Episode 20: Floor 50 (3)
The gatekeeper of the Palace of Blood, the commander in red armor.
‘What the hell is this…?!’
BOOM!
Before the wall collapsed, he leaped like lightning, landing on the ground.
The situation was dire.
His elite soldiers, despite their training, flailed as if bound by invisible chains.
Their eyes brimmed with confusion and fear.
Their movements were unnaturally sluggish—more like they were controlled.
Instinctively, the commander drew his sword.
He had to find the one responsible for this chaos.
‘The golem moves with the woman in the black dress, and the red-haired man with the one holding the red parasol.’
His gaze locked onto Oh Hyun-woo.
‘That’s the one…!’
Power surged into his legs.
Whoosh!
The ground split as he shot forward, his blade aimed at Hyun-woo’s heart.
‘I’ll end you painlessly.’
But just before the sword struck, his body froze, as if seized by an invisible hand.
‘What?!’
His swordsmanship was precise.
He’d mastered how much force propelled him exactly to his target.
Yet this absurd failure?
‘Was it really a mistake?’
Footsteps approached from behind.
Click.
A chill crept up his spine.
The black-dressed sorceress, who’d dispatched the other commander, approached.
“Foolish. Did you think Master wouldn’t anticipate your moves?”
Hyun-woo knew every skill and pattern of the red-armored commander.
A swordsman who prioritizes the summoner, with swift movements.
The black-armored commander, meanwhile, had devastating single strikes.
Together, their synergy was lethal, so one had to be eliminated first.
“Hertia, handle it.”
“As you wish.”
Hertia leaned close to the commander, whispering.
“Behold, the soldiers dying because of your incompetence.”
She forced his head to turn, making him watch his troops slaughtered below the ruined wall.
Soldiers foamed at the mouth from Caligo’s poison.
Others screamed, consumed by Temina’s flames.
Some were crushed into bloody pulp by Iron’s fists.
“Your failure caused this.”
Sweat beaded on the commander’s forehead.
His breathing grew ragged.
“No need to fear. You’re already dead, aren’t you? Created by this palace’s master.”
Hertia’s voice was both alluring and cruel.
The commander writhed in rage and fear but couldn’t move.
Hertia leaned closer to his ear.
“Close your eyes. With the key you’ve given us, we’ll soon send your master to join you.”
The commander’s eyes widened as he bowed his head.
Too late.
Hertia snatched the key from his neck in one swift motion.
His pupils shook.
‘Damn, damn, damn…!’
He sensed it instantly—this being was different.
“Caligo!”
Hertia gestured, and Caligo approached, grinning like a hyena.
“A gift. The one most loved by the vampires.”
“Oh?”
Caligo’s smile widened as he neared the commander.
“…What a pungent stench.”
The commander trembled.
He wanted to flee, but his body was stuck in a black void, beyond his control.
He gritted his teeth, struggling, but Hertia’s power rendered all efforts futile.
Caligo pulled a black flask from his belt, shaking it.
“Curious? Heh heh.”
Chuckling, he explained his creation.
“A solution that reacts only to vampire blood. Perfect for exterminating roaches like you.”
The commander’s lips quivered.
Caligo slowly poured the black liquid over his head.
As it trickled down, the air began to sizzle.
Caligo stepped back, and Hertia turned away with him.
BOOM!
A massive explosion scattered blood and flesh.
Caligo burst into laughter.
“Haha, hahaha!”
Leaving Caligo’s maniacal laughter behind, Hertia handed the key to Hyun-woo.
“Master, I have it.”
“Well done. This area’s clear. Move to the next.”
“Yes, Master.”
Their steps echoed toward the palace’s interior.
The ruined wall, stained with blood and despair, fell silent.
《Entering the Crimson Plaza.》
***
Varg, the true master of the Palace of Blood and the hidden boss, sat before a kneeling commander.
“Rats have infiltrated my palace?”
“Yes, my lord.”
“The gates are breached, and they’ve reached the plaza, now heading for the corridor?”
“Correct.”
“Who dares invade my palace at this time?! Especially when he is due to arrive!”
Today was the day to host a distinguished guest—the noble vampire, Karmar de Lavle, who granted Varg his power.
And now, this catastrophe.
