I'm sorry, but I'm a little dull-witted and don't understand the meaning. If you explain it just once, I'll consider it a lifelong honor.“
The people-skilling he had honed since he was alive, against guild relations, coaches, and fans!
”Haa, fine.“
Hemora answered with a slight sigh.
”If that's what you want, it means I can become a gold-blood vampire. How about it, does it interest you now?“
Hemora has made a class transition offer. If accepted, the job will change from 'Necromancer' to 'Gold-Blood Vampire (First Generation)'. If accepted, the race will change from 'Human' to 'Vampire'. If accepted, the basic stats will be adjusted according to the race value. I will handle the gold-blood blood, the most noble vampire, the blood relative chosen directly by the God of Blood. Naturally, I will be able to wield the blood power even deeper than anyone else, and I will be the most supreme and strongest blood relative who can wield magic one level stronger than other vampires. I can command low undead and monsters. By sucking blood, I can make the opponent a subordinate. When competing with other vampires, I have an advantage. If accepted, the favorability of existing human NPCs will drop significantly. If accepted, your existing reputation will be erased. If accepted, the grace, blessings, and all relationships with all good-aligned gods will be erased.
’Hidden class?‘
In Horizon, hidden classes were basically a certificate of success.
Rune Master or Dragon Knight.
The skills of the hidden classes in the original novel were that amazing.
Everyone didn't succeed, but it was not strange for anyone to succeed with that ability.
’Especially if it's a first-generation vampire, even stronger.‘
First generation meant directly bound to a genuine, the generation just below the genuine.
The closer to the genuine, the stronger the vampire's characteristics.
If a first-generation high vampire, they could grow with enormous potential and power.
Like a 'jumping character' in a game.
Of course it wasn't free.
They would receive all the restrictions of vampires as they were, and they would also become the cause of public achievements for temple or kingdom army NPCs.
But escaping that kind of crisis was worth it anyway.
’I have to escape the crisis, so it depends on me.‘
A jackpot.
That was an incredible jackpot quest.
”Well, how about it?“
In front of the outstretched hand of Hemora.
gulp.
Fafnir opened his mouth.