Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 242

Dungeon Journal-Episode 242 (242/319)

# 242

Dungeon Journal

Episode 243

Morrigan and Heimdall completed their mission and returned sooner than expected. They must have hurried considerably, as both powerful summons were completely out of breath.

“Given what it was, we rushed a bit.”

Morrigan, looking exhausted, handed over a large Down Jam [a container used to store powerful magical cores] from her arms.

“Indeed. With something like this, flies might be drawn to it.”

Kim Jin-woo shuddered slightly at the overwhelming presence. It was understandable that those mighty ancient hero-grade summons had pushed themselves.

What was inside the Down Jam was a rare treasure seldom seen in the Underworld.

A top-grade Down Jam, valuable enough to make the beings of the Underworld drool, even though it was empty inside. Moreover, it contained the core of the labyrinth that had been active until just moments ago.

And not just any labyrinth, but the core of a labyrinth ruled by a Duke [a high-ranking demon lord].

[The Embodiment of Sin (Lost Labyrinth Core).]

[The ‘Heart of Sin,’ which supported the prison of sinners, the place of exile for all that is corrupt and sinful, is a remarkable artifact that once governed a labyrinth of level 17. Although it has lost its master and ceased its activity, it is ready to beat and pulse again at any moment.]

The Naga’s labyrinth had failed to obtain the Sea Dragon’s Heart and remained at level 7 for quite some time. Even after finally acquiring the Sea Dragon’s Heart with great difficulty, it still hadn’t finished upgrading and hadn’t reached level 8.

Even comparing the simple numerical values, it was double. One couldn’t even imagine the difference in power contained within.

“If we had really clashed head-on, we would have suffered more.”

The more he felt the immense power contained within, the more he realized what a great achievement he had accomplished.

Overcoming a labyrinth grade difference of 10 levels and defeating the Duke of the Deep Layers was truly a victory that could be called a miracle.

It wasn’t a victory gained in a labyrinth-versus-labyrinth battle, but a victory close to luck, relying on the authority of the High Lord [Kim Jin-woo’s title]. However, one could never say that its value was small.

After all, in the Underworld, where winning and surviving by any means was considered a virtue, who would criticize him? Even if there were someone, he wouldn’t have cared.

What mattered now was that he had obtained a powerful force to fill the void left by the Nagas’ absence.

[After the death of Luyang, the labyrinth core that had ceased its activity is trying to imprint a new master. Do you agree to the imprinting process?]

“There’s no need to ask twice.”

[Do you agree to the imprinting process?]

“I agree.”

[The imprinting is complete. The core, once the source of power for the Sinful Demon, Luyang, has found a new master.]

Before he could even finish checking the message window, the Down Jam containing the core emitted an explosive flash of light.

[Would you like to activate the new core? There has never been a case where three cores exist in one labyrinth. No one knows what changes will occur. Do you still agree to activate the new core?]

This was a problem to consider. Just because obtaining the Sea Serpent King Anaksutus’s Sea Serpent Heart had been beneficial, there was no guarantee that the outcome would be good this time as well.

In the worst-case scenario, the three cores might collide, causing abnormalities in the Great Labyrinth.

But in the end, the path was set.

The Nagas had proven their courage by passing the 9th floor and reaching the entrance to the Deep Layers, but even they had realized how powerless they were against the summons of the true Deep Layers.

Not only the Nagas, but also the summons of the Great Labyrinth were no match for the Satyrs.

Having experienced this firsthand, the existence of a powerful army was more crucial than ever.

He couldn’t protect the Great Labyrinth alone forever. Even if that were possible, a labyrinth that had to rely on the power of one person was better off not existing.

So, after a moment’s thought, Kim Jin-woo made a decision.

“I agree to the synthesis.”

[The newly established labyrinth core has begun the activation process. In the process, the two already stabilized cores and the new core have begun to recognize each other’s existence and resonate.]

Just like the time when one core became two, the Owner’s Room was enveloped in light.

[The labyrinth cores have finished resonating.]

[The grade of the new core was too high to be perfectly connected to the existing cores.]

[The connection is extremely unstable.]

[The balance of power is not right. If this continues, the core’s energy may run wild even with a small impact.]

Kim Jin-woo frowned as he looked at the warning window that appeared before his eyes.

“Damn it.”

Since the Underworld had merged into one, he felt like his luck had been strangely off. But he couldn’t just blame his misfortune and complain forever. If he made a mistake, the foundation he had painstakingly built could be destroyed.

However, even though he looked displeased, he wasn’t flustered.

He wasn’t foolish enough to gamble recklessly with the Great Labyrinth, which was his foundation, and he had something to rely on.

Kim Jin-woo approached the ‘Embodiment of Sin,’ which was shaking violently and scattering its wild energy.

“Master!”

Even Rickshasha, who had always maintained her composure, was horrified by the unusual wave and called out to her master in a shrill voice.

“Don’t make a fuss.”

He said calmly and placed his hand on the core, which seemed ready to explode at any moment.

He already knew that the overwhelming gap between level 17 and level 7 could be a problem. And as expected, the existing cores couldn’t support the excessively powerful ‘Embodiment of Sin,’ causing trouble.

The cause of the problem was the imbalance of power. So, he stepped in to balance the scales himself, absorbing the energy of the level 17 core with the Authority of Predation [Kim Jin-woo’s unique ability to absorb power].

