Boss Raid (2)
Boss Raid (2)
Raize's lightning shot out. The bolt fired from the tip of her staff was so powerful that it made you understand why ancient primitives feared and deified nature so much.
Pajijijik, it scorched the air and made the Ruler's mane stand on end. The superheated atmosphere rushed out the door in an instant, creating a weak storm.
"Get ready for battle."
Dojin gripped his sword and took the lead. In his left hand was the Demon-Slaying Sword, and in his right, the Magic Sword.
Sure enough, sensing the ferocious aura emanating from the two Magic Swords, the Ruler of the 30th Floor let out a groan and eyed him warily.
─That's a pretty aggressive greeting.
"What, better than the guy who tried to lock me in a dungeon for life."
─What are you talking about? It's impossible to do something like that. I'd have let you go after passing some time appropriately.
"How much time?"
─By your standards... about a thousand years.
"That's long."
While Dojin was buying time, another bolt of lightning was completed. The tip of Raize's staff crackled with a pajijijik, showing signs of firing another lightning bolt.
But Raize wasn't the only one stalling. The Ruler was buying time too.
─I fell for the sneak attack once, but you thought the same trick would work twice?
Pyut─ A single strand of the Ruler's fur shot out like a bullet and embedded into the ground. That one strand from his house-sized body was longer and thicker than an average spear shaft.
Pajijijik! The fur stuck in the ground acted as a lightning rod, diverting Raize's lightning straight into the earth.
As Raize let out a hollow laugh at the sight, the Ruler rose to his feet and opened his mouth.
─Ruler of the 10th Floor, what is your name?
"Don't you usually introduce yourself first before asking someone else's name? Isn't that the rule?"
─Rule...? Yeah, you're right. I should introduce myself first.
Parururu, as the Ruler shook his body, his stiff fur regained its luster and fullness. After grooming his fur like that, he puffed up his body to show off his size.
─I am the one who tests ancient seekers.
─My body is the limit of flesh, the final boundary that skills can surpass.
─Thus, you call me the Wolf King.
"Dojin."
─...That's it?
"Last name's Kim."
─Hahaha, if I'd known there was such a fun guy, I would've come looking sooner.
"Come looking?"
Dojin knew. They weren't here because they wanted to be trapped. And they couldn't just leave this place on their own either.
Deokgu had said there was no one who would willingly endure such asceticism. Makes sense—what would such powerful beings lack that they'd act like this?
"Trapped and unable to get out."
He'd heard that criminals usually took on these roles. Sure enough, matching Deokgu's guess to some extent, the Wolf King glared at Dojin with shining eyes.
─Did they send you?
"Yeah, you bastard."
Kuung, the Wolf King stomped his foot. As his mountain-sized bulk moved, the pressure was no joke.
─Then I'll fulfill my duty. I'll test you all to the fullest.
Kuung─ Moments later, the Wolf King vanished from sight.
A storm kicked up belatedly.
"Keut!?"
Seoyun barely managed to catch Dojin and the rest of the party as they were all blown far away. The Wolf King impaled two punks on his claws and opened his mouth.
─First, two down.
Seven left.
The test had begun.
Dojin realized his judgment was wrong as he watched the Wolf King move at a speed too fast for the eye to track.
'This feels over three times tougher than the 10th Floor...'
Well, the Ruler of the 10th Floor hadn't even gone all out from the start. By the time he tried to, he was already covered in massive wounds...
In that case, his full power might have been greater than Dojin knew. If so, the Wolf King's power would be several times stronger.
"Seoyun!"
"I know─!"
Rarely, Seoyun let out a heated shout. And then, countless massive ice pillars were created inside the cavern.
No matter how fast you move, it's useless if there's no space to move. Seoyun knew that and erected countless ice pillars throughout the dungeon interior.
Sure enough, restricting the Wolf King's movement paths made his form visible. But seeing it didn't mean you could deal with it.
─You first?
The Wolf King appeared in front of Seoyun. She startled and used her ability. After long mastery, her ability activated in less than 0.1 seconds.
The highest-hardness ice she created slammed into the Wolf King's abs. Jjeoeok─. With a sound unbelievable for muscle clashing against ice, the ice pillar shattered.
"...What?"
As Seoyun panicked, the Wolf King's forepaw swung. Dojin, standing beside her, barely hugged her and rolled on the ground to dodge the paw.
"Be careful."
"Y-Yeah..."
Dojin checked Seoyun's condition. Having confirmed her attack didn't work, she was starting to tremble in fear bit by bit. She still wasn't suited for combat.
─Why the hell did you even challenge me?
With a tone that said he couldn't understand, the Wolf King stared at the party. At least one was passable, but the rest were hopeless.
He casually swung his forepaw at Han-young and Eunha, who stepped forward. Neither could even react.
And at the same time, the Wolf King felt an unidentified attack striking his arm.
─Pain Reflection, huh, grip-gun.
With countless experiences and knowledge, the Wolf King knew exactly how to handle such abilities. He lightly tossed Eunha far away, pinned down Han-young, and targeted Seoyun again.
