'Did It Work?'
Looking around the room, the others were already in position.
"Tch."
The interior of the Masinjeon Dungeon was just as familiar as expected. It was the standard architecture commonly seen in demon habitats from Jellun. The inside of the demonic temple exuded a gloomy, ancient Greek vibe. Half-eroded walls were littered with shattered marble fragments scattered about. And in the midst of it all was something.
That's the dungeon master, huh.
A massive frame at least three meters tall. Its naked body, covered in purple skin, emitted a faint, unsettling glow.
"Long time no see."
Jang In-cheol muttered under his breath at the sight of it. He was quite large himself, but standing before this thing, he looked small by comparison.
"That's Abaddon."
"Yes, it is."
Abaddon. The name of the beast guarding the Masinjeon Dungeon's master room. He'd seen photos of it during the briefing.
Didn't expect it to be a demon.
Not that it had horns on its forehead or anything, but he'd never laid eyes on one like this before. He'd never seen anything like it in Jellun either. Atmosphere-wise, it felt akin to mid-tier demons, but true to its dungeon master status, it was grotesquely formed. Beyond its two arms, a thick arm protruded from its side, ending in what looked like an insect leg. And right in the middle of its back, a long tentacle twitched.
The kind of appearance that instinctively repulsed anyone who saw it.
"Kee-eek…."
Abaddon let out a low, creepy screech upon spotting us.
"Get ready."
"Yes, sir!"
The thing immediately stiffened the tentacle sprouting from the center of its back. Eggs began spewing from it in droves. The countless eggs shot into the air, hatching mid-flight and splattering sticky fluids everywhere.
"Hup!"
As discussed in the briefing, Jang In-cheol stepped forward first, blocking the fluids with his Mountain ability. The liquid that hit the ground rapidly corroded and devoured the floor.
But that was just the beginning. From the splattered fluids emerged small, locust-like monsters. Several burst from each egg, instantly filling the area with a massive swarm.
"Hah!"
Oh Joo-hee leaped into the gap Jang In-cheol had created. Her enormous artifact, the Raikal Halberd, dwarfed her frame. With every swing, swarms of locusts exploded like rain.
Kwaaa!
Following suit, Section Chief Kim Ji-seon's Gramnir shone brightly. True to its explosive unique ability, blue flames rapidly thinned the locust horde.
The other raid members utilized their own abilities to whittle down Abaddon's swarm.
"Kee-eet!"
But Abaddon was no pushover. Despite Gu-guk Guild's fierce resistance, for every locust that vanished, new eggs burst from the tentacle.
"Hup!"
I couldn't just stand by and watch on a rare dispatch like this. I unleashed a full-force punch into the locust-filled air.
Pa-ga-ga-kak!
The shattered locust fragments pierced through others as they scattered. Each punch coated my hand in their sticky fluids.
Ugh.
The gross texture wrinkled my nose.
"Whoa! You're pretty good!"
But with the Gu-guk folks praising me, it felt awkward to stop. I pulled a handkerchief from my pocket—Sujin had packed it.
Some monster byproduct, she said.
Sure enough, it wiped off the locust goo without melting.
Set this down for now.
I placed the soaked handkerchief on the floor. No way I'd pocket it and ruin my coat.
"Here I go."
As the guild members watched, Lee Shin-yul drew the Gu-guk Sword.
Shweeeak!
His slash cleaved the air. A rift formed at its tip, extending forward and swallowing countless locusts.
"Kee-eek!"
The strike reached Abaddon, hidden behind the swarm. It carved a deep gash into its purple skin, but the wound healed almost instantly.
While Abaddon flinched, Lee Shin-yul closed the distance in a flash.
Kaang!
The hardened skin clashed with the Gu-guk Sword, sparks flying wildly. The sword in Lee Shin-yul's grip trembled faintly.
Woooong!
Vibrating fiercely, it burrowed deeper into Abaddon's flesh.
"Kee-eet?"
Abaddon's hollow eyes wavered at the unexpected turn. It tried to pull back its arm too late—Lee Shin-yul was faster.
Seok! Seok!
Swift, deep slashes severed one arm entirely. The follow-up cut the other, then plunged toward its chest.
Pu-gak!
"Kee-eek!"
Impaled in the chest, it flailed its insect leg wildly. Face-to-face at point-blank range, Lee Shin-yul dodged every attack with godlike precision.
But demons don't die from a chest stab. Especially not one like Abaddon.
Was Lee Shin-yul misjudging? No—it was all calculated.
Kwa-deuk!
He twisted the embedded sword. The blade pierced through to the back, slicing off the tentacle.
Ta-dat!
Confirming the tentacle severed, Lee Shin-yul rolled back swiftly. All that remained was the one insect leg on its side. Abaddon glared at us with rage-filled eyes, arms and tentacle gone.
