Chapter 28

Chapter 27: The Master of the Corrupted Corridor (1)

"Ha, that's a joke. If the True Ancestor came here in person, that would be one thing, but are you, a mere underling, going to take on all of us?"

Song Cheonhua growled at Belus.

The damage will be considerable, but now that things have come to this, we have to abandon the raid and break through the Guardian.

That means we don't need to fight the True Ancestor.

To think they would foolishly follow to the enemy's main camp.

From Song Cheonhua's perspective, it was out of the question.

"Hmm, do you really think that? That I'm at a disadvantage alone?"

"Of course. At best, you're a 50-level monster, and I've hunted those many times."

The True Ancestor's regular level is over 500.

However, the blood kin that follow him are much lower in level.

Around 50, at most in the 60s, perhaps?

They are strong, but a well-organized raid party can hunt them sufficiently.

'This is official information from the Trial Tower management board, so it must be correct.'

Song Cheonhua took a confident stance.

"Haha, as expected! I don't understand why humans are so fixated on levels."

Belus chuckled mockingly.

And at that moment.

Pzzzzt!

Red sparks appeared.

The air changed abruptly.

At the same time, the smile on Belus's lips vanished.

"How dare you... inferior humans, to look down on me?"

[Belus activates Lv11 'Blood Bind'!]

Blood splattered at that moment.

Thousands of blood droplets, each the size of a child's fist, instantly engulfed the tanks.

"Ugh?"

"What? What is this?"

"Dispel, quick, dispel!"

The tanks, confused, shouted.

Even with items that increase magic resistance, their bodies wouldn't move.

But just before the dispel was used.

Belus clenched his outstretched palm.

Puh-puh-puh-puh!

Crack!

Crack!

"Ah!"

"Ugh!"

The immense pressure crushed the armor.

There was no need to check what happened to the person inside.

Amidst the gushing blood.

"Idiots! Are you just going to stand there and wait to die? Move now!"

Song Cheonhua ordered an attack.

"Damn! Charge!"

"We have to kill him before the next spell is cast!"

The melee damage dealers sprang into action.

They surrounded and attacked from all sides.

Most were blocked by the blood shield...

Puck! Puck!

But a few swords and spears successfully pierced Belus's body.

Blood droplets fell along the blades.

But that was all.

Belus didn't even frown.

"Disappointing. You should have at least wrapped your weapons in holy power before attacking."

That was it.

Puh-puh-puh-puh!

The bodies of the damage dealers surrounding Belus turned into a pile of blood.

Crushed flesh pieces fell to the ground.

The attacks were ineffective.

On the other hand, the enemy's attacks were not just powerful but overwhelming to the entire raid party.

"How... how can a blood kin be this strong...?"

Song Cheonhua muttered, disbelieving.

Then a thought suddenly crossed his mind.

If the power of just one blood kin is this much, how strong must the True Ancestor be?

He couldn't even imagine it.

Even if all the top players raiding the third floor's boss were brought here, he couldn't guarantee success.

"..."

Song Cheonhua lowered his shield.

He had to survive for now.

He had to survive to pass this news to the outside.

"Do you surrender?"

"Before that, I have one question."

"A question... very well. Go ahead and ask."

"Why are you trying to lead us?"

For Belus, wiping out the raid party didn't seem difficult.

It wouldn't take more than an hour if he wanted to.

But why was he doing this troublesome task?

"To use you as bait."

"Bait?"

"Our master is interested in a human who happens to be able to use holy power. So, we decided to use a more convenient method."

This... is about Teresa.

They are after her, aren't they?

The situation was desperate, but Song Cheonhua's mind quickly began to find possibilities.

'If the paladin Teresa joins...'

There might be a chance to create an opening.

Not to win the fight, but to escape and survive.

His contemplation didn't last long.

"...I understand. I'll follow."

Song Cheonhua nodded.

At the same time, he pricked his palm with his thumbnail.

[Emergency Summon Scroll activated.]

[Designated target: 'Teresa de Lorenzia.']

A blue status window flashed.

Now, this was all he could rely on.

Song Cheonhua prayed earnestly in his heart.

Please...

He hoped this entire situation would be conveyed to her.

***

The True Ancestor, Ellis von Ataraxia.

She is one of the top ten strongest in the Trial Tower.

Or rather, she was.

She fell from grace for breaking the clan's taboo and was exiled to the lowest level of the tower.

Thus, the ruins are called 'The Corridor of the Fallen.'

It means the palace in the abyss where Ellis and the few blood kin who follow her reside.

'This is a story unknown to the world.'

Jinhyuk slowly opened his eyes.

A status window appeared before him.

A moment ago, a kind of invitation came in the form of a personal quest.

[The Master of the Corridor invites you.]

[If you want to save the players and porters in the raid party, come to the innermost room.]

[Difficulty: None

Reward: Meeting with the Master of the Corridor

Content: If you accept the quest, all monsters and traps up to the final room will stop.]

"How... will you handle this?"

Teresa glanced at Jinhyuk.

She had to go because she was bound by the contract.

