Ch.5720. To the Ancient Dungeon (2)

I cast a flame spell toward the front.

“Let’s burn what’s ahead.”

BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM-BOOM!

With a massive explosion, enormous flames erupted 15 meters ahead of us. Zerfield spoke.

“Minsu, you were right. That area was indeed filled with poison mist.”

Flammable poison mist. After detonating the entire area with blue flames, I blew it away in an instant with Windcutter’s gust.

While I would normally need to use a large amount of mana for a powerful wind spell, thanks to Windcutter’s special ability, I could reduce the mana consumption for most wind spells significantly.

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「Windcutter – Ancient Gear」

* Gear Rank: A+

* Effect

– Increases total usable mana through high-grade gear’s mana amplification effect.

..

* Special Abilities

– Amplifies damage of flame attribute spells through synergy effect.

– Allows immediate use of the following wind attribute spells without separate casting.

..

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If I were to check Windcutter through the system, this is undoubtedly the kind of description that would appear. Zerfield patted me on the back.

“What an efficient dungeon clearing method. There’d be no danger if I explored dungeons with you.”

“You’re exaggerating, Mr. Zerfield.”

“No, Mr. Zerfield is right! Minsu has operating skills considered among the best even within the Hunter Association. It’s incredible luck for me as Guild Master… no, for Flame Guild. And of course, his other abilities are also exceptional…”

Yuri went on praising me in response to Zerfield’s comment. I felt a bit embarrassed, but their reactions weren’t entirely exaggerated.

As Zerfield said, I had been leading our party through the ancient dungeon in my own way. To them, it must seem quite efficient.

My operating skills had improved considerably through my internship missions.

More importantly, the notebook that Elder Yeon Mun-woo gave me had elevated my dungeon analysis abilities by several levels in a short time.

‘He categorized the dangers very meticulously. Even for ancient dungeons.’

It was the culmination of Elder Yeon’s lifelong research exploring dungeons. Aileutan had gates and dungeons even before the dimensional fusion.

Receiving that notebook containing his lifetime of knowledge without any conditions was truly an incredible stroke of luck.

‘If I were to use the system, it would probably show…’

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「Master Gimunjin’s Research Notebook」

: A notebook containing all the insights of a master who spent his life researching Gimunjin and dungeons.

* Rank: Unique

* Special Abilities

– Increases understanding of dungeon structures by 3 ranks. (SS)

– Increases understanding of trap skills by 3 ranks. (SS)

..

..

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Such special effects must have been applied to me. That’s how my dungeon interpretation abilities developed so rapidly in such a short time.

“Ancient dungeons have much more complex terrain and structures than regular dungeons. They’re essentially grand labyrinths. But with Minsu here, it’s like navigating with a precision map. And this is our first time in this ancient dungeon.”

“No, it’s much more than that. Minsu’s skills as a dealer are just as exceptional as his operating abilities! Flame sorcerers who can create blue flames are extremely rare…”

Yuri continued to praise me with a grin. She seemed particularly pleased that Zerfield, a member of the Five Celestial Beasts, was impressed by my abilities.

No, there seemed to be personal feelings beyond her role as Guild Master. Sure enough, Zerfield glanced back and forth between Yuri and me.

Then he whispered in my ear.

“I was right, wasn’t I? A love escape. That cold-looking young lady’s expression melts whenever she looks at you.”

“That’s not true.”

I denied it immediately, but Zerfield maintained an amused expression. Then his face turned serious as he spoke to me.

“Anyway, as that Tarkovsky family young lady said, the blue flames you used to blow away the poison mist contamination zone earlier—the compression and rotation of mana was extremely precise. I’ve had quite bad relations with those White Tower mages in the past, so I know magic fairly well. Your magic is definitely superior to those magic-obsessed types. Such an intense rotation…”

As expected of one just below the Five Celestial Beasts, Zerfield accurately assessed my blue flames. As he said, my body was gradually becoming accustomed to real combat.

I couldn’t control blue flames with extreme precision like in my Ains days, but with Windcutter’s help, the rotation speed had increased even more.

‘My momentary explosive power exceeds that of those days.’

Though I’ve only unlocked the first seal of the Red Jade, which feels somewhat insufficient to me. Zerfield continued with a tone of disbelief.

“You said you’re a B-rank hunter, Minsu. Do B-rank flame sorcerers nowadays create such structurally complete flames?”

“It’s just that his rank hasn’t been updated yet. Minsu deserves a higher rank. He’s more than qualified to be A-rank!”

“Hmm. It seems so.”

When Zerfield, a figure comparable to the Five Celestial Beasts, agreed with her, Yuri seemed even more pleased.

The three of us continued through the dungeon. Our target was the massive black tower visible in the distance.

It resembled what you might call an obelisk. Being such a distinctive landmark in this dungeon, if there were any Ancient Gear or special items, they would certainly be there.

As we walked, I urgently called out to the two who were walking on the stone-tiled path.

“Stop right there! Stepping on those tiles will spawn numerous monsters.”

They immediately halted at my warning.

“Wait. This is the most common tile style of the ancient empire. Usually, trap tiles that spawn monsters have different patterns.”

“The figure holding the water jug has a different posture than the normal style.”

“That can’t be. I’ve seen these tiles in ancient dungeons all the time… Wait, could it be?”

Zerfield seemed to grasp the meaning of my words.

“The finger with the ring holding the water jug… the ring is on the ring finger.”

“That’s right. Normally, the ring should be on the middle finger.”

“You distinguished such a subtle difference? Good heavens.”