[The incomplete connection has been stabilized.]

[There are no more signs of rampage.]

It was a somewhat reckless attempt, but his plan succeeded as if to prove it, and the three cores, which had been trembling as if they were about to explode, became as docile as new brides.

“Hoo.”

Kim Jin-woo belatedly let out a sigh of relief. It was a truly dangerous situation, but his complexion was even brighter than before.

That was because he had absorbed a significant amount of energy from the core of the labyrinth ruled by that great Duke, so there was no reason for his complexion to be bad.

“What kind of magic did you use!”

Belatedly, the summons, including Morrigan, were amazed by his incredible achievement, looking bewildered as if they couldn’t believe it.

“I just took away some of the strength of a wild horse that wanted to run wild.”

Whether they understood his cryptic words or not, the summons once again exclaimed in admiration.

“I can’t do that twice.”

His physical energy was more abundant than ever, but he couldn’t hide his mental fatigue.

After all, if he had made a mistake, the new core would have been pushed out by the existing cores, making the reckless attempt meaningless.

[The Naga’s Heart (Level 7 – Upgrading) remains in the main core position, followed by the Sea Serpent’s Heart (Level 7), and the new core, the Embodiment of Sin (Level 17), additionally serves as a sub-core.]

[The grades of the existing core and the new core are different. The Embodiment of Sin cannot exert its full power. The grade of the sub-core has been temporarily adjusted from level 17 to level 7. When the labyrinth’s grade increases, the sub-core will regain its original power.]

[The newly configured three cores are incredibly stable and efficient.]

[The efficiency compared to the core’s grade has increased tremendously.]

[The Great Labyrinth will be able to absorb even more energy in the future. It will no longer have to turn away from nutritious meals like the Satyrs did.]

[The Embodiment of Sin is itself the essence of contaminated energy and the embodiment of malice. Perhaps no more turbid energy exists in the Underworld.]

[There is no need to filter out the energy contaminated by the Embodiment of Sin. The Great Labyrinth will now devour any energy steeped in malice, even if it is the Moai’s non-nutritious energy.]

It was only for a moment that he clutched his throbbing head due to excessive mental exertion. Kim Jin-woo smiled pleasantly as he looked at the messages filling his eyes.

[The Great Labyrinth of Greed has become the first triple core in the Underworld.]

[When the Nagas awaken, a new summon will be added.]

***

Kim Jin-woo, who had completely accepted the newly acquired Embodiment of Sin as part of the Great Labyrinth, left the Great Labyrinth.

Now that Luyang, the center of the Chinese searchers, had disappeared, the situation on the surface would have changed significantly from before.

The Underworld nobles, whom he had clearly raised with considerable effort, and Luyang, who stood at their apex, had disappeared or been neutralized at once, so they would not be able to aggressively pressure the Korean Underworld as before.

As expected.

The Chinese searchers quickly disappeared as if they had never appeared, and now only the association’s searchers, preparing for any eventuality, occasionally conducted reconnaissance activities near the gate.

However, unlike the superficial appearance, the landscape on the surface was changing quite rapidly.

The Underworld access of the searchers, which had been infrequent due to the Moai’s rampage, had become active again.

They did not shrink back from the changed appearance of the Underworld. They rummaged through the Underworld recklessly, as if to make up for the gap.

“First of all, don’t neglect to monitor the Chinese searchers.”

Kim Jin-woo gave Park Sung-jin various instructions and headed back to the Underworld.

He moved as actively as if he had become a completely different person from before the war with Luyang. It was a completely different attitude from the one he had taken to protect himself from the Watcher’s surveillance and provocations.

Eventually, Angela, who had been holding back so many questions, asked him the reason.

She was curious about what kind of conversation he had with Ariane that day, and what kind of story he had heard.

Kim Jin-woo stopped as he was about to leave the labyrinth and turned to look at Angela.

“I don’t have to be conscious of the Watcher anymore.”

***

Ariane, who had been quite cooperative as if she had received some kind of order, did not change her fate.

Kim Jin-woo was not so naive as to let go of a traitor who had stabbed him in the back several times now.

Rather, giving her a comfortable death instead of the pain of her body rotting from a terrible curse was the best mercy he could offer.

“The Watcher can’t move. He’s not free enough to care about you right now.”

She gave him one more piece of information as if in return for the unexpected mercy.

“Is that your thought, or is it the message from the real master whom you couldn’t dare to mention?”

“How would a humble servant like me know the whereabouts of noble lords?”

“It’s a message. Perhaps the reason is called a decree.”

She answered readily without any hesitation.

“The Watcher is in a situation where he has to deal with another High Lord who is furious.”

At that word, someone who had lost something precious and disappeared somewhere suddenly came to mind.

“The Lord of Lamentation…….”

Ariane did not answer. But that alone was as good as hearing an answer.

“Then please end this pain now.”

She asked him to end her life with a peaceful face as if she had achieved everything. Kim Jin-woo did not refuse her request, and she was absorbed into the Authority of Predation without feeling any pain.

Unlike her past self, who had been a spy sent by Dinarion, betrayed him again as a Watcher, ran away here and there, and begged to be saved in a pathetic manner, it was quite a clean end.