Lucifer's Ambitious Plan to Unleash Cerberus
Lucifer's ambitious plan to drag the Cerberus from inside the dungeon out into the open.
"What did you just say...?"
Sa Choiheon's shocked expression was vivid.
Cerberus, an illusory species surpassing even demons. Pulling that thing out was an utterly reckless idea.
Demons alone had plunged Korea into danger.
Cerberus went without saying.
First off, Sa Choiheon vehemently opposed it.
On the other hand, Gabriel nodded with an expressionless face.
"Lucifer. Employee of the Month."
She was in favor.
Of course, all choices are entirely up to Master.
But.
That was only if it couldn't be caught.
I had Instant Death.
I had exactly three reset scrolls on hand.
Enough to cover Cerberus's three heads.
"Seems fine to me."
Unlike before, I'd grown accustomed to my abilities.
And with a new supply source secured, maximizing profits seemed smart.
Of course, Sa Choiheon opposed it fiercely.
"It'd be playing right into the Ma-in's hands. One misstep, and all of Korea plunges into uncontrollable chaos."
"But hey, what if we catch it? Man, the rewards would be huge."
Lucifer flashed a sly grin.
"The system's designed so tougher difficulties mean bigger rewards. Right?"
The same logic as when slaying the demon before.
"Can't argue with that. The rewards would be massive—first illusory species kill and all. However, this time it's different."
Yet Sa Choiheon didn't waver.
"No guarantees of victory against Cerberus. And with Ma-in involvement, it's a tangled mess."
"Eh, your opinion doesn't matter anyway. Master's judgment is all that counts."
"...No long debates. Lucifer, face Cerberus first, then decide."
Their exchange cut short.
Krwaaang—!
Fiery projectiles and magical blades poured from the cavern depths.
Cerberus was blocking entry into the dungeon interior.
Sa Choiheon and Lucifer pierced the onslaught, advancing each in their own way.
"Master, I've got this. Inside the dungeon, no doubt."
Gabriel, cloaked in holy power, soared through the air. She nullified incoming spells outright.
Legend+ indeed.
No strain compared to Sa Choiheon or Lucifer.
Krwaaak—!
"Rewards are bigger either way. What made the demon different?"
"Focus on what's ahead, Apostle."
Lucifer nagged while tailing Sa Choiheon.
Sa Choiheon had spotted and guided them to this special dungeon first. Ignoring him felt off.
Lucifer knew that, hence the prodding.
'Just need to convince Sa Choiheon.'
A justification for persuading Sa Choiheon...
Lucifer's group broke through the hellfire and spells from afar, reaching the grand cavern.
"First place."
Gabriel landed lightly, arriving first.
The mythic beast's form was majestic.
A massive black body filling the high cavern.
Three heads emitting crimson glows.
Drool dripping from Cerberus's maw.
Grrrrr...
A sight that would make anyone's body tremble up close.
"Don't compare it to a world boss. Mumyeong. Try it once, then rethink. Is dragging this out of the dungeon really wise?"
Sa Choiheon raised his weapon, continuing.
"Cerberus's left head spews hellfire. The center summons magical weapons with stat debuffs, right head casts spells."
"One each! Left's mine!"
"Right's mine."
"Wait, explanation's not—!"
Before Sa Choiheon finished, Lucifer and Gabriel charged left and right.
Kwaaang—!
Lucifer's black beam slammed the left head.
Pwaaak!
Gabriel's holy-infused fist uppercut the right.
"Tch, my mistake thinking you'd listen."
Shlik—!
Sa Choiheon slashed with Space Sword. A blue rift cleaved the center head.
As Cerberus's bulk lurched,
Pzzt, pzzzt—!
Black demonic energy erupted from its body. Cerberus rose with feral momentum.
Pluck, plop!
Black chains binding it snapped. Freed, Cerberus roared.
The blast repelled Sa Choiheon and Lucifer hard.
But that wasn't the issue.
"What."
Lucifer's brow furrowed at Cerberus's heads.
"Not even a scratch...?"
Purple barriers around the heads had blocked Lucifer's attacks perfectly.
No real damage to Cerberus.
Sa Choiheon clicked his tongue.
"Told you. Not like regular bosses. To damage Cerberus, wait till it tires."
Illusory Species Cerberus summons spirits of the underworld.
Movement speed of all beings in the area is greatly reduced.
"What is this...?"
Purple spirits rising from the ground began dragging at Lucifer and Sa Choiheon's bodies.
"As an Apostle, you should know."
"Tch, not this bad..."
Hwoooo—!
Myriad magical spears materialized everywhere in the grand cavern. Purple hellfire atop them targeted the trio.
Sa Choiheon called to Lucifer.
"Dodging the first pattern's simple. Center for 3 seconds, wall for 5, center again for 4. Full speed."
Sa Choiheon's researched patterns via relics.
"Damn..."
Lucifer grudgingly agreed. His attacks weren't landing anyway.
"Dodge to the fifth pattern, then attack window opens. Move, Apostle!"
"Don't order me, insolent human. Only Master commands me."
Still, follow Sa Choiheon for now.
Lucifer sent me a telepathic message.
Tch, got it. Let's go, Sa Choiheon!
'But it's this strong?'
Against Demon Belial, attacks had landed somewhat.
Here, Lucifer's magic beams did nothing.
Even Sa Choiheon focused on evasion over attack.
A boss leagues above demons.
Sa Choiheon's worry made sense.
'Hmm...'
I checked the bracelet on my wrist.
Releases restrictions.
