Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 240

Dungeon Journal-240th Story (240/319)

# 240

Dungeon Journal

Episode 241

Kim Jin-woo picked up the Mana Spear. Luyang, who had been ranting with an angry voice, shut his mouth, looking visibly nervous at that single action.

As things stood, even a fool would recognize the power disparity. And Luyang was no fool.

He realized his opponent’s strength far surpassed his own, and he was trying to figure out how to escape the situation.

But for now, avoiding that dreadful spear was his top priority.

Luyang swallowed hard, his eyes fixed on the Mana Spear, which looked ready to pierce him at any moment.

However, the tip of Gungnir [In Norse mythology, Gungnir is Odin’s spear, known for its accuracy and magical properties] was aimed at an unexpected place.

Crack.

The Mana Spear pierced the hard earth.

“Eek!”

‘Did he think he could face me unarmed? Or was he trying to mock me, thinking I’d be startled and tremble at the slightest gesture?’

Either way, it was an insult and humiliation to the arrogant Duke. Luyang clicked his tongue, his face flushed red. But the power difference was too great for him to rush in.

“You bastard……”

Unable to act, his anger deepened, and his rage grew. But the anger vanished as quickly as it appeared, replaced by bewilderment.

Because Kim Jin-woo’s seemingly meaningless action caused an unexpected change.

Creak.

The Mana Spear, firmly planted in the earth, took root. Strong roots and branches sprouted, instantly transforming into an ash tree, and soon branches began to spread in all directions.

It was too late when Luyang sensed something was wrong. Several roots, having secretly burrowed into the ground, grabbed his ankles.

Before he could react, branches stretched out and wrapped around his body.

He twisted, relying on his great strength, but it was no use. The tough branches and roots wouldn’t release him.

Neither the terrible poisonous fog nor the Satyr’s [A creature from Greek mythology that is part human and part goat] strong body had any effect. He was completely bound.

The true form of the Mana Spear, Gungnir, was the seed of the Underworld Tree. And now, the first fruit that the seed had sprouted was Luyang, one of the rulers of the deep.

“If things were normal, you would have become nourishment for the Underworld Tree. But I have no intention of giving you to it.”

Kim Jin-woo approached the helpless Duke, who was tied up. Luyang, who had been thrashing so hard that his muscles were tearing and his tough hide was peeling off, froze when he finally noticed him.

“Wait! Let’s negotiate! If you let me go, I’ll support your labyrinth! And I’ll direct my home country’s support to you as well! So please, let me…”

He tried everything, but unfortunately, a language barrier stood firmly between him and Kim Jin-woo.

No, even if they could communicate, the greedy lord would never release the prey he had caught.

“Resent yourself for not becoming the real thing.”

“Wa-wait a minute! Sa-save me! I can’t die like this!”

Luyang pleaded.

“How did I get this far! Save me! If you want, I’ll pledge my loyalty to you……”

The facade of the mighty Duke was stripped away, even the shell of the fierce Dungeon Baby was peeled off, leaving only a cave dweller afraid of death, crying and begging.

“Resent the fate that brought you to me.”

Kim Jin-woo’s fingertips touched Luyang’s body, and with that, Luyang met his end.

[The Duke is the most glorious noble of the Underworld and a true ruler of the deep. He is a being of power that cannot be compared to any nobles you have seen before. But now, he is just a pitiful butterfly caught in the web of a greedy lord.]

[The Authority of Gluttony will consume the source of Duke Luyang’s power, without leaving even his last dying words.]

“I will devour even your resentment, leaving nothing behind.”

The battle was over, and now it was time to begin the meal.

***

The battle was over, but no one could move.

“Hiiiik!”

Hearing the terrified screams of the Duke was a rare, certainly unpleasant, experience.

The sight of a mighty ruler falling, being eaten by someone like a lowly Underworld creature, was an endless horror to everyone gathered.

Even the loyal Satyrs were consumed by fear and couldn’t move, and even the greedy Great Labyrinth couldn’t whine, even with the Duke as prey.

“Ah……”

Angela was the only one who felt joy rather than fear at the sight.

She admired the unbelievable sight of the ruler of the deep being eaten alive, and in the end, she was brought to tears.

The Duke, who could be called an absolute being, begged for his life like a worm. It was the moment when the firm rules of the Underworld were broken.

“A true king has risen, standing tall with muddy feet on the throne of the deep, the absolute!”

Angela knelt and prostrated herself on the floor to worship her master, and countless vampires, Under Elves, and other races of the Great Labyrinth followed her.

“Your Majesty!”

***

[The aura of the Satyr’s ruler, the Demon of Sin, was truly enormous, befitting the Duke.]

[The Authority of Gluttony, which absorbed that vast energy, instantly surpassed 100% satiety and rose in rank at once.]

[The Authority of Gluttony (Rank 1) has become the Authority of Gluttony (Rank 2).]

