Level Up Machine 087: Forgotten Ones' Tomb (5)
Three days had passed since Yeong-sik and Tiriya had dug a hole into the dungeon wall and hidden inside. Though they felt stifled by life in the cramped earthen cavity, they were gradually growing accustomed to it.
"Not much farther to the entrance of the lowest floor. Just hold on a little longer."
"Understood. See you soon, then."
After exchanging words with Park Sia through the communication orb, Yeong-sik's expression brightened slightly. No matter how used to it they got, living in such a tight space couldn't possibly be comfortable.
"Was that the Leviathan Guild Master?"
"Yeah. They're almost here. Time for you to prepare to head out, Tiriya."
"...Yes."
Tiriya wore a faintly regretful look as she stretched her body, stiff from three days of near-immobility. Watching her, Yeong-sik gave a wry smile.
Come to think of it, quite a few things happened over these past three days.
It was a narrow space where they could barely move freely, but spending time alone with her had led to several incidents.
Thankfully, I didn't have to pass out every time...
The moment Tiriya snapped out of it just before pouncing(?) on him, she'd used her power to dig even deeper into the tunnel to handle her business. Yeong-sik had to wrap his eyes and ears with medical bandages whenever she went, but at least he avoided getting knocked out.
"Let's head out just a bit longer from here."
"Yes, let's do that, Yeong-sik."
Tiriya nodded with a bright smile. The thought of reuniting with her guildmates, even if only briefly separated, brought her a strange sense of relief.
Yeong-sik watched her and let out a soft hum.
Once we're out, she'll have to switch back to formal speech... Somehow, her casual tone feels more natural now.
Over the past three days of intimate conversation, using formal language with her had started to feel awkward.
Still, public and private need clear boundaries.
There were cases like Kang Ha-rin, who spoke casually to her guild master, but outwardly, it wasn't ideal. Guild members and masters being too chummy could breed resentment among others and undermine the master's authority.
Rumble.
"Hm...?"
A strange vibration reached Yeong-sik as he leaned against the earthen wall, lost in thought. Frowning, he pressed his hand to the wall behind him.
"What's this?"
"The wall... it's shaking."
Tiriya hardened her expression and placed her hand on the dirt as well. Faint but unmistakable, the entire wall was trembling.
Is the ground collapsing?
Yeong-sik checked the supports he'd installed throughout the passage. None showed any issues.
What the hell?
Puzzled, he activated his scan. His eyes gleamed as information flooded his mind.
"A monster...?"
Something enormous was moving through the earth where they hid. Over twenty meters long, the massive form prowled freely underground.
"Great Worm."
Yeong-sik's face stiffened. Few monsters that burrowed underground matched this size. Low intelligence made it manageable despite its bulk, but the sheer power from that girth was not to be underestimated—the Great Worm.
Why is a Great Worm here?
Yeong-sik stared beyond the wall in confusion. Great Worms were cowardly. Unless provoked, it wouldn't rampage like this.
"Wait, no way..."
A realization flashed through his mind. He turned to Tiriya with a incredulous look.
"W-What's wrong?"
Tiriya asked, flustered by his sudden gaze. Yeong-sik's eyes twisted toward the pit she'd dug for her business.
Great Worms had degenerated vision but hypersensitive smell. They rarely detected surface scents seeping deep underground, so attacks on summoners aboveground were uncommon.
But right now...
Yeong-sik grimaced, tracking the Great Worm's movements. It was heading straight for Tiriya's pit.
Bingo.
His eyes sharpened. The worm was drawn by the scent of excrement seeping into the soil.
"Damn it..."
A curse slipped from Yeong-sik's lips. A Great Worm was no match for them—huge but dumb and slow.
Yet he swore anyway. They were underground.
"Tiriya, run outside now!"
"Y-Yeong-sik?!"
Grabbing her hand, Yeong-sik bolted toward the dungeon interior. The tunnel he'd hastily dug and shored up was flimsy. A rampaging giant like the Great Worm would collapse it instantly.
Rumble rumble!
The wall shook violently, dirt raining from the ceiling like a storm. Yeong-sik and Tiriya dashed desperately into the dungeon.
"Tch! Energy Blast!"
Yeong-sik thrust his right arm forward. A blue energy sphere formed in his palm—the strongest weapon he had, excluding Rocket Punch, in terms of raw power.
"Piercing Strike!"
