Ch.47Dungeon Dive

In MMORPGs, level differences are absolute.

No matter how many low-level users there are, they can’t easily challenge a user who has reached max level.

It’s an inevitable result when there’s such a huge difference in available skills and equipment specs.

My subordinates couldn’t escape this reality either.

While some of them were higher level, most of my subordinates were low-level.

“Hueek…!”

“Hiyah…!”

They charged at Aborix, who was level 20, only to be knocked down with just one or two hits.

Those who were hit so hard they could barely move immediately dissolved into the shadows.

Of course, my subordinates weren’t completely ineffective.

Those who teamed up in small groups to target relatively weaker opponents were able to successfully complete their hunts.

Using their numbers to push forward, they were gradually taking down enemies one by one.

With Aurel and Firin joining the battle late, the tide turned instantly.

“This, this is…!”

Aborix looked around with an expression of shock.

There were no clan members left to help him.

I pointed my katana at Aborix.

He must have realized that we, who had followed them into this dungeon dive, had no intention of talking.

That we only wanted Aborix’s death.

Aborix’s gaze changed.

As his emotions began to sink coldly, the shadows around him started to move.

Aborix was also a user who, like me, used a tanker build with enhanced shadow control.

Aborix struck first.

His movements were urgent, completely contrary to his calm gaze.

There was no option to dodge. Only forward.

I advanced toward Aborix without hesitation.

My right leg stepped forward widely, becoming the axis as I transferred power to my waist.

A fighting stance with large movements.

Aborix was highly conscious of my movements and prepared a defensive stance.

His gaze was fixed on the katana in my right hand.

It would have been the optimal defensive preparation for him.

Instead of my right hand, I extended my left.

I intended to attack from an unexpected direction while he was focused on my weapon.

My extended left fist flew rapidly, only to be blocked by a thin shadow curtain.

Thud-!

An enormous sound that seemed impossible from such a small fist.

Though he blocked my punch using shadows, Aborix’s expression crumbled and his body staggered, suggesting he couldn’t completely deflect the impact.

When an opponent’s stance collapses, it means you can attempt additional attacks.

I pushed off hard with my right leg, which had been my axis.

Immediately after, my left leg extended.

My left leg stamped the ground hard, shifting my center of gravity.

Changing the axis leg.

My waist rotated, adding power to the next attack.

This time it was my right hand, which Aborix had been wary of.

The hand gripping the katana.

The rotation that began at my waist traveled through my shoulder and transferred to my wrist.

The blade of the katana came vividly alive.

Now.

Slash-!

The katana I swung with all my might tore through Aborix’s shadow.

Aborix stared helplessly at his shadow as it scattered into the air.

Aborix seemed unable to understand what was happening to him.

Same level, same build user.

It was natural for him to be surprised when such an opponent tore through his shadow curtain with just two attacks.

But the outcome of this fight was inevitable.

After all, the character information of me, Charlotte, was a little different from other users in this world.

If he had any complaints, he should take them up with the god who implemented the balance patch this way.

Of course, that’s assuming he survived.

The curtain protecting his body was torn. His shadow control would have momentarily scattered.

I didn’t miss that opening and pressed Aborix.

The basic physical abilities of a level 20 vampire might keep him alive longer, but the result wouldn’t change.

Crack-!

“Kugh!”

My widely swung katana severed Aborix’s arm.

It didn’t cut cleanly but dangled as if torn, suggesting I was slightly short on power.

With his arm severed, Aborix didn’t give up and attempted a counterattack.

His left arm swung from a collapsed stance.

Due to our height difference, his fist came flying in a downward strike.

I didn’t dodge. I trusted my body’s defense, regeneration, and the additional protection of my shadow.

Thud-!

As expected, Aborix’s attack couldn’t penetrate my shadow.

Though a considerable impact was transmitted, it couldn’t stop my movement.

“Yap!”

With a short shout, I swung my katana again.

The blade of the katana sliced through the air quickly.

My shadow extended like a wide crescent moon, delivering an additional attack.

This time I aimed for both of Aborix’s legs.

I hadn’t liked his tall height from the beginning.

Slash!

“Kugh…!”

Being a vampire, losing limbs wouldn’t cause him much pain.

As his legs were severed, Aborix lost his balance and fell.

Collapsed on the floor, he stared blankly at his severed legs.

I threw Aborix’s fallen legs to my subordinates.

“P-please spare me…!”

Crunch!

Aborix suddenly attempted to beg for his life.

Frowning, I thrust my katana’s blade into his mouth.

The annoying male voice disappeared.

The only thing he should be allowed to utter was a tearing scream.