“…Stop them at the corridor.”
“I’ll do my utmost!”
“No empty promises. Bring me their heads!”
“Yes! I swear it. But, my lord, one question…”
Varg scowled at the commander’s words.
“What?”
“Is it possible… someone leaked information about our palace?”
“What?”
“The intruders… they instantly identified the keyholder at the wall and the maid with the corridor key in the plaza.”
“In that maze-like plaza?”
“Yes. They found them too easily. It’s strange.”
Varg’s brow furrowed.
Someone who saw through his palace?
Countless adventurers had climbed, but none found the corridor’s path.
They all fought his decoy ‘false Varg’ in the library.
No one had ever reached him, the true master.
‘Could it be…?’
A man’s face flashed in his mind.
Shudder—
Varg shook his head.
Impossible.
That man was long dead.
If not, his rabble followers wouldn’t be so quiet.
“…The palace’s security is flawless. Stop wasting words and bring me their heads! The corridor must not be breached—”
BOOM!
The audience chamber’s door burst open, and a bloodied soldier stumbled in.
“My lord! Disaster! They’ve found the corridor and entered!”
“What?!”
Damn, their speed was too fast.
A dreadful premonition gripped Varg.
“What are you doing?! Stop them!”
“Y-Yes!”
The commander dragged the injured soldier out.
Left alone, Varg trembled with fear for the first time.
‘Could he have returned…?’
The mere thought sent chills.
A name that still haunted vampires.
“Lucifer…”
***
《Defeated Bloodthirsty Maid.》
《Acquired Key to the Corridor of Blood.》
As expected, the Palace of Blood’s strategy hasn’t changed since Legend Seven.
It hides two boss rooms: the library with the ‘false Varg’ and the audience chamber with the real one.
No one but me has ever met the true boss.
Real-world adventurers likely only faced the fake.
No one else could find the path.
Why?
Finding the true key is insanely tough.
The Bloodthirsty Maid with the audience chamber key hides behind a wall cloaked in red spiderwebs.
Most adventurers miss her and head to the library.
The community’s complaints about Floor 50’s difficulty prove its challenge.
“Wow… Sage,”
Caligo said, eyes sparkling with awe.
“How did you know that thing was hiding there?”
“You’d see it if you paid attention.”
I tilted my head slightly.
“Didn’t you notice?”
“Nope! Not at all!”
“I… didn’t either,” Hertia admitted.
Both gaped in admiration.
“Master truly has senses beyond ours,” Hertia said.
Good to know they recognize my skill.
“But, Master,”
Hertia continued,
“I don’t see the corridor’s path.”
“Of course not.”
A hidden boss’s path wouldn’t be obvious—that’d be embarrassing.
I walked silently to the center of the Crimson Plaza.
A fountain, endlessly spilling dark blood, stained the ground with a foul stench.
“Sage!” Caligo hurried over.
“Let me handle the dirty work! Step back!”
“No need.”
I raised a hand to stop him.
“You wouldn’t find it even if I told you.”
I approached the fountain, running my hand over its blood-soaked surface.
I got a blood shower, but it was bearable.
Among the sticky blood, my fingers brushed a small metallic object—a coin-like mechanism.
I lifted it slowly.
Creak—
The fountain’s blood flow stopped.
As it drained, a hidden keyhole appeared on the central red pillar.
Inserting the key and turning it…
Rumble!
…revealed stairs descending below.
《You are the first to discover the True Boss Route.》
《Received artifact Blood-Drinking Chalice as first-discovery reward.》
A massive message appeared.
《An unidentified adventurer has discovered the Floor 50 True Boss Route.》
Perfect.
The world’s attention is now on the ‘unidentified adventurer.’
Guilds and nations are probably scrambling, poking at the Tower of Records.
My grand debut stage is set.
All that’s left…
【Blood-Drinking Chalice】
Description: An artifact crafted from the blood of the Palace of Blood’s soldiers. Equipped summons are immune to bleeding and remove all allied bleed debuffs when using non-attack skills.
…is to use this item to conquer Floor 50.
“Ready?”
“Your servant awaits your command,” Hertia said.
“My body’s itching to go, Sage! Let’s move!” Caligo urged.
I smirked and descended the blood-soaked stairs.