Episode 6: Attribute Rune Dungeon (3)
《You have cleared Floor 1 of the Dark Attribute Rune Dungeon (Rare).》
《Unbelievable record!》
⁝
《You have cleared Floor 5 of the Dark Attribute Rune Dungeon (Rare).》
《Unbelievable record!》
《Clear Time: 1 minute, 34 seconds》
Look at that.
Descending through the crack, I cleared five floors in the blink of an eye.
《Would you like to proceed to Floor 6?》
《YES or NO》
Of course, I’m proceeding.
From Floor 6 onward, it got even easier.
Normally, you’d have to fend off relentless Dark Spirits while balancing on unstable platforms over a toxic swamp—a grueling stage.
“Here, take my hand and cross.”
“Thank you.”
With Hertia’s skill, it was practically a picnic.
The following floors had similar setups, so reaching Floor 9 took about 1 minute, 20 seconds.
Adding the time spent setting up on Floor 1, the total was 2 minutes, 50 seconds.
Finally, I arrived at Floor 10—the boss room.
‘The only variable is here.’
Opening the black door, I felt the air grow heavy.
The boss room was a large, circular chamber.
At its center stood a massive golem infused with a Dark Spirit.
‘Five meters tall, maybe?’
Its main skill: <Smog Field>.
Once combat begins, sticky smoke spews from two exhaust ports on its shoulders.
If the smoke fills the room, it’s game over.
The golem starts moving, and the smoke grants it massive buffs, making it invincible to damage or debuffs.
Adventurers must find and defeat the hidden Dark Spirit somewhere in the room before that happens.
No tricks like area-of-effect skills work—the smoke is highly reactive to mana, exploding the moment attack magic is used.
‘The most dangerous moment is when the smoke reaches ankle height.’
The boss room’s Dark Spirit is weaker but smaller and faster than others, hiding in the smoke to toy with adventurers.
Typically, you’d use priest or archer summons to hinder its movement or a speed-focused build for a quick chase.
But I picked up a Clay Slime and held it close.
Hertia reacted instantly.
“What are you planning?”
“Just watch.”
I had three Clay Slimes left.
One of the three in the main party was reverse-summoned to widen the crack, so I swapped in the reserve. No spares remain.
‘I’ve been thinking about how Hertia’s skill works in reality and how to exploit it.’
In the game, summoners couldn’t intervene beyond system limits.
But now, I’m different.
I have functioning limbs and can move myself, allowing for far more flexible strategies.
I stopped in front of the golem.
Hertia’s skill was active, so combat hadn’t started yet.
But the moment we attack, the Dark Spirit will burst from the golem’s chest and hide, triggering the smoke.
Before that, I attached Clay Slimes to three spots: both shoulder exhausts and the chest where the spirit would emerge.
“Her.”
“Yes, noble one.”
“Attack.”
“Your command is my desire.”
Whoosh! Crackle!
Hertia’s purple flames engulfed the golem.
At the same time, an eerie laugh echoed.
‘Hee-hee! Foolish humans, you’ve come—!’
Suddenly, the slime on the golem’s chest bounced upward, then snapped back, slightly swollen.
The form of a tiny Dark Spirit, like a shrunken version of those I’d seen, was clearly visible inside.
–Puuh, what’s this?!
That was the boss fight’s target, the Dark Spirit.
It should’ve fled upon attack, but it was trapped, unable to escape the slime’s stickiness.
Meanwhile, the slimes on the shoulder exhausts began swelling, capturing the golem’s smoke.
“What a pathetic sight. I’d crush it myself if I could,”
Hertia spat, glaring at the exposed Dark Spirit.
She turned to me and continued,
“Shall I squash this wretched thing now?”
That alone would clear the dungeon.
But while we’d get the clear time reward, the grade reward would be lackluster.
We skipped most battles, so we’re short on points.
And I’m not satisfied with mediocre rewards.
“Wait a moment. I’ll show you something more interesting.”
“This maiden would wait until the end of the world for your command, noble one.”
…Her over-the-top lines make my chest tingle.
But if I call her out, my end might come before the world’s.
I could only nod solemnly.
–Let me go! Release me now!!
