Chapter 285 - 285: Episode 285
"Nothing is confirmed, but it appears Leon van Noah contacted the imperial court some time ago," Karon's report read. "They negotiated via a private communication channel. It's safe to assume he is trying to instigate a war in the West."
Leon had been trying to manipulate the Peshant Empire even before the war with the Holy Kingdom. Duke Peyton of the Derk Empire was undoubtedly part of his schemes as well. The Frost Queen's invasion had forced the Peyton Knights to retreat, but Leon's desire for war remained unchanged.
'He mentioned he was making preparations,' Taehyun thought. 'He's about to make his move. If this goes poorly, the entire West could be plunged into war.'
This could be his last chance to prepare. Walpurgis gave him an edge against large groups of enemies, but it wasn't enough. He had lost some of his best soldiers while dealing with the Hyacinth Raid Party and Dinen Fradio. His first priority was to replenish his forces.
[Normal Shop Mode]
[Random Shop Mode]
[Blind Shop Mode]
Three shop interfaces appeared before him. Taehyun began sifting through the summon cards, searching for worthy soldiers.
"Ugh. Isn't there a way to filter for S-rank only? There are too many to go through."
[Allow me.]
Suddenly, the Crystal Core glowed. The shop interface flickered, and all non-S-rank summon cards vanished. It seemed Walpurgis could directly interfere with the system, neatly organizing the shop for him.
"Oh? You did that without me even asking. You've got good sense," Taehyun remarked.
[This is merely basic functionality. I have always been, and continue to be, great.]
"My, my, someone's got a high opinion of themselves. In any case, thank you."
[My disposition has improved for the first time. I would appreciate more frequent praise.]
For the ego of a simple Crystal Core, this self-proclaimed "Balak" had a remarkably distinct personality. With the list narrowed down, Taehyun quickly made his selections.
[Demon Realm Mole]
[Eccentric Kobold]
[Abyss Hunter]
[Drake Turtle]
[Dark Elf Lucien]
[Fallen Knight Model]
[Shadow Tracker Bellamici]
They were all S-rank or higher, his new core fighting force. Including the Named soldiers, he had picked out only the most promising cards. Taehyun purchased the entire list. As he did, Walpurgis, who had been observing silently, spoke up.
[I must raise an objection. Your selection criteria for the standard S-rank soldiers, excluding the Named units, is illogical. There were other soldiers with far more advantageous abilities. On what basis did you make your choices?]
"So you only talk like that when you're questioning me, huh?" Taehyun said with a smirk. "I have my reasons, but I can see why you'd be confused. These units are meant to fill the gaps in our current forces. It doesn't matter how powerful another soldier's abilities are if they don't serve Balak's immediate needs. Understand?"
[…I understand 50%.]
"Good enough. Now, let's get to summoning."
No single soldier could be perfect, but there were always soldiers who could compensate for weaknesses and shore up defenses. Taehyun began to use the summon cards one by one.
[You have used the Demon Realm Mole Summon Card.]
[A summon circle is being generated.]
[The summon circle has been generated near the Crystal Core, stabilizing the mana.]
First, the Demon Realm Moles materialized on the glowing circle. His mana must have increased significantly since the creation of the ancient artifact, because far more of them appeared than he'd expected.
[S-rank Demon Realm Moles successfully summoned. Due to my mana, six additional units have been summoned.]
"Oh. This is much more convenient than before."
[I hope you will further recognize my importance.]
"Hmm. Give you an inch and you'll take a mile. I'd better hold back on the compliments from now on."
The ego was undeniably helpful, but also a bit arrogant. Realizing the importance of keeping it in check, Taehyun proceeded to use the remaining summon cards.
---
[You have entered the Revived Plains.]
The Gauss Raid Party had finally reached the second combat zone. They had taken some damage from the constant ambushes in Hairon Forest, but their morale remained high. The party leader, Gauss, spotted silhouettes in the distance and immediately used a Universal Vision Scroll.
[You have used a Universal Vision Scroll.]
[All vision within the field will be secured for a set duration.]
With that, the entire plain was revealed to them. The Dungeon Master had yet to use an item-nullifying ability, which meant he was likely prepared for other movement-based items. Gauss scoffed at the sight of siege engines in the distance.
"I invested my entire fortune into Return and Position Switch scrolls for this raid," he boasted to his comrades. "He can't counter our mobility, and we're more than prepared for his siege units."
His plan was perfect. He would use Item Block to counter any neutralization attempts, Return to negate forced relocations, and Position Switch to deal with the siege weapons. In an emergency, he could use a pre-placed marker to teleport his entire party to safety. Gauss took out another item and gave the order to raise shields.
[Top-tier A-rank Raider Kiras has cast Grave Mission.]
[Top-tier A-rank Raider Barlier has cast Warm Shield.]
[Top-tier A-rank Raider Maraden has cast Unknown Shield.]
His party was composed entirely of top-tier A-rank Raiders. Even an S-rank dungeon like Balak couldn't possibly withstand dozens of their ultimate skills. Overflowing with confidence, Gauss took his place at the vanguard.
"We'll wipe them out in a single blow!"
"Yes, sir!"
The melee fighters charged forward, shields held high. The enemy siege weapons opened fire, but unlike the raiders, who had perfect vision, Balak's soldiers were firing blind. The random bombardments posed little threat. Gauss closed the distance, then activated his scroll.
[Position Switch has been used.]
[The positions of the rear siege soldiers and the raid party will be swapped.]
In a flash, their surroundings changed. Bafflingly, the Dungeon Master still hadn't used his neutralization. Puzzled but unwilling to waste the opportunity, Gauss prepared to charge the now-vulnerable ranged units. At that exact moment, the ground beneath their feet gave way.