"Where."
But this time, Dojin blocked his path first. The paths were limited. No matter how fast, if the trajectory was fixed, blocking the attack was possible.
He swung the swords in both hands. The Demon-Slaying Sword and Magic Sword flew toward the Wolf King's forepaw. The Wolf King smirked and lightly raised his paw. Pathetically, the attack just grazed past.
─Useful, but... how do you not know you're no match for me alone.
Tuk, his casually swung forepaw sent Dojin flying far away. Aram screamed as she followed him with her eyes.
"Dojin!"
─Hm, touching ones without abilities feels a bit off.
Raize's magic completed belatedly, and Seoyun's ability recharged. Their combo technique, Crystal Lightning, shot toward the Wolf King.
Tens of millions of volts transmitted losslessly along pure ice struck the Wolf King. At the same time, the ice clung to his body, slowing his movements.
─Amateurish.
Even that couldn't stop the Wolf King's simple movements, and he easily shattered it with a paw swipe.
He blew away Orion's arrow with a huff of breath.
He smacked the belatedly charging Eunha with his tail, sending her flying again.
He pinned down Dojin once more, who swung his sword from afar to shoot Sword Energy.
Having perfectly seized victory, the Wolf King, as if bored of this, flicked his claws and knocked out the entire party.
─Are you the Priest?
"Ah, aaa... kids..."
─Keep them from dying. I'm going to enjoy this freedom for a bit.
With that, the Wolf King left the party and exited the boss room. Aram watched him go, then quickly ran to heal Dojin.
Ppuddeuk, the cost of treating Dojin's shattered body was huge. Cracks started forming all over Aram's body too.
It was so painful she could barely breathe, but she somehow managed to wake Dojin.
"Dojin..."
"...Aram?"
"You're alive... Thank goodness..."
Confirming Dojin was up, she immediately collapsed and fainted. Realizing she'd used her ability on him, Dojin quickly pulled out a Potion and poured it into her mouth.
Then he gathered all the other comrades in one spot and treated their wounds.
Fortunately, only Han-young's group and Dojin had life-threatening injuries. Dojin had been healed by Aram, and Han-young's group got help from Potions.
"...We lost?"
Seoyun, waking up late, asked that. Dojin nodded with an apologetic expression.
The rest of the party opened their eyes one by one. They all looked utterly defeated.
"We lost?"
"But why are we still alive??"
"...He's gonna farm us."
Dojin explained to the puzzled party. The Ruler could only awaken when challengers were present, so he had no intention of killing them.
Hearing that, the party fell into shock.
They'd gone from adventurers to lab rats in a farm.
No one could avoid being shocked by that fact.
─Hm? All recovered already.
The Wolf King, returning late, looked at them with a sly grin. The party, having lost once, already felt defeated by him. They were scared just to meet his eyes.
Only Dojin met his gaze head-on.
─You're really making me want to gouge out those eyes.
"No!"
Hearing the Wolf King, Aram freaked out and blocked his path.
"If you touch even a fingertip of Dojin... I'll die."
─So what? Does your death matter to me?
"If I die, I can't heal the others. That'd be trouble for you too, right?"
─Uuum...
Hearing that, the Wolf King groaned and backed off. Then he returned to his spot and fell asleep.
Seeing that, Han-young whispered.
"...Can't we just run now?"
─By the way, all paths are sealed.
"Ah, yes..."
He hadn't planned to run anyway. He just had no idea how to win.
'Why is he so strong...'
He hadn't expected this level of power. Logically, how were they supposed to beat something made this strong?
'Did we challenge too soon...?'
When they took down the Ruler of the 10th Floor, it'd been with over a dozen Level 2 adventurers, so he'd misunderstood. Back then, it was easy with their Cheat Abilities.
Now? It wasn't. Among them, only Dojin and Seoyun were Level 3. Their power didn't even reach the Wolf King.
They'd surpassed the realm where Cheat Abilities alone could carry them.
'How can we... win?'
Geureureung─ Listening to the Wolf King's snoring, Dojin gathered the party to brainstorm.
"...Sorry first. I misunderstood. Thought we could take him."
"It's not your fault, Dojin! ...We didn't object either."
"Yeah, our fault too."
Dojin felt touched by the party defending him. Yeah, it wasn't just his fault. He had suggested it, but...
And right now, arguing blame was secondary to finding a way out of this.
"...How do we escape? Anyone have ideas?"
Everyone fell silent. Hunt other monsters to level up? He didn't seem merciful enough to let them hunt leisurely in this situation.
Sneak attack while sleeping? In the end, the sneak attack had only pissed him off. They needed a powerful one-shot.
"...Um, Dojin. I have something to say."
"What?"
Then Raize raised her hand. She slowly gestured for Dojin to come close and whispered in his ear.
"I have a way."
"Really? What's that?"
"But there's a problem..."
She fell silent without even explaining the method. Dojin matched her serious expression and listened intently to the problem.
"If I use it, I die."