Unwanted Proof (3)
“Since we're the advance party for the first clear, be prepared to evacuate if things go south.”
In the end, the party members were decided. Me, Kim Ji-eun, Lee Se-jin, and Diana joined forces, with two more from other factions, making a total of six in the advance party. I gave them the standard advice about using items to withdraw if necessary, but I had no intention of failing on the first try. I'd already memorized the detailed raid from the fan gallery.
Knowing the raid method, it was a dungeon we could tackle step by step without overexerting ourselves. With single-digit rankers like Lee Se-jin and Diana, it felt reassuring at times like this. With sufficient raid knowledge and firepower, there was no reason commanding would be difficult.
I led the party smoothly into preparing for the dungeon assault without any hitches.
“We'll make a detailed plan once we scout the interior.”
“I heard you don't have much advance party experience, but you're commanding quite adeptly.”
“Anyone who's made it this far could do this much, right?”
Diana let out a small sound of admiration at my command. I averted my gaze, feeling a pang of guilt. In truth, most of my abilities came from my knowledge as a possessor or peeking at the fan gallery's raid. Knowing my innate talents were utterly ordinary made it impossible not to feel a twinge of unease.
151st Floor Dungeon: Collapsed Royal Tomb Opened
'This is the first dungeon entering the Alt World.'
The dungeon, set in the ruins of a tomb near the residential district, took the form of a commonplace underground dungeon. But its familiarity ended there—this was an Alt World dungeon, backdroped by a fallen world. Its difficulty and gimmicks were incomparable to previous floors.
Even from the reactions of Fate Road users who'd already experienced it, the Alt World's notoriety was sky-high. From what I could see, nearly all users seemed to despise it from their challenger days.
The air is filled with the poison of destruction.
One cause was the pervasive poison in the air. Even those who'd reached the 151st floor felt chest tightness and labored breathing—a debuff that could be fatal in the top layers where a hair's breadth decided life or death.
“Feels like something's stuck in my throat.”
“Ugh, like when you get muscle soreness.”
Indeed, Kim Ji-eun clutched her throat and coughed upon entering, while Lee Se-jin rubbed her heavy arms and furrowed her brow.
As the fan gallery users predicted, my Radiance trait granted immunity to this baseline poison. I'd foreseen this moment when I first realized I'd possessed the character and worked to acquire Radiance.
“I can help now, but you should adapt.”
“Ooh... so this is the power of Radiance.”
I expanded the Radiance light from my body, purifying the poison, and my companions' expressions eased. Karom, the orc shaman among us, blinked in wonder and flexed his now-relieved body.
“First time seeing it this close. Beautiful, Moonlight Blade Radiance.”
“...Thanks for the praise.”
I chuckled at Diana's murmur, her eyes sparkling at my silver hair glowing like moonlight. Perhaps because we'd had little interaction before, her pure curiosity—neither wary nor adoring—felt refreshingly novel.
“Let's advance.”
Thus refreshed, we began the dungeon in earnest.
'The real start begins after the Labyrinth's Curse activates.'
True to its underground labyrinth nature, the paths were labyrinthine, enemies appearing sequentially. We pressed on against undead-type monsters, but so far, Lee Se-jin and I in the front didn't even need to swing our swords. Ranged attacks from Kim Ji-eun and the rearguard wiped them out.
“Is that all there is?”
“No way. Stay alert now. Weak enemies often hide something bigger.”
I shook my head at Lee Se-jin's words. This was just the deceptive shell. As gallery users said, once the Labyrinth's Curse triggered and scattered the party, the true raid began.
“The ground—the ground!”
“The dungeon's collapsing!”
Sure enough, the curse soon struck. A massive quake engulfed us; cracks spiderwebbed the walls, the floor crumbled, revealing an endless abyss beneath our feet.
“Hold steady! It's just a gimmick!”
Even top rankers couldn't fly without special abilities. I shouted to keep the flailing, screaming party calm mid-fall.
“Reina!”
I reached for Kim Ji-eun's desperately outstretched hand, but as our fingers brushed, the fall halted, slamming me onto hard stone.
'All according to what I knew up to now.'
Not lethal, but the impact cracked the floor and stone beneath me, drawing a natural groan of pain. Clenching my fists, I gritted my teeth and rose. Silence reigned in the torch-lit spacious corridor; Kim Ji-eun, who'd been right there, was gone.
Now, our splintered party had to clear our separate routes.
“Labyrinth's Curse. Just like you said—a dungeon trap.”
“Guess we got lucky?”
I let out a hollow laugh at the voice behind me. Rising with a frown was none other than Diana.
“Worried about the others?”
“One of the two I'm not worried about is right here, so yeah, a bit uneasy on that front.”
Scattered randomly, we couldn't know the others' fates. Lee Se-jin or Diana could handle solo, but Diana had ended up with me.
'No choice but to find the path and route fast.'
Not overly concerned, but delays could spell trouble elsewhere. I didn't want Kim Ji-eun hurt, so I'd follow the users' guide to end this quickly.
“Can you find the way?”
“First time here—how? For now... by feel.”
Diana's eyes lit up as I chose the right path. But the specific traces leading to the boss room—a secret only I knew—I couldn't mention to her or any watchers.
The labyrinth is changing
“What...?”
The moment I entered the correct path, the corridor quaked again—walls parting, floors opening—paths shifting once more. My body froze in shock.
This wasn't in the guide.
“---!”
“Enemies!”
Mummy warriors from the new opening glared fiercely, charging with weapons raised.
'Why?!'
I hastily parried their spears, eyes widening. I'd chosen right per the strategy. But the shift made it wrong.
“Could be another trap.”
Cold air surged behind me as Diana's ability activated. Sharp ice shards from the blizzard pierced and shredded the enemies.
“Pick the next path.”
“Yeah.”
I nodded at her calm demeanor, lowering her massive bow. But unease lingered.
Having suffered constellation sabotage before, I knew haters existed. No guarantee they wouldn't act now.
'Do they still not know?'
I wanted to sleep and check the gallery. Serpina's silence meant one thing: no confirmed interference yet. If so, maybe just a natural trap, as Diana said.
“Let's keep going.”
To confirm, I needed more info from gallery users. Gripping my sword, I headed opposite.
Paths might shift, but a set route existed.
'Diana's with me now. Would they risk her too?'
No hard proof, but many suspected Lee Se-jin's extreme fans for last time's trolling. Chan-su's faction was elsewhere then, safe. But Diana was one of theirs now beside me.
Would they attack, risking her?
The labyrinth is changing
“This crazy...!”
Complex thoughts solidified quickly. I'd chosen right again, yet the labyrinth twisted, unleashing a massive blade trap at us.