Chapter 122: Dragon’s Labyrinth (2)
“What kind of monster wall is this…”
Kyle was at a loss for words as he stared at the cleanly blown-open wall of the labyrinth.
Even he, who once smashed black steel with his strongest stone fist, couldn’t leave a single scratch. The wall was so hard that his stone covering had shattered into pieces instead.
Even if Vladimir Zhukov—the Zero-grade Hunter most skilled in close combat—had come, he probably wouldn’t have been able to break through.
If he could at least leave a scratch, he could have saved some pride.
Yet such a wall had vanished cleanly, as if it had never existed.
He couldn’t understand what kind of magic had been used.
“Wow, a treasure chest already. As expected of a difficult dungeon.”
Eun Ji-eun’s face lit up at the sight of the large treasure chest sitting alone in the corridor.
But Hannah immediately stopped her from rushing forward and expressed suspicion about the chest’s existence.
“This is a labyrinth, not just any dungeon. There’s a high chance it’s a mimic.”
“A mimic?”
Eun Ji-eun asked with sparkling eyes.
Mimic. It was a notorious monster in labyrinth dungeons.
It could transform into various objects and usually disguised itself as a treasure chest in labyrinths to lure Hunters.
The moment someone opened the chest to claim the treasure, they would be devoured by the mimic.
In the early days when information was scarce, countless Hunters had fallen victim to mimics.
There was even a time when the rule was to ignore every treasure chest found.
Only after Hunters with advanced detection abilities could distinguish mimics did proper dungeon farming become possible.
Of course, Jin-young casually walked toward the treasure chest.
“Let’s check it once.”
“Be careful. Since it’s a disaster-grade dungeon, the mimic will probably be far stronger than normal.”
Michelle said. If she used foresight she could easily tell, but she had to watch because she was following Jin-young’s rule.
In truth, since it was Jin-young and not anyone else, there wasn’t much need to worry.
Instead of opening it with his hand, Jin-young activated psychokinesis from a slight distance.
Drrrrrr…
The treasure chest vibrated but didn’t open easily.
“Does it need a key? Why won’t it open?”
Thinking it was a simple chest, Jin-young had released only a small amount of energy, but now he greatly increased the output.
Chwaaaaaak—
The lid opened like a monster’s maw, revealing horrifying teeth and a bright red tongue that flicked greedily.
Of course, with no prey right in front of it, the mimic tried to close its mouth again.
Kiiik— Kigigigik—
But held by psychokinesis, the mimic’s maw remained forcibly opened.
—Kik… Kiiiiik…
A bizarre sound leaked out from inside the chest.
“It really is a mimic.”
“Are you going to handle it yourself?”
Kyle asked Jin-young, following Michelle’s question.
“Hmm…”
Jin-young was about to tear the mimic apart with psychokinesis, but he grew curious about the strange power emanating from inside it.
It basically contained black mana, but he could faintly sense another energy mixed within.
It was an energy he had never felt before, despite having encountered various types.
It wasn’t psionic, Void, Cyclic, or Wrath energy.
It might simply be indistinguishable because only a tiny amount was mixed with the black mana.
‘First time seeing this power. Do you have any idea?’
『I’m not sure. It would be best to bring it into subspace and examine it properly.』
The tentacle seemed curious as well.
He could have just ignored it, but it was energy after all.
It might help not only Jin-young but also the tentacle’s growth in some way.
Shuuu—
Jin-young opened a portal to subspace and tossed the mimic inside with psychokinesis.
“So there will be more of these things from now on.”
“Um… In normal labyrinth dungeons, the probability of finding a ‘real’ treasure chest is around 20~30 percent. I don’t know about disaster-grade ones though.”
Hannah said, recalling statistical data.
If there were that many mimics here, it wouldn’t necessarily be a bad thing.
It just meant more samples for energy research.
“Let’s keep moving for now. Oh, right—who’s handling map data synchronization?”
“…….”
At Jin-young’s question, all the Hunters just looked at each other.
Since they were all people who usually took the leader role in raids, none of them had even thought about map data synchronization.
“What is that?”
Eun Ji-eun, the complete beginner, blinked and asked.
Since no one had expected anything from her anyway, they let it slide.
“I’ll do it. I have the most free time anyway.”
After a brief staring contest, Michelle operated her watch.
But as she did so, she bit her lip.
“How do I do this again…”
“I’ll help.”
Only after Hannah stepped in did the function activate quickly.
