Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 236

Dungeon Chronicle – 237

84. The Duke’s Invasion

The Satyr army advanced with heavy, disciplined steps, their focus as sharp as a spear pointed at the Great Labyrinth. The sound of their footsteps echoed powerfully, as if they were trampling the very foundations of the underground.

Kim Jin-woo watched them approach, his eyes narrowed.

*Ariane must be involved,* he thought. Otherwise, the Satyrs, who had been scattered across the 9th floor searching for Ant Demons, wouldn’t be heading towards the Great Labyrinth with such single-minded purpose.

Perhaps that cunning woman had noticed the anomaly within the Great Labyrinth and even reported it.

Whether Luyang [the Satyr Duke] could communicate with her directly was another matter, but in the worst-case scenario, the Satyrs might storm the Great Labyrinth.

There was no time to waste. He glared at the advancing Satyr force and hurried back.

When Kim Jin-woo returned to the Great Labyrinth, Angela was already there.

She reported everything she had seen, her face pale. He nodded, unsurprised; the situation was much as he had expected.

“Should we release the Vampires now to disrupt the enemy advance?”

Angela’s suggestion was met with a shake of Kim Jin-woo’s head. Vampires, only truly effective in ambushes, wouldn’t be able to turn back an army of over ten thousand with mere hit-and-run tactics.

In the end, a full-scale battle seemed unavoidable.

All his most trusted subordinates were needed to guard the center of the Great Labyrinth. That left only the Otherkin [a diverse group of non-human creatures] and Vampires, whose loyalty was uncertain, to fight the Satyrs. Moreover, the presence of Watchers [spies or informants] meant they were fighting with one hand tied behind their back.

But despite all the disadvantages, they had to fight.

“Prepare for battle. Pull back all external forces and engage the enemy from within the labyrinth.”

Kim Jin-woo’s heavy expression sharpened, as if he were already on the battlefield. At his command, the somewhat chaotic atmosphere within the Great Labyrinth instantly became more organized.

“Even if parts of the labyrinth are destroyed, lure the enemy in and fight them every step of the way.”

Once the Satyrs reached the labyrinth’s outer defenses, the priority was to draw them into its depths. The Great Labyrinth, which had swallowed thousands of rioters before, would be able to thin out the enemy ranks significantly.

“Angela, you and the Vampires will take charge of the central passages.”

He issued instructions without pause. Following his orders, Vampires and Otherkin melted into the shadows of the Great Labyrinth.

“Hoo.”

The troops who received their orders scattered in all directions. Kim Jin-woo, left alone at the entrance, sighed deeply.

A more powerful army than any he had faced so far was rapidly approaching. But now that the situation had come to this, he felt a strange sense of relief.

The absence of Dominic and the Nagas [snake-like humanoids], who had always been at his side, the news that the Usurper had moved, the betrayal of the underground system, and the presence of the Watchers seemed to have weighed heavily on him.

At this rate, the title of Conqueror would be meaningless, and the dignity of the High Lord would be tarnished.

Kim Jin-woo was only able to regain his composure when faced with the prospect of battle. Having returned to his usual self, he no longer entertained the possibility of defeat.

Had any of the enemies he had faced so far been easy? No. But in the end, he was the one who had survived and stood victorious.

“I’ve become too worried…….”
A self-deprecating murmur. As he had taken on more responsibilities, he had begun to feel sluggish. The moment he realized this, he understood what he had to do.

Kim Jin-woo felt the approaching military might of the Satyrs and gripped his Mana Spear.

Even if he lost much in this battle, even if he was left too weak to face the enemies that would follow, he would win.

With only a few hours left before the Satyrs arrived at the Great Labyrinth, he had completed his preparations for battle.

***

Step, step.

The Satyrs advanced in perfect unison, like soldiers on parade. But their momentum was far fiercer and more dangerous than that of soldiers in a celebratory procession.

The Satyrs were more like wild beasts than trained soldiers, and they seemed to be straining against the effort of keeping in step.

It was an awkward yet eerie sight, like a well-trained lion performing tricks for its trainer.

And all this was due to the whims of Luyang, the ruler of tens of thousands of Satyrs and the Duke of the Deep Layers, who was watching his army with a satisfied expression.

“You were right. I can indeed feel an unusual energy beyond that point.”

Luyang, watching the Satyrs advance, turned to the woman beside him.

“The time is almost here. The place where the demon who slaughtered my subordinates and plundered the core resides is not far away.”

Ariane, feeling his sinister gaze sweep over her body, cowered like a frightened girl and tried to cover her nakedness. Luyang, seeing this, smiled even more sadistically.

“If you help me avenge my grudge, I will repay that favor by any means possible.”

The expression of biting her lip was desperate and aroused a strange expectation. It would be difficult for any man to maintain his composure while looking at her.

But the curve of Luyang’s lips was not that of a man consumed by lust, but only fierce and dangerous.

“You’re mistaken.”

Ariane’s expression faltered for a moment at Luyang’s words.

“Did you really think I moved this great army for your insignificant story?”

It seemed that Ariane, after leaving the Great Labyrinth, had used every trick she knew to frame Kim Jin-woo and turn the Satyrs against him.

But Luyang didn’t seem to have any interest in her personal vendetta.

“I’ve simply discovered prey that is even more delicious than a monster. Your value is merely as a guide, nothing more and nothing less.”

Luyang’s eyes, contrary to her expectations, were coldly indifferent, as if his red face was not just filled with lust.

