Chaotic Dungeon Practice (1)
Chaotic Dungeon Practice (1)
Ever since childhood, I was never much of a sleeper.
To be more precise, I had disliked sleep. Whenever I fell asleep, I always had nightmares, and by the time I woke up, my mood was already ruined.
These days were different.
I didn't have nightmares. Quite the opposite—I had good dreams.
That happened when I fell asleep in the embrace of someone precious.
Sleep that came while being held in a warm embrace, feeling a steady heartbeat and body heat, with touches on my head and back, buried in affection and drifting off into slumber.
That kind of sleep was happiness.
Even if my body and mind were worn down from all sorts of hardships, being held in a warm embrace and receiving affection let me recover quickly.
...Sleep that wasn't like that. I still hated sleeping alone.
No, now I hated it even more.
[Hoo]
After fiddling with the pillow I had been hugging, I eventually let out a deep sigh and set it aside.
I didn't want to fall asleep alone.
Even now, when I fell asleep alone, I had nightmares. Having already come to know sweet dreams, I had no desire to willingly endure unpleasant sleep.
'My body had stopped needing sleep in the first place, so...'
At some point, my body had stopped requiring sleep as a necessity.
While searching for the entrance to the Reverse Side, I hadn't slept at all.
I had searched for the entrance without losing consciousness for even a single moment.
It was the same after entering the Reverse Side.
The suppression was so intense that I had adjusted my pace at times, but I had never once fallen asleep.
After meeting Senior, even while Senior slept, I had remained conscious in her embrace.
There hadn't been any problems.
I had gone nearly a month without sleep, but no functional decline had appeared.
For me, sleep had entered the realm of preference.
For that reason, even though two days had passed since entering the dungeon, I hadn't bothered to sleep.
- Grrrr...
[Whyyy]
The tent set up for me at the temporary base.
Before I knew it, Spirits had gathered around me, nuzzling against my body. I gave a bitter smile as I stroked the Water Spirit that burrowed into my arms.
[You saw last time too. This much isn't a problem at all, so don't worry... You don't believe me? What am I supposed to do if even you guys don't believe me?]
Most were Spirits that had reached Mid-Rank. Their will-thoughts, having long since awakened to self-awareness and grown clear, filled my head.
Golden Child, the karma of past actions...
'Whose will-thoughts are these?'
When I probed a little, it wasn't just one. As my gaze sharpened, the will-thoughts stopped. Soon the Spirits frantically scrambled and mixed themselves up.
[You think I can't find you just by doing that?]
I let out a chuckle at the ridiculous sight.
When I came into the tent, rather than falling asleep, I had focused on certain matters or trained in other ways.
But there were times like now when the Spirits thought of me and came to play pranks, so it wasn't entirely boring.
I giggled and grabbed one of the Spirits. The Spirit, plucked up like a radish being pulled from the ground, opened its eyes wide.
A Fire Spirit in the shape of a puppy. This was the one that had performed well, imbued with Calamity Flame during the last Birth Festival. I held the Spirit that was wagging its tail vigorously in my arms.
[I wonder if it'll be able to become a High-Rank Spirit...]
High-Rank Spirit.
The highest tier among the three ranks of Spirits.
It had been a while since most of the Spirits had reached Mid-Rank.
It was an extremely short time compared to the norm, but the experiences the Spirits had gone through during that time were dense.
They had grown considerably compared to when they had first reached Mid-Rank. But as for whether I could sense signs of ascension, I still wasn't sure.
'They say from High-Rank onward, many of them change into human form.'
Professor Liana's High-Rank Spirits were mostly in human form. Even Spirits that weren't in human form could change according to their will.
Either way, it was still an uncertain matter.
According to Professor Liana's experience, a Spirit reaching High-Rank was an extremely arduous task.
- Though considering the young one's mana and lineage, I suppose it might be a bit different
'Hmm.'