The Dark Spirit thrashed wildly, but its traits couldn’t overcome the slime’s viscosity.
【Feeble Afterimage】
Description: Incredibly fast, leaving afterimages, but all abilities are invested in movement speed, making it extremely fragile.
The Dark Spirit’s attack power is so weak it can’t break through the slime’s viscosity.
Its massive drawback is offset by its incredible speed—once it escapes, it’s nearly impossible to catch.
But it’s trapped, so my focus shifts to the two slimes on the exhaust ports.
They’ve swollen to a precarious size, ready to burst at the slightest touch.
《Brown Clay Slime has reached maximum volume! If this state persists, its health will gradually deplete.》
《Gray Clay Slime x2 has reached maximum volume! If this state persists, their health will gradually deplete.》
“This should do it.”
Remember?
The golem’s smoke is highly reactive to mana.
Utility skills like detection are fine, but attack magic triggers an instant explosion.
And right now, those slimes are filled with that volatile smoke.
“Step back, Her.”
“Yes, Master.”
I retreated with Hertia to a corner of the boss room and checked the slimes’ health—about 20% left. Time to act.
“On my signal, attack the shoulder slimes.”
Hertia conjured deep purple flames in both hands.
Once she was ready, I gave the slimes their final command.
“Clay Slimes! Use Hardened Shell!”
Crunch!
At my command, the slimes expelled the pent-up gas back into the exhaust ports in a single burst.
Gasp!
The Dark Spirit writhed in pain from the sudden pressure surge.
Skill 1: Hardened Shell
The slime’s surface rapidly hardens, releasing all trapped elements at once.
It’s not a tanking skill due to its lack of aggro, and its release function is vague, but…
‘Any summon’s value depends on its user.’
The golem’s body is now overloaded with highly explosive gas—a ticking time bomb.
What happens if I add a spark?
–No, no! What are you doing?! I don’t want to die like this—!
“Fire.”
“Hah!”
Whoosh!
Two streams of flame shot from Hertia’s hands, striking the hardened slimes’ surfaces.
And then—
BOOM!
A deafening explosion shook the boss room.
When I slowly opened my eyes, I saw…
《Brown Clay Slime has taken fatal damage and has been reverse-summoned.》
《Gray Clay Slime x2 has taken fatal damage and has been reverse-summoned.》
Notifications of the slimes’ reverse-summoning.
Rumble!
The golem’s wreckage, unable to withstand the internal explosion.
*…*
And the Dark Spirit’s remains, shattered beyond recognition.
With that, a message flickered.
《You have cleared the Dark Attribute Rune Dungeon (Rare).》
《Level Up! Adventurer level increased to 2.》
《Level Up! Adventurer level increased to 3.》
…
《Level Up! Adventurer level increased to 5.》
《You have cleared Floor 10 of the Dark Attribute Rune Dungeon (Rare).》
《Unbelievable record!》
《Clear Time: 4 minutes, 34 seconds》
《Clear Grade: ‘SSS’》
《You have achieved the highest clear grade.》
Easy. Too easy.
Why does everyone take over 10 minutes for this?
Now… what rewards await?
***
Seeing Lucifer’s radiant smile, Hertia couldn’t help but smile too.
‘I’ve never seen him smile like that.’
This battle confirmed it for her.
His cunning to overcome overwhelming odds.
His steely resolve to issue commands calmly in any situation.
Above all, his burning desire to always aim beyond the ordinary.
Though his appearance differed, Hertia was certain that the human before her, Oh Hyun-woo, was the Lucifer she served.
‘Even his acting is flawless. To think he maintains this frail human façade even here, with no one else watching.’
At first, she didn’t understand why Lucifer indulged in this charade, but she assumed a great being like him had his reasons.
And now, she realized.
‘He must be guarding his every move to never show weakness.’
The idea of ‘that Lucifer’ flinching or showing surprise at his own actions?
If she told the other Seven Deadly Sins, none would believe her.
The thought that she alone knew this side of him sent a thrilling shiver down her spine.
‘A meticulous being. And just as fearsome.’
Hertia decided to play along with Lucifer’s human act for now.
Until the day she regains her power, she would revel in the joy of serving this great being.