What dreams would you like to have? (1)
What dreams would you like to have? (1)
Queen-level dungeon.
Spirit World Tree.
In the large cave containing the boss monster, several humans and a reddish-colored wolf were fighting.
"Krrrr!"
A fur made of flames.
With a blazing heat, the Spirit King breathed out fire from his mouth.
Whoooosssshhh!
"Second formation!"
A blaze enveloped the cave.
The Spirit King didn't stop there; he leapt into the air and swiped his sharp claws.
Screeecch!
A massive shield appeared from the flames. People stepped out from behind the shield that blocked the Spirit King's claws.
They each brandished their respective weapons.
Clang!
Smash!
Although it was surging like fire, the Spirit King's outer coat was as thick as steel, but even knowing that, the people continued to strike.
The Spirit King stepped back slightly.
It opened its mouth and began to emit yellow flames.
Whoooosssshhh!
"Third formation."
At that moment, the people holding the weapons crossed their arms in an X formation, their backs to each other.
At that moment.
Yellow fireballs formed around the Spirit King's tail and rained down on everyone.
Boom!
BANG!
The fireballs rained down indiscriminately, exploding and generating black smoke.
"Crack!"
The frenzied stream of fireballs stopped, and the black smoke dissipated, revealing a blue barrier.
The Spirit King snarled.
Seeing that he hadn't moved from his position, the people lunged at the Spirit King.
Clang!
Squelch!
The Spirit King's tough coat was pierced.
"It's breached!"
"Change in one minute. Until then, stab with all your might!"
The people seized the opportunity and started attacking the Spirit King with their weapons.
As it was being assaulted, something happened to the Spirit King. The red flames turned yellow and the wounds began to heal.
"Mission one completed. Entering secondary objective."
"Change of station!"
Those outside the chambers moved in, and those in the room slipped out.
Barnes, who had been sitting in the corner, watching the rotation, pulled a sacred cigarette from his pocket and popped it into his mouth.
He rummaged through his other pocket for a light.
Someone came over and lit the holy cigarette for him.
Huff!
Barnes puffed on the smoke and watched the black hooded figure crouch down.
"Whooo... What are you doing down here?"
"I have something to tell you."
"What is it?"
"The Black Dragon Clan has been wiped out."
Barnes chuckled at the black hood's words.
"A bunch of assholes. They've gotten so cocky lately, I knew they were going to get their asses handed to them one of these days."
After laughing for a while, Barnes asked.
"But did some bastard with a massive head screw around with the Black Dragon Clan?"
"They say it was Mex."
"Mex? The one with the whip-like sword?"
"Yeah."
"I heard he was searching for that guy, Redin or something."
"Maybe this Redin guy disguised himself as Mex and wiped out the Black Dragon Sect."
Barnes frowned.
"Why?"
"A survivor of the Black Dragon Clan claims. That Mex killed them all, saying they were no longer needed, and that he talked to Terry about turning the Black Dragon Clan's territory over to the Magnes organization."
"Assholes."
Barnes took a deep drag on his cigarette.
By this point, he had a clear picture of what was going on.
The various organizations that had followed them from Burning Hell.
They must be living in fear, wondering if they'd be next.
A chuckle slipped out.
Clucking his tongue, he thought about this Redin guy. There wasn't much information on him, but he was the new recruit.
A guy like that.
He was trying to provoke Viscount Bothaman and break up the organization, starting with killing Mex.
"Fucker's a bit of a handful, huh?"
Barnes stomped on his half-finished sacred cigarette and stood up.
"So where is this kid Redin?"
"I think he's probably here."
"Why?"
"The Black Dragon Clan's base wasn't too far from here, and from what I've been able to find, there was a carriage that traveled from the village in the Black Dragon Clan's base to here."
The Black Hooded Figure gulped.
"And one of the supply men who was active the day before is missing."
"He could have gotten in here."
"It appears so."
Ssssk!
