Irregular Dungeon (3)
A brilliant flash erupted from Kim Jehyun's body as mana surged explosively. The mana quickly gathered at his forehead.
Bzzz.
Dragon Horn
Along with the alert floating before his eyes, Jehyun's mana control skyrocketed.
Swoosh.
As Jehyun extended his hand, tremendous mana began to coalesce. To the mutant boss, it was the prelude to hell.
Yang Jaejin's eyes widened like saucers as he watched Jehyun.
"W-What the hell is that?"
Yang Jaejin rubbed his eyes, wondering if he'd seen wrong, and muttered to himself.
"Huh? What do you mean?"
Heo Gwang-sik, who had been staring at Jehyun in shock, turned to him with a questioning look.
"That. Can't you see the thing sprouting from his head?"
"Uh... well, it just looks like mana haze shimmering around him."
"You can't see it? There's something like a horn forming on his head."
"W-Well, my eyes can't really... Can Mage Jeon Jong-sik see it?"
"No... I'm not sure either."
Yang Jaejin swallowed hard at Heo Gwang-sik and Jeon Jong-sik's words. In his eyes, a horn-like shape was faintly visible. But to them, it seemed like mere faint mana haze.
He wasn't seeing things. He could feel an intensely powerful mana concentrated in that horn-like form, chilling him to the bone.
'Is it because their circles are too low?'
The gap between 3rd Circle and 4th Circle. That difference must be why they couldn't perceive it. It was the most logical explanation.
But the real issue wasn't whether they could see the horn or not.
'That prickling mana... What the hell? That's a 3rd Circle?'
He could see it with his own eyes, but he couldn't believe it. How could someone with more mana than him—a 4th Circle—only be at 3rd Circle? A 2nd Circle might somehow have more mana than a 3rd through tricks, but a 4th Circle having less than a 3rd? That was nonsense.
'And Kim Jehyun just reached 3rd Circle.'
Yang Jaejin's mind reeled. Jehyun's feats defied common sense, leaving him speechless.
But even he couldn't dwell on it further. Jehyun, with the horn manifested, pressed the attack and displayed yet another astonishing sight.
"Kasaa? That's Kasa, right?"
Someone shouted.
A golden eagle appeared, embroidering golden ripples in the air. It was Jehyun's spirit, now known to everyone in the Magic Tower.
"It's... bigger?"
It was larger than the last size anyone remembered.
"No way it's gotten stronger just because it's bigger, right?"
"Even his spirit got stronger here?"
Reaching 3rd Circle through pure magic study was unbelievable enough. A stronger spirit on top of that? Unimaginable.
But they soon witnessed it. Their "no way" was reality.
Whoosh!
Leaving a long golden trail in the air, Kasa dove toward the mutant boss's leg.
"Grrruuuk!"
The mutant boss let out a strangled cry. Exposed to Dragon Fear, its body was rigid, forcing it to watch helplessly as Kasa tore into its leg.
Jehyun wasn't standing idle either. Magic circles bloomed wildly in the air.
A truly insane casting speed!
"C-Crazy! Casting at that speed?!"
Not multi-casting, but a speed that shattered norms.
Hold. Entangle. Ice Fog. Ice Spear.
Four spells manifested in an instant, surging toward the mutant boss. Mana threads wrapped its body, vines rose to bind its legs further. The temperature around it plummeted, freezing its form, and finally, ice spears erupted from the ground, piercing its body in multiple spots.
"Grrruuluk!"
A pitiful wail echoed. The stiffness from Dragon Fear had nearly worn off, but Jehyun's spells restricted its movement once more.
Bzzz.
In that state, Kasa returned to Jehyun's side. Meanwhile, the World Tree Bracelet (Fire) on his left wrist resonated with Kasa.
Bzzz!
Jehyun's body glowed golden as his fire spirit power surged dramatically.
'Spirit Magic: Kasa's Wrath'
Fwoosh!
A golden orb like a miniature sun formed. Faster than before, thanks to his elevated realm and the bracelet's amplification.
The bracelet made spirit magic viable even in combat.
Fwiiiish!
Kasa's Wrath shot out, dyeing the boss room gold as it struck the mutant boss, exploding massively.
Kaboooom!
Golden flames filled the air, their scorching heat dominating the chamber.
"Gr... rrk."
Golden fire enveloped the mutant boss entirely. Its agonized cries filled the air.
Thud.
Without meaningful resistance, the charred boss collapsed. Jehyun had soloed it.
"......"
A heavy silence blanketed the room. Even the investigators' breaths were inaudible. They stared blankly between the fallen boss and Jehyun, jaws dropped, unable to process the scene.
"Whoa......"
"C-Crazy... He soloed the mutant boss?"
