In the underground level 4, room 8, the team members entered one after another. Rakis, who was the last to enter and guarding the rear, glanced around. Then, he pointed towards a large chamber in the distance, which stood out prominently, and said, “My lord, could that be the Mediation Prefect you mentioned throughout the briefing?”
“That’s right. Many hunters have perished trying to conquer that Prefect. The area is filled with traps, making it hard to proceed without casualties. It’s said in jest that it’s best to bet on one person dying before the raid begins.”
Following his words, my gaze naturally shifted towards the chamber where the Prefect was located. It caught my eye immediately. Inside the massive stone room, the Prefect wielded a gigantic iron mace in each hand. At first glance, it seemed like a brute force monster with no cunning at all. However, the reality was quite different. This was a display of the Prefect’s high-level tricks. It lured enemies into complacency, then took their lives through shrewd play.
The iron mace was a deception in itself. The Prefect was actually a spellcasting monster adept in dark magic, making it even trickier. It utilized its physical strength while casting spells! Thus, it was imperative to have a balance of physical and magical defenses if we hoped to succeed.
“But we have found a shortcut to bypass the Prefect zone,” I thought with a satisfied smile. This is the thrill of dungeon raiding. There’s no need to always proceed in order; just because we didn’t kill that monster doesn’t mean we can’t move on to the next chamber.
“See, my lord, your knowledge is unmatched!” Haze smiled brightly. She had faced horrific scenes in the earlier fight but showed no signs of mental damage. Was she just made for combat? Or maybe the dungeon journey felt enjoyable because she was with me? I couldn’t be sure, but I was just thankful. Some who ventured into dungeons but weren’t suited for it could develop PTSD.
“My lord, I heard each level has eight chambers. Can we then proceed directly to the fifth level?”
“That’s right. This is the door leading to the first chamber of the fifth level,” I nodded in response to Rakis’s question while indicating the way ahead. Chambers numbered eight do not harbor demons. At the center of each chamber lies a holy stone that radiates divine energy, preventing any demons from approaching. Therefore, the eighth chamber served as a safe haven or campsite.
“Indeed, there are no signs of human presence. I assure you, we must be the first to attack the fifth level,” I said confidently. This was not a place where the wind just blew through, nor where someone could clean up traces left behind. The lack of any signs of camping ensured our conviction that no one had visited before. Not even scraps of food or leftover toiletries were in sight.
“A dungeon untouched by hunters, how remarkable!” Chloe exclaimed nearby, her eyes bright with curiosity as she observed the corridor closely. The reason for her interest was simple. Just like in every aspect of life, ‘first experiences’ hold great significance, and in dungeons, the ‘first raid’ brought many advantages.
The notable benefits included increased drop rates of artifacts and magical gemstones, as well as the acquisition of special buffs. I treated these as buffs, but the folks in this world referred to them as blessings from the gods that protected the dungeons. A mysterious energy would infuse one’s body, remaining with them for life, resulting in benefits like a 10% increase in strength.
However, I alone could view these buffs and artifact options as numerical values due to my unique system.
“What a chance bestowed by the heavens. From the fifth level onward, every monster will be a precious asset. Let’s sweep through them all without leaving a single one behind.” I encouraged my team. It was one thing to handle the first level on my own, but the fifth level required a different approach.
Most notably, the monsters there possessed resistances. My primary attack style relied on magic, and my sword skill lacked depth, meaning my attacks would mainly use magic. However, from the fifth level onward, in addition to the usual demons, black demons, yellow demons, and white demons would appear. And black demons had resistance to physical attacks, while white demons excelled in magical defenses.
So, no matter how powerful my level 5 magic spells might be, they would be ineffective against white demons. This meant they had to be taken care of by those capable of physical attacks, like Lena, Chloe, and Rakis.
This was the reason I balanced our party with both melee and ranged attackers for raiding the demon stronghold. While I brought everyone together to ensure collective growth and maximize personal benefits, my priority was to cast Strength and Haste spells on all team members. Increased strength and quick mobility are essential in a dungeon.
“I’ll take on the black demons alone, so absolutely no one engages them. Understood?” I stressed firmly. The success of our invasion into the demon stronghold hinged on how freely we could use the black demons to eliminate other monsters.
It was time to show my ten years of solid experience at Paradiso.
“Let’s go! Let’s enter level 5!” With a powerful shout, I led the team down the corridor.
A rumbling roar came from the Prefect in the distance, but I ignored it. That monster would have no idea that we, the intruders, had taken an unexplored shortcut.
“If the Prefect does not perish, there will be no movements from Gapazis either.” I had my beliefs. Gapazis was likely deep in slumber in his sanctuary.
