80. Frenzied Charge

After defeating the boss, the statues on the altar crumbled all at once.

Now, if I pulled the lever hidden beneath the fallen statues and performed a few more manipulations, I could enter the hidden dungeon.

Before heading in, I checked my gear one more time. The full set of dark elf-made armor forged from ebony steel. My best weapon equipped, and under the shield, the wrist guards Erwen had made for me.

How many more floors would I have to climb before enemies on my level showed up? I'd been thinking that just a few minutes ago.

But to solo this dungeon without triggering any gimmicks, this level of preparation was par for the course.

-Kkiiikikik!

The altar floor split open, revealing the door to the hidden dungeon. I stepped right inside.

The hidden dungeon, true to its name, resembled an underground temple filled with green crystals. Of course, it was a temple, but built in such an ancient style and buried underground, it felt more like a cave.

I pulled up the dungeon map I'd gotten from the open community forums and slowly descended the stairs.

-Ting!

A faint bell-like sound echoed from somewhere. Mana detection picked up several life reactions. Things like butterflies made of green crystal approached me.

The crystal butterflies fluttered around me, flapping their wings to shoot out round orbs of light. Similar to the light sources from my [Light Concentration] skill.

I reached out and touched one.

-Chijijik…!

The orb, radiating intense heat, scorched my fingertip. Even something this small pierced my flame resistance. Not because of high power, but because it was a compound attribute that flame resistance couldn't block.

I grabbed the butterflies firing light orbs and crushed them in my hands, then continued down the stairs.

All the monsters in this hidden dungeon were like this. Not particularly strong on their own, but they attacked from range with light orbs and beams.

It felt similar yet subtly different from the Crystal Spider Aranasia, the hidden boss on Floor 7.

Moments later, heavy footsteps announced a new monster. This one was turtle-shaped. Its shell was a lump of green crystal, making it look more like a quadrupedal snail than a turtle.

-Wuuuung…!

A green light orb gathered in the turtle's mouth. It split into multiple beams and poured toward me.

I swung my sword to bat away the incoming orbs, closed the distance in one go, and struck.

-Kwajik!

The pitch-black blade pierced through the crystal mass, severing the turtle's breath.

This was where the dungeon's gimmicks began, right at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠the section with these turtles. The path, which had just been stairs until then, suddenly widened, branching into east, west, south, and north.

A quick mana detection scan ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠confirmed the gimmick devices from the strategy posts were all still there.

"Hoo… Let's do this."

I took a deep breath, loosened up, stared down the eastern path with the gimmicks, and got into position.

-Kung!

I slammed my foot down with all my strength and bolted at ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠full speed along the marked route on the map.

Whoosh—the sound of cutting wind whipped past my ears as I hit ultra-high speed, and about this many seconds later—

-Jjirit.

Instinct, mana detection, sensory enhancement—all three skills screamed warnings at once. Watch my feet.

-Kwagwang!!

A massive beam pillar erupted from the ground.

Like the satellite weapon barrages in sci-fi flicks, the attack surged up from right under me.

"Sh! Fuck!"

A curse ‍‍‌‌⁠​​⁠‌​​‍​​‍​‌​⁠‍‌‍⁠⁠‌⁠‌‍‌‍‌‌‌‍⁠​‌​‌​‌‍‌‌‌⁠‍​​‌‍⁠‌‌⁠⁠slipped out instead of a scream. I'd expected it, but seeing it for real, this was no joke.

But my feet didn't stop. Stopping meant death.

-Kwagwang!

The beams didn't end with one shot. They kept firing relentlessly, targeting me as I ran.

This endless barrage of merciless beams was the dungeon's gimmick.

The Jade Spirit Elixir was in a pool at the deepest level, guarded by a savage monster.

The Emerald Wyvern—a beast with insane detection range and firing distance, spewing infinite beams.

Spot an intruder in this section, and it unleashes beams in their direction. Instant-death power, wide enough to vaporize three or four clustered people at once.

Only one way to dodge those insane beams: work with a party to activate dungeon devices and redirect them.

Multiple scattered devices needed simultaneous activation, so solo was impossible.

For challengers from other towers, it was a co-op puzzle. For a solo player like me, a life-or-death running action game.

-Kwagwang!

"Urk, fuck!"

Another beam blocked my path as I sprinted like mad to evade the barrage. I wrenched my direction mid-stride, kicking off the dungeon wall to dodge.

As you can see from my current state, there wasn't just one wyvern firing beams. Six in total, I think.

If I could do the gimmicks, six or ten wouldn't matter. But not me.

Good thing I'd mastered mana detection to sense incoming beams early. If I'd charged in blind, I'd have eaten three by now.

One hit and I'd be done!

Then, mana detection pinged beams firing from ambiguous positions simultaneously. I pulled a hand axe from inventory and jammed it into the narrow passage wall.

My momentum-braked body halted instantly as beams pierced one step ahead and two behind.

"Hah, fuck."

Damn, this was another problem. If I could just keep running straight, it'd be easier.

Fail precise direction changes or stops on timing, and I'd eat a beam. Couldn't linger on stops either.

A prickling warning rang from my feet again.

"Hup!"

The longest standing long jump of my life dodged the beam from underfoot.

The Emerald Wyverns' perch was very near the elixir pool. Deeper you go, closer the firing points, faster the beams.

But that's not the only fucked part. Getting blasted, shattering, and reforming repeatedly alters the terrain bit by bit.

With the terrain shifting constantly, my route stretched way longer than planned.

Unlike endless-run game protagonists, I had stamina limits. I could sip potions mid-run, but risking a stumble while drinking was no joke.

Trip, and a beam ends me—especially with the terrain screwing around. How could I not curse?

And separate from beams, this was still a dungeon. Monsters spawn, obviously.

Early butterflies or turtles? Ignore. But bigger, tougher ones now.

-Groooo!

A crystal horse-headed monster appeared straight ahead, like it was waiting.

I yanked the spiked shield from inventory. Shield forward, no slowdown, and at precise timing—

-Kwang!

The crystal horse-head shattered on impact. If my specs were any weaker, bulldozing monsters like this would've been impossible.

Grumbling inwardly, a system message popped up: [Charge] skill leveled up.

Dangers ramped up closer to the elixir, but my body felt looser. My growth outpaced the dungeon's escalating threats.

I really thrive in crises.

After an eternity of running, I finally reached the sole safe zone. Long-distance running dulls time sense—who knows how many hours I'd been at it.

"Haa…"

Legs shaking, breath ragged. Acetone breath, dizzy vision. Bow head and I'd puke, so I stared at the ceiling, regulating.

Probably the only one in the entire server to run through this dungeon raw.

I fought the urge to collapse and chugged a potion. My weary body recovered swiftly from the potion and [Combat Regeneration].

Gear check, battle prep once more. Only one thing left: scoop the elixir pooling on the floor.

But the wyverns that'd been beam-spamming nonstop were perched right near the pool.

Normal play here: use devices and bait to divert their attention and snag the elixir.

Solo impossible, obviously.

So how? Simple. Kill 'em all and take it.

No more sniping from safety, you fucking flying lizard shits.

No enemies on my level this floor? Fine, I'll come to you.