Schrödinger's cat.
It's a well-known experiment from quantum mechanics, but to be honest, I don't actually know the details.
As someone who came from the liberal arts, there's only one thing I know.
Before you open the box, there are two possible futures, but the moment you observe it, one becomes fixed.
I still don't really understand why that's scientifically important, but this experiment at least taught me one lesson.
Sometimes, not knowing is a form of mercy.
Just like right now.
"...."
I barely manage to swallow down the question rising in my throat.
A common name.
Could it be Hans?
If I ask, I'll get an answer—and with it, the future will be set.
A quantum-choice gacha.
It's nothing new, but I don't trust my luck.
Yeah, so....
'This is far enough.'
It's better not to know.
At least that way, there's still the chance it's not him.
Thump—!
I forcibly ignore the pounding in my chest and scan my surroundings.
「The character has entered a special area.」
All the bones that had been scattered across the floor, ceiling, and walls were gone, but the cave's structure was exactly the same as before we took the portal.
"Let's get out of here first."
Passing by the tunnel where I'd caught that rat earlier and retracing the path in my memory, we exited the cave—and were greeted by a completely transformed new field.
A sky as red as blood.
Cracked, splintered earth.
And lava flowing through the fissures.
KWAHHHH—!
A field perfectly designed to fit the concept of "the apocalypse."
Ah, and this place has a unique field effect too.
「Field Effect – Apocalypse is in effect.」
「Status Effect [Eternal Scorch] has been applied.」
「The character takes continuous flame damage, and that damage increases over time.」
Constant damage isn't anything new, so whatever.
「Status Effect [Terminal Countdown] has been applied.」
「The character will die in 24 hours.」
Any character who enters the special field 'Memory of the End' dies in 24 hours.
Of course, there's a way to stop it.
Honestly, you could just leave through the portal you came in from and the effect would disappear.
'But once you leave, you can't come back in.'
So the proper strategy is to explore this field and use the items you find to reset the timer....
"This is the island...?"
"I've never seen something so terrifying in my life."
As the team stared blankly at an island that looked like it was exploding like a bomb, they all wore dazed expressions.
Honestly, I felt the same.
There's a big difference between 2D graphics and live action, after all.
"Don't stray too far from me, all of you."
Before we started the real exploration, I activated the Fire Orb to counter the [Eternal Scorch] field effect.
「Fire Orb has been activated.」
「Within a 15m radius, all continuous flame-based damage is reduced by 50%.」
The Fire Orb was one of the most reliable utility items in 'Memory of the End.'
Sure, with enough time, even this won't be enough...
'But having it is basically the same as doubling our survival time.'
Ah, of course, that only applies if we deal with [Terminal Countdown] properly.
"All right, let's go. As I said before—stand by. First, we're leaving this island."
"Huh? Leave the island?"
"You'll see."
I led the whole team toward the beach where we'd first landed by boat.
The shoreline had also changed drastically.
"Nothing but skeletons or seas of fire… This island really goes all out."
It was like the whole island had turned into an active volcano. Lava flowed out, hardening into black rock as it hit the sea.
The smoke created from lava and seawater colliding made it hard to see anything.
With [Terminal Countdown] hanging over them, any ordinary explorer wouldn't even think about heading farther out...
But seasoned players think differently.
Huh? You can summon the boat and actually leave the island?
Then obviously, there must be something hidden out there.
And that assumption turned out to be right.
Though it took hundreds of trial runs and hundreds of characters being wiped to figure it out.
Anyway.
"Then… I'll set sail...!"
We all boarded the summoned boat on the beach. Its hull was caked in flame resistance, ready for this exact moment, and it pushed through the black smoke toward the ocean.
Swooooooshhh—!
The area of zero visibility caused by the smoke didn't last long.
After moving in a straight line for a few minutes, the smoke started to lift, and when I looked back, I could see the island bursting apart.
"Where are we going now?"
"Oh? You didn't hear?"
"You said we were going to find something, but you never said how we'd find it."
Ah, right. I only told Auyen.
"We're heading to Arta Island now."
"…Arta Island?"
Raven tilted her head, then seemed to remember something and continued.
"Oh! That island! One of the Seven Mysteries of the Labyrinth! The little island with those three weird pillars standing there!"
"That's the one."
Arta Island had been well-known among explorers and mages for a long time.
I mean, come on.
No monsters, just a bunch of strange structures? Of course people thought something was hidden there...
"Wow! Then we're going to uncover the secrets hidden on that island? Can I write a paper on it?"
"No."
"But it's one of the Seven Mysteries..."
"You can write it after I die. I won't stop you then."
"Hey, don't say things like that… Even as a joke."
Hmm, maybe I went too far with that one?
When Raven frowned seriously, I felt a little awkward too.
Though if we're being honest, it wasn't entirely a joke.
"Anyway, by clan rules, everything we discover on expeditions is confidential. If you want to write something, just take notes for now, and after we all retire, then you can write it. Got it?"
"Got it, got it... I was just saying. But is that island nearby?"
The one who answered wasn't me but Auyen, who was steering.
"Arta Island is the closest island to Catacoma, Lady Raven."
"Really? Then why didn't we see it on the way here?"
"Charting the most efficient route—that's a navigator's job."
That's exactly why I brought Auyen this far, even though he's practically useless in combat.
We'd need a boat here.
I mean, even without a navigator, we could find Arta Island, but...
With [Terminal Countdown], saving even a little time is worth it.
Just like this.
「Auyen Rockrove has cast [Tailwind].」
「The ship's movement speed increases by 50%, and all onboard characters' soul energy recovers rapidly.」
「Auyen Rockrove has cast [Trade Route].」
「While the helm is fixed, the ship's movement speed increases by 300%.」
「Auyen Rockrove has cast [Ghost Ship]...」
The ship was infused with powers, and our speed spiked.
Raven looked a bit surprised.
"…[Trade Route]? Wow, you really are a skilled navigator. That's a rare Essence."
"Haha… I just got that ability recently."
"Huh? But the Labyrinth hasn't opened. How'd you get it?"
"I used the marketplace. I spent all the money I had saved… but I had to do something to avoid dragging everyone down, right? Haha..."
"...You've been through a lot. Ending up in a place like this."
"It's all right. I'm happy to be here."
Raven seemed to take a liking to Auyen and chatted with him for a while. I quietly stepped away, and Ainard came over.
"Bjorn! I've got a question!"
"Go ahead."
"Where do you get those abilities from?"
Normally, I'd tell her to ask Raven, but since she was busy talking to Auyen, I answered instead.
"Some monsters sail ships."
"Huh? I've never seen anything like that."
"That's because they appear in areas most people avoid."
A good example is the Pirate Archipelago in the southwest sea, where orcs and goblins pilot ships and ambush explorers.
There's also Ghost Island, where ghost ships roam the waters.
Ah, for reference, neither place lies on the route to the seventh floor, so we've never had a reason to pass through them before.
'…Getting [Airship] would be impossible, right?'
For a second, I thought of the navigator's final-tier Essence, which you can get on the 10th floor—but I quickly let it go.
If I could just get it, we'd be able to sail across every floor, not just the sixth, and future expeditions would take half the time...
But the monster that drops it only appears if you're lucky.
And I'm not strong enough to kill it yet anyway.
"Captain! We're within visual range!"
Snapped out of my thoughts by Auyen's shout, I looked toward the bow.
In the distance was a small island.
No—more accurately, I saw three pillars.
"Oh… that's one of the Labyrinth's mysteries!"
A strange little island where the pillars felt bigger than the island itself.
"But… don't they look kind of different from before?"
As Kaislan muttered, I noticed it too—there was a subtle change in the pillars on Arta Island.
Not a major one.
"Were those pillars… blue before?"
"No, they were black."
The «N.o.v.e.l.i.g.h.t» once-black pillars had turned blue.
Not that appearance matters that much.
"Dock the ship."
"Yes, Captain."
Once the ship was pulled up to the island, everyone disembarked.
And the time it took to get here...
'4 hours and 40 minutes.'
Assuming it takes just as long to return, that's 9 hours and 20 minutes round trip.
With [Terminal Countdown] giving us 24 hours...
'We should finish this within 10 hours to be safe.'
It might take longer to return, and we'll need at least two hours of buffer time to reset the countdown once we get back.
Tap.
I dismissed the summoned boat and stepped into the island's center.
And then...
"So, what do we do now?"
"Wait."
