Chapter 88: Ch:88 Dungeon & Danger (2)

Dust burst outward as the ropes were yanked tight, splintering sections of the platform. Pebbles and shards of stone tumbled after the falling boulder, and a faint splash echoed from the darkness below.

’Hmm, it’s been a long time since I last cleared a dungeon,’ Marco thought, staring upward into the darkness. ’This bridge breaking brings back a lot of memories.

Heh… back when I mastered my second form, my master immediately tasked me to clear a solo dungeon.’

“Master, what was that?!”

“Wait, so if we had stayed a little longer, we would have died? Master?”

The shamans stared at the collapsing bridge in stunned silence. Marco and Belinda, however, exchanged amused smiles at the fear written plainly across their faces.

“Don’t worry my students. Your master would have crushed that boulder before it even reached you,” Marco replied, his voice steady and assured.

’Haha… I was even more shocked than them,’ he thought glancing behind at the tunnel. ’This is literally a tier one solo dungeon, I should take my time to teach them everything about the solo dungeon.’

“My lord, we’ve been spotted,” the guard warned, staring into the darkness of the tunnel.

Everyone turned at his words. Some shamans’ palms began producing small sparks, but Marco immediately commanded them to stop casting.

“Students, remember—you are here only to observe,” Marco said, his voice firm and commanding.

The shamans lowered their palms, their eyes fixed on the mouth of the tunnel.

*Stab!*

“GEK!”

“It’s just a normal goblin, my lord,” the guard said, keeping his tone calm.

“Follow me, everyone,” Marco ordered as he stepped into the tunnel.

Marco picked up the torch the goblin had dropped, holding it in his right hand as a light source. The armored guard took the front line, while the shamans followed behind with Belinda among them.

Daniel glanced at the dead goblin and whispered, “Status.”

No window appeared.

As they emerged from the narrow tunnel, the passage opened into a massive chamber. The ceiling arched overhead like a great dome, its stone walls slick with moss.

Torches burned near the entrance, their flames dancing against the rock, while green glowing stones embedded near the top pulsed faintly—dulled by the moss that clung to them.

“Whoa, Master… this place looks incredible,” Bernard said, his eyes wide with astonishment.

“Vraden, look—the stones are glowing like jade,” Jerald added, pointing toward the ceiling.

Ahead of them stood three large tunnels. At the center before the entrances, three fire posts burned steadily, their flames casting wavering shadows across the stone.

The tunnel on the right was sealed by a heavy iron gate, while the other two lay open.

It was a choice—a gamble. One path might lead to treasure. The other, to a boss.

The locked one must be the main boss, Daniel murmured, eyeing the iron gate.

Suddenly, an idea sparked in his mind.

“Master, can’t you just destroy the gate with your powers?” Daniel asked, turning to Marco.

Marco was considering which of the two open tunnels to take when Daniel’s question reached him. A faint chuckle escaped his lips.

“Hmm… how about I show you instead?” Marco replied.

The others quickly put distance between themselves and Marco. He raised his hand, and sparks exploded from his palm, crackling violently as they coiled together—taking the shape of a blazing thunderbolt.

*BZZ~ BZZAP-BOOM*

The instant the thunderbolt slammed into the iron gate, the metal flared with a dull glow—then violently repelled the lightning, hurling it into the stone floor as if the gate had suffered no damage at all.

“Master, your attack didn’t even leave a scratch on it,” Bernard said, eyes wide.

The shamans looked to Marco for an explanation, but before he could speak, Belinda stepped forward.

“It’s because the iron gate is imbued with mana. That’s why your master’s attack didn’t work on it,” Belinda explained with a soft tone.

The shamans broke into hushed discussion. A few approached the gate, running their fingers along the cold iron, while others peered into the darkness of the tunnel before them.

“Marco, I think we should take the left tunnel first,” Belinda said.

Marco nodded, absently biting his index fingernail. “Yes… I was thinking the same.”

Marco instructed them to move toward the left tunnel. The guard advanced first, with Marco close behind, holding the torch. The shamans followed at the rear.

As they approached, a group of goblins spotted the guard and immediately charged. The guard raised his shield—but before the creatures had crossed even half the distance, Marco unleashed a thunderbolt.

*BZZ-ZZZAP!*

The group was killed with ease. Their eyeballs bulged from their sockets, and their bodies continued to twitch from the violent surge of electricity.