"Kee-eek!"
With an enraged roar, Abaddon's horn glowed red.
That’s…?
I'd heard about it in the briefing. When cornered, Abaddon gathers mana internally and fires something like a laser.
But now that I knew it resembled a demon, the attack looked different.
Demolition Cannon.
A skill mid-tier or higher demons could use. It concentrated mana in the horn and fired it as a pinpoint blast. Laser-like, sure.
Kwa-ga-got!
The Demolition Cannon rocketed toward Lee Shin-yul. But he didn't dodge.
Seok!
The Gu-guk Sword cleaved downward, bisecting it perfectly. The remnants scattered harmlessly, weakened after Lee Shin-yul took the brunt.
Nice.
That's how you handle a Demolition Cannon. Demons are mana incarnate; their will infuses mana blasts, making them homing missiles. Dodge carelessly, and it curves right into you.
"Everyone, behind me!"
Jang In-cheol gripped his Mountain anew. The others swiftly took cover behind him at his signal.
Ku-gu-gung!
Seemed easy enough. But one remnant curved slightly toward Section Chief Kim Ji-seon's side.
Pang!
I swatted it like a fly. The wriggling blast in my grip fizzled into smoke.
Ow.
My palm stung a bit.
"Th-thank you."
"No big deal."
We'd save thanks for later. Phase two was moments away.
Sususu…!
The locust swarm filled the air, turning red. Abaddon's final resistance—twice as fierce as before. Even Gu-guk Guild's faces darkened.
Kwaaaat…!
I blocked mine fine, but the others took scratches all over from the onslaught.
While they held the swarm's attention, Lee Shin-yul dueled Abaddon solo. Now it was a war of attrition—who'd fall first, Abaddon or Gu-guk?
"…Kugh!"
Amid the fray, Jang In-cheol cried out. A glance showed locusts devouring his shoulder.
"You damn bugs…!"
He tried shaking them off, but they ate too fast.
Kwa-deuk!
"Kuh!"
In seconds, his arm was gone. Groans began rising from the guild members.
"…Retreat."
Lee Shin-yul shouted from the front. The guild members withdrew reluctantly, weapons in hand.
Pa-at.
I followed suit, exiting the master room. One by one, they escaped; Lee Shin-yul last.
"You okay?"
Lee Shin-yul checked Jang In-cheol immediately upon exit.
"Heh… Sorry to embarrass us."
Jang In-cheol chuckled despite his missing arm.
"If it's too much, let's call it for today."
"Nah, I'm good! We packed for this, right?"
He rummaged his backpack with his remaining arm, bit open a Healing Pack, and downed it like ginseng tonic, grimacing.
"…Kuh. Tastes like shit."
Not just any Healing Pack—Gu-guk's raid-exclusive one. Whatever the ingredients, it worked. His severed arm began regenerating.
Kwak! Kwa-deuk!
"Ugh. This feeling's always creepy."
Soon, a massive arm regrew, just like before. He swung it around, loosening up.
"Want one of these?"
I offered him a leftover Seondo Peach.
"Oh! Thanks!"
A-sak. A-sak.
He devoured it quickly. His new arm looked even thicker.
"Thank you, Mr. Park Soo-hyeok."
Lee Shin-yul thanked me for helping his comrade.
"Heh, no sweat."
I owed them—trading a Seondo Peach for favors from S-ranks.
"Alright, short break, then re-enter. To the sub safe point."
"Yes, sir!"
The guild responded energetically. We headed there to check the wounded.
"Ah."
Oh right—I'd dropped the handkerchief. Sujin's gift. We'd return soon, but just in case, I asked Lee Shin-yul.
"Uh… does this fake master room stay as-is inside?"
"No. Resets every hour."
"Crap."
Made sense. A fake for practice—if the wrecked swarm stayed, it'd hinder training.
"Hold on…."
I reached for the door to grab it quick.
"Huh?"
"Wait…!"
"Hm?"
As I touched it, the Gu-guk members stared in horror. Lee Shin-yul too.
What's wrong…?
But my question didn't reach them.
Pa-at!
The surroundings lit up brilliantly. Then, a familiar scene unfolded.
"Kee-eet…?"
Abaddon tilted its head at me.
But something was off. Limbs should've been severed, locust corpses everywhere.
"Kee-eet."
This Abaddon was pristine. Like it was seeing me for the first time.
Per Lee Shin-yul, reset was far off.
Which meant… this was real. Not a Mirror Room artifact copy—the true Masinjeon Dungeon master.
"Uh… we meeting for the first time?"
Abaddon screeched at the intruder, stiffening its tentacle.
"Kee-eet!"
Looks like I'd stumbled into the real master room, not the fake.