The atmosphere was noticeably different from when an active professional like Choi Hee-yeon was present.
Still, with their experience, once they remembered how, adaptation was quick.
“Map data synchronization started. Due to the nature of labyrinth dungeons, only the paths we’ve walked will be recorded.”
Michelle said, recalling her past labyrinth dungeon raids.
In normal dungeons, starting map data synchronization would allow mapping of the terrain within a radius of several kilometers.
It could even mark monster clusters.
However, labyrinth dungeons were uniquely difficult to sense the surrounding environment.
In the past, when watches weren’t advanced, recording was completely impossible.
Dungeon scientists speculated it was due to an unidentified power flowing through the labyrinth.
Of course, since no one had ever felt that power, the issue remained an eternal mystery.
“I’m not sure if going through this wall is the right choice… but anyway, every path is a gamble.”
Kyle muttered and took the lead again.
This time, to avoid being ambushed by dragons or traps, he covered his entire body in rock.
Thud! Thud!
Because of that, every step he took echoed heavily through the corridor.
There was a risk that dragons nearby would flock to the sound alone, but it was better than dying to a surprise attack.
“Good. If we move while drawing some aggro, we won’t even need to go looking for the lizard bastards.”
Jin-young genuinely meant it as a good thing, but Kyle wasn’t sure if he was being sarcastic.
Anyway, the moment they passed the spot where the mimic had been,
Click—
The moment Kyle stepped on the floor, an ominous sound rang out.
He knew it was a trap, but it was already too late once he had stepped on it.
“Shit…”
Shwaak—
Dozens of sharp spears shot up from the floor.
The entire corridor floor was blocked by spears so there was nowhere to dodge.
Before Kyle could turn into a skewer, Jin-young’s psychokinesis fortunately pulled him out first.
“Whew… Thank you.”
Kyle bowed his head to Jin-young and expressed his gratitude.
“Labyrinths really are vicious. Setting a trap for people approaching the treasure chest.”
Eun Ji-eun shook her head while looking at the brutal trap.
Michelle added,
“Even if you luckily avoided it and approached the treasure chest, you would have been eaten by the mimic. Or you might step on the trap while backing away after realizing it was a mimic.”
“It seems scarier than the dragons.”
Eun Ji-eun shivered, goosebumps rising all over her body.
Because such things were common in labyrinth dungeons, Hunters with detection abilities were essential.
Kyle, looking at the spears, grew curious and struck one with his stone fist.
Crack—
Unlike when he hit the labyrinth wall, his stone didn’t shatter, but Kyle frowned.
The spear’s hardness was beyond imagination.
He managed to slightly dent it, but the recoil was quite strong, leaving his body tingling.
If he hadn’t been rescued and had been pierced, it would have caused serious injury.
Kyle hadn’t been particularly friendly toward Jin-young since the General Assembly, but from today he gained a bit of respect.
“This could make for a pretty decent weapon too.”
Tzzzt— Pishuuush!
Jin-young pulled out all the spears with psychokinesis and tossed them into subspace.
They were blocking the path anyway, so they needed to be cleared.
“You really farm everything.”
“I’ve never seen anyone farm mimics before.”
Kyle clicked his tongue while watching Jin-young collect the spears used as traps.
Hannah chimed in.
“Enough chit-chat. Let’s move.”
At Jin-young’s words—the de facto raid leader—everyone nodded.
The party began advancing through the labyrinth corridor once more.
Every time a fork appeared, Jin-young simply smashed through the wall.
Whenever they saw a treasure chest, he touched it—if it was real treasure, they took it; if it was a mimic, they still took it.
They encountered several dragons as well, but Jin-young only provided support in battle.
While advancing like this, avoiding and destroying traps along the way,
“What is this place?”
After smashing through another wall, a completely different scenery unfolded.
The high gray ceiling and walls remained the same,
But instead of a long corridor, a vast open hall appeared.
“Treasure… room?”
The words Michelle casually tossed out while tilting her head perfectly described the identity of this hall.
The wide hall was filled with piles of gold, silver, and treasures.
It wasn’t just a figure of speech—real gold, silver, and treasures were scattered everywhere.
The brilliantly sparkling jewels were almost blinding.
While squinting, a System Board appeared in front of the Hunters.
[Hidden Objective: Find the Treasure Room]
A hidden objective—not listed on the System Board from the beginning.
Some Hunters aimed for them because additional rewards were given upon completion, but others skipped them thinking it was a waste of time.