At the center of the triangle formed by the three pillars was a small altar.
And on that altar, we needed to spill some blood...
"Parab, you do it."
"Eh?"
"My knife doesn't cut well."
"Oh..."
At my command, Parab sliced his palm with a blade. Blood trickled down and dripped onto the altar.
And then—
FWOOOOOSH—!
Light burst from within the pillars, and incomprehensible symbols—not even ancient script—began glowing on the surface.
Zzzt, zzzt—!
Unstable magic sparked like a short-circuit and slowly took form at the center, as if the energy was being drawn together.
"…Another portal?"
"That's how the Labyrinth always is."
Even as I said it, I let out a dry laugh.
Bit too much, isn't it?
Honestly, 'Memory of the End' was already a hidden piece—and now there's another hidden piece inside it...
'Whoever made the Labyrinth really loves secrets.'
Not that I mind, as long as the rewards are worth it.
"So, are we going in now?"
"Wait—just need to do one thing first."
Saying that, I set a ten-hour timer.
Tick, tick—
We must be out before then.
If I want to lose no one.
-x-X-x-
The moment we stepped into the portal, my vision blinked once again, and a new space unfolded.
"This is...."
"What is this place? It's quiet...."
Maybe they'd expected it to be crawling with monsters—some of the members tilted their heads at how unexpectedly quiet it was.
Well, that's fair.
Compared to Skull Island Catacoma, which was packed with bones, and the previous field where the entire island had been erupting in real-time like a bomb, this place was just a bit dark, quiet, and free of any immediate threats.
"This is unusual. Almost looks like a research facility."
The strangeness and tension of being in an unfamiliar space only lasted a moment. Raven scanned the area and spoke with academic curiosity.
'So much for that talk about avenging her master—some things don't change.'
Not that I'm saying that's a bad thing.
Honestly, I wish she'd forget the whole revenge thing and just live doing what she enjoys.
Then again, that's not exactly easy… even for me.
'Thunk, thunk....'
Every step echoed off the floor, the entire area covered in metal plating.
The walls were lined with metal pipes and hatch handles, and mana conduits as thick as industrial cables.
Felt like we'd stepped into a giant submarine—or maybe a bunker.
"Ooh! I kind of want to turn this lever—."
"Don't! Prnelin, don't touch anything!"
"I-I didn't touch it! I just thought about it!!"
Whatever Ainard's frustration, I hurried forward.
Time was still ticking, after all.
'He should be speaking to us soon....'
As I slowly walked toward the center, thinking that, right on cue, a voice echoed.
[Who are you? Are you pilgrims?]
A voice laced with noise, like it was coming through a speaker.
"...!"
Most of them raised their weapons and scanned the surroundings the moment they heard the voice.
Understandable.
There were probably only two people here who could understand what was said.
"Ancient tongue...?"
Raven, who had studied long enough to pick up a bit of the ancient language.
And…
[Welcome, Arta.]
Me, who never studied it but could speak it fluently, almost like a native.
[...You have not yet answered my question. Who are you? Are you pilgrims?]
Hearing that question, I smirked.
Arta Island was a fascinating chapter in the game.
Arta is the only NPC you can meet in the Labyrinth.
Well, once you learn the truth, calling him an NPC gets a little murky.
Anyway, the fact that he's a sentient entity who can communicate and hand out quests makes him a rare case.
The progression style was also very unique...
"Bjorn! Is it an enemy? Just say the word! I'll smash it!"
"Hold still, Ainard. It's pointless anyway."
"Pointless...? W-Wait—is it a ghost?! Don't worry! I-I can beat ghosts now!"
"Oh yeah? Then try hitting that door with your weapon."
"…Huh?"
Ainard blinked in confusion at my instruction but followed it obediently.
But...
"Uh...?"
Ainard froze, spear in hand.
As if some unseen force refused to allow such action.
"W-What is this?! I-I can't move my body...! Help me!"
"Relax. Drop your hostility and it'll go away."
Strictly speaking, in-game, it's not hostility—it's that the attack button gets disabled.
With the 'realism patch,' I guess that's what it feels like.
Sure enough, as soon as Ainard did what I said, he was fine again.
"Ugh...! What the hell is this?!"
To explain it simply, it's a field effect.
Among all the hidden pieces, this place is particularly unusual.
「The character has entered a special area.」
「Field Effect – Arta's Secret Base is in effect.」
「All hostile actions are prohibited within the field.」
No form of combat can take place here.
So ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) to progress, you need something other than brute strength...
[...What are you saying to them? Answer my question. If you do not, I will immediately expel you.]
The answer is conversation.
Even in-game, when speaking with this entity, you had to select dialogue options, and only by choosing the correct ones could you receive the quest.
Ah, assuming you could speak "Ancient Tongue."
'It took me over a hundred tries just to get the quest...'
Which also means: with all that experience, getting the quest now should be a walk in the park.
[We are not pilgrims.]
First off, claiming to be pilgrims is the wrong answer.
Choose that option, and you'll be forced into a series of "proofs," which no player can complete.
The only problem is...
[…But how do you know my name?]
Ah. The name...
[That is....]
I hesitated, not sure what excuse to offer.
Tsk. I'd just mentioned his name out of familiarity.
Maybe that was a mistake.
In the game, he only followed preset dialogue paths, and I could only pick from preset options—so I never thought about this part.
But so what?
Unfortunately, I haven't lived such a peaceful life that something this minor would throw me into panic.
[We are survivors of the fallen Empire.]
A line only possible because I know the story ahead.
The order's a little off, but… choosing this line is still required to receive the quest, regardless of when it's said.
[We came here to stop the apocalypse, and of course, we already know of your existence.]
[I see… survivors of the fallen Empire. Well, you wouldn't want this world to be destroyed either.]
[Of course not. Is there anything we can do to help?]
[Hmm… I doubt there's anything you can do. I respect your will to save the world, but if you truly want that, then leave. I'm trying to resolve it through my own methods.]
Uh… what?
Why's he just telling us to go?
Did I mess up the intro?
Then again, this isn't the first time reality has deviated from the game.
'Guess I'll have to go freestyle from here.'
With that in mind, I spoke again.
[Arta, we know how to kill the Beast.]
The line that—according to the storyline—he can't just ignore.
[…Haha, you?]
But strangely, he returned a genuine laugh of disbelief.
Another realism patch?
This bastard wasn't this annoying in the game.
In fact, once he confirmed our identity, he'd analyze our capabilities and—if we were useful—give us the quest without hesitation.
'Sheesh… messed up the first step.'
Still, I know the whole story, so it won't be a problem.
[We know how to kill the Beast.]
[...The Beast is not something that can be killed. Even I can only seal it.]
His voice dripped with disbelief, like: How could scum like you manage that?
[I'm not here to convince you with words. I'm going to kill that serpent.]
[...You even know about that?]
[Is that important? What matters to you is whether we can solve your problem or not.]
[You're not wrong. However—]
[We also know it's a First-Class monster. And that once it's killed, the Divine Device below must be activated. Don't worry.]
[....]
Arta stopped asking how I knew all this.
But his tone shifted—because I knew those top-secret details so casually.
He'd become far more serious than before.
[…Very well. I will trust you. Survivors of the fallen Empire.]
As he finished speaking, a hiss of escaping gas echoed, and a hidden hatch in the floor opened.
Well, I might've skipped half the story, but...
Chi-i-i-i-i-iik—!
As long as we get to Seoul, who cares which road we take?
***
We're descending.
Climbing endlessly down a ladder that feels like it leads to an abyss.
"What were you talking about up there? I heard something about an Empire and a trial or whatever."
"Nothing important."
"Wait, but how did you even know about this island in the first place?"
I just grinned in response to Raven's question.
She knows I'm originally a player.
Not that the others don't have questions—but no one's said anything directly.
"You are a Baron, after all. It makes sense that someone like the Captain would know things the average explorer doesn't! Right, Parab?"
"Haha, yes… That's true."
"Still, doesn't this mean the royal family already knew the secret of Arta Island...?"
I quietly listened as the others murmured behind me.
I let out a slightly awkward laugh.
"Don't think too hard about it. It's not something we should be discussing out loud."
"Of course. I understand that better than anyone. I'm just curious why the royal family kept Arta Island a mystery in the first place."
Must be his royal roots.
Kaislan always suspects the royal family and assumes they're behind every conspiracy.
…Not that he's entirely wrong.
"Focus, everyone. I explained the monster back in the city, right?"
