Episode 3 – King's Road (2)

"Huh?" 

As Jaehyuk entered the cave, he found himself inside a dungeon. A dungeon? On the first floor? 

It was said that dungeons were connected to different spaces but to find one on the first floor was shocking. More importantly, did that mean he was no longer on the first floor? 

Jaehyuk didn't have to wait long before his questions was answered by the system message. 

[A hidden scenario 'King's Road' has arrived.] 

[You cannot leave the dungeon until the scenario has been cleared.] 

'I knew it.' 

Jaehyuk's brows frowned as the portal he walked through was closed. 

There were certain placed on a dungeon. Sometimes the condition to conquer the dungeon was clear from the beginning, sometimes the condition was not revealed. In most cases, the challenger could leave the dungeon until the mission was cleared. 

This case was one of those cases where he had to clear the mission to leave the dungeon. Meaning, he was stuck here until the mission was completed. 

He was in a unfavourable situation. He had no healing potions and he couldn't leave until he completed the challenge. Not even a player with the biggest balls would want to be in such a position. 

'Well, all I have to do is pretty simple.' 

The mission was simple. Kill the monsters and leave. It was nothing too complex. 

Besides, since he was in such an unfavourable situation, wouldn't that mean there would be something amazing waiting for him in the end. 

The higher the risk, the higher the reward. He learned that through experience. 

'Besides, I doubt the monsters here will give me much trouble.' 

Since the dungeon was placed in the first floor then it must mean it was a level where beginners can clear it. 

In the Tower, everything was fair. It wouldn't give a mission that was impossible for the players to pass. Even missions that seemed impossible to beat, had certain patterns or ways you could go about it. 

Jaehyuk took a step forward. 

Infront of him was a cavern-like passageway that stretched out with no end in sight. And there was lit torches that lined up in fixed interval along the cavern walls. 

'Do I have to walk forward like this? Where are the monsters? Are they hiding somewhere?' 

When he entered the dungeon, he thought he was going to get bombarded with attacks so he came prepared. Yet there was no monster in sight. 

He narrowed his eyes. The torches didn't serve as a source of light so passageway was not illuminated properly. 

No matter where they were positioned, the torches didn't lit up the surroundings completely so there were many dark corners untouched by the light. 

What was hiding in the darkness? Traps? Monsters? There was no way of knowing. He was entering an unfamiliar territory with no prior information. Indeed, he was completely in the dark. 

The continued silence being accompanied by the darkness emitted an ominous sense of danger. 

'It's fine but I don't feel comfortable going in blind.' 

Wasn't that freely giving his neck to the enemy on a silver plate? 

Jaehyuk silently activated a skill. 

[Skill 'Heightened Senses' has activated.] 

[Your sense of vision is being amplified.] 

Once the skill activated, the dark shadows disappeared and passageway became much clearer. 

'Much better.' 

Now he didn't have to worry about any surprise attacks or getting caught off guard. Though he only focused the effect of the skill on his vision to conserve mana. 

Step— Step—

Finally, Jaehyuk slowly made his way through the straight passageway with the torches leading the way. 

* * * 

Two hours? That was the amount of time Jaehyuk waited until he finally found a bend in the straight passageway. 

Step— Step— 

He sensed multiple presences coming his direction. Has the enemies finally arrived to block him? What kind of monsters were they? 

He could not sense the type of humans he was facing. He only knew they were coming. 

Crack— 

He firmly held the [Suppressing Iron Sword] with strength. 

He first thought about attacking them head on but decided against it. In a place where the enemy is unknown, it will be unwise to attack them head on. 

So Jaehyuk pressed himself against the cavern wall and waited patiently for them to show themselves. 

Clank, Clank— 

As they got closer and closer, he heard the sound of something metallic reverberated loudly in the passageway. Were they carrying something heavy? 

The sound got louder and louder as they got close. 

'They will be here in five seconds.' 

Jae-hyuk started counting down inside his mind. 

'5.' 

Clank, Clank— 

The enemy was still a distance away. 

'4.' 

Clank, Clank— 

They got a little bit closer. The footsteps along the metallic sound was getting louder. 

'3.' 

Clank, Clank—

The enemy was no longer far away. Jaehyuk calmed his trembling heart and tightly held the sword. 

'2.' 

Clank, Clank— 

The sound of them approaching got closer and closer. 

'1.' 

Clank, Clank— 

The enemy's shadowy figure was reflected on the ground. 

'0.' 

Finally, the enemies came out of the bend. It was the time to strike. 

Jaehyuk jumped out from his hiding position and swung his sword down. It was a well planned sneak attack. However, 

Clang!! 

His sword hit something hard and bounced away. 

'What?!' 

Jaehyuk didn't even have to be shocked. He jumped back to evade a sword aimed for his neck. 

He was shocked. This was the first time his slash got blocked since he returned. 

When Jaehyuk landed at a safe distance, he raised his head to take a look at the enemy. But when he confirmed the appearance of the enemy, he titled his head in confusion. 

'People? No, that's not right.' 

Jaehyuk's eyes narrowed. Before him were knights covered completely from top to bottom with dark-grey armor as well as a dark-blue capes on their backs. They wielded a sword on one hand and a shield on the other. 

Although they had humaniod figures, he knew they were not humans from the dark aura they were emitting. They belonged to a particular race that dwelled at the deepest depths of hell. 

"Demons." 

