Chapter 272: Episode 272

With a deafening crash, a massive, cube-shaped prison slammed down from the sky, trapping a group of raiders who struggled futilely against its walls. A moment later, a mage wreathed in flames charged forward. Unlike a typical spellcaster, this man wielded a spear, pressing the front line with expert proficiency.

From the rear, an A-rank raider loosed an arrow imbued with biting frost. It was a precise and powerful shot, clearly a limited-use skill meant to break through their defenses. Randus simply caught the arrow with his bare hand, the cold doing little to faze him.

Ice crept across the ground, but it was no match for the mage who had used Flame Incarnation.

The arrow shattered in his grip with a sharp snap. “Did you really think something like this could freeze me?” Randus taunted. “Try a more impressive skill.”

Randus, once an A-rank Hero Guardian, had been formidable during the Yuda raid, but he was far stronger now. He advanced, a walking inferno, before suddenly stopping. He could feel a new threat, a gaze from far away locking onto him.

’I can’t block that. I’ll have to switch places.’

Unlike the frost arrow, this new attack felt ominous. A reckless decision would be fatal; retreat was the only option. Randus swapped positions with Lost Arthur and fell back.

[S-Rank Raider Perun has used Armor-Piercing Transformation.]

[S-Rank Raider Perun has used Precision Shot.]

The hidden sniper in the forest finally fired. The armor-piercing bolt flew true, aimed squarely between the eyes, but against Lost Arthur, it was a powerless projectile.

[S-Rank Guardian Lost Arthur has used Grasp of Hatred.]

[A hand imbued with hatred shoots up from the front.]

Lost Arthur’s specialty was the counter. A massive, spectral hand erupted from the earth, catching the bolt and spinning it around. Its power wasn’t diminished; instead, the rotation added to its momentum. The Grasp of Hatred then flung the bolt back at its original caster.

With a deafening roar, a swath of dense trees was instantly obliterated. Randus, watching from behind, expected to see the sniper’s corpse, but a new variable emerged.

[S-Rank Raider Turner has used Ominous Barrier.]

[Blocks the effects of all skills for a set duration.]

[Ominous Barrier uses remaining: 1/2]

In the cleared path stood Turner, the wings of a crow unfurling behind him like a dark omen. He stared silently at Lost Arthur and stepped forward. “First, we’ll have to deal with you,” he said. “That’s the proper order, isn’t it, Ceder?”

“Why did you come here?” Sihan demanded, stepping out from behind a tree, his voice tight with frustration. “We’re raiders of Balak now. You know we have to be enemies.” Seeing Turner’s half-cursed body fully healed meant he had found his own solution. And yet, here he was, back to being a raider, participating in a commission against them. The image of a tearful Hendy flashed in Sihan’s mind, and he scowled.

“If you came here to atone, then go back,” he spat. “We know you visited the lodge. But that’s as far as it goes. Don’t think for a second that we’ve forgiven you. I still haven’t forgotten the moment you abandoned Hendy.”

“I didn’t come to see Hendy,” Turner replied, his expression unreadable. “I was just being a little greedy. Yes, in reality, we are nothing more than sinners.”

“In that case…”

“But that doesn’t mean I’m backing down,” Turner interrupted. “Since I’m already being greedy, I have to see for myself just how great a dungeon Balak is.” He had joined the raid to gauge Balak’s strength from the start. If former comrades had to become enemies, he would simply subdue them and face Balak’s main forces himself. Spotting another figure behind a tree, Turner launched himself into the sky.

[A-Rank Top-Tier Raider Drophin has used Icy Path.]

[The special ability of A-Rank Top-Tier Raider Drophin, ’Permanent Freeze,’ has been activated.]

The spot where Turner had been standing a moment ago froze solid. A split-second later and he would have been trapped in frozen time.

“Tch’,” Drophin clicked his tongue in annoyance.

“A time-stopping ability is useless if I just dodge it,” Turner called down. “Especially without your dolls from the plains. I’m guessing your Permanent Freeze doesn’t activate instantly. Am I wrong?”