Best to unleash after dodging all patterns, when the beast tires.
'But to drag it out...'
Focus on the now. With luck, clear without items.
Then.
Hwooo—!
Hundreds of magical spears poised in the air plummeted.
Pwaaak—!
A crushing impact echoed from the right. Flames atop the spears flickered from the shock.
Kuuung!
Cerberus's right head smashed into the floor. Thick dust billowed up.
"Huh?"
"What..."
Lucifer and Sa Choiheon, mid-move to center, stared.
Boss barrier intact.
They'd planned to evade the pattern...
"Hm."
There stood Gabriel, fist wrapped in holy power. She raised it, declaring.
"Just smash through the barrier."
Like she'd uncovered a revelation.
Gabriel shone brilliantly.
Kwaaang—!
Patterns be damned. Each swing made Cerberus reel.
One, two, three, four hits—pattern disrupted, barrier dimmed.
"Excellent, Apostle!"
"Finally earning your keep!"
Sa Choiheon and Lucifer seized the gap, unleashing beams and slashes.
Kraaaang—!
Cerberus's wail echoed through the dungeon.
Of course, it didn't just take it.
Kwaaakwang!
Spells and curses assailed the two Apostles and Sa Choiheon.
Its base durability far exceeded normal bosses. Thick demonic energy bolstered its power.
A prolonged fight might favor Cerberus.
Dead even.
Or so Roland desperately hoped.
"Damn, if only the dungeon break had triggered...!"
Ma-in Roland screamed.
Evacuated outside, he cowered in the forest shadows.
'Can't be even. Mumyeong hasn't even shown!'
The Key of the Apocalypse artifact in his hand felt slightly dimmer.
Current system phase: Tutorial late stage.
Recognized difficulty capped at Legend+.
Summoning super-legendary like illusory Cerberus drained massive resources, limiting its power.
The artifact still held immense might—just too much for Roland alone.
'Ugh, failure means doom.'
Roland gripped his trembling hand, scanning calmly.
'Mumyeong. Where's Mumyeong? Must be nearby.'
Not inside the dungeon.
So outside.
He wouldn't skip slaying an illusory species.
Demonic-enhanced eyes swept the area. No reactions.
'Gone. Nowhere. Why so uneasy?'
Even in the death wave, true Mumyeong evaded capture.
Top-tier stealth.
Or info-disruption skill.
Either beyond Roland's detection.
'...Impossible. That big a gap?'
This crushed his spirit.
As Ma-in strategist, his specialties: detection, disruption.
SS-rank or higher in those.
Yet couldn't find Mumyeong.
Meant Mumyeong transcended current world levels.
'Wrong...'
Couldn't reveal himself rashly—death instant.
Thud.
Roland slumped. Despair overtook him; he banged his head on the ground.
'If only I'd dragged Cerberus out...'
Outcome might differ.
Unbound by system, full super-legendary firepower could match Mumyeong.
Grip tightened on the artifact.
Return now? Demoted to lowest demon. Vermin life.
Then...
Bring apocalypse myself.
As Roland resolved,
'Huh?'
His dungeon-piercing view caught oddity.
Kwaaaang—!
Black Apostle erupted in dark flash. Roiling black magic storm engulfed the dungeon.
Terrifying power whipped a gale strong enough to sweep Sa Choiheon.
'What...?'
Apostle's limits lifted.
Impossible. System rule unbroken for humans.
Roland gawked.
Endless black magic from the Apostle suppressed Cerberus.
Kwaaang—!
Left neck severed by sharp beam.
Kwaaang!
Ultra-high-pressure black magic laser-cut the right head.
One head left on Cerberus.
'N-no...'
Not even Mumyeong.
Just the Apostle, so anticlimactically?
Roland paled—then,
'Huh?'
Incomprehensible: black Apostle dragged limp Cerberus.
Black magic chains yanked the hellhound relentlessly.
Kuguugu...
Through vibrating grand cavern,
Toward the main tunnel.
Apostle pulling Cerberus out of the dungeon.
'Wh-what. Why.'
Unfathomable action.
For what? Show off?
Confusing, but welcome.
Dungeon brimmed with magic.
Cerberus exiting triggers dungeon break.
Lifts restrictions.
'Ha, fool Apostle dooms itself!'
Roland grinned broadly.
Cerberus out, regenerates all heads instantly.
Regrown heads unleash incomparable firepower, raze the surface.
'Perfect. Demon God aids me.'
And control was Roland's.
Soon Cerberus out. Smile deepened.
'Apostle, you're mistaken.'
Moment Cerberus emerges, use Key of the Apocalypse.
Monster beyond imagination born.
'Your arrogance ends this world.'
Chaos swallowing even Mumyeong descends.
Boss 'Illusory Species Cerberus' has left the dungeon.
Dungeon Break occurs.
Kwaaa—.
Black storm-like demonic energy surged. Massive karma granted to Cerberus—that instant.
Roland's mouth split in glee.
System releases restrictions on the entity.
This boss's rank is Super Legendary.
"Yes!"
Elated Roland rose—
Pfshaaaak—!
Cerberus evaporated without trace.
"Huh?"
Level-up notices skyrocketed in seconds.
Daily level limit reached.
Distributing rewards corresponding to Super Legendary clear level.
Rewards poured before me amid light.
Fitting super legendary: weapons fragments, armor, even a dog collar...
But the real thrill was elsewhere.
'One shot.'
Three-headed hound Cerberus.
Expected to burn three reset scrolls.
'Instant Death once, done.'
Two unique skill reset scrolls remained in my hand.