Jaehyuk's eyes turned serious. To think his opponent will be demons from the underworld. 

Demons were the most mysterious entities in the Dark Tower. They were monsters that players barely made contact with so there wasn't much information about them. Some people even thought they were a myth yet those entities were now standing before him. 

He recalled the conversation he had with one of his companions about the subject. 

"Demons? They exist? I thought they were just a myth used to scare children." 

"People thought the same about gods and monsters but here we are." 

"I guess that is true. But what makes you so sure. There isn't evidence in the Tower that supports the notion demons existed in the world." 

"Oh, they exist all right. Take a look at this." 

Edward, known as the Poison Demon, pulled out an heavy book with an old cover and gave it to Jaehyuk. 

Jaehyuk looked at the journal titled 'Demonism' written by Solomon. The cover had the skull of a demon, giving off an ominous vibe

"Solomon? Who is he?" 

"Seriously, you don't know who Solomon is?" 

Edward looked shocked but then suddenly remembered something and laughed. 

"Ah, that's right! I guess you wouldn't know since you are rather new in the Tower. Most newcomers wouldn't know him but he was an important figure in the past. He was the one that invented the foundations of Magic that is currently being used today."

"Is that so? He seems like someone that will be very famous. Why haven't I heard of him?" 

"He died a long time ago. People tend to forget about the deceased no matter how great they were." 

"I see." 

"Anyways, I'm giving that journal to you. I don't need it but I'm sure the information written there will be useful to you." 

Jaehyuk looked at the journal and started reading it, turning the pages one by one. 

Soloman was a high-ranked known as a great magician before he died. Although he was known to study magic, he also studied about demons as well. 

According to the Book 'Demonism', demons were divided into three categories. The 'Upper' ranks, the 'Middle' ranks and the 'Lower' ranks. The first pages of 'Demonism' talked about demon at the bottom hierarchy. 

{Hello there, brave traveller. If you are reading this journal then you must have come a long way. This great me would have already been a old pile of bones by then. Hahaha! 

Anyways, I'm sure you don't want to hear a old man talking about irrelevant things. As the title of this book suggests, this is a study of demons. Yes, demons certainly exists. 

Apparently, they lost in the great war against the gods'and got sealed in an eternal prison called 'Niflheim'.

It is said they can never leave the Dark Realm due to the dimensional seals placed on the realm, but it is possible for them to enter the world through two ways. 

Summoning and Possession. I don't know why anyone would want to summon those malicious bastards, but it will surprise you how many nutjobs are in this world. 

I once fought against a Devil Worshipper who summoned an army of lesser demons called the Black Knights.

They strike fear into weaker beings and they're extremely hard to kill. I heard they are just foot soldiers used to serve an higher demon. 

Their armor and shields? Hard as hell. If you wanna get around 'em, you're gonna have to use your head.

If you ever come across them, I can only wish you luck. I'm already dead, you know?} 

Solomon continued on to mention many strengths and weaknesses of the Dark Knights. 

(T/N: Dark Knights are similar to Scudo Angelos from Devil May Cry in appearance and behaviour.) 

'I didn't think I would have to use that knowledge anytime soon though.' 

Thud, Thud, Thud!!

The Black Knights lunged towards Jaehyuk without even uttering a sound and assaulted him with a combination of slashes and stabs. 

Jaehyuk calmly evaded all their attacks by shifting side to side. It was not a level where he had to be worried. 

Not only was he dodging their attacks, Jaehyuk was also observing their movements and compared it to the information in his head. 

'So it's true. Their movements are rather simple.' 

Dark Knights were stated in the book of 'Demonism' to be beings with no real sense of self. Basically, they are puppets that can only perform simple moves and blocks. 

Finished with his accessment, Jaehyuk swung the sword and performed 'Dismante' (Slash). 

The sword moved quickly and pierced their vital points. The Dark Knights got slashed and died on the spot. 

Thud! Thud! Thud! 

[You have defeated a Dark Knight.] 

[You have defeated a Dark Knight.] 

[You have defeated a Dark Knight.] 

System messages flicked as pieces of metal landed on the floor with a heavy sound. The enemy were pierced yet there was no blood. 

A black smoke arose from their bodies and disappeared without a trace, leaving behind their armour and shield. But Jaehyuk's attention was on something else. 

Thud, Thud—! 

Two more Dark Knights came charging towards him like raging bulls. However Jaehyuk jumped over them and drew a thin line on the nape of their necks. 

Scatter—! 

Those demons got pierced and crumbled just like the rest. Once again, there was no blood or scream. 

Thud! Thud! 

'They're really puppets, huh? How boring.' 

Where was the joy in fighting enemies that can't bleed or scream? It was incredibly boring. 

A battle was a conservation between two people. Sometimes it can be extremely violent, sometimes it can be very calm. It depends on the situation but either way, it was beautiful. 

But could you have that conservation with a puppet? A being without a sense of self. 

Clank, clank! 

Jaehyuk's thoughts were cut short by the appearance of more Dark Knights. As if they had made a prior arrangement, they rushed towards him at the same time. 

'I guess I know what I will be doing for the time being.' 

Since more enemies appeared, it seems he was on the right track. If the Dark Knights were puppets, then there was obviously be a puppy master. 

Thud, thud, thud, thud!

Jaehyuk smiled as the Knights got rapidly closer and closer. It looks like he's going to be busy for the next few hours.