“Of course, that doesn’t mean I won’t give you a reward for relieving my troubles.”

His face quickly broke into a grin, which might seem frivolous, but the energy emanating from his entire body was anything but light.

As expected of the Duke of the Deep Layers, he wouldn’t be fooled by cheap tricks.

Ariane quickly lowered her head, as if embarrassed that her scheme had been exposed.

“I’ll postpone settling the score with you until after the battle.”

Seeing her like that, Luyang wore a rather expectant expression. It was unclear whether it was due to the confidence of a predator about to hunt, or the anticipation of the female body that would be in his hands after the victory.

“You just watch how I trample them.”

Leaving behind a word that was almost arrogant, Luyang turned his gaze back to the Satyrs. At that moment, the corners of Ariane’s lips twisted upwards.

Whatever the reason, it was enough if the Satyrs found the Great Labyrinth.

Hiding her dark intentions, Ariane trembled as if she was being crushed by the might and deep schemes of the powerful Duke.

***

The Satyr army continued to advance. The empty 9th floor was truly an undefended land, and the Satyrs quickly reached the Great Labyrinth.

“This looks too shabby for its reputation.”

Luyang, who had stopped his army near the Great Labyrinth, frowned at the silent entrance.

“I don’t know the exact circumstances, but it’s certain that they don’t have many troops they can use right now.”

Ariane subtly informed Luyang, recalling that she hadn’t seen a single Naga until she reached the Great Labyrinth.

“And even if they were at full strength, they wouldn’t be able to stop this great army.”

She urged Luyang, looking at the Satyrs who still showed no signs of moving. He glanced at her for a moment, as if her intentions were obvious, and then chuckled.

“We’ll find out the answer if we just beat them up.”

Ariane had called Kim Jin-woo the Count of the Deep Layers, and Luyang didn’t doubt her words. The energy of the labyrinth was unusual, but he didn’t seem to think there was much to worry about. After all, the Duke’s army had moved, so his confidence wasn’t that strange.

“Scout the inside.”

Luyang, who seemed ready to pour all his troops into the entrance of the Great Labyrinth, gestured. Several Satyr units at the head of the formation cautiously moved towards the Great Labyrinth.

“Hmm.”

How much time had passed? The Satyrs who had entered the Great Labyrinth with great fanfare didn’t return. After a while, Luyang somehow sensed that the troops he had sent in first had been annihilated and sent in troops again.

This time, twice as many Satyrs as before entered the Great Labyrinth, and they too didn’t return for a long time. But unlike the first time, when the troops who had entered had disappeared without a trace, there were survivors this time.

Several Satyrs, with thick leather armor torn in places, returned and reported the situation inside.

“It seems the enemy has more numbers than expected. But that’s fine. I thought they had some kind of mysterious trick, but it seems they’re just planning to take advantage of their home turf.”

Although he had lost hundreds of troops in a short period, Luyang didn’t bat an eye. Rather, he seemed satisfied to have confirmed the enemy’s intention to overcome their numerical inferiority by using the labyrinth.

“Still, it’s unusual. I’ve never seen Vampires swarming like that.”

Luyang’s eyes lit up as he looked at the Vampire who was grabbing the hair of a subordinate who had returned alive.

“Hmm.”

Ariane became uneasy at the fact that there were troops she didn’t know about, but she quickly gathered her thoughts and watched for any signs. Fortunately, that arrogant Duke of the Deep Layers didn’t seem to intend to delay much longer.

“Tsk, weak. Too weak.”

Luyang, who had hacked the Vampire to death for refusing to speak, shook the blood off his hand and turned his head.

“If it’s just these weaklings, it doesn’t matter if they’re hiding in the dark or how many of them there are.”

Even if there were worse enemies than Vampires, he didn’t seem to think that the Satyrs would lose.

“Kill everyone alive.”

The wildness of the beasts, which had been suppressed by keeping in step and caring about appearances, exploded at that one word.

Kuaaaaaaa.

Luyang looked at the scene with a face that didn’t doubt that the labyrinth would soon be captured. Ariane also watched the Satyrs heading endlessly towards the Great Labyrinth, her eyes shining.

When thousands of rioters rushed towards the Great Labyrinth, she clearly remembered how they had met their end.

Perhaps a significant number of the Satyrs who rushed out with great momentum would meet the same end as them.

If they were unlucky, half, or even more, of the troops might disappear in vain, but she didn’t tell Luyang that fact. She didn’t take her eyes off the Great Labyrinth for a moment, as if waiting for something.

“It’ll be over soon.”

Whether resistance was meaningless in the face of an overwhelming number, the procession of Satyrs rushing towards the labyrinth never stopped.

“But for a Count’s labyrinth, it’s quite plausible, isn’t it? I’ll get quite a few spoils from this.”

Luyang’s voice was arrogant, as if the labyrinth had already fallen into his hands.

But that was only for a moment, as Luyang’s eyes widened as he saw the Great Labyrinth suddenly begin to vibrate.

“What the hell!”

“Why suddenly…….”

Ariane asked in a voice full of embarrassment and confusion. Luyang didn’t seem to notice the signs of calculation in her natural-sounding voice at all. He was only distracted by the sudden anomaly and didn’t notice her eyes flashing.

“20% of the troops have disappeared…….”

Thousands of Satyrs, 20% of the great army, had vanished in an instant. It was a situation that could only be described as a disaster, but even that was only the beginning, as the greedy monster had only just awakened.