With my foot on Aborix’s chest, I looked around.

The situation was mostly resolved.

I shifted my gaze to look at the last surviving member of Aborix’s clan.

Held captive by Hwang-gu in a bloody state, he was gasping for breath and begging for his life.

But there was no way Hwang-gu would grant his request.

Rip-!

“Aaaaargh!”

Hwang-gu divided him into upper and lower halves.

I turned my head to look down at Aborix.

He must have witnessed his clan member’s demise.

Indeed, Aborix’s expression had turned very pale.

He kept opening and closing his mouth as if he had something to tell me.

But thanks to the katana stuck in his mouth, his words couldn’t be formed.

Meaningless struggling.

It was obvious without hearing. He was probably thinking of bargaining for his life with information he knew.

His emotional state was changing rapidly.

I didn’t want to watch anymore.

It was time to end this chase.

I applied force to the katana in my hand and severed his neck bone.

Crack-!

“Kek!”

Aborix’s head rolled away with a deflating sound.

Befitting a level 20 vampire, he hadn’t died yet even with just his head remaining.

The severed head kept moving its mouth as if it had something to say.

Of course, no sound could be heard.

And so, Aborix died.

I lightly licked the blood on my hand.

Along with the fishy taste, numerous memories began to pour in.

Aborix’s memories were being absorbed.

-Really…? Is it true? You’ll give that to us…?

-Of course, how long are you going to live like this?

-I’ll do it! I’ll do it…! If I can return to being human…! If I don’t have to live as a monster anymore…!

Reading Aborix’s memories, I clicked my tongue.

A way to return to being human? How could such a thing exist?

…

No.

It does exist.

Of course, it’s not an item that can be obtained through normal means, but there definitely was an item in Blood Carnival that allowed race change.

An item called [Race Change Ticket] sold in the cash shop.

I frowned.

This wasn’t the right segment. I needed to read memories from further back.

Aborix’s memories began to rewind as if playing a video in reverse.

-A, a human…!

While wandering through the city, Aborix encountered a fight between a human and a vampire.

The human user won the fight.

Naturally, Aborix, who was about to help his fellow vampire, was shocked into immobility by what happened next.

When the human user took something out of his pocket and threw it at the vampire, the vampire transformed into a human.

At that moment, Aborix’s eyes met with the human user’s.

The human user made an “oops” expression.

Right after, he approached Aborix with a somewhat subtle expression.

“Charlotte!”

Aurel’s sudden voice brought me back.

I shook my head, dispersing the memories.

I understood the general situation.

Right now, checking on my subordinates’ condition was the priority.

Fortunately, none of them had died.

Though some were badly injured, they would soon recover if they rested in the shadows.

The same applied to Aurel, Hwang-gu, and Firin.

The three unharmed girls were waiting for me in front of a large box.

“What’s that?”

“It’s a treasure chest!”

“Open it quickly!”

Aurel and Hwang-gu were smiling brightly with their hands raised high, despite being covered in blood.

Firin was also smiling ferociously while holding a blood-stained teddy bear.

The three girls seemed unwilling to touch the box until I opened it.

I sighed softly and approached the large box.

“Shall I open it then?”

“Yes!”

This was a low-difficulty dungeon.

Despite the box’s fancy appearance, its contents might be disappointing.

So I didn’t have high expectations.

Click-!

The lid began to open with a cheerful sound.

“Wow…”

“Oh…”

“Ah…”

Deflated exclamations flowed out.

I reached into the box and pulled out the contents.

[Fashion Leather Collar]

Level Requirement: 5

Defense +5

When worn by a werewolf: Defense +2

A fashion leather collar?

It didn’t look like that at all.

What was in the box was a red dog collar.

The performance was decent, but I was a bit reluctant to wear it.

“Should I give this to Hwang-gu?”

I had no intention of wearing it, so I passed.

When I asked Aurel and Firin for their opinions, both girls nodded.

Since it had additional stats when worn by a werewolf, it made sense for Hwang-gu, who was a werewolf, to wear it.

“Here.”

“Heok…!”

When I handed the dog collar to Hwang-gu, she was overjoyed.

“Um, Charlotte!”

“What?”

“P-please put it on me!”

She wants me to put this collar on her?

It wasn’t a difficult request.

I tilted my head and fastened the red leather collar around Hwang-gu’s neck.

“It’s a bit loose… tighter please…”

“Won’t it be hard to breathe?”

“It’s fine…!”

I made a dubious expression at Hwang-gu’s request.

Was it really okay?

Still, since she asked, I pulled the collar tighter as she requested.

“Heek…”

Hwang-gu’s tail spun like a propeller.