[As the Authority of Gluttony reaches Rank 2, the unique Authority ‘Devouring (貪食)’ has become ‘Predation (捕食).’]

[The picky Authority of Devouring becomes even more aggressive. The true predator’s Authority, Predation, which devours everything alive, has been created.]

[The Authority of Gluttony can now eat faster and more.]

[From now on, you will be able to plunder the life force of several beings at once, not just one at a time.]

[Also, unlike the Authority of Devouring, which only absorbed energy, the Authority of Predation can use the prey’s abilities, though only once.]

[You can now use the terrible curses and punishments of the Demon of Sin.]

The feeling of fullness, as if his blood vessels were about to burst, was only temporary, and the grown Authority of Gluttony soon craved more.

[Authority of Gluttony (Rank 2), 93% full]

[If you increase your satiety by only 7% more, the Authority of Gluttony will rise in rank again.]

As the rank increased, he gained new predation abilities, his body was strengthened, and he gained power to match it. But more than that, he was happy that he had defeated a Duke-level enemy on his own, even if it was only half-baked.

Kim Jin-woo stared blankly at Luyang, who had become a dry mummy.

The foreign Dungeon Baby, who ended up as a humble cave dweller with all his shells stripped away. The taste was bitter compared to the results he had achieved.

But Luyang was a Duke of the Underworld before he was the same human being and Dungeon Baby, and an invader who had invaded the Great Labyrinth.

And he wasn’t soft enough to mourn the death of an invader.

“Clean up the battlefield!”

Kim Jin-woo declared victory as Luyang’s body turned to dust and scattered.

[You have won against the mighty Duke of the Deep.]

[Despite being outnumbered and having a power vacuum, you have once again achieved a miracle.]

[A victory that will remain in the Underworld is added to the title of Legendary Commander.]

[For a long time, the Dukes of the Underworld have reigned as absolute beings. Your achievements, which have trampled on that absolute throne with muddy feet, spread far and wide in the Underworld.]

[The masters of the labyrinth who did not know of your existence begin to recognize the Legendary Commander.]

[Fame and infamy spread…….]

***

The battle was over, but there was still work to be done. Before flies swarmed Luyang’s labyrinth, which had lost its master, he had to send troops quickly.

Kim Jin-woo sent Morrigan and Heimdall to clean up the Satyrs’ labyrinth.

Kkuuuuuu.

The Ant Hell, who was blankly raising his head among the summons who were busily cleaning up the labyrinth, pretended to be startled by his gaze.

“That’s enough. Give her back.”

The Ant Hell smacked his lips in regret and began to gurgle his throat. Several unpleasant gurgling sounds were heard, and a stench rose.

After a while, Ariane, half-digested with disgusting saliva, was thrown to the floor.

“Hmm……”

Ariane, thrown down naked, even the clothes that had barely covered her private parts melted away, looked more hideous than seductive.

It was a grotesque sight, like spitting out chewed meat. In fact, if he had been a little late, the Ant Hell’s powerful digestive power would have melted away her flesh instead of her clothes.

“Keueung.”

He couldn’t blame the Ant Hell for holding her, who had assassinated the Lord of Nightmares.

So, instead of scolding the monster who only knew how to eat, he had his subordinates wake Ariane up.

“Wake her up.”

Angela looked at Rickshasha with disgust, and the loyal Under Elf stepped forward immediately.

“It doesn’t matter if you’re violent, wake her up for sure.”

As soon as he finished speaking, Rickshasha took out a curved blade from her arms and cut off Ariane’s ear. The cute ear was cut off and fell to the floor, and blood gushed out.

“Kyaaaaak!”

Ariane jumped up with a scream, quickly grasped the situation, and closed her mouth.

She was covering her ear and trying to find a way out, looking rather pathetic.

She staggered, perhaps because of the sticky Ant Hell’s gastric juice, and tumbled hideously to the floor.

“How pathetic, Queen of False Dreams.”

Kim Jin-woo said coldly, looking at her with blood dripping down.

“Or should I call you a Watcher?”

Ariane, who had been rolling her eyes in pain and despair, closed her eyes tightly at those words. Her pale face was filled with deep frustration and resignation.

Ariane seemed ready to accept the situation and tell everything, but she didn’t open her mouth easily.

“I see, you’ve been acting all along.”

She, who had begged for her life during the brutal beatings, stubbornly kept her mouth shut even with more violence. He was slightly impressed by her strong will, but only for a moment.

Kim Jin-woo smiled coldly.

The Authority of Predation he had obtained could be used once to use the opponent’s Authority that he had swallowed.

And unfortunately, the ability he had stolen from the Demon of Sin, Luyang, today was ‘Curse and Punishment,’ which was quite suitable for use on a prisoner who wouldn’t open his mouth.

“Let’s see how high the Watcher’s spirit is.”