Chapter 165
Chapter 165
-----------------------------------------------------------------
Translator: Ryuma
Chapter: 165
Chapter Title: Dragon's Stomach Cave (6)
-----------------------------------------------------------------
“…How about we start by putting down our weapons?”
Especially since a hundred enemies are already on their way to kill us.
However, despite my request, the prisoners of the Dark Shadow Cave only tightened their grip on their weapons, refusing to lower them.
Il-ju, his eyes sunken and deep, spoke.
“We need to know your identity, Leader.”
Everyone nodded in agreement with Il-ju’s words, as if it were the most natural thing in the world.
*This isn’t some kind of hearing.*
A sigh escaped me.
“Sigh.”
But since things had come to this, I decided to just reveal my identity.
There was no reason to hide it, especially since I was getting out in a month anyway.
However, one problem came to mind.
*How do I prove who I am?*
I had left my Nine Dragons Medallion behind before entering, so I had nothing to prove my identity.
*No choice, then.*
I’d have to go on faith.
Isn’t that what they call a society built on trust?
Besides, for a handsome martial artist like me, my face is my calling card.
I revealed my identity to them in a confident voice.
“Ahem, I am Jin Mujeon, First Squad Leader of the Nine Dragons Fortress’s Outer Hall. My comrades in the martial world call me the Fighting Dragon.”
“Don’t lie. If a scoundrel like you is a warrior of the Nine Dragons Fortress, then I’m a disciple of the Righteous Path Alliance’s leader.”
It seems his long life in this dungeon has taken a toll on his eyesight.
However, this frustrating situation came to a surprisingly swift end.
“Jin Mujeon! Stop hiding like a rat and come out! I, Jan-pung, will avenge our late Palace Lord!”
A drunken voice from outside had just confirmed my identity.
“…”
“…”
An unexpected revelation plunged the inside of the Dark Shadow Cave into silence.
Blushing, Il-ju coughed and spoke.
“Ahem, I-I apologize. I don’t normally suspect people, but given the circumstances…”
“Hmph.”
Mujeon is sulking.
***
Unable to resist their continuous apologies, I forgave the members of the Dark Shadow Cave.
“And just a moment ago you were accusing me of being a spy.”
“Well, the circumstances were what they were…”
I have my dignity as a member of the martial world’s upper class, after all.
Feeling apologetic, Il-ju and the other prisoners of the Dark Shadow Cave revealed their own identities.
“Ahem, my name is Jong Geuk-rin… It’s been eight years since I came here.”
“I am Man-pung. I’ve been digging a tunnel for eight years, helping Brother Il-ju. A useless endeavor, it turned out…”
“Seo In-cheong, eight years.”
“I am Deok-san of Nabusa. I, too, have been cultivating the path of Buddha here for eight years.”
“This humble one is called Lee Geum. I have also been living here with my brothers for eight years.”
“…Your sentences are all the same length?”
No one answered my question.
It was obvious.
Five men who entered at the same time, searching for a hidden martial art.
“You came in here with a purpose, didn't you?”
Which meant they had entered voluntarily.
“I don’t know if this is something to say in front of a warrior from the Nine Dragons Fortress, but… you are correct. We dealt with some heretics who were being pursued by the Fortress and took their place, getting captured instead.”
“You’re insane.”
I let out an involuntary sigh and asked.
“…How do you plan to get out?”
“We have an accomplice. He promised to break us out when we give the signal.”
“He’s a con man.”
What kind of madman would break someone out of a prison guarded by peak masters?
Especially a dungeon of the Nine Dragons Fortress.
But Il-ju remained unfazed by my words, replying with a firm gaze.
“I cannot reveal it now, but once you learn his identity, you will understand, Leader.”
Poor souls, still trusting a man who clearly swindled them.
But I didn't bother to comfort them.
I could just get them out myself after I was released.
*Their martial arts seem decent, and they don’t seem like bad people…*
In exchange for getting them out, I planned to have them sign a ten-year, unpaid labor contract.
I nodded, satisfied.
In any case, what was important now was that we shared the same goal.
Otherwise, they wouldn’t have questioned my identity when I said I was looking for a martial art.
“So, what are you guys looking for?”
“We are searching for the legacy left behind by the greatest thief in the world from a hundred years ago.”
In short, they were looking for stolen goods.
“…And what is that?”
“We don’t know for certain yet. But we’ve heard that dozens of high-level secret manuals are hidden there.”
*What am I going to do with these guys…*
To burn eight years of their lives on uncertain information.
They were truly thoughtless.
I couldn’t help but shake my head.
“So, have you made any progress?”
“We found it long ago.”
“What?!”
He led a shocked me to O-ju’s room.
When we moved a pile of belongings in the corner, a hole just big enough for one person to crawl through was revealed. It was a tunnel leading somewhere.
“We just have to pass through here to reach it.”
“But?”
“…The tunnel collapsed while we were digging.”
“Can’t you just dig it again?”
“Well… something went wrong when it collapsed, and a boulder fell, blocking the path.”
“Wow…”
What a bunch of unlucky bastards.
“Is there another way?”
“There is one.”
Il-ju said in a deliberately serious voice.
“We can enter through the Ten Demon Alliance’s headquarters.”
“…”
“Our reconnaissance revealed that they’ve carved a statue of the Demon God right at the spot we need to break through.”
It seemed a more drastic solution was needed.
***
I proposed to the members of the Dark Shadow Cave that we reorganize the teams.
Into ‘Jin Mujeon and the Boys.’
Naturally, I was met with opposition from everyone.
The reason being that it was dangerous.
*Crash! Crumble.*
“Still think so?”
I convinced them all by showing them I could use my internal energy.
And so the next day arrived.
*Waaah-!*
As if on cue, the enemies began charging toward the narrow passage.