“You talk too much,” Drophin snarled, his face contorted with disgust. “I still find you repulsive. How dare you show your face after abandoning your comrades.” They had run into each other at the lodge, and Drophin hadn’t forgotten the rage he’d felt. The memory threatened to surface even now. He gripped his frost sword with both hands and glared up at Turner.

“Don’t you look down on me, you piece of trash!”

“It’s pathetic watching you from the sidelines,” Lost Arthur interjected, his voice dripping with disdain. “If you’re not going to fight for real, then get lost, Raider.”

“And who the hell are you?” Drophin shot back.

The two guardians who had been observing from the rear joined the fray, pushing Drophin aside as they prepared to cast their skills. Just then, a magic bullet and a sniper bolt collided in mid-air.

A powerful explosion uprooted more trees. In the ensuing chaos, Balak’s main forces and the raiding party revealed themselves, signaling the start of the true battle. Drophin saw Hyacinth standing at the center of the raiders’ formation and finally realized he’d been played.

Drophin gritted his teeth. “So, the raid leader gave you our location,” he growled.

“You still haven’t learned the basics,” Hyacinth replied, her voice cool and steady. “You could have seen us with clairvoyance just by looking at the sky, yet you tried an ambush? Even B-rank raiders don’t do that.”

“Shut your mouth,” Drophin seethed.

…before I kill you.”

“Honestly, the ability to stop time is impressive enough to be coveted,” Hyacinth admitted, “but those Minotaurs standing behind you are far more terrifying.” They were, after all, the same soldiers who had held two S-rank Raiders at bay in Hylon Forest. Maourate and Gotman were a more terrifying presence than Drophin.

Hyacinth pushed her shield bearers to the front, adopting a battle stance. In that instant, a message materialized before everyone in the forest.

[The Control Stele is activating.]

[Synchronization Rate: 67%]

[Synchronization Rate has exceeded 60%.]

[Remaining Steles: 10]

[When the Synchronization Rate reaches 100%, ownership of the dungeon will be transferred to Dinen Pradio, who activated the steles.]

[All beings who have entered the current territory are being targeted.]

The steles’ true purpose was laid bare. The Raiders reeled, struck by a triple blow of shock: the threat of losing the dungeon, the name Dinen Pradio, and the horrifying realization that they were all targets.

Hyacinth finally understood the intruders’ true strength, and a chill of fear crept down her spine. ’They were all S-rank Raiders. It’s too dangerous to stay here. Given the number of steles left and the current synchronization rate, stopping it is impossible. I have to get out of here now!’

They were close to the World Tree, but her life was more important. And of all the enemies she could face, it had to be Dinen Pradio. If the Control Stele activated, she would be enslaved to his will—a fate worse than death. She fumbled for a return item, but just as she was about to use it, Turner landed beside her and seized her wrist.

“What do you think you’re doing?” she snapped. “If you want to stay, be my guest. We’re leaving—”

“It won’t just be me,” Turner cut in, his grip firm. “Exclude all my comrades before you use it. I’ll have no other complaints.”

“…Do as you please,” Hyacinth conceded. A shimmering circle of light began to form around her raid party. Turner and his original comrades watched the raiders fade away before turning their backs on the scene.

“Well, this has gotten complicated,” Turner remarked dryly. “What’s your plan now? Going to kill us?”

“Shut your mouth,” Drophin growled. “That’s the obvious…”

“Move!” Sihan bellowed, shoving Drophin aside. “What the hell are you doing? You could have left with the others. Why the fuck did you stay here just to piss me off?!”

Drophin, who had been getting knocked around all day, stumbled but said nothing. The two men at the center of the tension paid him no mind. Turner beat his wings once more, ascending into the air.

“I’ll help you, so follow me,” he announced. “And don’t worry, I’m not trying to atone for anything. I just don’t like the idea of this dungeon falling into the hands of that bastard Dinen Pradio.”

“Hah,” Sihan scoffed. “Whatever happens, I’m not taking responsibility. Do what you want!”

“That’s how it should be,” Turner replied coolly. “Everyone, follow me. I’ll show you the way.”