But Jinhyuk, who came as a non-combat porter, didn't have to.

He could wait here and leave when the rescue team broke through the Guardian in a few days.

Jinhyuk shrugged.

"I don't know. What should I do?"

"Huh?"

"I don't want to take unnecessary risks, but if you beg me, I might go with you."

"Beg... how?"

"Well, just show some sincerity. I heard you have a solid fan base, right?"

Jinhyuk made a circular motion with his finger.

He knew everything.

Why are you like this, even among pros?

Not money, but coins.

If you give me a five-digit number, even if I'm on the verge of death, my motivation will surge.

"Disgusting. You have business with the boss anyway, right?"

Chanyeong, who had been watching, clicked his tongue.

"Ah, that's a different matter. This is this. I'm not forcing you; I'm just asking Teresa for her opinion. Besides, you're not leaving the ruins, right?"

"Right. My purpose for coming here has already failed."

"Then, go quietly. Don't ruin a warm deal."

Jinhyuk waved his hand as if annoyed.

Chanyeong's expression became even more disdainful.

"Sometimes I think... you have to be as ruthless as you to become strong."

This guy?

"Hmm. Forget it. Let's stop talking."

Talking would only hurt me.

Besides, he wasn't wrong.

Jinhyuk sighed and turned to Teresa.

"So, what will you do?"

"If you give me coins... will you help me rescue the raid party?"

"I can't promise much, but I'll make sure you don't regret giving me 10,000 coins."

10,000 coins.

It's an absurd demand that would make anyone angry.

At this point, only a few people could have gathered 10,000 coins.

But if it could save the entire raid party, it was a reasonable amount to pay.

The only thing that bothered him was...

"Are you not afraid, Mr. Jinhyuk?"

This wasn't a regular raid; they would face the pinnacle of a species.

If they died, coins and relics would be useless.

Yet...

"I don't know. Should I be afraid?"

Jinhyuk smiled strangely.

So calm.

As if he knew the outcome.

"..."

Teresa pursed her lips.

His words were more arrogant than confident.

Yet, why?

Thump! Thump! Thump!

Her heart beat faintly with a strange sense of anticipation.

Now she had to choose.

To follow the probability or...

trust her instincts.

Just as she was contemplating,

"I'll be going now. It will take some time to break through the Guardian."

Chanyeong turned and drew his iron sword.

"Oh, one more thing."

He paused as if remembering something.

"If you find it hard to decide, consider this."

He glared at Jinhyuk with a somewhat unpleasant expression.

"I don't know if that guy can beat the True Ancestor or not."

As a third-party observer, he couldn't guarantee the outcome.

"But."

As someone who had fought countless battles with him.

And as someone who knew his opponent better than anyone.

He could guarantee one thing.

"If he can't overcome it, no existing player can defeat the True Ancestor."

The past and future Sword Saint acknowledged.

Who the best player in the current Trial Tower was.

And if 10,000 coins could get you to fight with that player,

it wouldn't be a losing deal.

"Pointless muttering. Of course, the decision is not mine."

Chanyeong muttered and resumed his steps.

"Thanks for the advice."

Teresa nodded.

Then, as if making a decision, she bowed slightly to Jinhyuk.

"I'll make a contract. Please fight with me."

***

[Quest accepted. (2/2)]

[Monsters enter a state of slumber.]

[Traps cease operation.]

Boom!

The various traps and monsters that protected the ruins fell silent.

Thanks to this, their journey was quite smooth.

A journey that would normally take weeks was compressed into hours.

[Magic Power increases by +12.]

Jinhyuk absorbed a bit of the 'Frozen Tear' that Teresa had thawed.

[Frozen Tear]

Acquisition Difficulty: SS

Absorbable Magic Power: 100

Description: An essence obtainable from the 7th floor of the Trial Tower, 'The End of the World.' Absorbing it greatly increases magic power, but without a specific refinement process, it can cause fatal damage to the user.

'...This is really exciting.'

A whopping 12 stats.

Equivalent to leveling up by 4 levels.

Jinhyuk could feel the significantly increased magic power throughout his body.

When he activated 'Grave of Swords,' it felt like his veins would tear.

Now, the pain was much less.

So, this is why everyone talks about mana pools.

'The total is 100, so if I can absorb it all...'

He could use not only Chanyeong's 'Grave of Swords' and Teresa's 'Blessing of the Stars' but also the unique abilities and skills of other top players.

'The limit with Teresa's thawing is 12 stats, so I'll have to be satisfied with this for now.'

12, 18, 30, 40.

Four stages in total.

The amount that can be absorbed varies depending on the skill that can mitigate the cold.

To reach the next stage, a person with a higher skill or a special item is needed.

'Well, I'll think about that later.'

He had to focus on the immediate task at hand.

Jinhyuk reviewed his past memories in his mind.

Countless challenges and failures.

And the only way out he found at the end.

Indeed.

No matter how he thought about it, there was only one way to beat Ellis.

It was a thorny path, but he had to break through somehow.

It's almost over.

The passage was gradually widening.