Chapter 63

Chapter 63

 

Though they had gone through a crisis, Ha-kyung felt fairly good.

Somehow, they had overcome it well.

And he had confirmed the Raiders guild members’ sincerity.

In the end, the only people who held ill will toward him were Choi Hyun-ki and a few others.

It was not the guild as a whole.

Ha-kyung focused on finding the path and shook off his idle thoughts.

‘Let’s throw away useless thoughts and focus only on the raid.’

The Abyss of the Deep Sea was an Unfathomable-grade dungeon of The Void.

It was dangerous enough to compare with an Extreme-grade dungeon on the Upper Floors.

Though this Raid Team was made up only of the best, they could not afford to let their guard down.

Hadn’t the fight against the Guardian been one crisis after another?

Ha-kyung thought he needed to stay sharp.

Then John suddenly came up beside him.

“Hippity-hop, hippity-hop. Over the hills. Through the valleys.”

He was hopping around like an astronaut who had landed on the moon.

Ha-kyung slapped a hand to his forehead.

“What exactly is wrong with you? There has to be a reason you’re acting like this.”

“Hey! You’ve got no romance in you, Bro. The feeling of swimming through water you can breathe in. Doesn’t it feel like space? Isn’t it fun?”

“You’re right about that, but we’re in the middle of a raid right now. We don’t know when something might happen.”

“You know how there’s someone who flies over the one who runs? But even the one who flies can’t beat the one who enjoys himself.”

As he floated ahead, a pitch-black something suddenly shot out and rammed into John.

RUMBLE! CRASH—!

“Guh!”

John slammed into the wall and slid down it.

It looked like a scene from an American cartoon.

Ha-kyung quickly stepped forward and swung Crimson Edge.

SHUNK—!

The pitch-black something was cut away in one stroke.

When he examined it closely, it was a new trap.

Like the toothed clam that controlled seaweed, it was hiding inside the coral.

But its attack method was different.

It spat out a black lump of flesh, stunned its prey, then dragged it in and devoured it.

Ha-kyung could not help clicking his tongue.

“The traps here are all brutal. Are you okay, John?”

“You sure ask fast. It hurts like hell.”

“Mm. You’re fine, then.”

“I said it hurts. Why don’t you believe people?”

“Come on, as if that would be enough to faze you, John. Weren’t you very tough in America?”

“Ahem! I am a bit of a macho man.”

John struck a bodybuilding pose.

Ha-kyung was certain.

‘He’s such a soft boy.’

Of course, he did not voice that thought aloud.

If he did, he would have to see John go berserk.

Ha-kyung immediately reported to Ryu Jeong-hwan.

“There are traps that suddenly shoot out from between the coral. They’re hard to see, so everyone, be careful.”

—Confirmed. The vanguard should slow down.

Ryu Jeong-hwan’s voice came through the Whisperer.

The Raid Team’s movement slowed.

Separate from the traps, Ha-kyung fell into thought.

‘Where on earth is the boss?’

Several hours had already passed since they had killed the Guardian.

But Black Leviathan had not shown so much as the tip of its nose.

Even though they had looked around most of the dungeon.

Ha-kyung organized his thoughts.

‘There are roughly two possible solutions.’

The first was to solve some special dungeon gimmick.

The second was to look around the places they had not yet visited.

Honestly, the former was not very likely.

Of course, there were occasionally dungeons where they had to solve a riddle.

But there was no way veteran Awakened would miss even that much.

Then the answer was the latter.

Ha-kyung stared for a long while outside the coral zone.

Then John lightly tapped his shoulder.

“Bro, why are you staring blankly upward?”

“Because that’s the only place we haven’t been.”

Of course, the hydrothermal vent in the center of the dungeon was also a place they had not visited.

But that place was too hot to approach.

Then all that remained was the dark deep sea.

John nodded with a worried expression.

“Oh! It’s a good idea, but wouldn’t it be dangerous?”

“If we run into something like a Skull Piker, we’ll be beaten helplessly.”

“Hmm! But you’re going anyway, right?”

“I need to discuss it with the team leader first.”

The leader of this Raid Team was Ryu Jeong-hwan.

He could not ruin their teamwork.

Ha-kyung headed toward the rear of the formation.

As soon as he left his position, Ryu Jeong-hwan spoke to him.

“What is it?”

“We’ve looked around almost the entire coral zone, but the boss still hasn’t appeared. There doesn’t seem to be any special gimmick either…….”

