Dungeon Chain (2)
The scream had come from just ahead. I rounded the corner and cautiously checked the area.
A vast chamber where amethyst crystals embedded in the ceiling emitted a blue light, giving off an eerie vibe. And what caught my eye was none other than... Park Dong-soo?
Park Dong-soo, the first of us to get swept up in the dungeon chain, was right here.
I tried to call out to him urgently but stopped myself. Something seemed off about his condition. He looked like he wasn't fully conscious.
He was just letting out groans like a zombie and shaking his body.
"Uhhh......"
There had to be a reason he'd ended up like this. My gaze naturally shifted sideways, and that's when an enormous shape entered my vision. For a moment, I swallowed dryly.
Gulp.
A giant body supported by eight legs. Blue crystals were plastered all over it, and its front legs curved ferociously like a mantis's scythe. The chelicerae around its mouth had a jagged, saw-like shape ideal for grinding prey into bits......
It was then that the creature let out a shriek.
I knew this monster's name. Whenever you turned on the TV, hunters would sometimes be shown carrying its front legs as trophies.
At that moment, it seemed to detect my presence and turned its body in this direction.
Yikes! I quickly ducked down. It felt like its many clustered eyes were glaring straight at me.
"Damn it."
Before facing the boss directly, I'd thought I might have a chance at winning. But that was a delusion. Even though I'd become stronger than before, I could tell beating it was absolutely impossible. Its threat level was at least Beta-rank or higher.
And......
I poked my head out slightly. Not only Park Dong-soo, but the corpses of numerous humans whose identities I couldn't determine came into view. Countless skeletons were piled against one wall......
The Crystal Queen had been kidnapping humans who had entered the rift without knowing better, using them to fill its hungry stomach.
Monsters had always been that way. After the Great Rift incident, the monsters that appeared with the rifts had nearly driven the world to destruction. Of course, that was before the hunter profession even existed.
Even now, if a rift remained open for too long, the creatures would eventually burst out and slaughter everyone around without regard for age or gender.
"Whew."
I leaned against the wall. There was no point in debating whether to fight or not. I fiddled with the dagger Yu Hae-rin had given me.
The Celestial 'Beating Meister' is looking forward to your choice.
Perhaps the answer was already decided. ......Because I was a hunter academy student.
I poked my head out and glared at the Crystal Queen Arachne. Blue crystals were plastered all over its body.
Unique Skill: Insight
A strong wave of magic power is felt from the target's lower back.
The reason Park Dong-soo had turned into a zombie was that thing attached to his back. If properly exposed to the faint light from those blue crystals, a human's mind would collapse. The creature had the habit of turning its prey into zombies to keep them fresh before eating them when it got hungry.
Park Dong-soo probably didn't even realize he was under hypnosis.
After scanning the surrounding environment, I hid again.
Ha, so that's how it is.
I pressed a hand to my temple. It was time to use every last point I had left.
Held Points: 1,800 P
It was a good thing I'd saved points for emergencies. I went straight into the shop.
The homepage had an incredibly cluttered UI. On top of that, countless items of unknown purpose confused my eyes.
Things like the Immortal Cloak for 30,000 points, the Holy Spear for 12,000 points, and the Forced Ejection Reflector for 25,000 points. They all looked amazing but were insanely expensive. If I'd had the points I would've bought them instantly, but right now they were completely out of reach.
Instead, I took a different approach.
"Search for 'Radiant Polishing Agent'......"
This was the time to use the search function. I often browsed the shop window before bed. It helped me fall asleep, but just looking at the items was fun too.
A small window popped up.
Search Results: 52
Anyway, there was one item I always kept an eye on. I pressed the purchase button.
◈ Price: 1,600 P
◈ Can strengthen general-grade weapons. Adds an attribute with a certain probability.
◈ Durability: 1
And one more. If what I'd read in the basic guidebook was true, there was another item that would be perfect for this situation. The Dark Fringe Scarf. It was a defensive item that could at least slightly block the queen's hypnotic rays.
But I didn't have enough points right now. That meant I had to sell one of the items I'd been saving in the Celestial Shop.
I took out the small orb I'd always carried with me.
The Scarecrow's Core is an item that can be sold.
Sell it? (Y/N)
"Yes."
Scarecrow's Core has been sold.
Acquired 3,000 points.
