Demon God's Armor (5)
Rumble!
The passage was collapsing. Yeong-sik, with Han-seong in his arms, rocketed out using full Boost power.
"What else did you grab besides that sword back there?"
Having grown accustomed to the Boost's speed, Han-seong asked Yeong-sik. As far as he knew, the silvery-white sword stored in that transparent case was Luminas, the legendary blade once wielded by the Hero Andras. Legends about it numbered in the dozens. Though it required royal blood of the Elnot lineage—specifically, the chosen one—to wield due to its ego, its value was priceless.
It was hard to understand why Yeong-sik had passed on it for a dull, unmagical suit of armor.
"Who knows. I don't even know what I picked up myself."
Yeong-sik recalled the pitch-black suit he'd found hidden in the wall. The moment he saw it, he realized it wasn't armor or a magical device—it was made of mechanical components. But he had no idea why something straight out of a sci-fi movie was stashed away inside a crumbling wall.
What the hell is going on?
The palace annex had been collapsing, leaving no time to Structure Analysis the black suit or even touch it for a proper scan. It nagged at him now, sitting in his inventory.
Rumble!
A massive pile of rubble crashed down beside him as he pondered. Yeong-sik clicked his tongue and spoke.
"Let's get out first and think later."
"Yes."
Han-seong nodded grimly, eyeing the crumbling passage. The flames of Yeong-sik's back-mounted Boost burned brighter.
"Intruder... eliminate."
Thud!
"Ngh!"
As they Boosted toward the exit, Yeong-sik spotted Yu-jin darting around with short-range spatial jumps, evading the guardian.
"Yu-jin!"
"Damn it! You're late!"
Yu-jin's eyes lit up at the sight of Yeong-sik and Han-seong. He thrust out his left hand.
"Space Wall!"
A distortion in space formed like a wall before him.
Thud!
The guardian's fist smashed into it.
"Gather around me, quick!"
Yu-jin shouted urgently. Yeong-sik and Han-seong placed hands on his shoulders.
"Buy me a second!"
Yu-jin began casting his spatial magic. Han-seong watched the guardian tear at the warped space.
Facing a Ranker-level guardian in a collapsing passage—things couldn't get worse.
"Divine Barrier!"
Han-seong squeezed out every ounce of mana, erecting a holy shield.
The guardian's glowing blue sword slammed into it.
"Cough!"
Han-seong spat dark blood from the impact. Yeong-sik glanced at Yu-jin—still casting—and stepped forward.
"Radiance!"
The skill from the A-rank Memory Cube activated. A translucent white shield materialized before him.
Boom!
The guardian's destructive swing halted against the pure white barrier.
Yu-jin's mouth moved.
"Warp!"
Flash!
Yeong-sik, Yu-jin, and Han-seong melted into the air and vanished.
* * *
"Hah... hah... We made it out just in time."
Han-seong panted, turning his head. He didn't know the palace annex's layout, but they'd emerged at the original entrance—no more collapse vibrations.
"Urgh... hack!"
Yu-jin groaned in agony, collapsing and clutching his left chest, body trembling faintly. Dark blood poured from his mouth and nose.
"Lie down, Yu-jin. I'll heal you."
Han-seong grabbed his shoulder. Yu-jin shook his head.
"No. You know this wound won't heal with magic."
"I can at least ease the pain."
Han-seong cast a pain-relief spell. Yu-jin's expression softened.
Yeong-sik watched and asked, "You always clutch your left chest after casting. Is there a reason?"
"My magic strains my heart. Overuse brings intense pain."
"...Isn't that dangerous?"
"I've been using it for years. I'm used to it."
Yu-jin wiped the blood from his mouth.
As he stood, Han-seong raised the communication crystal orb.
"This is Team A. Target secured."
⊳ Target not yet secured. No sign of the objective at designated location. Requesting support.
Team E, led by Tiriya von Erman, was handling hostage rescue from the underground prison.
"Heading your way now."
Han-seong cut the comm, face twisting slightly.
"Strange. Rescuing hostages from the prison shouldn't take this long..."
He muttered, puzzled, and moved out.
"Let's link up with Yuna in the underground prison first."
Yeong-sik and Yu-jin nodded and followed toward the prison.
Thud!
"Damn it! Where the hell did they hide them?!"
Yuna's irritated voice echoed as they arrived. The group headed her way.
There, Yuna, Tiriya, A-ra, and Gil-su scanned the walls, tapping them.
"Still no sign of Duke Erman?" Han-seong asked.
"Yes... We've searched everywhere, but no sign of Father, Mother, or my brother."
Tiriya replied anxiously.
Yeong-sik approached the fidgeting Tiriya. "Could they be somewhere other than the prison?"
"...No. The prisoners said they were here until recently."
Tiriya bit her lip darkly. Yeong-sik scanned the prison.
Nearly a hundred cells held prisoners clinging to bars, pleading with the Salvatore Guild members.
"P-please get us out! We were framed by King Hendrick and thrown in here!"
"Get me out and I'll give you 5,000 gold! No, 7,000!"
"Open this door quick! It's hell in here!"
The underground prison housed nobles who'd fallen from Hendrick's favor—bribery, embezzlement, tax evasion. They demanded, begged, or rattled bars for freedom, offering fortunes.
"I said only the one who tells us the Erman Duke's location gets out! One more word beyond what I ask, and you won't leave alive!"
Yuna snapped sharply. The clamor died; prisoners eyed each other warily.
"...No one knows Duke Erman's location, it seems."
Yeong-sik muttered, noting their sealed lips. If they knew, they'd have spilled.
"Spread out and search. There might be hidden spots."
Yeong-sik said, thinking of the black suit concealed in the annex wall. The guild nodded and paired off to scour the prison.
Tiriya paired with Yeong-sik. She anxiously pressed walls, searching cells.
The vast prison naturally separated them.
"Scan."
Yeong-sik scanned the walls. No hidden spaces.
"Let's check elsewhere."
"Y-yes."
Tiriya followed with a dark expression. Yeong-sik glanced back.
"What are the guild master's family like?"
He shifted topics to ease her worry. Tiriya smiled faintly.
"Good people. Mother was kind, Father gruff but doting. My little brother was full of charm."
She spoke nostalgically, then darkly: "They're innocent—too good for this place."
"Don't worry. We'll find them soon."
Yeong-sik comforted her, scanning as they went. Soon, he spotted a square metal plate on the floor—like a manhole cover. His eyes gleamed.
No sewer in a prison like this?
Prisoners used chamber pots—no modern plumbing.
"Scan."
A space below registered in his mind.
"Guild master."
"Yes?"
Tiriya hurried over. Yeong-sik tapped the plate.
"Hidden space below."
"Ah..."
Her face brightened with a gasp.
"Step back a moment."
"Got it."
Tiriya retreated. Red light poured from Yeong-sik's eyes, targeting the seams.
Screeech!
Sparks flew like welding. He cleanly cut the plate and offered Tiriya his hand.
"Down we go. Grab on."
"Th-thank you, Yeong-sik."
She took it shyly. He pulled her close, Boosting slowly downward.
"Oh."
A nose-assaulting stench hit as they entered. Dizzyingly foul.
Squeak! Squeak!
Rats scattered as Yeong-sik landed.
"What is this place?"
He scanned the pitch-black void.
No hidden mechanisms detected.
He conjured blue light from an Energy Blast and moved toward the stench.
There...
"Ah... aaaah."
Tiriya's agonized moan escaped. Yeong-sik's face hardened.
The source: three rotting corpses.