Dungeon Odyssey [EN]: Chapter 75

Dungeon Journal -75

# 75

Dungeon Journal

Episode 76

“Ugh!”

Boreas regained consciousness after quite some time, having been caught in the sudden explosion. The explosion itself wasn’t a big deal, but the problem was the massive amount of earth and sand that fell from the ceiling after it collapsed.

He managed to lift himself up, pushing aside the rocks and dirt that were pressing down on his entire body, and groaned at the terrible sight before him.

“Lord Boreas!”

The adjutant he had sent as a messenger came running from beyond the passage.

“Are you alright!”

Boreas didn’t respond to the worried words. The scene before him was that devastating.

The passage that had been wide open just moments ago had completely collapsed.

The remains of soldiers buried under the earth and sand could be seen below. More than a third of the soldiers who had crossed the passage had disappeared.

“Kuaaaaak!”

“Kkeueueu…….”

Screams and groans echoed from all directions. The soldiers who were still alive were the lucky ones.

The soldiers at the center of the explosion or at the front were swept away by the flames and earth, leaving no trace of their former selves.

“50 percent of the forces are gone! The surviving soldiers are also seriously injured! Moreover, the passage is completely blocked, making further advance impossible!”

Boreas, enraged by the adjutant’s pale report, howled.

“Kuaaaaaaaaaaaaa!”

***

“What… what kind of trickery is this?”

Uther, covered in bubbling gas, barely managed to utter a word.

“It doesn’t seem like magic, but such a tremendous explosion…….”

Instead of answering, Kim Jin-woo focused on the screen transmitted by the only Gluttony mass that hadn’t been caught in the explosion.

The situation in the passage was like a scene from hell. Soldiers buried in earth and swept away by the explosion were screaming and groaning.

Amidst all that, the surviving forces were frantically removing dirt and stones, trying to rescue the injured.

However, not many soldiers were rescued by their comrades’ hands. Almost half of the forces that had filled the screen had disappeared.

“This should buy us the time we promised the other masters.”

At the cold words, Uther now looked at him as if he were seeing a ghost. That was because he couldn’t figure out the source of the power that had completely collapsed the passage without any magical precursors [events or signs that precede something].

“It’s not just buying time. Inflicting this much damage before the battle even started is unprecedented!”

Kim Jin-woo shook his head at Uther’s excited words.

“No. The soldiers on the 10th floor were tougher than I thought. Look. Survivors are still steadily emerging.”

At those words, Uther turned his head towards the screen and groaned. As if corpses were rising from a grave, numerous soldiers were pushing away dirt and stones and getting up.

“If that’s the case, maybe only 20 percent died, not 40 percent. They’re really tough to the point of being ignorant.”

When you think about it, even that was a better result than expected. In the first place, it was sheer luck that so many were caught up in the operation to block the advance route.

But in fact, even that luck was created by him.

The beings of the underground receive penalties when they leave each floor. Their power weakens the further they move away from their labyrinth. How many beings would risk such a disadvantage to travel between floors?

Moreover, now that 10 years have passed since the end of the war, there would be almost none left except for wanderers without a home.

So, Kim Jin-woo targeted the enemy’s weakness of being unfamiliar with inter-floor movement. He carried out the plan when the darkness of the passage, which blocked even sight and senses, and the long line of troops made their eyes and ears the darkest.

And the result was a great success.

Although the firepower of the bombs airlifted from the surface was less than expected, it was enough to inflict a tremendous loss of 10 percent of the total force on the enemies.

And the surviving enemies were floundering with the advance route blocked.

“I was hoping for a little more, though.”

Kim Jin-woo clicked his tongue in disappointment as he watched Boreas, who was unharmed despite being at the center of the explosion. The enemy commander had lost his initial imposing appearance due to the dirt and sand, but he had become all the more venomous and fierce.

“Inform the labyrinth masters who are cowering in their labyrinths out of fear. The enemies have lost one-tenth of their forces and are floundering with their path blocked.”

When Kim Jin-woo returned to the Naga Fortress and said that, the Nagas, who had been fully prepared for any eventuality, all shouted in unison.

“But we haven’t bought much time. So, tell them to hurry and keep their promise.”

The Dragon Knights and patrols who had been waiting bowed their heads and left the labyrinth.

“Now it begins.”

***

The labyrinth masters were shocked by the news brought by the Nagas. They couldn’t believe the Nagas’ report that one-tenth of the enemy forces had been annihilated before the full-scale battle had even begun.

But in the midst of the urgent war, they couldn’t possibly be lying, so the labyrinth masters could only tremble at the power of the Naga Fortress.

“Inform the waiting forces! We’re deploying!”

But they couldn’t just be surprised forever. Although the advance was delayed due to the collapse of the passage, the collapsed earth and rocks could simply be removed.

Thinking of the enemies who would soon resume their advance, the labyrinth masters left half of their forces behind for defense and deployed the other half.

The deployed forces lined up and headed towards the Naga Fortress.

“One hundred dwarves sent by the King of Hammer and Anvil are waiting at the border of the labyrinth!”

“Report that one hundred and fifty Nightmares sent by the King of Dream have arrived!”

Kim Jin-woo, who was sitting on the throne receiving reports on the forces arriving one after another, stood up.

“Dominic.”

‘Yes, Master.’

“I’m counting on you to take care of this place while I’m gone.”