"Ah… wait, this is the place? Where that thing shows up? The End Serpent, Sniktura?"
"That's right."
"…This is nerve-wracking. Even Kashan was a monster back there."
Kaislan's voice trembled, probably remembering Kashan, the beast we fought on Basement Level 1.
I couldn't blame him.
Back then, even with hundreds of elite fighters, we took massive losses.
There aren't many explorers who've faced First-Class monsters, so few truly understand how dangerous they are…
But those who have—never forget.
A First-Class monster is a natural disaster.
It's not just a monster or a human—it's something entirely different.
"Don't worry too much. Like I said in the city, this one's not like Kashan. Given all the conditions, the actual battle difficulty is more like an upper-tier Second-Class."
"Uh… isn't a Second-Class monster still a total nightmare?"
Hmm… well, that's not wrong.
There are plenty of rumors about high-tier clans getting wiped by a single Second-Class monster.
But from the perspective of a fully cracked-out K-gamer, it's a whole different story.
You're telling me I can kill a First-Class monster at Second-Class difficulty?
If I don't do it, I'm a sucker—
'Thunk.'
Lost in thought, I kept climbing down the ladder until finally, my feet hit solid ground.
And at the same time—
「The character has entered a special area.」
「Field Effect – Destroyed Nuclear Laboratory is in effect.」
「The land's source absorbs all power.」
「All resources possessed by the character are fixed at 0.」
My MP got completely drained, and I entered a state where I couldn't use any skills at all.
"So… we're supposed to fight a First-Class monster in this condition?"
With her mana completely drained, Raven, now weaker than an average person, grumbled.
I just shrugged.
"Don't worry. Same goes for the enemy."
That's the whole concept here—fighting barehanded, without powers.
-x-X-x-
Arta Secret Base.
The story here is pretty simple. And to briefly explain it…
According to the story, the Arta family built a secret base at the location closest to the "Core of the Earth" near the island to seal away the "Beast." The Arta family used an item called the "Divine Relic" to seal the Beast using the Core's power, and that mission has been passed down through the generations to this day. The problem is, the secret base has gone completely unresponsive.
[A monster broke into the lab with the Divine Relic! It's obviously the scheme of someone who wants the world to end!]
If you choose the right options in the dialogue, Arta says something like this and gives the player their first quest. The quest's objective is to kill the monster that wrecked the lab and restart the Divine Relic.
[Sorry, but thanks to that thing, the elevator's broken, so you'll have to use the emergency ladder and climb down for a few hours. I'll open the entrance now!]
[Be careful! With the Core in an unstable state, the moment you enter, all powers will disappear! Though that goes for the Serpent of the End too!]
Once you accept the quest, you even get lines like that. But maybe I messed up the first step?
'When I actually met her, she came off weirdly rude…'
The moment I entered the lab, she even threw out a line that wasn't in the game.
[…What is your name?]
After nearly two hours of climbing down the ladder, Arta's voice came through the lab's speaker.
[…Bjorn Yandel.]
[Is that a famous name in the Empire?]
[Well, somewhat.]
It's not the Empire, it's Lafdonia.
But I am famous, so technically it's not a lie.
'I think this is the first time she asks your name during this chapter…'
Well, that's probably just part of the reality patch too. After the introductions, Arta didn't say much more, so I began leading my team slowly into the lab.
BEEP—! BEEP—! BEEP—!
The lab interior was filled with an ominous, repeating siren. It was dome-shaped, and the inside was surprisingly spacious…
"Where's the Sniktura…?"
Even more tense, the team couldn't find the creature we came for. Well, it's a first-class monster, Yaksha Rule or not.
"Raven, Marone, you two stay over there."
I rounded up the mages who'd be useless in this fight and pushed them into one spot. And then…
Step. Step.
I moved toward the center of the lab. There, like a sinkhole, was a single bottomless pit…
WHOOSH—!
As I approached, strong ❖ Nоvеl𝚒ght ❖ (Exclusive on Nоvеl𝚒ght) wind blew from behind. An effect caused by the Core below draining our mana and soul force.
"Ready?"
In response to my question, the team nodded slightly without a word and got into formation. Okay, looks like we're ready…
[Survivor of the fallen Empire, right there ahead—]
[I know. I just press this, right?]
[….]
I pressed a button on one of the suspicious machines in the lab, and the gusting wind immediately stopped. And then…
[Command input complete.]
[Emergency restoration has begun.]
Along with the narration in ancient language, the BEEP—BEEP— sirens also went silent. Ah, but only temporarily.
BEEP! BEEP! BEEP! BEEP!
Now the sirens began to sound again, even more urgently—
[Restoration failed.]
[Unidentified object detected inside connector.]
[Proceeding with forced ejection.]
With those lines, a strong wind blasted upward from the pit. And then…
[Forced ejection complete.]
Like a parasite hiding inside, a snake burst out of the pit.
"Prepare for battle!"
It was a first-class monster, Sniktura.
***
The Serpent of the End, Sniktura.
One of the many monsters that appear on the 10th floor. Honestly, even in the game, if I ran into this thing on the 10th floor, I usually passed it by. The 10th floor really was hell difficulty itself. My usual approach was to avoid all combat and head straight for the "Gate of the Abyss." Of course, sometimes you'd still have to fight.
Anyway.
'Seeing it here like this, it's kind of cute.'
This isn't the unrestricted 10th floor. It's a small colosseum where both sides have their active skills sealed. In that space, Sniktura looked pretty small and cute. Well, even just its head was over three meters tall.
'Hiss…'
Sniktura froze as soon as it bounced out of the hole and saw us, looking surprised. It slapped the floor with its triple-split tail—clearly annoyed.
"…It's smaller than what we were told?"
Well yeah, it can't use [Form Shift] here. On the 10th floor, this thing not only changed size freely but even had transformation patterns into other entities—really annoying to fight.
'If [Form Shift] were judged to match Unification, it'd be a higher-grade version of [Giant Form]…'
Maybe that's why I never hunted this thing much. Even though it's first-class, its powers weren't well-suited to shield-barbarians.
[Unidentified object ejection complete.]
[Sealing hatch—]
[Failure, failure, failure, failure—]
Ugh, shut up.
"What's it saying now?"
Oh, that?
"It's telling us to fight."
And almost as soon as I said that, Sniktura lunged at us.
[Kyaaaaaaaah—!]
Its fangs were as big and thick as a greatsword, obviously dangerous at a glance. Fighting it with skills sealed looked overwhelmingly difficult.
But—
'Active skills aren't everything.'
"Defense successful."
"Aegis Barrier absorbs all damage."
Fangs that size could be countered with [Aegis Barrier]. As long as the attack's within its coverage, it's practically broken.
[…Kaak!]
Seeing me—so small—block its attack effortlessly, it looked briefly stunned. Then it sucked something up from deep in its gut and spit it at us.
Tap.
Ah, I should dodge that.
Sizzle—!
As soon as the spit landed, the surface began corroding rapidly. That was the effect of its passive, [All-Poison Physiology]. To summarize: complete immunity to all poisons, all fluids are maximally poisonous, and bonus poison damage.
It felt like the final evolved version of [Acidic Fluid], which I used to like…
Swoosh—!
Sniktura then swung its thick tail at me.
'Ah, this one probably won't count as a guardable hit.'
Maybe if I had [Giant Form] active. In this small form, I couldn't fully block that tail.
Still—
'Too late to dodge.'
I raised my shield to cover my upper body and reduce the impact as much as possible. Didn't stop me from slamming into the wall.
BOOM—!
I crashed into the wall, shield still up, without any resistance. It couldn't be helped. A first-class monster's raw stats are beyond monstrous. No build in Dungeon & Stone can overcome that kind of raw power.
'Well… maybe on 100x Mode?'
Yeah… maybe if you dumped 30 essences into it, it'd work… Meaningless daydream. Moving on.
"Behell—raaaaaaaaah!!"
To regain focus, I shouted a warcry and ran back into the fight. Holding the line were Ainard, Sven Parab, and Kaislan.
"What… kind of monster is this…!"
"Ugh… Bjorn! Without powers, I don't know what to do!"
They were overwhelmed by the stat gap, but I wasn't too worried. It's not like this is their first time fighting monsters. They'd get used to the pattern soon enough. After all, the monster's actives are sealed too.
Whoosh—!
While the frontline kept up the fight, support fire came from the rear—but it was barely doing damage.