The corners of Barnes' mouth twitched at the foreign aura in the distance.
One of the boss monsters in the other world tree.
One of them must have awakened.
All of the organization's members are here.
The entrance is heavily guarded.
If the boss monster had awakened, it was clear that someone had snuck in.
"There's a rat."
"Is it Redin, I'll take care of it myself."
"It's okay, change of plans."
"All right."
"You go up there now and move the schedule up a day. Tomorrow we'll make the sacrifice and make the Spirit King go on a rampage."
Black Hooded Figure bowed and strode out of the dungeon.
Barnes walked slowly until he reached the bridge. He saw a wooden bridge that led to another World Tree.
Pulling out his sword, he sliced through the bridge.
CRASH!
"I don't know what the hell you're up to, but it's not like you have wings, and there's no way you could have jumped this far."
Barnes then turned and moved back the way he'd come.
When he was through with his task.
The exit out of the dungeon would be gone. There would be no way for Redin to escape this dungeon.
Unless the dungeon gate were to open again.
"Or not."
In that case, he'll just have to kill Redin himself.
"Everyone out."
At Barnes' command, the men who had been confronting the Spirit King filed out of the room. He handed them their cloaks and coats.
With a flick of his wrist, he stepped into the room.
At the sight of the enraged Spirit King, he thought of Redin, isolated in another World Tree.
He snorted.
"You picked the wrong opponent, brat."
* * *
The Northern Labyrinth's entrance.
Members of the Roswen Guild have gathered to attack the Queen-level dungeon. The entire First Raid team has volunteered, with Milo leading the charge.
"Make certain we didn't forget anything."
"Yes."
"Got it."
The guild members were a little excited.
Beside them, other guilds and free mercenaries who had arrived earlier began to enter the labyrinth.
"We're moving out."
At Milo's command, the guild members formed a line and were about to move when a man with a slit in one eye stepped forward.
Hedun, leading the guild in the absence of the guild leader.
He looked at the guild members and spoke.
"Everyone."
The guild members all turned to look at Hedun, their eyes filled with anticipation, excitement, and wonder.
"The Roswen Guild will not be participating in the Queen-level dungeon raid."
"Eh? What do you mean!"
"What are you talking about, not participating?"
The guild members muttered.
Milo stepped forward and asked.
"Sir Hedun, I need an explanation."
He knows what taking on a Queen-level dungeon means to them.
'If the dungeon is cleared ahead of schedule, we must stop the guild members from going, no matter what.'
He spoke again, remembering the conversation he'd had with Bahad before he'd lost contact.
"I'll explain later."
"What do you mean!"
"The others can go, but we can't!"
As a few of the guild members tried to form a protest, Hedun smiled slightly and drew a firm line in the sand.
"Those of you who wish to participate need only drop the name of the Roswen Guild, and I'll let you go without holding you back."
"Haa....."
"We're supposed to just stand by and watch?"
Amidst the small commotion, Milo spoke up first.
"I know you're not the kind of person to stand in the way for no reason, so I'll go back and wait for an explanation."
"Thank you for your understanding."
Turning and leaving, Milo walked away, and the others followed suit, heading back to the guild.
Then.
A group of people approached.
The man with the spear opened his mouth.
"Are you Hedun of the Roswen Guild?"
"Yes, but who are you?"
"This is Harris, who was recommended by Bahad, to join you on this raid."
"Ah, so you're him."
"I've only just arrived, so I'm guessing the time for the dungeon raid has been pushed back?"
Harris nodded.
"Uh, yes. The original raid was tomorrow afternoon, but it's been pushed back to this morning."
"Well, at least we made it in time."
"By the way, the Roswen Guild has decided not to participate in the raid."
"Good."
Harris removed his cloak, revealing the black uniform of the Special Task Force. He walked to the front of the labyrinth and shouted.
"Cease all activity!"
"What?"
"Step away from the labyrinth."
A number of people protested.
