Shadows of the Dark Elves
Arthur turned to look at his soldiers.
They still knew nothing, their faces etched with the burning desire to grow stronger as quickly as possible.
Arthur, however, was thinking the exact opposite.
If I screw this up, I could lose every last one of them.
It was that dangerous.
Arthur glanced down at his hand and clenched it into a tight fist.
Mad Injection in effect: 1 hour and 10 minutes elapsed.
In another 20 minutes, I'll unleash 200% power.
But my HP will drop to just 1%.
If even a single hit lands...
Arthur swallowed hard.
I'm dead. And so are the soldiers.
He couldn't let the men he'd brought here die.
That's when Arthur spotted the mural painted on the wall.
An elf?
It depicted elves aiming their bows at another elf like themselves—but one with exceptionally pointed ears.
No way...
Arthur realized it instantly.
The being surrounded by those elves.
There was a high chance it would appear in this dungeon.
A dark elf...?
The dark elf he'd encountered in the annihilation raid not long ago.
It must have been incredibly strong.
Not just strong in the ordinary sense.
Dark elves were born fighters, the polar opposite of elves—brutal and merciless.
"My lord, what's wrong?"
"My lord?"
Lykan's Dungeon is transforming into a Hidden Dungeon.
The soldiers voiced their concern.
Right then, the dungeon rumbled with a massive groan.
Rumble—!
Even amid the shaking dungeon, Arthur kept his cool and met their eyes.
The startled soldiers, seeing Arthur gaze at them with an unshaken expression, straightened their own faces in response.
Arthur's eyes were serene.
He locked eyes calmly with each soldier one by one.
"In here, your survival comes first. If it feels too dangerous, run—and call for my help as loud as you can."
"Yes, sir!"
The soldiers' resounding affirmation showed they grasped the gravity of the situation and trusted him completely.
"Do you know why I'm the lord, living in that fancy castle?"
The soldiers stayed silent, and Arthur flashed a grin.
"So you can hide behind me when things get rough. I live in the nice place to protect you—and you live in the rough spots because that's what I demand."
"Exactly right!"
"Well said, my lord!"
The soldiers let out cries of admiration.
How could someone so young wield words like a master orator?
The dungeon's tremors ceased.
And then the alert rang out.
Whoosh!
The moment it ended, a short arrow streaked toward the forehead of Ran, who stood behind Arthur.
Arthur thrust out his hand, snatched it mid-flight, spun around, and hurled it back with all his might.
Whiz!
Clang!
A dark elf emerged, crossbow in one hand and dagger at his belt.
Just as I thought...
As Arthur had predicted, a dark elf lurked here.
The creature had long white hair, pitch-black skin, and a strikingly handsome face.
"Gasp..."
Ran, realizing too late that an arrow had been aimed at his forehead, collapsed with legs like jelly.
"A... a dark elf..."
"How could a dark elf be in a place like this...?"
The soldiers knew exactly what dark elves were.
Arthur raised Kazaven's unique spear.
Scan.
Scan failed.
Compared to Arthur in his current buffed state, the dark elf might even be weaker.
But without the buffs, it was on a level Arthur couldn't even scan.
Dash!
The dark elf drew a dagger and lunged at Arthur.
Two grazes, and I'm done.
Arthur swung his spear with full force, knocking the dagger aside.
A low kick targeted his legs.
He retreated half a step.
"Hoh."
The creature let out an impressed grunt, as if acknowledging Arthur's skill.
Arthur furrowed his brow and thrust Kazaven's unique spear upward with everything he had.
"Who the hell"
His face darkened.
"are you to judge me?"
Critical strike triggered!
Crunch!
The dark elf blocked with his dagger, but the critical hit bent it and sliced his wrist.
Splat!
Blood poured from his hand, yet the dark elf stayed composed, aiming his crossbow with his other hand.
But Arthur was already gone. The dark elf's eyes couldn't track him.
Confused, it scanned the surroundings.
Arthur had activated his stealth skill in that split second while the creature glanced at its wrist.
Slash!
"Gurk..."
The spear pierced the dark elf's nape and burst out the front.
Arthur yanked it free with a deep breath, steadying himself.
These bastards' biggest problem is how unflappably calm they are.
No sign of panic in battle.
The soldiers, trembling in fear.
"As you saw, I'm stronger. So don't panic."
Arthur approached Ran, hauled him up, and set him on his feet.
"Y-yes, sir!"
But Arthur knew better.
This was too risky.
If even three more dark elves showed up, he could handle them alone—but protecting the soldiers? No guarantee.
"Maybe..."
He recalled the Absolute Lord's alert.
That luck-based lord, Lloyd, had offered one parchment of choice.
"I want a parchment that allows buff item duplication and provides absolute defense for thirty soldiers."
Cannot issue that parchment.
It was a shot in the dark.
He'd half-expected the refusal.
One parchment couldn't hold two powers: absolute defense for thirty soldiers and buff duplication.
Think...
Arthur closed his eyes, sinking into deep thought.