"Yandel… is it even possible to kill this thing?"
Kaislan started to doubt as even arrows and blades failed to leave a scratch. And honestly, he had a point. A first-class monster's raw stats were ridiculous. There's no way we could do enough damage with just passives and no powers.
'It should be about time…'
That's when I started thinking that.
[Initiating restoration.]
This time, it wasn't the narration—it was Arta's voice over the speaker. And then—
[To proceed with manual restoration, I need assistance from inside the lab. I'll show you with the lights—]
[I'm supposed to press the lit-up buttons, right?]
[…Correct.]
After finishing the conversation, I told the rearguard to press any buttons that lit up once the equipment powered on. And then—
[Emergency stabilization module activated.]
[1%, 2%, 3%, 4%…]
[Error detected.]
[Mana Core requires repair.]
Each press of a button led to updates in progress, and before one completed, another broke, forcing us to fix something else. And time passed like that.
"Kaislan, fall back and heal with a potion."
"I'm still fine—"
Dude, your flesh is melted and your bones are visible. What do you mean "fine."
"That's an order."
"…Understood."
After nearly two hours of this fight, the vanguard rotated in and out, recovering and returning repeatedly.
[Emergency stabilization completed.]
Wooooong—!
With the sound of power returning, the dark lab lit up brightly. It meant the long first phase was finally over. And at the same time—
"Field effect – Destroyed Core Lab has changed."
"Character resource values now fluctuate depending on distance."
Now the raid could truly begin. The rearguard's MP would start regenerating— not much, just up to about 10%. But even so, the most important factor in this raid was the vanguard.
"Listen up. From now on, you absolutely cannot let it push us back!"
I gave the vanguard another firm order. Because if we get pushed too far from the pit, it's not just us regenerating MP—that damn snake will get its powers back too.
So…
"Parab! You fall back!"
I moved Sven Parab, our only healer, to the rear to act like a proper cleric.
"Elwen Fornaci di Tersia has cast [Spiritization]."
I also had Elwen focus on using [Spiritization] instead of dealing damage. Since the monster was poison-aligned, we obviously chose earth.
"Fire damage taken is halved."
"Water damage taken is doubled."
"Poison immunity bonus."
"Blunt weapons receive strong bonuses for destruction actions."
"Physical resistance greatly increased…"
"…"
With the poison problem resolved, she could fight more actively, and her knockback resistance improved stability.
'Now we just wear it down and prepare for the final berserk phase…'
That's what I was thinking as we calmly continued the raid—
"…Huh?"
Suddenly, Sniktura's outer shell began glowing bright red. Which could only mean one thing.
"Sniktura has activated [Seed of Destruction]."
"Selects a random character within range for an unavoidable strike."
Something went wrong.
.
.
.
.
"...has reached 0% HP."
"Initiating countdown."
-x-X-x-
Accidents during raids.
Honestly, it's nothing new.
No matter how long you've been playing this game, how much experience you've accumulated—
No, because you've been playing it for so long, you can't help but know the truth.
Accidents are unavoidable by nature.
From the start, Dungeon & Stone was designed that way.
When you fight, things go wrong. And when things go wrong, someone on your team dies.
And yet, you keep swapping out comrades, pushing forward toward the Abyss Gate.
That was the direction this game always pointed toward.
Just like now.
"Sniktura has cast [Seed of Destruction]."
[Seed of Destruction].
A basic attack skill from Sniktura that lands an unavoidable strike on random enemies within range.
Only, it may be a 'basic attack'—but from a Grade One monster, even that is on a different level.
Especially if the target isn't a tank.
"…Huh?"
It starts with a startled voice from the rear.
BOOOOM—!
Then a split-second later, the explosion erupts.
'Who was it?'
I don't know, but I don't turn around.
Right now, preventing the next accident takes priority. I raise my shield and charge at Sniktura.
And then—
'…It slipped slightly out of center.'
Realizing Sniktura had drifted just outside the central formation, I hold it in place again, repositioning it squarely.
Only after taking those emergency measures do I finally hear who got hit.
"Leader, it was Lady Tersia!"
That panicked voice belongs to Riris Marone, overflowing with urgency.
'Tersia…?'
For a moment, my heart clenches—but only for a moment.
…She said 'Lady.'
Riris Marone doesn't call Elwen "Lady Tersia."
She calls her "Miss Tersia."
Besides, [Elementalization] hasn't been disrupted yet.
Which means the teammate hit by the accident is—
'Beleg Shusia di Tersia.'
Elwen's maternal uncle. A new recruit who joined our clan seeking the Resurrection Stone.
"I gave him a potion, but he's not looking good!"
Everyone here has been exploring for years. I don't even have to ask before the status report continues.
Just from a glance, things look grim.
But still—
"If we don't use divine power, he's going to die!"
Using Sven Parab's divine power—the only healer we have—for rear-line healing?
Honestly, even that feels risky.
If his healing leaks away from the front lines, the pressure up front will grow. And the greater that pressure, the higher the odds of another unexpected death.
If one more accident happens, we could be wiped out.
Even under the Yacharul rule, this is a Grade One monster.
If this raid fails, we all die.
Which means there are now three choices.
Take the risk and save Beleg.
Ignore him and push the raid to success.
Or give up everything and turn back.
"Beleg Shusia di Tersia's HP has reached 0%."
"Countdown begins."
I have to decide—fast.
To me, the only thing worse than the wrong decision is a late one.
Every moment has a golden window.
And if you miss that moment, all blame falls on the one in charge.
Choice.
Once again, the moment to choose has arrived.
"Abandon Sniktura. Full retreat."
I made the call without hesitation.
Of course I did.
I want that Essence—but it's not like today is my last chance. There's no guarantee the drop will even appear just because we kill it—
SSSSSSSSS—
Just as I made my final decision.
A sound of gas hissing out—and the entrance we came through seals shut.
[Are you seriously going to sit back and watch the world end just to save one man?]
…You lunatic bastard.
[Kill that serpent. Survivors of the fallen Empire, do it—for the world, and for yourselves.]
And now we're down to two choices.
***
Having the retreat route cut off—
That had never happened before.
Not once in the entire game.
The Arta Secret Base was the kind of dungeon where, if things went wrong, retreat was always an option.
So what the hell is this?
"No good! Even a Grade Five spell couldn't scratch it. With this thickness, it'll take at least a Grade One spell to break through physically!"
The exit was sealed.
[Open the door while I'm being nice about it, you mechanical freak.]
[…I cannot allow the end of the world.]
[I don't care what you think. We're not killing that bastard. Open the damn door!]
[If that creature isn't slain, everything ends.]
[…]
Even this half-threatening negotiation fails.
My rage is boiling over, but I face reality coolly.
Our three options have collapsed into two.
Risk everyone's lives to save Beleg.
Or abandon him to increase the raid's success rate.
[Here's your chance to understand sacrifice. Imperial people, shine bright even at the end.]
I'd love to smash that speaker into dust, but that changes nothing.
The situation is already upon us, and there are only two paths left.
I must choose.
And so—
"Cancel the retreat. Everyone back to position!"
Truthfully, I already know what the right choice is.
With things as they are, leaving Beleg to die and completing the raid successfully is the correct—
"Ah…"
But then, I suddenly realized.
Maybe that was the condition for the exit to shut.
Retreating, even when the fight was winnable.
That would explain why I've never encountered this situation before.
Because in any other case like this, I would've always chosen to withdraw.
Abandon one person and keep playing.
Yeah. If I were just playing a game.
BOOOM—!
As I block Sniktura's tail with my shield, a conversation I had with Beleg resurfaces in my mind.
He had said:
[…I need the Resurrection Stone. To survive.]
With those dead fish eyes, looking like he had no real attachment to life.
No, maybe like he preferred it that way.
'Maybe…'
The thought flashes through my mind.
Maybe abandoning him here is better for both of us—
BOOM—!
Another blow slams my shield, jolting me back to focus.
'…Enough rationalizing.'
Back then, I'd thought this:
That I wanted to fix this bastard's broken way of thinking.
That's why I'd even allowed him into the clan.
So, then…
"Parab! Use all your divine power on Beleg!"
"But—"
"I'll handle the front line somehow. Just save Beleg, no matter what."
Even as I said that to my team with conviction, I still wasn't sure if it was the right choice.
If this leads to someone else getting seriously hurt—or killed—I'm sure I'll regret it later.
But that's a future problem.
What I need to do right now isn't worry about what might happen.
