Chapter 14
Translator: True Detective
Chapter 14: Underground 70th Floor
Purgatory. An underground dungeon existing down to the 100th floor. To summarize the difficulty of this place, it is as follows.
First, up to the 30th floor. Difficulty that upper-rank students in the academy can break through without problems. Following the original purpose, it is a zone where students can safely accumulate experience. Therefore, it becomes the background for practice, assignments, and exams.
‘The 40th floor and beyond is the real deal.’
From this point on, the accompaniment of a responsible professor is required essentially. Because it is unreasonable to break through with just individual student power.
‘From the 50th floor, it’s a controlled zone.’
From below the 50th floor, students’ entry is restricted. It’s about the level where professors come and go to obtain research materials. Even that cannot be entered without receiving the Dean’s approval. Because it’s a floor level where even professors can lose their lives if they let their guard down. Especially when entering the 60s floors, individual activities become burdensome even for professors. Entering alone is a suicide act.
‘From the 70th floor, it’s completely unconquered floors...’
A floor not conquered even in the past hundred years. Raid teams were dispatched several times, but it was a zone where they had to drink the bitter cup every time. Just officially known regular raid team dispatches are 15 times. A total of 137 raid members were dispatched, and 0 survivors. Perhaps due to continuous losses, the academy decided to completely seal off the 70th floor.
-Regular raid team consists of at least two professor-class powerhouses.
-20 years ago. After five professors died in the line of duty during conquest, conquest of this zone was tentatively suspended.
The probability of you returning alive is extremely low.
Never enter.It meant the warning notice seen earlier wasn't simply for scaring. Just personnel died in the line of duty here are 137 people, and even professor-class personnel among them exceed 50.
‘The Master of the 70th floor is that tricky.’
After entering the room, escape also becomes impossible. Because teleportation and dimension shift through sorcery also become impossible. The only way to open the locked door is to hunt the Master of the zone.
“Shall we go.”
Pitch-black background. It was a space filled only with musty darkness, without even a shimmering lamp. Passing the warning notice and the main gate, we eventually entered inside the Boss Room.
Kuuuung—!
The room’s entrance was sealed back. Now even the path to escape disappeared. A trembling voice is heard from right next to me.
“V-Viktor...?”
“Princess.”
Carmilla muttering as if nervous. Her hand was clutching this side’s sleeve tightly. If it’s her with keen senses, she would be feeling it. Even faint remnants would be enough. How unreasonable existence the Master of this 70th floor is.
“B-Breath is choking... It’s the first time for such terrible, Y-Yin energy.”
“Take a deep breath. You must not be dazzled by the guy’s aura.”
“Ugh, nonsense. To say you will hunt something like this...”
“You are doing well. Breathe deeper.”
Huu, huu—. Carmilla regaining stability only after panting a few times. However, her red pupils were captured by fear. The girl speaks wiping cold sweat.
“As expected, Viktor is amazing...”
“Yes?”
“Even this lady feels crushed by the aura, yet far from fearing, you don't even show signs of agitation.”
“Hmm...”
How should I explain this. Unlike Carmilla, it’s just that my senses are too weak to even detect the guy’s aura properly. In the first place, there is no way a person with E-rank sense can do such a thing. Just somewhat chillier than usual, spine feeling cold, it was an impression of that extent.
“It is a relief that you are by my side. Please do not leave this lady’s side...”
“Of course. Since this Viktor is here, you do not have to worry.”
“This lady’s confidant is indeed reliable.”
Of course, I didn't give unnecessary explanations. Since the Princess was relying on me. We looked around.
“By the way... it is strange.”
“What are you talking about?”
“A powerful aura is felt, but the existence called Master is nowhere to be seen...”
“If it’s that part, you will know soon.”
Because it’s time for it to appear slowly. Before even finishing such words, a faint wind touched my cheek. Wind in a closed space. There was no time to question. Immediately after, a strong storm covered our surroundings.
“Kya, kyaaak...?!”
“Princess! Please cast a curtain with Blood Manipulation Art...!”
“U-Understood!”
The girl carrying out my request even while staggering in the gust. As she gathered her two hands as if offering a prayer, light wriggles. Dark red light. It blooms like a flower, then faintly brightens the surrounding darkness. The girl’s lips chant an aria.
“Scattering life, quench the dawn’s throat with moonlight as thirst.”
Swirling blood color. Thinly spread blood droplets wrap around us. Clean hemisphere shape, transparently covered barrier.
“Worship the proper master. At night, to the night, for the night, I will speak as the night.”
“Bloom.”
Kuuuung—.
Following the last sentence, the gust shattering into pieces. Thanks to that, we were able to be safe without being swept away. It was the highest hardness barrier Carmilla could unfold. Barrier looking like red glass, beyond that something black wriggles.
“It appeared.”
Start. The gust just before is merely a byproduct left by the guy appearing. Checking beyond the barrier, Carmilla’s red eyes tremble parr. As if doubting her own eyes, and hoping it wasn't true.
“T-That is...”
Opaque green. Wings spread majestically, but torn in places. Beyond the rotten flesh, bones and muscles are clearly exposed. Terrible stench emanates, and rust water drips from the pupils where maggots boil. Carmilla swallows a breath with a single word.
“......Dragon?”
Yes, standing in front of eyes was a dragon. To be exact, should I say something that was a dragon. Stench of rotting meat emanates.
Body dangling with all sorts of immunities. The guy looks down at this side, then soon opens its rotten maw and roars.
Kuooooo—!
It felt like eardrums would tear. Ceiling shakes, and cracks form on the barrier. Carmilla urgently reinforces the curtain.
“V-Viktor...!”