"Holy... Is that guy really human? Not an elf or something?"
Exclamations erupted simultaneously. They said he had historic talent, and it was true. No one expected a fresh 3rd Circle like Jehyun—not even 4th Circle Yang Jaejin—to overwhelm the boss like this.
Shocked, they could only tremble.
'This... makes sense?'
Yang Jaejin was the most stunned. Mouth agape, he was speechless.
As the sole 4th Circle, he'd sensed Jehyun's mana flow better than anyone when downing the boss.
'Could I win using everything I have?'
He shuddered involuntarily, chuckling bitterly. He was 4th Circle, with powers from the purple orb. He could crush peers easily, but against Jehyun? Victory seemed elusive.
'That guy's a real monster.'
Fear of Jehyun flickered in Yang Jaejin's heart.
* * *
"What? You're leaving the dungeon core?"
"Isn't the investigation done?"
An investigator asked Yang Jaejin in bewilderment. They'd collected most samples, including from the boss. They planned to destroy the core and seal it.
"We don't know if these samples alone can reveal the irregular's cause."
Yang Jaejin's words seemed reasonable. But leaving it open? Doubtful it'd yield more.
"But if we leave it... Mutants might keep spawning. This dungeon's old too—if a break happens..."
Horrifying thought. Even a few mutants reaching civilians would be disaster.
"The Superhuman Association is monitoring for breaks, so no issue. And Mage Jeong Ye-eun doesn't look good... Better head back first."
Mentioning Jeong Ye-eun worked. The team had bonds, and she needed urgent treatment from the boss's tongue poison.
They were convinced. Plus, Yang Jaejin was leader; suggestions ok, but not defiance.
—That guy's trying to gloss over something.
'Yeah. Stinks of trouble.'
Jehyun's eyes narrowed. He hadn't grasped Yang Jaejin's full goal, but the resonance between his energy and the boss's suggested kidnapping some investigators via the boss.
"Alright, then let's head b......"
As Yang Jaejin spoke—
Rumble rumble rumble.
"Wh-What?"
"Huh?"
The swamp grass shook, ripples spread over stagnant pools. The ground vibrated fiercely.
"Earthquake?"
Just like someone said. Earthquake-like.
Yang Jaejin's face hardened; Jehyun's eyes gleamed.
—Felt it?
'Yeah. That's... mana waves.'
Not a mere quake. Others missed it, but Jehyun's keen mana sensitivity revealed powerful mana waves caused it.
"This is bad. Everyone, out of the dungeon now."
At Yang Jaejin's order, they rushed to the exit. Jehyun memorized the waves' origin and dungeon layout while fleeing.
Bzzz.
The portal shuddered, spitting out the team.
"Phew. Finally can breathe."
Someone sighed in relief. Dungeon air was humid, fishy, suffocating. Outside was fresh.
"We'll take Ye-eun back to the Tower first."
Two supporting Jeong Ye-eun bid farewell for urgent treatment.
"We'll clean up and go."
Heo Gwang-sik said. Nods all around.
—What now?
'Can't leave it like this.'
Jehyun had a strong hunch he couldn't leave yet.
Tick tick tick.
He pulled out his smartphone, sent a message—insurance for what came next.
"I have business elsewhere, so I'll head off first."
Jehyun bowed. They thanked him, some for saving them, others exchanging contacts praising him.
After brief chatter, most left with Yang Jaejin for the Tower.
Clack.
"All gone now."
Jehyun, who'd said he was leaving elsewhere, reappeared at the portal entrance. He'd slipped Yang Jaejin's gaze to investigate alone.
Bzzz.
Jehyun re-entered, dashing to the memorized path.
"Around here somewhere......"
Pushing through dense swamp foliage, Jehyun muttered. He'd reached the dungeon's outer edge. A wall marked the end ahead.
—Kim Jehyun! Over there.
At Alkasha's words, Jehyun turned.
"That...!"
Distorted mana flow. Clear signs of artificial interference.
Bzzz.
Jehyun's eyes turned amber. Dragon Eye activated, revealing an illusion barrier magic circle there.
He immediately began dismantling it. Absurd for anyone to witness—a 3rd Circle piercing Invisibility illusion, then reverse-dismantling it. 5th Circle+ territory.
But with dragon powers and Alkasha's knowledge, child's play for Jehyun. Better suited than combat for his abilities now.
"Done."
With those words, light flashed. The illusion vanished, revealing a hidden building.
"A building?"
Jehyun's eyes widened. A small research facility. In a dungeon? Unheard of.
As he cautiously observed from outside, sensing trouble—
"Hah, I hoped it wasn't true."
A familiar voice. Jehyun turned. Yang Jaejin stood there, face twisted like a demon.