Chapter 23

Ancient Desert (3)

I kicked off the ground.

“Heuaaat!”

I shouted and sprinted with all my might.

The Skeletons also started at the same time as me.

‘Don’t think of it as a crisis.’

I steeled my heart.

The corridor’s width had increased, meaning the Skeletons had surrounded me from all sides.

That also meant the wall I had to break through had become thinner.

“I don’t have much energy left! We have to keep fighting and blocking them! If my left arm gets smashed, I’ll use my right arm!”

I checked my surroundings as I ran.

Bone Four, without a shield, was blocking spears with his arm beside me.

“Yeah, like that! Just a little more, guys!”

I moved right next to him and swung my shield, pushing it to the side.

One Skeleton lost its balance and fell after being hit with a headbutt carrying my weight.

Crack!

I slammed the edge of my shield down on its head.

“Hoo.”

I had taken down a D-grade monster with my own hands, but.

I didn’t have the luxury to enjoy such feelings.

Their attacks were still coming relentlessly.

‘I can’t just run. I have to take them out as I go.’

I wasn’t a giant who had poured all my stats into strength.

I couldn’t just bulldoze through them.

I had to at least eliminate the ones blocking the way.

‘I wish it would come out soon.’

[Break through the obstacles and reach ‘Tae Yang-chang’.]

After all, the goal of this Dungeon wasn’t to eliminate the Skeletons.

It was simply to reach the existence called ‘Tae Yang-chang.’

Ta-da-da-dat!

I brushed past the approaching Skeletons.

I subtly evaded them by applying the techniques I had learned from my master.

Like a rugby player on the field running with only the touchdown in sight.

“Bone Five!”

Clang!

“Replenish it quickly before the shield breaks!”

All the attacks pouring behind the shield were absorbed by Bone Five’s Air Shield.

Indeed.

Lv.8 Air Shield was tougher and stronger than the previous one.

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ says you are cowardly.]

[He says a true warrior does not avoid battle.]

Shut up.

That’s your standard.

In our world, surviving is being strong, you know?

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ is disappointed.]

[He says one who avoids the trials he has bestowed is not qualified to challenge him.]

I ignored it.

Now there were only about 4-5 enemies left in front of me.

If I could get past these guys, I could run through the empty space.

‘Understand.’

Knowing the enemy is important, but knowing myself is also important.

And.

The ‘me’ that I know couldn’t survive among those Skeletons with the remaining energy.

No matter how reckless and adventurous I am.

I didn’t want to fight a battle with no chance of winning.

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ says humans are indeed pathetic.]

Swish.

Finally, I passed the remaining Skeletons.

“Hoo, hoo.”

Sweat beaded on my forehead.

I wiped it roughly with my sleeve, but more sweat filled the space.

“When is it coming out?”

A metallic taste filled my mouth, but I didn’t stop running.

I felt my strength waning, but my muscles were stubbornly holding on.

The physical training I had done so far seemed to be paying off.

“Heo, heo!”

I wanted to call the Old Man and ask for advice, but.

It was impossible.

Aside from not having the energy, the cooldown wasn’t over yet.

Doo-doo-doo-doo!

The Skeletons I had passed were chasing after me, vying for position.

“Damn it.”

I was reaching my limit soon.

Clunk!

I threw my shield away.

I also tossed away the item bag I had brought just in case.

Fighting now meant death.

I had to reduce the weight.

And focus solely on running.

[‘Bone Four’ uses the skill, Low-Grade Block (Lv.8).]

Koo-oong!

Perhaps he picked up the shield I threw.

Bone Four, who was running, turned around.

He stopped fleeing with me, as if trying to buy time.

‘Yeah, thanks. You rascal.’

The Awakened Skeletons were amazing.

Without being specifically ordered.

They clearly understood the owner’s intentions and acted.

Bone Four’s Summon has been released.]

Thud.

Bone Four couldn’t hold out for long.

The bone fragments that made up him scattered in all directions.

Gritting.

I gritted my teeth and ran.

I had to make the most of the time he had bought me.

Had I run for about a minute like that?

“Huh?”

Suddenly, the back of my neck felt cold.

Somehow.

I felt like something was wrong.

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ says pathetic humans must be punished.]

“……!”

I couldn’t help but widen my eyes.

Ahead of the alley I was running through.

I could see piles of bone fragments stacked like mountains.

‘Those bone fragments are…….’

It wasn’t the first time I had seen them.

It was definitely a familiar sight.

“Haa, haa.”

I stopped running.

I let my hands hang limply as if I had lost all strength.

I took a deep breath roughly.

‘Damn it, it’s no wonder it’s familiar.’

Just a few hours ago.

It was the remains of the guys I had caught when I first got sucked into the pyramid.

“…….”

Come to think of it.

The alleyway that had gradually widened was narrowing again.

That meant.

The destination I had been running madly towards with hope, wasn’t Tae Yang-chang’s abode, but back where I started.

I had simply been circling aimlessly in one space.

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ laughs.]

[He says foolish humans never fail to meet expectations.]

“…….”

I felt empty.

Come to think of it, this place was inside a pyramid.

If I had run in a straight line, there should have been a turn somewhere.

‘Was it a circular structure?’

Whether I went forward or backward.

I would eventually have to meet him.

Crunch.

I bit my lip in frustration.

I could taste blood on the tip of my tongue.

Doo-doo-doo…….

The Skeletons were rushing in from behind.

‘What should I do?’

Should I fight again?

Or should I give up?

Creak.

Bone One seemed to have a problem with his leg joints and was limping.

Bone Two’s spear was tattered.

Bone Three and Bone Five too.

They were almost in a state of combat disability.