It could be different. It wasn't a certainty. So I would need to verify multiple cases and attempt various approaches—that was just how it went.
I set down the thoroughly petted Spirit beside me and stood up.
.
.
.
"Oh, weren't you sleeping?"
[We have someone on night watch, how could I be? I just had something to take care of.]
When I stepped out of the tent, the people sitting around the heating magical device turned their heads.
I replied to Aiden's words and dropped roughly into an empty chair.
- Peolleok
Above the heating magical device, soup was bubbling and boiling.
Since we were in a cave, it didn't show, but the hour was late at night. We had finished today's exploration and set up a temporary base to have a late dinner.
"Uwaaa... Today was tough too..."
"It was harder than yesterday. Looks like we are getting closer to the inner core."
While the soup boiled, words of exhaustion could be heard here and there.
Judging by their complexions, weariness was clearly evident.
Today marked the second day since we entered the dungeon. Our group had been steadily moving toward the dungeon's inner core to carry out our assignment.
Naturally, there had been many encounters with monsters along the way.
"Even with Aura densely coated on it, the blade's wearing down. They're all variants, and every damn one of them is ridiculously tough."
"Aiden, you've got a swordsmanship-type Unique Ability, so you have it better. If not, you'd have to coat it in Aura and use it as a blunt weapon like me."
Rock Puppets.
Commonly referred to as Golems.
They had a simple weakness—you just needed to destroy the core in their head—but the Rock Puppets in this dungeon had especially tough bodies, making them troublesome.
The sword that Aiden was sharpening while grumbling had its edge damaged from repeatedly cutting through the Rock Puppets' outer layers.
The other monsters had similar characteristics too.
Overall high durability. Many of the entities were composed of dirt, rock, and the like.
"...We lost more time than yesterday."
It was Yoo Se-i who spoke, sipping the soup he had ladled into his bowl.
"We haven't reached the inner core yet, but it seems like we're encountering entities that have spilled out from it. What does the squad leader think?"
Yoo Se-i's gaze landed on me.
"Considering the time limit, it seems difficult for us to enter the inner core with just our own strength."
[Indeed, the monsters and the increasing number of traps are causing delays.]
"The fact that we have to find the path is also a problem. The mana concentration is getting denser, making detection harder. Even if we use up all the time, I suspect we might only get as far as stepping onto the outskirts of the inner core."
The inner core was the zone adjacent to the dungeon's core. It was a kind of heart area, and in a normal dungeon, it was only natural that things grew more dangerous the closer you got to the inner core.
[We also have to account for the return time.]
"As you said. Since this is a reconnaissance assignment, I think it would be best to capture a rough picture of the situation at the inner core of this dungeon where anomalies are occurring, and then return."
What Yoo Se-i seemed to be worried about was the scenario where time ran out and they'd have to turn back without even obtaining information on the inner core's outskirts.
'That is the role of an advance party, after all.'
Since there were too many unknowns to begin a full-scale assault, gathering data to uncover those unknowns was the natural role of the advance party.
'...The dungeon in the Changhae territory must be unfolding in a similar way.'
The Special-Grade Dungeon that had appeared in the Changhae family's territory. It was the reason the current Changhae Family Head was stuck in their domain.
Its grade was Special-Grade, no less. Given that the large number of meat shields deployed had been completely wiped out, the internal environment was presumed to be dangerous.
[...Yes.]
[Getting as much information on the inner core as possible would earn a higher score, I suppose.]
"Right. To that end, we'll need to pick up the pace─"
[That's not a problem.]
"Hm?"
Yoo Se-i, who had been about to continue speaking, tilted his head. The others, who had been doing their own tasks while listening in on the conversation, blinked as well.
- Peolleok
I lightly fluttered my folded wings. The Earth Spirits nestled in my wings wriggled.
Kung! A heavy vibration rang through the floor of the cavity where the temporary base was set up. It was a common vibration in this dungeon.
"......"