They showed no signs of fear, which should have been warranted.
The members of the Southern Heaven Palace charged in mourning for their dead lord, while the Ten Demon Alliance simply rushed forward, crying out for their Demon God.
Well, it didn't really matter.
“Die!”
*Whoosh.*
One step to the side.
*Thud.*
A club missed me and struck the ground.
*Thwack-thwack-thwack!*
A flurry of strikes from the War King Thirteen Strikes, without any embedded force, shattered the man’s side.
*Thump. Whoosh.*
As the man fell, a rock flew in from behind him.
The man behind him had thrown it, aiming for an opening.
I twisted my neck to dodge and threw a high kick.
*Crack!*
The man’s neck snapped, and he staggered.
“Eek!”
*Crack! Thump! Thwack-thwack-thwack.*
I immediately unleashed the forms of the War King Thirteen Strikes and brought him down.
*Tug. Draaag.*
Sa-ju and O-ju dragged the fallen men away to secure more space.
We had to hold this position for as long as possible and thin out their numbers.
About two hours later.
“Hoo.”
Fighting with pure physical strength was starting to make me winded.
I could still fight for another hour, but overexertion invites carelessness.
“Switch!”
I swapped places with the men from the Dark Shadow Cave.
“We’ve been waiting!”
Il-ju, I-ju, and Sam-ju took the front, while Sa-ju and O-ju blocked the sides.
They had formed a box-shaped encirclement.
What happened next was predictable.
*Thwack-thwack-thwack.*
An overwhelming beatdown with clubs.
Anyone who entered the box had their head smashed in.
*Incredible.*
Watching Il-ju and I-ju fight was like watching seasoned veterans.
It was as if… they were fighting while predicting where and how the enemy would move.
I would have to investigate them after we got out.
Even if they were to be my slaves, I needed to hire those with reliable backgrounds.
An hour later.
“Fall back!”
After one more shift change, the order to retreat was heard.
Judging by the voice, it seemed to be that Jan-pung fellow who had proven my identity while drunk yesterday.
“Hoo.”
I consciously exhaled and inhaled to calm my breathing and looked straight ahead.
A considerable number of enemies still remained.
*With that many…*
Just three more days of cultivation, and I should be able to wipe them all out.
The day I would obtain the divine secret arts was not far off.
“Hehehe.”
I already felt like I was sitting on a pile of money.
At times like this, I really liked the fact that I was a warrior of the Nine Dragons Fortress.
Why?
Because if I just showed up at the Gold Dragon Hall with a martial arts manual, they wouldn't give me a fair price.
A deal would only work through the connections I had built up in advance.
*This is why you work for a big corporation.*
With such happy thoughts, I finished my rest and returned to my room to begin cultivating.
I had no time to waste.
***
Three days later.
“Hoo.”
I could feel the internal energy I had accumulated through the recent battles and cultivation filling me up.
It made me think of the saying, "Don't let familiarity make you forget what's precious."
*I never knew how inconvenient it would be without internal energy.*
I made a mental note to be nicer to my War King Ki from now on and stepped out of the room.
Today was the day I would wipe out the remaining enemies.
*Step, step.*
Just as I was about to walk toward the entrance.
“…What is all that?”
Something strange caught my eye.
All the enemies were wearing nothing but their undergarments.
A group of middle-aged men dressed like that created a truly atrocious sight.
“When did they start doing that?”
“Not long ago. About… an hour ago, I think.”
“Hmm…”
The thought of my skin touching theirs made my body tremble.
*Shudder.*
For me, a close-quarters fighter, this was a huge risk.
Just as my fighting spirit was about to completely vanish.
“Push!”
Something large was pushed in from both sides of the entrance, and then.
“Light it up!”
*Fwoosh.*
In an instant, it caught fire.
“Damn it!”
I rushed forward to do something, but it was useless.
*FWOOOSH!*
The flames had already filled the entrance.
The fire raged as if gasoline had been poured on it, reminding me of my first day here.
*Alcohol!*
If they could make liquor, it meant they could also make high-purity alcohol.
That was it. They had decided to use a fire attack.
*Fwoooosh.*
The passage, made of earth and stone, began to glow red-hot.
I might have a chance with the War Dragon Aura, but as I was now, there was no way to break through.
Hitting it with Explosive Death Force would be like throwing a grenade into a fire.
The prisoners from the Dark Shadow Cave behind me could only stare blankly at the scene.
“What are you all doing?! You want to die? Douse yourselves with a bucket of water each!”
The fire wasn't the problem right now.
The carbon monoxide pouring from the fire was the real issue.
As I retreated from the surging flames, the prisoners approached.
The sensible Sam-ju handed me a bucket of water.
As I poured the water over my clothes to soak them, Il-ju asked.
“Are you planning to break through?”
“How can I break through that? We have to hold out for now. So everyone, get on the ground and cover your noses and mouths with your clothes.”
They probably didn’t even know what carbon monoxide was, but thankfully, they followed my instructions.
The problem was.
*What do I do?*
There were no other options.
Unless they were idiots, they wouldn't have chosen a fire attack if the fire would go out quickly.
Those flames were certain to last for a long time.
Even a Saiyan would die without oxygen in the air; there was no way we could survive.
*Grit.*
*Should I dig into the ground and hide?*
Make a pit with Explosive Death Force?
A conflict raged in my mind.
Five uses of Explosive Death Force was my limit.
If I used them all to dig a deep pit, there was a chance we could survive.
The problem was what came after.
But it’s better to roll in a pile of dung in this life than to be dead.
Just as I was about to draw on my War King Ki, thinking I had to survive first.
*Ah!*
A place flashed through my mind like lightning.
The tunnel.
“Follow me!”
In this situation, that was the only path to survival.