Held Points: 3,200 P
They said it was a special reward, but it sold for quite a lot. Thanks to that, I had enough funds again. I pressed the purchase button.
◈ Price: 2,900 P
◈ Has the ability to block light. ※Not an item to be worn around the neck.
◈ Durability: 100 / 100
The items I bought instantly materialized out of thin air. I'd used up almost all my points, but this was the best I could do right now.
Finally, I took the hunter mining bomb out of my backpack. Preparations were complete.
But my joy at checking the new items was short-lived. Something bad happened next.
Tssut!
Two young arachne hatchlings had dragged in a person each. And they were none other than Yu Hae-rin and Ahn Kyung-tae, who had taken a different path earlier.
My eyes widened as I assessed the situation. Why were they...!
From the looks of it, the right path they'd taken was a passage where the Crystal Queen vented excess magic power. Since they'd gone through a chimney instead of a proper door, they'd been hit directly by the hypnotic rays. That was how the young arachnes had been able to bring the now-zombified pair so easily.
The Crystal Queen trembled as it looked at its new prey.
Kiiit—!
There was no time to waste. I immediately used the Radiant Polishing Agent on the dagger Yu Hae-rin had given me. At that moment, the blade began to change shape. The polishing agent's effect had taken hold perfectly.
Good... I'll leave the blade like this for now.
Finally, I wrapped the Dark Fringe Scarf around my eyes. It seemed like I wouldn't be able to see, but in reality I could see incredibly well. Of course everything was in black and white, but this effect from the scarf would block the Crystal Queen's attack to some degree.
Once I was ready, I stood up and ran to a spot where the creature could see me. The Crystal Queen turned its head at that exact moment.
Kiit!
Its gaze locked onto me. At the same time, I felt an ominous wave of magic power.
Vwoooong—
It was the mental attack emitted by the Crystal Queen Arachne. The blue crystal attached to its lower back gave off a faint, shimmering light.
If I hadn't wrapped the Dark Fringe Scarf around my eyes, I would have become a living zombie too. But for the time being, I was immune.
When I showed no reaction even after being hit by the hypnotic ray, the Crystal Queen began to shake its chelicerae in confusion.
Click.
I used that opening to drag Yu Hae-rin and Ahn Kyung-tae to a safe spot. Only Park Dong-soo was left now......
Right then, the Crystal Queen let out a roar.
Kiiiiit!
It seemed to have finally figured out what was happening. The creature had decided to move itself.
Thud! Thud! Thud!
At that moment, the Crystal Queen began crawling toward me on its eight heavy legs. It was time to prepare for battle.
I checked the dagger I'd strengthened with the polishing agent once more. The blade that had only been as long as my index finger had somehow grown long and slender. To be precise, it was a blade of light—sword energy.
Weapon enhancement successful.
An attribute has been added to the equipment due to the polishing agent's effect!
Oh?
The description had said it would add an attribute with a certain probability, but I honestly hadn't expected it. My goal had only been to strengthen the weapon. Of course, this was the only way to get the best efficiency for the cost, and I'd luckily achieved the best possible success.
I lifted the dagger that could now properly be called a sword. The hazy sword energy wriggled like heat haze. Through the gap, I could see its front leg!
Kyaak!
The scythe-like front leg slammed down toward me from above.
Clang!
I blocked the attack with my new 'weapon.' Tremendous impact coursed through my entire body. If I hadn't strengthened it, the leg would have sliced straight through both the blade and me.
I let its sharp arm slide off and subtly dodged to the side.
Thud!
At that moment, its horrifying front leg embedded deep into the ground. But its free left leg slashed at me diagonally in the blink of an eye.
Swish!
It grazed my abdomen. A warm heat spread across my skin, followed by a stinging pain.
Damn it...... If it had gone just a little deeper, it would have been fatal.
I clutched my bleeding stomach and panted for breath. Then another attack came flying in horizontally!
Clang!
I managed to block it with the sword again, but that was my limit. I was sent flying back, breathing raggedly as I glared at the creature's eyes.
Kiit!
The Crystal Queen Arachne that seemed to see me as nothing more than food. It looked somehow pleased at the sight of my wounds.
As expected, I couldn't compete with it in raw power. If so......
Looking at that, I raised my head and stared at the ceiling. Blue amethyst crystals were embedded everywhere, sparkling like the Milky Way.
I fiddled with the hunter mining bomb I'd brought. It was time to use the plan I'd been holding off on.