A Demon in the Deep
In Pandemonium Online, when there was a massive level gap—which essentially meant a massive stat gap—certain things were bound to happen. Namely, a situation where every single attack you threw would either miss or be deflected. When things reached this point, there was virtually nothing you could do, no matter how many people you had on your side. After all, a fight was only possible if you actually had a way to damage your opponent!
The Ancient Giant began to rampage once more. Its movements were on an entirely different level compared to a regular giant. While regular giants felt somewhat sluggish due to their sheer bulk, the Ancient Giant was as swift as an arrow. A colossal monster, several times larger than its peers, was lunging forward with overwhelming Strength and Agility stats. On top of that, its Defense and Resistance were so absurdly high that normal attacks and skills couldn't even scratch it!
Lee Se-yeon and Smith shouted at the same time.
"Retreat!"
When a boss monster was impossible to defeat, the only option was to retreat immediately. Whether in a dungeon or out in the open field, it didn't matter! Otherwise, the only thing waiting for them was total annihilation.
"You bastard, how dare you!"
"Stop!"
However, a few of the players gritted their teeth and charged forward anyway. It was sheer bravado, born of a desperate desire to land even a single blow! It was a reckless move fueled by the greed to show off their skills as pro players, mixed with the pride of being top rankers.
"Do you truly think you can escape?"
Completely ignoring the players attacking from behind, the Ancient Giant focused entirely on chasing down those who were fleeing.
"Aim for the legs! Bring it down!"
Unleashing their fury on the giant's wide-open back, the players poured in their most powerful offensive skills. *Boom! Boom! Boom!*
The target's defense is too high!
Weapon durability has decreased significantly!
Despite focusing their attacks on the legs to reduce its movement speed, the shocking result was zero damage! Finding them annoying, the Ancient Giant casually delivered a backkick. *Thud!* Moving at a speed that left no room for reaction, it sent two more players flying high into the sky.
Still, there was one silver lining. Thanks to the players who had let their greed get the better of them, the monster's aggro was completely locked onto them. Lee Se-yeon didn't bother giving any orders. There was only one thing they could do right now: scatter and run at full speed!
Smith had also immediately turned his mount around to put some distance between them. There were still a few players left behind, but there was no way to save them. They had to survive on their own.
Those crazy bastards in the Asbian Empire...! Giving us a quest like this?!
The Underground Alliance Goblins grumbled once every three seconds. The reason was simple: the Dwarves were doing far too well! While the Underground Alliance Goblins had fled to the desert to escape the Emperor, scraping by in the harsh underground, the Dwarves had claimed this magnificent subterranean realm and were living in absolute comfort. It made their stomachs twist with intense jealousy!
The tunnels dating back to the era of the Ancient Empire were only the beginning. Once they passed through the passages and reached the subterranean city of the Galkard Tribe, a vast underground facility welcomed the group. An area the size of a castle was nestled deep beneath the earth. And it wasn't just a simple space hollowed out of the dirt. Sturdy gates were installed at key points, and various elegant, antique Dwarven buildings lined the streets. It was clear this wasn't built overnight; they had settled and lived here since ancient times. A kingdom that had prospered for ages! The Dwarven tribes refused to call their settlements "villages," no matter how small, always referring to them as "kingdoms." Seeing this, that description felt entirely accurate.
"They certainly have a lot of heritage," Jeong Su-hyeok remarked.
"There's a reason why everyone wants to visit a Dwarven settlement," Lee Da-bi agreed.
Even the giants nodded in agreement.
"The short ones live in a nice place. Impressive they built all this."
"Incredible craftsmanship."
"Ah, it's really nothing special!" the goblins shrieked, growing even more furious as even the giants were won over. What was so great about Dwarves anyway!
✨ Reputation has increased significantly!
📈 Experience points have been acquired.
🔨 Your Blacksmithing Skill has increased.
"If you wait here, we will go inside and deliver your message," the Dwarves said in front of the firmly shut gate.