With Energy Blast at level 3, the new effect activated. The blue orb morphed into a piercing form and shot forward, focusing destructive power on a single point at the cost of area.
BOOM!
The dungeon wall exploded where it hit. Yeong-sik pulled Tiriya through the breach. The passage collapsed behind them as they entered.
"Whew..."
"That was close."
They sighed in relief. A moment later, and they'd have been buried under tons of earth.
We wouldn't die outright, but...
Having transcended human limits as rankers, their superhuman bodies wouldn't perish under rubble. But crushed in oxygen-starved darkness? Even for them, deadly.
"At least we're safe..."
Yeong-sik started to rise, murmuring about their escape. Then—
Intruder detected. One intruder. Eliminate. Capture.
"Shit..."
Another curse escaped naturally. Before them stood three five-meter guardians, like knights in full plate armor, eyes glowing red. They raised sword, axe, and spear, glaring at Yeong-sik.
"The timing is just..."
Escaping the worm only to run into waiting guardians—uncannily bad luck, like a scripted trap.
That said, 'one intruder'?
Yeong-sik narrowed his eyes at them. They'd called it one intruder despite seeing both.
Tiriya isn't recognized as an intruder?
Makes sense—they'd teleported from entrance to bottom via pattern. Plausible.
But if I'm attacked, that doesn't help.
Battle was inevitable.
Wonder if that trick works?
An idea struck him.
"Tiriya. Go attack those guardians alone."
"...Got it."
Without questioning, she stepped forward, arms spread. White lightning gathered in her hands.
Crackle! Zap!
As expected.
Yeong-sik's eyes lit up. The guardians ignored her approach.
If I can exploit this...
One-sided attacks on unresponsive foes? Even hordes would be like punching dummies—tough, but doable.
Tiriya thrust her hands forward at the inert guardians.
"Wrath of the Heavens!"
White lightning lanced toward the sword- and axe-wielders.
ZAP!
Hostile action detected from the Chosen One. Designated as 'Intruder'.
The struck guardians reeled back. Their eyes flared red, cold voices emerging.
"Damn."
Yeong-sik's face twisted.
Won't go that easy.
He bit his lip, eyeing guardians now targeting Tiriya too.
"Yeong-sik! I'll take these two!"
Tiriya shouted calmly. He nodded readily—without his suit, she outpowered him vastly.
Clutching the Grace of the Archangel at her neck, she drew more strength.
Whoosh.
Radiant angelic wings unfurled behind her. She charged the guardians.
Yeong-sik, lips pressed tight, turned. The sword guardian had pivoted toward her, reacting to her mana.
"Eyes over here?"
He spoke coldly to the guardian ignoring him.
Click.
A blade sprang from his wrist. Yeong-sik stomped, jets erupting from his feet.
Shotgun.
Boosting forward, he readied it. His right arm flipped, revealing dual barrels.
Normal shots won't cut it.
Bullets barely fazed non-living constructs like guardians. Armor might yield, but tiny projectiles inflicted little damage.
Humans die from finger-sized holes; golems shrug off fist-sized ones.
Then...
Yeong-sik's eyes sharpened. Boosting, he landed on the guardian's shoulder. It twisted violently to shake him.
Before flying off, he jammed the shotgun to its face.
"Explosion."
KABOOM!
A bomb-like roar echoed. The guardian's head mangled from three barrels.
Clatter.
Yeong-sik reached to his thigh. It opened, spilling fist-sized mines. He hurled them at the reeling head.
KABOOM!
Another earth-shaking blast. Meant for ground deployment, but direct use retained full force.
"Intr... u... der..."
Thud. Thud.
Double headshots unbalanced it, helm crushed beyond recognition.
"Intr... intru... der..."
Like a broken radio, it flailed its massive sword at Yeong-sik—still potent.
Whoosh.
Yeong-sik dodged back, not clashing directly. He extended his right arm.
Whirr!
It spun furiously.
BANG!
Rocket Punch launched with a boom, caving the guardian's chest.
Seizing the gap, Yeong-sik jammed his blade into the dent.
Crunch!
The giant crumpled. Retrieving his arm amid ragged breaths, Yeong-sik glanced at Tiriya.
She dominated her two.
Good. At this rate...
Thud. Thud. Thud.
Heavy footsteps echoed anew. Yeong-sik's face hardened.
He turned toward the sound. There—
"Damn."
A horde of guardians, filling the passage, charged toward them.