Once I've made a decision, I need to follow it through.
Like the steadfast barbarian warrior I am.
"Beheeeell—RAAAAAAAAAAAAH!!"
I roar and charge in with full force.
Closing the distance means doubling the pressure I feel.
'All the better.'
Because that means the others will feel less.
BOOOOOM—!
Maybe sensing me as a serious threat now, the creature's movements grow even wilder.
It lashes its tail.
Smashes its massive head at me.
Opens its maw wide like it's trying to swallow me whole.
TATAT—!
I dodge with sharper focus than ever. I angle my shield to deflect the worst of the impact, but I can't avoid everything.
BOOM—!
Whenever a hit lands square, my body flies back helplessly—and each time, the frontline comrades around me swarm in to hold the beast.
In a short time, injuries pile up.
CRUNCH—
Me, I only have shattered ribs and busted kneecaps.
But the other frontliners—without poison resistance bonuses—are in far worse shape.
Flesh melting. Skin turning black, not just the face, but everywhere.
And yet, despite all that effort—
"Beleg Shusia di Tersia's HP has recovered above 1%."
"Countdown terminated."
Beleg, lying behind us, shows no real signs of improvement.
The reason is simple.
"Beleg Shusia di Tersia is suffering from Poison (Extreme)."
"HP has dropped to 0%."
"Countdown begins."
His HP refills, then immediately drops again. It's pointless.
But that doesn't mean it's meaningless.
At the very least, he's still alive for now.
As long as we pour divine power into him, the poison will eventually be neutralized.
'The real question is whether we can last until then…'
I scan the frontliners.
From the looks of it, they're in even worse shape than Beleg, who's just coughing up black blood.
'At this rate, everyone's in danger.'
Even if we manage to save Beleg, it won't be strange if someone else dies.
No—at this rate, I'm not even sure we'll win the raid.
[It's not too late to reconsider, Imperial.]
Maybe that voice has a point. Maybe it's time to change our thinking.
You can't always have everything.
At the worst moments, you need focus and sacrifice.
Yeah. So…
'All or nothing.'
If I'm going to gamble, I'll go all-in.
"Forget Sniktura! Anyone with breathing room, destroy every machine around us!"
Time to roll the dice.
***
Unfortunately, Arta—the ancient device that only understands the ancient language—doesn't comprehend my order.
Ah, but that's fine.
You don't always need words to communicate with intelligent beings.
CRASH—!
BOOM—!
Zzzzt, crackle, snap—!
As soon as the team starts smashing the surrounding machinery, the voice finally panics.
[What are you doing?!]
[Stop! Have you gone insane?!]
[Call off your subordinates—now!]
I had only one thing to say in return.
[Then you should've opened the door when I told you to, dumbass.]
[Do you want the world to end?! You selfish Imperial! It's not too la—]
[That's my line. It's not too late—open the door, you mechanical freak.]
Of course, the door didn't open.
It must've decided my actions were just a bluff. That we wouldn't actually go this far.
Guess the ancients don't know barbarians very well.
BEEP BEEP—! BEEP BEEP—!
Suddenly, with more machines breaking, the emergency sirens begin to wail again.
SSSSSSSSSS—
The power cuts out, lights go dark, and a moment later, the emergency lights flicker on in red.
And then—
CRACKLE—!
I don't know who triggered what, but—
[The mana core has been damaged.]
[Emergency stabilization module is disengaged.]
As that announcement rings out—
A violent wind begins to spiral out from the massive hole at the center of the lab.
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!
A whirlwind strong enough to suck up everything.
"C-Commander, are you sure about this?!"
"We're past that point—keep breaking things!"
Not satisfied yet, I ordered them to smash more.
BEEEEEP—!
Then, at some point, the enemy voice and the sirens go silent.
And then—
[The divine weapon seal has been lifted.]
[The energy of the earth surges forth.]
The wind stops pulling inward—and now it erupts outward from the hole.
"Field Effect – Core of the Earth activated."
"The root of the land grants all powers."
"All character resources are fixed at 100%."
The Yacharul rule has done its job.
"Character has cast [Giant Form]."
Now—it's time for a full-gear battle.
-x-X-x-
The Sniktura Raid inside the Arta Secret Base is divided into three major phases.
The first phase begins with all MP sealed, and the goal is to restore the laboratory equipment.
During this time, Sniktura fights using only basic attacks and passive abilities. The standard strategy here is simple: just endure.
Well, technically, it's possible to kill Sniktura during this phase.
That is, if every party member's gear and passive setup are so well-optimized that they can deal damage to a Grade One monster without using MP.
Anyway.
Once the lab is restored, the second phase begins.
At this point, ranged dealers can start to land even a sliver of damage on Sniktura as their MP slowly regenerates…
The most important thing here is to hold Sniktura in the central zone.
Only then can you stop it from casting skills.
Granted, we already made a major mistake during this part of the raid…
Anyway.
The third and final phase is simple.
As you slowly whittle down its HP, its second passive, [Final Radiance], activates—triggering its berserk mode. From there, all you need to do is survive.
[Final Radiance] grants a massive physical stat boost until the fight ends, but its HP also drops steadily over time depending on how long it lasts.
So just surviving guarantees victory.
And now—
"M-My mana's coming back!"
"Same with divine power!"
There's no phase in the Sniktura raid where everyone's resources recover like this.
After all, Sniktura isn't even the main boss of Arta Secret Base.
Once you defeat Sniktura, accept the chain quest, defeat the boss on Doomsday Island, and return to the lab, you're given two choices:
Collect your reward and end it there.
Or challenge Arta himself—transformed into a mechanical beast—as the true final boss.
If you pick the latter, the raid restarts right here in this lab, and the field effect that appears at the very end of that raid… is this one:
"Field Effect – Core of the Earth activated."
"The root of the land grants all powers."
"All character resources are fixed at 100%."
The MP that had been locked at zero from holding Sniktura in the center shoots back to full.
No—"shoots back" isn't quite the right term.
"Character has cast [Giant Form]."
My suppressed body swells with power, but there's no sensation of MP draining at all.
It's the field effect.
Locked at 100%.
Which means resources will never decrease—no matter what you use.
"Character has used [Savage Outburst]."
"Temporarily increases character's Threat Level by 3x; physical stats increase proportional to threat."
I enlarge my form and let out a roar—and only then does Sniktura's gaze finally lock squarely onto me.
Up until now, its aggro had been bouncing around.
Makes sense—Grade One monsters always have high aggro thresholds.
"...Ugh. Creepy."
As I meet Sniktura's gaze—its own skill-use enabled again—my heart tightens in my chest.
'Can I endure this?'
That question doesn't even cross my mind.
What I need right now isn't doubt.
"Sven Parab! Heal Beleg!"
"Y-Yes…!"
"Everyone else fall back! Elwen, that means you too!"
"Me…?"
"Cancel [Elementalization] and pull back to cast [Focused Shot]!"
"Understood…!"
"Everyone except Elwen, use all your defensive abilities—don't hold back!"
This is why a clear chain of command is critical.
Even though I shouted orders without detailed explanations, the team moved into formation like we'd rehearsed it.
"Elwen Fornaci di Tersia has cast [Focused Shot]."
Elwen was the keystone of this plan.
After all, she's the very reason I was able to make such a reckless gamble in the first place.
"While focusing, all incoming damage is absorbed using Soul Power."
With the added bonus of unlimited MP, Elwen becomes untouchable during the raid.
But even so, I made her fall back for a simple reason:
Stun, confusion, knockback… even if damage is absorbed, there are still ways to break her focus.
Ssssshhh—
Maybe overwhelmed by its own sudden surge of strength, Sniktura pauses to assess the situation… then finally starts to move.
It begins lightly—
"Sniktura has cast [Seed of Destruction]."
"Random character within range is struck with an unavoidable blow."
The same basic attack that had turned Beleg into a corpse in one hit.
But this time, the difference is clear.
At our level, every explorer is packing at least one defensive skill.
"Arua Raven casts 3rd-grade support magic [Mana Barrier]."
"Meland Kaislan casts [Defensive Stance]."
"Riris Marone casts 4th-grade summoning magic [Anti-Magic Stone]."
"All characters within range gain resistance to—"
Even the same punch hits differently if you're prepared for it.
"Ghhak…!"
"Kaislan!"
"I-I'm fine…"
Granted, even so, a basic hit from a Grade One monster still packs a serious punch.
