[You have entered the twenty-eighth room of Balak.]

Finally, the moment he’d been anticipating had arrived. The vast forest was one of Balak’s strengths. He must have developed this environment to be on par with other A-rank dungeons. ‘I’ve been through enough forest environments to get sick of them on the way here, but this time, I need to focus.’

The first thing to secure was vision. Charon had five archers keep watch over the left, right, and front.

“Charon, what’s the point of being on guard like this? We can’t even see the soldiers hiding in the forest. Wouldn’t it be better to send in melee raiders to find them first?”

“That’s too risky. Don’t you remember the Forest of Silence? This is the exact opposite of that situation. As long as the soldiers have already taken their positions, splitting our forces will just get them killed for nothing.” United we stand, divided we fall. As long as the terrain advantage was optimized for the enemy soldiers, it was difficult to send out scouts rashly. Taric finally understood and shut his mouth.

In the meantime, the shield bearers began to advance, protecting the archers. Charon looked at the two bounty hunters and gave Taric his orders in advance. “If the Save a Comrade Coin is nullified, you save one of the two. If it’s not nullified, you save the other one. Got it?”

“I know what you mean.”

“Good. Taric, you stick close to the two of them and provide separate cover. As long as a shield bearer is sticking to the bounty hunters, Taehyun will have to show his hand first.”

“Got it.” Having an A-rank top-tier shield bearer personally attached to them would be a major headache for the enemy. Charon confirmed Taric’s position and sent the Peacock to the left.

[The vision of Balak’s soldiers and the Peacock’s vision are clashing.]

The hidden soldiers became visible through the Peacock’s vision. He didn’t need to use Vision Priority; their approximate locations were being revealed. ‘So they’re concentrated on the left, as expected.’ It was likely due to the two bounty hunters who had consistently been positioned on the left. Charon saw the soldiers finally appearing and began to issue commands.

“Mages, target the Nightmares first! Shield bearers, those with high shield durability to the front! Melee raiders, support from the back so you can switch in immediately!”

Having already gathered information on the dungeon’s soldiers, he was mounting the most efficient response possible. The shield bearers didn’t flinch at the roars of the Basilisks that appeared from both sides, instead raising their shields high.

The Basilisks’ strikes followed, but they held firm. Unlike B-rank shield bearers, A-rank ones were on a different level of durability.

[A-rank soldier Nightmare is casting Nightmare.]

[A-rank Raider Condolic’s Third Impact has landed.]

[A-rank soldier Nightmare’s Nightmare has been canceled.]

As the Nightmares were gradually rendered ineffective, there was no immediate danger of the shield bearers being broken through.

“Kraaaaargh!”

“Grrrrrr!”

“Krrrrng!”

If anything, the ones to be wary of were the Hell Hounds. The hellhounds, said to never let go once they’ve bitten an opponent, could shatter a formation in an instant.

“Pekul! Baret!”

“Ready when you are!”

“Same here!”

The mages Pekul and Baret cast their skills simultaneously.

[A-rank Top-Tier Raider Baret has cast Continuous Shockwave Strike.]

[A-rank Top-Tier Raider Pekul has cast Wall of Earth.]

At Baret’s command, debris erupted from the ground, only to be instantly forged into a solid wall by Pekul. The charging Hell Hounds slammed their heads into it, becoming dazed. Penetrating the center was now impossible. Charon even had the priests cast their barriers, blocking ranged attacks as well.

“Ellua, Zembel, any traps or installations?”

“I’ve checked again, there’s nothing,” Ellua replied.

“It doesn’t seem to be in this room,” Zembel added.

Judging by the lack of traps or other contraptions, it seemed Taehyun hadn’t prepared anything further. Charon felt a sense of doubt as he checked the soldiers around him. ‘So, is the plan to target us in the next room? No. That can’t be right. There’s no way he’d deploy so many A-rank soldiers just to sacrifice them needlessly. Then what is it? What’s the point of this room?’

They weren’t focusing on the bounty hunters. Nor were they targeting the ranged raiders. They were simply attacking the raid party with nothing but A-rank soldiers. He just couldn’t figure it out. ‘I need to end this fight first, then I can reassess.’

The basilisks were starting to fall one by one. It was safe to say the tide of battle had already turned in the raid party’s favor. Charon checked his comrades’ health and cast a skill.

[The Aura of Vitality has been cast.]

[The raid party has been enchanted with the Aura of Stamina.]

[All raiders’ stamina stats will temporarily increase.]

With that, they wouldn’t have to worry about stamina for a while. Charon allowed himself a victorious smile as he watched the small golems slowly crumble. Just then, an unexpected wave of soldiers burst from the forest to their right.

“What the hell? There were more of them hiding over there?”

“Don’t panic. Our barrier and health are still fine. Just block them like you’ve been doing.”

“There seem to be a few more, but it shouldn’t matter!”

As expected of A-rank raiders, they responded with composure. The shieldbearers raised their shields against the charging Hellhounds. But the moment the vicious claws were about to connect, an explosion ripped through their line.

“Gah!”

“G-get a grip! They’re breaking through—”

Another blast followed.

In an instant, the shieldbearers were blasted backward, disoriented by the concussive force and searing burns. A flustered Charon scanned the new soldiers. They were all A-rank, same as before, but the explosion enchantment was on another level.

Explosions erupted one after another. The shieldbearers were caught in a deadly dilemma: should they block with their shields or try to dodge?

With a shriek, the Gargoyle Lancers joined the assault, crashing into the barrier.

[Allied Raid Party Average Barrier Damage: 59%]

The priests flinched, scrambling to gather their divine power once more. But the Gargoyles were also enchanted to explode on impact, as were all the other soldiers now swarming them. It was impossible to restore a barrier that was already spiderwebbed with cracks.