Because hidden objectives didn’t always give good rewards.
If you luckily found one during the raid, great; if not, too bad.
“I don’t know whether this raid is lucky or unlucky…”
While Kyle was speaking, he saw the next message and doubted his eyes.
[Hidden Objective Updated]
[Hidden Objective: Survive the Dragon Assault]
Skwa-kwa-kwa-kwa—
Ten-odd dragons appeared via spatial movement, emitting blue mana from all directions.
Until now, when fighting dragons inside the labyrinth, it had usually been one, at most three.
But exactly eighteen dragons had now appeared in the Treasure Room.
All of them were floating high, almost clinging to the ceiling.
Seeing this, Kyle finished his sentence through gritted teeth.
“Our luck is fucking terrible, that’s for sure.”
However, the corners of Jin-young’s mouth curled into a smile.
“How many Dragon Hearts is that?”
***
Zetakrax, the guardian dragon protecting the Treasure Room.
He had received a report about the intruders in the labyrinth.
When he first heard that a young dragon who had just been appointed as gatekeeper had been killed, he wasn’t particularly surprised.
It would simply be hunted down by the patrol dragons guarding the labyrinth anyway.
He thought it would be absolutely impossible for them to reach the Treasure Room, which was thoroughly hidden in the deepest part of the labyrinth.
But then—
—Lord Zetakrax, I have a report.
—Again?
When the telepathic message came from his subordinate dragon, Zetakrax’s mood soured.
—Yes. It seems the human party you mentioned earlier is breaking through the walls and advancing.
—What kind of nonsense are you spouting?
The walls of the labyrinth weren’t made of ordinary stone.
They were invincible walls built entirely from adamantium, known as the metal of the gods.
Adamantium could not be broken by normal physical force, and because of its near magic-nullifying resistance, even attacks infused with mana were useless.
Among all the dragons guarding the labyrinth, only one could break through the walls.
The ruler of the labyrinth and the quasi-divine Ancient Dragon, Nekraksia.
Yet mere humans were breaking the walls?
There had to be some mistake.
—It’s true. Reports of breached walls keep coming in. They’ve taken every treasure chest, including the disguised mimics. All the traps seem to have been destroyed—the components have disappeared too.
“…….”
Zetakrax listened to his subordinate’s steady report and felt a momentary dizziness.
He was so dumbfounded he couldn’t speak.
Since dragons wouldn’t leisurely lie, he had to accept that the walls were indeed being breached.
—Lord Zetakrax?
—I’m listening. Anything else to report?
—Based on the breached walls, it is highly likely that the humans are heading toward… the Treasure Room.
Zetakrax was in continuous shock, but as a guardian dragon he calmly issued orders.
—All guardians currently stationed at the Treasure Room, assemble immediately. Begin the assault the moment the humans intrude.
The telepathic message reached the entire Treasure Room guard unit.
—Yes, Captain.
The voices of seventeen dragons reached him as one.
Zetakrax, who had been resting, rose his heavy body.
Drrrrrr…
His massive tail covered in red scales moved, causing the corridor to vibrate.
Chwaak—
Huge wings spread high toward the sky.
The tips of the wings nearly touched the high ceiling of the labyrinth corridor.
He had not lived as long as the Ancient Dragon Nekraksia, but within the labyrinth he was the next strongest.
For dragons, age was directly proportional to mana level and body size.
“It’s been a while since I stretched my body.”
Bwoooong—
Zetakrax rose into the air. Because the corridor was low compared to his size, he had no choice but to fly low.
Shwaaak—
Despite his enormous size, he arrived in front of the Treasure Room at tremendous speed.
The summoned subordinate guards were already waiting.
The moment they formed formation,
Kwaaaaaang!
A tremendous roar reached every dragon.
—Execute Heavenly Punishment Protocol.
—We obey.
Spaat—
The dragons simultaneously teleported into the Treasure Room.
The instant they tried to exhale breath toward the humans on the ground,
Crack—
Each dragon heard a bizarre sound in their ears.
And they immediately understood what it meant.
Shuuuu— Kwaang!
Dragons with broken wings all crashed to the floor at once.
“What the. Looks like you’ve lived a bit longer.”
“What is this…”
Zetakrax was the only one whose wings hadn’t broken.
“Your heart should make for quite a nice piece.”
He felt the emotion of fear for the first time in a long while as he looked at the human staring up at him.
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