The Dark Sovereign's Throne
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Rookie: Baek Jaesung 45
Having rested plenty and replenished our stamina, we stood before the black door with steely resolve. Whatever lurked inside was clearly leagues beyond any monster we'd faced so far. The raw power radiating from it made that obvious.
"We really gotta go in?"
Kim Sunwook voiced his unease aloud. The others were no doubt thinking the same.
But this foreboding door could be our ticket out. No way were we planning to wander Level House forever. Hell, the dungeon core might even be inside.
"Dangerous or not, we face it head-on. We're dungeon hunters, after all."
Buoyed by my grim tone, Kim Sunwook nodded. True to form as party leader, he steeled himself and took a step forward.
"Right. Then let's go."
"Opening the door!"
Yeonji, up front, swallowed hard as she spoke. Tension bled through her voice despite her best efforts. She locked eyes with each of us in turn, then nodded.
"Let's go!"
Yeonji flung open the ominous door, wreathed in black aura. Beyond lay a void of pitch darkness.
"What... is this place?"
Yeonji, our vanguard leader, stepped in first with utmost caution. The rest of the party followed into the chamber.
"It's pitch black everywhere... but something's off. We can see each other crystal clear."
"Can't even make out the floor. Feels like we're floating in space."
"At least stars would make it kinda romantic!"
The crew tossed out their impressions one by one. Even in the bizarre confines of Level House, this room stood out as profoundly alien.
"My god... where the hell are we?"
Kim Sunwook, bringing up the rear, scanned the surroundings as he entered.
The space brimmed with endless darkness. The very ground beneath our feet was shrouded in it. The infinite void threatened to strip away our sense of direction entirely.
Strangest of all, we could see one another with perfect clarity amid the gloom. It was like stepping into a comic book panel painted against an inky black backdrop.
"Look over there!"
Jang Hana's sharp cry snapped our attention to where her finger pointed.
There, dominating the heart of this otherworldly dark expanse, loomed a single entity—the apparent master of this domain.
It sat enthroned upon a colossal seat. The instant my eyes fell on it, a bone-chilling shiver raced through me. This thing dwarfed even the T-Rex we'd just battled in sheer menace.
Clad in a black helmet and flowing black cloak, its face was fully obscured by the helm, marred only by a small cross-shaped fissure. Its attire evoked a medieval noble's banquet garb, but bizarre geometric patterns—utterly alien to Earth—adorned it chaotically.
The being rose, its black cloak billowing in perfect harmony with the space, conjuring the image of a lofty tyrant. We zeroed in on its every motion.
Suddenly, crushing mana pressure slammed down around us.
"Ngh!"
Kim Sunwook's weaker party members buckled at the mere act of it standing. Even Sujin and Yeonji blanched. No ordinary foe, this one.
(They were coming at me first. Saves the hassle.)
Its voice rang in our minds. No sound waves—just raw telepathy.
"The monster's talking!"
Jisu yelped in shock. The telepathic message had broadcast to all of us.
That alone confirmed it was no pushover.
(Hm? You can actually converse? Ah, must be from that villager I devoured earlier—the one with mental abilities.)
"Who the hell are you!? You a monster!?"
Kim Sunwook bellowed, tension coiling in his voice.
(Your petty labels mean nothing to me. I'm only interested in you.)
It pointed straight at me. I stepped forward.
"Jaesung!"
Yeonji glued herself to my side. I spoke loud enough for everyone to hear.
"Don't know what the fuck this thing is, but it's no one to chat with. We kill it, period. Everyone, max out your focus! Fight like you're ready to die!"
""Got it!""
"Hoo!"
I let out a short breath. I could feel its gaze lock onto me.
Questions about this monster burned in my mind. But it was far too dangerous to spare just to satisfy curiosity.
'Time Pose!'
Time Pose 1Lv (SS-grade)
Consumes 99% of your stamina and mana to irrationally halt time for 1 minute. Cannot stop passive skills or item effects. Usable once per hour.
I went all-out from the jump. Time flowed normally even in this bizarre dark realm—and I wrought the miracle of freezing it.
The miracle's toll drained most of my stamina, but it was a bargain. With stamina and mana restored via sweet potatoes, I unleashed Time Acceleration to close the gap.
'True Kick!'
The kick, infused with the mysteries of rotating ki, lashed out at the frozen foe. Fierce ki erupted from my dantian, swirling around my leg like a vortex.
The foot—strongest destructive weapon in the human arsenal—unleashed a killing blow.
Boom!
Before impact, its cloak dissolved into the air. The molten cloak morphed into dark mist, blocking my strike.
'Tch! Auto-defense item, huh?'
'True Fist!'
Time remained frozen. I hammered a straight fist at the misty barrier.
Every defense item has durability. But the dark mist endured both kick and fist without fading. Insane toughness.
'Then...!'
Time to tap that fresh epiphany again. Holy light particles illuminated the pitch void, coalescing in my hand into a blade. Anyone would see it: the foe as the demon king itself, and me as the hero slaying it... right?
'True Full Moon Slash!'
I manifested supreme swordsmanship anew. The spinning blade birthed a dense full moon, piercing the black mist shielding the entity. Light repelled the dark particles.
Shooo!
The dark mist reverted to cloak. Durability tapped out?
I held back on follow-ups and pulled away. Time Pose was ending.
(Hm?)
Time resumed. The thing tilted its head.
(The cloak's barrier is gone. Clever trick.)
No sooner had it spoken than it blinked in front of me. Faster than the eye could follow.
"Ngh!"
I swapped Light Saber to Holy Gauntlet. Holy light erupted from my fists.
Our arms clashed. Instinctively, I raised mine to block. Dizzying pain shot through my arm.
BOOM!
"Jaesung!"
Yeonji's scream pierced the air. Snapping to, I realized I'd been hurled dozens of meters back.
Head spinning, I rolled and planted my feet on the dark ground, barely standing.
"Arm's busted."
Terrifying physical power. I cast Light Cure to mend the shattered bone. Shallow fracture—fixed in seconds, thanks to the Holy Gauntlet.
"I'll hold it somehow!"
Rina's voice. Ten chains burst from her, lashing every direction.
(Not a bad ability.)
Vmmm!
The chains, snaking like venomous serpents, slammed to the ground as if magnetized. Utterly unnatural. And that wasn't all.
"Kyaa!"
Rina cried out childishly, dropping to her knees. Like invisible hands crushing her shoulders. That bastard's doing, no doubt.
"Wait, that..."
Sujin stiffened, face ashen. I gauntleted up and charged the thing.
"I'll smash you!"
(Stay put.)
It reached out. Crushing pressure bore down on my shoulders—same as Rina's. A familiar vibe hit me.
What is this? Feels like I've tanked it before...
An unpleasant face flashed in my mind: Shim Chunsik, dealer from Do Byeongseok's party. His ability? Gravity Control.
No way!?
A grim hunch struck. But no time for detective work. I bit my lip, mustering every ounce of strength to press forward.
(Resisting that force? Not ordinary, as expected. That light power of yours is what I crave most!)
Its body vanished in a blur, reappearing before me. Not speed—spatial leap.
Vmmm!
Thick darkness coalesced on its right hand, thrusting unhesitatingly at my gut. Forewarned from before, I ducked my torso and raised guard.
Boom!
Numbing shock rattled my arms to their limit. I shoved forward with guarded fists, channeling power.
'True Shield Strike!'
True KHC - Shield Strike 3Lv (C-grade)
Consumes inner energy to transition defense into offense. Gains attack power equal to defense.
Boom!
Pain exploded like shattering rock. Gritting through the daze, I tracked its movements with sheer willpower.