Dark cave.
Beyond the flickering torch, the appearance of arachne was revealed.
The number was a total of ten.
“Hmph.”
A sigh escaped internally.
This was ridiculously fewer in number compared to when he had rolled on the fifth floor.
As expected.
Upon seeing the hobgoblins walking around unscathed, he had guessed as much.
The fact that Jeong Yusin’s party had arrived at the fourth tier just as the Eldritch Wave was almost over brought him a sense of relief, but the party members were frozen with fear.
“Geeeeeeek!!!”
“There, they’re coming!!!”
Galerheim screamed.
Just as he was about to step forward, a plan formed in Jeong Yusin’s mind.
It wasn’t perfect — more like an impromptu tactic.
But,
‘It’s not bad.’
It was a gamble, but it didn’t seem like there would be any harm in trying.
“Run! Stick close to me!”
“Huh?!”
The party members stared blankly at Jeong Yusin.
Regardless, Jeong Yusin held the torch and darted forward.
“Wa-wait!!! Come with us!”
The party members let out a clamor and hurriedly followed Jeong Yusin closely behind.
“Kueeeeeek!!!”
The arachne leapt into the air, swinging its poison tail.
Jeong Yusin parried it like shooing away a fly.
Paaack!!!
An arachne whose head had shattered from the edge of the shield crashed down to the ground.
The party members trailing behind were stunned.
To be able to so easily fling away that terrifying arachne…
“Are you mad!!!”
Galerheim let out a startled exclamation.
“Shut up and run!!!”
Jeong Yusin urged, and the party clenched their teeth and ran.
“Kieeeek!!!”
Another arachne sprang out from the side.
Paaaack!!!
Jeong Yusin kicked its head with his foot.
Thooong!!!
At the same time, a bolt flew toward him.
He had anticipated it.
Swiftly sidestepping, he raised his shield.
Kwa-ga-ga-jak!!!
After deflecting the bolt, he ran again.
Once more, the arachne came flying from above.
He swung his aming sword.
Tsuuaaak!!!
He smashed the arachne’s head with the pommeau, leaving its tail cut in half, and it crashed to the ground.
The cut tail was quickly snatched and tucked into his embrace.
Since he had obtained what he wanted, all that was left was to keep running hard.
Thooouung!!!
Again, a bolt flew toward him.
This time, four of them.
Jeong Yusin stopped once more, extended his shield, and swung his sword.
Kwa-ga-ga-jak!!! Taaaaang!!!
Two bolts stuck into the shield, one deflected off his blade, and what about the last one?
“Kuaaaaaak!!!”
Suddenly, Galerheim clutched his thigh as he tried to fall to the ground.
“Shit!!!”
The worst-case scenario he had been worried about finally occurred.
Jeong Yusin grabbed Galerheim by the nape of his neck and lifted him up.
A bolt was deeply lodged into his thigh.
“Soline!”
Jeong Yusin tossed Galerheim toward Soline.
Soline skillfully caught Galerheim with one hand even while running and slung him over her shoulder.
“Galerheim! Pull yourself together! You have to guide us!”
At Jeong Yusin’s shout, Galerheim, who had been screaming, bit back his pain.
“Khyup! Right!!!”
There was no time for treating the wound.
Still, the arachnes and assassins were chasing after them from behind, aiming for the party.
Tattattatt!!!
Thanks to Galerheim keeping his wits about him, the party was able to keep on the right path without getting lost.
How long had they run?
They had managed to shake off the clinging arachnes. No more bolts were flying.
The torch flickered as though it was about to die out.
The shadows of four figures danced against the cave wall like a somber performance.
“Huff. Huff.”
The party members were completely out of breath.
Of course, they were tired from running at full speed.
Jeong Yusin and the party soon reached a vast cavern.
The spacious cavern branched out into several paths.
‘Here.’
Jeong Yusin came to a halt.
The party members stopped as well.
“Scath! Why are we stopping?”
Soline asked.
“Go ahead.”
Jeong Yusin said.
“What kind of ridiculous talk is that!”
Soline shouted.
“Soline, I beg of you. You’re all I can trust.”
“It can’t be done!!!”
“Do you intend for us all to die here?”
At Jeong Yusin’s question, Soline bit her lip tightly.
“Galerheim is hurt. If we waste any more time here, we will all die. I’ll hold them off.”
“Why must you go this far?!?”
Soline’s voice quivered with emotion.
“Because I gathered all of you. It’s my responsibility. I cannot accept any of you dying because of me. And stop worrying about me, worry about yourselves. Though there are fewer arachnes, some still wander in this tier.”
“…”
“Soline, let’s go.”
Surprisingly, without offering to stay behind, Fiyaron gently encouraged Soline.
Jeong Yusin and Fiyaron’s eyes met briefly.
“The marksman skills are of high quality. Don’t worry too much.”
“I trust you.”
Fiyaron closed his eyes, and began chanting a spell.
Jeong Yusin had started to try to stop him but decided against it.
