Chapter 5
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Translator: penny
Chapter: 5
Chapter Title: Hidden Theme
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Lowzinrat Mountains. A dungeon had appeared there.
It was an incredibly sudden occurrence.
The hundreds of dungeons existing in this world all shifted locations at the same time once every fixed cycle.
In the previous cycle, no dungeon had appeared in the Lowzinrat Mountains.
So normally, none should show up until the next cycle.
This dungeon had popped up quite abruptly.
However.
The residents of the Lowzinrat Mountains weren't intelligent enough to question the discrepancy.
This was a stroke of great luck for the newbie Dungeon Master.
Provided the dungeon hadn't landed right next to a massive troll's lair, that is.
That troll was a long-time resident of the Lowzinrat Mountains, having lived there for decades.
He was twice the size of an average troll and utterly ferocious.
"Grrr..."
His intelligence was also quite high among trolls.
Enough to command the goblin village near his lair to offer him food every month, rather than just slaughtering them outright.
The beast was cunning.
That's why, even after discovering the dungeon, he didn't rush in alone.
He went to the village, gathered a horde of his goblin underlings, and led them to the dungeon entrance.
"Karruk, krurruk!"
All species get excited upon seeing a dungeon.
It's a physiological response.
Just like salivating at the sight of delicious food when hungry, dungeons provoke the same reaction.
Instinctively sensing that a dungeon can elevate them to greatness.
"Kaaak!"
One excited goblin couldn't contain itself.
Splat!
The troll cleaved the goblin trying to enter the dungeon in half.
"Karruk..."
The goblins cowered at the sight of the blood-soaked troll.
Order was restored in an instant.
The troll selected the most capable goblins from the group.
Seven in total.
They advanced first, with the troll following behind.
The remaining goblins trailed the troll but, except for two, couldn't enter.
The leftover goblins milled about in confusion but had no way to breach the sealed dungeon door, so they waited there.
They'd probably head back to the village if the troll didn't emerge within hours.
Goblins weren't known for their patience.
Meanwhile.
The monsters that entered the dungeon all faced a space of unknown nature.
It was a mystical scene unlike anything in this world.
Amid riotous blooms of colorful flowers, the intruders all fell into slumber.
How much time passed?
They all awoke.
They faced each other in the dark cave.
Not as mystical as what they'd seen before sleep, but still an unfamiliar place.
"Krurruk..."
The dumb goblins hesitated.
Thud! Thud!
The impatient troll stomped its foot.
"Kieek!"
The goblins hurried forward.
The troll followed.
"Grrr..."
The troll couldn't contain its excitement.
It instinctively knew the treasures in this dungeon would make it great.
Its steps were eager, like an explorer facing a hoard of gold and jewels.
Perhaps.
It even dreamed of becoming a true overlord, like the manticore ruling the Lowzinrat Mountains.
The dungeon was a straight corridor structure.
Like walking an endless hotel hallway.
The small goblins leading, troll trailing behind—it evoked Snow White and the Seven Dwarfs.
But the troll was no dainty princess, just terrifying; the goblins dumb and ugly.
No one would make that comparison.
1 hour.
2 hours.
3 hours.
The troll and goblins marched diligently, but.
No treasure, not even a pebble.
4 hours.
5 hours.
6 hours.
"Krurruk..."
7 hours.
8 hours.
9 hours.
As their march hit 14 hours.
Flop.
One goblin collapsed from exhaustion.
The others were the same.
All utterly spent.
"......"
The troll was displeased, but.
Not knowing what lay ahead, it set down its axe and sat.
They took a sweet rest there.
But.
There was a problem.
Thirst and hunger.
They hadn't expected to walk this long.
No food or water prepared.
Blinded by dungeon rewards.
"Grrr."
Tomorrow they'd claim the prize.
Smash any obstacles.
No troll as strong as itself.
One of the top ten monsters in Lowzinrat Mountains.
If no treasure, return and prepare again.
The troll thought so.
Click.
Something activated while they slept, but no one heard.
The next day.
Goblins and troll pressed on despite thirst and hunger, but found nothing.
"Grrr!!"
The troll grew frustrated.
Hacked the stone walls with its axe, but they didn't budge.
Goblins and troll alike exhausted.
The troll turned back.
A clear retreat signal.