But the group members exchanged looks, then drew the weapons beside them. They had instinctively sensed that something was wrong.
Boom! A louder tremor than before rippled through the walls. This time faces hardened and people rose from their seats. I flicked my wings and pushed myself upright as well.
"...What is that noise..."
- Kugugugu!
The floor heaved violently, cutting off the words. Fragments of stone pattered down from the ceiling.
"My left!"
Loreine, who had been maintaining a taut Detection net, called out sharply.
Kwaaang! The wall burst apart. Shoving through the billowing dust, a Rock Worm thrust its head into the cavity.
"...Hek."
Loreine's mouth fell open.
This was unlike the specimens we'd encountered before. Its general shape was similar, but its head alone was as large as a commercial building.
- Keurk...!
The Earth Dragon opened its maw wide. Magic power flared at the back of its round throat—the telltale sign of a mana cannon, the signature attack of large-type species.
"You crazy—!"
The mana cannon erupted at point-blank range, scattering off an invisible wall—the barrier I had previously spread over our temporary base.
Crack! But I had deliberately kept the barrier's output moderate, and fissures instantly spiderwebbed across its surface. Startled, Aiden raised his sword overhead.
An instant later, a formless surge of aura erupted from the blade. Then the sword slashed down.
Expansion Ability: Severing Iai. Seogeok! The sustained beam of the mana cannon split cleanly in two, left and right.
- Keuaaaa—!
The slash reached the Earth Dragon's head. Chwaak! Green blood sprayed from a vertical wound cleaved across its face. The Earth Dragon let out a horrific shriek.
"The hell, you didn't cut it down?!"
"T-That! Is that an Alpha?!"
A resonant ringing filled the wide cavity. Loreine, his face drained of all color, spun toward me and screamed.
[No.]
- Kugung! Kugugung! Kugung!
Holes burst open in the cavern walls one after another. Earth Dragons thrust their heads through the breaches in rapid succession.
"Heok..."
Loreine made a sound like his breath was being strangled. Though not as openly panicked, Yoo Se-i's face was equally taut as he turned his gaze downward, past the Earth Dragons.
- Kung... Kung... Kung...
From over a dozen passages connected to the cavity, countless footfalls approached through the gloom.
Monsters. Rock Golems and the rest of them.
"...Ha-yul. Could I possibly hear an explanation of the situation at this point?"
Nam Yeon-jung asked, sweat beading on his forehead as he firmly gripped his spear. I fluttered my wings and gave a nod.
[The Alpha Individual came out from the core, leading monsters to eliminate the intruders.]
"...I see."
A Grade 2 Dungeon. And the monsters dwelling in its deepest core.
Normally, you would never encounter them during Dungeon Practice. That's because it's usually too difficult to even reach the core during the practice period.
[Team 2, which entered through the other entrance, has already been taken out.]
"...I, see."
The cold sweat on Nam Yeon-jung's forehead thickened. The complexions of those who had been listening to my explanation also turned ashen.
Meanwhile, Yoo Se-i blinked, then let out a hollow laugh.
"Well, there's certainly no issue with time. Seeing as they came out to welcome us so warmly, we should have more than enough data."
[That's right. Of course, it'll only be accepted as valid data if we survive the trip back, but...]
"Lee Ha-yul. Have you always had this mischievous streak?"
[Whose fault is it for shoving the squad-leader role onto me?]
"...I never imagined you'd hold a grudge over that. You've got a surprisingly petty side, you know."
[You guys are the ones who told me to limit my abilities and cooperate first, aren't you?]
Honestly, if I had just gone wild from the start and resolved the assignment, our cooperation score would have been an absolute zero.
I shrugged my shoulders and raised both arms. Kung! The entire cavity lurched, then violently began to contract as if being crushed inward.
At the same time, three pairs of wings unfurled wide behind my back, shedding luminescent particles. The Earth Spirits imbued within them exerted their Dominance.