[Haste]
[Boost Strength]
His body became lighter, and strength surged within.
“Thank you. Now, go.”
Jeong Yusin said as he turned around.
“Khhh!”
Soline clenched her teeth and suppressed her frustration.
“Stay alive.”
“That’s my intention.”
Disregarding Fiyaron’s comment, Jeong Yusin responded.
Tattattatt!
The sound of receding footsteps came from behind.
Because he had handed over the torch, the cavern quickly darkened.
Before the torch was lit again, there was something he needed to do first.
Jeong Yusin faced the path the party had taken and blocked it.
He extracted the arachne’s poison tail from his cloak and squeezed it onto the aming sword blade.
Drip drip drip.
Though it was too dark to see, he could feel the viscous venom flowing down the sword in his hand.
The poison, imbued with the power of the abyss, induced paralysis.
Preparations were complete.
He took out a flint and lit the torch on the ground.
The cavern faintly brightened with the small torch and was filled with an eerie silence.
As he watched over the torch burning on the cold floor, Jeong Yusin raised his eyes.
Lost in thought, Jeong Yusin gazed at the pitch-black darkness before him.
The reason the old man’s party and Oswald’s party couldn’t ascend beyond the fourth tier had been discovered.
When the Eldritch Wave appears, instead of a red portal at the transfer stone, a black one emerges. Using the black portal teleports you randomly to another tier.
Still, a blue portal continues to form.
If they had wanted, they could have just returned to the city.
‘They must’ve been pretty stubborn.’
The reason the female elder party’s corpses were riddled with both crossbow bolts and pikes was now understood.
The more intact state of Oswald’s party was likely due to his Dark Veil skill.
Though several mysteries were clarified, none of it seemed to matter now.
Jeong Yusin cracked his neck and loosened up.
He had prepared the best plan under the worst circumstances.
He had provoked them to target him.
He had coated his sword with poison.
He had blocked the way through the vast cavern.
He had done his utmost to send his fellow party members to safety, though if there were any other options, he wouldn’t want them sent to their deaths.
Not only was fighting while protecting the party cumbersome,
but whatever happened,
his goal was singular.
To bury them all here.
Shh.
The faint sound of a footstep echoed in the silent cavern.
Jeong Yusin’s head turned.
‘There?’
Thoom!
A bolt shot toward him.
Kwajik!
He raised his shield to block it.
Tscherrrkk!!!
The worn-out shield was split in half.
He cast the broken shield far away.
Trururut.
The sound of the rolling shield echoed through the cavern.
“…Gentlemen, how long do you intend to keep firing bolts from a distance like cowards? Wouldn’t your parents in hell be ashamed?”
Jeong Yusin’s indifferent voice reverberated in the silent cavern.
Instead of a response, the sound of a crossbow string was heard.
Thoom! Thoom! Thoom!
Three bolts flew toward him from the front, right, and left.
Taaaaang!!!
Puck!! Puck!!
He deflected one.
The remaining bolts embedded themselves into his thigh and shoulder.
Ggrrrr…
He clenched his teeth and suppressed the groan that threatened to escape.
Thoom! Thoom! Thoom!
More bolts came flying.
Huuwiiiik!!!
He swung his sword, but this time it merely cut through the air.
Puck! Puck! Puck!
Arm, the opposite thigh, side.
“Kheuuuugh!!!”
A groan burst from his lips. There was no time to catch his breath.
More bolts flew.
Tadaaaaang!!!
He deflected two.
Puck!
He didn’t know where it hit.
A horrifying pain spread throughout his body.
A spark flashed in his mind.
Rage surged to its limit, nearly driving him mad.
To steady his waning consciousness, he bit his own tongue.
With trembling hands, he grabbed and threw his helmet away.
Dinggg.
The helmet rolled across the ground.
He swept his sweat-soaked hair out of his face.
Jeong Yusin grinned and spread his arms wide.
A posture utterly devoid of reason as though inviting them to shoot.
“Come on!!! You bastards!!!”
The men began firing their crossbows wildly.
*
How much time had passed?
Neither the assassins nor Jeong Yusin knew.
Taaaaaaaang!!! Taaaang!!!
Puck! Puck! Puck!
Jeong Yusin swung his sword like a madman.
In a vicious cycle where pain incited madness and madness incited more pain,
he clung to life and swung his sword,
painting a line in the boundary between life and death.
Taaaaaaaang!!!
Although Jeong Yusin’s body looked like a porcupine, pierced thoroughly with bolts, he neither fell nor retreated.
As if possessed by a lunatic himself.
His body was gradually dying, but his sword grew faster.
Taaaaaaaang!!! Taaaaang!!! Taaaang!!!
He deflected more bolts with his sword.
As though possessed by a deity, he swung his sword like a madman, deflecting the flying bolts.
The bright blue flame of his body burned with unprecedented intensity.
It was a signal that death was one step closer.
A dark red stream of blood trickled from the corners of Jeong Yusin’s mouth.
He grinned.