Tae-hyun was about to agree, but then he paused. *...Wait, can they actually deliver the message?* Tae-hyun imagined what the Dwarven patrol would say when they went back inside.
"Everyone! We went outside and met a guest who has come to our mountains. He is a human royal with exceptionally high Blacksmithing and Engineering skills, a renowned hero with countless achievements!"
"Oh... If he is such a person, we may welcome him into our kingdom. How did you meet him?"
"We ran into him in the underground passages while he was leading a horde of goblins, giants, and demons, and he completely smashed our chariot!"
"...What?"
No matter how he looked at it, this wasn't going to end in a peaceful persuasion. It would be stranger if the Dwarves *didn't* react by thinking, *'Those patrol guards must have lost their minds after encountering demons!'*
“It would be much better if you went and persuaded them yourself.”
Yeah, I think so too.
"Actually, no. I think it would be better to just bring the Dwarven leaders out here. I'll speak to them directly."
"?"
The Dwarven patrol looked puzzled, wondering why Tae-hyun was acting this way.
"Well, if Your Majesty wishes to explain in person, we shall convey that request."
"Yes, yes. Thank you."
Tae-hyun waited amicably with the Archisus Artillery in front of the subterranean fortress of the Galkard Dwarf Kingdom.
"...Wait. Do you hear that?"
"Huh? Your Majesty. W-we didn't spit, we swear!" the Underground Alliance Goblins hurriedly made excuses. They *had* spat a little because they found the Dwarves so obnoxious and annoying, but had he actually heard that?!
"Not that sound... I think I hear something coming from inside."
"!"
Tae-hyun's group immediately stood up. It sounded like some sort of commotion had broken out inside the subterranean fortress.
"...mon! ...demon!"
"Prepare for battle! Bring out the chariots!"
"Everyone, wake up! A ... has breached the interior!"
"What's going on?"
"Senior. Could they be preparing to attack us?" Jeong Su-hyeok asked nervously.
Tae-hyun and his companions stared blankly at each other. *...C-could it be?*
"Hyung. Let's strike first," Yu Ji-soo said, immediately drawing her gun and bow. Her expression was calm, but her eyes were burning with determination. If a fight was inevitable, striking first was always the best policy! She had learned some truly excellent habits from a certain someone.
"Shouldn't we check the situation first before we start fighting?"
"She's right. Nothing is certain yet..." Choi Sang-yun and Lee Da-bi tried to hold Yu Ji-soo back.
"But we can just check *after* we attack!"
"Whoa. That archer is incredibly logical."
"I can't even refute that."
The giants marveled at Yu Ji-soo's logic. *Just hit them first and ask questions later!*
Meanwhile, Tae-hyun was deep in thought. Honestly, they could fight whenever they wanted. Since when did Tae-hyun ever need extensive preparation to start a fight? His group could dive straight into battle the moment they cast their buffs. The artillery unit was ready too... What he was actually wondering was why the Dwarves were making such a fuss!
"It's a demon! A demon has appeared!"
"...Is it really us?"
Having a guilty conscience about many things, Tae-hyun couldn't help but flinch. Had his worst fears actually come true?!
“This is why you should pay more attention to your appearance.”
Up until now, they had been lucky because Tae-hyun had either suppressed others with his authority or met races that absolutely adored him. But the Archisus Artillery's appearance was simply too monstrous. They dragged demons around locked in iron cages, draining their power to charge their cannons. What a terrifying sight that was!
*But how am I supposed to change that? It would be incredibly inconvenient in many ways if we didn't bring the demons along.*
“Of course you must bring the demons along.”
*?*
“Why don't you cover the cages with a cute rabbit-patterned cloth instead?”
*......*
It was a completely unexpected suggestion. *I don't think that would change anything, though...*
*Boom! Crash!*
"Capture that demon before it rampages any further! Fire the magic cannons!"
"It's escaping outside!"
"!"
Tae-hyun, who had been worrying, suddenly brightened up.
"What a relief! It wasn't us!"
"Thank goodness!"
As Tae-hyun's group cheered, Yong-yong asked in a bewildered voice,
"Master. A demon has appeared in the Dwarven city, so how is this a relief?"