- Kugugugung!
"Huh, heok..."
The compression halted. The cavity quivered as if struck by an earthquake. A power struggle pushed and pulled between Dominions.
'It's contestable.'
My pure mana versus hundreds of Earth Spirits—more powerful than ordinary Mid-level Spirits.
- Keu, keugugung...!
But now the other side was starting to push back. Its Dominance was growing stronger.
No—it wasn't getting stronger. Another force was layering on top of its own.
'...The Dungeon?'
The Dungeon's correction. My expression turned strange at the realization.
I had suspected as much, and now it was confirmed.
This Dungeon's Alpha Individual is a Spirit.
'Hmm...'
For now, the contest of power continued. I gave my staff a flourish. Mana poured into the air and coalesced into spell formulas. Some formulas hung in the air, some draped over my squadmates, and several settled onto me.
[I'll keep acting in the mage role. I was thinking we break open a path and punch through toward the exit—anyone have a better plan?]
"The underlings will follow the squad leader's orders."
Smirking teasingly, Yoo Se-i wreathed the edge of his sword in silver Aura.
The others readied themselves, their faces still ashen.
First, I'd share the situation through Sound Transmission. Wooong! I let my mana spill out moderately from my entire body. My hair and the hem of my clothes fluttered gently.
My wings didn't flutter.
Because there were no wings to flutter.
* * *
Eliminate the intruders.
It was the duty one must rightfully fulfill as the Gatekeeper and guardian of this space. The Earth Spirit did not abandon the duty it had taken upon itself.
- Wung! Wung! Woong...!
"......."
...That strange resonance, persistently unsettling its duty.
The Spirits already here could barely resist it, but the purer Spirits had long since been lured away by that resonance.
The Spirit furrowed its brow and raised both hands. Kugugung! The little cavity that concealed it quaked.
Layered barriers piled up one over another, blocking the resonance that flowed in from outside.
- ...Wooong...
Even trying its best to block it, the resonance inevitably seeped through. The Spirit shook its head back and forth, forcibly shifting its focus.
'...Intruders.'
Its consciousness, assimilated with the earth, registered the intruders' situation.
The optimal outcome was to eliminate them. But if that proved impossible, they must be driven out.
As the Spirit assessed it, killing them seemed difficult.
They seemed of higher quality than the previous two groups; the dispatched forces couldn't easily rout them. Instead, the intruders were breaking through the ranks and churning up the space.
Yet, as if they felt a sense of crisis, they were now racing toward the exit.
The Spirit decided it would keep pressing them—that it would repel the intruders this way.
'...?'
That moment.
A presence bloomed somewhere a little apart from there. Was it a spatial troop generation? But the Spirit had not intended one.
The Spirit, questioning it, allocated its awareness toward that direction.
- Wooong...!
"Uck."
The source of the presence was... the origin of the resonance. The in-trud-er. Three pairs of fluttering wings. Earth-hued wings brimming with compatriots...
The surrounding earth was difficult to manipulate. Rampant Dominions. In terms of individual capacity, it held the advantage, but the opposite side had overwhelming numbers.
The Spirit creased its brow. Should it pursue those fleeing? Or should it address the... the, the intruder—
- Kwarrrrr!
- ...?!
A brief hesitation. In that interval, the cavity heaved.
No—it was a misconception. It wasn't just the cavity the Spirit occupied; the entire body of the earth shuddered wholesale. The Spirit's eyes fluttered rapidly as it snap-turned its awareness.
The being with three pairs of wings. From it surged a staggering Earth Domination.
Expansion Ability: Homogenization
Taesan
No longer were they merely beautiful, shimmering wings.
A suit of rocky armor encased its small frame. That being, now at least twice as massive as before, slowly turned its head.
Its gaze was aimed directly at the cavity concealing the Spirit.
- ...Heok
Though the Spirit never breathed, it felt a phantom constriction tightening around its throat, unbidden.