“It is fine. Please buy time like this!”
“Against that? The b-barrier won't hold!”
“Just a moment is enough! Exactly 75 seconds will do.”
“S-Something like that... really, you can win...”
The next moment. Dragon’s arm flying fiercely crashes into the barrier.
Kwaaaang—!
“Kueuk...!”
Barrier crumpling messily, yet restored following Carmilla’s hand gesture. Like this, it seemed we could endure a few times. The guy also seemed to be underestimating us.
“I will prepare immediately.”
I bend my body straight away. Sit down on the ground.
‘Accurate. It’s exactly this spot.’
Rolling claw fragment. It was a very small part. It must be something fallen from that guy’s body. After picking it up, I start rubbing it on the floor.
‘Must not be wrong. Exactly the order in the head.’
Kuung, kuuuung—!
Even in the meantime, the barrier was attacked several more times. Red curtain continuously crumpling and unfolding repeatedly. Gradually the restoration speed starts to slow down. No, it didn't slow down. It just couldn't keep up with the collapsing speed.
“It is reaching, the limit...!”
Scratch five times to the left, scratch seven times to the right. Roll, rub, and chafe that claw fragment diligently. Continuously until the desired reaction comes out.
“Heueup, ugh...!”
Kwaang—!
It is not a guy one dares to deal with. Even if downgraded to undead, a dragon is a dragon. As seen in the status window earlier, immunities exist for all sorts of physical phenomena and magical phenomena. The reason dispatched raid teams drank the bitter cup several times previously was also because of this part.
‘However...’
I was different. Experience embedded in my fingertips, sensation of operating the keyboard, time. All of that would be like a disaster the guy cannot cope with.
Kkadeuk, kkadeuk—.
Claw scratching the floor finally shows a reaction. Faint but crackling, appearance of haze blooming.
‘Done.’
I raised my head. Raised my body.
“No matter if it is this lady, a-anymore is...”
Carmilla staggering as if exhaustion came. Barrier couldn't be restored, and was almost all broken.
Kreurruk...
Whether trying to finish, the guy was opening its jaw wide. Rust water swarming, condensed energy flashes in the maw.
‘Breath.’
It seemed intended to melt us without a trace. Barrier couldn't be repaired anymore and fell apart tuk tuk. Carmilla’s pupils turn pale with fear. Did she intuit death? Following a momentarily leaked breath, the dragon also spits out breath. Sticky gastric juice, flames pour out enough to fill the space.
Kwaaaaaaa—!
“......!”
Jjaeng-geurang—! (Shatter)
Barrier breaking helplessly. Two people unable to even scream a short scream. Silhouettes swallowed by gastric acid without a trace.
Kreuk, kreurruk—.
Undead confirms they died, and swallows the swarming rust water. Like that, when it was about to hide its traces into the darkness again.
“Oh my.”
Regrettably, we were alive. Beyond being alive, not a single scratch occurred on the body.
Ting—!
Mask that nullified the Breath. Inside my bosom, Carmilla was also embraced. After confirming she was safe, I look up at the massive height.
“Where are you going?”
The corners of the mouth inside the mask were torn wide. I thought perhaps the mask’s lip corners were the same. In my hand, the claw fragment was still held.
“Don't know if you know about Clipping Bug.”
Clipping Bug. Phenomenon where player or NPC gets stuck in a wall in games.
“It’s fine if you don't know. Since you will experience it now.”
Undead looking down as if not understanding the reason. I hold out the claw pinched with fingers. And putting a little mana, I flick it toward the guy.
“Shoot.”
Hollow Purple. (Reference/Joke) Claw fragment flying weakly. Maybe because haze was attached, a distorted afterimage remains long. Undead remained as is, as if not understanding what I did.
Tuk—.
Fragment finally hitting the guy’s chest.
Soon haze spreads to the Undead as well.
“Hit.”
Kreurruk...?
Whether realizing something strange, the guy wriggling flesh. But it was late. Claw stuck closely to the chest.
Pajijik, jijik—.
Image stuttering as if an error occurred in a game. The next moment, the guy’s body sinks puk into the floor. Exactly up to half of the torso.
Kuwaaaaa—!
Guy struggling as if panic-stricken. It was a technique utilizing Clipping Bug. Inducing mob or NPC to get stuck in the map. Dragon couldn't move either way, and was only roaring in place.
‘Good.’
Half of the guy stuck completely in the floor. Then, what happens if the bug is released like this? I pull the thread I had threaded on the claw in advance.
Tuuk—.
As I applied a little force, the claw falls off weakly. This was the source of the bug. Since it was originally a part of the guy’s body, and sticking to it, it was judged as one body. After applying Clipping Bug here, I attached it to the guy and transferred the phenomenon. However, now the state where the claw is removed again.
“Then... What. Will. Happen?”
What will happen? Stuck in the floor now, if the judgment that it was a bug is released. It is the same as the situation where the guy’s torso and the floor are overlapped. There is only one answer.
“Split in half and die.”
Peoeoeok—!
Blood spatters along with the bursting sound of flesh exploding. As the stuttering haze is released, half of the guy’s torso is lost.
“Oops.”
Intestines splashing in all directions. The rest disappeared without a trace. I took out an umbrella from the robe, and blocked the pouring rust water.
Kuuung—.
Massive body sprawls on the floor. In front of eyes, numerous messages float up.
Ting—!
Ting—! Ting—! Ting—! . . .
Status window notifications floating up madly. I asked toward the girl in my bosom.
“Fufu, how is it.”
With leisurely light. As if unwavering.
“I told you it would be fine, didn't I?”
“......”
I smiled toward Carmilla who had a blank expression.