[Hunter: Ju Dong-hoon]

[Energy: 20/120]

I only had 20 energy left.

In comparison, there were about 30 Skeletons left.

“There’s no choice. Now that it’s come to this, I have no choice but to endure as much as possible. Everyone, come up!”

I didn’t have the strength to run away anymore.

But I didn’t want to give up.

‘What would Gi So-yul do?’

Surely, she would have kept fighting even in this situation.

Even if it meant losing her life.

That’s the mentality that a ‘Ranker’ has.

‘Let’s have hope.’

You never know.

Maybe those 100 recently summoned were the last wave!

“Follow me!”

I climbed onto the pile of bone fragments.

Creak! Creak!

Dozens of Skeletons rushed towards me.

Swish! Swish!

Bone One swung his sword a few times.

The heads of two enemies were cleanly severed and rolled away.

Shoong! Shoong!

Bone Three also retreated and provided cover.

“Bone Five! Use all your energy and fire Fireball!”

I grabbed the bone fragments and climbed higher and higher.

I squeezed out all my remaining strength.

“Hoo, hoo!”

And I stepped onto the top and picked up one of the scattered bone spears.

Occupy the high ground.

Then crush the approaching enemies from above.

That was the method I had in mind.

“Die!”

I threw the spear hard.

It didn’t matter since there were plenty of bone spears lying around.

“Die!”

I made a hole in the skull of a Skeleton that was climbing up with another bone spear.

Blood flowed between my taut arm muscles.

It seemed I had been cut by a bone fragment while climbing.

Bone One’s Summon has been released.Bone Two’s Summon has been released.]

Soon, the two who had been fighting hard were killed.

“Ha.”

With the remaining 20 energy.

I replenished Bone One and Bone Four, who were the strongest and the tanker among the five.

[Using skill, ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (D-grade).]

[Consuming 10 energy.]

[‘Bone One’ appears.]

[Using skill, ‘Awakened Skeleton Summon’ (D-grade).]

[Consuming 10 energy.]

[‘Bone Four’ appears.]

“This is really the end.”

I poured in all my remaining energy.

[All energy has been consumed.]

[Tip/Want to replenish your energy? Try taking a rest.]

“Bullshit.”

I raised my head.

I let out a hollow laugh.

I felt like this when I met the Orc before, right?

Struggling to survive like a desperate bug.

‘No.’

It was different.

It was definitely different from then.

‘Back then, it wasn’t what I wanted.’

Now, it was the path I had chosen.

This was the difference in mindset.

If it was to become stronger, I was fine with even stronger trials coming.

The German philosopher, Friedrich Nietzsche, said.

That which does not kill me makes me stronger.

‘Get a grip, Ju Dong-hoon.’

Slap!

I slapped my cheek hard.

My faint mind snapped back to attention.

‘There’s no Dungeon I can’t solve.’

Even in the stage that was difficult even for Rankers, ‘Han Deep Old Man,’ there was definitely an answer.

I thought.

I kept racking my brain.

[Break through the obstacles and reach ‘Tae Yang-chang’.]

Clearly, the quest wanted me to meet ‘Tae Yang-chang.’

But, that Tae Yang-chang guy was telling me to follow the procedure and come up.

I felt like he was constantly teasing me.

‘So, what is that procedure?’

After all, even if I went around the Dungeon, it would just be circular.

Where am I supposed to meet him…….

“Huh?”

It was then that something caught my eye when I raised my head.

A damp aggregate hanging from the wide ceiling above a fairly large open space.

“What is that?”

The wriggling thing seemed to be watching me.

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ asks if you’ve finally noticed.]

[He says foolish humans are indeed hopeless.]

“Oh ho?”

I smiled.

I couldn’t help but smile.

I felt like I had found a handful of oasis in the vast desert.

“I was wondering where you were hiding, you. You were up there?”

The Dungeon’s trick was simple.

It was too simple, but once you missed it, it was a trick that was subtly difficult to find.

Tae Yang-chang’s abode was originally on the ceiling, not in front.

‘And it’s right above the entrance ceiling.’

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ nods.]

As if he had made eye contact with me.

A message from the guy named Tae Yang-chang appeared.

Crunch! Crunch!

I muttered, looking at the Skeletons who were still fighting hard.

“Bone Four.”

The guy who lifted the heaviest shield among the kids I had.

“Stop fighting and grab me.”

Creak?

“Then. Throw me up there with all your might. As quickly as possible.”

There were Skeletons left, but it didn’t matter.

After all, the condition for clearing this stage was to meet him.

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ says come if you dare.]

[He says he will turn a cowardly human who dares to challenge him into a handful of ashes.]

“Okay.”

I fixed my gaze on the aggregate.

I didn’t know why he was showing such hostile feelings towards humans.

But if that was the Dungeon’s quest.

“I’m going.”

In an open space of a pyramid.

On top of a small mountain made of bone remains.

I was shot like an arrow.

Shoo-oong!

A strong headwind hit my face.

And the moment the distance between the aggregate and me rapidly closed.

[Congratulations!]

[Reached ‘Tae Yang-chang’.]

[The Ancient Skeleton Lancer (D-grade) disappears.]

The bone fragments below disappeared like a mirage.

‘Finally.’

It was the moment when a feeling that couldn’t be described in words was about to touch every nerve in my body.

[Warning!]

[‘Tae Yang-chang’ appears!]

The black aggregate shattered and spread widely in all directions.

The things that had spread like a broken hologram converged in one place.

[Using skill, ‘Memory Recreation’ (S-grade).]

[Recreating the memories of the ‘Cursed’ spirit, ‘Tae Yang-chang’.]

[Moving shortly.]

Flash!

My vision flashed.