Just like always—methodically. Use every scrap of knowledge.
His mind raced.
Then, slowly, he opened his eyes.
"What if the elf mission applies to dark elves too?"
Arthur recalled one mission he knew.
Achieved through elves.
Nothing said it wouldn't work on dark elves.
If anything, dark elves—higher-tier than regular elves—might yield better rewards.
If that's the case, no choice.
Arthur decided.
He'd bet on it.
Best option available now.
"Fenrus, protect the soldiers."
Growl! Growl!
Fenrus growled deeply, sensing the peril.
"Select the buff duplication parchment."
Buff Duplication Parchment issued.
Arthur eyed the parchment hovering before him.
And started counting down.
1 hour 10 minutes since entering. 10 more minutes passed. In 10 minutes, all stats at 200%, HP at 1%.
A gamble within a gamble.
No room for even one hit in this dungeon.
Another 10 minutes passed.
All stats increased by 200%.
HP reduced to 1%.
Arthur pulled the Slaughterer's Sweet Gum from his inventory.
Popped it in his mouth and tore the parchment.
Then chewed vigorously.
Sweetness flooded his mouth.
Mad Injection overlaps with Slaughterer's Sweet Gum.
However, Slaughterer's Sweet Gum applies to base stats, independent of current buffs.
Arthur nodded.
This would do.
Now, every enemy downed meant a 1% stat boost.
Without hesitation, he approached the dark elf corpse.
Drew his dagger and sliced off a fistful of hair, stashing it in his inventory.
The elf mission had been collecting thirty elf hair locks.
"We're going in."
"Y-yes..."
"Understood."
Terrified but trusting Arthur, the soldiers nodded and followed.
Deep inside, Arthur spotted black, translucent salamanders hovering in the air.
Corrupted Salamanders.
That was their name.
More than expected—around six.
"Support me."
"Yes!"
"Y-yes, sir...!"
Arthur charged ahead.
At least this was good news.
Corrupted Salamanders were far weaker than dark elves.
Take them out to build percentage!
Splat!
He rammed his spear into the mouth of one spewing black flames.
Base stats increased by 1%.
Arthur didn't stop, slashing and stabbing relentlessly.
HP at 1%, but base stats at 200%.
Base stats increased by 1%.
Base stats increased by 1%.
And he kept growing stronger.
At this rate, it's doable.
* * *
Whoosh!
"Eek..."
The soldiers couldn't even track the dark elves' movements with their eyes.
Arthur fought a grueling battle.
Snap!
One dark elf leaped like a feather, slashing down at Arthur with its dagger.
Arthur didn't block—he just backpedaled.
Damn it.
Too many restrictions.
No hits allowed meant no trading blows for advantage.
Every exchange sent chills down Arthur's spine.
But it was almost time.
Before facing these four, he'd hunted about 35 corrupted spirits.
And each time, more dark elves revealed themselves from hiding.
Crunch!
Crackle!
Fenrus cried out in pain.
He'd thrown himself to block a dark elf's dagger aimed at a soldier.
The dark elf wrenched its blade free and went for Fenrus's throat.
Summons recovered in their pen or respawned after a month.
Not like soldiers.
That's why Fenrus suffered.
Arthur broke away from his foe and hurled his spear at full power.
Splat!
His empowered throw pierced the dark elf's back and out its gut.
"You bastard."
The dark elves before Arthur pressed their assault.
He spun, extending his hand wide.
Clatter!
The spear returned to his grip.
Clang! Clang!
A brutal fight.
Critical strike triggered!
Whoosh!
The dark elf trying to parry with its dagger recoiled in shock.
Arthur finished it swiftly.
"How..."
"So strong..."
The dark elves kept expressing surprise.
Tasked by their operator to guard this dungeon, they knew only lord protection-period lords entered.
Yet Arthur was beyond that.
No—he grew stronger with every clash.
Splat!
Whoosh!
Arthur smashed one dark elf's face with his fist.
Then raised his spear high and leaped.
As the dark elf reflexively blocked, Arthur vanished.
But it trusted the attack would come.
Instead, Arthur snapped its neck from behind.
Crack!
No MP left.
Stealth was out of mana.
One use at a time was his limit.
"Arghhh..."
"Hiiik..."
Clang!
The soldiers clashed with another hidden dark elf.
But they couldn't pursue.
Fenrus charged the dark elf as soldiers faced near-death moments repeatedly.
M-my lord...
Forgive our weakness...
They despaired.
Standing behind their lord, leeching protection—utterly incompetent!
But if Arthur knew, he'd call it gratitude, not incompetence.
The dungeon was just too strong—not their fault.
Splat!
Arthur dispatched the dark elf right in front of him and joined Fenrus.
A dark elf thrust its dagger at a soldier's throat.
As Arthur moved to block, it smirked—just as expected.
It baited me.
Arthur realized.
Its other dagger shot toward him.
They've figured it out.
Arthur bit his lip.
That I won't take a single hit.
One graze from that dagger, and he was gone.