“I did find that rather strange as well. It is about time for it to appear.”

“What about going out there?”

Ha-kyung pointed to the deep sea outside the coral zone.

Then Ryu Jeong-hwan’s expression changed subtly.

It seemed he had not thought that far.

The atmosphere among the team members listening to their conversation also grew serious.

Because Ha-kyung’s opinion was quite plausible.

But one troublesome issue remained.

Who exactly would go to a place like that?

Soon, the team members’ voices could be heard as they exchanged opinions.

“Normally, Sharp Force should handle this, but they’re only ranged damage dealers.”

“They’d have a hard time responding. One wrong move and they’d really die.”

“But the shot-caller can’t go out himself either.”

“Then who on earth would be willing to take that risk?”

In truth, Ha-kyung thought he was the most suitable person.

His defense was fairly good, and he even possessed recovery abilities.

But he had no intention of stepping forward for free.

He saw through the situation clearly.

Though he did not show it, Ryu Jeong-hwan must have been quite troubled.

Then wouldn’t it be possible to make a proper negotiation?

Ha-kyung casually tossed out a proposal.

“It isn’t difficult to go out into the deep sea and scout. I can do it.”

“Are you serious?”

“If you promise appropriate compensation.”

“What do you want?”

Ha-kyung did not answer Ryu Jeong-hwan’s question.

Instead, he only gave a meaningful smile.

It meant Ryu Jeong-hwan should make the offer himself.

A brief silence followed.

Ryu Jeong-hwan closed his eyes, opened them, and spoke.

“I will give you priority purchase rights for the final boss rewards.”

“How far does that extend?”

“Let us make it two categories.”

It was a fairly good offer.

Ryu Jeong-hwan had probably said it knowing that.

Knowing that, in the end, this was the point of agreement they would reach.

Ha-kyung also nodded without asking for more.

“You’re easy to talk to. Then I’ll take accessories and scrolls.”

“Pardon? You are skipping weapons and armor?”

“Yes.”

At Ha-kyung’s answer, Ryu Jeong-hwan looked surprised.

Normally, people chose in order of highest value.

But Ha-kyung truly did not mind.

‘You sold me a good weapon, so I’ll let this one slide.’

Ha-kyung returned to the front line and discussed things with John.

How he would go out and come back.

First, he drew the Refinement Rope out long and wound it around his body.

Naturally, he took off his armor and left it with John.

Soon, all preparations were complete.

As he went outside the coral zone, Ha-kyung said.

“When I give the signal, pull me back immediately.”

“Don’t worry, Bro. I’ll whip you properly like a slave overseer.”

“I’m saying this because you seem like the one most likely to slack off, John.”

“Try taking one or two hits first. That way, the fish will bite better.”

“Do you think this is fishing right now?”

“It wasn’t?”

“Uh……. I guess it is somewhat similar. I have no intention of being half-eaten like actual bait, so don’t do anything stupid.”

“Come on! Who do you think I am? Just leave it to me.”

It was truly the least trustworthy statement possible.

But there was no need to worry too much.

Despite talking like that, John was a fairly loyal comrade.

Ha-kyung immediately left the coral zone.

‘Since I’m wrapped in glow sticks, I really do feel like bait.’

Like an anglerfish luring prey with a glowing tentacle.

Unlike that idle thought, he kept moving straight upward.

Before long, the distance between him and the Raid Team had grown considerably.

It seemed to be about a hundred meters or so.

Now, he could not see the coral zone at all.

It felt as if he were isolated alone in a dark space.

‘Is this what deep-sea fear feels like?’

Separate from that thought, Ha-kyung kept swimming diligently.

The Refinement Rope was beginning to reach its limit.

If he went any farther, it felt as if it would snap.

Then, suddenly, something hard touched the tips of Ha-kyung’s fingers.

Tap!

“Mm? What’s this?”

A bumpy, rough sensation.

For an instant, he thought he had touched the ceiling.

Like the outer part surrounding the coral zone.

But soon, he realized something was wrong.

Because the endlessly stretching ceiling suddenly squirmed.

RUMBLE—!

[Encountered Black Leviathan, Boss of the Abyss Dungeon]

Its purple glow seemed to pierce through Ha-kyung’s entire body.

‘That aura is…….’

If killing intent alone could kill a person, would it feel exactly like this?

The atmosphere Black Leviathan exuded was utterly overwhelming.

