Ch.7777. Legion of Avengers: Field Test (2)

Dungeon.

While the dictionary definition refers to an underground prison in a castle or fortress…

In Dungeon & Adventure, and more broadly in games overall, a dungeon generally refers to a dangerous location where enemies exist.

And Dungeon & Adventure was no exception.

As the name suggests, dungeons were core content within the game, and the term “dungeon” was commonly used to refer to “enclosed areas filled with hostile monsters.”

No, to be more precise, in this world, dungeons were a kind of natural phenomenon.

They were simplified alternate dimensions that formed when specific energies gathered in abandoned places or locations where certain incidents had occurred, transforming into various forms depending on the nature of the accumulated energy.

Perhaps because dungeons were such places, I could create dungeons in whatever form I desired using my powers as an evil god.

As the phrase “whatever form” suggests, naturally occurring dungeons also came in extremely diverse forms.

For example, dungeons formed based on massacre incidents would likely involve surviving waves of monsters, while dungeons formed naturally from abundant energy would probably be extensions of the existing environment.

Additionally, if one were to destroy the alternate dimension forming a dungeon by defeating the monster at its core—the boss monster—

The energy composing the dimension would transfer to survivors inside, potentially allowing for rapid growth.

Even when dungeons collapsed, some objects containing strong energy would remain behind. One could say that game elements were well-reflected in the setting.

Anyway, many of these dungeons, which were not much different from game elements, often had entry conditions that had to be met before entering, just like in games.

Of course, in reality, these entry conditions manifested as a kind of spiritual repulsion that pushed away those who didn’t meet the requirements, or imposed environmental debuffs on those who forced their way in…

But since we planned to enter while meeting the conditions, this isn’t immediately important to us, so let’s return to the main point.

Typically, entry conditions naturally prevent entry based on level or rank differences, blocking those with significantly different numerical values…

But occasionally, there are quite unique conditions—such as the number of people or their status—and in these cases, the conditions for the boss monster’s appearance inside are also likely to be unique.

Dungeons that satisfy both of the above conditions are commonly called irregular dungeons.

While ordinary dungeons have simple structures represented by hack-and-slash gameplay, these irregular dungeons show diverse internal structures ranging from defense scenarios to siege warfare.

“We’ve arrived. Soldiers, prepare yourselves.”

“””””Yes, sir!”””””

The dungeon that “I” had arrived at with 500 soldiers of the Avenger Legion was one such irregular dungeon.

Located on a small island beyond a cliff in a rather remote coastal area, this dungeon was a popular spot often used for elite troop training when playing as nations in the game.

Its official name was “Battle of the Broken Gate,” but in the community, it was commonly called the “500 Death Squad.” Simply put, this dungeon involved “holding off” enemy attacks.

Narrow cliff paths, atop palisades, breached castle gates, or valleys.

The objective was to hold relatively narrow passages against enemies rushing from the opposite side for 30 minutes to clear it.

Very rarely, even after clearing it, one could re-enter after about 3-4 days. Each time you entered, one of five patterns would be selected, and since I could remember all of them, I personally considered it a good place for leveling.

In reality, you were supposed to defeat the boss within 30 minutes, but whether due to a bug or not, simply holding out would count as a clear, allowing for retry…

Well, I’m not complaining.

Anyway, for these reasons, on the island I arrived at, there was a stone archway inscribed with complex writing that anyone would recognize as an entrance.

Limit: 500 people, no intermediate rank or above allowed, and up to 5 commanders may enter regardless of combat power.

“This way. Please come in.”

As “I” looked at the entrance of the dungeon with these conditions, I took a deep breath and led the soldiers through the dungeon gate.

Before I knew it, I remained only as consciousness with a view similar to that of a real-time strategy game, while the rest of the soldiers had all been transported to the battlefield—inside the breached castle walls.

“”……….??””

“”””……..!!?””””

“””…………..??!?”””

Perhaps because this was their first such strange situation despite having their mental strength enhanced by blessings, the Avenger Legion soldiers were murmuring among themselves, unable to take their eyes off the medieval siege-like scenery around them.

[Soldiers! This is no time for that! The enemy is coming from beyond the gate!]

So I, as a commander participating in the dungeon, spoke directly into their minds using my ability, and the soldiers, reassured by my voice, gathered in front of the gate and began forming a defensive formation—

[Here they come, the enemies!]

From that moment, enemy soldiers set by the dungeon began appearing through the gaps in the broken gate.

These soldiers—monsters created by the dungeon environment—wore helmets that could cover their heads, gambesons commonly called quilted armor, and were armed with spears or simple blunt weapons.

And with these monster soldiers charging toward the legion’s soldiers in formation, disregarding their own lives, the dungeon conquest that would unfold over the next 30 minutes began.

※ ※ ※

Men who could have appeared in any medieval film charged forward with spears or clubs in hand.

“Uwaaaaaaaaaah!!!”

True to being dungeon monsters beyond the category of normal living beings, they showed no fear of death and possessed no language abilities, existing solely for their created purpose.

If judging purely by combat power, they would be ranked as lower 8th grade.

An unarmed ordinary person would be 10th grade, an armed ordinary person 9th grade, and 8th grade would be roughly an average regular soldier, so lower 8th grade would be about the level of a recruit.

However, these humanoid monsters don’t fear death, so regardless of what happens to their bodies, they keep charging in, making their effective combat power comparable to upper 8th grade.

With these troublesome monsters endlessly swarming in, a normal army, no matter how elite, would lose a war of attrition with just 500 men, but…

[Push!!]

Thwack!

[Thrust!]

Slash!

For the Avenger Legion soldiers, enhanced to the extreme by blessings, this kind of endurance battle was actually their greatest specialty.

With a blessing that continuously recharged their stamina as long as their vengeance burned, combined with a blessing bordering on a curse that prevented them from ever forgetting their grudges.

They would never tire from just moving for a few minutes.

Additionally, all their weapons and armor had been strengthened by my blessing, recovering their condition when soaked in enemy blood, so there was no worry about weapon damage.

Thwack, slash! Thwack, slash!

The current Avenger Legion had formed a dense formation like an ancient phalanx, grinding down the approaching soldiers with the simple method of pushing with shields and thrusting with spears.

They formed a wall with shields large enough to cover almost their entire bodies, then at the commander’s order, pushed the shields to repel the monster soldiers clinging to them.

Then, through the gaps created in the shields, they thrust their spears to finish them off.

In a sense, this was a standard and obvious tactic that might be commonly used even in this era… but precisely because of that, it was even more effective in situations where one side had the advantage.

However, there were limits to simply holding them off with a dense formation.

As time passed, the number of common soldiers flowing in through the destroyed gate increased, and at some point, the quality of enemy troops also began to rise.

From soldiers armed with proper round shields and axes to those wearing chain mail, and even occasional crossbow bolts starting to fly in sporadically.

Although they still felt more like a crowd or mob than an army, this dungeon increased the quality of appearing forces over time, so it should never be taken lightly.

Especially as time passed and the gate was almost completely destroyed, heavy cavalry would rush into the battlefield, and their suicide charges could certainly break through our defensive formation and accumulate damage.

Moreover, even if they were the strongest soldiers at their level, the battlefield is full of variables.

They could die in completely unexpected ways, and considering that even the sacrifice of a single soldier was too costly for the current Avenger Legion…

[I’m using it now! Everyone, prepare yourselves!]

After about 16 minutes had passed.

“I” decided that now was the time to use the hidden card and issued a powerful command to the soldiers.