“K-Charon, what the hell are those things?!”

“Damn it,” Charon snarled. “They must have been hiding in the right forest all along. That bastard, targeting one flank so relentlessly. Priests, focus your healing on the shieldbearers! Ranged attackers, shift your aim and prepare to fire!”

Charon pulled the Vision Priority Pass from his pocket. The explosions were a problem, but he had to eliminate the ranged support peppering them from a distance first.

[Using Vision Priority Pass.]

[You have preemptively secured four pips on the Win/Loss Dice.]

The two forces were already locked in a contest of vision. A Vision Battle was inevitable.

[The vision of Balak’s soldiers and the Allied Raid Party’s vision are clashing.]

[The Win/Loss Dice are being rolled.]

The dice tumbled through the air.

[The number on the dice is 2.]

[Victory for the Allied Raid Party, which held pips 2, 3, 5, and 6!]

[The Allied Raid Party gains the upper hand in the vision battle.]

Victory. It was the only possible outcome. Charon was about to give the order to fire when new figures, previously obscured by the front-line soldiers, came into view.

‘What are those?!’

A knight hefting a greatsword and a raider wielding a shortsword. They were Balak’s main combatants. Charon desperately tried to issue a new command, but he was a fraction of a second too late. Skills were already flaring to life from the two men’s blades.

[A-rank Knight Grai’s Surging Wave Sword has been cast.]

[A-rank Raider Ceder’s Wave Splitter has been cast.]

[The Allied Raid Party’s barrier has been destroyed.]

The barrier shattered in a single, overwhelming blow, sending the shieldbearers reeling. As the right flank collapsed, the Hellhounds poured through the gap and charged for the center. Their targets were the two bounty hunters. The beasts bared their fangs, but a massive shield slammed down, blocking their path.

“You sons of bitches!”

The Hellhounds yelped as they were batted aside.

It was Taric, a top-tier A-rank shieldbearer. He expertly batted the Hellhounds aside, protecting his two charges. Charon breathed a sigh of relief and moved to restore the formation. Just then, a series of messages flooded his vision.

[A-rank Guardian Arch-Fairy Mederia’s special ability, ‘Advent of Pesilyn,’ has been activated.]

[Top-tier A-rank Raider Hendy’s Advancing Flames has been cast.]

[A-rank Named Mercenary Warlock Raimond’s Blind has been cast.]

It was the second wave—one he never saw coming.

—

[Pesilyn has cast Festival of the Fairies.]

[Pesilyn has cast Blessing of the Fairy King.]

[Advancing Flames engulfs the shieldbearers.]

[Top-tier A-rank Raider Taric has been afflicted with Blind.]

Skills were unleashed in rapid succession. The fairies received Pesilyn’s protection, the shieldbearers were consumed by a storm of fire, and Taric’s vision was plunged into darkness.

‘Mederia. Fire magic bullets at the two bounty hunters.’

—”Understood!”

Pinpoint blasts of magic shot forth. Seeing Taric’s predicament, Charon pulled out a Save a Comrade Coin. As expected, he was going to save the bounty hunters.

“Master, now is the time! The neutralization item!” Riel urged.

Taehyun was too stunned to speak.

“Master?”

Taehyun didn’t use the item. He simply stared at Charon, his eyes cold and empty.

[Save a Comrade Coin has been used.]

[A-rank Raider Elua’s position will be moved to this raid party’s location.]

—”Taric. Now!”

—”I-I can’t see anything! Where am I?”

—”Just use it!”

As he pulled Elua to safety, Charon yelled an order to the distant Taric.

[Top-tier A-rank Raider Taric has cast Switch Chance.]

[Taric and Jembel’s positions will be switched.]

[Switch Chance Usage Limit 1/1]

The two raiders swapped places. Just like that, he had saved both bounty hunters. But Taehyun had never been targeting them. His real objective had always been the raiders who hadn’t used their single-use skills. Taehyun recited the names he had memorized and issued his command.

“Kill the ones I just named. Start with them.”

And so, the raiders who had been saving their skills were swiftly executed.

—

[A-rank Named Mercenary Warlock Raimond has cast Poison Nova.]

[High-grade poison begins to spread within a certain range.]

[Poison Nova Usage Limit 1/1]

A black, toxic mist flooded the room. The raiders who had held back their skills were already dead. Charon gritted his teeth and activated an Effect Reversal Card.

[Using Effect Reversal Card.]

[The raiders’ high-grade poison will be converted into a high-grade detoxification effect.]

[All poison statuses of high-grade or lower on the raiders will be removed.]

The toxic aura began to recede. At that moment, the glowing card in his hand crumbled to dust.

[Balak’s Dungeon Master has used a neutralization item.]

[The activation of the Effect Reversal Card is canceled.]

[The high-grade poison aura begins to spread again.]

An unexpected neutralization. Charon blinked, bewildered. If his eyes weren’t deceiving him, that was a neutralization item.

‘What is he doing? I still have my return item. Is he trying to mock me?’

This was the third Breath of Death, triggered just before the 28th room. The standard counter was the Effect Reversal Card.

‘This is actually better. I’ll use the return item, then use my skill to boost our resistance.’

He still had his own single-use resistance buff. Charon quickly tried to activate the return item, but a message of pure despair materialized before him.

[A-rank Dungeon Master’s unique skill ‘Return Nullification’ has been cast.]

[All return effects for raiders currently inside Balak have been sealed.]

It was a unique skill that consumed 500 magic power. Charon’s face went slack.

“…His magic power is over 1,100?”

And with that, the allied raid party was annihilated.

Source: Webnovel.com, updated by NovelKeep