"W-what—Gyaaaah!"
"Captain, teleport! Use the Position Transfer!"
"R-right!"
It had to be another trap. He didn't know how the siege units had been safe, but that wasn't important now. To avoid a fatal fall, Gauss quickly activated his escape item.
[Position Transfer has been used.]
[The Dungeon Master of Balak has used an Effect Confusion Card.]
"What?! Oh no, you don't!"
As expected, a counter-item. But Gauss had come prepared with an S-rank exclusive item for this very scenario.
[Return has been used.]
[The Dungeon Master of Balak has used a Neutralization Item.]
[Item Block has been used.]
It was a rapid-fire exchange of artifacts. The loser was the Dungeon Master, who ran out of interference items first. Gauss laughed in triumph and waited for the teleportation to complete. But then, the glowing circles around them fizzled out and vanished.
[The special ability of the S-rank soldier Demon Realm Mole, 'Where Do You Think You're Going,' has been activated.]
[Blocks all movement-related effects for targets caught in the underground mire trap.]
[Where Do You Think You're Going Use Limit: 1/1]
"N-no way! Blocking movement effects? This can't be happeniiiiing—!"
It was the Demon Realm Mole's special ability, something he could never have anticipated. Without even a chance to use a return scroll, Gauss and his entire party plummeted into the abyss.
---
[The Gauss Raid Party has been annihilated.]
Once the trapped raiders were eliminated, the remaining members were quickly dispatched. S-rank Raider Gauss, a renowned swordsman from the North, had met a remarkably anticlimactic end.
"He must have poured tens of millions of Zen into this raid," Taehyun mused, watching the system log. "Return scrolls, Position Switch… tsk, tsk. What a waste."
"What… what kind of abilities do those soldiers have?" Pinyas asked from beside him, her voice trembling.
The raiders had teleported directly to the siege units' location, only for the ground to collapse beneath them. Watching from the monitor, she couldn't comprehend what had just happened.
[Demon Realm Mole]
[Rank: S]
[Level: 31]
[Class: Ambush Soldier]
[Title: Underground Hunter]
[Affiliation: Balak]
[Loyalty: 52]
[Favorability: 33]
[Obedience: 48]
[Skills: Underground Search, Tunneling, Shoddy Construction]
[Special Ability: Where Do You Think You're Going]
[Strength: 36] [Endurance: 7] [Agility: 42] [Stamina: 15]
[Mana: 2] [Divinity: 1] [Affinity: 37] [Luck: 13]
"They're natural-born tunnellers," Taehyun explained. "They can set a trap and then trigger it remotely whenever the conditions are right."
While they couldn't fight on the surface, they were masters of subterranean warfare. Their 'Shoddy Construction' skill allowed them to control the exact moment a trap was sprung, making it possible to turn an enemy's teleportation into a death sentence.
'He countered my items, but he never could have predicted a special ability like that.'
Of all the soldiers he had summoned, the moles might just be the most useful. Leaving the astonished Pinyas to process what she'd seen, Taehyun returned to the final room.
[A deception utilizing the skills of the Demon Realm Moles. A strategy with a high probability of success even against a raid party with universal vision.]
Walpurgis, who had apparently been watching, offered its unadulterated admiration.
"I told you," Taehyun said. "They fill our weaknesses. We can't rely on the moles for every fight, but in the Revived Plains, they're devastatingly effective."
[Understood.]
"I'll make use of the other soldiers later. You can see for yourself then. For now, let's summon the rest."
He had already summoned all the standard S-rank soldiers. All that remained were the three Named units. Taehyun held the cards in his hand and used them all at once.
[The evolved mana of Balak is fluctuating wildly.]
[The Crystal Core's mana is running rampant.]
The entire dungeon shook violently, a clear sign of a jackpot. Walpurgis began to glow erratically, spewing out uncontrolled bursts of mana.
[Rampage! Rampage! Rampage! Rampage!]
"Just shut up and summon them!"
[Extreme excitement! No, ecstasy! No, pleasure! No, this is a state of rampage!]
"…Has it finally lost its mind?"
Enormous summon circles began to form near the Crystal Core, larger than any he had seen before, even for the High Elf. Taehyun watched with keen anticipation. Suddenly, a rift tore open in the space before him, and a single figure shot out.
[Incredible Super Success!]
[Forced Transfer!]
[Forced Contract!]
[S-rank Hero soldier, Lucien of the Blue Moon, has been summoned.]
Pointed ears, dusky skin, and form-fitting leather armor that accentuated every curve. In her hands, she held two wicked-looking daggers. It was the dark elf from the Demon Realm, exactly as depicted on the card.
"…Where am I?" she asked, her voice like silk.
"Where do you think? This is a dungeon called Balak."
"So I've been forcibly summoned. That would make you the Dungeon Master?"
"Hmm. You're more polite than the others, at least. Yes. I am Taehyun Yoo, Dungeon Master of Balak. And those being summoned beside you are your new comrades."
As he spoke, the other two units finally materialized. Lucien gave the room a cursory glance, then glided toward Taehyun.
"Will you be the one to lead me from now on?" she purred.
"Well, I suppose I…"
[Lucien's special ability, 'Eyes of Enchantment,' has been activated.]
[Activation Canceled!]
[Effect negated due to Forced Contract.]
Her eyes were now glowing a mesmerizing crimson. The system message confirmed she had just tried to use her ability on him. Taehyun looked at the now-flustered dark elf and offered a cold, thin smile.
"Head on the ground."