But—
"Sven Parab casts [Prayer of Protection]."
"30% of damage taken is converted to divine power."
"Sven Parab casts [Springwater of the Rising Moon]."
"Summons a totem that emits periodic healing waves."
"Sven Parab casts [Mass Heal]…"
Call him a Paladin or a Cleric—doesn't matter. With infinite divine power, he might as well ❀ Nоvеlігht ❀ (Don't copy, read here) be a high priest.
The real problem was me, standing on the front lines.
"Sniktura has cast [Venom Spray]."
Showered in poison with no immunity bonuses left.
"Sniktura has cast [Form Shift]."
It bulks up instantly and closes the distance, making spacing tactics useless.
"Sniktura has cast [Life Leech]."
"Siphons HP from all characters within range."
Sometimes it even morphs into other Grade One monsters and uses their skills.
"Sniktura has cast [Will of the Undying]."
"Temporarily increases natural HP regen by +1,000."
From the looks of it, all the HP we chipped away has already been fully restored. Sickening.
But even so—I keep my focus sharp and my eyes blazing.
'As expected.'
Just one shot.
"Elwen Fornaci di Tersia is casting [Focused Shot]."
This entire fight hinges on landing one perfect hit.
***
[Focused Shot].
An active skill obtainable by absorbing the essence of the 4th-grade monster Ritcannon.
In truth, it's not an "endgame" skill.
There are better versions with similar effects among higher-grade essences.
[Focused Shot] is more of a stepping stone. Something you use temporarily before obtaining that skill.
But it's like shopping with infinite money—you don't worry about efficiency.
'With infinite MP, who cares about skill tier?'
Well, that only applies to raw damage.
What matters is the time it takes to get there…
How long must she charge to one-shot a Grade One monster?
Honestly, I can't say.
I've seen every kind of battle you can imagine in this game, but I've never encountered a situation like this.
'Well, whatever.'
Just gather as much as possible.
And if it doesn't work—then it was never going to work in the first place.
"Elwen Fornaci di Tersia is casting [Focused Shot]."
She mustn't fire too soon.
The entire point of this plan is to stop its passive—[Final Radiance]—from activating.
If we fail to kill it in a single blow and it enters berserk mode, in this tight space, we're all dead.
So…
"UAAAAAAAARGHHH!"
Hold.
Hold as long as I can—no, with everything I've got.
"Sniktura has cast [Execution]."
"Elwen Fornaci di Tersia is casting [Focused Shot]."
Block what I can.
"Block successful."
"Aegis Barrier absorbs all incoming damage."
Take the rest head-on.
"Sniktura has cast [Fatal Poisoning]."
"Character HP is below 40%. Poison effects are quadrupled."
"Elwen Fornaci di Tersia is casting [Focused Shot]."
Even skills I normally avoid using—ones with terrible efficiency or synergy—I throw them out without hesitation.
"Character has cast [Transcendence]."
"Next skill will be enhanced."
"Character has cast [Soul Dive]."
"80% of max Soul Power is drained. Natural regen increases significantly."
Granted, the regen boost isn't that impressive.
Not tiny, but considering the penalty, you're better off skipping it.
At least until you get that skill that gets stronger the lower your Soul Power is.
But now…
'MP's infinite—so why not?'
No time to split hairs.
If I want to survive, I've got to use everything—every last—
"…Huh?"
Suddenly, everything went dark.
And I don't mean metaphorically.
"..."
Not only was it pitch black—there was no sound.
As if my hearing had been completely cut off.
What… what just happened?
It didn't take long to figure out.
Because I could see it—
Thin, glowing red threads glowing in the darkness.
"Son of a…"
Those red threads stretched in every direction, connecting to hunched monsters lurking in the shadows.
All of them creatures I had deep history with.
Ogre. Voll-Herchan. Deep Sea Giant. Storm Gush…
That messy one over there—was that the synthetic essence I created on B1F?
Looks like parts of two monsters are fused together…
Anyway.
That wasn't the important part.
What mattered was—I knew exactly what this effect was.
A skill from a Grade One monster. Cryptid.
An RNG nightmare on par with the "Knight of Hate" from the Crimson Fortress, who could randomly de-level you.
"Sniktura has cast [Harbinger of Corruption]."
"One of your essences will soon be permanently corrupted."
You've gotta be kidding me.
'It uses this skill now?!'
"A corrupted essence will become unusable for 180 days and cannot be removed afterward."
For a moment, my mind went blank. But I forced myself to focus—look on the bright side.
At least, I'm better off than most.
Almost all of my essences are endgame quality, meant to last for life.
All except one.
'Please—not Storm Gush…'
-x-X-x-
The Grade One monster Cryptid's skill: [Harbinger of Corruption].
Once afflicted by this skill, one of your skills is sealed—permanently. It can never be removed, no matter how much you pay at the temple.
Put simply, whatever skill is selected becomes corrupted, and you are forced to treat it as a graduation skill.
Please, not Storm Gush…
I prayed it wouldn't land on the only disposable essence I had—Storm Gush—but truthfully, even if it didn't, I couldn't relax.
Sometimes, [Harbinger of Corruption] produces a unique side effect.
The odds were around 10%, right…?
Roughly once in ten casts, the selected essence undergoes a random transformation.
Whether it's a stat, a passive, or a skill—one of the three changes at random. Sometimes for the worse… but sometimes even for the better.
Ah, not that that's any comfort.
Like, if the Grade 5 skill [Giant Form] gets "upgraded" to the Grade 3 skill [Gigantify], that's not an upgrade for me.
In that case, I'd have to throw away all my equipment.
Because [Gigantify] doesn't qualify for the [Unification] modifier—
WHHHHHHRRRM—!
Just as my thoughts reached that point, a dark crimson glow began to radiate from my body.
The telltale effect of corruption beginning.
There's no way to stop it. All I can do is pray.
Please, please, please…
Among the many threads linking me to my past monsters, one began to change color—bleeding from red to black.
I quickly traced the thread to its source.
"Ah…"
Thank Behell—Storm Gush was spared.
It also wasn't that messy hybrid monster I assumed housed [Giant Form].
"The Essence of Bayon is corrupted."
"This Essence cannot be used for 180 days and cannot be removed afterward."
Bayon's essence—could've been worse.
[Transcendence] is technically a graduation-tier skill, but in terms of immediate combat, losing it doesn't cripple me.
The real problem was—
"Shit. This is bad."
As the thread turned pitch black and reached Bayon, a hideous shriek rang out.
[…KAAAAAAAAAAAARGH—!!]
It sounded like organs being twisted apart.
Only one effect causes that reaction.
"The Abyss calls to you."
"Bayon's Essence is deeply corrupted."
The 10% chance triggered.
***
"Passive Skill [Transcendence] has permanently ✪ Nоvеlіgһt ✪ (Official version) changed."
"[Transcendence] no longer enhances all passive skill performance."
"Active Skill [Transcendence] has permanently changed."
"From now on, when [Transcendence] is used…"
***
I hit the 10% jackpot.
But damned if I know what actually changed.
Stat? Passive? Active?
Hell, maybe all three.
[Harbinger of Corruption] is that kind of skill.
Completely unpredictable.
I'd once tried to use it deliberately to enhance a fully built character—but the risks and combinations were too insane. I gave up pretty fast.
Anyway.
This isn't the time to be thinking about that.
I'll figure out what happened to [Transcendence] later—
"Yandel…!"
Snapping back to reality, I raise my shield just in time to block the incoming blow.
"Block successful."
"Aegis Barrier absorbs all incoming damage."
I'd briefly been lost in that mental realm, but my body's condition is still… wretched.
"Character is suffering from Poison (Extreme)."
My body's so saturated with venom, I can literally smell my organs rotting through my nose.
"Sven Parab casts [Prayer of Protection]."
"30% of all damage taken is converted into divine power…"
"…"
Even with real-time healing and buffs flooding in—
"Sniktura has cast [Fatal Poisoning]."
"Character HP is below 20%. Poison effects are increased by 8x."
I can't stop this body from marching toward death.
But—
"Elwen Fornaci di Tersia is casting [Focused Shot]."
Time continues its steady march.
How long has it been now…?
Not sure.
But I'm certain it's been over ten minutes since Elwen began casting [Focused Shot]…
"Yandel!"
I hear Raven shout behind me.
"I get what you're doing! But isn't it enough already?! We're all at our limits!"
To be honest, I felt the same.
I knew exactly what she meant…
"…Not yet."