With the raid party gone, Turner and his companions were no longer the priority. The steles were. Wary but resolute, Balak’s main forces began to follow him. The remaining support guardians simply shrugged at each other before returning to their home dungeon.

—

[S-rank Raider Gester has been incapacitated.]

The master of swordsmanship had fallen. He had showcased his superior skill with the sixty-four forms of Hilderine, but now he lay defeated, his own mastery not enough to save him.

“He’s finally down,” Kadum panted. “Dammit. If it weren’t for those subspace blades, I would’ve taken him down faster.”

—’Destroy the stele first!’

“Got it!” With the self-proclaimed gatekeeper out of the way, nothing stood between them and their target. Kadum lunged forward and shattered the stone pillar.

[The ninth stele has been destroyed.]

[The rate of synchronization increase will slow down.]

The objective was complete. Kadum gasped for breath and checked on the High Elves. Lacking his innate sense of danger, their injuries were far more severe.

“What now, human?” Saphaella demanded.

“My name is Kadum… wait, that’s not important. We’ll leave the critically injured here for now and head to the next area ourselves.”

“Understood.” Saphaella nodded, ordering a small contingent of High Elves to remain behind. Just then, the silhouette of a crow appeared against the sky.

[S-rank Raider Turner is casting Melancholy Wingbeats.]

A man soared leisurely through the air—one of the S-rank Raiders from Hyacinth’s party.

“Why is that bastard coming this way?” Kadum snarled. “Everyone, prepare to fire!”

—’No, stop,’ Taehyun’s voice echoed in his mind. —’Follow him.’

“What are you talking about? He was part of the raid party…”

—’I’m not sure either, but for a while now, a stele has appeared wherever he goes. He might have a detection skill with a wider range than Wolf’s Eye. The other main forces are already on his tail, so just join them.’

At Taehyun’s command, Kadum reluctantly called off the attack. “We need to follow him,” he announced, a bewildered look on his face. “For some reason, it seems he’s leading us to the steles.”

“Is that Taehyun’s will?” Saphaella asked, her tone sharp.

“Yes, it’s an order from the great Yoo Taehyun you all adore so much,” Kadum shot back. “Now get moving. We’re losing time!”

“W-What? Taehyun is simply a friend to us elves…” she retorted, a blush creeping up her cheeks, but Kadum was already gone. Realizing a moment too late that she’d been dismissed, Saphaella chased after him, her eyes flashing with fury.

—

[The seventh stele has been destroyed.]

[The thirteenth stele has been destroyed.]

[The first stele has been destroyed.]

The steles crumbled one after another. High above, a single crow continued to circle, revealing their locations. He wasn’t using a skill, which meant the ability had to stem from a piece of equipment.

“He’s not some grateful crow repaying a debt,” Sihan grumbled. “What the hell is going on?”

“Maybe it’s because he was a comrade from the Elenora Raid Party,” Inhye suggested. “He never really fought us from the beginning, did he?”

“This is ridiculous,” Sihan spat. “I’m going along with it because we’re in a hurry, but I don’t like it one bit. As soon as we’re done with these steles, I’m taking all his gear.”

“Master Taehyun is amazing, as always,” Riashu sighed dreamily.

Whether it was a simple whim or a premeditated plan, his motives were a mystery. But whatever his true purpose, the immediate threat was Dinen Pradio.

[The Control Stele is activating.]

[Synchronization Rate: 87%]

[Remaining Steles: 4]

The end was in sight. Only four steles remained. The synchronization rate was dangerously high, but Turner had just located another one.

“Hey, if that bastard found the stele, why doesn’t he just destroy it himself?” Sihan demanded. “Why is he wasting time letting the soldiers do it?”

“Master Taehyun, that’s not the problem!” Inhye cried out. “The synchronization rate!”

“Tsk. Mederia,” Taehyun commanded.

Mederia, who was closest, drew her bow. At that exact moment, a spear shot out from near the stele.

[S-rank Raider Fury has cast Spear of Punishment.]

[A-rank Hero Guardian, Celestial Archfey Mederia, has sustained a critical injury.]

It was the second S-rank Raider.

—

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