"Kerruk!"
Goblins joyfully followed, glad to escape the eerie hallway.
Another 1 hour.
2 hours.
3 hours.
4 hours.
....
....
16 hours.
17 hours.
18 hours.
"Uh, grrr..."
No exit in sight.
What was happening?
They were retracing their steps.
Wrong turn somewhere?
Forgot direction after sleep?
Stomach empty.
Thirst more urgent than hunger.
Goblins terrified too.
Instinctual fear of the endless corridor.
Troll no exception.
Time for a decision.
"Grrr..."
The troll concluded he and the dumb goblins had erred in direction.
Ordered a turnaround.
"Karruk! Karruk! Kaaak!"
Goblins raged.
Brandished spears in protest.
Crunch!
One goblin crushed outright.
Troll quenched thirst with its blood.
"......"
Atmosphere silenced instantly.
Goblins swallowed anger, licked leftover blood from comrade to ease thirst.
They rested again, then marched.
But.
Next time, and the next.
No exit.
Endless hallway.
Dark straight-line maze.
Can't go back, can't advance.
"Aa, kaa, aa!!"
After endless pointless marching.
Impatient goblins maddened by thirst, hunger, fear.
The remaining eight turned spears on troll, venting fury.
"Aa, kaa, kralak!!"
Troll pierced by spears in seconds.
Goblins' momentum strong.
But.
"────!!"
Insurmountable power gap between goblin and troll.
Troll regenerated wounds instantly, beat goblins to death.
Not one spared.
Underling goblins became food.
Enraged troll devoured them all, drank blood.
To leave the bloodstained spears behind.
To escape this foul, gloomy dungeon.
Marched on, rested, repeated.
......
......
Only then did the troll realize the anomaly.
It was looping the same spot endlessly.
Legs moved furiously, yet back to spears and bloodstains.
Forward or backward, same result.
"Aa, haaa, uh..."
Troll's breaths grew ragged.
Ever felt such terror?
No exit.
Terror of hunger and thirst overwhelmed.
Long time in same scenery.
Repeating same actions.
Troll's mind slowly unraveling.
No matter the regeneration or strength.
Useless against incomprehensible phenomenon.
The apex predator feared by none in Lowzinrat soiled itself there.
Troll clawed its skin raw.
Flesh tore off.
Black blood splattered walls, but it ignored.
Regeneration sluggish.
Due to exhaustion.
Troll walked.
How long?
Time unknowable.
Couldn't rest.
Fear of waking to more wandering.
Just endless leg-moving in terror.
Forgot sleep with self-harm.
Quenched thirst and hunger with own blood and flesh.
Why did I come here?
Only regret left.
....
....
The troll-like thing finally collapsed.
Body reached limit.
The troll-like thing smiled.
No more walking this awful place.
Death was liberation.
And above all.
Thud. Thud.
Thud. Thud.
Relief that it didn't have to see with own eyes what approached from beyond.
Guys, wave defense successful lol
I uploaded a proof screenshot.
I'd live-streamed it on the gallery in real-time, but had to announce the end.
Took down one troll and nine goblins, all wiped out
This isn't a dungeon, it's the Backrooms ffs...?
Evil spirit says... Newbie scary...
That troll bastard died smiling...
This... can't even joke "let him have sweet dreams" lol...
You're the first to block a troll like this... scary bastard...
This is dungeon expansion (+new DM bonus) + disorientation debuff trap, right?? Why didn't we think of this...
Probably cuz we got no memory, or we're just dumb??? XD
Lease over lol bye ㅋㅋ
You da man ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ
We could be good friends. Taking notes.
Insane.
Newbie pls come discipline these elves ffs
You're the pride of our gallery
ㅋㅋㅋㅋㅋ legendary idea
Agreed
Have to comment on this one... ㅇㅇ
Hmm... something like that...
Shut up
O...
Insane...
Newbie so scary ㅠ
Even unknown nicks commenting meant the wave defense was a success.
How much reward did ya get??
Rewards, huh.
Got a ton of points.
Leveled up a bunch too.
All intruders repelled after experiencing extreme fear and suicidal impulses.
Significant level gap between intruders and Dungeon Master.
Special achievement accomplished.
Hidden Theme - Abnormality unlocked.
What is this?
Maybe capture and post it.