Chapter 86: Double Dungeon Incident (6)

For the first time since entering the double dungeon, things seemed to be going well.

After Eden destroyed the illusion seal, the group continued deeper into the dungeon.

They moved cautiously at first.

Every corner was checked.

Every branching tunnel was inspected.

Every unusual sound made the four D-Ranks immediately raise their weapons.

But nothing came.

No Abyss Creatures.

No traps.

No Death Knights.

Nothing at all.

Hours seemed to pass in relative silence.

Eventually, even the tension began to fade.

One of the D-Ranks lowered his weapon.

"Do you think we’re safe?"

The supervisor glanced at him.

"Don’t get careless."

"I’m not. It’s just..."

He looked around.

"We haven’t seen anything for a long time."

The supervisor nodded.

"You’re right."

Eden walked several steps behind them, his expression thoughtful.

He didn’t like it.

Not at all.

A dungeon this dangerous shouldn’t be this quiet.

Something is waiting.

He couldn’t explain why.

It was simply a feeling.

The same instinct that had saved his life countless times since his regression.

It took them a while until they finally reached the end of the corridor.

A massive double door stood before them.

Unlike the rest of the dungeon, the doors were strangely well preserved.

Ancient metal covered the surface, engraved with patterns Eden couldn’t understand.

The supervisor approached.

"That might be it."

One of the D-Ranks immediately brightened.

"The exit?"

"Probably."

The old man placed his hand against the door.

"If the dungeon follows normal structure, the exit should be somewhere beyond here."

Eden stared at the doors.

Something about them bothered him.

But hope was difficult to suppress.

After everything they’d endured, the possibility of finally escaping was enough to make even Eden relax slightly.

"Let’s open it."

The supervisor nodded.

Together, they pushed.

The doors slowly creaked open.

Darkness waited on the other side.

A gigantic hall with no light whatsoever.

The only thing visible was a single figure standing in the center.

A Death Knight.

It was kneeling.

Its greatsword rested against the floor.

Its head was lowered.

The four D-Ranks froze.

One swallowed nervously.

"Just one?"

The other nodded.

"If it’s only one..."

"We can do this."

The spear user tightened his grip.

"We’ve already killed twelve."

The supervisor looked toward the creature.

"Don’t underestimate it."

Eden said nothing.

He was staring.

The Death Knight wasn’t moving.

It wasn’t attacking.

It wasn’t even looking at them.

Something felt wrong.

A sudden sound echoed through the darkness.

One torch ignited.

Then another.

Then a dozen more.

Thousands of faint purple flames appeared throughout the hall.

Eden’s eyes widened.

The entire cavern illuminated at once.

And the four D-Ranks went completely silent.

Hundreds.

Hundreds of Death Knights stood throughout the massive chamber.

All of them were armored.

All of them were holding weapons.

And all of them were A-Rank.

The D-Ranks slowly lowered their weapons.

"...No." one of them whispered in despair.

At the far end of the hall stood an enormous throne.

And sitting upon it was something far worse than even the army of Death Knights.

A Death Knight several meters tall.

Its armor was blacker than the surrounding darkness.

Purple Essence flowed through the gaps between its armor plates.

But that wasn’t what caught Eden’s attention.

Something else was wrapped around its body.

Something dark.

Something Eden knew.

His pupils contracted.

’...!’

’Dark Matter?!’

The boss had somehow obtained Dark Matter.

And it wasn’t simply using it.

It had fused with it.

The substance flowed through its armor like blood through veins, reinforcing every part of its body.

Eden’s breathing stopped.

’No.’

His mind raced.

From ahat he could remember, The original boss was supposed to be A+ Rank.

That was already absurdly powerful.

But this?

This was different.

The Dark Matter had fundamentally changed it.

The creature had evolved.

It’s S-Rank.

Eden’s blood ran cold.

’An S-Rank Abyss Creature.’

’Inside a dungeon that was supposed to be D-Rank.’

Eden slowly stepped backward.

"We need to run."

The supervisor looked at him.

"What?"

"Now."

Eden’s voice was low.

"We need to leave."

The D-Ranks stared at the hundreds of Death Knights.

One of them trembled.

"How?"

Eden didn’t answer.

He couldn’t. There was no obvious exit within this dungeon. Their best hope would be to hide and wait for reinforcements.

One of the Death Knights had suddenly begun moving.

It stepped forward.

Only one.

The others remained perfectly still.

Eden’s eyes narrowed.

’What is it doing?’

The Death Knight stopped several dozen meters away.

It slowly raised its weapon.

Eden’s mind immediately formed a theory.

’Is it...’

’Demanding a duel?’

’Maybe it’s some kind of ancient rule.’

"The boss allows one champion to fight them.’

’A single Death Knight against a single opponent.’

’A ritual of honor.’

Hope flashed in Eden’s eyes.

’In that case, one of us just has to defeat it in a duel.’

For the first time ever since they’ve entered the double dungeon, Eden felt a tiny spark of hope.

"Listen to me."

The supervisor stared at him.

"If I’m right, they want a one-on-one duel."

The old man blinked.

"A duel?"

"Probably."

Eden continued.

"That means—"

He stopped.

He heard dozens of footsteps behind him.

The four D-Ranks were already running.

"RUN!"

"What?!"

The D-Ranks sprinted toward the entrance.

"Wait!"

They didn’t listen.

They screamed as they ran.

"We’re not fighting that!"

"Get out!"

"Move!"

The Death Knight stared at them.

For several seconds, it remained completely motionless.

Then its head slowly turned.

Even Eden could feel the change in its presence.

The creature’s aura became violent.

The sword in its hand became a blur.

It moved.

A single flash.

A single swing.

The four D-Ranks stopped.

Their bodies remained standing for a fraction of a second.

Then their heads fell.

Blood sprayed across the stone floor.

Their bodies collapsed.

Eden’s blood turned cold.

The Death Knight stood motionless.

The duel was over.

Except there had never been a duel.

There was only slaughter.

The four D-Ranks denied the death knights honor...

...And in return, the Death Knights will deny them a chance to escape.

Eden’s breathing became frantic.

"Fuck..."

The supervisor stared at the bodies.

His face went pale.

Then he looked at Eden.

Eden looked back.

There was no time.

No time to come up with a plan. No time for strategy. No time for a clever trick to save the day.

No way to win.

"Go."

Eden’s voice shook.

The supervisor looked at him.

"Get out!"

"Eden—"

"GET OUT!"

Eden pointed toward the entrance.

"Get reinforcement! Bring healers! Tell them there’s an S-Rank creature in here!"

The supervisor stared at him.

Then shook his head.

"No."

Eden froze.

"What?"

"I can’t."

The old man stepped forward.

"My job is to keep you candidates alive."

He pushed Eden backward.

"You run."

Eden’s eyes widened.

"Wait—"

"Don’t look back."

The supervisor smiled.

It was a surprisingly calm smile.

"Just run."

He stepped forward.

Eden stared at him.

For a moment, he couldn’t move.

Then the supervisor charged.

The Death Knight lifted its sword.

One swing.

That was all.

The old man’s body was cut cleanly in half.

His upper body slid from his waist.

His eyes remained open.

And on his right hand was the white ring.

Lord’s Mercy.

Eden’s mind went blank.

The world seemed to slow down.

The supervisor’s body hit the ground.

The ring rolled across the stone.

Eden stared at it.

His hands began trembling.

’No.’