“Hhh…”
When they realized he had gone mad, the bolts suddenly ceased.
“…Damn fool. You’re the first truly insane person I’ve seen in my life.”
Unveiling himself, a blindfolded man gave two begrudging compliments.
Behind the man stood three henchmen.
Jeong Yusin spat out the blood filling his mouth.
“Kueeeet!!!”
A streak of red painted the ground.
“Where… where’s Oswald?”
Jeong Yusin slurred, asking.
“How would I know? He was here a moment ago.”
The blindfolded man shrugged, replying.
Jeong Yusin faced the blindfolded man with a grin stretched wide.
Upon seeing it, the man’s face grew stiff with fear.
‘This man really is insane.’
Having worked in assassination for 15 years, he had never seen anyone so tightly gripped by malice even at the brink of death.
A ruthless man who didn’t flinch despite bolts drilling deep into his body.
Watching the man’s blue eyes, a chill ran up his spine.
Could this man be a barvaroy?
He had only heard rumors and had never seen one before, but meeting him now, he realized this guy was as good as a demon.
A monster like this must surely be exterminated.
“Let’s send him off easily. He’s a wounded beast.”
The blindfolded man drew his weapon, speaking.
His subordinates also drew their weapons.
Truly well-trained, the sound of drawing weapons was almost silent.
Mace, daggers, single-handed sword, hatchet.
“Si… Sirs.”
Jeong Yusin muttered, lifting one foot.
All eyes were on Jeong Yusin.
“S… Small fire. Rest easy.”
The assassins’ widening eyes betrayed their surprise.
He stomped the torch out with his foot.
Puck!
The torch went out.
The wide cavern plunged into darkness instantly.
Strike first.
He charged toward the one he had spotted earlier – the one with the hatchet.
Swishing through the darkness, he swung his sword.
Tsuuuuuuhhk!!!
“Khkkkkkk!!!”
A scream rang out.
He felt a sense of impact through his sword. Where had he cut? It didn’t matter, he’d struck.
His creaking body moved toward the next one.
Thudddd!!!
Whoooshhhh!!!
The sound of footsteps and weapons.
It was to the left.
The sword pierced through Jeong Yusin’s shoulder.
Through the disorienting haze of his mind, he managed to deduce the following information.
This was the one with the single-handed sword.
“Got him!!!”
The assassin shouted.
“Ughh! Me, I’m your ally! What are you doing?!”
Jeong Yusin shouted.
“What…what?!”
The voice betrayed confusion.
‘They fell for it.’
He swung his sword wildly. As long as he hit, it was all that mattered.
Tsssuurrrhkk!!!
“Krrraaahh!!!”
The assassin let out a pig-like scream.
Losing their composure swiftly in the melee fight amid the darkness,
this was the fate of the solo DPS gone berserk.
Having cut down two, two remained.
“Glowing blue eyes!!!”
The blindfolded man shouted.
Jeong Yusin closed his eyes, took a few steps, and came to an immediate halt.
For a moment, silence filled the room.
No one moved.
Jeong Yusin also stayed put, his ears open, waiting.
The fight is lost by the impatient one.
Ssh.
To the right.
He immediately thrust his sword forward. Given the lackluster sensation in his hand, it seemed he had hit the thigh.
“Kuhh!!!”
Tttrrrk!
One more assassin fell, struck by his blade.
One remained.
At that moment,
A dagger pierced his neck.
Jeong Yusin’s eyes flew open.
The pain was overshadowed, but breathing became excruciating.
With trembling hands, he firmly gripped the dagger.
“Mi…madman!”
The blindfolded man’s voice trembled.
Despite the pain, he shoved his sword forward. The sensation of soft organs. Bingo.
“Khhahahaaa!!!”
The blindfolded man tottered back and collapsed onto the floor.
Indeed, it was the paralyzing poison that did the trick.
Chhuuuu.
He pulled the dagger out and threw it to the ground.
Ding.
Jeong Yusin bowed his head and spat out the blood pooling in his mouth onto the floor.
Next, he pulled out a torch from the pouch on his waist and lit it.
Hwarrrk.
The large cavern lit up with the torch once more.
‘Need to remove these bolts.’
Though the wounds were healing thanks to his Vengeance Mark, the pain persisted because of the bolts stuck all over his body.
But,
Mysteriously,
the pain was gradually fading like a receding tide.
Instead,
the darkness of the labyrinth was filling his mind step by step.
No. It was the darkness that had been asleep within him originally.
A strange energy flickered in Jeong Yusin’s eyes as he looked around.
Upon seeing four men lying on the ground, he couldn’t help but laugh.
He stood straight and politely saluted with his sword.
“Teachers, thank you. I’ve learned much today thanks to you, though I might be clumsy. In that sense, I’ll perform a dance with my blade in your honor.”
After finishing his speech, he gave them one more smile as he looked down at the men.
Shiii.
The pants of the paralyzed men began to wet.
Jeong Yusin stood there with a calm demeanor.