Not yet. Absolutely not.
If this one shot goes wrong—we'll never recover.
So…
"What? You'll die like this! Not just you—"
"I'll be fine."
I can endure.
***
How long's it been since Raven called out? I don't know. But the setup hasn't changed.
BOOOOOOM—!
I'm still getting pummeled, inching closer to death.
"Elwen Fornaci di Tersia is casting [Focused Shot]."
Elwen holds her focus.
Only difference now—
"B-Bjorn…! Enough already!"
Not just Raven. Other team members start joining the chorus.
Even Elwen.
"U-Uncle! Isn't this enough?"
…Am I really in that bad shape?
Weird. I don't feel pain anymore.
Just kind of heavy.
"Damn it… Punish me later if you want! I can't just sit and watch anymore!"
"Same here!"
Even the frontliners I'd ordered to stay back ignore my command and rejoin the front line.
Not that they last long.
"Ainard Prnelin casts [Crouch]."
"Meland Kaislan casts [Iron Will]…"
Maybe two minutes?
But I don't belittle their effort.
Two minutes is a long time.
"Beheeeell—RAAAAAAH!!"
As I watch Ainard rise with a twisted arm and see Kaislan passed out, I make the call.
Okay. This is it.
Any longer, and someone will die.
Even if I can take it, they can't.
So the moment that thought solidifies—
"Fire, Elwen."
No confirmation needed.
As if she'd been waiting for it, Elwen ends her concentration and releases the string.
"..."
I don't know how long she charged that shot, but the effect wasn't flashy.
No—calling it "flashy" would be misleading.
Because we couldn't see anything.
Except the blinding white light that filled the entire chamber.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━!!!
Not even the sound of it breaking the sound barrier came through.
But the shockwave brushing my skin told me everything I needed to know.
"This damage was dealt by a bonded ally."
"The Light of Trust protects the character from this damage."
If not for No.12's Trust effect, I doubt my half-dead body would've survived.
A shiver runs down my spine.
But—
WHOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOOM—!!
No matter how powerful the shot, admiration is pointless right now.
There's only one thing that matters:
Was it enough to kill Sniktura in a single blow?
We soon got our answer.
━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━━!!
The ringing in my ears—a sharp, crushing tinnitus—slowly fades.
My vision returns, and I see the aftermath.
CRACKLE, ZZTZTZT—!
Machines sparking and sizzling.
CHHHHHHHHHHHH—!
Steam rising like a geyser.
And through the haze—
THUD—!
Sniktura. Lying on the floor with a massive hole blown through its throat.
"..."
I processed the scene before me.
No, more precisely—I recalled the earlier conversation.
[Bill Ironred.]
[If I remember correctly, he changed his name once.]
[It was a very common name.]
Yeah… ominous hunches are never wrong.
It really was Hans, huh…?
Because instead of dissolving into shimmering light like other monsters—
"Goddammit."
Its tail was still twitching.
"Sniktura's HP is below 10%."
"[Final Radiance] has activated."
The gamble had failed.
***
Sniktura's second passive: [Final Radiance], following [All-Poison Physiology].
This skill activates automatically when its HP falls below 10%.
Its effects are brutally simple.
"All of Sniktura's stats are doubled."
"Sniktura gains complete immunity to all status effects."
"Sniktura gains damage immunity bonuses…"
Utterly broken.
Oh, there are a few handicaps, sure.
"Sniktura's movement is restricted temporarily."
It can't act for 60 seconds after activation.
Then again, calling that a "handicap" is generous.
The other downside is more useful.
"While [Final Radiance] is active, HP drains rapidly."
So even though it's immune to damage, it still loses HP over time.
Meaning you don't have to do anything—just wait, and it'll die on its own.
And it can't cancel the skill either.
The battle won't end until either it dies or we do.
If I remember right, draining that last 10% takes about five minutes.
Five minutes.
Depending on perspective, it could be long… or short.
But relying on old memory, I make a decision.
If this were under Yacharul rules, with all skills sealed, maybe it'd be doable.
But with infinite MP like now…
One minute.
That's all it'll take for Sniktura to rip us all to pieces.
Thump—!
No matter how I try to stay optimistic, only despair fills my mind.
There's only one option left.
BANG BANG—!
I turn away from Sniktura and pound my fist on the sealed entrance.
"Arta! Isn't it enough already?! Open the goddamn door!"
[…]
"If we die, that thing dies too—you know that!"
[…]
"Arta! ARTA!!"
I shout in desperation, but there's no reply.
I knew the speakers were broken, but… could it be that even Arta can't see what's happening in here?
Shit.
"U-Uncle?"
"What's going on, Yandel?"
"We need to finish it now—it can't even move—!"
My comrades speak, not understanding my behavior—but their words don't register.
For the first time in a long, long time—
I was in despair.
I'd always held onto logic, always clung to the hope of survival, no matter how bad things got.
But not this time.
"It's over."
"Eh…?"
"I'm sorry. Because of my miscalculation, I've doomed us all."
"What are you saying…?"
"Soon that thing will move. And when it does… we're done. I'm sorry. Truly."
Maybe my face showed how serious I was.
Because the others started to change too.
"If there's anything you want to say, say it now. Soon, you won't get another chance."
I said it to them—but also to myself.
On this long journey, I've witnessed countless deaths.
People grow astonishingly strong in their final moments—but also, profoundly vulnerable.
All the layers we wrapped ourselves in get stripped away, and our rawest selves come out.
Just like me, right now.
Even though Amelia isn't here…
"Elwen. Misha. Listen carefully."
If I die, I have to say this first.
"The truth is—"
Just as I began to speak—
"S-Stellar…!"
"…Huh?"
"[Agent of the Star]!"
A sacred light bursts out from somewhere.
SHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHHH—!
A warm, awe-inspiring silver radiance so pure it freezes you in place.
"Sven Parab has cast the Zero-Rank divine spell [Agent of the Star]."
.
.
.
.
"Casting requirements met."
"Star Goddess Reatlas descends into this world through the body of Sven Parab."
-x-X-x-
[Star's Proxy].
It was the authority Sven Parab obtained when he stayed behind in the burning temple, ready to die, to help the others escape—an event that resembled an "awakening."
After various experiments, we'd concluded that Sven Parab had somehow acquired the rare Sage-blooded bonus, something only Saints could obtain.
We still hadn't figured out what kind of skill [Star's Proxy] was.
So then, what were its activation conditions?
Even with my extensive gameplay experience, I'd never seen this skill before. It was a power granted directly by a god.
Surely, it was a skill that would be immensely helpful in the journey ahead, so I'd tried every possible means to activate it even back in the city—but failed.
I even thought maybe it could only be used inside the dungeon and planned to test it once we entered.
But that wasn't the condition either.
And yet…
"It just suddenly activated…?"
[Star's Proxy] had triggered.
Proof?
A dazzling silver light was radiating from Sven Parab's body in real-time…
"Fufufu."
…and he was even speaking.
Like this.
"It's been a while, Bjorn Yandel."
The voice was the same, but everything about the tone made it clear—this was someone entirely different from Sven Parab.
"To think I'd get to see you give up. I've witnessed something truly remarkable, albeit unintentionally."
The hand raised to cover the mouth, the twisting posture, the gentle expression.
"Even the greatest of heroes have moments where they crumble. You've done well."
The collection of these subtle traits gave off an undeniably feminine impression, and combined with the fact that Sven Parab was a paladin, all evidence pointed to one being.
"No way… Reatlas?"
Upon hearing my question, Sven Parab simply covered his mouth and chuckled.
"Fufu…"
That laugh was the answer.
I didn't know how it had happened, but Reatlas had descended into Sven Parab's body.
A descent-type skill…?
But if that were the case, something didn't add up.
Even when players job-changed their characters into Saints and triggered "descents," it only ever let them borrow divine powers—not possess the player's body directly like this.
'…But is that really important right now?'
Countless questions sprang to mind, but I chose to ask the most urgent one first.
"Can you resolve this situation?"
Was there a way for us to survive?
To that question, Sven Parab—no, Reatlas—smiled softly and replied.
"Who knows?"
…What?
"I wouldn't have come if there weren't."
Ah, my heart.
"There's not much I can do. But even so, the situation looks fairly favorable."
Right as she finished saying that—
Screeeeech—!!
Sniktura let out a monstrous cry as her one-minute cooldown ended and she rose again.
And then—
"Hup!"