’Damn, even though his power is reduced by thirty percent, it feels like he is way overpowered for the dungeon creatures,’ Daniel thought as he walked passed the dead goblins.

…

They reached a massive stone door. A glowing white mist swirled across the floor before it, drifting like living fog—as if something waited beyond.

“Master, what is that glowing thing?” Tridon asked, confusion written across his face.

“Students… we have finally arrived at our first boss of the dungeon,” Marco said, cracking his neck.

The shamans eyes widened, excitement surging through their bodies. After all, it was their first time witnessing a dungeon boss.

“Status,” Daniel whispered, eyes locked on Marco.

————————

Name: Marco Z Dante

Age: 42

HP: 6000/6000

Mana: 1910/4000

Description: A disciplined yet impulsive person, driven by a passion to teach and a desire to create a lasting legacy.

{ Debuff: Defense and damage reduced by 30% [1h 26m remaining] }

————————

’Master’s mana is not looking good, but I’m sure that his one hit is more than enough for a boss,’ Daniel mused, the white mist casting a faint glow across his face.

“Everyone entered inside, Guard,” Marco

Commanded.

“Yes, my lord,” the guard replied at once.

*Bwhoosh*

Inside, the first thing Daniel saw was a row of three tall armored statues—three times taller than them.

The ones on the left and right stood rigid and upright, their hands positioned as though they were gripping invisible weapons.

“Oh my god, it looks scary and beautiful at once,” Molex murmured, scanning the chamber.

The boss room was a vast stone chamber, its ceiling completely covered with white, glowing stones that bathed the floor in a pale, moonlike light.

On each side, intricate depictions of windows and statues were etched with such precision that they looked like living works of art.

Marco’s eyes swept the chamber before settling straight ahead. At the far end stood a throne of red and gold, flanked by two towering armored paladins, each clutching a heavy, spikeless mace.

“Status,” Daniel whispered, his voice barely audible.

He kept repeating the word, his eyes scanning everything over and over, until they settled on one of the armored paladin guards—near the throne.

——————

Name: Corrupt Vassal I

Race: Unknown

HP: 6000/6000

Mana: 1500/1500

Description: A creature renowned for its brute strength, unwavering will, and absolute loyalty to its master. When one partner falls, the surviving paladin gain a 50% boost to damage and speed.

——————

“Master, where is the dungeon boss?” Bernard asked with a confused expression.

Marco pointed straight ahead. “There, the two guards by the throne.”

The shaman’s eyes shifted toward the throne. Meanwhile, Daniel scanned the two guards and noticed that their descriptions were identical.

“But Master, what about these three guards in the middle area?” Jerald asked, puzzled.

Marco unleashed two thunderbolts simultaneously, striking the first guard and sending it toppling like a domino.

*BZZ-Tang-Clang-Clang*

The armor clattered to the floor, revealing that it was hollow—nothing but empty shell inside.

“Students now watch and learn,” Marco said in a firm, steady tone.

“My lord, should I join with you?” the guard asked, his voice firm.

“No,” Marco replied. “You stay behind with my students.”

“As you command master,” the guard replied, stepping back.

The shamans stood near the entrance, their backs glowing from the white mist that they could not pass once they stepped inside.

Belinda positioned herself behind them all, while the guard took the lead, raising his shield against any incoming attacks.

’Let’s see, how much mana does master’s abilities consume?’ Daniel thought, his eyes fixed on Marco.

The moment Marco crossed halfway across the floor, the two paladins’ eyes glowed red, and they began to shift their feet slowly.

Before they could descend from the throne, Marco unleashed two lightning bolts at their grounded feet, and the paladins toppled violently to the floor.

*Tang-Tang-Tang-Tang*

Unlike the hollow guards, it didn’t crumble. It rose almost instantly, its eyes blazing red with rage. As soon as it stood, it charged toward Marco, its mace lifted high for a crushing vertical strike.

*BZZ!-BOOM!*

Before they had even crossed half the distance, Marco fired a thunderbolt straight at a paladin’s feet, striking at the exact moment one foot was about to touch the ground.

The sudden jolt stunned its legs, leaving it completely immobilized.

*Tang-Tang*

One paladin slammed hard to the ground. Another, halfway across, pushed forward with momentum, charging for a strike.

’Come on… give me a real show for my students,’ Marco muttered, sparks crackling across his palm as he prepared another thunderbolt.

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