At his words, Dominic nodded with a more determined face than ever before.

***

“What on earth did he do?”

The masters of each labyrinth gathered on the outskirts of the Naga Labyrinth were all showing clear signs of confusion.

That was because they had heard from some masters who were capable of long-range surveillance that the entire area near the passage connected to the 10th floor had been buried.

“It’s not magic. If it were magic, the 10th floor nobles wouldn’t have failed to notice the signs. I heard that there are many skilled in magic among their forces.”

“I agree. According to my subordinate who was sent for reconnaissance, there wasn’t even a hint of anything before the explosion. If it were magic, there would have been a flow of energy beforehand.”

“Ugh. This is driving me crazy.”

The masters were putting their heads together and discussing Kim Jin-woo’s unbelievable achievements. Hecarim, the King of Wanderers, who hadn’t said a word until now, raised an objection with a displeased face.

“I understand your curiosity, but there’s something strange about you all. After all, the Baron of Conquest is on our side, isn’t he?”

Perhaps it was because they had a vassalage contract [a feudal agreement where one pledges loyalty and service to a lord in exchange for protection and land], but the Queen of Dream also looked displeased.

“You’re naive to the point of being foolish. Can you guarantee that this unidentified power won’t turn against us? If that happens, do we have a way to stop it?”

“It’s a terrifying thought. What am I supposed to do if something like that happens in the center of my labyrinth?”

Hecarim was about to say another word, but he stopped. That was because he heard the voice of the person who had caused the disaster that the labyrinth masters were talking about.

“You guys are still too relaxed.”

Kim Jin-woo’s expression was cold as he revealed himself with a faint afterimage as his stealth ability disappeared.

The labyrinth masters, who were startled by his sudden appearance, became even more intimidated when they saw his expression.

“I wish the enemies were like you. If they were, they would probably have given up the 9th floor and run away by now.”

“Your Majesty!”

“Master!”

Hecarim and Ariane knelt at his appearance, expressing extreme respect, which shocked the masters. But whether they were surprised or not, Kim Jin-woo continued what he was saying.

“Instead of talking so much, why don’t you try to figure out how to drive out the enemies? Seeing you worrying about what will happen after the war that hasn’t even ended yet is driving me crazy.”

At his words, the masters belatedly realized the disgraceful behavior they had shown and shut their mouths.

“But is this everyone who’s coming?”

Some of the labyrinth masters, including Gorinthos, the King of the Swamp, who had attended the previous meeting, were not present.

“Uther, what’s going on?”

Uther, who had been cloaked with Kim Jin-woo, revealed himself and answered.

“Um. Gorinthos’s labyrinth is completely locked down. The same goes for the others. It seems they have chosen to hide in their labyrinths instead of fighting back.”

“Perhaps they are weighing who the winner will be.”

When Ariane, the Queen of Dream, said coldly, the atmosphere sank. That was because Kim Jin-woo’s expression was like ice.

“They’re cunning. Maybe they’re the smart ones.”

Unlike his words, his eyes were blazing. He looked like he would chew up the absent masters if they were in front of him.

“Of course, if the nobles of the 10th floor win, they will receive the reward for their wisdom. But if we win, they will pay the price they deserve. I will make sure of it.”

As they thought of Gorinthos and the other masters who were playing both sides, the labyrinth masters who had gathered here inwardly breathed a sigh of relief.

It seemed they felt that coming here was a good choice, even though the situation had not yet changed.

“Anyway, if there’s no one else coming, should we look at the remaining calculations?”

At Kim Jin-woo’s serious words, the labyrinth masters looked at each other.

But for a moment, when he frowned, Malaksus, the King of Hammer and Anvil, stepped forward and bowed his head.

“I, Malaksus, King of Hammer and Anvil, hereby transfer the command of one hundred battle dwarves to the King of Naga. This will not change until the end of the war.”

[You have acquired command of the one hundred battle dwarves led by Malaksus, the King of Hammer and Anvil. They will follow your orders first and foremost, unless their king decides otherwise.]

At Malaksus’s declaration, the other masters hurriedly declared the transfer of command.

[The one hundred and fifty Nightmares led by Ariane, the Queen of Dream, will be under your command.]

[Due to the effect of the Oath of Vassalage, they will receive the same amplification effect as the Nagas.]

[The one hundred and forty Centaurs led by Hecarim, the King of Wanderers, will be under your command.]

[Due to the effect of the Oath of Vassalage, they will receive the same amplification effect as the Nagas.]

Not only Ariane and Hecarim, who had taken the Oath of Vassalage, but all ten masters who had gathered here transferred command.

[You, the commander of the Naga Fortress, the rightful king, and the Baron of the Underground, have become the supreme commander of the allied forces.]

[The position of supreme commander will be maintained until all the nobles of the 10th floor who have invaded the 9th floor are driven out, and its dignity is absolute.]

The number of troops gathered under Kim Jin-woo’s command reached 700. Except for Ariane, Hecarim, and Malaksus, everyone had left about half of their forces behind, so the number was not as large as expected, but Kim Jin-woo’s face was very satisfied.

“Good, you will not regret your choice now.”

At his words, the labyrinth masters looked at each other with complicated expressions and bowed their heads.

“Then, let’s readjust the formation on the way and move out for now!”

“Move out!”

As if he had become a vice commander, Uther repeated his words, and the 700 troops began to move out all at once.