"Ah. I suppose you're right."
Come to think of it, this wasn't something to celebrate. If the Dwarves saw them, they would probably say, *'Look at those demon-toting bastards, they've finally revealed their evil colors!'*
"Your Majesty! Please help the Dwarves!" the Dwarves of the Archisus Artillery pleaded.
Tae-hyun nodded.
"I was planning to help even if you hadn't asked."
Everyone in the group was ready to fight—except for the grumbling goblins.
"We're going in! The terrain inside will be narrow and complex, so be careful not to break anything!"
*Crash!*
Before he could even finish his sentence, a deafening roar echoed as the gate shattered. Tae-hyun's heart instantly dropped.
"...Which one of you fired?"
"I didn't shoot, Hyung!" Yu Ji-soo waved her hands in a panic. She wouldn't be able to bear it if Tae-hyun misunderstood her.
"We didn't fire either!" the artillery Dwarves cried out in shock. Why would they fire their cannons when they were going in to help?
Everyone's gaze shifted toward the goblins. The goblins jumped up and down in protest.
"No matter how mischievous we are, we would never disobey an order!"
"Hmm. Right. I believe you."
"Your Majesty...! I knew it...!"
"But could you guys go stand way back there? It's nothing major, I just want you to stay out of the way."
"Your Majesty! You definitely don't believe us!"
The Underground Alliance Goblins wept floods of tears. What about the burning trust and friendship between them?! But Tae-hyun remained cold. *These guys are the most suspicious.*
“Look ahead!”
"Ha! What kind of lowlife are you?!"
"?"
Indeed, the goblins hadn't destroyed the Dwarven gate. The demon that had appeared inside the city had smashed through the gate from the inside to escape.
"...Goblins! I always believed in you!"
"Your Majesty! We knew it!"
⊳ The Underground Alliance Goblins are deeply moved!
⊳ Affinity with the Underground Alliance Goblins has increased.
Even with such half-hearted treatment, their affinity refused to drop! He was truly a fatal man to the goblins.
The demon that had smashed through the gate grew furious when Tae-hyun's group ignored him. Demons were naturally arrogant, insolent, ill-tempered, despicable, and vindictive. It was already insulting enough that they weren't groveling and trembling in fear before him, but their sheer nonchalance made him seethe with rage.
"Insignificant mortals! I shall slaughter you along with the Dwarves!"
"Fire."
"?"
*Boom! Boom! Crash!*
Accompanied by a sound like roaring thunder, a lightning-fast barrage began. The Dwarves, who had already finished loading, activated over a dozen cannons the moment the command fell, unleashing a concentrated bombardment.
"Can I shoot too, Master?!"
"If you shoot, I won't get any experience points, so hold back."
Yu Ji-soo slung her gun over her back, drew her bow, and activated her skills. Jeong Su-hyeok and Lee Da-bi also poured down all kinds of ranged skills.
"Da-bi. It looks like we have enough damage, so focus on casting buffs."
"Understood."
Lee Da-bi pulled out some gold and immediately cast her priest skills. With holy buffs additionally applied to the cannonballs, the damage dealt became even more devastating.
"Wa-wait... Hold on! Wa—!"
Amidst the roaring explosions, the demon's desperate cries could be heard. The artillery Dwarves looked at Tae-hyun, their eyes asking, *'Should we stop?'* But Tae-hyun shook his head.
"Just finish him off."
Capturing a demon was fine and all, but now was not the time. They already had plenty of demons with them, and they didn't even know this opponent's identity. Rather than taking unnecessary risks trying to capture him, it was better to put him out of his misery.
*Boom! Crash! Bang!*
Since Tae-hyun told them to finish him off, the Dwarves didn't hesitate to blast away with absolute glee. The giants quickly lifted the heavy cannonballs and passed them along in perfect rhythm.
"Wa-wait! I said wait... You motherf— Aaaaargh!"
"Huh?" Tae-hyun muttered, puzzled. *Was that guy surprisingly strong?*