"Who are you!"
"I am Harris, a member of the Burning Hell Special Task Force. From now on, anyone who does not comply will be transported to Burning Hell."
* * *
Around the time he was in middle school.
His father and mother were killed in a car accident.
The culprit was a drunken high school student.
The lawyer he met at the police station offered him money to settle the case. The lawyer told him that he would lose the case anyway.
It was absurd.
The guy who killed his parents was looking at him with his head held high and laughing at him, saying he couldn't be punished by the law.
So he refused the lawyer's proposal.
And just like the lawyer said, the bastard was not charged, and the case was closed.
He was so angry.
He wanted to kill him.
But there was nothing he could do.
It was a very painful period of time, and every day he closed his eyes to find his parents crying tears of blood.
'Why are you the only one alive... Why!
"Please... let me live too!
He would constantly dream of nightmares.
For a long time, he lived like an invalid.
Until one day.
He started playing games on the recommendation of his social worker brother, who visited him occasionally. He said that 'when you play a game, you forget about everything else.' That's how he started playing the Bern Chronicle Game.
His words weren't wrong.
While playing, he felt like he was living in that world, and whenever he leveled up or got a reward, he couldn't help but smile.
He have so many memories of the game.
The Northern Rabbit was his first popular post.
Encountering a dragon in a cave on the Frost Plateau.
The time he was robbed at Sky Castle.
The blurry faces of his parents appeared at the end of the memories. He could see the corners of their mouths, but not the top.
Another nightmare.
What?
They were laughing.
A smile that he had never seen before.
With beaming smiles.
'... G-...'
An inaudible voice said.
'...Go find it.'
A warmth spread through his body as they reached out and hugged him.
With that, his eyes opened.
[You have completely digested the Fairy Queen Heart].
[Waking up from a long dream].
[Escaped from a bad nightmare].
[You have acquired Fairy Wings].
A sense of peace settles over him. So this is the power of the Faeries, the race of dreams.
"Did you have a good dream?"
"Yes. Thanks."
He sat up and stretched.
His body felt light, as if he had slept for a long time.
Ssshhhhh!
At that moment, he felt a surge of terrifying demonic energy. The direction of the Spirit World Tree. This was a clear sign that they were trying to corrupt the Spirit King.
Turning, he sprinted away.
The Fairy Queen flew alongside him and perched on his shoulder.
"What the hell is going on?"
"There are people trying to corrupt the Spirit King."
"Is it a demon cult?"
"Well, something like that."
They arrived at the place where the bridge was.
The bridge to the Fairy World Tree was still there, but the bridge to the Spirit World Tree was nowhere to be found.
A bit too far to leap.
"Can you teach me how to fly?"
"Feel the wind."
"The wind...."
The training with Chen flashed through his mind.
He was getting tired of feeling the wind.
There's no time to dwell on it.
Using the mana maneuver of Gale Slash, He kicked the ground and sprinted forward.
Instantly, his vision of his surroundings changed.
Using the same amount of mana as usual, he covered a much longer distance than usual.
Weeiinngg!
He utilized the Fairy Wings.
There was a sensation of something on his shoulder, and he felt his body floating.
Feel the wind.
Concentrating on it, he used the wings to fly towards the entrance of the Spirit World Tree. Though the motion was still unsteady.
It was enough.
"Just a little more...."
By that time he was almost at the entrance.
[The Fairy Wings' Duration has run out].
'Shit!'
The wings disappeared, and the force of his body's weight shifted downward. Pulling out the sword at his waist, he imbued it with mana.
Whirr!
Swoosh!
Using the wind generated by his sword swing, he blew himself through the entrance. He hit the ground with a crash, but managed to get through.
"Whoa."
Thinking of Barnes laughing as he hacked off the World Tree's bridge, he pushed himself to his feet.
Barnes had no idea he'd have wings, did he?
"Just wait."
'I'll send you to Burning Hell.'