Zerfield looked at me in utter disbelief. Of course, noticing such details came from the teachings in Elder Yeon’s notebook.

“Well. I don’t know who the archaeologist is anymore. You’re finding all the paths by yourself. I guess I’ll just focus on swinging my pickaxe… hmm?”

At that moment, the dungeon, which had been as bright as noon on a clear day, suddenly began to darken.

And Zerfield, whose expression had been relaxed, even playful until then, suddenly turned serious.

“The sun…”

At his words, Yuri and I looked up at the sky. It was growing dark. Then Zerfield shouted.

“Damn it. A solar eclipse is beginning! This ancient dungeon is far more dangerous than I thought!”

Black mist began to rise thickly around us.

***

‘What’s happening?’

While this wasn’t my first time in an ancient dungeon—I’d even conquered a high-difficulty one to obtain the Red Jade—I had never witnessed a solar eclipse inside a dungeon before. And judging by Yuri’s reaction, neither had she.

‘This is completely different from the dungeons Siwoo entered in the original story. And Zerfield never appeared there either.’

As Zerfield said, this could truly be dangerous.

Though Yuri and I couldn’t look directly at the sun, Zerfield seemed to be staring at it through what must be special sunglasses.

“Minsu. You know that ancient dungeons are different from regular ones, right?”

“Yes, I do. Ancient dungeons contain stories.”

“You understand precisely. Today’s hunters think of ancient dungeons as special treasure vaults that give Ancient Gear, but as you said, the truth is different. Ancient dungeons are ruins containing a story—specifically, tales about the ancient empire that existed in Aileutan.”

I already knew that much. The Red Jade was also an Ancient Gear with the legend of the Vermilion Bird, one of the Four Divine Beasts. Windcutter too was a special gear related to the legend of the wind spirit.

Ancient dungeons were important places where one could find clues about the ancient empire, now only fragmentarily passed down.

‘But the atmosphere of this dungeon feels far more dangerous than any ancient dungeon I’ve visited before.’

Zerfield continued to look deep in thought. Then he spoke.

“Jeon Tae-hyun, the head of the Korean Hunter Association. Without him, Korea wouldn’t have become a hegemonic nation. In fact, Korea spawns the most treacherous gates compared to anywhere else in the world.”

As he said, when the dimensional fusion occurred 30 years ago and gates began opening, Korea was where the most dangerous gates appeared.

However, because the Light Guild, led by Jeon Tae-hyun—considered the greatest hero in hunter history—was based in Korea, that curse became a blessing.

His Light Guild, along with the Snow Field Knights led by Grand Duke Andrei with whom they formed an alliance, actively cleared dungeons throughout the Korean peninsula and its northern regions.

With the abundant resources obtained, Korean hunters and the Snow Field Knights could arm themselves far better than hunters from other countries.

‘The high frequency of gates actually became a blessing.’

Now the Light Guild has evolved into the Hunter Association, becoming the most powerful organization in Korea.

Though he never ran for president, every Korean knows that Jeon Tae-hyun holds the core power in Korea.

I responded to Zerfield:

“So it’s not strange that such an ancient dungeon formed in Mount Seorak?”

“You’re right. Otherwise, the Vatican priests wouldn’t have specifically sent me here.”

At that moment, looking at the eclipse progressing in the dungeon, I recalled a particular story.

‘The apocalyptic legend in Elder Yeon’s notebook.’

Stories passed down from the time when the vast empire spanning from east to west of Aileutan collapsed.

Ancient dungeons related to those apocalyptic legends were said to be especially dangerous. Of course, very few people had actually witnessed such dungeons.

‘Even Elder Yeon said he had never entered one himself.’

Then, Zerfield muttered:

“Damn. Just as they said… this really is an apocalyptic dungeon. And this eclipse progressing… it’s the moment when the ancient empire’s end began.”

His words confirmed my suspicions. At that very moment, a terrible scream echoed throughout the dungeon—a death wail so horrific it made me want to cover my ears.

‘What is that sound…’

Windcutter moved the wind as if trying to block the sound, but it wasn’t a physical sound—it was like magical energy resonating throughout the entire dungeon.

And at the center of that scream was a demonic beast.

“Pale Rider…”

A reaper riding a horse appeared there.

A pale blue horse like seeing the skin of a corpse. Pitch-black magical energy fluttered like the horse’s mane.

And on that horse was a reaper holding an enormous scythe. Just as Zerfield had mentioned earlier.

The Four Horsemen of the Apocalypse. The blue horseman of Death.

‘The White Cross Society’s scripture and apocalyptic theory were similar to real-world Christianity.’

Like the Four Horsemen in the Book of Revelation in Christianity. Like the blue horseman of Death described in that Revelation.

A demonic beast emanating an ominous aura hovered beneath the sky darkening from the eclipse.

Yuri shouted:

“This is no ordinary demonic beast! And there are monsters everywhere…”

As Yuri said, with the Pale Rider’s appearance, black mist was rising all around us. The mist was coalescing to form other demonic beasts.

‘I have a return stone. And ancient dungeons don’t collapse like other dungeons, so we don’t necessarily have to defeat that Pale Rider who seems like a dungeon boss…’

This meant we could escape if we weren’t confident about conquering this place.

But Zerfield silently glared at the Pale Rider. And I too had no intention of running away.

‘Ancient dungeons not only contain stories but also special items embodying those stories.’

An item related to apocalyptic theory. If that apocalyptic theory was connected to whatever the Red Lake was planning, I needed to obtain it.

At that moment, Zerfield called out to both of us.