After briefly going blank, Ha-kyung hurriedly grabbed the Whisperer.

“I found it! Pull me back!”

At the same time, he strongly snapped the Refinement Rope twice.

Then Ha-kyung’s body began being dragged downward with great force.

The boss had recognized him, so it was only a matter of time before it followed.

He had to rejoin the team before he got eaten.

Ha-kyung moved his arms and legs like mad.

RUMBLE—!

He was moving at considerable speed, but a chill ran down the back of his neck.

Without thinking, he looked back.

Then he was startled out of his wits.

Because the distance between him and Black Leviathan was not even one meter.

A sharp jaw split wide to both sides, and countless teeth.

It was a truly terrifying face.

Ha-kyung immediately took out Crimson Edge and the Resonance Pillar.

‘Let’s reduce its speed first.’

CLANG—! VMMMMM—!

[Resonance Pillar activated]

[Absorbs all nearby energy]

With a roar, the area around them began to ripple violently.

A drawing force had occurred right in front of Black Leviathan’s nose.

At first, it seemed quite effective.

Just as Ha-kyung wished, the distance between him and his opponent widened.

However, Black Leviathan was no easy bastard.

“KYAAAAAAK!”

Along with its shriek, something purple spread outward.

Ha-kyung felt an enormous sense of danger.

Because the unknown energy took control of the area in an instant.

[Black Leviathan deploys Abyssal Dragnet]

SHRAAAK—!

It was an extremely fine-meshed net.

A purple prison that seized everything swimming.

At this rate, it felt as if he would be captured at any moment.

But Ha-kyung had an invincible shield.

Though it was limited to projectiles.

[The Abyss Challenger’s ‘Distortion’ Authority flips space]

ZWIIING—!

The bundle of nets chasing Ha-kyung vanished in an instant.

It had been sent flying somewhere else by the Distortion Authority.

Thanks to that, Ha-kyung escaped Black Leviathan’s clutches.

But there was one fact he had overlooked.

SHRAAAK—!

The Abyssal Dragnet that had been flung far away rushed toward Ha-kyung again.

‘This is insane! The skill’s range is the entire dungeon?!’

Then sending it away with the Distortion Authority was basically the same as nullifying nothing at all.

Soon, Ha-kyung’s movement came to a complete stop.

The Refinement Rope became extremely taut.

As if it would snap at any moment.

Ha-kyung tried swinging Crimson Edge to cut through the net.

GURGLE! GURGLE!

‘Why is this so tough?’

But he only cut meaninglessly through the water.

The net bound Ha-kyung’s body even tighter.

At this rate, he was in danger of being dragged into Black Leviathan’s maw.

He gritted his teeth and stared at his opponent.

‘The aggro hasn’t been secured, but there’s no choice. I need to land one hit first and start from there.’

[Kin-Eater Skill Target Setting]

[Target: Black Leviathan]

PIIING—!

The same ringing as usual sounded in his ears.

However, Ha-kyung’s reaction was quite different.

Because an absolutely tremendous amount of Abyss Energy had been transferred.

It was not merely unexpected.

It was a level that far surpassed imagination.

That must be how powerful Black Leviathan was.

Ha-kyung’s arm trembled so violently he could not control it.

“Uuuuuuaaaagh!”

He let out a shout close to a roar.

Because if he did not do even this, he could not control the power.

Ha-kyung barely raised Crimson Edge.

Before he knew it, a disc thirty meters in diameter had formed above his head.

“Get loooooost!”

His mind was so chaotic that he did not even know how he had done it.

Even so, one thing was certain.

Ha-kyung’s strike had landed squarely on Black Leviathan’s head.

It was Transformed Soul-Sever delivered with all his might.

WHOOOOOOOM—!

With a tremendous roar, the entire dungeon shook.

Ha-kyung relaxed his body and waited quietly.

Soon, the Refinement Rope began pulling him back.

‘The team members are safe. What happened to Black Leviathan?’

Without thinking, he raised his head.

In the dark water, he saw Black Leviathan’s silhouette.

One side of its jaw had been brutally cut away.

The bastard floated there motionless.

As if it had taken a tremendous shock.

But then an utterly absurd scene unfolded.

Slide. Slide.

Identical forms abruptly appeared to the left and right of the injured Black Leviathan.

Ha-kyung could not hide his disbelief.

“Its heads……. There were three of them?”