With a rather out-of-place-sounding shout, Reatlas raised her palm…
Fwooooosh—!
A thick, translucent wall of silver light appeared between us and Sniktura.
BOOOOOM—!
Sniktura lunged with a full-body slam like she didn't know what the hell this thing was, but the translucent barrier didn't budge an inch.
Reatlas (still in Sven Parab's body) had casually performed a miracle—trapping a Grade One monster.
She shrugged, turned to us, and winked.
"How long can it hold?"
"Long enough to save your lives."
[KRAAAAAAAAH—!!]
Sniktura shrieked in rage, her eerie cry echoing as she thrashed within the barrier—but we no longer had a reason to worry about her.
Because something far more unbelievable had suddenly appeared.
"Is… is that really Lady Reatlas…? I-I mean, is it?"
"Fufu…"
"I-I can't believe this… T-The Twilight Star shall guide us all…"
Our companions were crossing themselves in disbelief at the divine miracle before them.
But not all were reverent.
The one who showed anger was none other than Beleg, who had just awakened from healing.
"Is it really… you, Reatlas…?"
She didn't answer.
Yet after everything we had seen, there was no need for her to.
Regardless of a response, Beleg continued.
"…Why? Why did that child have to die? Was that the destiny you decreed?"
Again, Reatlas said nothing.
She merely gazed at him with eyes filled with sorrow.
Perhaps it was that gaze—those unspoken emotions—that further provoked his anger.
"Answer me! If you truly are the goddess who governs fate… then speak!!"
Beleg raised his voice, shaking with emotion.
But regrettably, he didn't get to finish his words.
Because while questions alone might have been tolerable—
BAM—!
He suddenly lunged forward with his front foot, looking ready to pounce.
"Urgh…!"
The one who slammed him to the ground wasn't me, but Kaislan.
"…Don't be disrespectful. All our lives now hang on that one's will."
"…"
"I understand you have questions. I, too, have lost people. But surely even you must know—she is not the one to question."
"…"
"Then I'll take your silence as understanding and let you go. But don't make a mistake. Got it?"
"…"
Kaislan released him, but Beleg remained on the ground, not even trying to get up.
He stared into the void with empty eyes.
To say I didn't feel pity would be a lie…
'Whether this is a descent or whatever, a power like that probably won't last long.'
As soon as the situation was resolved, Reatlas would likely leave Sven Parab's body.
So before that—there was one thing I had to confirm among the countless questions I had.
"What's the activation condition for that authority?"
"B-Bjorn!! Y-You can't just ask Lady Reatlas something like that—!!"
…What's she even on about?
"Don't mind her. Just answer."
"…Do you really want to know? It might be better if you didn't."
Coming from a goddess—especially one associated with fate—that sounded ominously significant.
Even so—
"…I still want to know."
If ignorance is bliss, then bliss is just a painkiller.
All it does is delay the agony. It doesn't solve anything.
"If that's your choice."
Then Reatlas spoke.
"This authority allows me to intervene in the real world only when Sven Parab is fated to die with certainty."
I was speechless.
…That was the condition?
No wonder it never activated back in the city.
"Then why say it's better not to know?"
"The moment Sven Parab becomes aware of the condition, activating this authority becomes dozens of times harder."
"…What?"
"There's not enough time to explain in detail, but to put it simply—once he consciously recognizes the condition, he'll begin to rely on this power. That creates two coexisting fates. And I cannot intervene in an uncertain fate."
That explanation made zero sense.
Maybe it showed on my face.
"Fufu, I did say it was difficult to explain."
"…"
"If you don't ◆ Nоvеlіgһt ◆ (Only on Nоvеlіgһt) understand, just memorize this: from the moment Sven Parab understands the condition, activating this authority becomes dozens of times harder. Got it?"
"Memorized."
"Good boy, good boy…"
Reatlas smiled like she was talking to a child.
It was disconcerting to see her acting like that in Sven Parab's body…
Anyway.
"There's something I must tell you."
"…?"
"Fate is called fate because it inevitably arrives."
"What are you trying to say?"
"Right now, Sven Parab has changed his fate. And along with him, many others who were fated to die today have survived."
"…So? Speak plainly."
"The fate avoided today will inevitably return to all of you."
"…Are you saying we'll all die eventually anyway?"
"Well, why do you assume it's 'all' of you?"
"…"
"Bjorn Yandel, even if I hadn't intervened, you wouldn't have fallen here today. You might have faltered for a moment, but eventually, you would have found your resolve and struggled to the bitter end."
"So what's your point?"
Reatlas gave a deeply complicated smile but didn't say another word.
Instead, her voice echoed inside my mind.
Seven people.
"…?"
[Remember this, Bjorn Yandel. Seven people escaped death here today. Sooner or later, that fate will return to them.]
[Raise him well. He resembles me more than any other human.]
[And who knows—if he grows and grows, until he truly becomes one of a different class…]
[He may be able to change not only his own fate, but that of others as well.]
With those final thoughts, Reatlas spoke aloud once more.
"Well, then. It's over."
"Over?"
"Fufu. Until next time."
With that abrupt farewell, Sven Parab's body crumpled to the floor.
'…That wasn't even three minutes.'
Sniktura still had at least two more minutes before she died.
And—
BOOOM—!
Unlike before, every time Sniktura slammed the barrier, cracks began to spread across it.
BOOM—!
Judging by the speed and size of the cracks, four or five more hits would shatter it completely…
'She just left like that?'
When I asked how long it could hold, Reatlas clearly said long enough for all of us to survive.
So what the hell was this?
Was she just bullshitting earlier?
Such blasphemous thoughts crossed my mind when—
KZZZZT—!
The previously sealed door opened, and a familiar voice came through the supposedly broken speaker.
It was distorted with static, but still recognizable.
[Ah… ah… Can—Can you hear me?]
"Auyen…?"
[P-Please come out, quickly!]
With those words, everything made sense, and my body went slack.
So that's how this ends…
***
Once we retrieved the fallen Sven Parab and escaped the lab—
BOOOOOM—!
Sniktura, who had finally shattered the barrier, lunged at us.
THUUUUUUUD—!
The door closed just in time, barely blocking her.
BOOM—!
She kept slamming her head against the door, but the thing didn't budge. It looked like we were safe now.
[Phew…! Thank goodness I wasn't too late!]
As the voice continued, I quickly looked up and asked,
"Auyen, what happened?"
We hadn't brought him into the boss room. We'd left him up top. So how was he speaking through the speaker?
"Don't tell me you got into the control room?"
[I-I don't know if it's the control room, but…]
"Can you see inside the lab with the devices in there?"
[Yes! I can see it clearly!]
Then it is the control room. But how the hell did he get in there?
The explanation was surprisingly simple.
[Just as you said, I waited up top until it was over, but then all the doors around me suddenly started opening and closing. I thought something was wrong, so I went through one of the open doors.]
Apparently, as we trashed everything down here, some malfunction must've triggered something above.
It's not unreasonable.
We'd planned to take Arta and come back up to access the control room anyway.
[Once I got inside, I could see everything going on. Then I heard you shouting to open the door, and I just started messing with every device I could. Eventually, it opened—and the speaker came on too!]
A string of unexpected coincidences.
But I couldn't call it mere coincidence.
Yeah… this was how it was meant to happen.
Even without [Star's Proxy], events likely would've played out like this.
We'd have fought desperately.
Seven people would have died, just like Reatlas said.
And then the door would've finally opened, letting us barely escape that cursed lab.
BOOM—!
The vibration from the wall made me turn my head.
Once more, the voice echoed from the speaker.
[It's still rampaging in there. M-Maybe you should come up just in case?]
"No, we'll be fine."
[Sh-Should I come down then?]
"No. You stay up there for now."
[Understood.]
Even after the conversation ended, the periodic thuds continued.
BOOM—!
BOOM—!
BOOOM—!
How long did it go on?
Eventually, the timing of the hits grew faster—more violent—
"…"
"…"
—and then it stopped altogether.
Had she finally died?
I didn't even need to wonder.
You can feel it, crystal clear, when a Grade One monster dies.
「Sniktura has been slain. EXP +9.」
Sniktura was dead.
[…It—it's down, Captain!]
With that double confirmation, there was no room for doubt.
Despite everything…
We'd slain a Grade One monster with zero casualties.
Essence…
I almost asked whether we got one.
But I barely held it back.
"Auyen, open the door."
Yeah—something like that, I had to see for myself.