In Paradiso’s story, Gapazis was said to have suffered grave injuries before retreating to his refuge after being attacked by gathering heroes. In order to heal his wounds, he was in a prolonged sleep, seeking natural recovery.
Of course, Gapazis wasn’t a fool either; he had established a soul connection with the gatekeeper Prefect. Should the Prefect lose his life to intruders, it would serve as a vital link to awaken him from his slumber. However, with my crafty approach to raiding, there was no death of the Prefect. This meant Gapazis's tranquil slumber could continue.
“This is the moment to amplify my powers and grow as a sorcerer.” I thought quietly as I imagined the wishlist I was keen to obtain from Gapazis, moving steadily forward. Our journey to the eighth chamber on the fifth level was still lengthy, and I had no intention of letting my guard down.
“Lena, take the right side! I’ll handle the front left white demons, so my lord, lure the black demons in your direction!”
“Okay!”
“Chloe! Take care of the white demon bleeding from its nose and mouth! I observed closely, and if you aim for the back of its neck at that moment, it should die in one hit.”
“Got it.”
“Mia, keep your distance! Anytime a demon approaches, just push it backward!”
“Okay, sir!”
“Haze, start healing the black demons in front with your healing spell enhanced by divine energy!”
“Okay, I got this!”
“Good. I’ll handle this old man’s share too! My lord, leave this to me! HAAAAH!” Rakis shouted, and Jared looked back at him. Following Rakis’s systematic guidance, all team members moved in perfect harmony and fought splendidly.
With the recent addition of strategic combat tactics to their special traits, Rakis's prompt decision-making had vastly improved. This was evident during the conquest wars against the Kribia territory, where he could now be regarded as possessing excellent leadership on par with an A-grade fighter.
Jared had brought Rakis onto the team for just that reason. A tremendous concentration was essential for handling the black demons on floor five, and issuing many orders during that process proved challenging. Thus, they needed someone to play the role of a sub-leader, and Rakis was fulfilling it perfectly.
“Ugh, this is tougher than expected.” Jared wiped the sweat rolling down his face. Though he thought he could see through every movement due to his experience, the black demons here were incredibly unpredictable.
Jared felt certain that even if some skilled hunters came here, more than half would still perish due to the black demons. The black demons from level one moved like slugs, but those in level five were as swift as if they had been hit with a Haste buff.
Kiheeeh! Just as expected, when a black demon spotted Jared, it surged forward without hesitation, leaping towards him.
Boom! Boom! Boom!
They were self-destructing all around him. The significant problem was that the inside of their bodies was essentially a mass of highly acidic fluids. Being hit by their explosion would not only ruin clothes and skin but also dissolve muscles and bones.
“Haah. Haah. Haah.” Jared exhaled harshly. Despite the sweat and effort required to maneuver the black demons and use them against others effectively, it was worth it. He had acquired titles that could only be obtained under specific conditions in the demon stronghold.
[You have successfully eliminated 100 black demons!]
[You have acquired the title ‘Black Demon Slayer.’ All damage dealt to evil-aligned monsters increases by 25%.]
[You are the first entity to enter the second chamber of level five!]
[You have obtained the title ‘Visitor of the Underground World.’ In underground dungeons lower than ground level, your intelligence is immediately boosted by 25%.]
[You have now surpassed 500 monsters eliminated through indirect elimination using self-destructing black demons!]
[You have acquired the title ‘Expert at Sudden Death.’ Your wisdom has increased by 50.]
“This title message is about to burst, it’s so splendid.” Jared beamed with satisfaction. These titles were conditions difficult to fulfill outside the demon stronghold.
“I should’ve come sooner. I had no idea everyone would be so enthusiastic about the battle.” Jared admired his team. Contrary to his expectations that they would dislike the bloody dungeon filled with blood and screams, everyone was fully engaged.
As time passed, perhaps they began feeling their growth, as everyone became more immersed in battle. In fact, their levels steadily rose.
What particularly caught Jared’s eye was:
[You have eliminated over 50 white demons.]
[You have received the title ‘White Demon Slayer.’ The target permanently gains 25 in strength.]
The continuous title messages popping up near his teammates were astonishing. This phenomenon was visible due to the insight he possessed.
Everyone, without exception, was receiving these title messages. Even Haze, who continuously eliminated demons with her healing spells enhanced by divine energy, received titles too.
Although they couldn’t see the numerical data like Jared, they could sense through their entire being the dramatic changes happening within them—growing proud and strong!
It was a fatal allure of power that no one seeking greater heights could avoid.
End of Chapter 78